As promised. Again, special thanks goes out to An Instant King for the beta.
Also, to feel the effect of the Chapter, and hear what kind of melody was used in this chapter, listen to :w w w. youtube . com / watch ? v LehdFNMQajc or if this doesn work, search 'IF were a bird CG R2' in youtube or Imeem. It should be a really sad musicbox melody. I'm sure you'll like it.
If I were a bird…
"Did you hear? Athrun-sama has one of those lover's diary!"
"Seriously? Then would that mean he already has a girlfriend?"
"I think so. What else would it be?"
"Awww…then I missed my chance!"
"As if you had the chance! Hahaha. But I wonder what kind of girl is his girlfriend?"
"Hmm...Yeah. Makes me wonder too. She must be really pretty!"
"Like Ms. Lacus?"
"Isnt she going out with Kira? How about Ms Cagalli?"
"Naah. I don't think so. Ms Cagalli isn't the type to go out with the type of Arthun-sama. She's just too pure."
"But wait. Rumor has it she also has a lover's diary too!"
"Kyaah! How cute is that!"
--
"Athrun…This is embarrassing. Why do we need to swap diaries?" Her disguise for this day was a pair of thick glasses and a fake black wig. This time it was Heine, the Drama club's president's idea. If she left the disguise plans to her brother, she might end up looking like a mascot or a clown. If only she didn't have a name 'Athha' like her brother, then she wouldn't have to don this stupidity. She always wanted to go out with him like a normal couple, going on dates with out paparazzi or crazed stalkers like the last time, hounding after them.
"If you lose the disguise thingy, then I'll drop the diary thing." He whispered as he pulled her chair closer to him. He bribed the student librarian with Lacus' pictures just to have this part of the library closed. Just so he can spend time with her alone.
"But I cant."
"Then it's a no." He watched her head bow down, as she started scribbling her version of that day in their diary. He understood why she had to wear a disguise during their dates in and out of the campus, but there are times he just wants to flaunt the fact that he's going out with her. It's kind of hard having a popular girlfriend.
"There! Done!" he snatched the diary from her hands quick enough before she could stuff it back in her bag. If he wasted any time, it'll take two or more days before he could read the contents.
"Hmm…not bad. Three pages? Why didn't you write down the color of your undies today? You already wrote down what you had for lunch and--Yeoch! Why'dya hit me?"
"You pervert!"
" I was just kidding! Anyways, I got a present for you!" He grabbed his backpack and pulled out a small box.
"What is it?"
"Don't ask me. Open it."
"Mmm…wah. A music box? Thank you so much!"
"I want you to play that music box just before you go to sleep. That way, I'll be the last person in your mind when you go to bed."
"Cagalli! Are you okay? Answer me!" He scooped up her limp form, trying to figure out the source of the bleeding.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Athrun…" Her hand sought his, intertwining her fingers limply with his. He didn't understand what she was doing, so he just ignored her actions. He was too occupied to give any thought to any deeper meanings about it.
"Hey! Stay with me! I'll go take you to a doctor okay? Hang in there!" He found a small cut on her arm. It was bleeding profusely but not enough to cause a puddle of crimson on the floor. Nevertheless, he ripped off the hem of his shirt, seeing it was the nearest thing he could turn into a tourniquet. Then he lifted her up and laid her on the couch.
"I don't need a doctor…don't call anyone…just…stay here…with me…"
"What the hell? I am not going to be responsible for your death, so shut--" He felt her arm loop around the back of his neck. And before he knew it, her lips touched his. A long lagging silence followed, before he could react. When his thoughts regained their senses, he pushed her off him, with a look of guilt on his face. It felt like he committed a grave crime against her and Kira. He already carries the burden of shame from harboring such lurid thoughts about his best friend's sister. He couldn't afford any more sins. If he hadn't pushed her back, who knows what might have happened next.
"If I die…like this…it would be…a dream…come true…" A faint smile full of pain greeted him.
"What the hell? Your brother will kill me if something bad happens to you." He checked the cut. It had stopped bleeding. But the problem is, what caused the puddle on the floor?
"Hey. You. I need to change your clothes. You look like shit in those. So stay awake. Don't drift off. Or else I'll really call an ambulance." He didn't wait for her reply. He went to the cabinets and costume closet, and grabbed a decent dress. He stopped by the utilities drawer and grabbed some towels, both wet and dry then went back to her side.
