Holy, Guys, thanks for the reviews!! Hehe… Group Hug I'm actually trying to update as fast as I can now since the sem break is over and I will soon say hello to another sem of torture! Gah! Wish me luck guys! ;
TheAngels'Princess- Thank you too and you're welcome! Thanks for reading. Hmm.. Athrun confess? He should consult with himself first I think. That guy has lost all guts when it comes to cagalli. But, he sure is making quite an effort isn't he?
zXia0RayZz – Yes, their lips touched. And we hope there will be something more than that as things progress. Nope, I'm not evolving into some hentaiish fanfic. Hehe thanks for reading!
AsuCaga30 – Thank you for the compliment. ; Nah, kaya mo rin yan ano.. lahat naman ng tao magaling. And besides, I've seen your work, it's pretty good! Keep it up is what I can say!
Hagumi – Ah, Hagumi-chan, Yes, I would like someone like Athrun picking me up at school. Swoon! Kira should listen, and besides Lacus is there to back things up. It's so cute when she plays cupid! Yes, Lacus concert will be coming and I'll be adding some scenes of it. As for milly's ticket, read on it's down there.
Kitty-Kat90013820 – Yes, Kira being over protective is a mix of annoyance and pure cuteness. Hehe I like Athrun getting accused and all. It makes him embarrassingly guilty! Haha!
Kathya- Well, we can't erase the fact that there is still the awkward feeling despite the closeness. Hehe, Have I spoiled you enough woth updates? Glad you liked it! heehee.
Celle666- Let's shout: WE LOVE KIRA IN OVERPROTECTIVE MODE! Of course, despite the fact that it is rather annoying.. but cute nonetheless! I will so make a club for that, wanna join? Haha!
Meowmeowtheblcakcat – Gah! Update demands make me panic! Hehe, but happy nonetheless ; Cagalli's POV is actually this chapter. And I tell you, her side is much more confusing and frustrating than Athrun's, but we have yet to know that.
Akidarchangleprincess – Dinner? Ooohh.. they'll have their chance… But it'll be more than just dinner. (Flush out pervert thoughts sushi!!) Meyrin? Hmm.. perhaps… With the kind of man like Athrun around, Cagalli will always have her fill of uhm 'Female' hindrances. But, we all know who Athrun chooses anyway.
And I get crapped on the head for taking so long with the story. On with it!
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The Art of Love – chapter 14
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Recap:
Cagalli stood up and arranged her things as she carried it with her. "Okay… Might as well see then." From where Cagalli is sitting, you won't be able to see who is outside but for those who are up front, it is quite visible. True enough since most of the girls in the class up front are whispering and giggling as they all glance at the door. Cagalli raised an eyebrow and continued walking.
She finally reached the door, and to her surprise, it was Athrun. "Hey." He smiled and waved at her. "What are you doing here?" She asked. He carefully approached her and entered the room. "I was just passing by and decided to pick you up anyway. Here, let me take that." He reached over to take her bag and some sketch pads she was carrying.
"Really.. Look, I can manage… You don't have to.." Cagalli blushed a bit as she protested. "Now Cagalli, we made a deal. And If we're gonna be close friends from now on, you would let me do this since this is what I want to do." Athrun smiled at her sweetly and she let go of her things so Athrun could carry them.
"Thanks." She blushed again. "No problem. So, where do you want to eat?" Athrun chuckled. "Eh? You're pushing it Zala." Cagalli chuckled back. Athrun looked at her and blushed. "That was… Nostalgic, months ago you called me that and that only." Athrun smiled remembering their days as being a stranger. He thought again, if they had not known each other as Kira's sister and Kira's bestfriend, would he have told her already how he really feels about her?
He shook his head. He felt so brave before when she was just amber. Could they have been a couple now if he did that before? And… Oh God… does she even feel the same way for me? Athrun frowned. That thought never crossed his mind before. He knew he felt something for her, even if sometimes he felt confused… But he hadn't really given much thought about what she feels for him and about rejection.
"Hey Athrun. You okay? You seemed out of it." Cagalli tapped his shoulder. "Huh? Oh.. yeah… I'm okay… just a bit tired that's all." Athrun smiled weakly. "I guess you should just go home and rest." Cagalli looked at him intently. "You need it more than I do."
"But." Athrun protested. "No buts, after you drive me home, you go to yours and rest." She smiled at him and he gave out a slight nod as they continued walking out of the University.
