LUCY HEARTFILIA

I was only twelve while he was sixteen when we first met...

Clatter of utensils against the snow-white plates, clings of glasses of champagne, and chit-chats of elders mixed together in this huge room with a slow music playing in the background filled my ears. The huge chandelier in the center was making everything sparkle in my eyes, it's almost blinding. The countless waiters passing by were like a gentle wind with precision as they attended to everyone's needs.

While the newly-weds were busy greeting their guests, I felt exhausted just by watching Mavis move around with that white wedding gown of hers. She was so happy, though, so I guessed she's fine.

I stared at my parents next to me, innocent to all the things they had been blabbering about with their friends, mostly regarding their businesses and such. They were all busy, ignoring a kitten like me being drowned in an ocean of lions. Pouting my lips, I dropped my gaze down on my plate that still had half of my food. The fact that I had no one to talk to affected my appetite.

"Lucy, what's wrong?" My mother's gentle voice made me look at her. She smiled, her long silver earring swayed as she fully faced me. Her thumb swiped something off the corner of my lips.

"I'm bored, Mama."

The other few kids who were invited had already gone home with their parents, leaving me alone and had no chance to talk to them at all. If I was still in Crocus, I would have already been in my pajamas by this time and setting up my room for Levy and Juvia's sleepover. We'd watch movies, or maybe some fashion videos, too.

But now that I was here, I had no choice but to endure my loneliness until the reception was over.

"Hm, don't you want to try that?" She pointed to the gigantic chocolate fountain at the corner of the hall. It was surrounded by fluffy marshmallows and sweet strawberries. I had actually been wanting to try those, but I had noticed that no one was going there so I thought maybe it wasn't meant to be eaten...

Perhaps a display?

"Is it okay?"

Mama chuckled. "Of course." She then looked at someone sitting just across from me.

There he was.

The younger brother of the groom. Zeref's exact opposite.

If the eldest had this welcoming aura, bright smile, and soft pair of dark eyes, the youngest radiated this strange demanding aura, it's almost rude. His always sharp onyx orbs made his smug expression much darker as if it was hiding a raging storm. It hadn't been a day since I met him, but I knew I'd never like him.

We would never get along, I was sure, based on how he glared at me whenever our eyes met. And for some reason, it annoyed me. So much. Who wouldn't be, anyway? I hadn't done anything wrong yet he's acting like a jerk.

Hmph! Grumpy old man.

"Natsu, could you accompany my daughter for a while?"

From his phone, he lifted his eyes and directly landed at me. As usual, it was threatening and sharp, hiding behind some strands of his unruly pink hair. And even if I didn't want to, I couldn't stop myself from feeling nervous. If I wasn't frozen on my seat, I would have begged my mother to let me go alone.

His eyes narrowed before he glanced at Mama. The corner of his lips rose a bit, though his expression remained the same.

"Sure…" I gripped on my dress when he stood up and walked to my side. He looked down at me with his icy stares, hands were shoved in his pocket. I could feel my cheeks turning warm in embarrassment.

"Let's go, kid."

My name's Lucy!

Despite my hesitation, I followed him without a word. Now that I was just behind him, I noticed that my height probably reached only his chest, or maybe lower than that. As frustrating as it might sound, my height was only like that of a normal ten years old. My mother always told me that I would still get higher if I sleep on time and eat healthy foods, though.

I didn't know how old he was, but I once heard from Mama and his mother's conversation earlier that he's already in eleventh grade, while I was only an incoming seventh grader. He's way older than me... Maybe he's sixteen?

He probably had a girlfriend.

He was handsome and he looked cool, too, especially with that elegant tux he's wearing. But he's a huge snob. Even with his gorgeous appearance, would a girl still like him?

I shook my head, realizing that I was too young to think beyond that stuff. Mama was always telling me that I should focus on my studies first, because aside from it's my responsibility, it would also help me have a better future. And it would make her happy.

I wanted to make Mama happy.

But why did Natsu not seem like that...?

"Careful!" I gasped when I suddenly felt a large warm hand grab my arm, pulling me closer to him. I was lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice a waiter crossing my direction with two trays of glasses on his hands.

"Apologies, Sir!" the man quickly exclaimed, glancing at me with worry.

"No, the fault is ours," Natsu replied in his low, controlled voice. The waiter still bowed, giving me a smile of apology before he left as he tried to balance the trays he was carrying.

I watched him still in shock until he disappeared in a crowd of guests. But then, I had gathered my senses back when Natsu's annoyed voice echoed as he distanced himself from me, letting go of my arm.

"Tsk! Watch where you're going!" His glare made my chest tighten as small tears of embarrassment and pain moistened my eyes a bit. "It'd be my fault if something bad happened to you! Don't cause me trouble!"

Maybe it was my fault. I wasn't paying attention to everything around me, considering I was in a busy party with servers rushing left and right. If Natsu didn't pull me, I wondered what would have happened. For the worse, he'd be blamed because he was asked to look after me. It was indeed my fault.

But... Did he really have to look at me that way? Did he really hate me that much?

