CHAPTER 10
"Thank you and please come again," Tifa waved the customer goodbye as she closed the door of her new working place. It had been almost a month since she left him and she had never contacted him after that.
She felt guilty but then she knew it was for the best. She'll become his burden and obstacle anyway. "Tifa, table 5!" Aerith's voice was heard as she placed the order on the counter. Tifa delivered it to the table with a smile on her face.
Working here isn't as easy as it seems. The bar was situated outskirts of Edge and it seemed like the safest place for her to live. Tifa heard news about Cloud mostly from the local newspaper and he looked like he was doing fine without her.
"The boss asked us to close in early today," Aerith said as she cleaned the dishes at the kitchen. "He wants to go on a date with you?" Tifa replied jokingly. "Don't make it sound like it's a routine. He's just trying to be nice," Aerith defended their boss. "Right," Tifa made a face before returning to her work.
Zack, the owner of the bar was a ladies' man but his attraction to Aerith was in a way that no one can ever explain. Everyone in town knew that he was trying to Aerith's attention. Sometimes it seemed so sweet.
"You know, he asked me to be his girlfriend the other day," Aerith suddenly said and it made Tifa turned her head. "Really? What did you say?" Tifa asked in interest.
"I haven't given him any answer yet. Gosh, I really don't know what to do," Aerith sighed as she stopped doing her work.
"You like him?" Tifa asked her. She nodded in return. "Then, where's the problem?" Tifa asked again.
"You know him right? One day he says he wanted to be with me and the next thing, I'll see him dating another girl," Aerith played with the towel in her hand.
Tifa thought for a while. "If you really like him then you shouldn't keep him waiting. Maybe he acted that way because he felt alone. Your presence as his girlfriend might be the cure to his disease," Tifa suddenly felt weird about her usage of words.
"You really think so?" Aerith asked as her eyes lit up. 'She really likes him,' Tifa thought. "I know so. Just give him a chance," she replied shortly.
Aerith turned to finish her work unable to hide the smile on her face. She knew what her answer to his offer now.
Tifa was cleaning the bar that afternoon when she saw a familiar figure standing outside the bar.
"Vincent," she gasped, dropping the towel she was holding. Vincent just looked at her with his dark eyes.
She excused herself from Aerith and went outside. Aerith just looked at her in confusion. Tifa never mentioned anything about man before this but who was this guy?
"You've been here all along," Vincent stated as he didn't move his eyes from her. Tifa just smiled a little. "How are things in Edge?" Tifa contained herself from asking about Cloud.
"Why'd you leave?" he ignored her question. Tifa didn't reply immediately. "Sephiroth's deal huh?" he asked again. She nodded.
"He's mad, really mad. I've never seen him that mad before," Vincent said after a while and it made her worried. Cloud is angry with her.
"It was the best for him. Don't tell me it isn't. You know it too right," Tifa questioned Vincent. "Hm. You should at least speak to him before you leave," he didn't blame her at all.
"He may not look like it but he felt it. When you just walk away from him without explanation," Vincent added. "What's there to explain?" Tifa shoot back.
"Should I let him decide what to do with me after you guys came back that night? I'm not a property for him to decide where to put me or what to do with me. I'm a human," Tifa said feeling a little furious.
"You mean something to him. If not he won't be drinking like hell when he saw the men flirt with you at the bar during our underworld meeting. Or he won't be like he is now after you dumped him," Vincent's words provoked her.
"I never dump him!" Tifa defended herself. "It will be so much harder for him to decide if I stay. He put too much effort in getting back what he lost. For what you guys had lost. I'm just a small price to pay," Tifa reaction silenced Vincent.
"And meeting him back is the most foolish act because Sephiroth won't be too keen supporting him financially if he saw me around him. You know that fact, don't you?" Tifa questioned him. He just looked away.
There was a long pause before she sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to burst out like that," she apologised. Vincent just nodded in understanding.
