Title: So Close
Author:
aki_kaedePairing/Characters: Athrun Zala/Cagalli Yula Attha
Fandom: Gundam Seed/Destiny
Theme: #44 Grass
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of its characters
So Close
“Cagalli…” Athrun called out helplessly. “You still have your job to do!”
“Just a minute Athrun.” Cagalli replied, not facing him. “I’ll be there in a minute!”
“You said that ages ago!” Athrun groaned.
“Aww…come on Athrun!” Cagalli pouted cutely. “We should enjoy ourselves since we are outside! It’s not my choice that I was put in the Gardening Committee!” she said and returned to what she was doing on the grass.
Athrun sighed but allowed a little smile to escape on his lips. He was glad he got to spend time alone with Cagalli and capture every single image of her into his brain. He knelt down with a spade in his hand and began to do his work, as well as the work she left behind, all the time sneaking peeks at the girl who caught his heart.
Athrun wiped the little beads of perspiration off his brow. He knew who he had to thank for this chance: Kira. Kira was the class president and therefore in charge of assigning the students to their respective jobs. He didn’t mind doing the jobs by himself; having Cagalli’s happy smile all to himself was already more than enough. He gazed at her golden hair glistening in the sunshine and her amber orbs shining with energy.
“Ah!” Cagalli suddenly let out. “Athrun! I found something!” she called out excitedly.
“What did you find?” Athrun asked as he got up from his position.
“I found two ladybugs!” Cagalli said hyperactively, her eyes not leaving the patch of grass she was staring at. “One of them is yellow and the other is red! They are so tiny and cute!” she exclaimed.
“Really?” Athrun let out. “It’s really rare to find ladybugs these days.” He commented.
“Right? Right?” Cagalli exclaimed, her eyes dazzling with excitement. “I can’t believe I found them too!”
“Where are they?” Athrun asked as he peered over Cagalli’s shoulder curiously.
“Over here!” Cagalli replied enthusiastically and turned her head back.
A stunned silence reigned over the couple. Amber orbs met emerald orbs. Emerald orbs met amber orbs. A full-blown blush stained the cheeks of the two teenagers when they realised their proximity.
Their faces were barely inches apart and their noses were almost touching each other. If someone was witnessing this scene, it was as if Athrun and Cagalli were about to share a kiss. They were so close to each it would only take a gentle push to let their lips meet.
They stayed like that for some time, too surprised to move. Probably there was something within the both of them which made them unwilling to move from that position, but it was evident that they were both startled at the turn of events. It was Cagalli who finally snapped of the trance and pulled away, her cheeks tinted a rosy pink. Athrun noticed this and also quickly recovered, moving back to put some distance between him and her. Just like Cagalli, his face was flushed.
An awkward silence reigned over the couple as they sat on the grass, unsure of what to do next. They looked up at the same time, but when their eyes met each other, they quickly averted their gaze as a new blush crept up onto their cheeks.
“I…I…” Athrun let out clumsily in a bid to overcome the situation he was in. “I need to put the spade back!” he laughed uneasily.
“Oh…Oh yeah!” Cagalli also gave an uneasy laugh. “I…I have to go to the toilet!” she quickly added.
“I…I…I’m going now!” Athrun said as he stood up.
“Er…yeah! Ok!” Cagalli replied. Both of them then ran off in opposite directions, not caring if they were not going the right way to their said locations.
Athrun ended up at the outdoor water taps. He panted as he supported himself by placing his hands over the top of the taps. His face was coloured crimson. It was the result of his running as well as what had happened earlier.
“Oh gosh!” Athrun let out. He couldn’t believe what had just happened. His heart was pumping so hard he thought it might just break his rib cage. His mind was in a complete blur. All he could think of was Cagalli and how near they were. As the scene replayed in his mind again, he felt his cheeks go hot for what seemed to be the umpteenth time that day.
“Ahh!!!” Athrun gave a shout and turned on the tap, splashing his face with water which flew all over the place and wetted his blue hair and shirt due to his vigorous movements.
Cagalli ran and ran for some reason unknown to her. All she had registered in her brain was to run, and it was exactly what she did. She ran until her lungs gave out on her.
Cagalli panted heavily as she stopped running. Beads of perspiration had already formed on her forehead and some were trickling down the sides of her flushed face. She closed her eyes as she caught her breath. However the moment she closed her eyes, the image of a pair of enchanting emerald eyes appeared in front of her. Cagalli’s eyes shot open as she felt her face go all red again. Besides Kira, she had never been so close to a boy before.
“What is happening to me!” Cagalli exclaimed as she put her hands on her warm face. “Calm down Cagalli! Calm down!” However, her body disobeyed her orders. Her heart was pounding and her cheeks continued to burn. A familiar picture of a boy with navy-blue hair and green eyes was deeply etched in her memory although she tried frantically to remove it.
“What is wrong with me!” Cagalli said to no one in particular. She knew something was wrong with her, something very wrong. And she knew the root of the problem: Athrun. Cagalli still did not know why, but she knew the feelings she had for Athrun was different from before. It was no longer that of a simple friendship, but something more. Something Cagalli couldn’t place her finger on.
Cagalli shook her head to remove all thoughts of Athrun. It failed, miserably. “Ahh!!!” she grunted. She started to run again, to no where in particular. It was the first time she had felt such messed-up emotions within her and she didn’t know how to handle it. She probably didn’t know what was it, but she certainly felt a change within her, a change concerning Athrun.