CHAPTER 4
"Fuh, I'm dead full!" Kira said, followed by a loud, burping sound. He leaned on the chair and patted his slightly round belly. Cagalli just grinned. On the table in front of them, there were dozens of empty plates.
"I'm glad that all of these seem to satisfy your appetite, Kira," she chuckled and called for the waiter to bring the bill. Kira just smile sheepishly. He may look a little leanskinny but with a stomach like a sumo wrestler.
After that, they get in the car. As she pulled in the driveway, Kira turned to her. "I heard about that grand ball. So, are we heading to the mansion now?"
"Yup. I have to or Father would hunt me forever," she sighed. "He knew I hate wearing dress but still, he insisted".
"Relax, sis. It's not the end of the world if you have to wear it. Besides, look at the bright side. Who would have thought that you, Cagalli Yamato are actually Cagalli Yula Athha? Nobody would suspect Cagalli Yamato wearing dress, right? So, at least it wouldn't blow away your real identity," he said, yawning. Every time he ate too much, he would feel sleepy afterwards.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Hey, it's not healthy to sleep after meal!" she nudged at Kira, who had already closed his eyes.
"It's okay, I have high metabolism. Wake me up when we've arrived," he mumbled, with his eyes closed.
Cagalli just shrugged and focused on her driving. It's not like he would listened to her anyway. She tuned on the radio but immediately slowed the volume down. She didn't wanna wake Kira as he looked quite tired. Probably caused by the meeting he had earlier. After all, he was the vice president of that Sharp-shooting Club. The president was a third-year student, which she didn't remember the name.
As she made a turn on her left, the car moved swiftly. One of the guards that had been guarding the mansion's gate saluted her and opened the gate for her to enter. In front of them was probably one of the biggest mansions in Orb. She parked her car beside the fountain that was in front of the mansion.
"Kira, wake up. We're here, at the mansion," she shook her twin brother's shoulder gently. Kira opened his eyes slowly and yawned. She grinned and got out of the car. Kira stretched a little and got out of the car too.
"It's been a while that we didn't set our foots here, right?" Kira's eyes wandered at the mansion and its surroundings.
"Yeah, I guess so. But the funny thing is that, I don't even miss this place, not even a bit" she admitted. It was the truth and she couldn't tell why either.
"Probably because you're not happy when you lived here before. Besides, who would if there are dozen of people always following you around, whenever you go? Even I can't stand it," he pointed out. Just the thought of it made him shuddered. He still couldn't accept the fact that his twin sister had been suffering from loss of freedom when she lived there before.
Fortunately, when she started her first year at College of Seed, Uzumi Nara Athha had been more considerate by letting her staying with Kira at their rented house. Though it was a rented house, Uzumi wouldn't let Kira or Cagalli paid for it. He told them that all of their expenses were being paid by him, so they don't have to worry about financial problems.
"Maybe, but I don't wanna talk about it right now. Let get inside," she grabbed his arms and heading towards the main door. Two big men, wearing black suits and black glasses bowed at them respectably and pulled opened the door. Inside, there were a couple of maids waiting for them. Both of them bowed and smiled sweetly.
"Cagalli-sama! We've been waiting for you!" squealed one of the maids. Cagalli sighed heavily while Kira covered his mouth, his shoulders shook from laughter. Then, the maids dragged Cagalli to her bedroom. Kira went to the living room and turned on the television. There were several people busying themselves decorating and cleaning the living room, preparing for the grand ball.
"Father sure is serious about this grand ball thing," Kira muttered. He addressed Uzumi as father; personally requested by Uzumi himself. He never had a son, so he wanted to make Kira as his own.
Meanwhile, in Cagalli's room…
"Try this, Cagalli-sama!"
"No, you should try this instead, Cagalli-sama!"
The two maids arguing on which dress that Cagalli should try. Cagalli rolled her eyes and stared at the dresses that had been spread on her bed. There were at least twenty dresses with different colors. All of it was in the same cutting and pattern; strapless tops with long cut at the left side, up until it reached her midthigh, with the purpose of revealing her long and shapely legs.
"Is there any dress that won't be too much revealing like all of these?" she asked. There was no way she would wear one of those dresses. I'd rather go naked!
