Err, hello? Hee. Sorry I have not been updating since a month, I think? Life's been beyond hectic I have just starting my degree program in Chemical Engineering (it's hell but a fun kind of hell) so yea, I am in first year of college now, yay! Somehow I manage to finish with this chapter so…here you go?
Chapter 6 – "Does she sleep with you as well?"
Shinn has witnessed Cagalli being in love twice. The first time was in high school when they were just started hanging out; Shinn a first-year and Cagalli one year his senior. Both of them were in the basketball club and Cagalli got this blatantly obvious crush on the captain of the regular players. With encouragement from everyone who had enough with her going on and on about how cool she thought he was, Cagalli confessed up to the senior after the team had won a match that qualified them to the Nationals. It turned out that the senior had always had his eyes on Cagalli as well – admiring her spirit and impressed by her skills, so they started going out soon after. It was a fairly good relationship and it lasted for around a year before they broke up; finding out in a hard way that both of them were not meant to be in a long-distance relationship when the senior left Heliopolis for college while Cagalli finished her high school.
The next time Cagalli got involved into a relationship, it was the guy who made the first move. It was after two months of her entering the college when Shinn first heard of this Ahmed guy. Apparently he was a course mate and they were partnered in an assignment by chance. When he proposed her to go out with him, Cagalli had consulted Shinn among one of the many. Preoccupied by his own last year of high school, Shinn didn't give the matter much attention, simply saying that it was a fine with him if she thought she was ready for a new relationship and the next thing he knew, Cagalli went steady with the guy. Shinn only knew him properly when he enrolled into the same college the next year. He sensed something was off with Ahmed but never quite sure what was it – three months later they found out that Ahmed had been two-timing Cagalli the whole time from the start.
From these experiences, Shinn understands very much the way Cagalli shows her love and devotion to her partner. Cagalli is a cool girlfriend – never tie her boyfriend down more than necessary, never let herself be tied down by the boyfriend more than necessary, says whatever is on her mind and ask questions instead of assuming so that there will never be misunderstanding between them. And when the relationship is deemed to end, like what happened back in high school, Cagalli maintained her calm. She cried, yes, she tried to fix it before giving up but she didn't go out of her way to hold on to the relationship when it was meant to be over. The same went for the case with Ahmed – when she found out about his unfaithfulness, she gave him some punches and kicks because slaps are too mainstream. Ahmed pleaded for her to give him one more chance but Cagalli did not even spare a moment to listen.
If anything, Shinn admires Cagalli's determination. She never lets herself look weak in front of the men; even those she loves dearly. Shinn knows how much she loved the basketball senior; she gave him her every first experiences and when it was over, she came to school with badly covered swollen eyes for a week. The thing with Ahmed wasn't a mere fling, either – she was that affected by his betrayal that she needed a man's comfort; thus the start of them sleeping together. Despite everything, Cagalli never chased after any man – and Shinn is proud of her for that.
Therefore, this Cagalli who storms off into the room with distraught face rummaging around for her set of keys and handbag before storming off again without any word – undoubtedly to chase after an Athrun Zala – is quite unrecognizable by Shinn.
Sighing, Shinn steps out from the attached bathroom, drying his dripping wet hair. When he seems to be dry enough, he proceeds to putting on the clothes that Cagalli had carefully hanged when she woke up this morning. Despite their regular hanging out, Shinn never left anything at Cagalli's place, and neither Cagalli at his place. They both agree that leaving possessions at one's place has the sense of belonging which neither of them deserves with each other.
As Shinn makes the bed, he thinks of the reasons why he opposes the engagement on the first place. It's mostly because he actually deems that kind of marriage arrangement is beyond lame, but that aside, he probably hates it because the engagement steals away Cagalli's sense of freedom; putting Cagalli at a man's mercy. Due to these reasons, he desperately tried to stop her from agreeing to the plan and when Cagalli complained about her rigid, 7-year-older fiancé, he scorned almost delightfully. But Cagalli changed her mind pretty much quickly – all of a sudden she just has to get along with this fiancé of hers like it's the most natural thing in the world, much to Shinn's contempt.
Of course, sometimes Shinn does wonder why he is so bothered about it, even more than Cagalli's own best friend Miriallia. Their sexual activities don't mean much to him; he's always ready to stop whenever she wants but when she put a stop on it to 'respect her fiancé', Shinn found himself almost wanting to argue. But is it okay, anyway, for him to be that possessive when they are only friends? Is it okay to feel like flying in rage when she left to run after Athrun without any thought of him? Is it okay for him to feel like his own Sun is getting away?
