"It's gonna be a long flight."
Natsu thought while he sat on his private plane crossed legs, he's looking at the window with his cheeks resting on his palm. He was deep in thoughts while Gray and Erza were sitting afar from him. They are both loud and playing cards but his concentration wasn't affected at all.
He was thinking of how he can cut his trip short and still accomplish everything on his agenda. He's already itching to go back home, to his wife. While lost in his thoughts, Mira silently approached him and he only noticed her when she reached out her hand to give him a black paper bag.
Natsu looked at it then looked at Mira. "What's this, Mira?" he asked.
"Juvia gave it to me before we left." Natsu did not take the paper bag and just looked out the window again. He wasn't a bit interested. Mira sighed and sat beside him while holding the bag with her hands.
"She said Lucy asked her to hold on to it until the party ends,"
Upon hearing Lucy's name, he straightened his back then looked at Mira and waited for her to speak again.
"It looks like, this is her birthday present for you and she wanted to give it after the party."
Natsu's still silent and he's just looking at Mira. She smiled at him and placed the paper bag on his lap.
She stood up and before leaving Natsu again on his world she said, "I never thought I would see you again like this after your break up with Lisanna. It makes me happy knowing that you've given yourself a chance to love again."
Then she walked in the direction of Erza and Gray.
He didn't have the strength to respond but a small smile curved his lips.
Lucy woke up with swollen eyes and no motivation at all to get up but when she saw the bottle of vodka on the table covered with sand, her eyes widen and covered her face with the blanket. She was so embarrassed by what happened the previous night.
When she looked back, the blonde man was following her.
She stopped walking but the man did not. She faced him and was taken aback when she realized that he's already near her. She was scared and she was looking at him accusingly and started saying…
"What are you…"
The man's face is showing no emotions at all and he's looking at her. She stepped back carelessly and the bottle of vodka fell on the sand.
When the man was faced to faced her, he picked up the bottle, gave it to her, and just walked past by her without saying a word.
She felt relieved and heaved a sigh then suddenly the place where she's standing lit up. When she turned around to continue walking to her villa, she saw the man opened the sliding door of the villa in front of her and before he went inside, their eyes met and she saw him gave her a coy smile.
She's so embarrassed about the fact that she thought he'll be attacking her or what.
She just realized that she saw him near the door of the inn and was about to go out but when he saw her confused, he went to her and helped her.
"I'm already having a bad day… and this embarrassment is the cherry on top of the cake…" she said to herself then slouched while walking to her villa which is just beside the villa of this blonde man.
She sat up and hugged her knees to her chest.
"Now. How should I start my day…" she asked herself.
Her bed is in the middle of the room and is in front of the villa's sliding door.
She didn't close the door the previous night so when the wind blew, the curtains of her villa's door danced. Then she noticed a white rose and a small box on the table of her veranda.
Though she didn't have the strength to get up, something inside her is saying that she needs to open that box and before she knows it, she's already standing in front of the table.
Under the white rose is a short letter saying... "I miss you already. -N"
She bit her lips then smirk. "Idiot. After kissing another woman... tsk."
Then she reached out for the box and opened it. It was a cellphone and there's one voicemail left.
"You don't want to leave me alone huh." She said to herself then placed the phone back in the box. She picked up the letter, flower and box then walked to the bedside table and placed all of them inside the drawer.
Upon arriving at his hotel room Natsu did not spare another second and called Ultear to ask about his wife. He learned that she had not left her room since she arrived and it is already afternoon. He gave her instructions then hung up.
He was worried and at the same time, his body is dead tired. It's the same feeling that he had for the last 3 years before meeting his wife - constantly worried about his brother while his body is trying to cope up with the stress and all the work that he'd done. He felt nostalgic. He sat on the bed and before he knew it, he's already laying down. His back is flat on the bed.
Today is his last day off before his hectic schedule starting tomorrow. Well, it wasn't supposed to be that hectic, if he just hadn't asked Mira to move up all his schedule so he can go home as early as possible. He actually wanted to start working now but his friends insisted that he also need to rest, he wanted to argue but they're right. The only thing that is keeping him awake right now is the thought of his wife alone. Now, he's thinking if he made the right decision of leaving her like that. "Would it make a difference if I had stayed?" he asked himself silently. He closed his eyes for a brief moment then "Tsk. I'm asking the wrong question. It should be – what can I do for her now."
He got up and made a few calls. After a few hours of making arrangements, he felt kind of relieved. He was about to change his clothes when he noticed the black paper bag on his table. It was the paper bag Mira gave him during their flight. For some reason, he's afraid to open it. He grabbed it then went to his bed and lay down. This time he's using his right arm as a pillow while the other is holding the bag. Before he knew it, he was already fast asleep.