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Choco banana and tickets
The halls of the University were wide and silent. It was always like this in the early morning. And as soon as the clock hit 8 am, the place will soon be filled with students of different classes, race, gender and the likes. It doesn't matter, who you are in these halls what matters is that you are a student; a student who comes to school and learn.
Cagalli placed her bundle of paper on her desk. She came quite a bit early today to sketch around for awhile. What was she thinking sketching this early? She practically did that every darn day in Mr. Edwards' class. And yet here she is, too early for her comfort and she doesn't even have a class with the said man today.
It was weird though, that every time she and Mr. Edwards have a class, he always blabs about Athrun and ask her non stop about him and her. Cagalli didn't mind, but she can't seem to get used to it for she always tried hard every time to suppress a blush and stutter to death.
"So, Cagalli dear… have you and Athrun thought of going out? You know, have a little fun?" The man giggled. Cagalli remembered that she almost choked up on her juice when Mr. Edwards asked that somehow abrupt question. "Sir, uhm… I don't think Athrun has anything to do with what I am trying to learn." She bumped her head on her table and sighed for she knew that the old man would just laugh it away and again bombard her with the same question, only with a few alterations.
She continued sketching and realized that she wasn't able to at least make a decent drawing. She sighed and then stood up, ready to leave when Meyrin greeted her. "Hello Ms. Attha!" The magenta haired girl rang. Cagalli stumbled back on her seat, wide eyed as if she had seen a ghost of some sort.
"M-MEYRIN!! You scared the life out of me for gosh sakes, don't ever do that again!!" She straightened herself and looked at the girl with bouncy pigtails. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you… What are you doing here today? You don't have any class with Mr. Edwards." The girl announced. Cagalli sighed and lazily replied. "I know.. I just, I don't know." She waved her hand as she gathered her things. Meyrin seemed confused at her answer but she just shrugged it off and turned to Cagalli again.
"Ms. Attha, That man from yesterday… He's Athrun Zala isn't he? Of the YZ corp?" Meyrin beamed. Cagalli stopped in her tracks and turned her head to the girl and nod. "Yeah, what about it?" Cagalli asked. "Oh nothing…" The magenta haired girl grinned. "Have a good day Ms. Attha."
Cagalli raised an eyebrow as she carefully made her way to the door.
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Athrun sat down on his beautiful leather chair as he carefully scanned some documents that were passed to him earlier that day. He slouched a bit and bit his lip: This is getting boring, he thought. He carefully placed the documents down on his desk and looked at the clock. It was still very, very early and how he wished that time would just fast forward a bit and strike 5 already so he can go home and, if luck would agree… Let him bump into Cagalli once again, not that he wanted to do something else with the girl… but it's more of like looking for someone to spend time since Kira and Lacus are so busy practicing and stuff. What the heck, Kira wasn't part of the show but he insisted that he watch over Lacus' rehearsals and all. That includes them going out after and so on.
He stood up and carefully stretched his arms upward. He looked over his glass window to see the staff outside; mostly girls, popping their heads out of their cubicle to get a glimpse of him. He quickly drew back his arms and coughed as he approached his window panel and put the blinds down. This earned a couple of sighs of disappointment from the said staff which was ironically, a part of his so called 'Zala fan club'.
He turned around again to face the other window opposite the glass panel, he looked outside the busy streets as he sighed and closed his eyes. Same old day, he thought.
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"Cagalli!!" Miriallia called as she quickly approached the blonde haired woman and gently invited her petite body in a warm hug. "Milly!!" Cagalli squirmed. She could not believe it, she finally gets to see Miriallia after she had left the diner. "You dear friend of mine, did not even bother reporting to me after you had left the diner!" Miriallia spat out and placed her hand over her waist. "Sorry." Cagalli gave out a guilty smirk. "For that, I get to treat you."
Milly placed her arms over Cagalli's shoulder. "Good! So, how's your life at the university?" "Good; very well actually. A lot has happened… but I seem to be getting luck with it." Cagalli smiled as she carefully opened the door of the ice cream parlor. "Really, what are those things that happened?" Miriallia smirked as she remembered what she had witnessed in the park one night, months ago.
Cagalli blushed; she didn't see that one coming. When Miriallia asked her about what events happened to her, Athrun's face came flying straight in her mind. "Uh.. nothing much. Except that I finally met my brother's friend… and that they are quite busy with Lacus' concert… and here I am, drawing stuff and making plans for I don't know.." Cagalli sighed after ordering some choco banana sundaes. "How about you and nick?"
