Several minutes has moved on, since Zack and Erza left the Fate Della Torta.
Neither Erza nor Zack understood the meaning behind the words, that the cake store owner had misunderstood them as.
And yet, it cannot be helped, normal 16 year old teenagers are at the age when they became sexually curious towards the other sex, causing many to explore the steps of pleasure that known as adulthood.
However, while that may be common sense, but that common sense does not apply to those like Zack nor Erza, or even the most within the guild, after all, common sense between a normal person and a Wizard, especially if they are a Wizard from Fairy Tail, cannot be called normal.
And right now, upon leaving the Fate Della Torta, Erza did not return back to the Guild, as she originally intended to, nor did Zack went back to the working site.
Instead they went to the closet park that located near Fate Della Torta, (Cake Faries in Italian)
"Between me and Mirajane?" Zack askes this, as he looked at Erza in her brown eyes, as they sat on some bench, causing them to sit right next to each other, with their legs almost touching.
Zack who was asked what happening between himself and Mirajane once again by this Valkyrie, took a long sigh, and instead of carrying on looking at Erza, Zack turned his gaze before the empty space before him.
"I… do not know." Zack honestly went, earning a cautious look from Erza.
"You don't know? And yet, you looked like a lost puppy that been overlooked by their owner, you know?" Erza went, comparing Zack to a lost puppy, which for some reason oddly suits him.
"It's the truth, I really don't know. I think it may be because she is busy with the upcoming trails, but we haven't met much, and when she we do, she always busy. It cannot be helped, since the trails are next week." Zack went.
Since the day when the duel with Gildarts came to end. It felt like Mirajane has been avoiding him. However, while Zack understood with the upcoming S-Class Trails, it only natural that Mirajane will be busy.
And yet… for some reason, Zack felt there is more to this, then Mirajane just being busy with the upcoming S-Class Trails.
Not to mention, when they even talk to each other, Mirajane who often looked at him in his eyes, started to avoid looking at him in his eyes, as if she afraid of something.
This only made our clueless protagonist further confused, as he has no clue why she starting to act this way.
Nor did Zack knew why, he wanted Mirajane to look in his eyes so badly causing our clueless protagonist to feel many complexed emotions, that none of this made sense to him.
He hated this feeling, the feeling of uncertainty, the uncertainty of what to do, to make Mirajane forgave him what he done to her, and to make her once again look at her, with those sea blue eyes of hers.
On the other hand, Erza who listen to all this, deeply think about what Zack told her.
Even if Mirajane and Erza often clashed, that does not mean Erza actually hates Mirajane.
In truth, Erza can never hate someone as hardworking as Mirajane, who proven herself many times, not to mention, as a Valkyrie herself, she admires those who are around the same level as herself.
In the first place, it not Mirajane she hatred, but the Majin she had created.
Erza can sense it.
That Mirajane and herself have a similar past, a past that filled with sadness, pain and sorrow.
It did not matter which among them, whose past was worse, sadder or more troublesome.
Because in the end of the day, the truth is, they both still running away from that pasts.
But least Erza acknowledges something is wrong with herself. She knew, no matter how serious she made herself seems to be in front of others.
Once the armour around her body is removed, Erza knew she still that little girl trapped within that tower. Her insecurity will return to her, making her remember how weak and hopeless she were at the day, when only herself managed to escape through everyone's sacrifices.
That is why, unless it is bathing or in her own bedroom, Erza feels both uncomfortable and uneasy if she not wearing any form of armour on her body, showing how truly flawed she is, least she acknowledged she is flawed unlike Mirajane.
While Erza has no clue what Mirajane's demons are, she knew the Majin she created, is like her own armour, a means to feel secured as she pushes everyone away that came close to her, besides her siblings, that are her everything.
And now, someone besides Elfman or Lisanna has climbed over the walls around her heart.
