The timing couldn't be anything but perfect.

School was about to end in a month's time, and so was her misery. For weeks, Aerith endured accidental encounters with Cloud and Tifa, who were open with their affections for another. She hated the sick feeling the pit of her belly every time Cloud held Tifa's hands. She hated how her heart would violently thrash when she saw the pair.

Thank God that they were about to graduate, and thank God for Sephiroth, who accompanied her when he was in town. Somehow, a strange bond formed between the two of them. Neither of them were lovers, and neither did Sephiroth make any advances on her. He simply filled the gap Tifa left when she left her for Cloud.

Sephiroth stood outside the sleek exterior of his black car, waiting for her classes to end. As he waved at her, and she couldn't help but smile. It had become a ritual where he would drive her home. The same way Cloud had waited for her so he could walk her home.

"Did you buy what I asked you?"

Sephiroth handed her a neatly wrapped box in red silk in the size of a shoebox.

"How much do I have to pay you?"

"You could be a model in one of my companies."

Prior to leaving, Sephiroth had offered her to become a model, an idea that immensely surprised her. She found it difficult to believe that a timid, brown-haired flower model could be a model.

"Do you really think I can be a model?"

"Trust me." He winked. "Baby-faced models are all the rage in Midgar now. If your mom will agree, I'll promise you'll be sending her a hefty sum."

Elvira's dislike for Sephiroth hovered in the air. Aerith wondered if going with him was a really good idea. True, she did want to see Midgar, but if she pressured her mother to give in to her demand, she would ruin their blissful relationship. Aerith couldn't deny that Cloud's relationship with Tifa was another factor in her decision to leave Nibelheim.

Sephiroth was perceptive enough to notice Aerith's dilemma. "Something's disturbing you. Care to tell me?"

"It's Cloud and Tifa." She admitted. "It honestly hurts to see them together. I don't think I can take it. I can pretend as if I'm happy that they're a couple—"

"But deep inside, you want to smash their happiness." Sephiroth concluded. "Deep inside, you want to be the person beside him."

"Am I evil for wanting that?" she shook her head. "I'm confused. I'm Tifa's bestfriend and I'm supposed to be happy for her, but why can't I?"

"You know the answer, Aerith." Sephiroth said with cold finality, as placed a finger underneath her chin, raising Aerith's head so that their eyes made contact. "Best friends don't betray one another, and they don't steal another's beloved."

"And she did." She whispered in a defeated tone.

Their interlude was disturbed when a familiar voice called for Aerith's attention. She swung around to see Zack Fair, with his large Buster Sword hanging on his back. Zack wasn't too far from Aerith's age. He was a prodigy who graduated early, and had disappointed his parents by become a Mercenary—A bounty hunter. It wasn't the noblest profession, but the pay was good and made Zack happy.

"I finally found you! Your mom asked me to take you home."

"But Sephiroth can drive me home." she pouted

"We both know that." Zack smiled sheepishly. "And we both know I can't refuse your mother."

Aerith sighed and apologized to Sephiroth. He understood her predicament.

"There's no need to apologize. Good day, Aerith, Mr. Fair."

Sephiroth drove away in his sleek black car. Aerith noticed that, no matter how hard he tried to conceal it, a bounty hunter like Zack, was impressed with the man from Midgar.

"That's one hell of a sexy car, huh?"

"He's a businessman, after all."

Zack stuck out his tongue. "I'm still rooting for Team Clerith."

Aerith frowned, even if the thought pleased her. "I didn't know you're a romantic."

"The two of you look good together."

"He looks fantastic with Tifa." She said with sarcasm. "Don't tell me you're in the same league as with my mom."

"Unforunately, I am."

Elvira was grateful when Zack brought her only daughter home and invited him to have dinner. Zack ate the scrumptous meal offered to him. Aerith took advantage of the merry opportunity to give her mother the red gift box. Satisfied, Elvira handed her own gift as well.

"What's the occasion?" Zack asked.

"I'm a Gainsborough Day!" Elvira answered sweetly. "Today's the day I first met Aerith."

"We have a custom of exchanging gifts to celebrate this day." Aerith added.

Zack's eyes lit up. "Why don't we unwrap your gifts right now?"

Elvira first opened her gift box, revealing a lovely green dress in the latest fashion. Elvira's eyes glittered in delight.

"Try it on." Her daughter urged

Elvira quickly changed, and was amazed with how soft and silky the fabric was, how the dress clung to her body. She hugged her daughter. "Thank you Aerith."

