NEXT DAY

JUVIA'S POV

"Gray-sama, do you need anything else?"

I asked him as I turned around to face him but instantly my face grew red.

Gray-sama sat on the couch without his t-shirt. I closed my eyes and scolded him,

"Gray-sama, wear you t-shirt"

"Eh?" Was his only response.

"Juvia, don't over react. Open your eyes. It's hot in here, that's why I'm sitting shirtless."

He said as he laid on the couch with his arms behind his head for support.

I did open my eyes and looked at him with a tiny of blush on my cheeks. I must say he looks so hot and sexy.

He's got a broad chest, 6packs in his abdomen and his body looks toned up and muscular yet not bulky.

"Like what you see?" Gray-sama snapped me out of my thought process with his comment.

"No...no…" I stuttered as I was embarrassed as he might think I'm a pervert.

He smirked, "Your flustered face says otherwise."

Is Gray-sama flirting with me? Nah! It would never happen. He is just playing with me.

"I guess, you don't want anything. I'm going back to my room." I said and went to my room.

GRAY'S POV

Man!! She looks so cute when she is blushing. What am I thinking? I don't have any right over her.

Since yesterday, after coming from the cafe, I feel a possessive over her.

The way Loke was trying to grab her attention really bothered my core.

But why am I feeling this for someone whom I don't love? She's just my friend.

Moreover, morning I had a dream about Stella who was trying to say something but couldn't understand what it was.

"What was she trying to say?"

I ran my hands through my thick black mane trying remembered any coherent words from the dream.

" I will go insane if I stay here. Let me go out and get some fresh air."  

I wore my discarded t-shirt and got up.

Then I remembered Juvia was telling me, she wanted to do some shopping yesterday.

So l thought of inviting her as well it won't harm to have a company.

As I went to my room to grab my purse then dashed towards her room.

I opened the door, "Juvia, are you comin……."

I stopped in mid instantly my face grew red seeing her remove her long sleeved top.

She stopped when her top was over her head covering her face instead of her chest.

"Gray-sama?"

I couldn't divert my attention anywhere else as my eyes were fixed on her bra-clad breasts which were well-endowed for her slender frame.

Suddenly a lotion bottle came flying towards my head, "Gray-sama, you are a pervert. Get out"

That's when I regained my composure, "Ah! It hurts. I'm sorry didn't mean to do anything bad. Believe me".

I came out of her room with a huge blush and sat on the couch to calm myself down.

My mind once again drifted back to the scene which made my body feel warm and my heartbeat increased 10 folds.

After sometime, she came wearing a white crop top and 3/4th black jeans. She wore her pretty blue hairs into high ponytail. I have never seen her wear something like this.

Usually she is shy, prude and body conscious even though, she has one of the best curvaceous body. Shouldn't she be confident and proud about it?

Juvia blushed and came near, "Gra..Gray-sama, why d-did you come in?"

I tried to hide my growing blush which I succeeded and scratched the back of my neck,

"Well yesterday, you said, you will be going to supermarket. I'm going out for a walk and thought I could accompany you if it didn't seem as a bother for you."

Juvia looked disbelief, "Sure Gray-sama, I will go with you. Please don't say you are a bother. Come let's go, Gray-sama."

"Sure but are you going come wearing this?" I pointed out at her outfit.

"Yes, Is something wrong with it?" Juvia looked confused.

Yeah, the crop top which she was wearing is bit tight around her chest region.

"Nah! Usually you were something long and baggy. Today the outfit you are wearing is different. This looks good on you." I said casually.

Then she told me the reason for the change in her dress sense. As her best friend advised her to wear dress according to her age and body.

So we left to the nearby supermarket and decided to have dinner in a restaurant while coming back home.

Once we reached the supermarket, I parked the car in basement then we both entered inside.

It's the first time that we have come for an outing together. Juvia looked really happy and cheerful.

Seeing her smiling brightly made me feel happy as well.

Slowly I'm beginning to enjoy her company, she's so innocent and childish, always smiling.

I regret for making her feel miserable for those 3 months.

I could see people staring at us and commenting about us but I didn't care.

Some guys were passing perverted comments when she went past them.

"Man, look at those buns and melons, they look so delicious. I would die to have them in my mouth."

Another guy who was with them tried to touch Juvia but soon I could hold of his wrist while she didn't seem to notice what was happening behind her back.

"Hey man, what's your problem? Leave my hand"

He tried to pull but I twisted it hard. His friends came around me to help him.

I didn't want to create any scene over here so I warned them. "Keep those filthy hands for ourselves or else, I will break them. Don't you dare to touch what's mine!"

One who passed the comment intervened, "Who do you think yourself as? Are you a hero to save a girl from trouble? She is a public property and anyone can hit on her. Who are you?"

I punched his nose, "She's my wife." I left them and went near Juvia.

