Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed series.
Beware: Grammatical errors and harsh/cuss/rude words.
Happy reading!
P/s: I think my boyfriend is a vampire
Blessed with good look, sharp mind and athletic body, my boyfriend is perfect. But wait, are those fangs?
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Chapter 4
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There was a sound of piano that I recognized before I even managed to open my eyes. I realized that it sounds like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata that I used to play for my father when I was a little kid.
My palm traced my temple and slowly, I opened my eyes and scanned the area around me.
I was in a fairly wide room with one exit. This room was a bit dim but I still managed to observe my surroundings. In front of me, there was a rectangular table and a vase of red roses on top of it. I was sitting in a wooden chair, painted in white and then, I slowly noticed that I was wearing a sleeveless white dress that reaching to my knees.
Where was I?
How did I end up being here?
Thousands of questions kept appearing in my head and I couldn't answer not even one of them. I was getting more confused and there was only one thing that crossed my mind at that time, 'Am I dead already?'
The Moonlight Sonata reached a presto agitato and as I was lost in the depth of intense melody and suffocated by the unanswered questions, the only exit of this room suddenly burst opened and a ray of light rushed into the room, then, everything becoming completely visible in my eyes.
A brunet with a pair of mesmerizing purple eyes I had ever seen in my life stood in front of me. He was wearing a white, long sleeve shirt with white pants. I personally thought that his bright attire starkly contrasting with his tan skin. Anyway, he did look good in all white clothing.
He was fairly handsome—well, I guessed handsome wasn't the correct word to describe him. He had a baby face and those rounded eyes like a lost puppy. He was so cute—for a guy.
So, he stood in front of me, with smile on his face before shoving his hand to me for a handshake. I gingerly reached for his hand and he firmly, yet tenderly shook my hands.
When he spoke, I noticed that his tone was rough yet it wasn't really deep like normal guys. There was a comforting speech style that he used against me, as if everything that he said was already planned before he entered into this room.
"Pardon me?" I asked when I heard him mentioned about taking me back. Taking me back to where exactly? But yeah, please let me home! This place couldn't be a sanctuary where they kept crazy people right? Was I crazy because I thought Athrun got possessed? Somebody shoot me please! Really, I beg you, shoot me for real!
"You don't have much time left Cagalli"
"Time? What time?"
He was smiling but his eyes were apologetic, "It'll hurt when they materialize behind your back, but I'll promise to help you when the time's come"
I sighed and ran my hand over my hair. I seriously... FUCKING seriously couldn't understand what he was saying, "Can you explain—"
"Mom is so excited to have you back"
The baby face brunet smiled again. I hated that smile. It was as if he knew something that I didn't and was toying with my mind. This was seriously bad for my mental health and not to mention, my patience. And what made me wanted to flip the table on his face was the nerve of him mentioning my dead mother!
"My mom? She's dead. Thank you very much for bringing it up" I scoffed at him.
"That is not your world, Cagalli"
Clearly, we weren't on the same channel and I gripped the hem of my dress to contain my anger. I was mad…like, seriously mad.
He suddenly looked up in the ceiling as if he was thinking something before grinning at my direction. I narrowed my eyes him as a subtle warning that another nonsense coming from his mouth next, I'd throw a punch on his baby fat cheeks.
"It's time. Wake up" he said before everything became so hazy. I immediately stood up from my chair and tried to reach for him but the thick haze devoured him, away from my grasping hands.
...
A minute later, my nostrils caught a smell of burnt bacon and as it gradually entered into my system, I could feel that my eyelids were pulsing and slowly, I opened my eyes.
I gradually realized that it was all just a dream and in fact, I was in my own room in my pyjama. There was no bullshit in the form of a brunet and there was no Midnight Sonata resonating in the room, just a plain pitter-patter sounds of raindrops. A clock on the wall showed 9 am and I thanked God that I was still sane.
