Chapter 07: Fate by the Number
Athrun went home with his head still throbbing once in a while. The place was empty. His father had probably gone back to attending to important matters, but Athrun knew that he would be back again. He headed directly to his room, placing his cap and shades on the table. Checking his image in the mirror, he debated whether the bandage was necessary, but remembering the effort Yula put into applying it convinced him to keep it on, at least for tonight.
The events with his father and his drunken moments now seemed like distant memories. He took out the nameplate from his pocket and flipped it around his fingers. Since the third night, it had become his habit to talk to the nameplate, as if it was a person.
"Hey Cagalli, sorry I didn't do the usual stuff today. I was beginning to get disheartened by the negative results I kept getting, and I didn't want to drag Kira and Lacus to different pubs every night to find you. I don't know if you are the woman I think you are, but just in case, let me tell you about this woman I met today. She seemed so familiar."
He chuckled at his own foolishness.
He placed the nameplate on the table and lay down on the bed. He was a bit tired but satisfied with what happened today. He wanted to take a nap. He set the alarm and instantly dozed off. In a few minutes, he was beginning to dream. In his dream, he could almost hold Cagalli. Her body felt sturdy and soft to the touch, her lips so inviting that he had to kiss her. Then another woman appeared in his dream. Yula!
He was awakened by the cold winds seeping through his open windows. Rather than closing it, he stood on the balcony and stared at the sky. Tonight was moonless, but this did not disappoint him. He started to think about Yula and the connection they had made just by talking. Athrun was not the type to engage in small talk with people he wasn't close to, but now he wondered whether that was always true. How could a person he just met make him open up to her? Well, not about personal feelings or problems, but something else. Topics that are not well discussed. He realized that she was a very wise woman, full of wisdom and a thirst for knowledge. What is it about Yula? Maybe because she saw him as a person who has his own thoughts and not as a trophy to be displayed nor a person to be controlled.
He opened his mobile phone and stared at her number for a long time. Then he typed a message.
[Hey, it's me…]
He recalled what she said to him after she recited her number. She said that if they would meet again, then that would be fate. Reflecting on that, he realized that the way she said it felt like she was a bird trapped in a cage, and this resonated with him. Fate in the numbers. But fate can also mean just skills. Like him, it was an easy feat to memorize her number. Maybe this skill is what led to their fate. He thought hard. If this is fate, then does that mean that fate is working against him to find Cagalli? He was not even sure that the woman was really Cagalli. He just made guesses based on the circumstances of that evening.
He deleted the message. I'm overthinking again. Yula would never guess it was him, and it could lead to misunderstanding. He tried again.
[Yula, it's Athrun]. Damn! Why did I use that peculiar name? He tried again, this time opting for simplicity.
[Yula, it's Alex].
Still, it felt too presumptuous, as if he was assuming a familiarity that might not be there.
[Hey, it's Alex].
He reviewed the message once more. It was straightforward and didn't betray too much eagerness. He debated whether to send it tonight; although the message itself wasn't overly eager, sending it now might come off as impulsive. He sighed. Perhaps it was best to wait until tomorrow.
He had initially planned to have dinner after a short nap but felt overwhelmingly tired again. He returned to bed, placing the phone on his nightstand. Setting a timer for another half-hour, he drifted off, but just minutes later, his phone alarm blared. In his half-awake state, he reached out to silence it. Mere minutes passed before his phone rang again. Believing he hadn't properly snoozed the alarm, he fumbled with the phone only to be met with a woman's voice on the other end of the line.
"I didn't think you would actually save my number," said Cagalli.
Athrun grabbed the phone, instantly awake now. His heart skipped a beat just hearing her voice.
"You sound like you just woke up," Cagalli continued.
"Yeah, something like that."
"I just wanted to check if it's really you," she added. "Anyway, sorry for bothering your nap."
Did she call just for that? She could have sent me a message. Athrun replied, "Perfect timing!"
"Sorry. I didn't you're an early sleeper."
"You call this early, it's almost midnight."
"Oops, my bad."
"Never mind, I was, but I am totally awake now. Just feeling a little disoriented. My head is still nagging at me," he said.
"Is it? Maybe we really have to bring you to the clinic," Cagalli said in a worried tone, sitting on the sofa, flipping channels.
"Thanks, I will try to see the school doctor tomorrow. How about you? Any pain somewhere?" Athrun asked, running out of questions to keep the conversation going.
"Haha, no, not me, thank you. I'm good at fighting even when I was a child. Kisaka would always help my playmates because I tended to kick them," she replied.
He was happy to hear her sharing moments from her childhood. "I see… Who is Kisaka?"
"My uncle... Are you sure you could talk?" Cagalli asked.
"Yeah, plan to have a light dinner now."
"Ah, okay, I won't keep you. Have a good dinner and please have some rest."
