NEXT DAY

JUVIA'S POV

I got up with a worst headache which was new for me. I winced in pain,
"Ahh!!! It'shurting ..Ahh....Ahh...."

Hearing my voice, Gray came in with a glass of warm water and aspirin, "Here take this, it will help you recover from the hangover and the headache."

I believed his advice and took the tablet. Then suddenly, he began to gently massage my forehead much to my relief.

After sometime, when I was feeling a bit normal he stopped. He then asked me, "Juvia, do you remember how you ended up at the house and what happened after that?"

Truth to be told, all I remembered was falling on the sidelines of the lane. I tried to remember but it was vain.

"Sorry Gray, I'm not able to remember. Don't tell me I did something embarrassing which I might regret." I asked in worry and looked if I was dressed inappropriately.

But my dress was as such, he didn't do the job of changing me into nightwear which I was grateful to him for.

"Nah!! You were quite silent when a man dropped you here. I don't know how he came to know our address. I guess, you must have blurted out to him." 

Then he asked me what happened yesterday and how I turned up this drunk. 

I told him everything from the start how Bora was a jerk and how this was his doing.

"I'm such a cheap girl that I fell for a jerk like him. My dreams have shattered so do my heart. I believed that he was the man of my life but ......." I began to cry as the pain was very much for my broken heart to bear.

Gray hugged and patted my back,

" As you said that day how you hate to see me sad the same goes for me,Juvia. I hate to see you this heart broken. 
     Forget!!! he was just a passing cloud, I'm sure you will meet the man of your life soon. So cheer up.
    If you want to tell me;  I,Natsu and your brothers can take care of him in such a way that he wouldn't think of messing with any other girls in future. "

He pulled away from the hug and smiled. He leaned to give me a kiss which I was going to accept but he stopped by placing his palms over my lips and got up.

Now this was odd. Normally, Gray will be the one eagerly waiting for a chance to get a kiss which I never minded but today he restrained himself. Something was wrong with him.

GRAY'S POV

As I expected, she didn't remember her confession and its aftermath.

She was so hurt by that jerk, to relax I consoled her by hugging her.

Then as usual, I leaned to capture her lips but I restrained from doing that for some unknown reasons. She was left in shock as she found this act as strange. 

After some time, we got ready for college. There was an awkward silence between us ever since the morning neither did she nor I tried to break that silence.

When we reached the class usually she would cheerfully greet our friends but now she let out a vague smile for their greetings.

Our odd behavior didn't go unnoticed by them. The girls pulled Juvia to the corner and began to interrogate her.

"Hey Stripper, what's with the gloomy attitude with you two today? Did you make my sister cry?" Gajeel asked with a tone of anger as he was worried about his sister.

"Nothing much... I don't know." Then I told him what happened to her and how I got her home. 

But made them promise that they won't say, I was the one who got her home.

"What do you say,Gajeel? Let's pay that jerk a visit and make him pay for his work." Jellal asked Gajeel while cracking his knuckles.

"Sure today, we will go and give him a thorough pounding like I gave him once." Gajeel exclaimed.

"Hey don't forget us. We will go with you." Natsu expressed while I nodded.

JUVIA'S POV

The girls were asking me what was wrong with us.

'How are they able to find out if we are having any change in our behavior.' I wondered.

I told them what happened yesterday and most importantly, what happened a while ago. 

Even they were not able to clearly point to a valid reason for his actions.

Suddenly I felt like throwing up. So I excused myself and went to the restroom.

After throwing all the contents out, I felt now finally turning to my normal self.

As I was making my way back to the class, a silver haired girl called me out.

"Excuse me, if I'm right you must be Juvia Locksar. Can you spare a few minutes of your time and have a conversation with me about an important matter of mine? Please."

"Sure.." I agreed to her plea. She led me to the cafeteria and ordered 2 cup of coffee and offered me one.

"Here it's for you. Have it."

I took it from her. " So what is it that you wanted to talk about with me? Who are you?"

"My name is Briar. Gray's ex-girlfriend."

I was shocked and instantly rage filled my body thinking what this bitch wants from me. 

