Chapter 18: His Assurance
Cagalli had been sitting in the library for a half hour. Her political science notebook was open in front of her, but her gaze was stuck on the dark swirl on the cherry wood table. Dearka occupied her mind, and he had done so that entire day. With the help of Ahmed, she had learned that a boy from her Algebra and Health class had overheard Cagalli and Dearka last week. He happened to be walking by the class and was so shocked by the news that he couldn't resist telling his friends. He admitted that if he had known it would be so troubling for Cagalli, he would have kept his mouth shut. After his confession, Cagalli showed no sign of relief.
Her fingers tapped the table repeatedly while her chin rested in her other hand. She sighed. She hadn't spoken to Dearka since last Friday, and today, after finding out who the true catalyst was, she had avoided him as best she could. How could she face him? Just thinking about it sent a pang through her heart. They had been having so much fun. It was exhilarating and refreshing to be around Dearka.
And I treated him so badly that day, she thought, sighing once more.
"Cagalli?...Cagalli?"
Cagalli looked up to see who had interrupted her thoughts. Kira was staring at her with a concerned look on his face. Athrun was next to him. Cagalli lowered her gaze again. Gradually, the more time she spent with Dearka, the less she thought about Athrun being engaged, and, eventually, she stopped caring altogether.
The boys sat with her.
"Did you forget?" Kira said.
"Forget what?" Cagalli blinked in confusion.
Kira smiled. "We agreed to study together for finals."
"Oh...right."
She did forget. The three of them agreed early that morning...before she received the news. Cagalli looked at her phone; it was 3:30pm.
"Shall we get started?" Athrun said as he opened up a textbook.
Cagalli continued to stare blankly at her phone. Athrun and Kira watched her. The young men noticed that she had been that way—-aloof and gloomy— since last week, but today it was even worse.
"Hey, Cagalli?" Kira said.
"Hmmm?" she looked up slowly.
"You're still you."
"What do you…"
"You are still you. Princess or not, you're still Cagalli and we're still your friends."
The two boys smiled at her. Kira's words had sent a wave of relief through her. For the first time in days, she smiled back at them.
"I'm not a princess," she said with a sudden frown.
Athrun and Kira both chuckled.
"If you say so," Kira said, taking a case of pencils and a notebook out of his backpack.
"Shall we get started now?" Athrun said.
Kira and Cagalli exchanged looks, smiled once more, and simultaneously said, "yeah."