A/N: Yo guys! I'm back :D it's been a long time since I updated. I'm sorry because like I always say, I'm busy at school. Not just in school but with my other businesses as well so I always find it hard to buy some time to write an update. But now, here's a short update. I'm doing my best to improve my writing and my stories, so please keep in touch with all my stories so I would get more motivation to update.
I hope you like this chapter, though I wasn't able to include the part wherein Erza is acting as Jellal in his office. Maybe in the next chapter, where you'll see how Erza secretly deals professionally with Minerva. This chapter is angsty, and R-14 XD I just hope no matter what revelations, angst, twist or ooc the story, you'll respect my decision as the author. The next chapter would have no angst or drama, just our Erza secretly messing up with Minerva ;)
Flashback scenes and dreams starting from this chapter and the next ones might mean something else, so you better keep in touch :)
Enjoy reading, and please do write a review to let me know what you think :)
Oooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Pressured and stressed with the incoming presentation, the couple spent the whole daylight helping out each other. Jellal giving out his best to introduce and teach Erza everything single detail about his career and work at Minerva's company. Erza, despite not whole-heartedly wanting to help her 'asshole' husband, she just thought of their children's future. It was difficult for her, of course, especially not having an experience what it's like to be in an office and work with other people. It was a good thing she had an experience what it is like to be in a university, decreasing her ignorance as a person. What would you expect from a poor provincial girl who just happened to marry a disowned rich man? At a time like this, she chose not to be selfish. After all, she still knew how Jellal almost gave up everything just to get a nice decent job for them, even though it was what made him an unfaithful spouse.
Erza, at first, refused to act as him and carry the ball. Number one, she told herself she'd rather rob a bank than see Minerva in person once again. She is a bit worried that she might kill Minerva by pulling her hair out or pushing her down the staircase. However, since she does not want to put her level down the same as Minerva's for being a home-wrecker. It's not that she is too weak to fight, but she knew that hurting her back won't make her fully-satisfied. Unless, she needed to do so at the perfect time. Second is, she couldn't deny the fact that she feels anxious that once she sees Minerva, she would feel a lot insecure about her personality as a woman. She doesn't want to see those opposite personalities of her portrayed by Minerva, which Jellal preferred. Like, being classy and rich, as well as being seductive and eye-catching to people. But she didn't mind those insecurities anymore, knowing that the dignity she has will be something Minerva won't ever have or regain.
Jellal, he may have been freed from work and responsibilities due to their body switch, however, he still has to ensure that Erza would absorb every single detail he is saying. It is pressuring for him to give his full trust to an ignorant person, who happened to be Erza, his wife. Not just that, for a first timer man to carry a baby, it is absolutely a lot of pressure. Aside from finding it hard to adjust, he is pretty much afraid that what if Erza's water break before they could get back on their bodies? He absolutely won't let himself be the one to lay down on the delivery bed and give birth to death. No, he wouldn't!
Night quickly came, the two are still on the job. Wendy who went to bed early, was surprised to see her mama actually helping her daddy at its work. As the same time, it bothered her the whole day to see her parents fighting consistently the past few days and weeks, and suddenly started working out with each other. The last thing the two were working on is how Erza would get along with Jellal's officemates and co-workers, especially with those who have high position and even Minerva. Jellal searched every profile of his officemates on Facebook and showed Erza each of them.
"This is Karen, Erza. She's the accountant of the company. You can see her desk next to Ultear's." Jellal said, them started typing another name on the search box. "And, this is- Midnight...he uh..." Jellal stuttered a bit, and gulped before he could even spill out what he has to say. "He's just a coffee courier...and- and...he's gay, for your information." Erza suddenly raised a brow, wondering what's with they way he spoke about the Midnight 'guy'. "Erza, umm, not to be unprofessional, but please be distant from him as much as possible."
"Why?" Erza wondered. "Any personal issues with the- 'gay'?"
Unwilling to spill out why, Jellal could just scratch his head (Erza's hair originally), "He...uh...alright- he's gay, like I said! He always try to flirt with me, seduce me, which is never effective cause it makes my hair raise. Yeah! I'm sure you don't want anyone to see your husband allowing himself to be flirted by a gay."
"I had no idea you're homophobic."
"Ugh, whatever, let's just move on to the next." Jellal groaned, and started typing another name on the search box. "Okay...let's have...Ichiya, another creepy co-worker of mine both of us must avoid."
"Alright, what's the deal with all your co-workers? Seriously, you stay away from most of them due to their personalities? Like, a girl being too clingy and flirt, a guy being unhygienic, a gay and lesbian and now a creepy man. What are you in that company? The next boss to rule for you to be so mean with your co-workers?"