"Just in case you're wondering, he's back at his old place," Vincent said as he turned his heels. "Wait!" Tifa called him.
Vincent just turned his head slightly. "Don't tell him my whereabouts will you? You know him well what he'll do if he ever finds out about me," Tifa was half-pleading.
"Don't worry. You'll come back whenever you're ready," he said and walked away from her. Tifa released a sigh and returned to her work.
"This is suicidal!" Tifa said to herself as she stood in front of the gate of Cloud's house. She didn't plan on entering the place but she was hoping to get a glance of him. Just to see how Cloud had been doing.
There was no sign of him though his bike was there. The house looked empty and the door was locked. She felt relief at once. He wasn't home.
The idea of meeting him there was scary, knowing the fact that he was furious with her.
When Cloud arrived at his place that evening, he was surprised to see the figure standing there. He made his was silently behind her and stood behind her. She was too occupied looking around the house to notice his presence.
"What are you doing here?" Cloud asked the female with the ponytail in front of him. She turned around and when he saw her shocked face, his eyes were huge.
All his memory of her poured back into his head and he felt the anguish building up in him. She left without his permission, and that infuriated him.
"Cloud!" Tifa was shaken as she saw him behind her. She never realized he was there. "I-I was just passing by..." she tried to lie but lost for words.
When she saw his angry features, she retreated. She forced herself to walk away from there, scolding herself for not being able to control herself and convincing herself that coming here was very dangerous.
He held her wrist tightly and it made her grimaced in pain. "Cl-Cloud, it hurts," she said but Cloud ignored her. He pulled her with him walking into his house, not caring she almost stumbled a few times.
Tifa had no choice but to follow him and she saw the truth in Vincent's word. He was really mad at her.
Cloud slammed the door behind him and released Tifa's hand immediately as soon as they entered the house. Tifa held her wrist and watched Cloud nervously.
He was breathing hard and looked at her angrily. "Who do you take me for?" he asked. Tifa didn't answer. "Who do you think you're messing with?!" he snapped that it made Tifa took a step back and she felt she was cornered, unable to run to anywhere.
Cloud made his way to her and Tifa was ready if he wanted to get violent. She was used to it because of the abusive boss she had back in Midgar. "I'm asking you! Who do you take me for dammit!" his voice echoed throughout the whole house.
When he saw she's not answering, Cloud grabbed her face and placed his lips on her forcefully and hardly. "Umph!" Tifa's muffled as she tried to struggle free from him. He never stopped.
Cloud kissed Tifa vigorously with all of his strength and he was being very rough towards her. Tifa pushed him back as hard as she could but he was too strong for her. "Let go of me!" she managed to say between his violent kisses.
He pays no attention to her and continued to kiss her. Tifa tried once again and this time she managed to push him away from her. "What do you think you're doing?!" she was upset though her voice was shaky.
"I'm showing you that I'm still your husband! Why do you make your own decision and leave just like that?" he asked her once again. Tifa looked away from him. Cloud let out an angry sigh and looked at her intently.
"I need your answer just for this one question," his voice has lowered and Tifa lifted her face. "Why do you leave? Do you hate me that much that you can't even stand being around me?" Cloud's voice sounded as if he was begging.
Tifa held back her tears. She never hated him. "No but I can't stay here anymore," she replied as she watched him with glassy eyes. She clenched her fists. She wanted to tell him that she came back because she missed him and wanted to see him desperately but she couldn't.
Cloud looked down at his feet. He really has lost her. He closed his eyes and walked away from her. "Why'd you come here in the first place? You really like to mess around with me Tifa," he sounded defeated.
Tifa walked towards him from behind. She got nothing to lose. She stopped just behind him and automatically, she reached out and hugged him from behind. His whole muscles tensed up but she ignored them.
"I wanted to see you," her voice was so soft that Cloud thought he was imagining things. "I really do," she placed her head on his back.
"But I can't stay no matter what. You know it too right?" Tifa asked the blonde man.