This is properly the real reason why Mirajane is avoiding Zack. As Mirajane might beginning to realised Zack is coming more than just another person to her.
And that makes her afraid, after all, the greatest fear among mankind, is change, that is what Mirajane truly fear, is that change.
Or maybe Erza is wrong all about this.
And just like Zack had said, the cause why Mirajane is avoiding Zack is due to taking whole of her focus on the upcoming trails.
And yet, Erza recalled something that happened not long ago, it was the day when she by chance saw Mirajane and Zack together within the evening in Magnolia.
Erza who noticed Zack, were about to greet him, but halted her steps, when she noticed Mirajane alongside him.
She recalled that moment, the moment when Mirajane and Zack got along very well, and the atmosphere around them became warm, and yet, that was until Mirajane pushed Zack away when he came too close to her.
"One that avoids… and the other that too dense… huh." Erza only went aloud, when she remembered when Mirajane created distance between herself and Zack.
"Avoids and too dense??" Zack askes, blink his eyes, not knowing the dense part is about himself.
"Don't worry about that. It may be as you say. That Mirajane taking her all on the upcoming S-Class Trails. Or maybe it is something else, so don't worry about it, she properly be back to her normal self when the trails are done with." Erza went with a smile, as she patted Zack's back, causing Zack to smile as well, even if the pat on his back felt a little sore.
"Hahaha, maybe you are right, everything might go back to normal after the trails. Anyway, I better go, I am still on a time limit, so I better go back to work. As for this, caffe latte cake, I will enjoy it later on, maybe with some coffee. See you later, Erza."
When Zack said this, he gave a sheepish smile towards Erza before he got up from the bench, feeling all better, Zack walked away leaving Erza alone, who only waved and smiled at him.
From the very moment that Zack is no longer in sight, Erza's smile faded, as a long sigh came to her.
No matter how much she thought about it, she cannot help herself from rethinking about the relationship between Zack and Mirajane.
Anyone could see it wouldn't end well, by the rate this is going.
And it doesn't help, when one avoids her own feelings, while the other too dense, to even realised what his feelings are.
It is clear as day, that Mirajane and Zack have feelings for each other.
And yet… is it right, to let things go as they are?
When it comes to love itself, Erza is no stranger, she personally knew how wonderful, and painful love can be.
And yet, she herself, has not fully gotten over her feelings herself, the feelings that mixed with hatred and love towards that person.
Erza wonder if she could ever move on from that person, but that will wait for another time.
Since what is more important right now, is not her own failed love life, but the one before her, a relationship that bounded to not end well by the rate things are going.
Of course, maybe time may fix the things between Mirajane and Zack's relationship.
However, is that really true?
Mirajane who runs away from her feelings, and Zack, who knew no better?
Can time truly bring them together?
Or will it delay the outcome, that is bounded to happened?
No matter how Erza sees this, all Erza can see, is the outcome of Mirajane who refused to move on, or acknowledged her feelings, and will do something that not only she will regret, but also will hurt Zack in the process.
And yet, maybe she is overimagining things.
And even if she is right… what rights does Erza Scarlet has to be the one to interfere between them?
As a rival?
As a friend?
As an elder sister figure?
She might be the one, who properly can understand the two of them the best, since she and they share similar pasts, or similar pains, not many will understand unless they experience themselves.
And yet, was it right for her to do that?
To make them realised their own feelings to each other?
Was that really the right thing to do?
And yet, it is not like herself to remain on the sideline, to watch them ruined themselves. That is why Erza made up her mind, to do something for them.
To make Mirajane realised Zack is becoming something important to her, either as someone special, or as a friend. Least Erza had to try before things between Mirajane and Zack became like she fears.
However, little did Erza will know, that her so-call plan's outcome, wouldn't be the one that she wanted.
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What will you do in her shoes?
Will you let the two of them be, and let time do its thing?
Or will you try make them acknowledge themselves?
But sometimes, what we fear, is that acknowledgment.