By: LGStrife
*Hmmm...Dear Aeris...No! It's too simple. Uh...Hello, Aeris. No, no, no!! It's not like me!* Cloud Strife crumpled another paper and threw it at his back. After the defeat of Meteor, the AVALANCHE decided to go on with their lives. Thus, separating.
"Still couldn't make-up your mind?"
"Yeah, could you help me, Vincent?" Cloud asked not removing his focus from his letter.
Vincent Valentine ended his journal and placed it on his desk. He approached Cloud and leaned forward to see what he has written. "Well?"
"I haven't written anything yet. I trashed the other papers." Cloud sighed. "I already used up half of this notebook and I still can't get a decent greeting."
Vincent sighed and took a chair near him. He sat beside Cloud. "All right, then. What is this letter all about?"
"I'm not so sure..."
"You're not so sure?" Vincent asked with a questioning look. "You don't know what to write?"
"I don't know. I guess I'll just tell her how life is going. I just wanna greet her 'hi'."
"You just want to say 'hii? That's it?"
Cloud nodded.
Vincent laughed. "Hwa, ha, ha! Cloud, saying 'hi' to a long lost friend is the easiest form of letters!"
"I know, I know. It's just that, whenever the paper's in front of me, I lose whatever is in my mind. The things I like to say to Aeris is slipping away."
"Ah, Aeris. Now I see your problem. You are..." Vincent smiled at Cloud.
Cloud stared at him jokingly. "Hey."
"Hwa, ha, ha!! Young love..."
"Anyway, what do I do?"
"Just be yourself."
"Hey," Cloud fixed his sitting position to face Vincent. "Easier said than done, Mr. Ex-Turk."
"I know that, Mr. Ex-SOLDIER. The thing here is, just follow what your conscience is saying. Your heart."
"My heart?"
"Yes." Vincent said nodding his head yes at the same time.
Cloud sighed and went back to his paper. "What, Dear Aeris?"
"Are you asking for your greeting? How it would be?"
Cloud nodded.
"I can only tell you one thing, it is up to you."
"Hey! Some help that is."
"Then if I would be the one to suggest the greeting, it would be like it is I who is writing the letter."
Cloud sighed. "Yeah, guess so." Cloud thought hard and finally wrote the simple words, 'Hey Aeris,'.
"Perfect."
Cloud rasied an eyebrow to Vincent. "Perfect?" He asked blantly. "You think this is perfect? She'd kill me if she reads this!"
"She will kill you in the contrary, young man. Isn't that your style?"
"Yeah?" Cloud scratched his head.
"Then that will tell her that you still have not changed. You are still that boy who gathered all your strength and courage to finish Sephiroth."
"And that's something?"
"Don't be too negative, Cloud. There is nothing good being negative can bring."
"...Anyway, let's move on to the body. Uh...How's life?" Cloud faced Vincent.
Vincent shrugged. "Why are you asking me?"
"I'm asking you if it's the right words to begin with."
"Well...the spelling is correct. So is the grammar. And I am not the one writing the letter."
Cloud groaned. *I guess that's it.* So he wrote the words. "And what do I write next?"
"What do you want to write?"
Cloud sighed. "Thanks anyway, Vincent."
"You are very much welcome, Cloud." Vincent went back to his seat and took his journal to start writing again.
Cloud tapped his fingers and played with the ballpen thinking of what to say. *I guess Vincent's write.* He flipped another page of the about to be empty notebook and started a new letter.
Hey Aeris,
How's life? It's pretty much plain here in Nibelheim. At least I have Vincent with me. He's always keeping me in company. We're leaving in Tifa's home. She was kind enough to give the property to us. Right now, she's living in the villa in Costa del Sol having a Tifa's 7th Heaven there.
Cloud thought again for the next paragraph.
So, what have you been up to lately? Vincent and I don't have anything much to do here. So if you'd ask me, there's nothing interesting that you'll hear from me. But it's better that way. Rather than having to go to many places and fighting monsters everyday. I kinda got sick having to repeat the same routine before. Y'know, sleep in inns, wake-up, go out, battle, go to another town, sleep. It's always been like that.
