Once a chickenwuss

Once a chickenwuss

Declaimer: All FF8 characters and all merchandise are owned by Squaresoft.

Author's note: Try not to flame me.

Chapter 6 – Sweet-bitter-sympathy

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Four o'clock in the morning, darkness engulfed the night. With the person sleeping in his embrace, the cowboy just can't waste his time to sleep. Irvine Kinneas finally gave up sleeping; instead, looking at his sweetheart. Head on his chest, sleeping like a baby. With a gently kiss on the butterfly's forehead, the princess was woken.

"….Irvy, morn'g.?! Oh.. It is still at nite. What's wrong?" Selphie found her way to craw face to face to Irvine. "Nothing.." , Irvine smiled at his little girlfriend. "Shhhh…..shall we, go back sleep?." With his hand rubbing Selphie's back, she fell asleep shortly.

Glancing out of the window, everything seems so peaceful. Irvine closed his eyes enjoying this quiet moment. After those horrible events, he was absolutely tired these days. Eventually fallen asleep as well.

*********

9:00 a.m.

In the Balamb Garden car park, Selphie and Irvine were hugging tightly. "Sefie, it is only a field exam. Don't worry, okay?!' Irvine looking down at Selphie.

"Eeeek, no one's gonna worry about you. …It's just… just… Arrrr, forget about it. .. ..Take care!' Selphie, bearing her head down. Irvine, used one hand to brush her light brown hair, the other holding his Exeter.

"Anything bothering u? Com' on sweetheart, I will be back by 16:00, the latest." Irvine whispered in her ear. "You are looking gorgeous today, just can't wait till I come back." Selphie, giggle, pounded her head up, looking at him with a sadden face. "Only today???? Ain't I superb every single day?"

"Ohh, nononnonono……..I err, I mean,,.. … you just …simply, special today. … ammmm you acting really strangely today.", Irvine kissed her gently, thinking ~ of course I know. Selphie bite her lip.

Quistis, which was standing next to them, looking at her watch, rolling her eyes, sighed. "Selphie, this is just a Seed exam and we sure will take care of him.'

Then Xu said,' Yeah, he will just be fine. Remember that you did this the same last year."

Irvine holding Selphie's hand and said,' I really have to go. The only thing worry about me is our so-self-centered squad leader, Seifer Almasy. ….. ammm, See you later. Ok?! (Whisper, whisper, I booked a table in the Greek restaurant in Balamb.)' With a final kiss, Irvine and the others all quickly jumped into the vehicle.

Selphie was seeing them set off, speechless. There had been too many things happened. After Nida's death, Irvine wasn't in shape. This would be a great challenge for him.

********

Few hours later, in Balamb Garden.

Selphie kept herself busy with the Garden festival stuff for the whole morning. With a distracted heart, no progress had yet done. After the busy morning, using up all her energy. She decided to head off to the cafeteria and grabbed some food. She bumped Rinoa on her way,. "Hey, Rin. Fancy some hot dog today?" She desperately wanted a companion. Today was sooo odd, so boring. Unfortunately, Rinoa just brushed off, saying some words about she was busy with Timber Owl's work.

On the other side, at the entrance of training center. Zell was so pleased with the hard work he did in there, walking out the training center. By counting, he defeated 11 Grats, and kick two T-rex butt to unconscious.

While thinking…..

"Opps, sorry,… man." Zell crashed into …….…Irvine.!!! "Hey, you are back !!! It's only two in the afternoon, whoa, that's quick, man. S-up? How's the field exam?"

Irvine just smirked. "Where is Selphie?"

Zell, "Dunno, beg she's still in the Quad. " Scratching his head, "You better quickly tell her you ar back. She was crazy about you this morn'g. U know today's her special day ma."

Irvine, "……. Thanks."

In the Quad, Irvine couldn't find any sign of Selphie.

On the other hand, "Yoo, Selphie. You saw Irvine? " Zell asked.

"Irvy's back?????" Selphie's eyes were brightened. "Sooo, where is he? Tell me, tell me Teeeeellll meeee!!!"

"Dunno, he was finding you too. I pointed him to the Quad." Zell , somehow acting anxiously.

"You, okay? ……amm…Thanks anyway, I gonna hurrryyy!!!!! See-ya" Selphie quickly rushed off to the Quad.

Just after Selphie left, Rinoa suddenly jumped out of nowhere.

"Whooooa, you scared me.!!" Zell was nearly jump.

With two hands holding her waist, Rinoa said "You tell her anything?"

"Sure, not!!" answered Zell.

"That's right, it's gonna a big surprise!!! Don't you dare to ruin it with your big mouth!!"

"Yeah, yea yea, I know I have a big mouth…... So, where will be the birthday party held?" Zell asked.

