Chapter 7: Bitter Pasts
My mouth dropped as I stared at him as if he was out of his mind. What was he thinking?! Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Yuuna clenched his fists as his face took on an ugly scowl. “Impossible! Only I am suited to be the prince, not him!” he stated.
Athrun eyed him dangerously. “I think the role of the prince should go to the one with more talent for acting, in other words: me,” he countered as I swore that I saw a flame burn brightly in his emerald orbs.
“I disagree! The role should go to the one who has handsomer looks! Which is me!” Yuuna argued while I felt ill at his words.
Miss Simmons clapped her hands for everyone to quiet down.. “Alright alright! We will decide on who gets the role of the prince by voting on the personality and talent. Who ever gets the highest vote will take the role of the prince,” she ordered.
There was a rumble of agreement through the crowd as everyone considered this idea. “Yuuna, you may read whatever line you want from the prince's script, but also remember to act it out as well,” said Miss Simmons.
Yuuna gave a curt nod and flashed a smile at me, which sent shivers down my spine. He cleared his throat as he began. “Oh my fair lady, I believe that it has been a while since I've met one like you. May I wish that this dance would last forever,” he quoted as he had a dreamy look on his face.
Miss Simmons gave a small nod before calling out Athrun's name. “Athrun, now it's your turn. Please proceed,” she said.
Athrun nodded as he also looked at me in the eye. “I would like the help of Dearka, who plays the prince's most loyal friend to read one of his lines before reading mine,” he said as Dearka looked his friend in the eye and knew instantly which he had meant.
“That is fine,” said Miss Simmons as Dearka also stepped up to the spotlight.
“My dear friend, you look so lonely. Surely there isn't a lady here that takes your interest?” said Dearka as he looked quite sad for his friend.
Athrun held a gloomy look as he shook his head slowly, “Even hosting your own ball for your 18th birthday, it doesn't necessarily mean that you will meet the one you are fated to be with. I always believed that I could only love one woman, and here, I don't believe that it is any of them,” he said sadly as he pretended to look about.
I blinked at his words. Those were the same words he said last night!! That jackass made me believe that he wasn't a jerk for a few moments! How dare he?! I thought as I clenched my fist.Miss Simmons looked around the stage. “Well, please raise your hand if you would like Yuuna Roma Seiran to play the role of the prince,” she said as only a few hands went up because they didn't want Athrun to play such a great role with the likes of me. “And for Athrun Zala?”
A great number of hands shot up as they were impressed with his talent for making things seem so real. “Well, there you have it. Athrun Zala takes the role of the Prince while Yuuna Roma Seiran takes the prince's double,” Miss Simmons declared as the bell rang for lunch.
“B-but Miss S-” Yuuna whimpered as he held onto a sour face at losing the role.
Miss Simmons shot him a strict glare. “The votes has been cast and it clearly states that the majority would like Athrun to play the role. Now the bell has rung and you are dismissed!” she declared.
Yuuna shut up, but by the looks on his face, I knew he didn't like being told what to do. I sighed as Mirillia giggled. “So, the talented Athrun will be playing the prince eh? Well you gotta admit he's better than that stuck-up loser,” she said.
I sighed again. “Oh c'mon! He's not that bad, he's really popular you know?” Mirillia said cheerfully as she tilted her head in Athrun's direction.
My eyes followed hers and saw that Athrun was surrounded by girls and guys alike who were congratulating him on his success while every girl that was there were busy trying to catch his attention. I raised an eyebrow sarcastically as I looked away in disgust. “Well, he's not that bad in your point of view, but I know better. He's such a jerk sometimes that makes me want to hate him,” I said sourly as we left the stage. “Hey, don't you have that student council meeting today?” I asked as I remembered.
Mirillia gasped as she had also forgotten. “Yeah! That's right! Oh no, I'm going to be late! I'll see you later, Cagalli!” she said as she left down the hallway in a rush.
I couldn't help but smile a little at her, as her motions always bring a small smile on my face. Now where should I eat? Too bad Kira decided to go to playland with Lacus... Oh well, I guess I'll eat on the roof again...I decided as I went pass the 3rd years' hallway and up the stairs to the roof. As I opened the door, a strong breeze brushed past me as I shielded my eyes with my arm. When I lowered my arm, I noticed that the roof wasn't empty; there was someone else there, by the railing, looking lost in thought.