Smiling, Aerith unwrapped her gift. Her jaw dropped as she held the gift in hand. "These are—"

"Tickets to Wutai this summer." Elvira answered. "I wanted to spend my birthday there with you."

Aerith gulped. She had planned to leave for Midgar before summer.

Satiated, Zack the thanked the Gainsboroughs before departing. Once they were alone, Aerith drew a deep breath, hating that she was going to ruin their festive mood.

"Thank you for the tickets, but..." she exhaled. "I was planning to move to Midgar after graduation."

Elvira didn't blink. "With whom?"

"With Sephiroth."

Elvira's eyes narrowed. "Don't you dare leave with him, or I will disown you!"

Unable to contain the fury in her heart, Aerith lashed at her mother. "Well, you're not my real mother!"

Without warning, Elvira slapped her. A bright red mark forming on Aerith's supple cheek, leaving both women stunned. Elvira had never her throughout her life

"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"Good night, mother." Before Elvira could explain herself further, Aerith slapped the tickets on the table before leaving the dining room. Angry footsteps echoed through the household, ending with a loud bang of the door.

Alone, the elder Gainsborough sunk on the chair, wondering how such a wonderful occasion went wrong. She picked up the graduation gift for her daughter on the table. All she felt was cold and numbness.

"Is it wrong to love and think of your well-being, Aerith?" Elvira whispered, a tear falling from her face, as she hid the tickets in her pocket.

Tears also fell from Aerith's eyes. Locked in her room, she dropped to the warmth of her bed. The shock of being hit surprised her. She didn't mean to scream those words, but her mother was horrible to Sephiroth who had only shown them kindness.

"I'm so sorry, mother." she muttered against her blanket.

The next day, Elvira was nowhere in sight. Aerith went to her stall to set up her flower shop. She was still sad from last night's events.

"It looks like you're in deep thought."

"What… what are you doing here alone, Cloud?"

He laughed. "Tifa's not an extension of my body."

This was the first time she was around him without Tifa fawning over, and Aerith missed this moments. He helped her with the flower display, carefully putting the flower pots on the floor and the shop marker.

"I'm sorry." he said.

"For what?"

"For taking Tifa away from you." He explained.

She took you away, not the other way around, Aerith thought with sadness. "Love changes a person."

"Are you going out with Mr. Sephiroth?"

Why was he asking? Was he jealous? Did he suddenly care? Like the way she cared when she saw him and Tifa together?

"Yes." She lied. There had been no romantic implication with her relationship with Sephiroth, if anything, it was a friendly mutual relationship. She enjoyed his company. It was sufficient to say that she was using him. "And I might leave Nibelheim with him after our graduation."

Cloud's eyes widened. "You can't really mean that. Will aunt Elvira approve?"

Aerith shoved the image of her sad mother last night. Suddenly, she didn't like the guilty feelings at all. She hated it, and she hated Cloud for reminding her. "It doesn't matter. I'm already of legal age. I can do what I want."

Cloud was surprised to see this side of her, always seeing how agreeable she was with her mother. "You;ve changed."

"Have I?" she challenged. "Maybe you never really knew me."

Cloud took a long look at her before shaking his head. "Maybe I never did."

"Will you be sad if I leave?"

Cloud moved his eyes away. "Of course I would. You're… one of a kind."

"Fancy seeing the two of you!"

Aerith quickly moved away, recognizing the voice. Tifa kissed Cloud, before hugging her bestfriend. "Was I interrupting anything important?"

"Cloud and I were talking about what to do after graduation."

Tifa's eyes lit. "Oh that's good! Cloud wants to be a bounty hunter like Zack."

Surprised, Aerith turned to him. "It's not an easy task."

"I'll live with it."

"What about you Aerith?" Tifa asked. "I'm sorry if I haven't been hanging out with you."

"No problem." she lied, "I might try modeling."

Aerith's statement caught Tifa's attention. "Where?"

A little flicker of pride flickered in Aerith's heart. "In Midgar."

Tifa hugged her. "That's great! I'm sure you'll do excellently. The people are going to love you on stage!"

She nodded her head. "I hope so too."

"Oh, we won't be long. We're going to have lunch at Cloud's home. Want to come?"

"I think I'll pass." she apologized. "I have to tend my store."

The couple bade their farewell. Once they were out of sight, Aerith exhaled. Have an awkward dinner? No thank you.