Then I put my right arm over her shoulder and pulled her towards my chest.

She looked startled by my action, "Gray-sama, what happened?" Then I told her what happened just few minutes back.

"Oh! I see. Let them be, Gray-sama. I guess, this dress is attracting unwanted attention." She looked disgusted.

I caressed her shoulder, "No you shouldn't change your opinion because of those lecherous men.          It's your decision to wear something and wear it proudly.
     But you should also be brave and bold enough to face them and voice your hatred for their behaviour against them. Got it."

I tried to encourage her which worked. She gave her beautiful smile.

"I guess, I should return back the ring to her then at least, the perverts can be kept at the bay." I thought to myself.

Then after shopping for the necessary grocery items and her personal things, we went to have our dinner.

We ordered our choice of food and waited for its arrival. Then she told me about her friendly relationship with my friends.

The reason I didn't knew Juvia from back then was because I hardly ever visited the girls in their shared apartment  when we were in college.

Mostly I would go out on a date with Stella whenever the girls called us over.

To say the truth, Stella was not that close to my friends. She had her own group of friends with whom she hanged out.

I told Juvia to maintain our marriage as a secret from them which she agreed.

Then out of nowhere, I asked her something which made her tense.

"Juvia, were you in relationship with someone when you agreed to marry me? Tell me, did my dad force you in this?"

"No Gray-sama, it's my decision to marry you. Father didn't force me to this. To your previous question, NO." She stopped abruptly.

I guess, there is something more to it but I chose to ask her later as she looked hesitant.

"Tell me something Juvia, why did you marry? As far as I remember,  you marry only someone if you love that person dearly. And clearly I'm stranger to you. Then how did you agree?" I asked her.

"Gray-sama, Father has done so much for me and my dad. When he told me it's the best thing he can think for me and my future, I agreed. Believe me, he didn't force.
   Then he told me about your behaviour and workalcoholic nature. He wants you to change and asked me to do it for him.
   As expected you behaved the same for these 3 months but I never expected you to consider me as your friend.
   After talking with you, I got to know about you. You are very caring and protective of someone who is close to you." She smiled at me which made me blush.

Then our foods arrived, "Gray-sama told me he will see me as his friend only for which I agreed.
     But Gray-sama everytime, you see me or talk to me or just merely whenever you initiate a contact with me, my hearts pounds within my chest.
     My body temperature increases. I feel light, tingling sensation in my stomach. I don't know what it is, Gray-sama.
      But I know you are the cause for these effects on me. Don't worry as I promised you, I will leave you once the company comes to your hand." She confessed her feelings.

'I think she loves me. But why me? What did I do she fell for me? All I did was hurt her mentally. Juvia, you deserve someone much better than myself.' I thought and began to eat our dinner.

After paying the bill, we went to the car parking lot. That's when something caught my attention, as a black SUV went past us.

The one driving the car was blonde lady who looked quite familiar.

My eyes widened in shock, "St...Stel..Stella". It was my Stella who was driving the car. She alive. She is been alive all this time.

I ran behind the car, "Stop….Stop...the car. I say Stop…." Behind me Juvia came running back to stop me but soon the car exited the parking lot.

I stopped to catch my breath. Juvia came upto me and patted my back. I caught hold of her shoulder, "Juvia, she's alive. Stella is alive." I was letting out of tears.

Juvia gave me a small smile, "Oh!! Good for you, Gray-sama. I guess, she is living somewhere in this city. We will search for her from tomorrow. Come let's go back home."

JUVIA'S POV

The way Gray-sama ran behind that car made me scared so I ran back to stop him.

When the car left the place, he stopped to run. I reached him and patted his back as he was panting.

That's when he told me the reason for running like a manic behind that car.

"Stella" that name rang in my ears. And it looks like that person is alive.

Seeing her for the first time, after thinking she been dead for these many years made Gray-sama emotionally unstable.

He began to let out happy tears. I assured him tomorrow we will search for her in this city.

My heart tightened against my chest. I feel sudden pain within my heart. Soon we went back to our house.

Gray-sama didn't bother to say good night to me and went to his room happily to inform his friends about his apparent girlfriend being alive.

After keeping all the grocery items in the assigned shelves and refrigerator, I went back to my room. I couldn't control those tears streaming down my eyes.

"Shouldn't I be happy that Gray-sama has finally found his happiness back? Why is it hurting me this much?"

I guess, soon Gray-sama and his girlfriend will get back together. I must happily let go of this position as his wife when they get back together.

"Wasn't she supposed to be his wife from the start itself?" I curled up as ball and cried hardly.

When I thought, things were going according to my wish, now something big and hard has fell on this path.

I mustn't act as a selfish. Even Uncle Silver will be happy to have her back. Without me knowing, I fell asleep while crying.