Elvira's kindness and generosity was well-known in the tiny town of Nibelheim. Growing up as her adopted daughter, Aerith had never heard her speak ill of anyone. That was, until the day she introduced Sephiroth to her. His arrival in their life brought the worst in Elvira, and Aerith couldn't understand why. Her remarks about him, cynical and judgmental, puzzled Aerith.

"His charm is one reason to stay away from him." Elvira cautioned.

"Why?"

"I know a snake when I see one." She quipped before disappearing into the house.

In hindsight, her mother's advice had proven correct, but her eighteen-year old self believed otherwise. Aerith had faith in people's kindness and generosity. When you helped someone, they would help you in return.

She was wrong.

It took one afternoon to change the trajectory of her life. Throughout the six years that followed, Aerith Gainsborough realized that ruminating over spilled milk did nothing but deepen the feelings of pain and regret.

Aerith could never blot the wretched memory the day she laid eyes on a silver-haired prince. After all, how could any teenager ignore the fluttering butterflies in their stomach in front of a handsome man?

The only problem was that the handsome man was just the facade of a vile beast within. She had been young to comprehend its nature, and she bitterly paid the price.

Aerith had never seen him before. Tall, with striking long silver hair and lime green eyes, and a face that could be best described as breathtaking. His white wrinkle-free long-sleeved polo was immaculate and the black slacks and black pointed shoes were spotless.

If there was one word to describe him, it would be anomaly. He didn't fit in the rustic backdrop of Nibelheim, and she wondered how such a man would end up here. She was too shy to ask.

"Your flowers have a different glow about them." the stranger remarked. "You've grown these with love and care."

Aerith bundled the Sunflowers and Stargazers he had chosen. The Stargazer's sweet and potent fragrance made her giddy with delight. "I've been growing flowers since I was a child."

"A flower lady." He replied.

"Oh, I've been called that a lot."

"You're the prettiest flower lady I've ever seen."

Aerith shook her head. "Don't say that until you've seen my best friend, Tifa."

"Does she grow flowers too?"

"No."

The stranger revealed a dimple on his right cheek as he smiled. "Then you deserve the honor of being the prettiest flower lady."

A blush crept across Aerith's cheeks. Years of hearing Tifa called the prettiest and most beautiful unconsciously made her feel inferior, making her spurn any words of appreciation. Appreciation from this handsome prince was a different matter.

A taller man appeared, sporting his long black hair in a ponytail and peculiar red dot sat on his forehead. He bent his head to whisper to her customer, making him frown. With regret in his eyes, the silver-haired man gave his payment and dropped a sheepish smile. "I would love to stay longer, but I have business to attend to."

He was acting as if she was a ditched lover. "Have fun." She mused.

The man smiled again, and his gaze locked with hers. A whisper on his lips before he entered his car and drove away. "Good bye, Aerith."

Startled, she didn't respond, wondering how he could have learned her name.

Two weeks later, the silver-haired man appeared to purchase her entire Flower Cart. No one had ever bought a cart full of flowers from her. Flowers were a beautiful accessory to decorate one's home. A bouquet or two was a pleasant gift for a loved one… but an entire cart?

"Are these for a funeral?" she blurted, wondering what the occasion was.

Laughing, the man shook his head. "I bought your flowers to my mother in Midgar, and she loved them."

Her eyes sparkled like emeralds. Swallowing, she couldn't help but exclaim. "You're from Midgar?" Elvira's tales of Midgar's ruined beauty and potential haunted Aerith. Although her mother had intended to warn Aerith from the perils of a dangerous city, it had the opposite effect, piquing the little girl's interest. Questions escaped her as she prodded the man to share about Midgar's lifestyle. The people. The food. The culture. Amused, the man patiently answered her questions.

"I'd like to relocate to Midgar one day." Aerith didn't understand why she was telling this to a person she just met twice.

"Nibelheim's a lovely town."

"and boring." She admitted. "I prefer more action."

The stranger arched a brow. "Your mother might get angry if she heard that."

