The Only Exception

Story 2 – Aerith

Hurray! Last chapter for the Aerith story!

Chapter 10 - KAI

If anything, Aerith tried.

She had tried to push him away from the very first moment. Failed.

She tried to keep a distance from him by being aloof and unconcerned. Failed.

She tried to tell him off once and for all that she did not want to have anything to do with him. That was a massive success, but in which was the massive failure.

She tried to get him back after discovering her feelings for him… … Failed.

In her room, she tossed and turned in her bed. Her mother and Tifa had given her enough space and did not probe, but she suspected that it would not be for long. Aerith reached for a box on her table. It was the giftbox that Zack gave her the night when he spoke up for her in front of her father. Inside, an oversized pink ribbon lay in a cushion of satin.

Aerith laughed when she first saw it in the box. She had spotted it in the shops while they were eating street food, but she was quite sure that her desire for the ribbon was not that obvious. How Zack knew that she had been eyeing that accessory for a long time was a mystery. She has not worn it yet, but she liked looking at it in the box. She fingered the velvety texture and ignored the dull ache in her heart.

Someday, she would wear the ribbon on her hair. When she is ready to move on from Zack Fair.

Aerith also listened to KAI's songs. Therapeutic as they were, listening to her favourite song, "Life Is An Adventure", brought her much joy and much regret. She took another glance at her cell phone. Nothing. Zack did not even send a message to her after her performance. It would be weird to take the initiative…

She laughed dryly. How ironic that now I'm doing the chasing. She thought. Pathetic. She jammed the "Stop" button, cutting off KAI's voice, and switched to the radio.

"Yes, all you lucky listeners out there," boomed the radio DJ. "I have with me, the latest single from KAI!" Aerith sat straighter and inched closer towards the stereo with a smile. "After being away for around two months, I can say that KAI must have had some adventure again. This single will be included in his new album, coming June next year, but this is the first single of the main lot. Well, I've listened to it just now and if you ask my honest opinion? I think it's not his best…"

Aerith wrinkled her nose. She wished the DJ would stop talking and just play the song already.

"… this song is quite emotional. I could not put words to it, so I'll let you decide if this song is based on his own experience. It's called 'Love Letter'."

With a single strum of a chord, the lyrics came. "Look at you, all scared of the world."

"I'm not," mumbled Aerith… and she sat up so quickly that her head spun. "What the-" She stared at the radio, still playing the newest song from KAI.

"Building walls around your broken heart.
Pretending that you don't care is not the way.
Don't make me sad with those words that you say.
Darling, will you listen to me today?"

Aerith cursed under her breath. That's… That's Zack's song. She would know. He wrote it just for her. How-

Then it hit her. How could she be so dumb? "You are an idiot, Zack Fair." She sighed. "If not for your lyrics, I'll never know." She smiled to herself as the song continued.

"Being with you is such a wonderful thing.
Who knew that duets can be made for me?
You are one of a kind that everyone loves,
but not the way that I do. Baby, please believe.
But you say you're scared to love.
Take that plunge and fall in love with me!"

Aerith found herself humming the melody as the chorus began:

"Take a look around, see the world out there.
There are so many things to give a second chance.
Darling, don't be shy, it is worth a try.
Look at me and say 'I will'."

How… She still could not understand. She stood and quickly changed out of her pajamas. She had to find Zack, immediately. She was just pulling her t-shirt over her head when there was a knock on the door.

"Aerith?" Tifa poked her head in. She widened her eyes. "You are up and all changed!" She said with a wide smile. "I was worried that I had to…"

"What is it?" asked Aerith with a frown.

Tifa pursed her lips. "Zack Fair is here."

Aerith's heart skipped a beat. "Zack is here?"

Behind Tifa, Zack walked into the room. "Hello Aerith." He smiled.

"I'm… going to leave you two to sort out your issues," mumbled Tifa, stepping out of the room but not completely closing the door.

