After abandoning this story for a year, I must confess I have forgotten the original ending. Haha…but I think I should give this story a proper end. I kind of had forgotten a lot of things including names and spellings. Please have mercy! So ehem…here goes.
Selphie watched her friends from the second floor. Quistis prowled the hallway as though nothing ever happened the past few days. Squall looked a bit trouble. Perhaps he was worried about Rinoa who joined the Tomb of The Unknown King expedition. He bumped into Quistis and both looked exceptionally awkward before separating to two opposite directions. Zell had come back from the expedition earlier to report to Squall. He seemed happy with the progress and ready to return to the tomb with more students. Irvine was just being Irvine, lazing around and trying to charm girls.
Sigh…who should I approach?
Quistis went over to Dr. Kadowaki to visit some first year students who got hurt from the training ground.
"They are fine. Some tough lads," Dr. Kadowaki chuckled. "So…how are you and Seifer doing?"
Quistis choked on her tea. "What? Nothing!"
Dr. Kadowaki chuckled again. She patted Quistis shoulder. "It's about time, Quistis. Enjoy your youth and do what a youth supposed to do."
Young Trepe gulped down her tea and excused herself immediately. She stormed into the hall with panic. "How did rumors got around? Selphie! Oh god, I got to stop her before the whole garden gets funny ideas!"
She quickened her pace into the escalator and bumped into Squall who appeared to be in hurry as well. Again, the awkward moment set in. She did not know when this awkwardness began but that was least her problem now. She got into the lift and stood as far away from Squall as possible. Did he know?
The escalator scarcely budged and Squall slot in his ID card to divert to basement instead. It hit a stop and the door opened but none of them made a move to go out. Squall looked away from Quistis disapprovingly and folded his arm.
"What now?" She felt a tinge of annoyance.
"Seifer!" He blurted out. "Of all people, Seifer?"
Quistis opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. There was so much she wanted to say that she didn't know which should come first. She crossed her arm too. "Look, I don't know what else you heard but nothing new happened between Seifer and I. It was just a kiss. I've already told you that."
Squall still looked dissatisfied. He did not answer, only shook his head disapprovingly. "You are a respectable teacher of the garden and you- "
"What's the matter now? Are you the only one who can have a love life in garden?" Quistis interrupted with rage. "What's wrong with Seifer anyway? As far as I remember, you both were equally difficult student for me! I mean, why do you care anyway?"
It was a short conversation but filled with a mix of various emotions. The past was not something either of them would like to talk about. Squall knew he was cold and mean to certain extend towards Quistis back then. The fact that Quistis had a crush on him and supported him throughout the battle with Ultimaecia, he could not be grateful enough. Could all these made him feel guilty for rejecting her? Did anything like that actually happen in the midst of the battle journey? Then Rinoa came in and he had forsaken almost everything. Still, Quistis supported him through along with the others.
Yes, it must be guilt and nothing more. A am happy now and I just wanted to make sure she will be happy too. It's just that I don't have faith in Seifer to make her happy.
"So now this is your love life? I don't know how to explain this," Squall revert his tone of speaking. "It's all going to sound very wrong but I don't want to see you get hurt. Seifer…you know I never have good feeling about him."
"It's not always about you, Squall."
"Yeah, I guess so." He removed his ID and the escalator hummed back to life. "I'm sorry. I should have known that you always have better judgment."
One thing he did not mention was the fact that he was afraid of losing her. He changed after being with Rinoa. Could Quistis changed too if she were to be with Seifer? She has always been someone he could fall back to if anything goes wrong. What happens if she isn't there any longer to watch his back? I'm so selfish…I'm sorry Quistis. I really am.
They departed after the incident and Quistis never see him again the rest of the day. She found Selphie who pleaded innocence. Apparently, some students saw them that night and spread the news around. Quistis sighed in despair. The best thing to do now is to do nothing. Explaining to gossiping teens will only make things worse.