Chapter 14 – Prelude

Athrun's thoughts were interrupted by the ringing bell. He slipped his mobile phone into the back pocket of his pants before opening the door.

When he opened it, Athrun wasn't surprised to find Meer and Meyrin standing before him, their expressions suggestive and their gazes lingering on him with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. He tried not to dwell on it.

"Hey, Athrun," Meer purred, her voice dripping with seduction. "We were wondering if we could borrow your charger?"

"Um, come in," he managed to reply.

As Meer and Meyrin entered his room, their movements fluid and deliberate, it was clear that their intentions went beyond a simple request for a charger.

"So, about that 'charger'..." Meyrin began.

Athrun maintained his composure. "It's on top of the table."

Meer stepped closer, her eyes smouldering with lust. "We thought you might be a little cold, staying at a hostel. We could help you warm up," she murmured, her breath hot against his ear.

Athrun's mind raced as he grappled with their bold proposition. "No, I'm good," he replied flatly, trying to hide his annoyance. After all, they were his friends.

Meer pressed closer, her lips hovering just inches from his. "Come on, Athrun," she whispered, her voice a seductive melody. "We know you want this just as much as we do."

Anger simmered beneath the surface, fueled by their brazen sexual advances and the discomfort they had caused him. With a heavy sigh, he knew he needed to clear his head.

"Seriously?" he muttered.

As he grappled with his emotions, his phone began to ring incessantly. He answered, "Hello?"

"Where are you? Haven't seen you around," came the voice on the other end.

As the voice on the other end persisted, Athrun couldn't help but feel a surge of relief flood through him at the sound of Yzak's familiar tone. "Just exploring the town," he replied, his words laced with a subtle sense of gratitude.

"On your own? Shiho and I agreed to try dogsledding. Meer and Meyrin wanted to stay behind. Maybe you can join us here. We are at the hill. You can easily ask the receptionist," Yzak suggested.

"Yeah, see you at the lakeside," Athrun responded, trying to keep his voice steady.

"What? We are here at the hill," Yzak insisted, confusion evident in his tone.

"Yeah, I hear you. I am coming. See you," he replied hastily.

"Hill… on the hill.." and the line went dead.

Athrun seized the opportunity presented by the call as the perfect excuse to escape the awkward situation with Meer and Meyrin. Hastily slipping his phone back into his pocket, he feigned agreement with Yzak's suggestion. Though he had no intention of trying dogsledding, it offered him a convenient escape from the discomfort of the moment. "I'm going outside," he said pointing at the phone, leaving the two women dumbfounded.

He hurriedly made his way out of the hotel room, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. The cool air outside offered a welcome reprieve from the tension continued to walk further.

"What are they thinking... seriously?"

Lost in a whirlwind of thoughts about how to address the situation with Meer and Meyrin, Athrun mulled over whether simply saying no was sufficient to make his intentions clear. Should he confront them directly? Or would that only make matters worse? As he pondered these questions, his mind wandered, and he collided with someone, jolting him out of his reverie.

Caught off guard and still simmering with annoyance, Athrun couldn't react fast enough as he collided with her. His mind was still clouded with frustration from the previous incident, leaving him momentarily stunned and unable to respond. It wasn't until he heard her voice that he realized it was Cagalli, standing before him with a concerned expression.

Cagalli grasped the ring from the deer, and the landscape underwent a dramatic transformation. The deer vanished, and the once-solid lake began to melt away, leaving her feeling a surge of panic.

"What's happening? Where did the deer go?" she muttered, bewildered by the sudden changes unfolding around her.

As the icy surroundings dissolved into water, Cagalli found herself standing at a crossroads, two diverging paths stretching out before her like enticing possibilities waiting to be explored. Despite the allure of adventure whispered by each path, a sense of uncertainty troubled her, casting a shadow over the decision she faced. The crossroads were encircled by frigid water, offering no clear direction.

17.04.2024