Athrun didn't want to let go but didn't want to sound clingy. "Yeah, I guess."
"You still have school, right? And I have to work tomorrow."
"Yup. Okay then, goodnight," Athrun said.
"Night Alex. Rest well. If that head gets more painful, don't hesitate to call me," she replied, and the line went dead.
Athrun kept wondering why he got the call. He was so sure he did not send the message. It must have been when he was trying to turn off the alarm. Fate must have been working for him now. He smiled at the thought.
That evening, despite his head throbbing, Athrun slept remarkably well. Come morning, he arrived in class with a positive vibe, which did not escape the prying eyes of Kira and Lacus. His face looked clear and refreshed as he went directly to his seat.
"Someone got up on the right side of the bed," Kira chuckled.
"Something must have happened yesterday. See, I told you. You just gotta change your look. Now tell us, and what's with the bandage too? Did you hit your head on something?" Lacus added, seating herself beside Kira.
Athrun turned to them, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Woah, one question at a time."
"So?" Lacus asked, leaning in.
Athrun smirked slightly. "Let's just say I met a woman."
"Again?" Kira's eyes widened with curiosity. "Why is it that when we are not by your side, you always meet a woman."
"I don't know," Athrun said.
"Did you kiss her or something?" Kira asked, glancing suspiciously at the bandage.
Athrun laughed, shaking his head. "Where did you get that idea, Kira? But yeah, something like that happened. I'll tell you later," he said, nodding toward the front of the room as the first period was about to start.
The bell rang, and Athrun turned his attention to the window, leaving Kira and Lacus exchanging playful glances.
When Cagalli stepped out of her flat, the morning air crisp against her skin, she immediately noticed Kisaka standing near the entrance, his broad frame leaning casually against the wall. She waved at him, a smile tugging at her lips, and Kisaka responded with a curt nod before falling into step beside her.
"Had to check on you today. I was anxious yesterday. I really should not have let you go out on your own," Kisaka said, his voice heavy with concern as they walked down the bustling street.
"I'm okay, no worries," Cagalli replied, forcing a reassuring smile. She decided against telling Kisaka what had happened yesterday. The last thing she needed was for him to go into overprotective mode and restrict her freedom.
The morning passed quickly, and soon they arrived at Café Fion. Shura was just coming in, his face brightening as he spotted them. Today, they were all on the day shift.
Inside the café, the warm aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloped them as they began arranging the tables. The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation provided a comforting backdrop as they worked.
"Did you enjoy your stroll yesterday?" Shura asked, glancing at Cagalli as he wiped down the tables. "I really wanted to join you, but we were a person short. Anything interesting happened?"
Cagalli leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Okay, since you're my friend, I'll tell you, but please don't tell Kisaka."
Shura looked at her suspiciously, pausing in his task. "Depends," he replied, raising an eyebrow.
"Fine, I won't tell you then," Cagalli said, feigning indifference as she placed the chairs neatly beside the tables. Shura resumed his task, methodically arranging the napkins.
"All right, I won't, since you're safe," he whispered back.
Cagalli couldn't contain her grin. "I was involved in a brawl," she said, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.
Shura's jaw dropped in amazement. "A brawl? But you look happy," he said, incredulity coloring his voice.
"Of course! I kicked them in the butt," Cagalli laughed, her eyes dancing with excitement.
"Them? How many people did you fight?" Shura asked, his wonder turning to concern. "Why didn't you call me?"
Cagalli shrugged nonchalantly. "Nah, you've known me since we were kids. Those guys were nothing to me, though I did get help from passersby."
"A passerby? Why?" Shura's worry deepened. He had even checked on her last night to make sure she was home safely.
"Two random guys came to help. I didn't ask them, but yeah, I think it was okay because I was fighting against three men," Cagalli explained, her tone matter-of-fact.
Shura's eyes widened in shock. "Three men? And you still managed to walk away grinning?"
Cagalli shrugged again, a confident smirk playing on her lips. "It was nothing. Just another day, really."
As they continued their tasks, the café began to fill with the usual crowd. Shura couldn't help but steal glances at Cagalli, admiration and worry warring in his chest. He knew she was strong and capable, but he also knew that her recklessness could get her into real trouble one day. She is still a princess.
"Just be careful, okay?" he said finally, his voice softening.
Cagalli looked up, her expression softening as well. "Don't worry, Shura. I can handle myself. Besides, it's not like I go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me."
Shura chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, that sounds like you. How did you manage to get involved in a brawl with three men and then recruit two more?" Shura asked in disbelief, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Cagalli chuckled as she finished arranging the chairs and moved to the bar area to start arranging the glasses. Shura followed closely.
"You know those young men who can't keep to themselves and always seem to be looking for trouble," she said, not wanting to mention the book that had sparked the confrontation.