Truth to be told, he doesn't know what is okay anymore.
ACCHOO!
Cagalli rubs her nose gently as she reaches for the AC button to lower the level. She has just realized that her hair is still damp from shower; haven't properly dried. At a red traffic light, she adjusts the rear-view mirror slightly to see how she actually looks. The sight brings up a frown – her hair messy and sticks out at random places, her face bare from any make-up and those hickeys Shinn have unceremoniously favoured her stand out so obviously. Luckily she got some foundation cream and compact powder in her handbag to help with the last two problems but there is practically nothing to do with her hair.
Sighing, she runs her fingers through her hair to minimise the mess. Hopefully it doesn't look that bad. She is just seeing Athrun, anyway. Thinking about that makes her sigh again. It's not like she knows where to find him, anyway; her original plan was to catch up to him but when she hit the road, she realized that Athrun had left without a trace. Calling him on his mobile phone is completely useless as it seems that he had turned the thing off. That leaves Cagalli only one choice – to find him personally. But then, despite everything, Cagalli only knows two places associated to Athrun; his apartment and his office. It's too early for Athrun to be in any local bars or the likes, and Cagalli can't imagine anywhere else for him to be so yes, she only has two places to check.
It is Saturday and for Athrun, it's a perfectly legit day to be working so Cagalli decides to head out to ZAFT Inc. first. Let's just hope the prestigious ZAFT building will tolerate her unruly hair and ripped jeans.
"Yo," a voice startles Athrun and takes his attention away from the report he is reviewing. He glances at the ajar door and finds Dearka leaning on the door frame with his signature smirk. He returns his gaze to the document almost at once, cursing Yzak who must be the one inviting him over when Athrun purposely chose to crash in Yzak's place instead of Dearka's just to avoid the more intrusive latter. He is in no mood to deal Dearka just yet so he should just ignore him – even though it's unlikely that Dearka would get the hint. Knowing Dearka, he would just…
"I never thought I'd see one day when Athrun Zala running away from a problem; caused by a woman much less."
…provoke him like that. Athrun grits his teeth. Hasn't he had taken enough jabs on his pride for a day? And Dearka is speaking as if he knows what actually happened between Athrun and Cagalli. An insolent thought appears in his mind – did Cagalli turn into Dearka for help to talk things out with him? They seemed friendly enough back at the party before so it's not impossible at all and as far as Athrun concerns, Cagalli always has a knack of infuriating him in a way or another. "Don't talk like you know anything, Dearka. She's fucking cheating on me – "
"I can't see how she could be cheating on you, though, when you two have nothing remotely romantic going on except for that arranged marriage," Dearka cuts him off, earning himself a deadly scowl from the blue-haired man that sends him into shivers and prompts him to continue quickly. "But considering that you're shamelessly taking refuge here, and you 'don't want to see her' as to quote you to Yzak, I suppose she tried to explain? She doesn't hit me as the cheating type to me; you should at least hear her out."
"I don't know you're such an expert on my fiancée," Athrun snarls acidly. "Does she sleep with you as well?"
That hits Dearka wrong on so many ways – Athrun should know that Dearka never touch the women that belong to his friends and the question just proves Athrun's lack of trust of Cagalli.
"You don't have to go that far, man," says Dearka as calm as possible, even though Athrun has just done enough to infuriate him and Dearka Elsman is supposed to be the hardest one to be vexed. "I just think that's not a way to treat a girl – especially a girl you are getting married to."
Athrun, however, doesn't take that kindly.
"If you are that concerned," his eyes glinting in warning, " Then, go and find her – I suppose she's there waiting at my door like – "
Yzak opens the door abruptly, surprising Dearka and stopping Athrun in describing what he thinks Cagalli is like at the moment. Noticing the heavy atmosphere, Yzak glances from Athrun and his blazing emeralds eyes to Dearka, whose eyes in which fire has also ignited. He sighs inwardly; he has hoped Dearka could cool Athrun down at least a little bit but it seems like there is an opposite effect.
"Dearka, come help in the kitchen," he tells them in decided tone, "Athrun, lunch in 10 minutes – cool down your head first."
The two leave the room, door shut, and to the kitchen. Yzak's kitchen is almost as big as Athrun's, but not quite as bare since the former is the only one who can cook between the trios; mainly because he is the one who's health conscious between them. Today's lunch is Alfredo Fettuccini which Yzak deems simple enough even though most men in his league would beg to differ.
