"Cagalli! Cagalli!"
13-year-old Cagalli looked up from her homework and saw her best friend Athrun running to her table. He looked terribly excited, like a little boy who just received his favorite lollipop.
"What is it? Did you get 'A+' for that algebraic pop quiz again?" she asked with raised eyebrows.
"Of course it's nothing so insignificant, silly. I think I'm in love!" Athrun exclaimed.
It took a moment for his words to sink in. She felt her breathing stop when it did. "In love...with whom...?"
He leaned in closer to whisper his secret. "Her name is...Lacus Clyne. Isn't that a beautiful name?"
In a flash, an image of a pink-haired girl with large cerulean blue eyes and generous sweet smiles came to mind. Cagalli felt her heart plunge to her feet.
"Lacus Clyne? You mean, the new girl from the class next door?" she asked blankly.
"Yeah, she acts just like Mother. Kind, sweet, pretty and caring...she's my dream girl!" Athrun sighed dreamily. As he continued to sing praises to Lacus's beauty and charm, Cagalli looked as if her brain had just short-circuited. It was so...unreal.
"C-Could you repeat that?"
He blinked. "Repeat what?"
"The first part...when you first burst in here to tell me your news..."
"Ah, that part. Well...I'm in love with her...Lacus Clyne."
It was like a stab to the back when he said those five simple words.
I'm in love with her.
I'm in love with her...Lacus Clyne.
And Cagalli's heart broke into tiny, irreparable pieces.
3. Three
"I don't understand it. I just don't understand why she agreed to go on that date with Yuuna!" Athrun wondered agitatedly as he put down his text book. He couldn't seem to concentrate. He kept rewinding the conversation he had earlier with Cagalli and Mr. Braggart-is-my-middle-name Yuuna. "She could do so much better for herself. Heck, even Yzak is a better date than that idiot!"
On the other hand, the thought of Yzak as her date made him see red too.
He sighed heavily. Something was wrong here. It was alright to care, to counsel, to look after his best friend. But it was NOT alright to prohibit her from going out with whomever she wanted. Athrun was just a friend...Nothing more. He even said so himself!
"But I know he's not the one for her. So it's only logical for me to want to protect her from him," he told his conscience firmly.
-Of course...just like how it's logical for you to want to pound him to a pulp for coming within two feet of her.
-Yes...but only as a friend.
-A friend? That's a laugh! You're feeling the green-eyed monster of jealousy, Zala. And you don't like it one bit. Now why on earth would you feel 'jealous' unless somehow...
-Shut up.
-Now, now, Zala...Remember, I'm YOUR mind. And I'm telling you you've been ignoring the magnetism you feel for your best friend for a long time now. Funny, really...I thought you were Mr. Genius of the school, right? So how come even geniuses can act like ignorant idiots?
-I'm officially insane. I'm talking to myself. Think about something else, Zala.
Restless, his jade-green eyes wandered around his room, hoping to find some form of peace.
And then he saw the picture frame on his table.
It was him and Cagalli, still six-year-olds, eating banana split sundaes with the cream smeared across their faces. They were having a contest on who could wolf down the sundae in the fastest time. He smiled at the memory. In the end, Cagalli had won hands-down.
Cagalli...his polar opposite. She was lively, outspoken, athletic and very outdoorsy. She thought basketball was a way of life and spent much of her time practicing the game. Athrun was quiet and placid, preferred to keep his head safely in the arms of his precious books than participating in sports. In his opinion, sports were created for the sole purpose of unleashing the bloodthirsty and competitive spirit buried in everyone's soul. It was better to sit in front of the tube box known as television and keep one's self from bodily harm. Very rarely did he use violence.
There was only twice he used it. Once for Cagalli, and the other for–
RRRRRRRRRING!
He picked his cell phone up. "Hello, Athrun Zala speaking."
A small voice. "Athrun, it's me."
Alarm set in. "Cagalli, what's wrong?"
"I...I couldn't sleep."
"Oh, but you slept just fine at the bleachers," he pointed out.
"Yeah...but now I'm suffering from insomnia."
He frowned. "That's unhealthy, Cagalli. You need plenty of energy for school tomorrow. And the school dance would probably entail a lot of vigor and sweat. Have you tried counting sheep?"
"Athrun Zala, that's the dumbest idea you've given me yet! Sheep counting doesn't work on me!"
"Hmm...Then how about –"
"Reading a book? Sure I would...I'll get bored to death and get my forty winks, and then I'll dream I'm in a library filled with books, books, books and reading on my favorite subject – Math. Sorry, Zala, but I'm no bibliophile like you."