Miriallia looked at her and smiled. "Oh, same old, same old… We're doing quite well. And nick has been bugging me about the three of us going out since we rarely see each other. Well, all I can say is that I have good news for him when I get home." Miriallia scooped some of her ice cream as soon as the waiter placed it on the table. "Hey Cagalli." She came again with a sly grin on her face.
Cagalli looked back at her with an innocent look. "Yeah?" she replied as she gulped down her ice cream. "You're hiding something from me. You're not actually detailing stuff to me." Miriallia came again, and she was so sure she hit the jackpot with that sentence for it made Cagalli's amber orbs wide and her face flush red like the cherry on top of her dessert.
"W-What are you implying?" Cagalli's ice cream intake became faster, as if she did not mind choking because of it. "I know something…" Miriallia teased. Cagalli gave her a skeptical look but a worried one after it. "What? Come on.. you're just teasing me." Cagalli spat out and again ordered another round of ice cream. "I'm not… I witnessed something you see… from what was it? About two months ago if I'm correct, in the park…" Miriallia played with her spoon as she gently twirled it.
Cagalli's eyes widened again and she flushed deep red like before. However this time, she can't get any word out of her mouth.
"It surprised me really… That the guy you are actually seeing is THE Athrun Zala!" Miriallia laughed, Cagalli almost fell off of her chair. "There's nothing funny about it." Cagalli pouted. "You actually didn't know right? You should go and expose yourself with some magazines and stuff… and to top it all off, he's your brother's business partner! How lucky can you get?"
"As lucky as a duck prancing around in the middle of the lake during open season, Yeah, I am so lucky." Cagalli sarcastically commented. "You do like the guy right?" Miriallia chirped. "NO!" Cagalli shot back. "Liar!" Miriallia scooped some Ice cream. "What's eating you anyway?"
Cagalli sighed. "It's not as easy as you think it is Milly. In fact, the whole thing is all messed up." Miriallia looked at her and sighed also. "So you do like him."
"I..I don't.. stop it okay." Cagalli stammered as she gave Miriallia a frown. "Why would I? And besides, what's wrong with liking him? You and he see each other before and he elevates that relationship by being your brother's best friend." Miriallia smiled giving emphasis on the 'brother's best friend'.
"That's what messed it up." Cagalli stated. "How so?" Miriallia asked back. "That… he may be a stranger back then… but even if we are close, I can't seem to get out of me the fact that we're still apart." Cagalli leaned back, she can't believe that she is telling all of this to Mirialliia, but she trusts her with her life anyway.
"I think I understand what you're trying to say." Miriallia smiled. "And All I can say is that you think too much. Why don't you just enjoy this new found friendship? And see what's going to happen?"
Cagalli stared at her. She mentally slapped her head and cursed. Yeah, what was she doing thinking hard about him anyway? They did agree they will be friends from now on, start fresh and all. They never agreed on anything about being more than that. What was she thinking anyway? Was she actually hoping that they would be something more, hence her awkwardness towards the guy? She doesn't even know what he thinks about her!
And that hit her like a whopping sack of stone. "What does he think about me anyway? What goes on his mind about me before and after we had this connection?" Cagalli placed her head atop her palm and gave out a huge sigh. "Stop thinking about it huh?"
Miriallia nodded and then stood up. "Stop thinking about it too much okay?" She carefully placed down her used table napkin. "I don't know much about this guy… But considering that much effort he pulls on you, I think you might just have a chance."
"Eh?" Cagalli blushed. "I just made you happy with that comment didn't I?" Miriallia snickered. "Milly!!" Cagalli flushed again and stood up also.
Both went their separate ways after they had agreed that they will meet again soon, and this time; with nick tagging along.
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Even if Cagalli told herself to stop thinking about it, the whole 'Athrun' thing just won't leave her alone. Sure, he acts nice and all and gives effort on whatever on her… But what if he's really like that? That every polite and good thing he does is normal in his veins and he does it to anyone and everyone? Cagalli was unsure about him, after all, he doesn't know the guy fully and she was still in the process of doing so.
"Argh!" She tugged her hair in frustration. "Damn Athrun!" She cursed silently as she made her way to his brother's and ironically Athrun's owned building. "I gotta get my hands on those tickets for Milly." She sighed and went inside.
She entered the elevator lazily cursing silently on the way and mumbling something about stupid conscience and stuff.
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Athrun had again informed his secretary that he would be having a break for the day, and if he felt like it, he might as well go home early since he's got nothing to do anymore. Plus, the fact that his 'fan-club' scared the hell out of him by peeking thorough his blinds. He mentally noted to himself that he would have to get that glass wall changed into something more concrete and not transparent.
