Hi Readers! It's Grays' story this time! Enjoy

Chapter 22

A Black-haired man was seen standing in front of a gravestone, his throat clutching as he persevered to hold his tears back. His hand was holding on to his two-year-old son, watching the grave with his Mother's name on it. The little boy raised his head to look at his father, and raised a brow in confusion, wondering what they are doing there.

He looked down at the grass and saw a little flower, he tried to reach out using his other hand. But the grip from his father was too tight for him to reach. Pouting, he used his other hand to pry his hands away from his father.

Silver was absent-minded when his little boy had tried to let go, averting his eyes to his son on the ground, who was now picking at the flower. He cleared his throat as he asked what he was doing.

"Mama loves Flowers" he claimed, as he piled them in front of the grave.

Silver bit his lips, tears gathering in his eyes again, as he watched the boy decorate his mother's grave. He sniffed and took a napkin to wipe his eyes from the tears. He forced a smile on his lips, as he squatted down to his boy.

"You're right. Mama loves flowers a lot" he said as his brows started to frown, tears finally falling in his eyes as he hugged his son and cried on his back.

Gray was surprised and confused, worried about his father suddenly crying, he turned around and wrapped his tiny arms around his neck. He then patted his father's back, as he chimed the words his mother used to tell him when he cried.

"There, there. It's alright. Pain, pain fly away"

Silver can't help but chuckle at the little boy's words, nodding his head, he took a napkin and wiped his eyes from the tears. He sniffed and placed his arms under his son's bum. Carrying him, as he looked at the gravestone again and said his farewell.

"Come on Gray, tell Mama that we will see her later"

The little boy nodded his head and turned to the gravestone. He then raised a hand and waved, smiling as he said goodbye to his mother. Minutes later, Silver finally had the courage to leave.

Years have passed and Gray is already thirteen. After his wife's death, Silver made sure that his Son was well fed and taken care of properly. His days are usually spent working till five in the afternoon only. Since he never wished for his son to come home with no one in the house to welcome him. The feeling of being alone is something he didn't want his young son to experience. Him being alone during his younger days was enough.

Silver was already in his house, preparing their dinner. Humming to himself as he mixed the vegetables and meat on the pan. After making sure that it was up to their taste, he turned off the stove and covered it for a while. He then went into the fridge and took his favorite popsicle from the freezer.

It wasn't long later when his son arrived, hearing his son taking off his shoes, he walked inside and greeted his father.

"Gray. How was your day?" he asked cheerily while munching on his popsicle.

The young lad just rolled his eyes and sighed at his father. "It was fine. Though I thought you won't be home till eight tonight?"

Silver frowned and ruffled his son's hair while hugging his small body. "Why? Aren't you happy that Papa is home early?"

Gray sweatdropped from his words and groaned. "Stop that. I'm not a kid anymore"

Silver smiled at his son and patted his head. Standing properly on his feet, he turned and asked his son to prepare the plates. Gray complied and took out clean dishes from the cupboard. Later when their meal had already been prepared, Silver felt something painful, earning a worried look from his son.

"Old man. are you okay?"

Silver drank from his glass of water and exhaled. "I'm fine, just choked down" he lied and picked up his silverware. He started to eat while nudging his son to start eating. Gray just chuckled from his response and started to eat as well. Silver observed his son eat his meal, despite his son not saying anything about his meals. He can always see it in his expression that he loves it a lot.

"Glad that you like it." he teased.

Gray widened his eyes and averted away from his father with a blush.

The next day, Gray was on his way to school when he woke up with his breakfast, a packed lunch, and a note on top of his packed lunch. Chuckling to himself, he sat on the table and started to eat. His eyes traveled back to the note and smiled again.

After he was done with his meal, he placed the used dishes on the sink and picked up his lunch box. He bid goodbye to his mother first at the altar and soon left after making sure the door was locked. Exiting his house, he could see blond hair by his gate and a phone. He sighed and called out her name.

"Morning Lucy!"

"Oh! Morning Gray" she smiled awkwardly, eyes averting away from him.

"-and may I ask what are you doing with your phone?"

Lucy froze and hid her phone behind her back, she tried to leid but failed, as the young man was staring intensely at her. She gulped down her saliva and smiled awkwardly again. She then raised a hand in a salute and started to run.