"Relax, there's no need to get sarcastic," Athrun said with a smile. "Since all my techniques don't work on you, we'll have to use drastic measures...How about talking?"
"About what?"
"Anything you want."
"Okay then...Have you asked Lacus to the dance yet?"
He chuckled nervously. "No, I haven't plucked the courage yet. But tomorrow is the last day so I still have time..."
"Oh, I forgot. This is the same guy who said he would confess his feelings to Lacus when he felt 'the time is right'." He heard her snort. "You men and your peculiar ways..."
"Ha. At least I won't be going with Yuuna," he retorted. "Really Cagalli, why on earth did you pick him for your date? There are others –"
"Not this lecture again!" Cagalli snapped impatiently. "I don't have much of a choice, you know. No sane male would come close enough to ask me...unless their stupidity-o-meter is as low as Yuuna's. Besides, at least if Yuuna tries any perverted moves on me, I'll be able to kick his butt without feeling sorry for him. I've broken his bones so many times I'm starting to think he's unbreakable!"
"Well, that explains why I see him drinking milk everyday," Athrun mused.
He heard her yawn.
"Cagalli put down the phone and get some sleep right now," he ordered firmly.
"But I'm not sleepy!" she denied.
Yawn.
"Cagalli..."
"Okay, okay! I'll do as you say, you bossy drill instructor!" She yawned again and sighed. "Goodnight, Athrun. Sleep tight. Don't let the bed bugs bite."
"Goodnight, princess..."
He put down his cell phone and frowned.
-Yuuna and Cagalli...
His lips twisted in disgust. It sounded so...wrong!
-Try: Athrun and Cagalli.
-That sounds better...You again! Stop planting these impractical ideas in my head!
-Why not?
-Because it's not right to like your best friend as anything more than a...best friend.
-Why's that?
-Because...because!
-Nice response. And since when did I accuse you of liking your best friend?
-I did NOT...You're playing with me, aren't you? Well, I refuse to join in your little mind games. Besides, you're just a figment of my imagination and I'm wasting precious time talking to you. I am going to BED. At least there's energy gained in that inactivity.
-Go ahead, ignore me. But I doubt you'll get much sleep as you dream of your best friend dancing in the arms of that brainless nincompoop when it could have been you
Athrun ignored his 'mind' and shut out the lights. But as his internal chatterbox had predicted, sleep eluded him that night.
"Athrun, you don't look so good today. Did you sleep well last night?" Cagalli asked worriedly the next day in school.
Her best friend sighed and rubbed his eyes. Indeed, there were dark rings under his eyes and his face was contorted with slight fatigue. He smiled weakly. "Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all..."
If you can call dreaming of her and Yuuna swaying together and dancing further and further away from him, while he was begging for her to come back to him counted as 'nothing'.
Athrun quickly brushed it off. That dream meant nothing. It wasn't like he was afraid Cagalli would leave him for another guy like Yuuna or anything. It was stupid. Cagalli would never abandon him...
...Would she?
Cagalli would have to desert him one day. After all, every young woman wanted to get married, have children and live away from their homes. Sooner or later, she would surely leave her best friend behind and begin a new and bright future with the new man in her life.
Athrun would have to feel happy for her. After all, he was her best friend.
So why does he feel physically ill at the thought of her leaving him?
He imagined times without Cagalli; times without her smiles and laughter and witty remarks; times without sharing their banana split sundaes...
No. Even thinking of living without those things made him ache.
"Athrun, are you sure you're okay?" Cagalli pressed on.
"Affirmative," he lied. "I just feel a bit off today. So where's Lacus?"
She smiled tightly and pointed to the pink-haired girl sitting alone in a corner of their classroom. "Oh, she's over there. Do you want to ask her to the dance now?"
He looked frantic. "Does my breath stink? Do I smell bad? Is my hair in order? Are my clothes presentable? Will I –"
"Calm down," Cagalli said patiently as she touched his tense shoulder. "Just go on over, say hi, explain your intention, confess your eternal love for her and ask her out to the dance."
Athrun took a deep, calming breath. "You're right. I'm getting all worked up for nothing. This is my final chance and I have to make it count."
Cagalli's fake dazzling smile would have won the Oscar for best performance. She gave a thumbs-up and winked. "Good luck!"
He nodded and walked away...unaware of the droop in her eyes as she watched him.