"Call me greedy or a bitch but I don't care, as long as I can see you then its fine. Even for a short while," she added. His muscles relaxed and he released himself to face her.
Tifa felt a pang of loss at the distance between them. She forced herself to look at him. He didn't say anything in return. No comfort words or anything, just silence. But he pulled her closer to him and embraced the smaller figure before him.
Tifa fit just nicely in his arms, as if she was made for it. "I'm here aren't I?" Cloud whispered back. He felt Tifa nodded and she tightened the embrace.
Cloud pulled back a little and looked at the beauty in his arms. He missed her more. Cloud leaned down and in an instinct movement, Tifa reached out to meet his lips halfway.
This time, they kissed gently and there was a trace of sadness in the kiss. He missed her taste greatly, the only taste that can drive him insane. She was the only one that's able to turn his world upside down and so far, he can't get enough of her.
He released her hair that was tied up in a ponytail and they broke apart. "I like you hair down," he stroke her hair gently, getting back the feeling he'd lost before this.
Tifa smiled at him and reached up once again. He pulled her closer and closer until their mouths were cannot be separated.
This time, things got more heated up when his tongue played its role upon entering her mouth. Smaller things lead to bigger things.
Slowly, they made their way upstairs and once they entered the bedroom, everything was unstoppable. For the second time, they lost in each other.
Tifa lied awake after her passionate journey with Cloud two hours ago. He was sound asleep and Tifa looked at him in adore. Though in his sleep, his arms were protectively around her bare waist, holding her so close to him.
She liked the fact that they were lying next to each other without anything blocking their ways. Not even their clothes.
Tifa just watched as he breathed steadily in his sleep. She was planning to watch him sleep instead of doing so herself. This would be her only chance anyway.
Tifa studied his features carefully. His blonde brows that always ceased whenever he felt irritated, his intense eyes that seem to pierce her soul, his well-shaped cheeks, his sharp nose and his skilful lips. She smiled at the thought.
Each time he kissed her, there will be only flames. He always managed to spark her fire when he kissed, that made his so irresistible. Out of control, Tifa lifted her head from her pillow and went to kiss him in his sleep.
That awakens Cloud from his slumber. When he opened his eyes, he saw her flushed face in front of him while her lips were still on his. Cloud smiled a little but he returned her kisses.
"Did I wake you up, sleeping beauty?" Tifa raised her head. She didn't mean to but he seems okay with it. "Assaulting me while I'm asleep? You surprised me whenever I thought I've seen you through," Cloud replied without moving a muscle. He wanted to go for another round. He missed her terribly.
"You seem to like it," Tifa smiled before she kissed Cloud again. Her hands roamed on his chest, slowly making their way to his neck. Tifa lifted herself up and lied on top of Cloud who seemed to let her lead this time. He liked the feeling of her skin against his and held some of her hair in his hands.
When they finally settled down, Tifa rested her head on Cloud's chest while playing with it. Cloud did what he liked the most, stroking her long hair while listening to her steady breath.
"The house feels empty without you around," Cloud said while playing with her hair. "You rarely at home Cloud," Tifa said as a matter of fact.
"How have you been doing? What are you doing for living?" Cloud prefers to talk about her than himself. "Not quite well but I can survive it. You know I have no other talent than attending a bar," Tifa answered, not wanting to slip any information about her location.
"Still not letting me knows your place?" Cloud raised his brows in a questioning manner. "Nope. Who knows what you might be up to? With Sephiroth tailing you all around, I can't take the chance," she replied casually and lifted her head.
Cloud felt a little uneasy knowing that Tifa was out there working to earn a living when she could just stay with him and live easily. She was the one who refused to his plan.
"How are things in your company?" Tifa broke the silence between them. "It's getting better. But let's not talk about it," Cloud said. Tifa placed her chin on his chest to look at him.
Cloud held her hand. "You still wear our wedding ring," Cloud stated as he laid his eyes on her hand he was holding. "You're wearing it too," Tifa smiled and Cloud returned her smile with one of his rare smile.
