Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny.
A/N: etc... etc... I know the chapter's a bit of a mess and rushed, but let's get this over with.
Thank you Anon and missfk21 for the review. The effort's always appreciated.
Happy New Year everyone.
" " for speech
Italic for flashbacks, thoughts, and opinions.
I apologize for bad grammar. Feel free to correct errors.
Cucumber & Cantaloupe: Chapter 5
Summer was about sun, sand, and fun.
"Hey Shinn, hurry up!" Auel Neider called out to him from the taped court along with Rey and the others. They were all happily playing beach volleyball just as he suddenly rushed out of the game to check his mobile phone.
You have 8 new messages.
"I want ice cream, brother, please buy some on your way home. " —Mayu
"I want the caramel cone one, okay?" —Mayu
"Oh, and buy some watermelons too 'cause mom said so." —Mayu
"Make that two watermelons 'cause I'm having friends over." —Mayu
—Mayu.
—Mayu.
—Mayu.
—Mayu.
So what else's new? Shinn Asuka sighed. He switched his phone back to screen lock before stashing it back into his gym bag underneath the umbrella. Thinking that the guys might replace him if he's gone for too long, Shinn got back onto his feet with every intention of heading back when he managed to step-on something he had failed to notice was there before. A pink envelope... with his name written on it in clean calligraphy. ... He stayed and sat back down on the beach towel.
This is one girly envelope. Shinn thought, holding the thing up and admiring the faint glitters...then it hit him... Oh crap, could this be what he think it is? Shinn swallowed hard, discovering the fact that even the paper's scented!
"Shinn, quit being a turtle!" Another one of the guys yelled.
"I got it, alright! Just give me a minute here!" He yelled back, eyes never leaving the envelope in his hand. His heart started hammering as he tore the flap open.
Dear Shinn,
The first time I saw you my stomach was lifted into my throat by one million butterflies. Admiring you isn't hard to do. You are an attractive guy and I know no one works harder than you do.
I admire the way you always stay late just to practice even when other people don't. I love the way light shines down on your jet black hair and the grace of which you carry yourself. You are perfect and I'd love to be the lucky girl who wins your love.
I really like you, Shinn. You are the bright spot in my day. I know I should be telling you this in person so I'm writing this and leaving it where you'll find it, hoping that you'd come meet me alone at the lighthouse before nightfall. I will be waiting for you.
Love,
Your secret admirer
Shinn frowned at the end. Yeah, but who are you? And Why would he go all the way to the end of the beach just to meet a girl he doesn't even know? Justifiable, right? Nothing but an inconvenience. Better to head home early with his little-sister's ice-cream or she'd throw a fit at him again... But what if he did know this girl? What if she's that cute blonde who's always sitting by the end of the pool?
His heart skipped a beat at the thought of her.
Was it even possible? Could there exists such a coincidence or hand of fate? What are the odds he'll get a chance like this again? Shinn reread the letter over. Before nightfall... His thoughts lingered as he secured the note inside the pocket of his swim trunks. Whoever this girl was... guess, he'll have to go find out for himself.
00000
Somewhere halfway to the lighthouse.
"Flay, I still don't see the starfish..." Childlike and most of the time innocent, Stellar Loussier announced with a hint of disappointment just after she had bent forward on the seashore cliff in hopes to catch a glimpse of the sea creature.
Leaning forward as well, "Stellar, you're probably still looking at the wrong rock... See, the blue starfish is right over there." Flay pointed to one of the very few rocks found below them.
"Where?"
"There, see?"
"I don't see it... Could it have crawled away?" Stellar pouted.
"No, it hasn't. It's still there. Maybe you just need to get your eyes checked?" Flay sighed and then frowned. Unsure how long she could still keep this up with her friend, Flay momentarily turned away from the cliff, gradually losing her enthusiasm, until she spotted Shinn, who's supposedly on his way to the lighthouse, finally making his walk through.
"Ah, Shinn, great timing!" Flay brightened up causing Stellar to slowly turn around as well.
Not expecting to run into anyone as of yet, although recognizing Flay immediately, Shinn looked up with instant surprise. "Hey, you're that girl from before."
Flay ignored that, just grabbed the guy's wrist, and dragged him back to where Stellar was waiting. Correction. Shinn more than willingly followed her back to where Stellar was. The purpose of his original trip almost forgotten.
"We are looking for starfishes." Stellar explained to Shinn with a sunshine smile.
"Yes, and Stellar's having trouble spotting them so you're going to help." Flay added, displaying her own kind of smile. Shinn however, could only reply with a blink when she instantly forced him and Stellar to stoop dangerously close to the edge of the cliff in order to see the bottom.
With head forced down, Stellar turned to Shinn. "Sorry..."
With head also forced down, embarrassed, Shinn flushed red. "It's all right."
Unknown to either of the two, Flay smiled watching them. Oh look, how cute. They're getting along already, but this was hardly result. Thus, for the meantime, she decided to rejoin them on the ledge.
"There." Flay began once again. "The starfish is over there. See it?"
"Is there really a starfish down there?" Shinn questioned.
"Oh come on, are your eyes that bad? The blue starfish is right over there." Flay pointed below, to the very same spot she had been pointing at for the past hours. For the record, there really was no starfish, but she pressed the pair's backs lower as to encourage both to get a better look anyway. "See it yet?"
"No! There's nothing but water." Shinn replied.
Flay guiltily look-up at air. "Geez... You're no help. I'm going see if I can find someone else with better eyes. You two stay put." Flay spun around at the same time she accidentally on purpose bumped Shinn and Stellar off the high rock.
Boy and girl screamed followed by reverberating impact of the two landing on calm surface water. Shinn resurfaced quickly and efficiently without any real complication as expected. He did however, throw a glare up at her for being a klutz while treading, and he was about to idle away more time by snapping at her too when she beat him to it.
"Shinn, do something! Stellar can't swim!" ... Don't force me to jump down there!
This prompt Shinn to search around- north, east, south, west, east- he urgently dove under, successfully pulling Stellar out from the deep a few moments later.
Shinn swam and hauled Stellar up onto the nearest rock.
Drenched all over, Stellar coughed out water.
"Stellar are you okay?" Flay asked from above to check which initiated Shinn to glared up at her yet again...— Still thinks of her as a darn klutz. Stellar however, like a sweet innocent little sheep, looked at the situation more differently...— Still believes all was nothing but an honest accident.
"Stellar is okay, Flay!" The blonde replied exhausted but honestly- with not even a hint of spite in her tone.
"Does it hurt anywhere?" Flay continued.
"No, Stellar is fine!"
"You sure?"
"Uhuh!"
Shinn gritted his teeth at the exchange. "If you're so concerned, why don't you just-"
"Shut up, Shinn, I'm not talking to you." Flay snapped.
Shinn bit his tongue. On the receiving end, he didn't look happy but he shuddap nonetheless.
"You two stay there. I'll go get help!" Flay pulled back from the ledge and faked a run only until she was seemingly out of their sight. She made a leisure walk back to the beach instead. She had done her part. Now all she could do was leave the rest to fate and Shinn's protective instincts because, most certainly, help won't be arriving until much later.
That brat better take good care of Stellar or she'll seriously hurt his sorry butt.
**.