Aerith put a palm over her mouth and feigned indignation. "She won't, and she never will." Because she could never repay Elvira's kindness and hospitality with that statement.

Sensing the topic's sensitivity, the stranger was wise enough to change it. "Do you have Tulips?" he asked.

"I'm about to harvest a full bed in two or three days' time. You can visit my flower garden behind my house, if you like."

Grinning, he propped a finger under his chin. "Your mother might get mad that you're inviting a stranger into your house."

He was charming and she couldn't help but wink at him. "I suppose you should give me your name, because I don't remember giving you mine."

"Sephiroth Crescent." He answered. "Twenty-two years old, and your name… ah, let's say Nibelheim is a tiny town."

What a unique name. Sephiroth.

"Care for a ride home?" he offered.

"Can I trust you?"

His lip curled. "I don't kidnap girls with pink ribbons."

"I've never been inside a car before."

Sephiroth looked surprised. "I'll make it a wonderful experience."

Tapping on the window, a red-haired man with red markings underneath his eyes walked out of the black car. "Reno, walk the cart to the hotel."

"Yes, Sir."

"If Tseng asks where I am, tell him I'm driving Ms. Aerith home."

Reno glanced at her, and though he didn't speak a word, Aerith knew what he wanted to say. Hi there pretty stuff! You're the reason why I'm going to walk miles with a Flower Cart in hand.

Aerith spent the travel time surveying the sleek interior, grazing her hand across the cool dashboard. Sephiroth pressed several buttons, and a glass of punch materialized from the corner the dashboard. She politely refused it.

"Not even a sip?" He remarked, drinking the orange-colored punch.

"I'm not interested."

"You must be the perfect daughter." He teased. "Good girl."

Sephiroth's presence startled Elvira. Unlike Aerith who looked at him with admiration, Elvira treated him with a brick wall of cold reserve. Not even his intent to purchase the Tulip flower bed caused a dent. "I'll do a quick recount of the flowers." Elvira curtly said. "Please entertain Mr. Crescent, Aerith."

Elvira had always used a client's first name to establish rapport. Setting her doubts aside, Aerith served him with a slice of homemade Apple pie. Sephiroth munched a forkful of the pie and sighed with pleasure as the warm dessert dissolved in his mouth. "Heavenly."

"My mother baked that."

He stared at the family picture that hung in the living room. "You don't resemble her."

"I'm adopted." Aerith explained. "My real mother died years ago."

"I resemble my mother." Sephiroth shared. "But she tells me I take my cruelty from my father."

What kind of a mother would tell that to her son? "She must be a lovely woman."

"She is." He confirmed, flashing her another gorgeous grin. "I got her heart-wrenching smile too."

"How vain." Aerith mused.

"It wrenched your heart too, yes?"

If he could only stop stating the obvious. "Recovering, thank you."

"I hope you can meet her. I'm sure the two of you could get along well."

A country bumpkin and a sophisticated Midgar woman? "Maybe in my dreams."

Sephiroth consumed the entire slice in a matter of seconds. "Can I see you again?"

"You can visit my cart during weekends."

"Will you go out on a date with me after I buy your flower cart?"

What a straightforward man. If Sephiroth thought he could purchase her with gifts, he was mistaken. "You'd deprive Nibelheim from my flowers."

Sephiroth leaned forward, closing the gap between their faces. His lime green eyes arrested her with its brilliance, tempting her to say yes. "I can be a selfish man, Aerith. If that's what it takes to make you go out on a date with me."

The room warmed, or was it her? Her dress felt damp and cold, as she tried to make sense of his invitation. Why would a city boy be interested in a country girl? "I don't like selfish men." She answered, trying to discourage him. "I don't date strangers."

Sephiroth's only response was a grin that told her she wouldn't. "Why don't we exchange letters?" he took a notepad and a pen from his pocket and scribbled an address. "Write to me, and I'll write back."

"What if I don't respond?"

"Oh, you will."