"You are supposed be the only one who can handle Athrun in his rage," Yzak mutters as he serves the perfectly cooked pasta into three plates.
Dearka scowls at Yzak's back before reaching for the cutleries. "He used to be better before. I was just telling him to listen to Cagalli, and he assumed that we are fucking – how is that not insane? He's behaving like a high school brat, I tell you. I bet this isn't the first time he does this to Cagalli; if he knows that Cagalli would be waiting at his door."
"I'll do something about that," Yzak sets the plates onto the table after garnishing, "You go and mix something for the drinks."
Since Dearka knows his way in Yzak's place like the back of his hand, Yzak leaves the kitchen and into his bedroom. He reaches his phone and speed dials a number with a slide of his finger. It only takes him a few seconds for his call to be answered.
"Hey, it's me," he says, his expression softens considerably as the person on the other side of the phone replies. "Look, if you could do something for me…"
"Excuse me, miss. I'm sorry but you cannot sit here."
Cagalli looks up to see a security guard in crisp, dark maroon uniform looming over her. She frowns; remembering how she had once sat at the very same spot for hours for the very same reason – no one had bothered with her back then. So she stays on the spot as she stares at the man in early forties.
"I'm waiting for Athrun Zala – I'm his fiancée, Cagalli Yula Attha,"
The security guard doesn't know if he should trust this girl with unfazed eyes and blonde hair sticking out in multiple directions as the esteemed daughter of the renowned businessman – she looks more like a stalker to him. But given that she is there in the building means that she is granted permission by one of the residents since the entry to the apartment building itself is restricted; there are temporary pass for guests and permanent pass for frequent visitors.
"Then," he says, politely firm, "I'd like to welcome you to our visitor lounge. You can wait for Mr. Zala with refreshments provided – we'll inform you when he returns."
Cagalli thinks for a while. Comfortable lounge with food and drinks sounds nice; she hasn't had her breakfast yet, after all. She has went to ZAFT previously, only to find out that Athrun's return to Heliopolis hasn't been informed to the office – or at least, not to the security guards who seem to be the only ones working on the weekends. So she might as well wait for him here since Athrun surely would be coming home sooner or later. As she stands up and follows the guard, she wonders if the lounge provides lunch as well - her stomach is threatening to grumble.
The elevator they are waiting for chime and then -
"Cagalli-chan?"
Shiho Hahnenfuss emerges from the sliding doors of the elevator, much to Cagalli's surprise. They had talked for a little bit back at the party and Cagalli had enjoyed her company but apart from that, they have not really been acquainted much. But there she is, in all her elegance, smiling fondly at Cagalli as if they are sisters.
"You are waiting for Athrun, I suppose?" asks Shiho straight forwardly as she stands before Cagalli, eyeing the guard slightly. "It seems like he has things to discuss with Yzak and knowing them, it probably takes the whole day. So since I am as fiancé –less as you are today, I wonder if you would you like to join me for lunch?"
"How's that shepherd pie?"
"Heaven! Here, try some!"
Shiho takes a bite from Cagalli's plate with her own spoon and grimaces as she chews. "Too peppery for me; they could hold that black pepper more."
Cagalli shrugs. "It's fine by me, though. Hey," she leans forwards and whispers. "You think they already fill up those spicy wings?"
"I don't think so but I saw them bringing out a new batch of lasagne just now –"
"I'll take some for you as well!" Cagalli cuts her off as she dashes towards the dishes counters.
Shiho simply smiles before returning to her assorted dim sums. It was a gamble but it seems like her decision to bring Cagalli to her favourite buffet restaurant is right, after all. It is quite rare for single women to frequent such places; if one would take a look around, the restaurant is crowded with families and boys in their teen whose appetites make it worth the money; not many of the female population would spend their money on unlimited supply of food in duration of three hours. But Shiho is always one of a kind – she loves to eat and thanks to her genetically acquired high metabolism, she never has any problem to maintain her perfect figure. One look at Cagalli's face when they entered the restaurant told Shiho that she has found her kindred spirit – finally there is someone female she can drag into an all-you-can-eat eatery without groaning about their weight.
About half an hour has passed, she supposes, and as both of them are busy sampling every kind of dishes served, Shiho and Cagalli haven't talked much. But Shiho knows Cagalli will talk – it's clear on Cagalli's transparent façade that there are tons of questions she would like to ask. And of course Shiho would try to help whatever she can – that's what she is supposed to do, anyway.
