AUTHOR's NOTES
pansy25
thanks for the reviw., the fight between Athrun and yzak would probably start next or next next chapter :3
mrs. zala
thanks.., I had fun making lacus the evil one.., haha
Lenora Jime
there is no such thing as a late review for me ^_^ I'm really grateful to you for sticking up with my stories..,
nareiya
ikaw n ang magjudge kung maganda o hindi.., hahaha
The President's Lover
Chapter 9
Night Sky
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/ Seed Destiny
It was already 7 in the evening. Most of the employees had left two hour ago although Athrun was still in his working station. He leaned on his chair and stretched his arms as he let out a yawn. He had just finished sorting out the files that Miriallia asked him to do which he was supposed to do the next day.
"Why are you still here?", he heard Medusa's voice coming from the stairs.
He turned to look at her then stood up from his chair.
"Didn't you promise me that you'd treat me to dinner?", he said casually with a gentle smile.
Cagalli was a bit surprised with that. After the commotion that happen just a couple of hours ago, she never thought that he'd still want to eat with her.
"Can we just do it some other time?", she asked but Athrun shook his head.
"No, you promised me so you have to keep it", he said stubbornly surprising Cagalli even more. Now that she gave it a little thought, she noticed that he had been acting differently with her ever since that time when he drove her to the meeting with their client. He was somewhat trying to get closer to her.
"Yes, I know. But I never said that it has to be tonight", she argued.
"But I want it tonight. I'm a little broke so, I really need a free dinner", he continued to convince her.
Cagalli let out a sigh. She'll just get tired arguing with him when she could just agree and get it over with.
"Very well then", she replied although she was originally planning to stay until ten. "Get your things ready. I'll be back in a bit". Then she went back to her office to get her stuffs.
"What's up with you?", Cagalli asked. They were now inside her car with Athrun as the driver. She didn't even have an idea where he was taking her.
Athrun glanced at her before focusing on the road.
"What do you mean?", he asked. Now, he was playing innocent.
Cagalli glared at him. "You know what I mean", she said. "Don't you think you're a little bit demanding for an employee?".
"May I remind you that you were the one who insisted on treating me to dinner? I tried to decline but you forced it on me", Athrun defended himself.
"But like what I've said, I never told you that it has to be tonight", she said. "Besides, the way you talked to me is different from when you first entered the company".
Athrun laughed a bit.
"Maybe it's just your imagination, President Athha", he replied.
"Are you taking me so lightly, Zala? Do you really think that I didn't notice that you've changed?".
"Wow, I never thought that you are paying attention on a simple employee like me", he said with an amused expression much to Cagalli's annoyance. She figured that their conversation will get her nowhere when he was acting like that so she just dropped it and stayed silent on her seat. She rested her chin on her palm while her arm was supported by the window of the car.
The car went to a stop on top of the plateau located outside the city. Athrun checked his watch. It was already thirty minutes past eight. He then looked at Cagalli who fell asleep during the trip. He smiled as he noticed the peaceful expression on her face. He wondered how their terror Medusa can be so angelic like when asleep. He stared a little bit longer at her before finally deciding to wake her up.
Cagalli rubbed her eyes then looked outside to check where they were only to find some trees around them. She turned to him and glared.
"Where the hell are we?", she asked.
"You know what? You're the perfect lady when you're asleep", he said while laughing a bit.
"I said, where the hell are we?", she repeated her question with a slight blush on her face which was not really visible since it was a bit dark.
"On top of the hill", he answered nonchalantly.
"I thought we're going to eat dinner?", she said.
"Yes, and I want to eat here", he answered.
"And what are we supposed to eat in here?".
"Those!", he answered while pointing the food at the backseat that he bought earlier while she was still asleep.
"But it was supposed to be my treat!", she snarled.
"Don't worry. I took some money in your wallet to buy those".
Cagalli glared at him even more.
"I'm just kidding. You can just treat me next time", he said then took the food and blanket before going out of the car. He placed the blanket on the grass then prepared the food. He also lit up a candle and placed it on the middle.
"C'mon!", he said asking her to sit beside him.
"Broke my ass", she hissed as she sat beside him.
He heard it but decided to ignore it.
"You should try to loosen up sometimes", he said while handing her a sandwich.
"How am I supposed to do that? My presidency is at stake and everybody is on Lacus' side", she replied then took a bite from the sandwich.
"But I joined your team, didn't I?", Athrun reminded her but she just stared at him like he had grown another head.
"Is there something wrong with my face?", he asked when she didn't spoke.
Cagalli shook her head. "No, I just thought that you already went to the other group after I snapped at you earlier", she replied. "By the way, I want to apologize for that. My problem is with Lacus and not with you so please, try not to get involved".
"You don't have to apologize. Maybe I just didn't know the whole story and I just butted in out of nowhere", he answered. "But can I ask you something?".