Even if Sephiroth generously bought flowers and showered the Gainsboroughs with gifts, Elvira wasn't fooled. His presence disrupted the peaceful mother-daughter relationship between Aerith and Elvira. Her irrational hatred for Sephiroth puzzled Aerith. Although she had been weary of him, Sephiroth's charm warmed her.

"Mother!" Aerith exclaimed, aghast to see her mother throwing several packages in the garbage bin. Trying to stop her, she tightly gripped her mother's arm. "Gifts aren't supposed to be thrown away!"

Elvira snatched her arm from Aerith's grip. "The purpose of a gift is to be received." she said. "and I can do whatever I please with it."

"His purchases help our family business!"

"This is what I've been warning you." Elvira snapped. "You're allowing yourself to be bought by a stranger!"

"He's a nice man—"

Buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

The doorbell broke their bickering. Eager to escape the boiling tension between them, Elvira rushed to answer, peeking through the half-opened door first. Relief coursed through her. "Thank God it's you."

Cloud stepped into the foyer, carrying two large grocery bags. He dropped the goods and stretched his arms in circular motions. "Were you expecting someone else, Mrs. Elvira?"

She shook her head. "Are those for us?"

"Mother's gifts." Cloud answered.

"Thank you."

Aerith stepped into the foyer, folding her arms. "Why don't you dispose them too, mother? You've already received them, haven't you?"

A sour expression crossed Elvira's face as she frowned at her daughter. Cloud looked back and forth between the two, sensing a thick air of tension.

"I've taught you better manners." Elvira replied with sarcasm. "Is this how you show your best behavior in front of guests?"

"Hi Aerith." Cloud greeted.

Aerith didn't even look at him. "Hello, Cloud."

"Am I… disturbing something important?" he asked.

"No." Aerith interjected. "As a matter of fact, why don't you accompany me to the flower garden?"

Without any word, Aerith went to the flower garden, rudely ignoring her mother. Cloud was polite enough to assist Elvira with the groceries, before he proceeded to the garden. When Cloud finally arrived at the flower garden, Aerith was massaging her temples.

"Hey, are you okay?"

"No, I am not okay!" she yelled, annoyed for asking an obvious question.

Flustered, Cloud retreated. "There's no need to be… angry."

Looking at his expression, Aerith realized how irrational and unfair she treated him. "I'm sorry if I was unfair Cloud…it's just that, things between mom are rather shaky."

"I've never seen you argue with Mrs. Elvira."

Until Sephiroth came, they had never argued. Perhaps she should ditch Sephiroth after all? She did value her relationship with her mother. And a stranger, wasn't worth it. Elvira had done a lot for her, after all. And the best way to repay her kindness was obedience.

Cloud sat on the nearest bench and urged Aerith to sit beside him. "You can always confide to me."

How should she explain Sephiroth to him? "It's a girl thing."

"I could cross-dress." He teased. "I'd wear a wig with braids. And a violet satin dress would suit me, right? I'm sure that'll make you talk to me."

Aerith giggled. "I think you'd make a pretty cross dresser."

They both laughed, and Aerith was thankful. He lightened her mood. And she was able to see him clearly. As of late, Cloud had begun to occupy her thoughts for the past few months. She eventually realized that she harbored a secret crush on him- A secret she shared with her bestfriend, Tifa.

A few weeks before the school dance, she pulled Tifa aside. "Do you think Cloud's going to ask me for the dance?"

Tifa folded her arms across her chest. "Why don't you ask him first?"

Color flooded Aerith's cheeks. "But that's not proper!" Boys were supposed to initiate. Not the other way around.

"Well," Tifa drew a deep breath. "A girl has to do what she has to do. Ask him out for God's sake. Don't be a pretty sitting duck."

"Maybe when I see him." Yet she was unsure whether she would follow through. Aerith gulped, not expecting that situation to come sooner as expected.

"The Dance is almost soon." He coughed.

Tucking a hair strand behind her ear, she couldn't help but ask. "Do you… have a partner?"

"I haven't asked someone out yet." Cloud scratched his head, his eyes not meeting hers. "But there is someone I'd like to ask."