"It's all Juvia's fault" she cried while running away from the young man. Gray was annoyed by her reaction and started to run after her, in an attempt to get her phone and delete those pictures that she just took.

They both arrived gasping for air inside the classroom, while glaring daggers at each other. Gray had still tried to reach out for her phone but failed as she had placed it inside her shirt. Smirking Lucy turned to him with her tongue stuck out. "You can't get it anymore" she cheered sticking out her tongue again in a teasing manner.

However the raven-haired lad just sighed and dipped his hand inside her shirt, and successfully took the phone out between her breasts. There was silence in the room when Gray acted as if nothing happened. Lucy was shocked and red in embarrassment and soon cried as she ran towards her close friend, Cana.

"Hey, Gray. That was sexual harassment"

Gray just raised his brow though and sighed. "What sexual harassment? Those are just lumps of meat" he stated without care and went to his seat. Some of his classmates though were already used to their casual fight or acting, since the three have been friends since they were toddlers.

"Seriously Gray, that's not how you should treat a lady" Jet grinned while draping his arms around him. "You should treat them with care and respect."

"That's right" Cana agreed, nodding her head.

"Whatever, Lucy is just Lucy, and anyways everything has been her fault for taking pictures of me."

"What do you mean?" The two asked curiously. Lucy who was now ashamed had excused herself and went to her seat.

The two gasped from the pictures in her gallery. The album was filled with Gray in his room, taking off his pants. using the toilet, and lots of stolen pictures of him.

"Lucy, don't tell me you've been stalking Gray?" Cana feared, watching at the pictures being deleted by Gray.

Lucy jumped from her seat, face red. She ran towards her friend in an attempt to take back her phone but the lad had raised his hand, making it unable for her to reach. Lucy's tears started to gather, as she blamed Juvia again for her situation.

Soon Juvia opened the door, "Lucy, where are the pictures that I asked you?" Juvia tilted her head to the side and saw her crush standing hands above his head, while Lucy was trying to reach from the device on his phone.

"Did something happen?" she asked curiously, acting as if she didn't just speak what she had asked for Lucy.

Lucy was about to approach her but their teacher had come in, a bit annoyed from the commotion they are causing. They watched their teacher sit on his desk, and continued to doze off in his sleep. His students stared at their teacher a bit surprised but went to their chairs and continued talking to their friends.

Lucy who was glaring daggers at her childhood friend, for not returning her phone to her.

It was already lunchtime when Lucy got her phone back, hugging it in her arms, she promised not to let it go. Gray just rolled his eyes at her for being overdramatic. Opening his lunch box, he started to eat his meal happily.

"Oh, as expected of Uncle. He even used magic to make sure the Shaved Ice doesn't melt" The blond girl exclaimed while looking at the box of Ice beside Gray's lunch.

"Oh, I want to try that Gray" Juvia smiled, leaning her body to Gray as she attempted to steal from his lunch. Though the young lad didn't mind as long as she stepped back and sat properly. Juvia formed a pout, knowing her advances had failed. She then glared at the blond woman, who was exchanging lunches with Gray. Soon, Jet and Droy arrived with their packed punch on their hands, sitting at the vacant seat in front of them, they started to dig on their meal, without failing to tease Gray about his harem.

"Oh, by the way. Did you hear that some volleyball girls will be here later for a practice match with our team?" Jet sneered, his eyes looking disgusting as he tried to form a girls' body with his hands.

"Didn't you say to respect girls?" Gray chuckled at his friend, who turned red.

"That is that, and this is this" He was trying to hold his fuse, before blowing up at Gray. "You're so unfair, Gray. Putting your hands inside Lucy's breast. Lend me your hand, let me feel Lucy's breast" The orange harried lad claimed, earning a slap from Lucy for being disgusting.

"Seriously Jet, there are times that you can be disgusting" His childhood friend, Droy claimed while eating his meal.

Gray was already done eating when he decided to leave first, turning his head to them. He excused himself and started to head to the toilet. He was busy washing his hands after releasing the urge to pee. When a door opened from an occupied cubicle and came out was a pink-haired girl staring back at him.