"S-Sorry…" My lower lip trembled.

Ever since I was born, I was the center of attention. Heartfilias and Vermillions were one of the well-known names of the country. Heartfilias owned the biggest airport of Fiore, while the Vermillions owned islands with their numerous plantations and farms that had a big contribution to the country's economy in terms of agriculture.

As the only child of the couple from those two powerful families, I was envied by many, and adored by everyone. Intelligence, money, having loving parents and supportive friends, I was living the life of perfection. I thought I already had all the things that a person could wish for.

But a single island changed everything. Being here made me realize that not everything could go to your favor, not all people could love you. No matter how perfect you are, even if you're the nicest person in the world, someone would still exist to throw hate even if you've done nothing.

And Natsu's existence justified that, I guess.

I thought I'd be back to my old life once the party was over, but it felt like my whole world stopped when I heard my parents' announcement during our breakfast the next morning. We were gathered at a long table with the Dragneels.

"Mavis, we're planning to leave Lucy here for a month. Is it okay with you?" Mama started. From my plate of food, I raised my gaze at her in disbelief.

"Of course, Layla-san," Mavis, my cousin to my mother-side, gave me a soft smile. "Zeref still has some things to take care of in their company before we fly to Alvarez, so I'll be left alone here for a while. I'd be more than happy if Lucy's here."

"Mama…" I held onto my mother's arm, silently begging for her to not leave me here. She looked at me, her eyes softened when she saw my worries.

"You'll be okay, Lucy. It's your first time here, right? Then treat this as your vacation, Princess," she tucked a strand of blonde hair behind my ear. "We'll be on a business trip soon, so it's better if you'd stay here while we're away. Don't you want to be with Mavis?"

I glanced in my cousin's direction. We rarely see each other because she was living here, while I was in Crocus which was an ocean away. She was visiting us only when there's a special occasion. Even so, we had grown closer because she's naturally an outgoing person. Despite our age gap, she knew how to get along with me.

"I-I want…" I really wanted to spend time with her while I still had the chance. But the fact that I was on the same island with Natsu was holding me back.

Tenroujima's ours. It's a huge island with its half as our private property where this mansion, our farm, and the plantation were located, while the other half was made as a town to be rented for people to live on. But since the Dragneels had been a close family friend, my grandpa allowed them to buy a portion of land.

That's where the siblings were currently living, while their parents were staying in the Alvarez for their businesses.

"Then stay here. You never know, they might decide to live in Alvarez for good. It would take long for you to meet Mavis again," Papa chuckled.

Zeref, who's sitting on the head of the table, scratched the back of his head. "Eh, we haven't talked about that yet, Jude-san."

"O-Okay…" I murmured, still not sure about the decision I made.

"If that's the case," Mrs. Dragneel butted in, a sweet smile with a hint of teasing was directed at Natsu, who's eating silently across from me. "Then I guess we should also have Natsu stay here."

"What?"

My breath got stuck in my throat when he glared at his mom, even though she didn't seem to mind it as her smile widened.

"You see, as long as Mavis is staying here, she won't surely be around at times because she's the one in charge of their plantation, so I figured Lucy would need someone to accompany her while her cousin's at work."

"She's not a toddler anymore to have someone to take care of her, Ma," then he turned his glares at me. I began pinching the pad of my fingers as my hands rested on my lap. "Besides, it's not like she'll be entirely alone. Maids are everywhere. She can talk to them if she's bored."

"Natsu," his father's warning tone made his lips form a line as his eyebrows furrowed.

"But I have a race this week—"

"That's the exact reason why we want you to stay here!"

"Race?" Mama interrupted. Mrs. Dragneel's smile came back when she turned to my mom, tucking a strand of curly black hair behind her ear.

"It's stressful, really. Unlike his calm and collected brother, our baby here—"

"Stop that, Mama!"

"—has grown untamed," she continued, ignoring Natsu who's now murdering the food with his glares. "Instead of focusing on his studies, he's busy involving himself in different life-threatening sports!"

"That's my hobby," Natsu scoffed.

"What hobby? Putting your life in danger? Why don't you just study—"

"I'm excellent at school."

"In terms of what?" Zeref joined in putting his brother in a hot seat, smirking. "Academically or playing with girls?"

What...?

"Shut up, nii-chan!"

"It could be both?" Papa remarked, humor was hinted in his voice.

Their mom's eyebrows furrowed. "Hey, it's not good to break girls' hearts! Karma will hit you someday, Natsu!"

Everyone laughed when Natsu turned grumpier. Even if they found the topic funny, or maybe they just enjoyed pissing him off, I couldn't form a smile. The thought that he had a girlfriend was lingering in my head.

Ah... Maybe that's the reason why he's always busy on his phone yesterday? Maybe he's texting her...? Maybe he couldn't wait to see her again, that's why he didn't want to stay here longer? Aside from he hated being with me, there's someone waiting for him...

I dropped my gaze on my plate and pretended to eat when his eyes found mine. It felt like he'd know what's running in my head, he'd find out what I was feeling, and that was my nightmare. I didn't want him to think that I liked him, because I really didn't. He's older, harsh, and dark—someone that I couldn't keep up with.

