Twenty five: Cake

Tifa stared ahead with hollow eyes as she sat on her wheelchair inside her hospital room. She had been looking out the window for the past hour with nothing to do. Her father went home to get ome more clothes and food, Yuffie and Vincent won't be there until they were finish with school. Zack, Aerith and Cloud won't be there for a while either, especially that the wedding will be held on the next day already. Both Aerith and Cloud didn't want to invite any of them, they said it wasn't a real event for them.

Everyone's getting married... She chuckled bitterly at her thought. I was supposed to married, too... She looked down her lap while she clenched her fists. A tear dropped down towards the top part of her hand that was above her lap while her entire body shook. She thought she wouldn't cry anymore because of him. But she was fooling herself. She was still very inlove with him.

Noctis... I still love you... What am I going to do? She took in sobbing gasp while she wiped her nose sideways in an unladylike manner. I can't keep going on like this... She stared up with a determined face before she turned her wheelchair around the center of the room. She took in a deep breath before she gripped the armrests with both hands and she started to push up.

"Come on..." She told herself with her brows furrowed. She plopped back down again while trying to catch her breath before she tried again. "Noctis... Look at me... I'm doing my best..." She pushed herself up again and she could feel herself being lifted up a little, but her knees gave out and she fell forward, letting out a yelp of pain when the side of her head collided with the marble floor. She didn't move from her spot for a while before she started shaking all over, a sob escaping her. "Noctis... I failed... I'm sorry..."

"Tifa?!" A male voice was heard and was running towards her. "Tifa! What happened?!" Cloud carefully laid her down to her back then he scooped her up bridal style to get her to bed, she was still crying while he did so.

"I'm sorry... I was being foolish..." She said with her voice stuffy from her crying.

"Shhh... Shhh... It's okay now... I'm here..." Cloud said as he caressed her head. He wipedher tears away with his thumb. "You want some water?"

"No..." She whispered. "Why are you here? Your wedding's tomorrow..."

"You are more important..." He told her quietly while he searched her eyes. He leaned forward to gently kiss her forehead while she closed her eye, a tear escaping as she did so.

Noctis woke up while he was laying on his side, he could feel the weight of the other occupant of the bed but decided not to pay attention, it was nothing new, he had never touched his wife Gentiana, the only time he did was when had reached the altar, in which he needed to outstretch his hand to guide her, and the couple's dance but after that, he couldn't bare to do it. He gently sat up with a frown, he went straight to the bathroom to take a cold shower. He stripped off his night clothes to begin his morning routine. While the water was running down his skin, he thought of Tifa. He missed her terribly, the taste of her lips when he kissed her, the feel of her skin when he caressed her, feel of her body against his when he pleasured her. He missed all of it, he indeed needed that cold shower.

When he was done and all dressed, he went back to the bedroom where Gentiana was still asleep. He checked himself in the vanity while he ran his fingers on his bangs when his phone indicated that he had a message, his brows furrowed as he took it from the nightstand, his eyes widened when he read who the sender was, he hurriedly opened the message with panic written on his face.

I just want to let you know that Tifa is doing her best to get better, the doctor said she's been making progress but it will really take a while for her to walk again.

She misses you a lot... She's trying to be strong in front of all of us and I'm proud of her because of that, but I know that she's still devastated.

She said she's going to study medicine when she's all recovered, so she can be a doctor to help people who needed medical attention, just like she was now. I hope you're okay in there. I don't know if this is the right thing to do, texting you, but I felt like it was. I'm getting married tomorrow and I'll be away for a while from Tifa, but I know she'll be okay.

Noctis was taking heavy breaths after he was done reading the message, he gently sat down on the bed with his mouth slightly agape. He started typing on his phone to reply back to Cloud's message.

I'm so glad to hear that, I'm so happy that she's determined to get better and that she wants to be a doctor, that'll motivate her more. I miss her too, I think about her every minute of everyday. I love her so much, I thought my love for her will lessen when I'm not with her but it's the complete opposite. I fall inlove more deeply as days goes by. Thank you for telling me this... As for me, I'm already married and believe me, I'm not enjoying it. He chuckled bitterly at that. You will be the same tomorrow, so brace yourself blondie. He wrote with a smirk. He sent it then flipped his phone shut, after a while he recieved another text.

I still hate you for taking Tifa away from me and making her fall inlove with you so much. The prince smiled at the bitter message, he started replying back.

Sorry that I have more sex appeal than you. He sent with a silent laugh.

Fucker. He laughed loud when he read Cloud's reply.

Cloud chuckled as he flipped his phone shut, Tifa has been observing him for the past minute with an amused expression on her face.

"What are you laughing at Strife?" She asked as she ate her cake. Cloud shook his head.

"I was just pestering Zack in my text messages." He lied.

"Oh... By the way... Since I know that you don't love Aerith, do you know about her and Zack?" Tifa asked which earned her a confused look from Cloud.

"What about them?"

Oh no! He didn't know! How could I be so stupid?!

"Uhhh... N-Nothing... They uh... They seem very close an-"

"Tifa..." Cloud said firmly which made her sigh in defeat.

"Okay... Okay! When I was in the library with Yuffie, Vincent an-" She stopped, it was Noctis that was with her that day, she shook her head then continued. "I saw them kissing on the very last aisle." Tifa said then she closed her eyes tight. Cloud's brows shot up and disappeared within his bangs.

"No way..." He said in a whisper. "Damn..."

"Sorry Aerith..." Tifa told herself which made Cloud chuckle.

"Don't feel bad, now I feel bad, for her and Zack... Everyone is so messed up huh?" He said. "Maybe he shouldn't come to the wedding tomorrow."

"Yeah... He shouldn't." Tifa said as she cut through her cake and lifted it towards Cloud, who ate the piece with his face still shocked.

"I didn't notice that they had a thing for each other."

"It's either because they hid it very well or you're blind as a bat to see." Tifa said with a smirk while Cloud sneered at her. He swiped his finger on the icing then smudged it at Tifa's cheek, her mouth went wide with a gasp and he was not ready for what she did next, the cake she was holding on a saucer met with his face fully, causing her to laugh her loudest laugh yet while he didn't move from his spot, cake icing dripping down his cheeks and chin.

Some of the creamy goodness were hiding his huge grin for being proud of himself for making Tifa happy like that.