After seeing the note from Natsu, Lucy decided to stay for a few more hours in her bed. She's so amused at how he can make her feel sad, hurt but happy at the same time. She felt so helpless and like she's going crazy. She wanted to see Loki.. she's quite sure that she'll forget about everything even for a little while when she's with her best friend. She's also hoping to see Jellal so she can cry her heart out and hear his brotherly advice. But that's impossible to happen now, she didn't have the strength to get her phone in her car and call them. She also didn't want to bother them… That's when she decided to get up and buy some beer.
She was walking with her head down until she reached the bar counter where Ultear is smiling at her. She sat on one of the bar chairs facing Ultear.
"Just woke up?" she heard someone asked her and she answered absentmindedly "Nope. I just didn't want to leave my room." Then she recognized the voice, her swollen eyes widened and slowly she turned her head beside her. Sitting beside her was the blonde man who she accused of having bad intentions towards her the previous night.
She sighed heavily then bit her lower lip. She forced an awkward smile at him.
On the other hand, he looked at her with a full smile. "Yoh." He said while raising one hand as a greeting to her.
"H-Hi…" she stutters.
"Would you like something to eat Lucy?" she heard Ultear asked but before she can respond, Ultear was already handing her a plate with foods in it. She looked at her questioningly. "Big boss's order." Ultear said " she rested both her arms on the bar counter then leaned to Lucy and whispered "He's been bugging me about you so… please eat. You don't have to finish everything, just eat something, 'kay?"
Lucy smiled at her and responded in a small voice. "Sorry, you've been bothered because of me. Okay, I'll have some."
The older woman just returned her smile then left.
She heaved a heavy sigh then started to poke her food; her mind is wandering…
"Poor foods… they're being murdered over and over again…"
"Heh?" Lucy snapped out of her daydream upon hearing this remark and looked at the person beside her.
The blonde man was smiling again at her, his elbow is resting on the counter and his cheeks on his palm.
"I pity every single food on your plate, you've been killing them over and over again. How can you be so cruel?" He said playfully but his expression is kinda worried.
She laughed for a bit. "I'm sorry I didn't know that carrots…" then she started pointing out the foods on her plate with her fork while continuing "broccoli, these veggies… I didn't know they that they can be killed." She smiled at him while raising an eyebrow.
"Well, ms. that's what you've been doing. You're supposed to eat the foods you know…" then he straightened his back and drink the cola that he's holding. "You're not supposed to just poke them."
"Yeah…" she replied dryly.
"So, love problem?"
"Heh?" she was surprised again by this guy beside her.
"Your eyes are all puffy and swollen…" he said while pouting.
She glared at him but before she can respond he continued "You gave me that same look last night, do I look like one of the goons in a movie?"
She remembered the event the last night and her face turned red. "I-I'm sorry about last night…I was just…" she was cut off again.
"If you're really sorry, then maybe you can chat with me while you're eating?" he's still smiling. She stared at him and realized that he doesn't look bad. Actually, he looks really good and that one earring that he's wearing suits him.
The guy suddenly hugged himself then glared at her. "You're staring Ms.. don't think about doing anything stupid, I'm gonna scream!" He joked.
She was staring at his earing then she looked at him in the eyes and laugh hard. "You're not that bad I admit..." she said bluntly remembering her husband's face and physique "but Nat…" when she realized that she was about to mention Natsu, she heaved a sigh again.
"Now, that's the third heavy sigh since you seated there." He extended his hand to her for a handshake "I'm Sting, I'm bored to death right now so please forgive me if I'm being nosy or if I'm bugging you.."
He had a big smile on his face while waiting for Lucy to accept his handshake. Lucy was stunned and thought that he's weird. But at the very least, he can make her laugh despite how broken she is right now. She accepted the handshake and responded with a smile. "Lucy.. I think you know me already, the veggie murderer, right?"
He laughed loud and he began telling her stories.
She finished her food without her noticing because she was so entertained by Sting. She even forgot that she was here because she wanted to drink!
They continued to have a good laugh until the sunset but every once in a while, someone will approach Sting and asked for a picture or his autograph. She's confused but didn't want to be nosy on his own business.
He's a breath of fresh air. Lucy thought.
She temporarily forgot her feelings of betrayal, hurt and sadness.
Sting was in the middle of telling another funny story when someone said "Sting Eucliffe? Are you hitting on my love?"
Sting was stunned and looked at the man whose arms are now over Lucy's shoulder.
Before Sting can answer Lucy shrieked in surprise. "Loki!" She got too excited to hug him that she almost fell on her seat.
"Easy girl…" Lucy hugged him tight while he tapped her head. After breaking her embrace to her best friend, she asked "How did you find me and how do you know him?" he pointed to the blonde man who's now confused on what's happening.
"I'll tell you later how and as for him…" he looked at Sting with a coy smile and back to Lucy while raising an eyebrow "he's a famous professional tennis player here in the country."
Sting blushed at his words and responded while scratching his head and a grin on his face "professional yes but not really famous…"
"Ah! That's why so many people are looking at you and even approached earlier…" Lucy just realized.
Loki though is not participating to what Lucy is saying. He's just looking at Sting while thinking hard.
This is bad. He thought.