"Of course, in Squally's room,.. the biggest !!" Rinoa. "By the way, have they backed?"

"Yeah, Irvine's back."

********

Not in Quad, not in Library, not in dorm………So, where's Selphie? Irvine was searching like nuts.

Not in Quad, not in Library, not in dorm……….So, where's Irvy? Selphie was searching like nuts.

Although, it is only few minutes behind Irvy, Selphie never catch up with him. These few minutes' leads them separate for another hour.

At last, in the cafeteria…..

Irvy was chatting with a blond cadet. "Excuse me, is there any chance you had seen Selphie Telmitt?"

"Oh, the Garden festival committee lady… noo, I am sorry."

"That's ok."

At the same time, Selphie was standing at the entrance of cafeteria. Seeing Irvine was…………….Filrting with other girls. She ran off immediately. Tears were running all over her little face. How could Irvy do this to her? On her Birthday!!!! Even though Irvine may have forgotten about her birthday, that's fine, coz she never told anyone when's it. But how could he flirt with another girl straightly after his exam without seeing her first. That's so unfair. She trusted him for the past few months, believing she's her Only girlfriend. Yet she slept with him lately.

Selphie was heartbroken, crying, rushing to the second floor.

Irvine, who didn't see this scene. Thinking~ could she be ……….. there?

*********

In Ragnarok….Bang…..A sound of Selphie-type taking off….

"Whoa, what's going on?!!" Irvine mummered. "I beg selphie's here. I absolutely du not wan to stuck in here on her birthday." He walked to the driving pit.

In there, Irvine saw a not-so-hyper Selphie. Today, she wasn't too excited. Instead she was covered with anger.

"Selphie." With only one word. Ragnarok suddenly dropped 150 miles down. Irvine grabbed hold something to balance his body. "Whoo, Selphie, concentrate!!"

As Selphie saw Irvine approaching her, Selphie looked at him sadly, shouted. "Don't. Walk away, you LIAR."

"Selphie?!"Irvine questioned.

"Oh, Mr. Ladies man, don't tell me you don't know what you have done. Or you are saying you can't remember coz there are too many girls out there?"

"Who.hoho. Selphie, you are saying that I date others while I am going with you. I told you many times, I never. I love you sweet heart."

"Oh, stop lying. I saw you just in the cafeteria!!! Flirting!!!!" Selphie yelled.

Irvine sighed. "That's what you are saying? I was asking where you were."

"Really?" Selphie wondered.

Irvine kneeled beside Selphie. "I swear."

"If that's true, I am terribly sorry. So.. how were your seed exam?"

"Shhhh. Forget about all that. I have something special for you." As Irvine said, he took out a palm size black box from his jacket pocket. "Happy Birthday."

"Oh, Irvy." Selphie half covered her reddish face by her hands.

"I love you sweetheart. Would you please put this on?"

"You remember?! Irvy…" Selphie with a perplexed smiled. "Put it on for me?"

Irvine put on the ring on Selphie's finger. He whispered, "I longed for this day."

"So do I. I keep day dreaming this moment constantly." Selphie pulled her head over Irvine's shoulder. Then, Irvine kissed her passionately. Selphie enjoyed the kiss, closed her eyes, everything was darkened.

*********

Balamb Garden.

"Whoa. You awake?" Zell said. Gave a relief.

Selphie was having a very bad headache. As what she remembered, she was with Irvy in Ragnarok. Judging the environment, it was the infirmary. Why? Everyone was gathering around her.

"Selphie?!" Quistis asked with concern. She wiped off her tears. Looking at Quistis, Selphie questioned, "I ….?"

"You crashed Ragnarok. I am glad that you are safe. Don't worry, everything's alright." Squall said.

"Crashed? Where is Irvy? Is he alright?" Selphie asked. There was a long paused. As she demanded, "What happened?"

"Selphie. I am not quite understood what you are saying. I am terribly sorry to tell you Irvine was being shot during the seed exam." Squall told the truth in a sadden tone.

"No!! Irvy was with me." Selphie shook her head. Bitterly dis-admitted.

Everyone with their jaw dropped, mouth half opened. None of them believed Selphie's word. Then Squall as the leader, indicated the doctor to run another check up. Dr Kadowaki. frowned. She checked all the statistics. Everything was up to normal.

Selphie yelled off, "I am not insane. Irvy was with me on Ragnarok. I am sure. I can prove." She lifted up her right hand, "There. See, he gave this ring to me….…." Yet when she looked down, there was nothing on her fingers. There was a long silence. No one dare to argue under this circumstance.

Squall showed a hint to Dr. to undone the curtain. It was then, Selphie saw the cowboy's body lying on the infirmary bed, next to hers.

Author's note: Please review. What shall I do with Irvine……..die or alive?! Arrrrr. My head stuck.