Author's Note: Hello, welcome to my first story. This idea is inspired by a true story, and I'm pretty stuck at home, so I decided to write a story about Jerza. I'm just here to share my idea about this story and in a Jerza context. Just please do share your opinions or suggestions with this new author.

Disclaimer: All the characters mentioned in this piece belong to Hiro Mashima.

A small curve crawled in my lips as I behold the sight of the pictures hanging on the wall. Bittersweet memories had eased my languid heart. I tried to cheer myself up, and I did not even notice that my eyes are shedding tears already. I stared at the last picture and touched the woman's visage.

"Erza? It has been a while..."

As these words left my lips, I wiped out my tears and shifted my gaze to a jar.

"You have to stitch the wound to stop the bleeding for them to live."

Maybe, it's time for me to stitch my wounded heart to continue striving for the future. I can't help to look back at the sweet pictures of us together. I smiled and reminisce our moments together.

"16 long years..."

I sighed and held the jar to my chest. It has been 16 years since we dreamt about this day, yet now, I can only savor the bitterness of solitude. I closed my eyes, and I started to remember our life events.

Our story started back in our years at med school. I did not like the idea of going into medical school since my passion is in photography. I was very reluctant at first since my dad is the one who decided to enroll me at the med school. He was a great doctor, and he wanted me to take a leaf out of his book. I was never interested in it, but then I met her. Our meeting had caused my life to turn upside down.

I was bored on my first day since I got there earlier than expected, so I had to wait for others to arrive. I still had an hour till the first session will start, so I decided to take my DSLR from my bag. I assembled the cam and decided to take pics of the window's view until I began to do some exercise to enhance my skills in creating an angle with some objects. I was about to capture the sight, but a wild butterfly flew from the other window had caught my eye. I adjusted the lens of the camera and focused its lens on the butterfly. I captured the sight twice, but then it flew near the door, so I adjusted its lens. To my dismay, I wasn't able to focus the lens right away, and the butterfly got its way, but then a strange shade of red, no scarlet to be precise, was caught by the camera. I adjusted the lens once more, and I was dumbfounded to see someone entered the room. I accidentally pressed the shutter, and the scarlet-haired woman's face was saved to my gallery.

"I-I'm sorry, did I distract the beauty that you are about to capture?" she said softly, trying to adjust her position from the door.

"No, I-I was about to- I'm done taking pictures… You don't have to be sorry for committing no mistake," I lowered the cam, and I keep my eyes on her.

Did I distract the beauty that you are about to capture?

It's quite funny, but to be honest, she was the most beautiful thing that I had indeed seen since I entered this institution. I watch her draw near to me, and she asked.

"Can I sit here? I mean, in front of you?"

"Uh-oh, why not…" I smiled as I watch her take her seat.

I scrolled my cam, and I saw her picture. I mentally slap myself for acting a little bit inappropriate. I heard her clear her throat, and she turned to me with a smile.

"I'm sure you are into photography, right?"

"Yes," I replied.

"Can I see it? Is it okay for you?"

"Uh-um, wait a sec, let me find some best shot that I've taken," I started to panic, and I swiftly selected the photos that were taken a year ago so that she can't reach her picture; if she can, I don't know what to excuse.

"Here," I stood up and hand her my cam.

I drag the other seat and sit beside her.

"Um, is it okay for me to sit beside you?" I asked.

"Of course, why not um yeah… By the way, I'm Erza, Erza Scarlet…" she extended her arms.

I can't help myself but let out a small laugh.

"Scarlet?"

"Yeah, I'm not kidding… Scarlet that's my last name, what's funny about that?" she replied.

"It's just your hair color is scarlet too."

"Oh? You are the first one who correctly guessed my hair's color. Everyone always considered my hair's color as red. I bet you're an art enthusiast, huh? You have a sharp eye for guessing shades right." She chuckled and lowered her hand, but I managed to take her hand and said.

"I'm Jellal, Jellal Fernandez. It's a pleasure to meet you, Scarlet."

She smiled, and I felt like my heart skipped a beat, she looked back to my cam, and I can't help but stare at her face. Her long scarlet hair was cascaded to her waist had glued my sight. I looked at her hand as she struggled to look for the key to press for her to scroll the images in the cam. I touch the right key, and she let out a chuckle.

"I'm sorry, I'm so clumsy when it comes to cameras like this."

"It's okay though," I reassured.

A few moments later, I can see a change in her ambiance, so I started to feel uneasy. I completely forgot that way back in my childhood. Most of my friends would usually laugh at me because photography is trash for them. I'm sure she would act the same thing.

"I'm sorry, I think I should get my camera back," I smoothly grab the cam, and she smiled at me before letting it go.

"Your skills are highly commendable" she clapped her hands and tapped my shoulder.

I feel a sudden rush of heat in my face, and I tried to conceal it by turning around to my seat. I know people are always good at lying. I stood up and cleared my throat.

"You are just flattering me," I said.

"Nope, I mean it. I highly commend your skills in photography," she said as she turned to face me.

"Really?"

"Yes,"

"Thank you,"

She was about to say something, but someone opened the door. I quickly disassembled the cam to hide it. As far as I know, one of my cousins will also enroll in the same school as I was. I don't want him to know that I still had some cameras with me since my mom was doing why I had few left with me.

"Weirdos," I uttered under my breath as I lowered my head to put the cam in my bag.

The class had started after a few moments, and I can't stop admiring the red-haired beauty in front of me. I was aflutter on her introduction about herself. I don't know, but I feel so attached to her right away, so I listened politely to her introduction. She is a scholar and is from a province. I was so interested to see someone from the middle class who wished to pursue her dreams in the medical field. Admission to medical school requires higher financial demands than other areas, but she is a scholar, so it may aid her a little bit. She is also very passionate about helping and serving others. Her aspiration to be a doctor is mostly influenced by their status in the province where medical facilities are not substantial to cater to all their needs.

"She is more determined to attain this profession than I do," I said to myself.

I did not notice that a smile crawled to my face as I admire the burning passion in her. She was fascinating; her warm personality and her scarlet hair is really something uncanny.

"Mr. Fernandez?" the teacher called out.

"Eh?"

"Jellal, it's your turn." Erza tapped my shoulder, and I gulped.

"I'm not ready for this," I sighed.

"You can do it. Just give it a blast besides it's just a simple introduction about yourself." She smiled as reassurance.

Simple introduction? I always hate myself for being socially anxious. Damn, I ineptly finished my intro and walked awkwardly back to my seat.

I rolled to my bed and grabbed my cam. I assembled it smoothly and turned it to a sitting position.

"Today's quite great,"

It wouldn't be great if you didn't meet her.

"Urgh,"

It enraged me that my brain is not discreet when it comes to my inner thoughts. It always states things in a straight forward manner. I opened the camera and scrolled my gallery. A smile painted my lips as it showed me the perfect sight that I had captured earlier this morning.

"Scarlet?" I let out my arms sideways and stared at the ceiling.

"She was the subject that I had never been so interested in," I smiled to myself.

I may have captured her visage at that time, but deep inside, she had already captured my heart. She isn't just the perfect subject for my art but also for my soul. It perplexed me at the moment because I never felt such a feeling for someone in my life. It may be true that I had a girlfriend before, but that feeling at our meeting is quite different fulfilling. It was like I had found a missing piece of my heart.

Author's Note: I hope you liked the intro of the story. I decided to publish the first part to hear your thoughts about this one, and I may post the second part later on. Keep calm and safe, everyone! And by the way, your reviews are highly appreciated. Yoshi loves y'all! Hehehe, keep calm, and don't forget to pray. We'll be able to get through this pandemic.