"What is it?", Cagalli asked back.
"What does Ms. Clyne meant when she said that she'd take the presidency from you and you yourself said that your presidency is at stake?", he asked.
"My father learned about the grouping that we did for the new design and he decided to make it a competition wherein the prize is the presidency of the company", she replied.
"Then you should talk to your father. You shouldn't have taken it all out on Ms. Clyne", he said. Cagalli looked at him with suspicion.
"You like her, don't you?", she asked.
Athrun's eyes grew wider and there was a slight blush on his face.
"Eh? No, I don't", he replied.
"It's kinda dark in here but I can see that you are blushing", she said.
Athrun suddenly smirked and made his comeback. "You're jealous, aren't you?".
Cagalli just raised an eyebrow. "And why is that?", she asked with her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Because you think that I like Lacus", Athrun said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"So?", Cagalli said like she was asking him to continue his explanation. "I don't see how that can make me jealous", she added.
"I'm just kidding you know", he replied then he stared at the sky.
Cagalli also turned to look at the night sky. There were lot of stars and it looked so beautiful.
"It's been a while since I saw the stars", she said breaking the silence.
Athrun turned to her with a confused look on his face.
"But you always go home late", he said.
"Yeah, but I never had the chance to look at them like this", she answered.
"Then you should stick with me. You'll see them more often", he said.
"Say, Athrun", she said then looked at him. "Why did you join my team?".
"Honestly, I was about to join the other group. But as the others go the Ms. Clyne's office one by one, I thought that I'm more needed here. I don't want you to be alone", he said in the most sincere way he could.
"You're pitying me?", she asked with a hint of sarcasm.
Athrun shook his head. "No, it's not pity. Someone as strong as you don't need it. But still, knowing that someone is with you, makes you feel a lot better", he explained.
"No matter how beautiful your words are, it doesn't change the fact that you are pitying me", she said. "But I want to thank you for staying in my team despite my attitude".
They just sat silently beside each other, enjoying their food and the view. After some time, Athrun felt some weight on his shoulder. Cagalli had fallen asleep again.
"You must be tired, cute girl", he said as he smiled at her.
He checked his watch. It was already 10 PM so he decided to send her home but he didn't bother waking her up. He just carried her to the car and drove back home.
Cagalli woke up once again in her room. She remembered falling asleep on the hill making her blush. She could no longer recall how many times Athrun had brought her home. She suddenly became conscious about her weight since it was pretty obvious that he carried her last night and that one time when she fainted in her office. She mentally slapped herself before standing up to prepare herself for work.
Upon arriving at their department, it was quite empty with the exemption of Athrun.
"Where are the others?", she asked.
"They're having a field trip", he answered.
Cagalli raised an eyebrow. "Field trip? What are they? Students?".
"It was Mr. Asuka's idea. He mentioned something about 'working while having fun' and getting inspiration", he explained.
"At least I won't see pinky today", she said.
"Pinky? I didn't know that you have a habit of giving nickname to others", Athrun said then laughed a bit.
"I don't! It's just so happened that my dearest cousin is very special case," she replied then turned to her back and went upstairs.
Once inside her office, she placed her bag on the table and grabbed her sketchpad. She sat on her chair and racked her brain for ideas. Every time she tried to start sketching, she would brush the idea aside because she was not satisfied. She had been like that for a couple of hours now.
"What's wrong with me?," she asked herself. She just couldn't come up with a design that will please everyone. She dropped the pencil, leaned back on her chair and let out a sigh.
After a while, somebody knocked on her door. It was obviously Athrun since everyone in their department were in the 'field trip'.
"Come in", she said then the door slowly went open. Athrun went inside and walked towards her.
"What do you want?", she asked in a bit rude manner. She was in a very foul mood afterall.
"Why don't you try to be nice from time to time?", he asked with a slight pout on his face.
Cagalli glared at him.
"Why don't you just say what it is that you want to say and leave?", she snarled.
Athrun sighed in defeat. "Yeah... uhmmm… I know this may sound so selfish but, can I take a day off tomorrow?", he asked with a hopeful look on his face.
"Sure!", she replied surprising Athrun. He thought that she wouldn't agree so fast. They just stared at each other for a little while before Cagalli decided to speak again.
"Is there anything else?", she asked with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, actually... I'm going to a beach resort tomorrow...".
"What you do in your day off is none of my concern. I already approved it so there's no need to tell me the details", she brushed him off.
"I was just going to invite you to tag along", he said.
Cagalli stood up from her seat and walked towards him.
"You know that I have competition to worry about and here you are inviting me to slack off?", she yelled making Athrun to close his eyes for a bit.
"It's not slacking off! I just thought that maybe you'll find some inspiration there", he said with his voice raising.
Cagalli seemed to think for a while. "Fine, but I'll be bringing my friend with me", she said.
"Okay, I'll also have Kira to join us", he said then left the office.
