CHAPTER 11
Tifa was cleaning the practicing room in the apartment when she saw a few of sheets of papers on the floor. She picked it up and saw they were song lyric and melody. But it wasn't completed yet and there was a huge X mark on the page indicating the song was rejected.
It was hand written and Tifa knew it was Cloud's handwriting.
Tifa knew the notes on the melody sheet and went to the piano. She pushed a few button to get the sound right. She failed on her first trial but she tried again. This time, as if magical, she got the first few notes corrected.
Then, she moved on to the next line, which sounded weird to her. "Wait, this doesn't sound right. It's too rough." She took a pencil and cancelled the whole line and created her own melody. "Soba ni ite hoshii yo, tonight…" she sang to herself.
Without her realizing it, she spent the rest of the afternoon trying to correct the melody of the song while making a few changes to the song. Cloud won't be angry since he rejected the song already.
After making sure the melody was perfect, she decided to play the whole song on the piano. "This is so cool."
She started playing in the piano for the first verse. She felt something in her moved, as if something was awakened and she felt alive. The next thing she knew, she was singing the song while playing the piano, which she hadn't able to do for a long time.
"Always tsutaetai zutto eien ni…" the song ended but to her surprise, she heard someone clapped their hands from her back. She turned quickly in shock and her face was white as sheet. That wasn't good for her heart.
"Cloud, Vincent! How long have you been here?" she asked as she never noticed anyone entering the room.
"Long enough to see you do wonder to Cloud's trash," Vincent replied. Cloud just made a face before picking up the electric guitar and plugged it to the amplifier.
"Like I said, I was going to work on that song later," Cloud said as he tested the sound of the guitar and adjusted it.
"Right, I shouldn't interrupt you guys then. I'm already gone," Tifa said as she rose from the piano bench. "Hey Tifa," he called.
Tifa turned to Cloud. "Try playing from the last chorus," Cloud said as he looked up at her. Tifa frowned but she sat back on the bench and played the melody. She sang to herself to get the melody right and as the melody came to an end, Cloud entered into the song by playing a tune that seemed to be the perfect ending for the song.
"That's it. I've been looking for it," Cloud smiled in satisfaction and put his guitar down. Vincent just nodded. He felt it too when the song was played.
"What's the name of the song?" Vincent asked. Cloud looked at Tifa, "I'll give Tifa the honor to name it," Cloud said and Tifa raised her brows in disbelief.
"Really?" she looked excited. He just nodded and waited for her response. After a while, she looked up and said, "Endless Story."
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"Barret called just now. He said he's coming back with the kids tomorrow. He got some work to do. Then, after that, they'll be on another trip for another few weeks," Tifa said to Cloud on the phone.
"Really? That'll mean I can have my little entertainment back at home tomorrow," Cloud replied as he heard the sound of Tifa's laughter on the other side. "What are you doing now?" Cloud asked.
"Nothing. Cleaning the house and after that, I want to give another shot at finding a job," Tifa replied. "You're not giving up huh?" Cloud admired the spirit she had in her. "Nope."
"Hey, what time are you coming back for dinner tonight?" Tifa asked suddenly. "I think around 7, we're supposed to have a meeting with the album director in a while," Cloud said as Zack motioned him to get off the phone already.
"Oh really. I won't keep you any longer, see you tonight then!" Tifa said and hung up. While smiling to herself, she went to the kitchen and returned to her cooking. Today was her birthday and she wanted to have a nice dinner with Cloud.
She didn't expect anyone to remember or celebrate it but she just wanted to have someone to eat with her. She never liked to stay by herself on her birthday night. Before her parents' death, they usually made her a small birthday dinner and they would chat all night. She became accustomed to it and therefore, she never like to be alone on her birthday night.
She went to her soup and tasted it, "Perfect!"
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Tifa waited for Cloud since 6.30 and it was now 7.30 in the evening. He was late and Tifa was worried that the dinner might get cold. She went to the phone and dialed his number. It was busy but she tried again. It was still busy.
She hung up and went to the TV to watch the news. She glanced at the clock and decided to wait a little longer. If the kids were with her then maybe she wouldn't feel like this.
Tifa continued to watch the TV though there was nothing that made her interested. She flipped through the channels and stopped at the movie channel. She could watch it and waited for Cloud to come home.
Cloud didn't come home even after the movie had ended. She felt a stab of disappointment and turned off the TV. She went to the table and looked at the untouched foods. She didn't feel like eating anymore.