Lacus Clyne sat reading for her chemistry lessons when someone tapped her shoulder. She looked up and smiled cheerfully when she saw one of her classmates. "Hello, Athrun Zala. What is it you wish to tell me?"
He gulped. "L-Lacus...wouldyougotothedancewithmetonight?" he asked in a rush.
She blinked. "Could you repeat that sentence...slower please?"
He held his breath. "Would you go to the dance with me tonight?"
A faint blush stained her cheeks. "O-Oh, well...I'm flattered, Athrun. But...but I can't. You see, someone else has already asked me."
With those words, Athrun felt the nervous butterflies in his stomach die off and his face fell. Still he gave her a strained smile. "I-I see. Well then, I'm sorry for wasting your time."
Was he sad?
Of course he was.
Was he disappointed?
Very much so.
Was his heart broken beyond repair?
Oddly enough, it wasn't.
Instead, he felt a burden being lifted off his shoulders. He felt better...freer. Not at all like how a person would describe a guy who had just been rejected by the girl he loved...
...Or had he ever loved her?
No, of course he loved Lacus! He loved her dearly. She was everything he ever wanted in a soul mate. She was perfect for him!
Wasn't she?
Wasn't she?
But she must be! Who else would the one for him? Who else?
"Athrun!"
Cagalli had seen how Lacus had looked shocked and then apologetic. Obviously the answer was a 'no'. Her golden-brown eyes softened as she held out her arms to give him the comfort he needed.
He smiled sadly as he embraced her.
Cagalli...
"She rejected me, Cagalli. Just as I feared, years of wishing and dreaming have finally come crashing down on me." Athrun sighed dejectedly as he sat in Cagalli's living room divan.
Cagalli smiled understandingly and handed him the bowl of makeshift banana split sundae from the kitchen freezer. "Here, you look like you could use this."
He accepted it and served himself a dollop. "What am I lacking, Cagalli?"
She blinked. "Huh?"
"I mean, look at me and tell me honestly, do I lack some special quality Lacus wants in a guy?"
She frowned. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Because you're a girl."
"Mr. Zala, after all these years, you finally see me as a girl?" Cagalli laughed ironically. "Who's the one who always teased me about being a tomboy? And now he wants MY help because I am a GIRL! This is hilarious!"
Athrun sulked. "Oh, stop that! This is a serious question that requires a serious answer."
She paused. "In that case, I'm telling you this seriously: I do NOT know."
"Then why don't you tell me what you want in a guy."
Cagalli blinked. "But the taste of each girl differs, Athrun. A girl might like a guy for his big muscles and biceps. Other Eves might like their Adams tall and lanky. And other females would look for a male with sensitivity and kindness. The varieties are endless!"
"Well, what is it about me that might repel a female?" Athrun asked in frustration.
"Hmm...Maybe it's your breath."
"Hey, my breath doesn't stink!"
She leaned forward and sniffed his breath. And then her eyes widened. "Just as I suspected –"
He paled.
"You use mint-flavored Colgate!" she exclaimed with an accusing finger in his face.
He almost bit off her finger. "That is NOT funny, Cagalli! This might mean no woman might ever find me attractive enough for even one date! If stinky breath is the problem, then I must to remedy it!"
Cagalli's lips twitched. "Seeing as you're being so pathetically desperate, I guess I will help you." She studied his face from side to side. "Hmm...You're not too ugly. In fact, most men would kill for your looks. You have a better personality than most cavemen, and you actually possess an intellectual mind...which is more than I can say for most guys. What I would find lacking in you is..." She snapped her fingers. "Eureka! I have it now! They think you're GAY!"
"They think I'm...WHAT?"
She paced the floor in total concentration. "YES! It all makes perfect sense now! Most girls would probably think you're gay because you never even dated anyone in your entire life!"
His face turned green. "They think I'm...homosexually inclined?"
"Now that's just a theory," she quickly added, "but it's logical, isn't it? They think you're not interested in the opposite sex and so they dismiss you. I wouldn't be surprised. Your best friend is a girl, you study all day, you hate sports, you don't shoot lewd remarks to females and you're always polite to them." She sighed sadly. "Poor, poor Athrun...so misunderstood..."
He looked uneasy. "Well, isn't there some way for them to know I'm NOT gay, err, homosexual?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. I thought of your flaw, so it's up to you to solve it."
Athrun thought for a moment, and then he smiled. "I have an idea..."
She raised an eyebrow. "And that would be...?"
"Cagalli...would you please kiss me?"
To be continued...