Because "See what you can help them" is what her beloved fiancé has asked her a favour for.
"Here you go, Shiho-san," Cagalli slides a plate of lasagne in front of her before setting her own. Fresh from the oven, the aroma itself is enough for both of them to dig in without any other word, except for a small thank you from Shiho.
Cagalli's eyes go starry at the first bite. "Why is this so good, damn it."
"It's great," Shiho agrees, nodding. "Though Yzak can make a better one, I suppose – that guy makes the best white sauce ever."
"He can cook?!" asks Cagalli disbelievingly.
Shiho nods again as she smiles at Cagalli's look of incredulity. Of course Yzak doesn't actually strike as someone capable in handling the kitchen so Cagalli's reaction is pretty normal. "Oh yes, he, surprisingly, exceeds the average level, even."
Cagalli shakes her head in awe. She then looks at Shiho. "What about you?"
There goes Shiho's rare laugh. "Do toasting and buttering breads count?"
"We're sisters!" exclaim Cagalli in delight, extending both of her hands towards Shiho for double high fives. The older woman complies in chuckles.
"I wonder what would happen later when you get married," Shiho muses fondly as she stares at Cagalli, her eyes twinkling merrily. "Athrun can't cook as well, you know."
The mention of Athrun wipes away Cagalli's radiant smile slowly. She returns to her lasagne, her face seems full in thought. Shiho is just wondering if she has messed up somehow; if she shouldn't have let slip Athrun's name carelessly like that –
"Shiho-san," Cagalli's voice kills away Shiho's thought."Do you know Athrun for long?"
There she goes.
Shiho thinks for a while as her long fingers0 cut another bite of lasagne. "Hmm, I first knew him back in high school; a top scorer, an ace basketballer. He was one year my senior – Yzak and Dearka another year above. We weren't that close, though – I was merely acquainted through Yzak but yeah, enough to make the girls give me hell. "
"You and Yzak were already going out back then?" Cagalli asks the first thing that comes up into her mind. She had been wondering about it since the first time she met them yet she never remembered to ask Athrun about it.
"We were childhood friends," Shiho replies vaguely; not exactly answering the question but good enough to waive away the question.
"I see…" says Cagalli. "Hmm, so, Athrun was popular among girls, I take it?"
"He was too popular for his own good," Shiho corrects shrewdly. "He didn't give a damn about them, but some of the girls just wouldn't accept that. Athrun sent most of them to Dearka's way – he was more than welcoming."
Both of them chuckle at the thought of Dearka – even Cagalli who has just known him recently can see with a glance that he is a ladies' man; and a very good one at it. It's just so thinkable that he is the one who handle Athrun's fan girls. That aside, from Shiho's story, it seems like the Athrun back in high school is just like what Cagalli had imagined. It eases her mind for a bit – at least she has judged right.
"Then," she asks decidedly despite the faint bluish that colours her face. "He didn't have a girlfriend?"
There is a stagnant pause as Shiho stares at the younger woman; her lips curve a smile yet her expression curious.
"Why, wouldn't Athrun tell you?"
Cagalli flinches. She knows Shiho means no harm – it is indeed a question she should have asked Athrun himself. Yet, among all questions she has asked Athrun before, it is the only one she couldn't bring herself to ask – not when Athrun made it clear that there shouldn't be anything between them except for an arranged, loveless marriage. Asking about his love life seems so out of line, then; and Athrun never expresses any interest on hers either so she ends up avoiding the topic until the matter with Shinn came out. Only now she wonders if she would piss Athrun off again by asking Shiho about his past; perhaps there's something he doesn't want her to know.
Shiho takes a long look at Cagalli's grim, almost upset expression and realizes that maybe she has just hit a sore point. Yzak gave her no details about the problem between Athrun and Cagalli, and she only knows the things Athrun has told them when they asked about his relationship with Cagalli – that they are getting to know each other, they meet up every weekends as not to interfere with each other's routine and everything is going fine. But by the look of it, not everything is going as smoothly as Athrun would like them to believe. If so, then Shiho isn't sure if answering Cagalli's question would do more harm or good to the problem but she's sure it has taken Cagalli so much courage to actually ask so her womanly instinct just tells her to oblige the blonde with an answer.
"He had one," she says solemnly and Cagalli looks up in surprise. Shiho continues. "But not in high school. I don't remember the exact details but it was during college."
Cagalli considers the new information. So Athrun had a girlfriend back then – perhaps when he was in her age. To think about it, it sure had been a long time, then. Is the girl the reason why Athrun refuses to fall in love again? After all these years, still?