She took the trash bin and poured all of the food into the bin without thinking twice. "I shouldn't have my hopes too high," she said as she threw away the foods and placed the bin back at the kitchen. She washed all the dishes and cleaned the kitchen.
She wanted to bathe to sooth herself. She went into the bathroom and let the tap ran. She poured each body shampoo she could find in the bathroom until the tub was bubbled up. After looking at the amount of the bubble in the tub, she undressed herself and get into the tub.
She turned off the tap with her foot and lied in the tub while looking at the ceiling. She wondered what Marlene and Denzel were doing. Were they excited to see her again? She restrained herself hard not to think about that certain someone.
She let her thoughts drifted and she fell asleep in the tub.
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"Tifa, wake up. You're sleeping in the bath," Tifa was awakened as she heard the voice. Tifa shifted a little and when she felt she wasn't in her bed, she opened her eyes.
She was greeted with the scene of Cloud in his towel, apparently he was about to take a shower when he saw her sleeping in the tub. "What time is it?" Tifa asked him. "About 10.30 pm."
It was only half an hour she fell asleep. "Can I join you? It looks so much fun with all the bubbles," Cloud asked as he had that boyish look on his face.
"What?" Tifa didn't answer him but he dropped his towel and got into the bath tub. Tifa managed to close her eyes from seeing things she wasn't supposed to see that might give her a hard time sleeping tonight.
Cloud sat in front of her and she quickly drew back her legs and clutched them to her chest. "You really need to grow up," Tifa said as her face was red.
"What? My mom used to ask me to rub her back when she bathed," Cloud defended himself. Cloud leaned his head against the wall behind him and he looked relaxed for a while. He closed his eyes. Tifa just watched him, too afraid to move even a muscle.
"Fuh it's such a tiring day. The producer was so fussy," Cloud began without Tifa saying anything. Tifa still watched him carefully if he tried to do anything funny. "He asked us to stay with him until he could come up with a concept then only he allowed us to go." He yawned.
Then, there was a long moment of silence as Tifa didn't know how to respond. Tifa just watched the blonde. Then, it only hit her, "Hey, don't fall asleep in here. You're the one intruding!" Tifa said out loud. Cloud didn't move.
Tifa blew out her breath in an annoyed matter. "Cloud! Don't you dare to sleep in here!" she commanded as she sprinkled him with the water.
"I wasn't! I was just thinking!" Cloud said as he wiped the soapy water from his face. He adjusted his seat and pushed his hair back. Tifa looked away; she didn't want to be mesmerized any more by him.
"Here, help me wash my back," he requested as he handed her a small towel with a bar soap in it. When he didn't see her responding he reached out to give her the towel.
"No, stay away! Keep your distance!" She warned him as she clutched to herself tighter. Cloud laughed at her behavior and smiled mischievously. "I asked you to help me wash my back."
Tifa took the towel and Cloud turned to back her. She didn't say anything but she was feeling a little weird when she touched him.
'You're just washing his back!' Tifa said to herself. She began to scrub his back as he just stared at the wall.
"Tomorrow, the kids will be back right?" he asked. "Uh huh," Tifa nodded as she rub his broad shoulders. "Don't you think they should go to a school?"
Tifa looked at his hair but didn't answer him right away. "Like going to a proper school and grow up like us back in Nibelheim," Cloud continued. Silently, Tifa agreed with him.
"There's no school near here. Most of the schools are in the smaller towns," Tifa said. Cloud nodded as if he had expected her to say that.
"But there's one in the town where Barret lives," Cloud replied and Tifa stopped scrubbing his back. "We can't let Barret take care of the kids by himself," Tifa said. Cloud turned to face her. Tifa retreated a little.
He held her shoulders and turned her back to face him without saying anything. Why did she have a feeling that this conversation was leading to somewhere. "I know," he said as she took the small towel and adjusted the soap in it.
He gathered all of Tifa's long hair and placed it on her left shoulder, exposing her back. Tifa didn't move or say anything; she just waited for him to continue.
"But it's a different story if Barret suggested it himself," Cloud said and it made Tifa turned her head to face him. "He didn't say anything to me this morning," she said.
Cloud began to scrub her back slowly. "He doesn't know how to break the news to you," Cloud said in a soft voice. He knew she was going to take it the hard way. "What did the kids say?"
Cloud paused for a while, "They say they'll follow as you say." Tifa looked down at the bubbles and thought deeply.
It would be unfair for her to keep the kids from going to school but that would mean, she would be by herself in Cloud's apartment.
