STOP! IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOT READ THE FIRST CHAPTER, I SUGGEST YOU GO BACK.

I've re-uploaded this with a totally new writing style and better conflict so I hope it would be appreciated.

Enjoy!

Without them noticing, a year had passed by. Nothing had changed between both of them. They still hadn't talked to each other; they had never eaten, watched TV or sat together. Erza didn't know what's Jellal's favorite food, color, or even his birthday, so was the otherwise. But it's better for them. Because mostly couples fight because of miscommunication, so nothing would happen if they didn't communicate to each other, that's what they thought.

One day, something forced them to change, even for just a while.

Erza walked out from the bus she took. Along the ride, she was thinking how she should actually buy a car so it would be more convenient for her to go to work. At first she thought it wouldn't be any necessary because Jellal had one. But once they lived together, it would be absurd if Erza asked Jellal to give her a ride to work.

After taking the lift, Erza walked to her apartment room and opened her bag. She examined it slowly, searching for her cardkey, "Ah, there it is," she said while slowly opening the door of her apartment room. She took off her shoes and walked to the living room. She walked to the bathroom and filled the water in the tub then walked back to the living room. Not even caring if Jellal was home—who was probably not—she threw her bag to the sofa and slowly taking off her clothes one by one until only her underwear was on.

She was about to take off her underwear, "O-Oh! Pardon me!" Erza startled when she heard someone at the door. She turned at the door, seeing a petite young woman was now standing behind Jellal's figure. Oh, Jellal brought someone home. Not that I care. Erza thought but she immediately wore her shirt back, at least to cover up.

"I'm home," Jellal suddenly said. Erza looked at him as if she thought Jellal had hit his head along the way home. But his eyes were like saying, "Just go along with it." Erza smirked. Okay, I could act like a caring wife once and a while.

"Welcome home. You brought a friend along?" She smiled brightly at Jellal as he snorted, holding his laugher.

"I-I'm Mr. Fernandes's co-worker, Risa. I-It's not like we're having an affair or something!" She said with a total panic tone. Not to mention she's shaking. Erza looked at the girl closely, she's wet. "I-I was on the way home a-and it rained. I-I didn't bring any umbrella, s-so Mr. Fernandes said I could d-dry my clothes h-here, so I—"

"It's okay… Please, make yourself at home. I'll go get you a towel and a change of clothes." Erza said as she hurriedly took her messy clothes and her bag from the couch and walked to her bedroom first. She changed her clothes as fast as possible and took a change of clothes for Risa. Then she walked to the bathroom to grab a towel and gave everything to Risa.

"That was fast. Thank you, Mrs. Fernandes!" Risa said with a big smile. Erza smiled back, but something's not right. She felt butterflies in her stomach.

Yeah, it's the first time someone had called her Mrs. Fernandes. People in her company still called her Ms. Scarlet because she didn't tell anyone in her company about her wedding. She's married with an enemy's president after all.

"Glad to help. Since it's already late, I think it would be better for you to sleep here. You can sleep at the guest room, even though it's small. Tomorrow is Sunday, so work won't be any problems, right?" Erza said to her knowing that it's the best thing for her, she didn't even care if she really is Jellal's girlfriend. It's the best hospitality she could offer right now.

"Oh, no. I don't want to bother a newlywed couple." She said as Erza heard someone quietly almost burst into laughter. Erza turned her face as she glared at Jellal, looking ready to strangle him. It's the first expression he ever showed me but now it's not the time for that! She thought

"We've been married for a year, Ms. Clark." Jellal said to Risa as her eyes widen "But it would be troublesome if people in the company knew." 'Troublesome,' he said that so easily, Erza thought "So please keep quiet about it." Jellal smiled at Risa as Erza could see her blushed.

Take a hint, Jellal. She likes you. Erza thought while keep looking and smiling at the girl

"Erza, I'll just take her home after she bathe and change her clothes." Jellal said to Erza as Erza forced a smile back to Jellal.

"Alright, please show her where the bathroom is. The water is ready—even though it was for me—I'll go make you a cup of milk. Or do you like coffee instead?"

"No, I prefer milk." She said as Erza smiled and walked to the kitchen. Looking at her, Jellal smiled a bit and Risa noticed it. She looked at the man next to her, "Mr. Fernandes," she said slowly as Jellal snapped from his thought.

"Oh, yes. The bathroom is this way," Jellal said while walking in front of her towards the bathroom.