Soon, Cloud enjoyed it and continued writing.
I heard that you're living with Elmyra again in Kalm.How is she? I hope she's doing great.
*Oookay...what to write next...* Cloud thought. *Uh...next paragraph.*
You still keeping up your gardens? If I'll be visiting you in Kalm, I may need to expect flowers everywhere. Just kidding.
Then he drew a smile. It was on of the first times he did it. He continued the paragraph.
I wanted to visit you but coping up is kinda hard for me. 'Sides, what would you expect from a man like me who lived almost his whole life fighting. Sometimes, I wished I never grew up to be like this. Right now, I'm wondering, how is it like to live normally...Haven't you thought of that?
You must be wondering why I wrote to you. Actually, I originally want to say 'hi' to you. But the main point of this letter is for me to say
Cloud forced himself to write the letter 'I' followed by two words but he couldn't. Inseated, he dropped the pen to the floor and sighed. "I, I can't do it."
"Hwa, ha, ha!" Vincent laughed. "I knew it. You lied to me, didn't you?"
"I, I'm sorry, Vincent."
"It's all right. No need to be sorry about." Vincent placed his journal down and approached Cloud. "Cloud, listen."
Cloud turned around to face the older man.
"I know how it feels to say it. I have underwent it. But one you said it, you are free. How would you let her know how you feel if you would not have the courage to do so? I thought you are so brave that you defeated Sephiroth?"
"But this is another thing, Vincent."
"I know. What I am trying to say is, if you were able to face the greatest fear in your life, then you can take the biggest step in your life." Vincent patted Cloud's shoulder and left.
*If you were able to face the greatest fear in your life, then you can take the biggest step in your life.* Cloud thought about what Vincent said. he nodded. *I'll do it.*
That I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?
Cloud took a deep breath as he wrote the words. He felt like he is perspiring cold sweat after doing that. Other than that, he felt like a kid.
My letter ends here. I'll be waitig for your reply.
Cloud Strife
Cloud immediately reread his letter and folded it. He inserted it in an envelope and wrote Aeris' address after sealing it.
*****
1 week later...
*****
Cloud went down the stairs stretching his arms and yawning. He scratched his head and saw Vincent in the dinner table.
"Hello, Cloud. Take your breakfast."
"Thanks." Cloud sat down and pulled the tuissue below his spoon and fork. But the tissue is long, off-white and is not a tissue. "What the..." Cloud looked at the object and read the words, To: Cloud Strife. It was written by a woman. Below it is his address. "Ah, sh*t...it's form Aeris!!" Cloud immediately opened it.
"What did she say?"
"Wait."
Dear Cloud,
I'm glad you were able to write to me. I was kinda missing you. You know, I always remember those "fuin" stuff we did. Especially that even when you dressed like a woman. You were so cute then! (a smile was drawn) Just kidding. I personally enjoyed it when we were in the Gondola,. Anyway, enough of that now.
Life has been kind to me, luckily. I'm right here in Kalm living happily with my mother Elmyra. Marlene is in Rocket Town living with her father and Cid. Just imagine the great time they're having there. If you ask me, it's pretty much boring here as well. You actually have to be lucky to have Vincent with you.
I'm having another garden here. I'm very pleased that these flowers here are natural. Unlike those in Midgar. If you want, I can send some to you. Just tell me. It'll be free, don't worry.
Elmyra is doing fine. She wants to thank you for asking.
Actually, Cloud, I am totally speechless as I write this letter. But, I think there's one last thing I can tell you.
I love you, Cloud. And I have always wanted to share my life to you.
Aeris Gainsborough
Below her name is her signature. Cloud smiled and folded the letter upon finishing it.
"What did she said, Cloud?" Vincent asked drinking his coffee.
Cloud faced Vincent still wearing a smile. "She said 'yes'."
- End -
Disclaimer: Everything here is not mine. Thank you.