Chapter 2: Meet Athrun!

'I'm in a hospital. No. It's a condominium. No. A restaurant. But with a bed? I guess no. A hotel. No. Or maybe a mansion. No. A shuttle again? But there are doctors, nurses. So I'm in a… yes… I'm really in a hospital.'

Of course Cagalli perfectly knew where she was but still she couldn't believe that such a place could be a hospital. After all she had reasons for her to think twice…

First. The 60-inch plasma screen cabled TV in front of her equipped with a C.E.95 movie player where in you can instantly watch any movies of your wish by just saying its title after pressing the 'whatever' button in the remote control.

Second. The kitchen completely furnished with fresh-from-the-market utensils a professional cook would die to have in his own house. Too bad, Cagalli didn't know how to cook.

Third. The fancy little parlor which Cagalli would rather enjoy staring at than ruining its beautiful arrangement by sitting on one of the colorful sofas.

Fourth. The bath room larger than her room at their own house in Earth.

Fifth. The incredible bed, she was resting on now, which has all the controls in every appliances- the tv, lights, aircon, speaker phone, everything… including the door of that room.

And lastly,

The nonstop flow of foods starting from morning to midnight made her wonder if she was really in a hospital.

Oh how Cagalli loved her stay!

If only not for the constant knockings she was receiving on her door and the surge of questions about her condition the doctors and nurses were pouring her. But Cagalli knew that they were just being concerned to her and the truth was never in her life was she treated like a VIP.

Again Cagalli would have loved it if only not…

XXX

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Instantly, Cagalli was awakened from her wonderful sleep the moment she heard that shattering sound. She shot her eyes towards the door as the knocking grew louder.

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

Without further thinking, her hand flew to a button beside her bed and the door opened revealing 3 middle-age men clad in white coat.

"Oh miss Athha! You're alive! You're alive!" The three said panting as they rushed to her side and began touching her forehead, her neck while the other began placing his stethoscope on her chest.

"Actually… I am wonderful!" Cagalli smiled and continued her sentence, "well… that was before you came here banging that door and awakening me in my sleep!"

"You were just sleeping? We almost thought you had committed suicide- We thought you jumped out of the window, or drowned yourself in the tub, or slit your wrist, or you slipped and banged your head. Because we've been knocking at your door for 30 minutes and you weren't asweri-" GLARE. "-Oh we're so sorry!"

XXX

And there was also another time when Cagalli was watching the last episode of her favorite top rating teen drama series: Girls Rule.

XXX

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Cagalli pressed the button beside her bed again and this time a grinning lady in pigtails welcomed her. It was the nurse.

"MS. ATHHA! TIME TO DRINK YOUR MEDICINE!!" GREAT! That was loud enough for Cagalli not to hear what the main character Julie told her ex boyfriend.

"OH MY GOD! IS THAT THE LAST EPISODE!? WAAH! WHY HASN'T ANYONE TOLD ME!!" And the nurse slammed the tray she was holding on top of the table beside Cagalli's bed, and ran in front of the TV blocking Cagalli with her back.

"Ehem! Excuuuse me! If you want to watch you can sit on that chair over there… " Cagalli said in a very polite tone.

"OH HE'S GOING TO KISS HER! AAAHH!"

But it seemed like the nurse didn't hear her so Cagalli just decided to walk near the TV but stopped immediately after hearing the ending song of the show.

XXX

Three days have passed since Cagalli's confinement in the hospital. Despite her constant assurance to the doctors that she was already feeling okay, they still insisted that she stay and rest. They also told her not to worry about the hospital bills because everything was well taken cared of. But who was worrying anyway? The truth was Cagalli hadn't think of that during her stay and it was only until then that she became aware of it.

'Who was the person behind all of this? He must have been filthy rich. I just wish I could thank him.' Suddenly she heard a-

Knock! Knock! Knock!

'Arghh! Who's this again!' Cagalli irritatingly pressed the abused 'door' button of her bed. But when it revealed a man wearing a dark blue polo shirt and jeans, her sullen mood changed to shock.

