Free

It was a Saturday morning when I got busy playing with Beau. Sting and Loke visited before noon my son got additional playmates.

"Can I bring him to a children's party, Lucy?" Loke asked.

I smiled and nodded. I just don't know if Loke can handle Beau's energy.

They waited for Virgo before leaving. They both have to attend important dinners. I didn't ask for details. I didn't ask Sting, especially, who explained everything like I asked him to.

"It's a business meeting with some clients. It got postponed last night so we'll hold it today. I'm already tired but I still need to attend," Sting said.

I nodded while chuckling. Well, if it's a business meeting with a girl I hope he knows that I won't mind.

"Virgo..." I called while staring at the sleeping Beau.

I gently cradled my son in my arms. Virgo stood up and followed me to his room.

My son got tired of playing the whole day with Sting and Loke. It saddened me that he has no other playmates around his age. He only have Sting and Loke as playmates.

"Thank you so much, Virgo."

"That's okay. I can't bear mom's continuous naggings every day so I like it here . And you know I can't get enough of Beau."

I placed Beau on his bed. It's just eight but his sleep is deep already. Maybe he'll wake up by midnight but it's okay since I'll probably get home by then.

"The little prince got tired. He kept running with Stung earlier," Virgo chuckled.

I smiled. It's true, "I wonder how he'll react around other kids. He also doesn't know other kids back in Stella..."

I tilted my head while staring the my son who's in a deep sleep.

"Why don't you introduce him to his cousins. He has two his age, right? The other one is also a boy..." Virgo grinned mischievously.

"Kidding. One look and I'm sure Natsu's cousins can tell..."

Virgo crossed her arms and stared at my son too. I don't beed to tell her what to do. Besides, I won't be leaving her alone. Aries is also there to help her with Beau.

My phone rang while I'm driving. I got late because of debating whether asking Levy to pick me up or to just bring my own car. The bar we'll go to isn't that far so I shouldn't have bought it.

"Where are you? We're already eating," Cana declared.

"Almost there. I'll just park..." I said.

We ate in a Midian restaurant around Sativus. Levy opened a conversation after seeing a batchmate and had it as a topic which soon escalated to business ventures.

"So you're still active in ConFAP?" Levy squinted her eyes.

"Daddy is still active. He just avoids events after that incident. Loke's there to represent him tho. He even asked me to volunteer again earlier."

"Your dad doesn't forbid you to volunteer there?"

"He doesn't say anything about it. Anyway, ConFAP has no fault for what happened. It's just bad memories. Maybe it's good if I'll be active again so I can bury those memories."

Like what Cana promised, she brought us to a bar which is not as wild as the bars we used to go to. The sofas and lights are red. Even my sight is red. The colour black tube dress I'm wearing looks maroon because of the lights.

Cana got a huge sofa and ordered expensive wines. She was serious. I laughed.

"Here is what you want..." Cana joked.

The waiter poured our wineglass. Cana ordered hard liquor for herself. While Levy shared the wines with me.

"Cheers to my newest gig!" Levy said while raising her wineglass.

Cana's back straightened, her eyes were glued to the doors of Scarlet. I noticed her reaction so I followed her gaze.

I almost got dizzy upon seeing Natsu. Am I dreaming? Am I hallucinating? He went inside alone and roamed his eyes.

I also roamed my eyes to look for the possible group he's with. I wasn't wrong. Sitting one table away from us is Laxus with Mira, Jellal, Erza, Gray, and Juvia... They're here!

"Holy... sh..." I tightly closed my eyes

"They're here? I didn't notice that!"" Cana exclaimed. I threw her a sarcastic look and she raised both her hands in denial.

Natsu went to their sofa. A waiter quickly went to them. Natsu instructed him something so the waiter left.

Our sofa got quiet. Maybe Levy and Cana are also processing their presence.

"Should we?" Levy turned to me.

I drank wine and shook my head, "I'm fine..."

"Oh! Okay. I didn't know they'll be here. They don't usually hang out here. It's usually Regulus or Sorciere, right?" Levy said.

"Well, maybe they don't go to hard core bars anymore too," she continued.

