For Granted

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Cagalli had learned many things ever since her childhood. They included foreign languages, piano lessons, table manners, and etiquettes. She disliked all of them, especially the last, and often went tiptoeing outside her private lesson chamber whenever her teachers dozed off. Once she's outside, she'd train with a gun and other artilleries or weaponry under the supervision of a reluctant castle guard. By the time Mana caught her, her body would be full of bruises and sometimes cuts, too deep for a scratch and shallow enough to left a noticeable scar.

That's why the first time she met Lacus Clyne, Cagalli felt very much like a boy. She bitterly remembered how Kira and Athrun had already confirmed this from their first meeting. With her soft spoken, very lady-like manner, soft flowing hair and the voice of an angel, Lacus was befitted for the title of a princess. Unlike her, Cagalli Yura Athha, who dressed frequently in combat boots and military outfit. She has dirt instead of beautiful hairpin adorning her unruly hair, and her hands grew calluses from guns and knives. Ah, how Mana would weep in sorrow if she ever found out.

"Do you still love her?"

Athrun Zala a.k.a. Alex Dino stared at her in bewilderment. He didn't expect this question out of her, while they were on their way to the space station. "...Her who?"

She fidgeted her fingers on her collar. "Lacus. Your fiancée."

"Former fiancée," Athrun corrected, sighing as he looked back at her. "Why do you ask this, after all this time?"

"What, you think it's too late to ask?" She pouted, turning to the car's window. "It's okay if you don't want to answer."

Athrun's reply was something she dreaded. "And if I answer Yes?"

She hated how the car's window mirrored her reflection directly back at Athrun. Sitting beside her, he could get a clear view of her expression changing constantly.

"Yes, I still love her," He answered, lowering his sunglasses. "But as a friend. I think you know she already ditched me for someone else you know pretty well."

"So I'm just a rebound for you?"

Athrun opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again, and shook his head. "Okay, was it something I just said or something I said last night? Come on, Cagalli, if you're not telling me what made you angry at me-"

Her eyes stayed at the coast line, Cagalli fidgeted her own fingers instead, feeling the calluses rubbing her councilor uniform. "Lacus is...very pretty isn't it?"

"I would be lying if I said no."

"Is her hand...softer than mine?" She felt her face turned a skeptical scowl.

At this, Athrun averted his attention to Cagalli's hands. She turned back just in time to her surprise, as he took both of her hands and kissed them.

Actions always spoke louder than words for her, and she leaned over and kissed him.