[[[ Author's Note: YO, Everyone! I'm really really sorry for the SUPER late update! I'm just a normal human being that would be killed if I neglected my studies :D But yeah, I'm back.. hopefully for long (I'm sorry!) hahaha xD Anyway, this is the next chapter. I do promise that this story will end after all, so I'll be updating this as long as I have time! Again, thank you for those supporting this story! See 'ya! Peace out! (please review! I love reviews 3 )]]]

CHAPTER 08 :: The Question

I still remember those days.

Her voice. Her smile. The way she patted my head.

Everything about her.

"Gray." She would call out.

But that was 150 years ago.

Gray.

I bolt awake in the seat feeling giddy. Well, I do figure that suddenly recalling some past memories you've already forgotten would make you feel like having constant migraines, I just don't know how irritating it will be until now. For the past days, most of the time, my mind suddenly blacks out. Just like today, my head spins, as if I have hangover. Maybe I did.

I shake my head and instantly feel the familiar smell of sweetness across the room.

The room. Then, I realize where I am.

"Are you okay, Gray? Juvia's been calling you for a while now." Juvia asks, waving her hand in front of my face. She seems to be setting up the table with cakes, biscuits, cookies or any other sweet food that can make children's teeth visit the dentist.

"I'm fine." I heard people say that the word I'm fine is the most common lie used every day. I starting to think that it's right.

Ever since Juvia's heart was taken from her two days ago, I've been frequenting her house just to make sure she's okay. And probably to assure myself that I'm still okay too.

"Are you... okay now?" I ask back to her. Honestly, I don't want to question that. Touchy subject. But I need to know how she's feeling without having a heart. Even though I ask that many times already.

"Juvia already answered Gray about that though, five hours ago." She laughs. "Like Juvia said, it seems weird. But somehow, Juvia is really okay now. As if …"

"You don't feel anything." I ended for her. She nods.

I sigh, look at the table and take a piece of the baked cookies. As always, they're delicious. "You're really good at these." I munch.

"Yeah. Juvia doesn't have any talents besides baking."

"That's not true. You are-."

"But Juvia isn't a fool." The way she says that seems sharp, as if she's making a point. I look at her. Her face is placid. Serious. She is making a point.

I didn't say anything. And I don't think she expects me to. She continues talking. "What happened, Gray?"

"What are you talking about?" I try to play innocent.

"Don't lie to Juvia!" She suddenly says aloud, which I never heard before. "Juvia knows Gray is troubled… Juvia wants to help, but..." Her eyes get clouded with tears. And I need to look away.

I didn't response to anything until she says, "Juvia met Gray's friend. Yesterday."

I flinch.

But still, I try to calm down. "You met… Lyon?"

"Yes." She answers. "He told Juvia…"

"This isn't a place to talk about that." I cut her off.

I'm such a fool. I try to keep Juvia away from everything. I thought that if I did that, then everything's going to be alright, since I already made the decision from the beginning. There's only a little more time after all. Juvia's going to be fine after that.

But, I almost forgot about Lyon. Of course, he would do this. They could do this. They would do anything just to destroy everything I care about.

And this time, it's her.

"Then let's talk about it outside."

When she says that, I thought she's kidding, but then she stands and burst outside of her room. I don't want to, but I have no choice but to stand as well and follow her. As we make way outside, I see the other orphans, pointing and whispering with each other, but Juvia clearly doesn't care.

The two of us reach outside and Juvia stops where no one is around. She then faces me. Her eyes are red. She asks as calmly as she could. "How long does Juvia have left?"

I knew that is the first question. The question I don't want to answer the most.

I look away.

Lie.

You need to lie, Gray. That's the best decision you could do this time.

But is it really?

I feel breathless even though I wasn't really breathing hard. Probably because the moment I tell her, everything is going to change. If I tell her, it's going to have a big impact on her life. And on mine.

I clench my fist and brace myself, hoping that she did too.

Then I answer, "A day."