"You'd understand why, just wait. And, the reason why I don't want Ichiya to see you as you nor see you as me is because he is fantasizing you every minute and he would rob a bank just to go on a date with you." Jellal spilled out, with Erza only able to drop her jaw (Jellal's jaw originally) open. "Yes, you heard me right. He first saw you when you tagged along on our company summer outing four years ago, and until now he is dying to achieve his goal to take you out on a date and bed you. In other words, he is obsessed with you."
Erza just shrugged and waited for Jellal to introduce another co-worker, but deep inside she couldn't believe that another man aside from Jellal and the one from her university admires her (in a weird way though). "Any more co-worker you wish me to stay away?" She asked sarcastically. Jellal rolled his eyes up, thinking if ever he already introduced every co-worker of his. "I think I already introduced them all." Jellal says.
"What about Minerva? Aren't you gonna tell me how she is like at work?" Erza asked sarcastically once again. Jellal did his best not to react, nevertheless he said, "Erza, I thought we're not going to involve- Minerva?".
"I didn't say anything wrong against her. I was just wondering why aren't you introducing your 'lovely' boss to me the way you did to your fellow co-workers. I'm guessing you don't have anything negative to say against her for you to tell me to be distant from her." Erza said with a matching fake smile. "She must be perfect in your eyes." Jellal could already sense Erza in the state of being emotional once again about their situation. Silence occurred between them, until Erza broke it as she stood up from the dining table where they are working at. "Is there anything else I need to know? I want to go to bed early." She asked as she stopped by at the counter to fill a glass with water to drink.
"Umm, no more, I guess. I'm counting on you tomorrow." Jellal replied, trying to cheer her up. "I know you can do it- face different people in the business industry."
Erza puts the glass down after emptying it, and started making her way out of the kitchen. Before she could even step away from the arch, she heard Jellal's voice saying, "I love you", making her freeze from where she is standing. At this moment, she had no idea how exactly should she respond with his sugary three words, not after everything that happened made her heart numb towards him. "Goodnight", is all she could say before she continued walking on her way upstairs.
Left alone in the kitchen, Jellal could just sigh in dismay as his guilt keeps weighing more on him. He wouldn't complain for Erza's current attitude towards him, for it was him who made her wife that way. He had hurt her, insulted her, cheated on her and made her feel that he regretted marrying her. He knew no matter what excuse he has it wouldn't change the fact that he still cheated on her, even if he didn't have a romantic nor sexual relationship with Minerva. Erza has been badly shattered into pieces because of his choice, and he is clueless on what he should exactly do to fix her broken heart. But whatever the risk is, he vowed to willingly get through with just to gain her trust back and forgiveness. Stuck inside Erza's pregnant body, he could just caress her big belly and feel every kick exerted by their unborn son.
An hour and a half before midnight, Erza just stepped out of the shower, fresh and clean after a warm bath. She properly wrapped the towel on the lower part of her (Jellal's) muscular body after wiping droplets of water dripping down the floor. While inside, she groomed Jellal's body in front of the mirror and sink. Just as every man's routine, she sprayed some shaving cream all over Jellal's jaw to shave those small strands of facial hair. She figure out Jellal would do the same to groom himself for tomorrow's presentation. She is having second thoughts if she should also shave his underarm hair, which has been seriously irritating her since they swapped bodies. After doing so, it revealed the neat and handsome face of her husband with red tattoo that adds up to his attractiveness. Then, she took his toothbrush to brush his teeth, and floss.
Erza, inside his body, took the moment in front of a mirror to stare at his face. He gets more and more attractive and appealing as he ages. His body and facial features became thrice eye-catching than it was when she first met him. She couldn't deny the fact that he is indeed charming and smokin' hot, no wonder why most girls are dying to gain his attention. Sometimes she wished Jellal shouldn't have been this good-looking and appealing so no other woman would attempt to flirt him nor fall for him easily. She recalled how many girls have said something bad behind her back and spread hate about her due to their jealousy because she had Jellal. Most probably one of them and the worst kind of that girl is Minerva. Maybe it is also why Minerva didn't stop until she has Jellal, she thought.
As Erza stepped out of the bathroom in towel, she spotted Jellal in her maternity night gown. She couldn't believe that she went to the bathroom first, but Jellal managed to finish showering, grooming and dressing up first. It suddenly made her wonder if he washed her body well. But she can breath well knowing that He didn't spend a long time inside the bathroom just to take advantage of her body. She went for his dresser to grab a loose, comfortable shirt, pajamas and a pair of boxers to wear. Jellal, who was sitting beside the baseboard of the bed, diverted himself into caressing Erza's belly instead of watching 'himself' dressing up. After dressing up, Erza sat beside him.