He walked to the direction of the elevator not looking at the girls gawking at him as he passed by each cubicle. He waited for the elevator to come as he cursed inside how slow it is and how uncomfortable it was already to stand there feeling the heat of the girls' stare at his back.
The elevator came with a 'ding' and he smiled happily. It opened and out comes this significant blonde in his mind just awhile ago.
"Cagalli." He stammered, making him grin more at the sight.
"Athrun!" Cagalli jolted back and her expression was opposite of Athrun's. Hers was pure shock.
""What brings you here?" He smiled again at her as he placed his arm around her shoulders. "Uhm.. I was supposed to… get.. tickets… Kira.." She stuttered as Athrun's hand gripped on to her shoulder tighter making her concentration work lousy as ever. Athrun looked back at her and tried to process her words. "Ah!" He finally said with a smile still etched on his face. "Come." He took her hand and slowly led her to his office.
The scene was not left unnoticed by Athrun's 'fan-club'. The girls made a quick death glare at Cagalli and whispered around as to whom the hell is she and why is their Athrun holding her like that. Athrun smirked as he caught their reaction but pretended not to notice as they finally reached his office.
The blue-haired lad gently closed the doors and his other blinds and gave out a teasing look at the staff outside before closing the door. He then turned to Cagalli, who was still in shock at the turn of events. "So, you want tickets I presume?"
Cagalli turned to him. "Yeah.. But I was supposed to go to Kira.. not you.." She said and Athrun gave out a frown. "I mean, not that I didn't want to see you and… what the heck, just… where can I get one?" Cagalli resisted a blush.
Athrun smiled sweetly and gently opened his drawer. "You don't have to ask for this, I can guarantee you good seats up front for free." Cagalli shook her head. "No, no.. It's for my friend… I owe her so it's payment. Can I have two?" Cagalli reached for her wallet.
Athrun approached her and took her hand away from her wallet, placing two tickets on top of it. "Here, it's for free." He gently smiled at her. Cagalli was finding it hard to suppress blushes especially when it came without warning. "But." She protested and Athrun shook his head.
"Uhm.. Athrun… There are four tickets here…" Cagalli looked down at her palm. Athrun's head shot back at her in panic. "The amusement tickets! DAMN!" He thought and hurriedly went to Cagalli's side to take it. "Are those tickets for the newly opened amusement park?" Cagalli pointed to his hand.
Athrun let out a sigh. "Yeah…" Cagalli's eyes widened. "Oh my god! You have those? I can't get my hands on those since I don't have money yet for it." Cagalli placed the concert tickets inside her bag. "You lucky devil you. Uhm.. I should be going now. Thanks for the tickets Athrun." She slowly turned around to leave.
"Wait." Athrun grabbed her on the wrist. She turned back at him with an inquiring look. "Yeah?"
"Uhm… Actually, I was planning on asking you to come with me since you know, Kira and Lacus have appointments and… I don't.. ah.." Athrun stuttered and felt heat rise up his cheeks. "No kidding? Me?" Cagalli's eyes widened as she pointed to herself. Athrun nodded. "So, would you like to come with me next Saturday?"
"Oh wow! Thank you! I mean, yeah. Hell yeah I would come! Oh Zala, I could kiss you!" Cagalli bellowed and stop dead after she realized her last sentence. "Uhm…" Athrun was now flushing hard and he wasn't able to control it anymore.
"Uh.. not that I would Athrun.. I mean, it's just an expression… I what the heck, thanks! next Saturday then." Cagalli tried hard not to choke herself with the telephone line after that embarrassing line. Athrun's face went back to normal. "Yep, Saturday then.." He took the doorknob and gently twisted it open.
"So, how about some lunch in the meantime? I'm feeling mighty generous today.. So you get anything from me free of charge." He chuckled. Cagalli chuckled back and gave Athrun a light slap on the arm. "Sure… Now that you meantion it, I haven't eaten yet… and I wouldn't dare say no to anything free."
Both went outside laughing. The people outside, most especially athrun's 'fan-club' we're staring intently at the two. Athrun smirked as he again placed his arm over Cagalli's shoulder and led her inside the elevator.
Cagalli stood there beside him. "Yeah, let things happen… I guess that might be the best solution for now." She beamed.
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Sorry for the late update guys!!! Wah! So, what do you think? I enjoyed doing this.. hehe PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Thanks. Now we know what goes on the couple's heads regarding each other. YAy! Please review, so I can have some inspiration on the next chapter. Don't ask about the title.. I just love choco banana..