I quickly changed the topic. I like to talk about work more than this. Avoiding sneaking glances at their table is just too hard to resist. Natsu's seat is directly in my line of vision. I always see them laughing. Natsu's happy and he doesn't know I'm here. Not that I want him to notice my presence.

We poured wine again. Some acquaintances passed by. They joined our table and chatted with us. I slightly got lost with answering their questions. I took a glance at Natsu's sofa and saw him grinning while listening to Jellal.

"Oh my..." Levy touched her lips.

I sat straight before following her eyes.

"Your bitch of a sister is here," Cana whispered.

Ashley fixed her shoulder bag while observing the whole bar. She's with two women. Her eyes stopped in Natsu's table.

She turned to her companions and told them something. The electronic and trance music inside the bar got louder. Some are dancing, pretty tamed compared to the bars we usually go to.

"Is she going here?" Levy asked in a calm voice.

I shook my head and realised something. She's not headed here. She didn't even see me.

She's getting near. I almost didn't breathe as I watch her passed us. I grabbed my glass and drank the whole content while watching my sister head to where Natsu is. She craned her neck before stopping. The two girls who are tailing her also stopped, both are looking at the empty table.

I turned my eyes to Natsu's table. Jellal pointed my sister, the reason why Natsu saw them.

Ashley turned to Natsu's table and I saw the shock on her face as he saw him.

"Tss... That's staged! Disgusting!" Cana said.

I didn't reply. I watched how Ashley went to Natsu's table. Like how it wasn't planned but here they are. Ashley sat beside Natsu. They called for a waiter and ordered drinks.

The three of us looked at each other. Cana scoffed. I can see her dislike towards my sister. She grimaced while watching their table. Even the slightest movement of Ashley disgusts her.

"She already saw Natsu but pretended not to. Thanks to Jellal so she was noticed. I can't believe your sister, Lu!" Cana exclaimed. I don't want to involve myself. I just want to live a peaceful life. I don't need to mess this up. Even just for Beau...

We forced to change the conversation. I also avoided my glances at their direction. But every time my eyes betrayed me, I see Natsu and Ashley laughing.

"Maybe they're together..." I cannot stop myself when we got quiet again.

"Tsss... I'll tell that runt that he has a son," Cana said in a serious voice.

"Cana!" I almost shouted.

"Don't!" Levy panicked, knowing that Cana would really do it.

"That bitch would only ruin this. If Natsu still has feelings for you-"

"We were fuck buddies. How is he going to have feelings for me?" I said.

"Damn! I know fuck buddies. I've been in that kind of relationship, Lu. It's not like that. Always detach. Fuck and leave. You don't fuck and leave..." Cana shook her head.

"We do. Well, that's our agreement so —"

"Agreement but why wasn't it followed? I don't know about you, Lu, he even brought you to a fucking family event in Enca!"

"Please don't tell him about Beau-"

She rolled her eyes, "Come on! He has a son but he's like this?"

"He doesn't know and I have no plans on letting him know. If I have, then I would tell him if we're already civil."

"Cana, it's not your story to tell. Besides, Natsu would go back to Lucy just because they have a child then isn't it unfair? I mean, yes it's good for Beau but can't he man up first?"

"That's right but... I'm pissed! I'm gonna tell pops on him!" Cana turned to their table and choked on her drink.

"Cana!" Levy said worriedly.

I turned to look and saw Ashley so close to Natsu. I cannot see it clearly but I saw Ashley's hand on Natsu's thigh.

I quickly averted my eyes from them. My breath is shallow and every release of air tightens my chest. I cannot understand why I'm hurting when I already conditioned myself about this.

"I need to go to the bathroom..." I said while grabbing my purse.

I want to freshen up. I got too stressed in there. I looked at my watch and saw that it's quarter to twelve midnight already. I applied powder to my nose and put some lipstick. I fixed my hair and gave an overall look on the mirror. It's okay. I sighed before exiting and returning to our table.

Before I can pass the dancefloor to return to our table, I saw Natsu and Ashley on the bar's exit. Ashley almost tripped so Natsu helped her by holding her waist. My heart started to hurt again. Damn it!

