REVISED CHAPTER!

I hope that you guys still like my story even if I decided to change it up a bit ^^ I will try updating this week! ^^ If you have read this fic before, I suggest that you backread from chapter 2 :) I've made a lot of changes to the story (-_-") Happy reading!

CHAPTER 4: REUNION

The hall was filled with guests of high prestige— from politicians to ranking business tycoons, both from ORB and the PLANTS. Before, such gatherings were impossible to happen. Now, due to the engagement of Athrun Zala, Chairman of the PLANTS, and Cagalli Yula Attha, Second Heir to the ORB throne, such a gathering occurred.

Cagalli stood idly inside a private room, waiting for the arrival of her soon-to-be fiancé. She was still in a state of shock. After all, It was only yesterday when she found out that she was to be engaged to THE Chairman of the PLANTS—Athrun Zala, a familiar name of a small boy she met years ago, yet oddly, couldn't quite forget. (Though it has been years since they last met)

She was about to get engaged to a guy she barely knew for crying out loud!

"Cagalli?" Her reverie was disturbed by Lacus Clyne's sudden arrival. Her brother's wife was looking as radiant as ever. Trust Lacus to literally light up a room whenever she entered.

Cagalli gave her a nervous smile. But Lacus' presence was enough to calm her down. "Hey Lacus…"

"It's quite a crowd out there." She smiled to ease the blonde's anxiousness. She knew that Cagalli disliked the idea of being engaged so much—she loathed men. "Kira's so nervous! But he's doing a great job talking with the politicians!" Lacus said, starry-eyed, making Cagalli giggle. They were truly in love. Only Kira could make Lacus act so childishly.

"I'm scared Lacus."

"Why so? I hear the chairman's a kind man."

"But…I'm getting engaged to someone I barely know."

"Isn't…Isn't he your childhood sweetheart?"

"….I knew him but…we were never sweethearts! And I've never seen him since we first saw each other!"

"Maybe you were! Who knows right? Life is always full of surprises." Lacus said with a smile, calming Cagalli a bit.

"…Thanks Lacus."

"Cagalli~!" A shrill shout came from outside. If she was not mistaken, it was Her Attorney, Murata Azrael. The door opened and it came to reveal the hyperactive blonde man. "Cagalli! Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Can you cancel the engagement?"

"Anything but that my dear Cagalli~!" Her guardian said as he patted the blonde's head. "Your fiancé is on the way. He was caught up in a press conference that the media demanded about the details of this engagement."

Lacus, seeing that they might need some time alone, decided to excuse herself. As soon as the pink-haired girl left, Cagalli heaved a sigh. "Is this really hopeless?"

"Well, I explained to you the details of the contract already Cagalli. This was your father's plan. We can't do anything."

"But…we can break it off after a year right?"

"Of course! I don't want my little Cagalli to be with a man she doesn't love!"

Cagalli smiled. Amidst her guardian's child-like nature, he took good care of her for so many years.

"…Miss Cagalli?" a man dressed in what seemed to be the ORB Union uniform opened the door. Both of the occupants turned their heads, expecting him to announce that the chairman was already present—and they weren't disappointed. "The chairman had just arrived. We were instructed to tell any of their guests to leave the room before the engagement."

Azrael nodded. As much as he didn't want to leave Cagalli alone, he had to go. "I'll be going now Cagalli. Don't worry; everything will be fine, okay?" He gave her a light tap on the head, a gesture he had often reserved for both Attha siblings whenever the two sought him for help or comfort. "I'll see you in the hall!"

Cagalli could only watch as he left the room, sighing afterwards. She still couldn't believe it. After an hour or so, she would officially be out of the singles market—which coincidentally, was the topic of conversation she was having with her best friend just days ago.

"…Am I really getting engaged?" Athrun asked for the nth time to no one in particular. The guard who stood present inside the room nervously listened to the chairman's soliloquy. "I mean, this isn't some weird surprise show right?"

"Y-Yes Sir. You're really getting engaged." He answered as his voice cracked.

"…I'm just 21…" the young man continued.

"Y-you are s-sir."

"When will the ceremony start?"

"15 m-more minutes Chairman." The guy managed to stutter out.

Athrun Zala sighed. "Life really is full of surprises huh?"

