It's Complicated

Chapter 10: Confession

Hi! Sorry this chapter seemed rushed! It really is rushed! Huhuhu... For the first time in four months, I had a break from thesis, internship and the seminars... also, forgive me for this is quite short and very dramatic! Love you guys for waiting patiently for my updates!

- Utashi-chan

"I swear I didn't do anything!" I yelped, merely avoiding another whipping from Erza.

Titania gripped the leather tightly in her hands before sending another full blown lash which spliced off a piece of the wooden floor. "Then how do you explain that?!" She replied roughly through gritted teeth.

My eyes quickly darted to the half-naked girl lying beside me "This is not what it looks like!!" I frantically responded, flinging my hands up and down like a lopsided penguin. Damn it. HOW ON EARTH DID THIS HAPPEN ANYWAY?! Think hard, Gray! Think! What happened last night? Okay. Okay. Take a deep breath. Recall. That crazy bartender got Elizabeth drunk... at the plaza... she kissed me. I took her back here then fell asleep. That's all there is right? Then how come she's in her underwear?! I smacked my head violently against my palm. Damn it! Damn it! Elizabeth, come on! Wake up and tell Erza I didn't do anything! HOW COULD SHE EVEN SLEEP THROUGH ALL THIS NOISE?!

"E-elizabeth please wake up..." I begged. I was already on the verge of crying. I'm innocent I tell yah. I didn't do anything to her. Why is life so cruel? I'm too young to die. In the corner of my eyes, I saw Erza put away the leather whip she held, before unsheathing one of her blades. Goodbye life. This is it. I closed my eyes faintly, accepting my fate.

"Gray?" a soft voice called out to me.

As if an angel descending from above to stop a gruesome murder about to happen, Elizabeth woke up. "P-please tell Erza I didn't do anything weird to you." I clambered behind her.

"Do anything weird?" She repeated before looking at herself up and down.

Her whole face grew red... panic was evident on her face. She immediately pulled any fabric within her reach and attempted to cover herself with it. "W-w-what did you do to me...?" her words came out feebly, as if to say she just lost something very important. Hearing that, all of my senses began to fade. I felt as though the whole world betrayed me. What did I do to deserve this?! I'm not that kind of guy who takes advantage. I mean, have you seen Juvia threw herself at me all the time? Not once did I think to have a one night stand with her. I. AM. NOT. THAT. KIND. OF. GUY.

As I was busy fondling with my thoughts, I failed to see the lightning-mage getting to her feet to give me one hell of a lighting kick, sending me off. I landed face down on the sandy beach about to lose consciousness. "G-gray-sama!!!" An oh-so-familiar shrill voice came whilst the start of another whole bull crap I unintentionally got myself into. WHY NOW?! Damn it. The strong and painful pin-like drops of rain battered the back of my body yet I continued to face down, completely vulnerable to any attacks Juvia pressed on me. "Elizabeth probably hates me now" That one thought raced through my mind over and over again. Unable to find the will to fight for dear life, I laid there motionless. What's the use of living if the one I like hates me, right? Damn that sounded so cliché. But the hell with it! IF I die here right now, I should at least let the girl that I like know that I wouldn't do anything that will make her hate me. Then it struck me. I quickly stood up, not having the slightest idea why I thought about confessing at this moment. I don't even know where in the world I got the guts to do this shit. Blame it on hormones or whatever, I don't really know. All I know is, here I am, all jacked up and running aimlessly leaving a confused Juvia and about to confess my one-sided feelings. I stopped on my tracks when I finally saw her, still inside the cabin, her eyes red from crying with a point-guard on her side (yes, I meant Erza). "Hear me out okay?!" I shouted a few feet away from them. Erza would've probably slid her sword down my throat if I even came any closer.

"I like you, Elizabeth! I really really like you! I don't care if I just met you a few days ago, I don't even know why I fell for you! But I swear on my life that I would never do anything stupid to hurt you. I didn't do anything to you last night, I promise!" I just blurted out the words. I don't care if it's one-sided or if I sounded stupid. I just wanted to let her know. Elizabeth, including Erza stood there awestruck. I can't really comprehend her reaction, but she was surprised that I'm sure of. Realizing how embarrassing it was to confess, I felt my heart crazily pounded against my chest making it hard to breath. I quickly turned around bashfully scratching the back of my head "Uhh... I-I didn't do anything weird to you... that's all I-I wanted to say." I told her in a softer voice and walked (ran) away. Yes, I actually ran away. Yes, I'm such a coward. Damn it.

I rested my head against the tree's bark, swishing one of my legs playfully as it hanged midway. I was sitting on a branch of this huge tree located in Gardenia's vast rain forest, collecting my thoughts from this morning's events. Why'd I do that? Stupid move. Stupid Gray. I know I didn't stand a chance with her. Why am I still pushing myself to win her heart? Why can't I just be happy with Juvia? I sighed heavily at the thought. If I did that, I'm no better than all the jerky guys out there that'll take advantage of any girl. Why is love so complicated? I closed my eyes, trying to empty my mind for once. As I sat there with my thoughts, it began to rain. Talk about bad luck. I groaned to myself. But then I realized something, it was only raining at this spot. I quickly looked down to find a blue-haired girl sobbing. She was hugging her knees to her chest and her head was nestled in between them. It didn't took me long to know that it was Juvia. Guilt getting the most out of me, I climbed down and awkwardly approached her.

"H-hey." I greeted casually.

Her head shot up quickly at the sound of my voice. "G-gray-sama!" she called out, wiping her stained cheeks with her hands. I sighed and sat next to her, not minding the rain that poured heavily. There was an unwieldy silence that consumed us before I spoke up. "Sorry." It was the only thing that I managed to say. And I meant it. I'm really sorry that I couldn't reciprocate her feelings in the way that she wanted me to.

"Gray-sama... J-juvia is very sorry too." She began.

"Come on, you don't need to apologize." I replied patting her head softly.

"B-but, Juvia knows that Gray-sama likes Elizabeth... Juvia is sorry for interfering." She told me sadly, holding her head down.

My face began to feel hot when she mentioned Elizabeth. I scratched the back of my head unable to say anything further.

"G-gray-sama.. Juvia loves Gray-sama so much. And if Gray-sama likes Elizabeth, then Juvia is willing to let go." She looked at me with a half-smile, tears streaking down her cheeks. "Juvia will be happy as long as she stays by Gray-sama's side... e-even if the one that Gray-sama love is Elizabeth." She added.

I smiled and wiped away the tears continuously falling down her redden cheeks, "Thank you, Juvia. That really means a lot."

I know that it must've hurt a lot to not be loved by the person you truly care about. I know how it feels because the person I love likes someone else. Juvia and I were on the same boat. And even if I wanted to comfort Juvia, I couldn't, since I'm the one that's been causing her pain in the first place. I sighed and gave her a one last pat on the head, "Someday you'll find that person who will love you as much as you love him, so don't cry over me alright? I'm not that great of a guy anyways." I told her reassuringly, before I stood up and leave. Staying with the person you cherish the most who doesn't return the feeling is painful.

It's really painful

A/N: Huhuhu.... So much feels for Juvia for this chapter... T.T I'm really sorry if I couldn't update faster, believe me, I want to. It's just that time doesn't permit me to do so! T.T Anyway, feel free to give any feedbacks! :D And don't forget to favorite and follow!