Pushing away my blanket, I stood up and walked in a beeline towards my bathroom and stared at my morning form in the mirror.
I looked like an alien. Blonde alien to be exact.
Another yawn escaped from my mouth as I rubbed the back of my neck. I felt unbelievably sore and numb at the right side of my neck, so I leaned in closer to the mirror and tilted my head to the side. There was a small red mark there. Probably just another hickey from Athrun. We did kiss like a top notch overdosed hormonal teen last night.
Talked about Athrun, did he just left last night? I wasn't even sure what happened after we gazed at the starry sky last night. It was a bit blur to me. But I did remember the kiss though. How couldn't I? He was the best kisser I had ever known. Don't get me wrong guys, I wasn't the type of girl who'd kiss any guys near me… just so you know.
Things were getting more confusing and the sore on my neck didn't help much. It felt sore and numb, as if someone just zapped my neck with a stun gun. The bonus was, my limbs felt very weak that I thought they were jellies instead of tendons and bones.
Lacus was frowning at her burnt breakfast when I stepped into the kitchen. Her long pink hair was tied in a high bun with red ribbon around it. She was wearing a long sleeve pink shirt that was rolled up to her elbow and a brown bohemian skirt that flowed gracefully to her ankle. All in all, she looked like a perfect housewife, armed with recipes book in one hand and a spatula in the other. Unlike her, I looked like someone who just came out from a washing machine. If that made sense of course.
When she turned around, I could see that she was surprised to see me so suddenly in the kitchen. I mustered a slight grin to her before straightening my blond hair.
"Breakfast?" she asked. A smile graced her face before she dumped her smoky pan into the sink and let the water washed away the remnants of her burnt bacon.
"Uhmm" I nodded slowly, reaching for the small cup of coffee not too far from me. The coffee tasted bitter just how I preferred.
Lacus pulled out the chair and sat down delicately. Her head tilted to the side and she gave me a cheeky grin, "So, how's the date?"
She was being nosey like her usual self, again.
"Date?" So, I asked her again, while playing dumb.
Her eyebrows twisted and when she gave me that look. The look that implied I didn't give her the answer that she wanted. Or basically, 'what' she wanted to hear.
"Ok, sorry, wrong sentence. So, how's dinner last night?"
I was dilly dallying to answer because honestly, I didn't know what to do with my love life anymore. I was dating—possibly a monster or a ghost, in Athrun's form. He acted very much like Athrun. That was what made me in a freaking dilemma. I wanted to punch him and kiss him at the same time. Lord… I hated myself!
"The food was good" I said as I switched on my Tab and browsed for today's news.
Lacus was humming briefly and from the pitch of her voice, I knew that I didn't give the answer she wanted.
"So, how's Athrun?"
"He's breathing. And alive", but not if I get an exorcist to get the ghost out of Athrun's body.
I poured some coffee into my cup and stared at Lacus' blue eyes. They were still inquisitive. Oh god, I hated Lacus' mind games. She could just stare at me with her wide blue eyes and my mouth would start to talk like it had the life of its own. That was probably like what I had said before, Lacus knew everything about me. She didn't have to ask around, she got those information from my own mouth.
"We went to the harbour and watched stars if that's what you were actually asking". I took a small piece of bread and chewed it slowly, "Didn't know that Scorpius constellation have two straight lines. It's nothing like in the book"
"That is so romantic" Lacus said in her swooning manner. Being a housemate to a sappy soap-opera fans was a kind of torture. Lacus always had this overdramatic, swooning sigh whenever I mentioned about my so called adventurous love-life. And sometimes it was disturbing.
I shrugged before munching my bread again, "Tell me about it"
One of her pink eyebrows rose, "…You do not sound happy"
"I am—happy"
"Come on Cagalli, we've been friends for years"
I lifted my gaze off my Tab and stared at her briefly before resuming reading the morning news, "I don't know who he is anymore"
"What do you mean? Did he cheat on you?"
Cheat? How about Lies instead?