"I know you!" Cagalli pointed an accusing finger at him.

"Of course… we've met in the shuttle." He said as he took the seat beside her bed.

"What are you doing here? Are you- OH! You're stalking me!" Cagalli couldn't believe how lucky she was for having a stalker as handsome as him.

"You're really poor in guessing, aren't you?"

"Oh no! You mean… You are… You are sent here by the person who paid my debt right?" Cagalli said covering her mouth in utter shock.

"Uhmm… I-"

"My God I'm right! You really are! Is he your boss? I want to meet him. Please bring me to him. I have so many questions to ask him because I really have no idea what exactly happened to me before I was brought here. I didn't know how he ended up paying my 1 million debt. But I wanna thank him for that. He just didn't know that with what he did he saved my life and my family's. I also need to tell him that I can't pay him right away, but whatever happens I'll pay him. I just have to find work first."

He chuckled enjoying how she had mistaken him as someone else, "Calm down, Cagalli. Don't worry he sent me here to tell you that you can have the payment anytime you want."

"Really! Please bring me to him! By the way what is his name?!"

"I'm sorry he wants his identity secret that's why he sent me here, instead of going personally." He looked at her amusedly somehow he felt guilty for not telling her the truth. But, he guessed, the truth could wait. For now, he would first take pleasure with his little lie.

"That's sad. But tell him how grateful I am with what he's done okay? And I'll pay him as soon as I can. By the way what's your name?"

"It's Athrun… just simply Athrun." She didn't have to know his full name. Not now.

"Nice to meet you, Athrun."

XXX

An hour later after Athrun left, Cagalli found herself staring and smiling at a piece of paper where Athrun had written his cell number.

"He has a cute hand-writing," Cagalli admired despite the horrible way it was written.

XXX

"Doctor La Fllaga, tell me the real situation of my father. You know we've done everything but why can't we see any improvements? For three years he has been like that- lifeless!"

"I understand you, Athrun. But you must know that it isn't enough that we do only our parts, your father must also help us in fighting for his recovery. And each day I visit him I can see in his face how he was becoming hopeless. He is not cooperating with his therapists and if he'll continue doing that it will really take a great deal of time before he recovers or worse he might die. I'm sorry but there's really little we can do. His immediate recovery depends on him."

Dr. Mwu La Fllaga's face displayed sympathy as he watched Athrun held his father's hand firmly. He had been their family doctor for years and he had seen how much respect this child had to his father, Patrick Zala. Patrick, on the other hand, was his long time comrade; they have known each other since high school. Patrick had always been so generous to him and it hurt him seeing that he couldn't do anything to help his friend's situation. With that he bid his farewell.

"Father, I need you. Mom needs you. Everyone here needs you. That's why you have to recover soon. Do you understand?"

Athrun talked to his sleeping father. He always talked to him hoping that someday he would respond. He gazed at his father's peaceful form, remembering how he had been a good mentor to him.

Athrun knew that he was not ready to lose him yet, he believed that there was still a way to bring back his vitality and he was ready to do anything just to find that way.

Suddenly Athrun heard a soft moan from his father.

"My- My daughter- for- forgive me…"

Athrun looked at the picture frame at the desk beside his father's bed. It was a picture of a 7-yr old girl with long blonde hair and a unique amber orbs with a golden ring in it. She was Athrun's illegitimate sister. Patrick had lost her twenty-one years ago when the mother with the baby on her womb, left PLANTs and went to earth. The last communication Patrick had with the mother was when she e-mailed him a picture of their daughter in her 7th birthday. He asked the name but the mother didn't give anything. And now it was his dying wish to at least see his daughter and know her name.

"Ath- Athrun, find her- fo- for me…" Patrick stuttered as he tried to hold back his son's hand as well.

With that, Athrun finally knew the answer to his father's immediate recovery.

"Father, I promise… you'll be with your daughter soon…"

--To be continued--

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