Her eyes were wide, with brows furrowed. She was about to scold him for using the girl's comfort room. When the lad pointed to the men's urinals that don't belong to a girl's comfort room. She felt her cheeks turn red, and she chuckled from her mistake. Placing her hand to her short hair, she was faking a laugh, as she stepped back and excused herself only to bump into another student.

"Eh? A girl?" the student muttered in surprise, there was a grin on his face though when he noticed Gray's presence.

"What do we have here. Gray, you're bringing girls to the toilet?" the silver-haired lad teased. Gray just rolled his eyes at him. "That's not it, she came before me, and accidentally used the wrong toilet"

"Is that so? I'm gonna tell Uncle" he teased as he washed his hands in the sink.

"Whatever" Gray responded and left.

The raven-haired lad was already on his seat, laying down when he heard his friends' voice coming closer. He could hear them talking about the volleyball girls from the other school who arrived earlier and will have a practice match. He raised a brow though, wondering why they can't just wait until class is over, but he doesn't care. He closed his eyes and wandered back to the girl he met just now.

'So she must be from that school then' he thought and started to remember her features. Gray was focused on imagining her face again in his mind, that he failed to her Jet calling for him again.

"Gray, you've been ignoring us a lot lately" Jet complained.

"Not really"

"hmm. Don't tell me you found a girl?"

"and where did that come from?"

"Well earlier, Lyon said that you fell in love" Droy added, smiling towards his friend. Earning Juvia's attention and was then fighting about Gray's crush. Tears gathered in Juvia's eyes, as she punched Droy on his stomach. Droy instantly covered his stomach as he repeatedly said sorry to Juvia.

Gray wasn't sure, but they might be right. He felt a heat coming up to his cheeks as he remembered her face chuckling awkwardly again, he placed a palm over his head, unable to accept that he fell in love at first sight.

Gray was on his way home when he suddenly felt someone had grabbed his shoulder, turning around he was surprised to see Lyons' worried face. He was about to ask what, but the lad just grabbed him and hurried their way to somewhere else. Thinking that Lyon might be up to something, but he could see the seriousness on the older lad's face. He was looking around where they were heading until they reached a hospital. He was then confused when he could see Ul in the emergency room.

Ul had run towards Gray and warped her arms around him. The realization had hit him and hoped that he was wrong. Once Ul had let go, his body was shaking and his heart was beating. Scared that he might lose his father this time. He leaned on his elbows to his knees as he hoped that everything is just a joke and that they are only pranking him.

But later, the doctor came out and asked for someone who he can discuss, about the patient's health.

Gray felt dread as he saw his father come out from the emergency room, looking white as a sheet and some wires attached to him. His eyes widened as he bit his tears, hoping that his father is just fine. Lyon who was beside him placed his arms over his shoulder for comfort, and it was the first time in years since Gray had leaned to him.

A week had already passed since that incident, and Gray could be seen cutting an apple for the patient. Silver who was sitting down in his hospital with a drip attached to the back of his hand.

"Seriously old man, if you're tired you can rest you know."

Silver chuckled, "Sorry, I was so into this project right now. I forgot to take a rest"

"Seriously? you even leave work early just to make sure that someone is home when I got home"

Silver was surprised and chuckled in embarrassment, "So you know?"

"Of course I would" Gray sighed and placed the peeled apple on his father's adjustable table.

An hour later, Ul had arrived and brought food, Gray greeted his aunt and they started to dig in. Silver could only watch them in jealousy though as they eat delicious meals in front of him, while he has to make do with the hospital meal for him.

"Then I'll go home first, I'll come back tomorrow old man" Gray smiled and closed the door as he left. Ul who was staying behind waved her hand to him and smiled. One they made sure that Gray was out of earshot. Ul sighed and stared at Silver looking annoyed.

"Are you serious about this?"

But she got no response.

"You know there is still a possibility that you'll make it through"

"No, I can tell that my health is declining Ul." He sighed and signed the adoption papers on his table. "So once I die, I'll leave Gray in your hands. Also, I left enough money to support him until he graduates college and lives on his own when the time comes. So, I'll leave Gray in your hands."

"Who cares about the money. Why don't you live for Gray?"

"and you think that I don't want to?"

Ul turned silent as she watched his eyes, with a sigh she nodded her head and signed the papers as well.