This beautiful person's neck length hair blew past him swiftly, looking very soft and delicate. His unzipped jacket flapped in the wind while he looked out in a dreamy state. Oh! I said to myself in surprise. This beautiful person turned out to be Athrun Zala. As much as I hate him a few moments before, all thoughts of dislike flew away instantly, like with the wind. Just seeing him stand there in the bright sunlight, and with a gentle breeze blowing past him, he seemed like a god at that moment.
Wow... amazing... no wonder he is so popular with women... just look at him! He practically is a god! My inner self almost screamed as I stood at the doorway staring at the said boy. It makes me wonder... if the words he said yesterday were true, about him only being able to love one woman, and no other.. or was he just being dramatic and rehearsing his lines on me? I stood there pondering when a sudden voice of surprise snapped me out of my thoughts, “Cagalli?”
“H-huh.. Oh!” I mumbled in surprise as my face turned slightly red when I found that I was facing Athrun.
I hated the idea that he had caught me starring at him in wonder. “U-uh.. didn't expect to see you here,” I said quickly.
Athrun gave me something that wasa between a smirk and a smile. “I just came up here to be alone,” he said with a half shrug.
I nodded slowly as I began to head to the door. “Uh okay... I'll just go then,” I said as I took a few steps, but felt a hand on my shoulder.
“Nah, it's okay. I don't mind you being here,” said Athrun with a small smile.
I gave a small smirk as I turned to face him again. “So the talented Mr Zala is finally sick of those fan girls eh?” I teased.
Athrun countered with his own oh-so-famous smirk. “No, I just felt like getting some air through my system. Why? Are you jealous?” he said with an air of confidence.
I narrowed my eyes so that they became cat-like. “In your dreams, Zala,” I said as I walked over to the railing to feel the wind brush against my face.
I sighed peacefully as I liked how it felt. “It feels nice,” I said softly as Athrun came over to my right side.
“So, are you going to work today?” Athrun asked.
I shook my head. “Nope, I have today off. What about you?” I questionned as I looked over at his perfect face.
Athrun shrugged. “Was supposed to have today off as well, but as part of my punishment for yesterday's behavior, I have to work today,” he said indifferently.
“I see... would you like Kira and I to hang around with Lacus until you finish? That way she won't be lonely,” I offered.
“If it's okay with you, I'd be grateful,” said Athrun as he flashed me his winning smile.
I nodded. “It's fine with me and I'm sure Kira will be delighted; he has finally found a ghost friend after so long,” I said.
There was a short moment of silence before Athrun spoke again, “So, how long has Kira been in the state that he's in now? You two seem very close,” he as he leaned slightly over the railing.
I lowered my head slightly. I knew that I would have to answer this question eventually after meeting someone who also had a ghost companion. “Ever since he died when we were 6 years old,” I said softly as I tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ears.
-----
Flashback:
“Ugh, will this rain ever stop?” I asked as I kicked the soccer ball a few paces a head of me.
Kira held the umbrella over the two of us, since he was the bigger one and looked up. He sighed, “No, I don't think so.. it has been going on for several days now, hasn't it,” he said.
I nodded. “I wish it would stop; I can't play soccer well in the rain,” I said.
Kira smiled. “Is all you think about is soccer?” he asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.
I nodded as I faced him. “Of course! What is better than soccer? It's the best sport you can ever play! But, the ball doesn't go as far in the rain because it absorbs quite a bit of water,” I said.
“What about indoor soccer?” Kira questioned as we crossed the crosswalk to go home together.
I scowled. “I don't like indoor soccer very much. Often, the room is way overheated and the space is so small. I prefer something that has more room,” I said.
Kira laughed. “You'll never change, Cagalli,” he said.
As I dribbled the ball between my feet, the ball accidentally rolled out onto the street. “Oh no! That's my only soccer ball!” I cried out as I threw my backpack and rushed out, ignoring Kira's cry, “No! Don't!”