The guard looked at the young chairman, only to see him having a small smile on his face. The room remained silent as both men waited for the much anticipated knock. After a few drinks of alcohol during Dearka's so called 'Bachelor Party' for him, He had gotten over the shock of being engaged.

He remembered meeting his fiancée when they were kids, but had forgotten about her after the years that passed.

"…already dead yet you still boss me around." Athrun chuckled as he looked at the ceiling. Sighing afterwards, he chuckled. "You never change dad."

"Miss Attha, It's time." Cagalli turned her head at the now-open door. She nodded and stood up immediately. It was now or never. She knew she couldn't escape such a fate bestowed by her father. Walking out, she stood nervously on the corridor, waiting for her fiancé's appearance.

Yes, embarrassing as it may sound, she is not quite familiar with the Chairman of the PLANTs amidst his esteemed position. She knew that girls swooned over him, but she never bothered to find out why. All she remembered of him was their encounter back at her family's estate when he was still a little brat.

…So it gave her quite a shock once her eyes wandered towards the other figure that had just left the other room and was slowly walking towards her.

The young man had dark-coloured locks that reached up until his shoulders. Intensifying his unique façade was his emerald orbs. He wore a black dress suit, a white polo with a bow tie underneath. He had this air of authority that demanded respect—such was expected from the PLANTs Chairman.

Cagalli blinked rapidly. She couldn't believe it—this was her soon-to-be fiancé. The gorgeous man who stood in front of her was going to be her husband! She couldn't help it, she kept staring, still unsure if this was some dream or not.

"Cagalli?" an unfamiliar voice rang through her ears, bringing her back to the present.

Cagalli continued to stare at him.

He chuckled, finding the blonde girl's blank look quite amusing. "I guess you know what we're about to do right?"

There was no question—he was definitely her soon-to-be fiancé.

The clinking of champagne glasses filled the hall as the guests gave their congratulatory toasts. Cagalli and Athrun did a splendid job. Amidst their unexpected predicament, they somehow pulled it off as they both acted like a real life couple—Athrun doing most of the prodding since he was sure the media captured every moment of them together.

Cagalli, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable as they held hands. She detested men ever since a certain incident. Much to Athrun's chagrin she had attempted to break free from his grasps on several occasions. This was unacceptable since every camera inside the hall was hell-bent on dissecting any part of their relationship.

"Just this night, please refrain from letting go of my hand." Athrun murmured to her ear as they were momentarily left alone by the guests to eat dinner on their table. Camera's still continued with their harassing.

"I…just don't feel comfortable." She murmured back.

More camera flashes came, seeing that the two were whispering to each other.

"Don't worry. This'll all be over. I'm sorry if you're not comfortable." Athrun continued. He then ate a piece of the dessert, wanting to act naturally in front of the many media men.

Cagalli nodded. A few moments had passed and she felt herself becoming more comfortable. but just when she did, some cheers started coming from the crowd, catching the new couple off guard.

"Can we have a kiss?" One of the reporters shouted, prompting several other media personalities and camera men to follow after. Now, the whole room was filled with prodding, the other guests joining in by gently tapping their glasses with their utensils.

Cagalli looked stunned. She detested men—much more kissing one! Athrun was not oblivious to such unease; he could see Cagalli form the corner of his eye. Also, it didn't help that her hands were turning cold.

But they were unrelenting. The whole room just wouldn't stop unless they did it. This was also part of the media's plan to prove speculations that this was a political marriage. After all, Badgiruel and Azrael had told them how in love the two were since they were kids.

While Cagalli looked pale and downright shocked, Athrun looked like nothing but calm. "Cagalli…"

The blonde turned to look at him, surprised at how calm he looked.

"Do you know how to do a Hollywood kiss?"

"…What the hell is that?" Because of her nervousness, her shyness immediately disappeared.

Athrun looked pleasantly surprised at Cagalli's informality. He had not expected such words to come out of her mouth. She wasn't as meek as she looked after all. "Just close your eyes and tilt your head a bit to the left okay? If you don't want me to kiss you, just follow my lead."

"What are you talking—"

Before she knew it, all the cameras were going crazy as Athrun closed the proximity between them. Cagalli was quite shocked upon feeling Athrun's lips on hers. But he wasn't doing anything. He was merely touching her lower lip.

As they broke the 'kiss', Cagalli couldn't help but stare admiringly at Athrun.

There were still good guys after all.