"You have a very nice wife, Mr. Fernandes." Risa said with a small smile as if to test him. Hearing that he smiled while looking towards the kitchen, seeing Erza was plugging the water heater

"Believe me, I know."

"Then, I'll be taking her back." Jellal said when Risa had finished her bath and drank the milk Erza made.

One thing Erza was glad of was, Jellal immediately took her home before she started interrogating her with questions about their marriage that Erza knew she could never answer them. Not now, not ever.

"I'll be giving the clothes back on Monday."

"Oh, don't worry. Just give it to Jellal anytime." Erza said as she suddenly snapped. It seems like I'm the cupid for them. I'm giving a chance for them to meet again. Wow, such a caring wife. Erza thought sarcastically to herself. "Be careful, it's still raining." Erza said to Jellal with the fake smile adorned to her face, so did Jellal.

"Alright. Please don't go to sleep first, there's something I want to talk about," Jellal said as he suddenly kissed Erza's forehead. Erza wanted to jump and slap Jellal but there's no way because she's playing the role of Jellal's lovely wife right now. But her anger evaporated quickly when she saw Risa's face turned all white. Ah, she indeed wanted to steal Jellal away. Wow, Jellal. You're such a mean guy. This is not the proper way to reject a lady.

Erza waved at both of them from the door and closed the door when they were out from Erza's sight. "Seeing her, probably Jellal won't go home tonight," Erza said slowly "Man, ladies these days are wolf in sheep clothes." She shivered as she climbed to her bed, forgetting about Jellal's request.

That's what she wanted, but she never fell asleep and she didn't know why. Tick, tock, tick, tock, the clock kept ticking and showed that it was almost midnight; there's no sign of Jellal coming home, and probably he wouldn't for tonight. Not to mention tomorrow is Sunday. One year of marriage, Jellal was never home on Sundays, or he would be back—from wherever he went to—at night.

But her assumptions broke when the door of the room flied open slowly.

"I didn't think you'd actually wait." Jellal said as he entered. He looked at Erza who was sitting on the bed, leaning her back to the head of the bed.

"Yeah. What do you want to talk about?" Erza said, trying her best to hide her nonchalant tone, but failed. Jellal opened his briefcase and took out a paper. It looked like an invitation card. He gave it to Erza as she opened it, reading every letters carefully.

"My company will be holding an annual party and everyone who is married should bring their spouse. You should come." Jellal said while taking his clothes in front of the bed, not caring the fact Erza was there. "It's about time I introduce you as my wife. We can't hide it forever." Jellal said as Erza diverted her attention from the invitation to Jellal who was putting on his pants. Wow, such development after a year. Erza thought "So please act like how you did in front of Ms. Clark again. So no one would suspect us."

Hearing that, Erza snorted. So this is what he meant. He wants me to act as his lovely wife again in front of his coworkers. Okay, fine. I'll show you. Erza smiled confidently inside but her face remained the same outside, "Alright. No problem."

"And," Jellal immediately added, "We still need to practice." Jellal said as Erza could feel she's crushing the invitation with her hands as she trembled in anger, what the heck? She thought "No wife would look so calm when his husband brought a woman home." Erza clenched her teeth. Well, sorry for not caring about you, it's because I don't like you, duh. "You should really act like my wife by the time of the party." Jellal said as he climbed to the bed and pulled the blanket slowly so it would cover him. Okay, starting tomorrow I'll show him I could act as his lovely wife!

"Good morning, Jellal." Erza said, smiling at Jellal who woke up because Erza was opening the curtains. Jellal blinked few times, seeing his wife smiling at him first thing in the morning. And it's really the first time Erza did that. Erza tried her best to give her brightest—act of—smile to her husband. She wore an apron and tied her hair to the back. Jellal could almost burst into laughter seeing such a change of attitude from Erza.

Jellal got up from his bed and walked to Erza, "Good morning, Erza." He put his hand on Erza's waist and kissed Erza's forehead. He tried his best to not laugh in front of her when he saw Erza's expression. She's all red, but not from embarrassment, she's angry.

Erza hid her anger behind a strained smile, even though her fists were all crumpled; ready to give a punch or two on Jellal's handsome face. "Breakfast is ready, so please wash you face first. At least to make you fully awake, before oh, I don't know, wake you up with my own hands?" Erza said, smiling as always but her eyes were saying the otherwise.