"Hey…" muttered Aerith, not looking at him directly.

Zack peered at her closely and Aerith shifted away, not out of disgust. "You've been crying," he said sadly.

"I'm fine…"

"I suppose you have questions."

"I do!" Aerith looked at Zack with much irritation. "Why did you leave after hearing my performance? Are you such a sickeningly melodramatic person that you had to leave like that?"

Zack blinked at her outburst. He could not resist a smile. "Yes," he admitted. "Apparently, I am. Would you listen to my story?"

Aerith nodded slowly and sat on her bed. Zack chose to sit on a chair near her table. With a side smile at his thoughtful actions, Aerith said, "Start from the beginning."

He grinned. "Well, once upon a time, there was a boy who came to Midgar. He intended to find a stable job and settle down, but instead, he was scouted to be a singer." He clasped his hands. "The company searched for a marketing gimmick for him and so he sang under a pseudonym and a pseudo-face," he chuckled. "The masses would love it, they say."

"And they did," added Aerith.

"Right," affirmed Zack. "The boy liked singing behind a mask called KAI, but it wasn't all bed and roses for the boy… but that's a story for another time," he commented with a bright smile. "It wasn't long before the company had other plans," Zack continued, standing from his chair and pacing around. "They wanted to reveal the boy's face to public and have him sing as who he was. The boy refused – he was content with the way things were – but he was given two weeks to reconsider. Upset, disappointed and also worried that he had no income for the next two weeks, he found a part-time job at a Halloween carnival." He stopped and smiled at Aerith. "That's when he met a girl named Aerith. You know," he grinned. "It was the not first time that he had seen Aerith."

"Really?" asked Aerith, folding her arms and trying hard to recall.

"Yup," Zack chuckled. "The boy first saw Aerith in a hospital." His smile grew when Aerith widened her eyes. "His manager, Cloud Strife, was sent to the hospital and well… I think you can make the link."

"Cloud was KAI's manager!" exclaimed Aerith. "That explained the lie… and the mystery after the lie." She covered her face and groaned. "Finally!" She did not need to guess anymore.

Zack laughed. "To be honest, he was attracted to Aerith's looks in the hospital." Aerith made a face. "But when they met in the carnival, he thought that Aerith would not the kind of girl that he would be attracted to after all. She was stiff-necked and unapproachable." He grinned.

There was nothing Aerith could say to that. It was exactly as he said.

"However, Aerith surprised him. She showed kindness and sensitivity to his issues and emotions… despite being unapproachable, she can be really sweet and thoughtful." He smiled at Aerith warmly. "That was when I think, I really fell for you." Aerith looked away at his change of words. He spread his hands. "The rest is history… except for pockets of questions here and there." He walked over and sat by her bed.

Aerith looked at the floor, not daring to look at his face. "Why didn't you tell me? Is it because you think that I would be someone who approaches you for your status?"

"Sorry, Aerith…"

"No, it's perfectly fine." Aerith shook her head. "You had your problems, while you were trying to help me with mine." She looked at Zack shyly. "I just… want to thank you for being so persistent in changing my mind. If it weren't for you… and Tifa and my mother," she quickly added. "I will still be bitter about my life now."

Zack was smiling too. "I loved your performance and the song. You really are a superb singer." Aerith smiled. "So… inviting me to watch you perform an original song, eh?" He leaned closer towards Aerith. "Is that a sign that you want me to be your only exception?" His anticipating smile was very charming.

She pulled back. "I wish you won't say it as bluntly," she muttered with a blush. He chuckled. "I wish I have a stronger answer for you too," she said softly. Looking at him, she shook her head. "I have feelings for you, but I still have lots of other feelings to clear…" She looked down and slowly reached for his hand. Her fingers walked across the back of his hand and slipped into his gently. "But… if you are willing… still willing… I will steer my feelings in your direction…" She looked at him with an embarrassed smile. "… And face in your direction with all my might."