I gave Lacus an indifferent shrug and sipped my coffee, "Maybe it's just me". Thank god she left me alone for peace after that.
A few days later, I immediately bought a one way ticket to Mendel Colony and decided to stay in Asagi's house. I already left a text to Athrun about visiting Asagi, so there should be no problem—I guessed.
I meant, he looked reluctant to let me go by myself and I had to remind him about his abroad business meetings.
When I started to ponder several things about Athrun Zala, I just realized that I didn't know much about him. He said he worked in an innovation department in a sportswear company and because of the nature of his job, it required him to attend thousands of meetings and most of it was held abroad. I didn't get to see him until weekend and we kept in touch through video calls and emails. Seemed like my love life was quite dull huh?
I noticed a tall, sandy blonde approaching me as I walked out towards the airport's lobby. That blonde was wearing a bars-printed, long sleeve blouse with long brown pants. The thin, black belt around her slim waist had a star ring attached to its buckle. No doubt that, that chic blonde was Asagi Caldwell; my cousin, buddy and sister, all in one form.
We hugged briefly and soon after she released me from her bear hug, her mouth started to utter million things in one breath. I didn't really catch what she said, but from all the things that she had babblings, I picked up two things—she liked my turtle neck lace blouse and she was glad that Athrun didn't stick to me like flies on cow's butt. For today of course. I'd be dead if he knew my real attention to fly to Mendel this early was because I wanted to find an exorcist to exorcise him for good!
"Oh don't worry about it! Lowe has it all under control!" Asagi said after I apologized to her for having to fetch me at the airport despite being busy with wedding preparations.
"Ah…Lowe. That lucky bastard is indeed lucky to have you" I cackled as Asagi pinched my side. She was blushing furiously as I mentioned her fiancé's name. A figure of a tall brunet flashed briefly in my mind.
Lowe Guele.
I was the one who introduced these lovebirds. It all started when my car broke down in the middle of nowhere and Lowe happened to pass by and generously drove me home. Coincidentally, Asagi was in my house and when he met her, he instantly had a crush on her. Luckily for him, Asagi reciprocated his feelings.
We had a quick lunch in fast food restaurant before I conceded that I was here not just for her bachelorette party.
"Exorcist?"
The chicken cheese burger in Asagi's hold almost plopped down on her lap.
"Don't give me that look. I'm serious!"
"Okay, who got possess?"
God, did I miss those twinkling in her eyes? Was I seeing things? My cousin looked rather excited than the reaction I had initially expected.
"…"
"Spill Cagalli. No name, no exorcist"
"…fine. It's for Athrun" I mumbled.
Asagi folded her arms under her bosom, "Athrun?"
Her face was expressionless. Shouldn't she at least have a bigger reaction like, 'What?!' 'Really?!' 'No way!' or something along the lines?
"I don't know Asa. His skin is cold, he doesn't have a shadow when he walked under the moonlight and I noticed he doesn't even have a reflection in the mirror! He freaked me out" I eyed my cousin briefly, "Help me out please? Am I crazy? Am I overreacting?"
Asagi turned her head to the left and right as if she wanted to make sure there was no one around before she spoke in a very low volume, "I've wanted to discuss about this matter to you. But since you looked so happy with him, I just pretend to believe that he's one of us. He's not a human you know"
Oh snap, I just heard my jaw dropping to the floor.
"How did you know?"
"I have an Insider, F-Y-I"
A waiter who happened to pass by us glanced at our direction, and hence, Asagi abruptly stopped from saying anymore. I managed to drink three glasses of water while waiting for Asagi to continue her claims but she didn't. So, I gathered my thoughts about what she had said. Did she hire a spy to stalk Athrun and me?
Bullshit. Really, really bullshit.
"So, your so called 'insider' stalked my boyfriend. Wow,dear cousin, just...WOW..!"
"It's not like that Cagalli" Asagi rubbed her temples.