A month had already passed and Gray continued to visit his father. As days passed on, he could notice his father getting weaker every day. He would sometimes have fevers for a week and better the next day. His father was rapidly getting thinner by the day and had started eating less.

He sat beside his father's bed and stared at his sleeping form. He placed his hand over his and grasped it.

"Hm? What's this missing Papa?" Silver smiled weakly to his child, earning a muffled chuckle from him.

"Shut up"

"What's wrong Gray?"

The raven-haired lad and smiled towards his Dad. "Nothing, I just want you to get better"

The older man smiled softly as he tightly clutched his son's hand as much as he could. He could see the worried look on his boy as he stared at the boy watched at his hand. Gray couldn't help but let a tear fall from his eyes, realizing his father is getting worse each day.

"You better take care of yourself, Gray. Mama and Papa love you very much" The old man smiled as he went back to sleep.

Another month had passed, when his father suddenly died. His body wasn't able to keep up due to overstress and his body was failing him rapidly. It was only then after his death that he heard, his father would go to work late at night and come back home at five in the morning to prepare his breakfast, and leave again once he went to his school.

Staring at the papers in front of him about his father's last will. He was mourning from his loss when Ul had told him everything about his father that he wasn't aware of. "You could have just asked me to help you. Who cares about money if you're not here. Damn old man." he muttered to himself, but Ul heard him clear.

She reached out her hand to him, as she grabbed him for a tight hug. It was only then that Gray had finally cried loudly.

A week had passed by after his father's funeral, packing up his bags and placing them at the back of the van. He decided to leave his home for now, as the pain from losing his father still hurts him most. Agreeing on staying with his Aunt, he looked at his home for the last time and then went inside the van.

Each day Gray was healing from his loss, it wasn't easy for him to do so. As everything he does reminds him of his father. Gray placed the memorial tablet of his Mom and Dad on top of his cabinet, as he watched them longingly. Placing a hand on his heart, hoping to at least ease the pain. He took out the piece of paper from his wallet and read the letter written again.

0o0o0

Papa's sorry Gray. There's an emergency at work and I need to report early. I prepared your favorite meal for you. Also. Ul and her spawns will be coming later, so come home early after school. Papa and Mama love you so much. From your amazing Papa with love.

0o0o0

'Don't worry Mom, Dad. I'll live through' He promised that day as he retired to his bed.

Six months had passed since then, Gray was getting used to living with Ul's family. As days went by, he started to move on and enjoyed his days with them. He was so comfortable with them, that he started to refer to Ul as his Mother.

Ul's tears had flown happily as she hugged her adopted son tightly. After she heard him say, "Well you've been acting like my mother since I was two, and it's not like I forgot my mother completely. It's just that you're more closer to a Mother" he stated with a flushed face.

Gray is almost entering high school next school year, and currently, they are on a family vacation. as he was walking with his brother to head to the movies, Gray noticed a curly-haired woman walking unsteadily by the side of the road. He was about to ignore her, but he suddenly heard a loud beep from a truck. Without warning, he leaped towards her and grabbed her to the side. They landed on the ground safe from being hit. He felt a sting by his elbow but decided to ignore to check if the girl was fine.

"I'm so sorry, are you okay? What am I doing?" he could hear the yellow-eyed girl look at him worriedly as she fussed about his wound. "Are there any injuries? Do you need help? Want me to bring you to the hospital?" she asked frantically, checking her bag for money.

"Hey, are you alright?" Gray heard someone asked him, still sitting on the ground. He raised his head, to see a familiar-looking pink-haired girl. The girl tilted her head to the side and asked him again. Gray could feel his cheeks warming as she stared at her black eyes, watching him curiously. He started to get flustered as she asked him again. Unable to think for words, he only nodded his head and left in a hurry. He peeked from his shoulder and could see the pink-haired girl calling for the black-haired lady's attention.

Once Lyon had seen him out from the crowd, he was scolded for acting abruptly without warnings. However, he moved on and decided to tease his brother. "Gray is so in love right now"

The raven-haired lad averted his eyes from the back of the pink-haired girl to his brother. "Shut up".

Two years passed by, Gray finds himself in his room talking to a toddler life-sized doll with pink hair. Claiming that she has been cursed by a witch.

TBC

Laters,

-B27