I without wasting any more time got up but she held my wrist.

"Please Juvia-San, please listen to my side of the story. I'm not here to ask help from you so that I could patch up with my Gray-kun. Just listen to my reasons once."

I thought let's hear what the damn reasons she was going to tell so I sat down. 

"Thank you. I know Gray-kun must have told you what happened from his viewpoint, that's why you displayed this anger to me. I'm not offended by this."

"What do you want from me?" I asked in disgust.

"I tried to talk to Erza and Natsu and even to other members of the gang. None were ready to hear me out, as all were present there when things took a huge turn last year.
       As you are a new member and don't know who I am actually, that's why, decided to share this with you.
     I didn't wantedly break Gray-kun's heart but I was forced to. I truly loved him from the bottom of my heart.
    He meant the world to me, I was willing to do anything for his sake.
That's the reason, I broke his heart with cruel words and action."

I was shocked to hear this, was she telling me the truth? Then she again continued after wiping the tears.

" My world shattered when that bitch, who was picking on you the other day, she threatened me if I didn't break up with My Gray-kun, then she would murder him and kill herself.
    I didn't know any other way to escape from this situation.
That's why I did things like that."

I asked her, "You could have told him the truth the next or the other day, right?"

"After finding out that, I betrayed and cheated on him. His mental condition took a toll on his body.
      It took nearly 3-4 months for him to completely heal and stabilize his mind.
       When I heard about this, I confronted his friends. They were not ready to hear me say a single word nor allow me to meet him personally.
       It was last month that I tried calling Natsu and Erza asking for my Gray-kun's number but they refused to give me. 
     My only intention is to apologize to my love and explain to him the truth behind my actions.
     I know, I don't deserve a second chance. I'm not worthy of his love again."

She began to cry loudly which caught the attention of the surrounding members. I hugged and patted her back.

"Are you telling me the truth?"

"Juvia-San, if I had the ability to rip my heart from my body, I would do that and show you my heart belongs only to my Gray-kun.
     I want to repent for my betrayal towards him. If only I got a second chance from him, I would make up for every disappointed moment." She didn't stop crying.

Hearing this my eyes were getting watery not because I felt pity for her but my heart was aching from within my body. 

I'm feeling this despondent emotion washing over my physique.

'So even this dream and world of mine is shattered. I guess, the word love doesn't exist in my pitiful life.' I thought as tears began to fall from my eyes.

'If this is the truth then Gray must know this, who knows after hearing this he might bounce back to his previous self and be happy with her.
      After all, he was just being nice to me because I happened to his friend's sister. I shouldn't have listened to Lucy's and others' thoughts, that's why I'm feeling this pain.' My mind voiced out.

"Okay Briar-San, don't cry. I believe your reason. After all, it's for Gray's happiness and well being you did such a thing. 
     Everyone deserves a second chance. I will make Gray realize this."

I gave her a vague smile which carried the pain of my heart.

She thanked and couldn't believe that someone actually believed her reason. 

I assured her that I will make her and Gray a couple once again much to her delight. 

I left her and went back to the class.

BRIAR'S POV

"Ohh gosh!! What an acting skill. For a moment, I was actually convinced this was the reality." I heard the voice of that Gray obsessed bitch.

"You were right. She is naive and foolish. She believed my lies. I thought at least, she would flinch a little but she didn't. I guess, you can have a good revenge on her." I told her with a hearty laugh.

"Do you still have feelings for that Gray Fullbuster?" She asked me.

"Nah!! Who would love that love sicken freak who thinks love is all we need in life. I just dated him for money and fame which he held in this university.
    Ever since I found that other guy who was far more richer and popular than that lousy Gray, I left him. I don't plan on going back to him."
I said with a grin.

"But you know what you should do with Juvia bitch. Just break the ties, she shares with that Gray. 
    And as I said, I don't want that Gray to be happy also. He protected that bitch from me so even he deserves the punishment."

She said in an anger tone and handed over the cheque filled with the stated amount.

"Don't worry, this will be much easier than said. Juvia Locksar and Gray Fullbuster be ready to be played as my puppets and enjoy the wrath of my ally." I assured her and left.