Her heart skipped a beat. Ask him, Aerith! "Cloud, do you think that—"

"I didn't know you were with someone Ms. Aerith."

No. Not now! Turning around, Sephiroth strolled like a cat. She hated he had to disrupt this rare moment with Cloud. Yet as he inched closer towards them, she couldn't help but compare the two. Sephiroth, cool and elegant. Cloud, warm and earthy in worn out clothes.

Cloud raised his brows, wondering who the smartly dressed stranger was. "Cloud, this is Sephiroth. He's a regular customer. Sephiroth, this is Cloud. He's my school mate at Nibelheim High School."

Sephiroth extended an elegant arm. Flustered, Cloud offered his and shook hands. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Sephiroth."

"Pleasant meeting you too, Cloud."

"Am I interrupting something important?" Sephiroth asked.

Yes. "We were talking about our School Dance."

"A dance?"

"It's next week." Cloud added.

Sephiroth turned to her. "Do you have a partner?"

"No." Because Cloud hadn't asked her yet. Because she hadn't asked him out yet.

"Can I be your partner?"

No. No. No. No. He was ruining everything! "I don't—"

"You should go for it." Cloud croaked, and with those five words, he dashed whatever dreams she hoped for to be with him.

"I… yes. No one has asked me of course… only Sephiroth." She lied, knowing that several boys already asked her out, and she refused them for Cloud. But now that he pushed her away...

"You wanted to ask someone?" she asked.

"Does Tifa have a date?"

Her heart broke. "I don't know."

"Can I go out with her?"

Oh God, why was he asking permission from her? "No one's stopping you Cloud…" she uttered lamely.

"Right."

Suddenly, the situation became awkward. "So I guess I'll look for Tifa. Goodbye Aerith. Goodbye Mr. Sephiroth." And he walked away, disappearing from her life. Not even giving her a chance to be his partner. Coward.

"Charming." Sephiroth mused. "I think he wanted to ask you to be his partner."

She could have sworn the same thing too. But you came along. "Well, it looks like he's going to ask Tifa."

Aerith didn't feel beautiful in her red gown that night. She tried to keep her braids, but it didn't look appropriate with her dress. Ultimately, she let her hair loose, forming waves and ringlets across her back. She wasn't Tifa, but her appearance would do.

Elvira wasn't too happy to learn that Sephiroth was her partner. But he assured her he would safely escort her home.

Driving to the school, Sephiroth and Aerith talked about different topics. Sephiroth shared his background as a trader, a business he inherited from his mother's family. On the other hand, Aerith shared her affection for Cloud.

Realizing her mistake, she covered her mouth. "I shouldn't have said."

"So that's why." He drawled. "You were waiting for him to ask you."

She gulped. "Yes."

"It's too bad, huh?"

She remained silent.

"It's only when we earnestly seek the things we desire that we succeed."

Several girls stared at Sephiroth. Neither the female faculty members were spared. Aerith couldn't blame them. She had the same reaction as well. Some were curious enough to ask up front. Some were content to just watch from afar. She could have sworn envy from the eyes from other ladies- Envy that she had managed to catch someone handsome and sophisticated, unlike their plain partners. Not that she cared. Sephiroth was handsome. But her eyes longed for a man… and she found him, dancing with her bestfriend.

Sephiroth followed her gaze's direction. "She must be your bestfriend, I presume?"

Aerith nodded. "Lovely couple, aren't they?"

"Dance with me." Sephiroth urged.

He was a skillful dancer, sweeping her across the dance floor. If he could sweep the pain inside my, that would be nice.

Once the dance ended, she finally introduced him to Tifa.

"He doesn't look like a student."

"He's a businessman."

Tifa's eyes widened. "Way to go, Aerith!" she cheered.

"So… how's the dance going?"

"Fun!" she exclaimed. "I'm so glad Cloud asked me out! I mean, other guys asked me, but I'm really comfortable with him."

He was supposed to ask me. "You two look good together."

