Note:

Flashbacks and thoughts in italics

'Thoughts' in the flashbacks are in 'single' inverted commas.

I do not condone or encourage any behaviors in this story. It is simply a fictional story.


"Butterfly Effect"


CHAPTER 5

Iris


"Everything that happened today," She flipped her hair over her shoulders, gazing at him through her peacock-blue eyelashes, out the corner of her eyes. "whatever that happened, I hope, will stay between us? We never saw each other, didn't throw ourselves into the river, and never stepped foot in this forest."

"Between you and me. Hah? It's okay!" The expectant gleam in her eyes must have worked like a charm as Loke nodded. He couldn't say no to that. So before giving her a full "Yes," he asked, leaning forward and dropping his voice to a whisper. "But why?"

"I just don't want to deal with talking about this, anymore."

Loke gave it a thought. Albeit confused, he seemed to catch onto her emotional need for some closure. Who knows, maybe, when she's level-headed, she might change her mind. "Although I'd prefer otherwise, I get ya. I could keep this a secret." He winked, characteristically.

"Good. So can Juvia." The look in her eyes told him that the emotions inside her were water in a dam. He knew she was hurt. He wished that she open her mouth and share the goddam pain inside her. He wasn't her friend before, but, at least he wasn't a stranger to her anymore. He didn't have to—he simply shouldn't meddle in her problems—but wanted to help her badly.

There was a dry cough behind her and she turned to see Loke who donned an uncertain smile on his lips. "Mind telling me why were you crying before?" Juvia paused this time. "It's about Gray, isn't it?" She nodded again. Loke pushed back his hair again as the breeze stopped rushing past his ears, deciding he couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "So, are you going to tell me what all that was all about, or is it a ginormous, shady secret?"

He knew if curiosity kills the cat, then the cat that couldn't help itself will be him. "Leave it." She laughed without any feelings. "I'm the idiot here." There it was again, sounding like she was mourning a death. Emotions clouds people's heads. "Love. Juvia has never felt that emotion in my entire life. She didn't love and have never been loved. Until Gray—or so I thought." She decided there was no harm in admitting this one. He couldn't help but note the absence of Gray-Sama. "Gray was right, I was obsessed, that was not love. Juvia was a creep. Now Loke, I suggest you stop wasting your time on me."

Upon hearing that, Loke broke into a sweat.

"No, you were not. I admit that I don't know how to make you believe otherwise after what I've said. I'm horrible myself, Juvia. It's not enough when I admit that I insulted you only to get back at you. But I'll say this, there's one thing I know. No matter how much it fades into the background, if something is trying to hide, there is always a chance for traces to be left behind." He averted his eyes, adjusted his glasses, and added soberly, "I feel ashamed of myself for not helping you out when you were in need. I don't deserve to be called your guildmate. But still, I'll tell you the truth. "

"I've seen it for myself to ignore that Gray had been giving you mixed signals. He was stringing you along. I had been hanging around with Gray a lot to not see a little bit of what is happening behind the scenes. I just hadn't given it a thought until now." He announced. "Just why should he get in between Lyon and you? It doesn't help when I've overheard him say that Lyon can't date you or have a relationship with you because you're his Nakama." No other explanation. Nothing. "Why should he say that? Who the fuck is he to decide that?"

He felt to himself, like that interviewer who didn't know ABCD about manners. Has Jason rubbed off on him too? He admired Juvia for not kicking his ass after this. "Hey. I know I might not be in the place to comfort you, after all. You probably don't want to share with me anything at all. Even so, if you want to talk, I'm here."

"Are you seriously trying to atone or something?" Juvia put a hand to her forehead.

"Well. You could say that. I'm not going to lie or pretend. I could use some self-gratification right now. For you, I think it will be relieving to share some stress. It'll make me feel good at the same time." "Erm. I sounded pretty selfish. Pardon—"

"Loke doesn't have to, really. However, thank you... for being honest."

"My pleasure." He made a mock bow. "Still didn't tell me why you fancied taking a swan dive off the bridge"

"You know, I'm a boring storyteller. Loke-san is still sure he wants to know?"

"Only if you don't mind telling me. I mean, it's okay if you don't trust me enough to tell. And. Agh. Come on, cut the san. Let's stop with the formal pretense. Huh? We're far from that at this point. I know you know that too."

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