Shura shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the situation. "So, what happened?"
"I was taking a photo of an old bridge when I accidentally bumped into one of them, and they just started a fight," Cagalli continued, her hands deftly arranging the glasses on the shelf.
Shura handed her a glass to wipe. "Then what happened?"
"Funny enough, two blue-haired young men came to help me. Technically just one; the other was sort of dragged into the fight by accident," she said with a smirk. "Nice guys, though. Arnold and Alex."
Shura was shocked. He could not believe that in just one day, Cagalli had met five young men in the context of a brawl. It could have been dangerous. "So, Arnold and Alex? Tell me about them," he asked, trying to mask his growing concern.
"I didn't get much chance to talk to Arnold because I had to help Alex bandage his head," Cagalli said, smiling at the memory. She picked up another glass, her movements almost hypnotic as she polished it to a shine.
Shura's mind raced. He had been so focused on gatekeeping her from troublemakers like Athrun that he did not expect something like a brawl could happen. Was he overthinking things given that Athrun didn't seem to continue his pub-hopping last night?
Cagalli continued, unaware of Shura's inner turmoil. "Alex was different, though. There was something about him that caught my attention," she said, her eyes distant as she recalled the encounter.
Shura's jealousy started to flare, though he kept his voice calm and measured. "Do you find him interesting?"
"In a certain way, yes," Cagalli replied, placing the glass down and reaching for another. "He seemed kind of interesting. And you know what's really impressive? He memorized my number that easily."
"You gave your number?" Shura echoed, trying to mask his discontent. "How did that come about?"
"Shh," Cagalli put her finger to his lips to shush him, glancing around to ensure Kisaka wasn't within earshot. "Kisaka will hear you. Well, it was quite funny actually," she said, her eyes lighting up as she recalled the moment. "After the fight, while I was bandaging his head, we talked a bit, and I found the conversation very insightful. In a certain way, we connected intellectually. I know you would too if you met him. Then he asked for my number. I didn't want to be rude, so I just recited my number very quickly. I really didn't think he would be that interested. You know, I am still aware of the situation."
Shura's mind whirred. This situation led you to this guy, he thought. "And?"
"Well, it turned out he did memorize it and sent me a message last night."
Shura forced a smile, though it didn't reach his eyes. "You didn't reply, right?" He couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling that Alex might be more than just a random guy in Cagalli's life now.
"Nope," Cagalli replied, setting down the last glass.
Shura felt a wave of relief wash over him.
"I called back," Cagalli added nonchalantly.
"What! Why? Don't tell me you plan on meeting him or something like that?" Shura asked, his mind racing with thoughts. According to his mental list, Alex took precedence over Athrun now. He watched Cagalli closely, hoping she wouldn't notice his rising concern.
"Yeah, because I said something like if fate would allow it, then we shall meet again," Cagalli jested, arranging the last of the glasses on the shelf. "And I think it would be unfair not to reply, but I was not planning to meet him at the moment." She remembered briefly that she did consider inviting Alex to the museum but decided against mentioning it. After all, Alex seemed uninterested.
Shura's brows furrowed in concern. "What are you even thinking?"
"I know about the security and stuff, and I didn't want to alarm Kisaka. But I told you, so I expect you to keep it to yourself," Cagalli replied, still smiling as she wiped the counter. "And I think Alexi is not a bad person."
Shura nodded, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Well, just be careful, alright? We don't want you getting into any more brawls or meeting random guys, err, people."
Cagalli laughed, shaking her head. "Don't worry, Shura. I can handle myself. Besides, it's not like I go looking for trouble. It just seems to find me." She headed toward the kitchen to check on the supplies.
As Cagalli walked away, Shura muttered under his breath, "I think people gravitate towards you."
"Huh, what did you say?" Cagalli called back, turning around with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing, I'll go wipe the windows," Shura replied quickly, grabbing a cloth and a bottle of cleaner. He couldn't help but feel a bit of disappointment in himself. His mind was so busy that he forgot to spray the cleaner on the window and only used the dry mop, leaving streaks behind.
During the rest of the day, Shura observed Cagalli as she worked in the café. She was her usual self, interacting cheerfully with customers and colleagues, and she didn't seem to use her mobile phone while working. He couldn't shake off the nagging worry about Alex. What if this guy was interested in her? And worse, what if he had bad intentions?
But he knew he couldn't push Cagalli away from Alex without a valid reason. He had already used the security concern with Athrun, and Cagalli might see through any other excuse. He decided to play it safe. At the moment, Alex might just be a friendly guy who happened to help her in a street fight. It could even become a fond memory for her.
However, Shura couldn't let his guard down when it came to Cagalli.
A/N: Thanks for the review. Keep them coming. It's my first time using Shura in my AsuCaga fic, but still pondering how the story will go.