"Unfortunately there is none, Cagalli-sama. But these dresses would look lovely on you, Cagalli-sama!" said Lina, one of the maids. The other maid, Sara, nodded with enthusiasm.
"Are you nuts?! I won't wear something that would make me look like I'm almost nude!" Cagalli shrieked. Then, she opened her wardrobe, only to find nothing but hundreds of the same dresses. "Argh! Where's my own clothes?!"
"Erm, you see…"
"Uzumi-sama told us…"
"To store away…"
"All of your commoner's clothes…"
"And forbid us…"
"To tell you where…"
"We hid it," both Lina and Sara said, finishing the sentences.
"WHAT?! THAT'S RIDICULOUS! I WANT MY CLOTHES BACK AND YOU BETTER TELL ME WHERE YOU HIDE IT!!!" Cagalli shouted, losing her patience.
"Forgive us, Cagalli-sama. We can't tell you because we already made a deal with Uzumi-sama. Please don't be mad at us," Sara timidly said.
Cagalli stared at both of them in disbelief. "I CAN'T BELIEVE MY OWN FATHER TRICK ME INTO THIS! ARRGH!!!" she threw herself on the sofa, covering her eyes with her hands.
Lina and Sara looked at each other guiltily.
"Just go away and leave me alone," Cagalli said flatly. The maids bowed and quietly went out of the room. Then, she lifted her hands and turned to her bed. "Why do I have to be a princess?" she gazed at the gowns.
Athrun lay on his bed with his eyes wide open. He stared at the ceiling and sighed heavily. "Does she really hate me that much? But why? Well, maybe I am an arrogant bastard after all," he monologue.
Suddenly, someone was knocking on his door. "Yes?" he asked.
"Master Athrun, your father wants to see you in the living room," Bruce, the butler, said. Athrun frowned. I thought he's in PLANT..
"Yeah, I'm coming!" Athrun got off the bed and walked to the door. He opened it and Bruce, in his late fifties, bowed at him. Then, they walked to the living room.
"Ah, Athrun, my boy," Patrick Zala greeted his son cheerfully. "I need to tell you something. Come and sit down with me," he patted the couch next to him.
Athrun sat. "What is it, father?"
"I want you to attend this grand ball at the Athha mansion, this coming Saturday," his father's smile was too wide, Athrun suspected something.
"Do I have to go? You know I hate that kinda thing," he moaned. He didn't like the idea of having to plaster a fake smile on his face while entertained the arrogant VIP guests. It was like he had to pretend to be someone that he was not.
"Oh, come on Athrun. You'll get the chance to meet distinguished leaders from all arounde to meet influenced leaders ot. le on his face while entertained the VIP guests. It was like the world and the princess of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha," Patrick winked and grinned slyly.
"Aha, I knew it! You want me to charm that princess to fall for me, maybe even marrying me so that you could advance your influenced, right? Well, I think I'll pass, father," Athrun said firmly. I will never be your puppet again, father!
His father's face turned sad and gloomy. "I thought you would be a good son to me since your mother passed away and obey his father but then again, I thought wrong!" he pretended to cry and wiped away non-existence tears. Athrun rolled his eyes. He knew that his father would do what it takes to get him do anything.
"Alright, alright! I'll do it, and this is the last time I'm gonna do something like this, Father!" Athrun gave up eventually. He couldn't stand to watch his father's dramatical action.
Patrick's face lightens up at once. "Oh, Athrun! Thank you!" he gave Athrun a big hug that nearly suffocated his son.
"Ah! I'm exhausted!" Cagalli collapsed on her king-sized bed. She had just finished practicing her movements while wearing the recommended dress. Her feet and face ached from the heels she had to wear and the smile she had to plaster on.
"Could this day be any worst?" she wondered. She got up and changed into her pajamas. As she lay on her bed, she immediately drifts to sleep without even turned off the light.
Her maids crept into her bedroom carefully, not wanting to make any sound. Lina tucked the blanket neatly on Cagalli while Sara turned off the light. Softly closed the bedroom door, they retreated to their own room.
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Sorry if it's shorter that the previous ones. I've run out of ideas! TT…Please review as usual!