She stood on the enormous garden as she reflected on what she witnessed just moments ago. The bitterness growing within her made her suddenly feel tired. She looked back to watch everyone having a good time at the wedding reception. Joyous laughter and celebration could be heard from the distance. She walked farther. It was silence that she urgently needed. She didn't want to hear the celebration. She didn't want to hear anything at all.
'Just breathe in, Tifa. Calm down now.' She kept telling herself as she settled beneath a big marble statue near a fish pond. A heavy sigh escaped her lips. 'This whole thing must be a joke.' She thought, 'A really sick joke.'
Tifa was genuinely joyful the day she was informed about Cloud and Aeris's wedding. She knew Aeris will make a perfect wife for him. She also realized that she didn't deserve Cloud as much as Aeris did. Her acceptance for these thoughts made her at peace with any bit of canny that had been bothering some corners of her mind. She was sure she didn't love Cloud anymore. That was the past. And she wasn't the kind of fool who entertains what the past used to offer. She was happy they both moved on. She was contented with the present.
'But why did he do this to me? Why did he have to hurt me intentionally?' She asked herself acridly.
She couldn't understand what happened. She couldn't understand him. However, that was what he was known for. Cloud was someone who possesses a very complicated personality. His doings and works were seldom understood by the majority of the people who knew him. Even Tifa herself who knew him the most couldn't understand him at times.
She remembered him staring at her as he walked down the isle with Aeris; the music of the organ echoing through the walls of the church hours before. She absently gazed at the blue eyes that used to drive her crazy a long time ago. Somehow Tifa felt him trying to read her like a book. It seemed strange. 'No,' she scolded herself. 'He wouldn't…' She knew it was unwise to jump into conclusions. She figured that he was just seeking encouragement from her. And even though she doubted her assumption, she still managed to smile at him. He didn't return her smile, though. He looked away the moment he passed by her. Tifa was left clueless.
Everyone watched the couple during the ceremony. Some were obviously nervous. Others resisted the urge to cry. However, Tifa's thoughts were drifting as she kept wondering the whole time. It seemed like only minutes later when she heard the priest announced the couple as husband and wife. "You may now kiss the bride." The priest announced happily. Everyone watched in silence and anticipation. Tifa remained sitting on the pew, waiting for Cloud to make the move. He glanced right at her before leaning in and giving his new wife a kiss on the lips. Tifa was slightly bewildered.
The others didn't seem to notice what happened though, for they all jumped up for joy in an instant. She slowly stood up with the guests as the couple excitedly exited the church. It was as if she was in a different world. People around her were joyous and celebrating. She remained silent as she absently stared on the church's wooden floor. Some people were giving her worried glances. They were aware she used to be Cloud's lover.
What really surprised her was her arrival upon the wedding's reception. She expected the motif to be green and pink; green for Cloud and pink for Aeris. Tifa was nonetheless shocked to see the purple curtains hiding the big windows, the elegant green cloth that covered the tables and the purple decorations placed skillfully around the area. As far as she was concerned, purple was her own favorite color, and Cloud knew it.
Tifa still managed to stay calm, besides the circumstances, and tried to carry herself through the reception as best as she can. She didn't want to be a wet blanket in the wedding. She was known to be an optimistic 'good sport' and she wished to maintain her reputation. She wasn't jealous or downhearted because of his marriage and Tifa herself is aware of that. She was just shocked and slightly uncomfortable with what she had witnessed. But she knew that as Cloud's exgirlfriend, acting like a sour loser would ruin her reputation. So she tried not to mind the purple decorations that surrounded her as she mingled with other guests. Unfortunately, her act didn't work for long.
The moment she heard their past theme song being played through the speakers, she knew she couldn't tolerate it any longer. She felt hurt, and it greatly bothered her to admit that she was. Sure, their relationship seized years before, but Tifa was still Tifa. She might have changed through the years, yet she is still the same. The memories have become a part of her identity. She saw Cloud looking at her intently while Barret was excitedly sharing a story. Tifa quickly looked away and stood up from her table. Yuffie watched her worriedly as Tifa exited the reception hall in a hurried manner.
That was how she ended up in the gardens, far away from the celebration. It had been a long day, and her mind was stressed and tired. She felt like a rag doll being thrown around repeatedly; a victim of mean intentions. She tried to recall anything that she had done that might have offended him. Cloud wouldn't do what he did without an understandable reason. But then again, he wasn't the kind that can be understood easily. She shook her head at remembering that.
Finding no possible reasons, Tifa decided to just think of nothing. Emptying her mind for a while might prevent it from being too stressed. She looked up the heavens as she breathed in. It wasn't long after she heard someone calling her. Her name was mentioned so evenly that it didn't seem like a call. She instantly recognized the voice without even looking. She bit her lip, suddenly panicking. After what happened, she dreaded talking to him personally. None the less she turned to look at Cloud. She was sure she looked very dispirited that time, for the moment he saw her face he immediately showed concern through his expression. "Is there anything wrong?" He asked her.
She bet he knew what she had witnessed. It suddenly stung her to see him. She didn't know why, which made her very irritated with herself. She felt the tears threatening to escape her. She didn't say anything for fear of them leaking. Instead, she bit her lip while she continued to stare back at him. They both kept quiet; the surroundings of the night consuming them. Somehow it comforted Tifa that Cloud didn't attempt to say anything else. "How could you?" She managed to ask in a whisper, her voice quivering.
She watched him as he looked down guiltily. She knew it. He planned everything. All those could not possibly be coincidence. Tifa suddenly felt a spark of anger within her. The moment he looked back at her she bravely looked him in the eye, her anger getting the best of her. "How dare you use our theme song for the reception? How dare you use my favorite color for the motif? And how dare you…" She paused to catch some air. "How dare you glance at me before kissing your bride!"
She couldn't take it anymore. She just fell on her knees and cried. It was too much to handle. The past was suddenly remembered when it shouldn't be. Suddenly she felt like she was the younger Tifa, who was naïve and carefree and too optimistic for her own good. Right before her was suddenly the younger Cloud, who genuinely loved her even though he usually acted like he couldn't care less. No matter what anyone would say the fact still remained that something used to happen between them. It was all too much. The memories overflow her mind. Tears continuously escaped her eyes.
Cloud remained silent. However, he helped her got up and gave her a comforting hug. Tifa continued crying on his shoulder as he held her in his arms. She suddenly felt pathetic for what she had done before him. She knew she should have acted more mature. She could hear him softly apologizing. His arms seemed to squeeze her just a little too tightly. She felt his warm breath on her neck as he said, "I'm sorry, it's just that… This is the last day I can pretend you're my wife."
Before Tifa could have the chance to react, Cloud instantly let go of her. He gave her one last look before he turned and briskly walked away, heading back to the reception hall. Tifa was too shocked to run after him or even say anything. She remained on her place as she felt the cool wind caressing her warm cheeks.
A/N: In case any of you didn't notice, this one-shot is actually a continuation of another one-shot of mine: I Know We're Cool. It's a songfic inspired by Gwen Stefani's song Cool. Please RnR and have a nice day! :D