Jellal smiled and let go of Erza as she immediately fled to the living room and punched the pillow on the sofa to release her anger. Jellal held his stomach and put one of his hands on his mouth, he wanted to laugh, but he didn't want Erza's fists to fly to him instead of the pillow.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth, he walked to the dining room. He stopped for a while, looking at the small dining table that was rarely used by both of them—or actually never been used by Jellal but Erza usually drank coffee at the morning before she went to work—was adorned by light foods for breakfast.

"None of your likings?" Erza asked with a straight tone but she suddenly gasped, "I mean, is there anything you don't like?" She immediately changed her tone into a sweet-wifey tone.

"No," Jellal said with his normal straight tone too as Erza looked at him with piercing eyes. He acted all gooey few minutes ago, and now he's acting normal. Sheesh, I don't get him.

Jellal took the seat across Erza. Well, the table was only for two and small anyway. Silence covered the whole apartment room. Erza gulped, she should really think of a topic to melt the ice, probably Jellal kept silent because he's testing her, right?

"What should I wear for the party?" The first question jumped from Erza's mind to her mouth

"Anything formal."

"The party's in a week, right?"

"Yeah," Erza snapped hearing Jellal's nonchalant answer as she decided to keep it short.

"We'll stay there long?"

"No,"

"Right." Erza stood up and took her plates and washed it. She took off her apron and untied her hair. She peeked at the clock, it's 9 am. She could do some of her work in the living room. She walked out from the dining room as she was stopped,

"You don't need to do anything like this again," Jellal suddenly said, walking towards the sink and not looking at Erza. Erza turned her body towards Jellal who was still facing the sink.

"Pardon?" Erza didn't want to sound so angry, but it's too late.

"You don't have to cook for me—"

"So you're saying my food was not good?" Erza immediately cut Jellal's words.

"No," Jellal said as he immediately walked towards the front door and took his coat, what the? Erza thought, looking at her husband's strange behaviors. The door slammed as Jellal left without saying anything. Without any explanation.

Erza sighed looking at the door. "My efforts all went to waste,"

"You're mad, man?"

Jellal put his phone between his right ear and right shoulder as he tried his best to park his car with this position. "Listen here, Simon. You know why I did that," Jellal said as he opened the window of his car and looked towards his apartment's window. The lights are still on, Jellal thought.

"You're already at your mid 20s. You can't keep those things haunt you." The voice from the phone, someone called Simon said, "And why do you think your father did something so troublesome like arranging your marriage? Respect your wife—"

"Enough about that. She acted that way because I asked her to be my real wife during the party. There's no other meaning," While talking, Jellal kept seeing at the window of his apartment. No movements from the window, great. He thought

"Huh? Wait, Jellal, are you—"

"We'll continue later, Simon. Bye." Jellal said as he immediately disconnected his phone. He walked out of his car to his apartment building, entered the lift and walked to his apartment door. He opened the door slowly. He took off his shoes and coat, ready to walk to the bed, but his steps stopped at the sight of Erza, sleeping on the dining table. Across her, there are kinds of food that was usually served for dinner.

Jellal walked to Erza, about to touch her until suddenly Erza woke up and looked at Jellal "Where were you?" Erza shouted. Jellal had never seen Erza looked so worried. Well, probably because he had only seen her expressions starting from yesterday.

"I drove around the cities for a while," Jellal said "What are you doing here?"

"I made you dinner," Erza said "But you're late so I ate mine. But yours is still untouched. Have you eaten dinner?"

"No," Jellal looked at Erza for a while as he sighed hardly "And I told you, you don't need to do these things again."

Erza stood up and looked directly at Jellal's eyes, moving closer as their chests touch. "Listen," she put her pointer finger on Jellal's chest "I said to myself that during the week I'll try my best to act as your real wife, so just bear with it. I never broke a promise, especially I made to myself." Erza said as she walked away towards the bed while staggering and yawning.

A small smile appeared on Jellal's face as it immediately disappeared. "I can't do this," he whispered.

Alright! Did you like it? I'll update soon! Yeah, not another year, I promise :')

But I want to say, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORTS!

During my hiatus, most of you readers still reviewing this story and keep PMing me and it was really appreciated ny me! If you guys did not tell me how much you loved this story, I would really update for 2 or 3 years later, haha. (No joking, tho)

Do you like the new version of this story? Feel free to PM me because my email is connected to my phone and it always sent me the notification. Nothing would be missed or unread.

I love you! Don't kill me yet, 'kay? :')

Sincerely,

Keiko Amano