Tell Me
I don't want to get up. It's the first thing which came to my mind when I woke up. I still have my eyes closed but I can feel my muscles aching. I'm sore all over. Natsu took me over and over again last night.
I can smell the natural scent coming off from his skin. It's a mixture of perfume, woods, smoke. He smells like a campfire... a very nice campfire.
His arms are encircled around me while my cheek is glued to his chest. Can we just stay like this forever?
The call time for those who have a part in the wedding is 1 PM. Natsu is one of the groom's men. I know he should be awake by now but I'm too tired to wake him up.
I slowly opened my eyes and tilted my head to look at him. In that small move that I made, I quickly felt his response. He kissed my forehead and tightened his hug on me.
"Natsu..." I called.
"Hmmm..." He's awake!
I tried to remove his limbs which are tangled with mine. I had a hard time removing his stubborn heavy arms which refuses to let me go.
I sat on the bed and rubbed my blurry eyes. I combed my hair using my fingers before turning to Natsu.
"Wake up!" I said.
He managed to catch my wrist and pulled me to his chest. I landed face first in his rock solid chest. I slapped his arm but he paid me no mind.
Our game of tug of war lasted for another hour with me trying to get him out of the bed and him wanting to just cuddle for a whole day. He wants to stay in bed and just show up when it's five minutes before the wedding!
"Natsu! Come on. You still have a shoot! This is Jellal's wedding! Your cousin's wedding!" I insisted.
He woke up. His sleepy eyes were quickly filled with irritation like I said something wrong like... Jellal's name? I pouted.
"Just get up!" I said.
"Let's shower together..." he said in a raspy voice.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. I think there's no other way to make him get up so I just obeyed all he demanded. As a result, I looked so flushed! Damnit!
My stomach feels like it's filled with butterflies every time my mind wonders to the reaction of people who'll see us when we got outside. I feel like they'll know what we did here inside the room and the bathroom.
The dress he bought for me is really beautiful. It's a designer. The beige dress fits me like a glove. He has a good taste. Well' I'm not sure if he's the one who chose it. But I set that aside. I shouldn't make that a big deal.
We quickly went to the restaurant when Natsu finally decided to attend the shoot. We were greeted by the nagging of the girl wedding organiser and Jellal's stylist while we're eating in the restaurant. All those who have a part is already there and here he is, eating his hearts out like time's in his hands.
"Yes, I'll be there..." was Natsu's reply to every word the organiser said.
He turned to me when we finished eating. I've told him many times that he shouldn't let the crew wait because they're already stressed enough to deal with his tantrums.
"And you'll stay here and wait, then?" Natsu confirmed.
"Yes. I'll stay here and wait," I assured while sipping the strawberry shake that he ordered.
The wedding won't start until a few hours. They're waiting for the sunset. That's also the reason why they chose to do a beach wedding.
I rested my chin in my hand while staring at Natsu who's frowning while walking with the organisers. His broad shoulders are on my sight. I couldn't help but remember how many times I dug my nails to them last night. My cheeks heated.
"Excuse me, miss?" The waitress' friendly smile greeted me.
I looked at her, "Aren't you with someone?"
I turned to our table. It's a table for two and Natsu's no longer in front of me. He won't be back soon. I surveyed the whole restaurant and saw it's full.
"He left..." I said.
"Uhh, Ma'am cannot find a seat. Can she seat here instead?"
"Sure! Sure!" I quickly said. I even removed my strawberry shake in the middle of the table to give space for the one who'll share a seat with me.
"Thank you!" the old woman who I recognised as a helper in Natsu's ancestral house smiled.
I smiled back. She's wearing simple clothes and I think she'll get changed later. Unlike me who's already wearing a dress and is already ready.
"No problem, Ma'am..." I said to the old woman.
She looked at me intently before starting eating. There's slowness in her actions, maybe it comes with her age. I wonder what it's like to see Natsu and his cousins in their prime years? Surely, the old woman here is a witness to all their experiences.
"Are you the one who came with Natsu?" she asked after staring at me for a few minutes.
I nodded. I was shocked that she remembered.
She continued eating. I heard the sounds of crickets in my mind because of the silence. It made me remember my grandmother. Though my grandmama isn't as old as this woman in front of me, I couldn't help but remember her.
"Did he introduce to you to his brother already?" the old woman asked.
I didn't know if I'll nod or not, "We've met during the business meeting."
Maybe this old woman is thinking that I'm Natsu's girlfriend so he's asking? She's wrong but I don't blame her. Natsu took me to this event after all. People will naturally think that we're serious with our relationship.
The woman drank her water. "Didn't he bring Touka here? Or she's on her way?" the woman's eyes wondered.
I wasn't able to hide the bitterness in my face. Whoever Touka is, it shouldn't be any of my business anymore. It is evident with Natsu's actions that Touka is one of those things that I shouldn't ask about.
"I don't know, Ma'am. Natsu didn't tell me about it," I said.
The woman nodded and continued eating. I stayed silent. The good mood I had earlier banished.
"I just thought that Zeref would make her come with him..." she continued after eating the last piece of chicken in her plate.
"How's Zeref business? Does Natsu help him?"
This old woman really thinks I know everything about Natsu. What she doesn't know is that he forbids me to stick my nose to his personal life. We're here for the physical benefits. But I can't tell her that. I can only imagine her face the moment she knew about the two of us.
"I think so," was my only answer.
She lightly laughed. My eyes remained in her. "I thought he'll make it fail? That kid still doesn't forget what happened..." he shook his head, "It's just unfortunate for Igneel if his son would be the one to abandon it. But I can't blame him, Igneel died because of that company."
I stopped playing with the straw of my shake. I was stunned at what the old woman said. Is this considered as breaking the rules? I guess not. He doesn't want me to ask him about his personal life but there were no rules about asking other people.