He's a whole destructive energy. He's way too much for me.

I was hurt because it's my first time to have someone who treated me this way while he's nice to others, that's all.

I wanted to convince myself that that's the only reason... That should be the only reason.

However, I was terrified when I realized that it's not. I was afraid that it's more than that... I couldn't accept that I was so hurt after hearing his words later that day. It was not intended, I didn't mean to eavesdrop but...

Everyone was already in their own room to take a rest. Mama and Papa would go back to Crocus tomorrow morning to arrange something before their said business trip. Natsu's parents as well, while Zeref would be back in the Central to take care of some papers. Meanwhile, I couldn't stand the silence and loneliness of my room, the reason why I went out to get something to eat in the kitchen.

However, I was stopped in my tracks before I could enter when I heard voices inside.

"...please, Nii-chan!"

"And why?"

"I've already told you! I don't want to be here! I can't take another day in this mansion, what more a whole vacation?! No!"

"You're not giving me the answer I wanted, Natsu," Zeref let out a heavy sigh. "Don't you want to be with Lucy? You've been wanting to have a little sister, right?"

"What?!"

Natsu's response made me flinch. Anger and frustration were visible in his raised voice. Was hearing my name could make him that mad?

"Absolutely not! This has nothing to do with her, okay? The hell do I even care?"

My eyes stung, heating up as tears slowly formed. I tried to held it back, but it couldn't be stopped from falling after hearing what he truly felt.

"I don't like her! She's a spoiled brat. You can't make me babysit a Heartfilia, nii-chan."

"Natsu!"

Before I knew it, I heard footsteps going in my direction, until a pair of shoes stopped right in front of me. But instead of looking at him, I kept my head down. I didn't want him to see my tears. I didn't want him to feel pity for me, or to see the satisfaction on his face from seeing me cry... I was crying because of someone like him. I couldn't believe it.

"Get out of my way, Lucy."

Fighting out a sob, I turned around and ran upstairs. When I knew that I was already out of his earshot, I let myself cry the pain out. I went directly to my parent's room, knocking on their door as if my life depended on it. When I heard Mama's voice, I stormed in and threw myself on her, not minding that she'd just woken up.

"Lucy? What's wrong?" Her voice was filled with worry, her fingers immediately found my hair, brushing it gently with comfort. "Hey, why are you crying?"

"P-Please, Mama! I beg you! Let me go home with you!"

"What happened, Lucy?" I felt Papa's hand caressing my back. "We thought you agreed—"

"No! I don't want to stay here anymore! Let's go home! Let's go home already!"

"Hush! Okay, Lucy. Please stop crying!" I buried my face on my mother's chest as she hugged me. Those hurtful words kept ringing in my ears. "Did you have a nightmare? Don't worry, we're here. Stop crying…"

I wished it was all just a nightmare. Those feelings, that strange pain I had felt... I wished it wasn't true. But it was, and I couldn't accept it. Was it possible for someone as young as me to feel that way? Was it possible to even feel it in just a very short span of time? I didn't know. I was hoping that it was only a shallow infatuation, something that would fade as the days got older.

Almost evening of that same day, I had managed to convince my parents to go back to Crocus. The Dragneels were shocked at the sudden change of plans, even Mavis, except for Natsu who watched me like nothing happened. He was probably happy that it had turned out this way.

He was forced to stay because of me, so now that I was leaving, he was surely thankful because he's finally free from being stuck here. He would go back to his normal life, so would I.

I would forget him, and everything that had happened on that island.

And so I did.

Four years had passed, I turned sixteen, and everything was back to normal. Whenever I was looking back at that day, instead of pain and bitterness, I'd just laugh it off. I couldn't believe that really happened. Seriously? I was only twelve, a very innocent young girl.

I had convinced myself that it was normal to feel hurt after hearing those harsh words, that I wasn't attracted to him but to the curiosity itself as to why he's acting like that towards me. It wasn't connected to any romantic reasons. Remembering that I had thought of it that way made me cringe at myself. How ridiculous.

I thought I was already fine. I was already in ninth grade and I was doing great with my studies. I also had a fun and colorful social life. Last day of the academic year, I was even planning with my friends on how we'd spend our summer vacation.

Until that night came...

"Lucy, we'll be visiting Tenrou this summer. And I'm not accepting a no," Mama broke the silence at our dining table. My eyes widened as I stared at her, but I kept my mouth shut. "Mavis' youngest son's first birthday is coming in two weeks. And they have invited us for a big party."

For the past years, they had been asking me to go with them whenever they planned to visit the island, but I always chose to be left here with countless excuses I didn't even know where I'd pulled out from. But it's better than to see him again, let alone go back to that place.

However, this time, I didn't have a choice. I didn't want to make them upset by constantly declining their invitation, especially for a special occasion like this. Larcade's first birthday.

And so I went back to Tenrou after four hard years of convincing myself that what I had felt back then was just an illusion of my innocence, without knowing that it would be triggered again with just a single sight of him.