Chapter 16 – Title-less
I decided not to name the chapter… cos I'm sick of my stupid titles.
This is it… I'm sad to let it end… but I have to… my baby's all grown up and ready to fly away from the nest… *sniff sniff*. Oh my gawd, I'm so dramatic I want to puke at myself…
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*Merry ^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*X'mas*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"Zell, are you sure of this? Very sure?" I fidgeted uneasily and whispered into his ear.
"It'll be fine! They're all my good friends! What are you so nervous for? They won't eat you up!" He grinned broadly at me.
"Everyone, let me introduce you officially to my girl, Celestine." He turned towards his friends and announced in a proud voice.
"H…hi everyone!" I stuttered and looked around, expecting fierce or maybe expressionless faces, only to see that they were all beaming with warm smiles at me.
"Charmed, I'm sure." A cowboy-hat tilting guy with a long brown ponytail held out his hand. "I'm Irvine."
I took his hand gingerly. "Pleased to meet you."
To my surprise, he twisted it and planted his lips onto the surface of my hand.
Before I could pull it out of his grasp, a slim gloved hand reached up and slapped it away. Another twisted his ear, while a steel-tipped boot kicked his left leg.
"Owww!!!" He yelled, not knowing where it hurt the most as he rubbed quickly at each respective part of his body in an attempt to lessen the pain.
"Hey, guys! I was supposed to do that!" Zell protested, only with a twinkle in his eye.
Quistis, Selphie and Squall (!!) put their hands (and leg) back into their original positions.
"Sorry, Zell. We just couldn't stop ourselves from disciplining him and his itchy hands!" Selphie glared at Irvine, and turned to smile brightly at me.
"Hi, Sefie here! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you too!" I said, returning a similar smile.
"We've got lots to hear from you!" She whispered cheekily into my ear, while I grinned back at her words… well, who could resist smiling at her antics anyway? Not me, since I was prone to mischief myself at times.
"My turn, Sefie!" Another female voice sounded behind her.
I look up to find Zell's ex-girlfriend, Yuri smiling just as warmly as the others.
That kind of made me lose any semblance of calmness that had settled over me for that short while.
"Hihowareyoumyname'sCelestineyou'reYurirightNicetomeetyou!"
I jumbled up all my words into a long breathless sentence.
"HaHaHaHaHa! There's no need to be nervous, Celestine! I'm Yuri… oh, I caught that word somewhere in your sentence… so I guess you should know it already. Pleased to meet you. And welcome to the gang!"
I like this girl a lot, period.
"Thank you." I said, giving her a tight hug. This was the only way I could think of to express my liking for her. I hoped fervently that she wouldn't think of it as faking.
She appeared to be caught off-guard for a moment, showing it in her stiffened body. But after a second or so, she returned it just as tightly.
You wouldn't believe the relief I had felt when I received it.
"Hey, no fair! How come I don't get a hug?" Sefie complained with mock petulance.
"I'm next!" A grinning Quistis stepped up after Yuri and I were separated from our affectionate embrace. "Okay, I know we've met before, but we still haven't introduced ourselves properly. I'm Quistis Trepe."
"And I'm Seifer Almasy." A tall, platinum blond stepped up beside her to offer his hand as well.
I shook their hands warmly… cos I've seen their struggles more than anyone else's, so naturally I took to them more than the others.
I know… I've said a long time ago that I hated Seifer, but that was then. I was so immature, come to think of it.
But as time went by, and I got to know him bit by bit… with a little help from Zell, I grew to like him better. No, change that better to very much.
As for Quis… oh, that's how I like to call her, without her knowledge of course… I've always had a natural inclination towards her. Maybe our Zodiacs match… I don't quite know, hah…
After Quis and Seifer stepped away, I turned to the remaining couple that had yet to introduce themselves. They were none other than the famous Commander and his girl.
"We've heard a lot about you!" The pretty girl in blue chimed. "I'm Rinoa Heartilly!"
"Squall Leonhart." He had a small smile on his face too. "Welcome abroad."
"Thank you… all of you!" I gushed gratefully as I looked at all of them one more time.
I can see myself making this place my new home….
"Wait." Zell said with a grin, walking up me. "I haven't introduced myself yet."
All of us fell on our backs with legs sticking out in the air…(like in those manga scenes)… This guy can be such a joker at times…
"But it's true! Don't laugh…
My lady, I am Zell Dintch, and I promise to be the hero that belongs to you, and only you forever."
"And I, my good sir, am Celestine Angelwing. I promise to be your Angel for as long as our lifespan permits."
Vociferous cheers around us erupted as we embrace and engaged in a deep, sweet kiss that reached from the surface of our lips to the very bottom of our hearts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Curtains Fall
Celestine: Chotto Matte Kudasai!!! Please hold on for a minute!
Water Lily: I don't like going back on my words! Why did you drag me out again?
Celestine: What did my Mother convey to me about? And why did I get to meet Zell's friends? Am I a SeeD? Am I a Mortal? An Angel? What? I myself would like to know, thank you very much!
Water Lily: Oh, you're an Angel alright. Didn't you read it over there? (Points to that particular line). And I'm SURE that the readers have their own ideas as to the best ending. They can choose whatever they want to believe. They can even choose to break you two up, the hell I care? Now… I'm gonna concentrate on my Quifer, if you'll excuse muah.
Celestine: You can't be serious!
Water Lily: Oh, I am.
Celestine: No~~~!!! I hate this! I HATE YOU!!
Water Lily: Tell it to my lazy hand.
Goodbye, people!
Author's notes: Ah… a warning. In case you chose to break Zell and Celestine up… if you're really that cruel, or really hate Celestine that much, then I must tell you that you shouldn't read the next chapter (Is there one? Isn't this suppose to be the final one???!! Hehehhehhe...), or the sequel following this (That's Peach Battle Gear and a Greyish White Coat… look out for it!). It's your choice, but I'm going to make it easier by posting them up as soon as possible… (Grin)