"What happened between them?" asks Cagalli curiously.
Shiho shakes her head. "I'm not sure – I was away for college, you see. So I only heard about it from Yzak; how the Athrun finally got himself a girlfriend. But he was quite secretive about it so Yzak couldn't tell me much. You know Yzak isn't the best person to go for gossips, anyway."
Cagalli smiles at Shiho's attempt to lighten the mood but her mind is still preoccupied. "So…they broke up?"
"Oh yes, it lasted around a year or so. I didn't even get introduced to the girl since I was away from home the whole time. I wanted to bug him about that when I got home but Athrun wasn't fond to talk about it so Yzak told me to lay it off."
"I see…" Cagalli ponders for a little bit. A girl he wouldn't even talk to his friends about…"So he hasn't been in any relationship since?"
"Not that I am aware of," replies Shiho after a little thinking. During the period when she did her degree and masters programs in Canada, Yzak was her only source of information. There was no mentioning at all about Athrun being in relationship – their short daily phone calls mainly consisted of what woman Dearka was banging for the night among other trivial things. Shiho had asked about if for quite a few times before Yzak snapped – "If you'd rather talk to him then I could pass the phone" –so she never did ask again. "After he graduated, he becomes a certified workaholic, you see."
Cagalli falls in silent as her mind runs through. The best conclusion she could get is something had happened in his first and only relationship that he has given up on love. But she cannot do anything about it if she doesn't even know what happened and no one seem to know about it; well, except for Athrun, of course. Would Athrun tell her, anyway? She has no reason to ask and he has no obligation to tell her everything – can she use the fiancée card? Even if she's just a fiancée out of arrangement –
"Cagalli-chan," A call from Shiho kills her bubble of thought and she turns her attention to the older woman.
"If you don't mind me asking," starts Shiho, choosing her word carefully. "What's going between you and Athrun, actually?"
There is one part of Cagalli – the more egoistical part of her – that feels like dismissing Shiho's concern of an enquiry and keeps the problem to herself to handle but there is another, stronger part of her that is desperate for some advice from someone who actually knows Athrun. So she gives in.
"Well, actually…"
When Athrun finally gets out from Yzak's study after the lunch, he finds both Yzak and Dearka lazing around on the couch with a can of beer each, the television is turned on to a football match between their favourite teams. He glances at the time and notices how it is already almost 9. He might seem indifferent but the truth is he's pretty much worried if Cagalli is still waiting for him. It should be the time for him to reach for her now or at least let her to finally be able to contact him – he has set his phone to Flight Mode to block all calls. Since his head is fairly cool now and he can finally think straight so perhaps he should address the matter as soon as possible.
"If you're concerned about your fiancée, she's with Shiho right now," Yzak says suddenly, surprising him – are all his thoughts shown on his face?
"Sit down," Yzak continues in his commanding voice Athrun hasn't heard for a while since Yzak has been under his command. "You owe me an explanation."
"And me an apology," interjects Dearka coldly without taking his eyes off the television.
Athrun sighs and complies. He takes the seat next to Yzak on the three-seater, Dearka who is taking over the two-seater on his left. He knows he owes them both explanation and apology. The lunch was subdued despite the great food and Dearka's special concoction of a drink because he, namely Athrun, still couldn't get the matter over his head. Now that his mind is clear, he could see why Yzak is so bothered and Dearka is so offended; he is indeed not acting like himself. Well, that's another problem, actually but he has to leave it for later.
"Cagalli's with Shiho?" he asks for confirmation, wondering how Shiho is miraculously involved in the matter; perhaps Yzak is more thoughtful than he thought. If his fiancée is indeed with Shiho then he needs not to be worried. Shiho might blab one or two embarrassing moments of his school days but at least he knows she is in good hands rather than returning to that brat of her friends like in the worst case scenario he has imagined.
Yzak nods offhandedly. "They went for a lunch and some shopping and right now they're heading for dinner somewhere."
Athrun chuckles at Yzak's annoyed eye roll on 'shopping' – Shiho's shopping spells is a total head case for him.
"So what's up?" asks Yzak when Athrun hasn't said anything after a while as his eyes are fixed to the ongoing match.
The blue-haired man sighs. "She was sleeping with someone else."
Both Yzak and Dearka turn to him, surprised.
"She got a boyfriend?" Dearka assumes. "Then why did she agree on the first place?"