"I like it when you smile," Tifa confessed when she saw him smiling. "Tell me, your majesty, what does it take to keep you smiling instead of frowning?" Tifa asked playfully.
Cloud squeezed her hand, "Just be there for me."
Tifa felt the urge to say the she loved him but then thought better of it. She can't tell him that, not when both of them know she can't be there for him after this.
"I'm always with you," Tifa said. Cloud raised his brows slightly. "How so?" he asked. Tifa lifted their intertwined hands, "Like this." She looked at him with trust and hope.
"I'll always be with you too then," Cloud stated and Tifa kissed him as a reward.
Tifa prepared breakfast for them just like she used to back when they were together. They ate and chatted as usual as if nothing were wrong.
The part where Cloud didn't like was when the sun was getting up. It would mean she would be leaving soon.
"Cloud, it's time for me to leave," Tifa said as she turned to face Cloud who was standing at the balcony. He entered the hall without responding.
Tifa had always known that she would have to leave the house but she when the time had arrived, she wasn't sure how she was going to do it.
"Thanks again for everything," Tifa added while trying to come up with the right words for the situation. Cloud just looked at the woman standing a few inches shorter than him. He blew out a breath.
"I'll take my leave then," Tifa decided it was best to end it soon before she started to break down in front of him. She walked towards the door and half way, she was stopped when Cloud grabbed her hand.
"Do you really have to leave?" His voice was very low. "I want you to stay here and stop worrying about Sephiroth's deal. There's gotta be a way to deal with it," Cloud continued. He had to say what he thought she should hear or he will regret it later in his life.
Cloud got a hunch that once she left the house, he would never see her again. He never learnt about her residence or where she worked or with whom she's being surrounded with. Tifa was careful not to let him know anything about her.
"What is the way then?" Tifa asked him suddenly but her head was lowered down. "I dunno, but I'll definitely come up with something. I promise," Cloud said earnestly.
Tifa bit her lower lip while trying to hold back her tears. She knew it would be very hard is she said a proper goodbye. That was why she left the first time without letting him know.
"Cloud," Tifa was cut off when Cloud pulled her so that he can hug her. Tifa blinked back tears. "I care for you. I care like hell. It made me feels so mad not knowing how you are doing out there. I don't give a bloody attention to you before but give me the chance to redeem myself," Cloud said to Tifa.
"And because I care for you is the reason I had to be away from you. Your company is what you worked for your whole life. I'm just a new person appearing in your life," Tifa replied. "I would never forgive myself if you lost what you had been working for your life because of my presence. You understand that don't you Cloud? You have to let me go this time," Tifa was sure she would break down soon.
"You have your own way to show your care and this is my way to show you I care for you, greatly. Trust me this time Cloud," Tifa voice was starting to crack.
Cloud loosened his embrace to look at her. He saw her glassy eyes and he felt guilty for making her sad. "I'm sorry," he whispered softly. He could see she was trying to be strong. It wasn't easy for both of them.
"I care for you and I have to-," Tifa was speaking when Cloud silenced her with his lips. As if on cue, Tifa couldn't bear her tears any longer. She cried in the kiss and she was shaking. Cloud held her close to him, not wanting to let go so fast. He had to support her with his hands as he kissed his crying wife.
Tifa could feel the sadness and pain in the kiss. It was as if he was giving her the final kiss. She didn't pull back, she didn't want to. She just let him be. 'Just for a little longer,' she thought. This would be the last.
When Cloud finally stopped kissing her, he placed his forehead against hers and looked into her eyes deeply. She was crying and she was sobbing. She never cried in front of him and she never met his eyes. Instead, she released herself from him and without lifting her head she ran away from him and left the house as fast as she could.
Cloud was too stunned to move and his voice was stuck in his throat. He could only watch as she slowly disappeared from his sight, leaving a trail of tears behind her. "Tifa," was all he could say after she was long gone.