There he found her sitting limply on the couch, humming a melody. A familiar, somehow nostalgic melody.
"Raise your arms. Lemme get this shirt off you." He tried to concentrate on the work at hand. But the melody is just too familiar. Where did he hear it?
"Do… you remember? This melody? It was…the melody from the…music box you gave me…"
"What music box? I don't recall giving you a music box!"
She smiled. "You said that I need to play that music box before I go to sleep. That way, you'll be the last person I'll be thinking about…. when I go to sleep…"
"That's bullshit. C'mon, stand up. I'll take you to the hotel." He felt bad for lying to her, but he's not going to risk his career on some confused woman. Or ruin a budding relationship with Stellar or his time-tested friendship with Kira. He tried pulling her up, but obviously her body was too weak. He quickly grabbed a blanket and draped it around her to prevent her from catching cold. Weak as she is, he had to give her a piggyback ride all the way to his car, thankful that he parked close to the RV.
"Are…you happy…with Stellar?"
"What kind of shit are you talking about?" He was thankful no one was around. It would be really embarrassing if somebody sees him doing this kind of thing. A superstar like him carrying some nobody like this. It could spawn so many rumors, rumors he has no time to deal with.
"If you're happy…then…that would be nice…I can leave your side now…"
"Shut up. You're just confused. You're not making any sense…"
"You finally found…your happiness… I don't need to do anything then…"
"I said just shut up. You're just delusional. "
"This way…you won't need to suffer…when I close my eyes…eternally…"
"…"
"I'd just be another part of your useless memories…and soon…soon…you'll forget everything about me…"
"…"
"I'm…happy…really happy…"
--
"Are you her husband?" After more than an hour of waiting, the emergency room physician finally came out.
"No. I'm her boss. How is she?"
"Did you know anything about her condition?"
"What condition? Tell me, is she going to be all right?"
"She…well… her condition isn't turning out well. I cannot tell you anymore details, as you are not a member of her family. All I can tell you is that you have to take care of her. She seems to be currently undergoing drug therapy, but it may not be enough. Her inability to breath properly is one of the symptoms of her condition. If it happens again, then I suggest you take her to the nearest hospital and have her admitted there. As for now, let her rest. She'll be in tip top shape when she wakes up."
"Can you at least clue me in? How can you expect me to help her if I don't know what's wrong with her?"
"I already did. Just don't stress her out. That's the best thing you can do for her."
--
The shooting next day started later than planned. Athrun left Cagalli at the hospital, and headed back to the set. He kept missing lines and bumping up scenes, so in the end, Mwu had to call it off. As soon as he got dismissed, he planned to go back to the hospital, only to bump into the patient herself in the RV.
"Hi. G'Morning."
"Cagalli! What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?"
"I'm good. Don't worry. It was just an asthma attack. I won't die from it. And if I said some nonsense last night, can you just shrug them off? I tend to ramble when I'm having an attack, so…"
Dumbfounded, he could only watch her pass by him, wearing that smile of hers. The word 'die' begins to reverberate inside him, along with the melody she was humming from last night.
"Hi. Erica. Can you book me a ticket to ORB for the end of this month?"
"Hah? Can you repeat that again?"
"Don't be stupid. Just do it"
"No. I didn't hear you clearly. Repeat it again."
"I said, book me a ticket to ORB."
"Oh my goodness! What have you done to my Cagalli?"
"Shut up."
"Hahaha. Anyways, what made you change your mind so quick?"
"My job is done. He found his happiness. I can exit from his life peacefully."
"Hmmm…so then you'll want to do the surgery then?"
"I don't recall saying anything about the surgery."
"But…"
"I'm just returning home. And, can you tell Kira to prepare the apartment too? I'm sure they kept it in shape, but just in case…"
"Oh by the way, do you still have your pills? I can send you some right now."
"Oh, I still have a lot. I just bought some a few days ago."
"You did? But they're prescriptions drugs. You can't just get them over the counter."
"I know that, so I asked one of my friends who works in a hospital pharmacy. He got me some."
"Are they of the same dosage?"
"Straight down to the packaging. I'm good Erica. Anyways, good bye."
"Very well then. I'll see you soon. Take care."
She flipped her phone off. Downing the last two pills, she smiled whispering 'Cheers! To Athrun's happiness', while humming the melody from the music box.
Again, review! Rant! Lemme hear your voices!!