Athrun shakes his head grimly. He starts explaining; from how Shinn is not Cagalli's boyfriend and how Cagalli promised to stop –to their argument about the phone calls and how Athrun found Shinn at Cagalli's place, obviously spending the night. At the end, he finds his two friends gawking at him, each with different expression.
"So you're jealous?" asks Dearka incredulously. "Hell, Athrun – you are sleeping around like…"
"I've stopped, okay?" Athrun cuts off abruptly. "And she said she would stop as well, that's what matters. She's lying to me."
"Maybe she just wants to get back to you for not contacting her; you know how girls can do stupid things when they are angry. You can just confront her about that – what are you running away for?"
Athrun wants to retort that he doesn't know; that he hasn't been that involved with women for such a long time, unlike Dearka who has never not been in a relationship since he hit the puberty; and multiple relationships in one time, too. He just couldn't decide what to do in a spur of moment and even then, he simply wants to avoid hurting her in any way with his shortcoming.
"She shouldn't go that far, though," Yzak concedes more amicably, much to Athrun's surprise. "I'd be pissed too if I were you."
Dearka snorts at the silver-haired man. "You, Yzak, is actually in love with your fiancée – Athrun here, on the other hand…"
"Isn't he the same?"
That surprise both Athrun and Dearka. Dearka looks back and forth from Athrun to Yzak as if wondering if he is missing one large piece of information while Athrun stares at Yzak incredulously – just how does he come to that assumption?
"I am not in love with her, Yzak," says Athrun firmly even though he feels like he is trying to convince himself instead. "We made a deal – being in love is out of question."
Dearka snorts again, louder and this time around it's for Athrun. "I can't believe one can be this stupid."
Yzak, however, looks more sombre. He looks at Athrun intently. "So you're planning to marry her just like that? You think you can make her happy that way?"
Athrun nods. "As long as I'm treating her right…"
"Just how is caging her in a loveless marriage for the rest of her life is 'treating her right'?" cuts Dearka off icily. "She can't love you – the one she's married to –and she can't love anyone else because she is married to you. How selfish you can be, Athrun?"
That slaps Athrun right on his face. He has only realizes how contradicting he seems now. Is it possible not to fall in love with her, anyway? The fact that he is so vexed by her affair tells enough on how he wants her to be his and his alone. Who is he trying to kid? He probably doesn't love her yet at this point; but indeed, without knowing, Cagalli has managed to grasp a piece of his well-guarded heart – something he has done his best to avoid. It's useless – he should know from the start.
But it's still scary.
"They are not all the same, you know," Yzak says just the right thing. "At least you know this will end differently."
This will end differently for sure, right?
"Yzak," Athrun says after a while. "Ask Shiho where they are. I'm going to pick Cagalli up."
"Thanks a lot for today, Shiho-san," says Cagalli as she hugs the older woman fondly. "Let's do this again sometimes."
Shiho returns the hug, smiling. "Stay in contact, alright? If there's anything, just call me. And remember what I said."
Cagalli nods before turning to Athrun who is staring at the interaction between the two women with unreadable expression on his face. One of his hands is holding some shopping bags belonging to Cagalli. He takes a step forward and places a platonic kiss on Shiho's cheek.
"Thank you," he says amicably, which Shiho responds with a nod.
Athrun offers his free hand to Cagalli, meeting her eyes for the first time but Cagalli pulls away her gaze immediately, despite taking the hand in to her small one. They leave the posh Italian restaurant where Shiho and Cagalli have had their dinner shortly earlier to Athrun's parked car nearby.
"My car is still at your place," says Cagalli right before they reach the vehicle.
"I know," Athrun replies shortly as he opens the door to the passenger seat for Cagalli.
Athrun is determined to make the car ride uneventful. He wants to have a proper talk at his place so he opts to not say anything just yet. But it seems like Cagalli doesn't share his sentiment.
"Athrun," she starts at a red traffic light. Athrun turns to her slightly, his hands draped casually on the steering wheel.
"I don't want to marry you."
…Well, I hope that's okay, at least. I know there isn't much plot in this chapter (and Yzak is so OOC I am truly sorry for his fans) and actually that's why it takes such a long time for me to finish LOL I'll do better next time, promise, and I'll try update sooner, too; preferably weekly like I am supposed to but the workload of college is really something else /sighs So, umm, do review and tell me what you think, anyway – I think for this kind of chapter I'll welcome flames even LOL Till next time; thank you for reading!
p.s. Thank you for all the reviews; and don't worry, I am not giving up with this story – it's just that updating might take a longer time, that's all. =)
-Mayu