Zack squeezed her hand. "I understand. I have my own problems to settle. My boss will have a headache with this because I'm not supposed to reveal my identity to anyone…" He grinned at her. "But that's their problem. I'll wait for you to be ready."

"We will wait for each other to be ready," corrected Aerith with a laugh.

Zack nodded. "Deal. But until we are ready…" He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her hand. "I want to stay by your side, helping and supporting you… Will you allow me to?"

She had never thought that hearing that question would make her smile so much. "… I'll be most happy to," she answered. "Who would've thought that the person I fell for is my favourite singer." She grinned. "Do you know how excited I am that I finally get to meet you?"

"Always nice to meet a fan." Zack grinned.

"So… Did they do something to your voice during post-production?" She peered at Zack with a raised eyebrow. "You did not sound like that when you sang to me!"

He laughed. "Ah, about that. You're right, the production team always changes my voice a little after recording. However, I was also lying about my voice when I sang to you."

Aerith blinked. "So all this while… I have not heard your real singing voice."

"Exactly. Sorry about that…" He smiled at her. "Would you want me to show you how I normally sing?"

Aerith nodded. So he did. It was clear that Zack had hid his singing voice well. Aerith widened her eyes when she heard him. Whatever he said about the post-recording was only a little tweaking of his voice. Hearing Zack sing live was just like hearing KAI on the album. What are you talking about? She shook her head to herself. He IS KAI!

"To say that I'm not interested would just be a lie.
You've won my heart from the day I first said, 'Hi'.
You're afraid to love but yet you want to, please let me in."

Aerith mouthed the words with him. "Love is not to give up but to give in." She grinned as he ended. "It's on the radio now."

"Indeed." He smiled.

The door opened slightly and Tifa looked in, with her eyes wide open. "That was-!" Her jaw dropped.

"Hello, Tifa," Zack chuckled. "I feel a little shy now that so many of you know of my identity."

Aerith was equally embarrassed. "Tifa! Since when have you been listening in?"

Tifa raised her hands. "I could not hear anything, and I wasn't listening. However, I heard Zack singing loud enough… and I had to ask." She stared at Zack. "You are KAI, aren't you? And Cloud is your manager."

"Yeah, that's right," answered Zack. "I'm pretty glad that Cloud was professional enough to keep his job a secret from you…" He glanced at Aerith. "I'm not as professional, I guess."

Aerith shrugged. "You made that choice."

Tifa grinned. "Alrighty, I'm going to go away and leave you alone." She winked at Aerith… and Aerith smiled back. The knot in her heart slowly loosened, bit by bit. It would still take time for her to fully accept affection from a man, but Aerith had a small feeling deep inside, that no longer would she feel that knot from here now.

When Tifa left, Zack said, "It is only up to us to see if my choice to reveal to you the identity I tried so hard to hide, a wise one." He smiled. "I say we work on that right now." He straightened his collar. "How would you like to go on a date with a handsome, rich and famous guy like me?" He asked with a cocky grin.

Aerith shook her head to herself, but she was grinning from ear to ear. "I guess I have no choice."

"Well, you surely are more dressed up today," said Zack, nodding at the simple blouse and white skirt that she was wearing. "All ready for our date, even before I suggested it."

She groaned. "It's not a date!" Aerith rolled her eyes, but when Zack offered her his hand, she did not pull away.

And my momma swore that she would never let herself forget

That was the day that I promised, I'd never sing of love, if it does not exist.

But darling, you are the only exception.

I thought it would be good to put the lyrics again at the end to remind you how the whole story came about.

Well now, what should story number 3 be? If you realise, Tifa's and Aerith's stories are linked together. Aerith's story is also linked to the third story. More like, there has been a hint about what the third story will be about. You may need to check all the chapters to find the little clue. If not, I'm afraid you'll need to wait another 2 weeks before you find out!