I tore my eyes away from them and tried to close it before I continued. But even with close eyes, I remember Natsu's long fingers which are firmly clasping the waist of my sister. I couldn't feel my knees anymore. I don't know if I'm tipsy or I'm not feeling well.

I was close to our table when I saw Jellal, Erza, Laxus, Mira, Gray, and Juvia still there. They saw me. Mira waved at me while smiling. She quickly whispered something to Laxus to probably tell him about my presence. I waved at them as they all turned to greet me.

I didn't let it prolong. My eyes returned to Cana and Levy before sitting.

I grabbed a wineglass and drank the whole content.

"Natsu and Ashley left..." Levy said uneasily.

"Yeah. I saw them..." I also got shocked at my voice.

I remember it now. Natsu and I also leave the bar around that time. Same atmosphere. I felt cold. I don't know if the air conditioner is really maxed or I'm just not feeling well.

"We should finish the wine, Cana. Let's go home..." Levy said.

I poured my wineglass again. It's the last batch. We finished the wine. Cana, though hesitant, agreed with what Levy wants. She's clearly in a bad mood because of what happened.

"I guess we should," Cana defeatedly sighed.

I finished my glass. I tightly closed my eyes and fixed myself. We should've drank hard drinks. I want to be so numb. I want to forget this night. If only a strong depressant got mixed in my bloodstream then I wouldn't see everything I saw earlier.

"Gajeel will fetch me."

"Erza's sending me glares. I think I'll stay with them for a while," Cana said. I glared at her, warning her to keep her loud mouth shut about my son while she raised both her hands in defence.

"So we should separate ways then?" I asked.

"Are you still fit to drive?" Cana's worried question.

"Come on, this is just Sativus. I'm not yet tipsy..." I assured them.

I grabbed my purse. The whole lounge got nosier. Cana went to Mira's table and started chatting.

"Lu, are you sure you're going to drive?" Levy asked while we're exiting the bar.

"Yes, Lev."

"Gajeel's waiting outside. We can drop you off and just order someone to fetch your car here, you know."

"No need. I'm fine, Levy."

That's why when we're outside Scarlet, it wasn't a shock to see a bored Gajeel on his expensive car. Levy entered while Gajeel let out a grunt as greeting. I just smiled and waved at them. I alerted the valet. Levy and Gajeel already left so I'm alone while waiting for my car.

A black Mustang parked in front of me. I froze on my position. I felt like I also forgot how to breathe. This cannot be Natsu, right?

But before I can convince myself, Natsu went out of the driver's seat. A valet replaced him.

Our eyes met. He fixed his white longsleeves which is folded until his elbows.

I averted my eyes to his car to calm my racing heart. This is worse than what I felt for him way back. My heart is shattering my internal organs because of it's hard and fast beats!

Where is Ashley? Why is he alone? Why did he come back? I thought... some... hotel in Sativus tonight with her? Even my brain can't understand what I'm saying!

"You're out early, huh?" His tone is formal but laced with sarcasm that didn't escape my ears.

"You... were out early," I said without thinking.

The corner of his lips rose. His eyes were unreadable. Pitch black. It made me tremble. Crap!

He looked around before bearing his eyes to me. He raised an eyebrow.

"You're waiting for your ride? I can drive you home too, if you want," he smirked

I might be imagining it but I sensed the taunting and sarcasm in his voice. I sharply glared at him. He took Ashley home. So he'll drive me home too? Is that it?

"No thanks..." I said in a hard voice, "I can do it myself..."

Almost like it's scripted, my car stopped in front of us. He looked at it before turning to me.

"Oh!?" he said, "You're driving? Your husband's not that strict, then. You're free to..." his eyes went down to my dress, "Go out late wearing... that... Tss..." he laughed sarcastically.

My jaw clenched. His voice is screaming sarcasm and provocation! I hated it! I quickly accepted the keys and entered. I ignored whatever Natsu's insinuating. But when I got far, I felt my heart hurt. I hit the steering wheel of my car.

Damnit!