"Are you kidding me? You and Mr. Businessman look great together! I wouldn't be surprised if the two of you won Lord and Lady Nibelheim for the night."

"Oh, don't be silly." She chided. "He's an outsider."

"Wanna bet?"

Tifa's forecast came true. They were crowned the Lord and Lady, a fact stunning Aerith. Sephiroth attracted a lot of cheers. As they stood on the stage to receive their awards, she glimpsed Tifa whisking Cloud away.

Sephiroth read her thoughts. "You're concerned about him, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry." She was supposed to be happy with her handsome partner. She wasn't supposed to feel miserable. She was miserable!

"Here's what I'll do. I'll escort you home, just as your mother asked me too. And then, you'll sneak out, go to his house, and confess what you feel for him."

"You…you're sure?"

"Absolutely." He was treating her like a little sister. "It's only when we earnestly seek the things we desire that we succeed."

As promised, Sephiroth drove her home. Elvira sighed with relief. "I guess I made a mistake about you."

"It's alright, ma'am."

"But I still can't shake the odd feeling about you."

Two hours later, Aerith sneaked out from her house, and biked all the way to his house. She was about to knock on the door when she heard muffled voices from the inside.

"I'm happy you asked me out." Tifa murmured. "I thought you were going to ask Aerith."

What was Tifa doing inside his house? Aerith held her breath. This wasn't the time to make any weird noises. She couldn't afford to be caught. Common sense told her to move, but her legs wouldn't.

She wanted to hear his response.

"I…wanted to ask you out."

Liar. He was about to ask her when Sephiroth interrupted them. Oh, why did he have to lie to Tifa? The conversation stopped. Pressing her ears against the wall, she tried to hear more and to her horror, heard them moaning.

"My mom might come home—"

"Take me to your room."

"Tifa, I can't do this—"

"Haven't you dreamed of this moment with me?"

Please say no, Cloud. Please say, no.

But his response broke her heart. "Ever since you fell on me from the stairs."

"Then take me upstairs." She breathed.

"You're not my girlfriend."

"Will you be my boyfriend Cloud?"

Aerith no longer heard his response, but the echoes of the creaking stairs. Then and there, she knew his answer. Then and there, went her crush—upstairs to be with another woman. Her bestfriend, who knew her love for him.

Some bestfriend, she sighed. How could her night go from bad to good to worse?


The following school day, Tifa announced that she and Cloud were officially a couple. Several classmates were alarmed. How could a Section A student like her have an average boyfriend? She could have a better guy, but for her, happiness was with Cloud.

Aerith had watched from afar, finding it difficult to be happy. The love bite on Cloud's neck didn't make it easier.

Now that Tifa spent more time with him, Aerith was all alone to pursue what she wanted to do. Three weeks, later, Sephiroth returned to Nibelheim. Gently, Aerith confessed what happened that night.

"You weren't earnest enough." Sephiroth admonished her. "And now your best friend finally has him."

Some best friend I have. "Can we change the topic?"

Sephiroth charmed her with tales from Midgar, making Aerith want to leave the sleepy town. Perhaps, she could move to the big city, where it seemed so exciting and full of potential. He seemed to know her interest and encouraged her to work with him after graduation.

"I don't think your mother will agree with your plan."

"Why?"

He shrugged. "She doesn't like me."

"My mother likes you." She lied.

"I'm good at reading people." He asserted. "She detests me. Her politeness is just a facade."

"I can convince her." Aerith declared.

"How?"

"That's my problem." She promised him. "And besides, I want to see Midgar! I wonder what jobs I can take to earn money."

"There are other profitable things to earn money."

"Such as?"

He flashed her a strange, knowing smile. "You'll know, soon enough."


Author's Note:

I struggled to write this chapter. Perfectionism bit me with its bloody jaws, and I had to convince myself to write (even if my mind was telling me what I was writing wasn't any good). I had to tell myself it was easy to write a chapter that wasn't good. I had to tell myself to write. I'm just a few chapters away from ending this tale...