A/n:

Finally, I'm inspired to write this chapter down. This is quite long, but it's beautiful. So, what are we waiting for? Here it is…

Chapter 3: Yearbook

Just like every night, Athrun came home late from work. Nika has already been put to sleep. After he closed the door, Lunamaria walked in with a towel on her right hand.

"I see you're already here," Luna told him, "I had just finished washing the dishes."

Athrun hung his coat on the hat-rack and unbuttoned two buttons of his white, long-sleeves polo. He sat on the couch and lifted his feet on the center table. "I had such a long day," he muttered under his breath.

"Do you want something to drink?" she asked. He nodded. Then, she headed back to the kitchen.

"How are things going on at the hospital?" she asked him when she got back, but this time, she's already sitting beside him.

After Athrun drank the glass of water, he rested his head on the couch's top. He sighed, "Nothing interesting happened. Patients come and go while nurses and doctors rush here and there. Everything's just the same."

She inched closer to him – their knees already touching. "Nika has been looking all over for you. Why don't you take a break once in a while?"

Athrun sighed again. "I want to, but I can't. And besides, I have day-offs…sometimes."

Luna leaned even closer – their lips were only centimeters apart. Athrun suddenly felt like something is pinching his heart. Their eyes were locked at each other's gazes. Thank God, Luna broke the eerie silence. "Suit yourself," she said.

She got up from the couch and walked to the hat-rack to grab her brown, velvet coat. Then, without looking back at Athrun, she closed the door.

Athrun placed a hand on his forehead and breathed a heavy sigh. Why did he suddenly feel strange a while ago?

He got up from the couch and went straight to his room. "I guess I need a bath," he thought. He took off his garments and went to the bathroom. After forty minutes, he came out wearing a light blue bathrobe. As he was drying his hair, he searched through his bookshelf for something to read. Unfortunately, all of them were medical books. "Are there any other books besides these?" he thought again.

Out of the blue, something caught his eye. He pulled it out and blew the dust away. It was his yearbook back in high school! It was his book of memories…

His memories of those times…

Times when they were still together…

Meanwhile

"Mommy! Mommy! Look what I found!" Rico called out.

Cagalli stopped typing her students' scores on her laptop. "What is it, Rico?"

He handed the item. "Here."

Her amber orbs widened. How did Rico find this?

She slowly took it from his little hands and placed it on her desk. Then, she glanced at the clock. It was already late. "Rico, you need to go to bed now," she said in her usual motherly voice.

"But mommy, I'm not yet…" he yawned, "sleepy."

"Oh, yes you are, darling," she told him. She carried him to the bedroom and tucked him under his white, cotton blanket. She stroke his hair gently and kissed him on one of his soft cheeks. "Goodnight," she whispered.

She resumed her typing, but her mind was distracted by the presence of the blue and white book. She rested her chin on her hand and stared at it. Then, after a few minutes, she decided to give to her thoughts.

Athrun…

"It has been many years," he said as he browsed through the book's pages. "I wonder where the others are."

He carefully looked at each of the student's faces. Suddenly, he stopped at a certain blonde-haired girl. He remembered the time he saw her again. He smiled. "Nothing has changed. She was still that same person I first fell in love with," he thought.

Cagalli…

"Zala," she whispered to the empty space filling the room.

She stared absentmindedly at the boy with blue locks and emerald eyes at one page of her the beloved book. She then recalled what happened days ago. "He still has those features. He only grew more mature," she muttered under her breath.

"I wonder what really happened to us…"

"Cagalli…"

"Athrun…"

Flashback…

Lost and alone – those were the only feelings she felt. Everything was still and dark. She passed by a broken street light; its glass pieces scattered beneath. She tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear and let the tears flow down to her cheeks.

She had just left her once called home. It was all because of her father. How dare he made love with another woman! What's worse, he did it in his own home while her mother was away!

She believed in him. She trusted him. Most of all, she loved him. Now, nothing's left but hatred and anger.

Suddenly, the sky crackled and a bolt of lightning flashed. Rain poured heavily everywhere. The raindrops mixed along with her tears. She has nowhere to run to…nowhere to shelter her from the rain of her own tears and emotions.

"The water is freezing, don't you know that?" a voice cried out.

She spun around and met his eyes. "Yeah, so what!" she snapped.

"Are you out of your mind! You can die here because of pneumonia!" he shouted.

"Butt out, will ya! You don't even know what the hell happened!" she yelled.

That was it. What is he talking about! He doesn't even know what she's going through right now!

Out of the darkness, a white light beamed her eyes. She couldn't see! Then, a loud honk was heard. "A truck!" her mind screamed. She moved her legs, but slipped at the hard pavement. She fell to the ground and sprained her ankle. She couldn't move; it was too painful. The honk got louder as it came close to her.

"NOOOOOOO!"

"Miss! Miss! Wake up!" she heard a manly voice say.

"Who's calling me?" she thought, "Am I just hearing things?"

Just then, she felt a pair of soft lips touching hers. "Am I really dreaming or what?" She tried to open her eyes, but her body couldn't respond because of the weakness it felt. The next thing she knew, she couldn't feel the tender kiss that night.

After a few hours…

Her eyes opened. "Where am I?" she asked. She slowly tried to get herself sit up, but suddenly felt dizzy. "I must be unconscious for a while," she thought.

She then heard voices from outside the room.

"Yes, you may see her if you want. But, if she's still asleep, don't try to wake her up. She needs all the rest for the day," a woman said in a stern voice.

"That probably was a nurse," she thought.

The door opened. It was the guy she met last night! She knew it through his eyes.

"I'm glad you're awake," he said as he grabbed a seat.

"Are you the one who brought me here?" she asked him.

He nodded. "Oh, by the way, I bought these for you in case you want something to eat."

She smiled weakly at the sight of the basket of fruits he placed on the table beside her. "Thank you," she said.

"Uh, now that everything is settled down, I want to know your name," he said.

"My name is Cagalli. What's yours?" she asked, sounding interested.

"Athrun. Athrun Zala," he replied.

She grinned. Athrun suddenly felt a slight blush crept to his cheeks. "She looks beautiful even though she grins dimly," he thought.

"I guess you think I'm pretty silly to stay under the rain without an umbrella," she said with the grin still on her face.

"Uh…" He couldn't tell even though it was true.

"It's alright. I couldn't get angry if that's what people think." She stopped. "But, how I wish they knew what state I'm in."

He gulped and leaned closer to her face. "Is it alright to tell it to me?"

She sighed. "I guess," she said hesitatingly.

Athrun clasped her hand. "Trust me."

Cagalli blushed at his sudden action and moved her hand away from his. "It was all about my father," she began.

For the next minutes, she told him everything. "I thought he loved us, especially mom," her voice was shaking and tears started to form around the corners of her eyes, "But, everything is ruined now. How could I be such a fool!"

Suddenly, she felt warm. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to see Athrun's arms around her.

"You're not a fool, Cagalli. It just happened. People are sinful and that's the truth. Please, don't cry anymore," he said sincerely.

She closed her eyes and cried bitterly at his chest. Athrun, in the meantime, just kept her there and stroke her hair tenderly.

When her cries finally subsided, she looked up to him and saw the concern in his emerald orbs. Slowly, he bent his head and kissed her gently.

It happened so fast…

But somehow, it felt right…

A/n: Whoa! One of my long chapters again. I put a lot of thought into this one. I was even thinking of doing this "Yearbook" chapter into a mini-series.

This isn't over people…

Next Chapter: Yearbook (Part 2)

- More of Athrun and Cagalli's memories are featured in this chapter