"There's no need to rush. You think about it first. They'll be back tomorrow anyway," Cloud said, not wanting to force the girl to make a decision.
There was another long pause of silence. "How'd the job interview today?" Cloud changed the subject. Tifa looked around anxiously. She didn't go for any interview today because she was cooking at the house.
"As always, same excuses," Tifa said almost sounded like she was mumbling. Cloud got the hint that she didn't want to talk about it.
"Okay then, we should get out. I'm all pruned up," he said as he rose from the tub. Tifa was glad he was at her back and when she heard him gone into the shower room, she quickly grabbed a towel and covered herself.
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After bathing that night, Cloud went to the kitchen to have a drink. Tifa was already in her room, maybe thinking about the news he just told her.
He was washing the glass when he saw the trash bin was full with foods. He looked into the bin carefully. It looked like Tifa made him dinner but he didn't come back.
Then, he only remembered that he promised her to come back for dinner. Cloud looked at the clock on the kitchen wall, it was 11.15 pm of May the 3rd. 'It's her birthday.'
No wonder she acted a little out of herself just now. Cloud thought it might be because she was bored or something. Cloud felt bad about it.
He went to her room and knocked on the door. Tifa opened it, looking fresh and clean. "What is it?" she asked. "I'm feeling kind of hungry; can you accompany me to the convenient store now?"
Tifa turned to look at the clock on her desk. "It's already past 11," she stated. Cloud nodded, "The convenient store is open 24 hours," Cloud stated back.
Tifa felt a little tense since she had been staying indoor for a few days already. "Sure," she said as she came out from her room and followed Cloud from his back.
After locking the door, they went to the convenience store near the apartment and after buying some food, Cloud sat on the rail by the roadside while Tifa just leaned on it. She looked up at the sky.
There weren't so many people at night and tonight was a clear night. She couldn't see the stars but she knew they were there. Cloud opened an Amino-D drink and took a gulp. He offered some to Tifa who just refused.
"Are you mad at me?" Cloud asked without turning to her. "Why should I?" she asked him back. "I said I'll be home for dinner but I didn't and it's your birthday," Cloud said as he took a glance at Tifa.
Tifa didn't say anything; she just looked at the sky. She didn't know how she felt that moment. With her lonely birthday night and the news about the kids, she didn't sure which one made her sad.
"Happy birthday. It's 2 minutes to midnight," Cloud wished her. He took out something from his pocket and handed it to her. "I don't know if you'll like it but it's my favorite and I want you to have it," Cloud said. Tifa looked at the ring in her palm that had a shape of a wolf craved on it.
The carving was the same as his ear ring. A tear slipped for her eyes. She brushed it away only to be replaced with more tears. Cloud noticed this and he turned to her. "I'm really sorry."
Tifa shook her head and wiped her face. "No, it's not you. I don't know what's wrong with me," Tifa said with a smile, trying to hide her tears. She took a deep breath but the tears wouldn't stop.
Cloud just let her and he didn't say anything. "I'm an idiot aren't I?" Tifa said more like to herself. "I don't know what I really want in my life. I didn't go for any interview today, I lied. I stayed at home, I cooked for dinner and now I'm acting like an idiot. And I don't know what I should say to Marlene and Denzel."
Cloud just looked at her; he picked the wrong time to break the news to her. She played with the ring in her hand and turned to him. "Thank you for this one." She gave him a smile as she showed him the ring.
From where he sat, Cloud reached over to her and pulled her closer to him. He wasn't sure how would she reacted but he still brought his face towards hers and placed his lips on hers. He dropped the plastic he was holding and held her hand while his other hand held her waist.
It was more like his lips pressed on hers but he didn't feel like letting go. She didn't push him back neither did she respond. After a while, he pulled back just far enough for him to look at her. At first she didn't look at him but after a while, her warm eyes met his cold-blue colored one.
She didn't move away from him or say anything. Tifa clasped the ring in her hand tightly. Cloud didn't move his eyes from her and watched her carefully. "I'm supposed to be 23 this year right?" he asked her.
Tifa nodded her head with a smile on her soft feature, "Welcome back." She used her free hand to brush his cheek and the next thing she realized, they were kissing once again.
His strong arms were holding her close to him and she felt the butterflies in her stomach fluttered as he deepened the kiss. They kissed like there were no worries of what would happen afterward, tomorrow or a month from then.
All that matter was Cloud Strife was kissing with Tifa Lockhart- the first girl that stole his heart and never seemed to return it back to him after all these years.