"Hey, baby..." She whispered while caressing her big belly, Jellal watched her. "How are you there? I'm sorry if I've been busy. I just need to help your daddy at his work, and I'm finding a way for us to get back to our bodies. When that happens, I promise to spend more time with you until you're born." Then, she kissed her belly.
"What would be his name, by the way?" He asked out of the blue. Erza just shrugged, and suddenly realized that she haven't think of one due to what she has been going through. "I don't know. I haven't searched or think of one. But, when I found out he is a boy, I was planning to name him Jellal too. He'd be a junior." Jellal suddenly pictured how nice would it be for his son to have the same name as his. "But, I'd just think other names, better names. I...don't want my son to have the same name as his- 'two-timing' father." Then, she laid on the bed and wrapped her body with the comforter.
"Erza...you know I'm not going to stop until I gain your trust back." Jellal said, sincerely. He crawled towards to Erza who turned her back at him while lying on the bed. "You're the only woman I loved. I never loved Minerva nor had a sexual relationship with her, even if we used to be fiancés."
"And, you threatened to divorce me, you spank me every time you're drunk or angry, everyday you made me feel you regret choosing me over your 'better' future, you almost killed our baby and you cheated on me with your ex-fiancé. Sorry to judge you, but is that how you really express your love for me?" She retorted sarcastically.
"I know...and, I'm sorry. I won't stop until you forgive me." Jellal nodded, accepting every mistake he was batted. He kissed her (his, originally) shoulder and rested his (her) head on top of it.
The night before they fell asleep has been awkward once again. Not only because they no longer cuddle and make love like what they used to before, but the gap that occurred in their relationship. No matter what he does, her heart has been frozen and shattered to pieces already. He braced himself to accept every mistake batted at him in return, and promised to not give up in order to make up. All he could just say to himself was to do everything even if it means sacrificing in exchange of gaining of her trust back.
In the middle of his sleep, various blurred and pastel colored images flash in his mind. Everything is blurred that he could barely recognize where he is and who he is with. But he could tell that he is with a man. He had no idea who the man was, all he knew was the man pinned him on the bed , started ripping off his clothes and started making love with him.
"No...I don't want to! Stop!" He could feel her struggle .
The scenery suddenly changed. This time, he was laying on a bed with people wearing in blue around. His (her) legs are opened wide open.
"Mrs. Fernandes, push harder."
"We can't get him out!"
"We're going to lose them."
He heard those words coming from the people surrounding him. While in Erza's point-of-view, he could feel pain and agony. "Ughhhhh!" He kept crying and screaming. He could absorb every word being shouted repeatedly on his mind: "I hate you Jellal. I hate you for hurting me. I never asked you to bear another child with me".
Jellal quickly pushed himself up to sit on the bed, panting heavily after a terrible and weird nightmare. The pain in his dream felt real. Was he having Erza's dream? Was he the man who forced her? He quickly touched Erza's belly to reduce the tension inside him. It was unusual for him to remember every single thing from a dream after waking up (usually he'll only remember it by morning or noon already), but this time, it was no ordinary dream for him. It was Erza's dream, created by the thoughts planted inside her mind.
Erza's dream felt so real for him. The first scene did happen, but he never expected that he would be able to experience how it was like from her point-of-view. He hugged himself while burying his face on his knees. More images of his demonic side started to flashback.
"I am your husband. You have to give my needs. It's been what, two, three years since the last time we did it."
"Jellal, not now, please. I'm not in the mood to do so-"
"Not in the mood? You're always not in the mood ever since you came back here from college. Why? Have you been banging with another man in your dorm?! Is that why?"
"Jellal! How can you be so judgmental and dirty-minded?! You are my husband, of course, I wouldn't let anyone sleep with me!"
He recalled his actual drunk self that night based from the dream.
He recalled how he kissed her without tender and love, but harshly and full of lust. How he pushed her on the bed and pinned her.
"Jellal, please, stop! I don't want to! No..." she cried, pleading. But he did what his desires are telling him to do so. He forced her to undress, until he finally got in between her legs.
He felt a lot horrible for being so selfish. He didn't even thought of what she felt all this time that he had to be put in her point-of-view to find out. He finds it hard to accept that everything he did to her is traumatizing for her that she could see it in her dreams. I'm such an asshole and jerk, he kept telling himself
"Jellal...I'm...I'm pregnant. Two months pregnant."
"You're what? Shit! Why now, Erza? You know I'm having financial problems."
"Is it just my fault? It was you who forced me to do it with you!"
He moved close to Erza who is sleeping. He gave her a kiss on the cheek, and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Erza. I'm so sorry for hurting you. I promise...I'll be the one to mend your broken heart."