As I bent down to get my ball, I turned my head sideways to see a flash of yellow light and froze in fear. But as I raised my arm to protect myself, I felt a body push me away as I rolled onto the wet sidewalk. I looked up immediately to find that I was still alive, but remembered that someone had pushed me. “Kira!” I yelled as I looked for my best friend.
I dropped my soccer ball in shock as I saw his limp body lying on the street as the car sped away immediately. “KIRA!” I yelled as my face was stained with tears.
End of Flashback.
-----
“Everything became a blurr to me... but the fact remained that Kira died while he had saved me. All because of a stupid soccer ball,” I said bitterly.
I relaxed my shoulders slightly as I continued my story. “But, I was grateful when I met him again, though he was no longer alive. Only a month passed since his funeral, but to me, my life was empty. Kira was no longer here with me. I was alone. I often spent my time wandering somewhere without realising it and one day, I got lost in the woods at night,” I said as I exhaled painfully.
“I was scared. Everywhere I looked, I would find different trees that were unfamilar. And with my imagination, the trees had fierce expressions of anger and pain. The more I ran, the more lost I got. Without warning, I tripped over a root and landed harshly as the ground, sobbing, not because of the pain, but the emotions that I had kept within me were painful. It was then that I saw a faint light and saw a translucent hand reach out to me. 'Don't be afraid,' said the boy as my eyes widened to hear the voice that I haven't heard for so long,”
“When I looked up, I was delighted, but shocked to see Kira again. But that didn't stop me from hugging him so tightly. As he lead me the way home, he told me that he was bound to me until I can get rid of my sadness and find happiness, but as you can see, I haven't been able to find it,” I explained with a small sigh.
Athrun gave me a sad smile as I knew he understood my feelings. “Lacus and I... had a similar turn of events happen to us, though we were a little older than you were; we were 10 years old,” he said.
“You see, my mother died when I was a little kid so I never really felt love and care from someone because Father was always so busy. But one thing he did right was that he respected mother's last wishes, which were to let me have a life of happiness. Even though it happened a lot earlier than it was supposed to, I met Lacus, who was to be my fiancée. She was kind-hearted, like my mother, who I barely had any memories of. She took care of me and was always by my side. I loved her a lot. One day, she said that she would be going away on a trip to see her grandparents, in the States and even though I didn't want her to go, I knew that if I loved her, I would let her go and so, I did,”
“I prayed every night that she would be okay on her trip, but sadly, my prayers were not answered. The day that I knew that her plane must have landed, I tryed to get in contact with her, but to no avail. A few days of trying, I began to worry. Where was Lacus? And why couldn't I reach her. When one of my maids brought in the newspaper, she held onto me and wept. I couldn't understand why she was crying until I saw the headline: 'Passenger aircraft for California crashed! No survivors' I died that day,”
“Why..? WHY?! Why weren't my prayers answered?! Lacus was the last person that deserved to die and yet she did! I should have prevented her from going... I knew I should have, but why didn't I? But either way, it was too late now. She was gone and unless I could turn time backwards, I would never see her ever again. My life was over; I stopped doing whatever I used to do in my previous life. I was getting weaker and weaker and knew that I was going to die soon, but I no longer cared; Mother and Lacus were waiting for me,”
“It was then a voice called out to me. 'Don't give up, Athrun! We don't want you to end up like this'. I felt a cool hand touch my forehead as the melodic voice began to sing softly. That song brought me hope again as I knew who was singing it; it was Lacus. Even though she no longer had a solid body, her spirit was with me, and she was able to convince me that even though she wasn't living, it meant that I shouldn't try to throw my life away so easily. It meant that I should live for as long as I could and perhaps find true love, which I am still searching for,” said Athrun as he faced me with a sad, yet determined look in his face.
I looked down. “So you did mean those words yesterday, when you said you could only love one person,” I said softly.
He nodded. “Of course. That is also what Lacus believes as well,” he said.
The bell rung and as we left the roof, Athrun gave me a rare smile that was not a smirk. “Cagalli, since we both have tragic events that happened to us, let's both do our best to find what we are looking for,” he said.
I gave a nod. “Yes,” I agreed.