"Natsu's father died because of the Drakes?" I thought it was because of old age or he's in action or something!
The old woman nodded, "You didn't know? Igneel died because of an ambush. Zeref, the one who Igneel appointed as the OIC as training made an enemy because of the nature of their business. I'm sure you know about their business, right? They're the one who investigates, gives security to private people and many more. It's not impossible to develop enemies and the fact that their clients are huge people just makes that more realistic." the old woman sighed, "That's dangerous. Even Igneel is hesitant when Zeref told him to build Drakes but since he was delighted that his older child showed huge interest in it in such a young age, he made Zeref's dream a reality."
"Who killed Natsu's dad?" I couldn't stop myself.
"I just know that it's Zeref's enemies. That's why Natsu badly wanted to close that business. Maybe he just doesn't want to remember his father's death every time he thinks about his brother's business. It's just ironic that they're able to protect other people but failed to protect the pillar of the business himself."
I kept silent. The old woman is drinking water while I'm thinking about everything she said.
Is this the reason why Natsu disliked the company? If it is, then why did he bother to close a deal with daddy? Why did they order firearms if their company is close to failing?
"How many years have passed since his father died, Ma'am?"
"You can call me Old Nan, dear. Three years, didn't you know about this, dear? What's your relationship to Natsu?"
I almost choked because of that question. I don't know how to describe my relationship with him. Old Nan's eyes remained in me, curious because I couldn't answer his simple question.
"I'm just his friend..." My throat dried.
Old Nan went silent. She continued on drinking her water while I pretended to be busy with my shake.
Natsu loved his family. He love his father so much that's why he's furious with the company his father built for his older brother. And all the while I thought he's the monster capitalist who wants the business to fail for his own good! He cared for his parents. He cared for his father so much that he wants their business to bleed to death. He's blaming it for his father's loss!
"Do you think Touka would come today?" I asked, hoping to somehow get a little bit of information about the girl.
"No. If Natsu didn't take her, she wouldn't come here anymore," the old woman answered.
"Is that so? Is Touka also his cousin?"
She shook her head and turned to me, "She's Senator Alabaster's daughter, a client of his father. Her mother died together with Natsu's father in that same ambush."
I nodded. So that explains their closeness? They both lost a parent at the same time. My throat dried. He can relate to Touka's feelings. Touka also knows about Natsu's feelings.
The old woman stood up after eating. I straightened my back and gave her a smile. She smiled back.
"I'll just change. I wouldn't want to be late on Jellal's wedding."
"Sure, Ma'am!" I tried to sound jolly.
She left. I stared at the almost empty glass of my strawberry shake. I continued sitting here for a moment since I don't know what to do next. I also don't know why my good mood disappeared. Maybe I'm becoming a bipolar?
But whatever this is I'm feeling, I need to set it aside. I know what kind of relationship this is and clearly understands it. I stood up and decided to go to the place where the groom's men's shoot takes place. I'll just enjoy while I'm here. After all, nothing lasts forever. It's true to everything.
I sat in one of the benches under a coconut tree. The groom's men are there in the sand while smiling at each other. There are many photographers who are taking their pictures. Seeing them smile while having their photo taken makes me smile too.
The groom's men are wearing an all white coat and tie which is slightly loose and looks comfortable. Meanwhile, Jellal's sporting a black tux. Everyone there looks like they came out straight from a magazine to attend this wedding.
Natsu and his cousins are playfully jabbing each other while laughing. I couldn't help but smile a little to myself. His laugh is contagious. Even if his looks are intense and his face seems seductive, seeing him laugh still makes me smile. Damn, this man is hot and adorable at the same time!
It was almost three when the shoot ended. I can see Natsu staring at me in a distance. And when his cousins let him go, he quickly went to my place.
I greeted him with a small smile. He's still thrilled because of the shoot. I bet he enjoyed it more than he expected!
"Let's go to our seats. The wedding will start probably a quarter before four."
I agreed to him. I silently followed him while he couldn't tear his eyes from me.
"Did you like the dress I bought you?" he asked, eyes surveying every corner of my body.
"Of course! You have a good taste. It seems like you're used to this thing?"
He chuckled, "I don't buy dresses for women."
I grimaced. He's bluffing! "Don't tell me you don't give dresses to your 'arrangement partners'?"
"Well, yeah, I buy some gifts but not dresses. I don't really bring girls to events."
He stopped walking. The seats for Erza and Jellal's wedding are already in front of us. It's in a cliff. I'm sure that the view of the sunset here would be spectacular.
"Why did you bring me to this event, then?"
I tried asking other questions but my tongue still tugged me there. Crap!
He stared at me. I'm not sure if he's debating on telling me his real reason or sugarcoat it to not destroy whatever's happening between us.
"Because I missed you... so much like hell, Luce."
My heart jumped. His husky voice sent shivers to my spine. I don't know why I think that he's telling the truth.
"Really? You acted so cold before you left for Bosco," I tried to sound normal.
I think I did it right since I saw how his expression reflected that he's having a hard time because of my playful tone.
"Why? Won't you get scolded if your dad found out about us?"
I didn't speak. My echoing heartbeats a while ago became louder now!
"Tell me... Do you want us to go public?" he asked.
My eyes widened, "Are you serious? We can't go public! We're fuck buddies!" I pointed out.
He took a deep breath, "I thought that's what you're implying. I'm sorry, yes, I was cold that night. I don't know how to act sane when the girl I'm making love to is in the arms of another man."
I feel like my breathing was cut off. I wasn't able to reply because of the amazement of his words. He didn't let me reply for he grabbed my waist and guided me to the chairs before starting a new topic.
And all I hear about is my insane heartbeats!