"Then it's like what?" I sighed, "Maybe I should just hit him with a truck and see if he can fly to the sky or-"
"Stop"
"What?"
"I hate it when you act like this missy. You're being paranoid by the fact that your boyfriend isn't human"
I threw my hands in the air, I almost gave up arguing what was logic and what wasn't. "Uh-huh, tell me something new. Don't expect me to throw confetti after you just confirmed my suspicion!"
"Listen" Asagi touched my hand, "I'll bring you to my insider"
The amount of confidence shown in her blue eyes scared me. Somehow, I wished I was wrong. I wished that my eyes were just playing with me and so, instead of exorcist, I should get a pair of glasses. And maybe, some aspirin.
Asagi brought me to a small town named Lodonia, which wasn't too far away from Mendel's capital. The town gave eerie feelings to me with the old signboard and rusty arch gateway to the town. I could just vaguely hear the sound of halms and leaves rustling behind my back like in old cowboys' movie. It was even creepier when I noticed that a murder of crows that were perching on the electric cable was looking at our direction, as if we were just entering into their territory. I swore to God, it was fucking scary.
In a nutshell, it was like visiting a cemetery rather than a town.
And what made me wonder was, Asagi was acting too nonchalant for my liking. It was like these scary shits were nothing on her. And I started to wonder maybe Asagi was being possessed too.
Okay I should stop doubting people around me.
As we were walking, I realized that the houses there were kind of old. Most of them were made by woods and only a few of them were made with combination of bricks. The town's people who happened to pass by us stared at us- or specifically me, with a grim look on their faces. It made me tugged Asagi's sleeve and hugged her arm. Asagi just patted my hands lightly before continuing to lead the way. From the way Asagi carried herself here, there was no doubt that Asagi was a regular visitor of this town. I just kind of knew it since the town's people particularly stared at me like I had two horns on my head.
Finally, after 15 minutes of half jogged-half walked, we came to the unpaved route that led towards the alpine forest. Asagi led me towards a path that led up and down through the woods. I almost slipping over the loose stones and I was glad that the ground was dry or else it would be the end of me.
My thighs almost getting a cramp from all those walks that we did and I almost curse in 10 different languages when Asagi said we had arrived to the destination.
In front of me, there was an old house, in the centre of the alpine forest. Vaguely, I could hear a water stream sounds and Asagi confirmed to me that there was a narrow water stream behind the wooden house. We didn't waste anymore time for it was getting a bit late in the noon. Asagi opened the door using a rusty key and I was chanting Haumea ten times in my heart when the door swished opened with a squeaky sound.
For god sake, what had I getting myself into?
I hugged myself with my arms tighter as I observed the inside of the house. There was an old picture of a blond man with a white mask on the wall, hung on top of the fireplace. The place seemed like it was well kept, and from the town's people reaction and how effortlessly Asagi reached here, I placed my bet that Asagi FREQUENTLY came here. And only god knows for what reason.
Maybe, Asagi was not a human too?
Damn it, running away may not a choice anymore. However, if I managed to run away, I probably ended up lost in the forest and died of hunger.
Asagi tapped my shoulder once and I turned to look at her. In front of us there was a table with a weirdly carved board. I walked closely and gasped as the realization clicked in.
"Asagi, don't tell me this is—" I muttered and slowly loss of words to say.
"Ouija Board. Also known as my 'insider'"
A/N:
I'm sorry for the delay lol. Do you think this story is getting creepier? haha... Oujia Board is the board that people use to play spirit games. (p/s: I never play those games, only heard story about it). And lastly, Thank you for silent readers and reviewers (ladyle, NelshAZ, pchop, pansy25, Kkornelia, falconrukichi, Mary Luise, summerain, CagalliRules, October Lynx, Lennethia, , Miyu Nanami & Iezala), thank you for giving this crappy story a chance. I'll do my best for the next chap.
Btw, I know there're lots of grammatical errors, I wrote this in a rush, forgive me please?