CHAPTER 12
"Welcome back!" Tifa greeted the kids once she opened the door for them. "I miss you so much," she said as she hugged them. Denzel blushed at this and Tifa took the chance to tease him, "I thought you're an adult already." Denzel just looked away sheepishly.
"Come on in," Tifa invited Barret along with the kids and Marlene dashed into the apartment. "Cloud's not home?" Marlene asked. "Nope, they got this Shinra anniversary thingy going on. He says hi to his little princess though," Tifa said as she went to join them in the living room. Marlene smiled widely.
"I met a friend at Papa's house and I told her I knew Cloud but she didn't believe me at all. One day I'm gonna bring Cloud's silly pictures and show it to her then only she'll believe me," Marlene said in one breath and it made Tifa smiled. She missed Marlene.
"Marlene, that's not important. As long as we know the truth why would they matter anyway?" Denzel asked the girl. Marlene made a face. "But I hate people who don't believe me."
Tifa rose from her seat and sat between them. "What if Cloud send you to your new school and that way everyone will believe you," Tifa said and it made their eyes widened. "You mean we can go to school?" Denzel looked at her in disbelief. Tifa nodded.
Their reactions were beyond expectation as they jumped on her and hugged her tightly. "Thanks Tifa," they said in unison. Tifa just brushed their hair lovingly. Barret just looked at the happy family before him with a proud smile.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
So Cloud did send the kids on their first day at school and it drew a crowd. "I don't even know why I agree with your suggestion about this," Cloud said between his teeth to the shorter brunette in front of him. Tifa just made an innocent face. They pushed their way through the crowd.
"Barret, help me distract the crowd. We'll head for the train station after this. I'll guess we'll see you around," Tifa said and Barret just nodded.
"Ah!" Suddenly a male voice broke out among the noises in the crowd. Tifa turned to see it was Barret. "He's getting away!" the man said as he pointed to a direction where a blonde man was heading towards the exit. Although the crowd was suspicious but they looked at the direction too.
Tifa took the chance to help her celebrity friend to escape as she pulled him into a taxi. "Don't let him get away!" Barret continued and soon, the crowd was already heading for the opposite direction from their taxi. Tifa waved at him from the taxi in thanks.
Tifa pulled something from her bag, "Never leave the house without these," and handed him a cap and a pair of sunglasses. "To the train station please," she said. He put it on and blew out his breath. "Don't sigh like that. It'll make you feel old," the taxi driver said.
"I was just feeling a little tired," Cloud replied. "There's nothing that's not tiring in this world. And you're still young, so much to do with so much energy," he said.
'This man has no idea what kind of work I do for a living,' Cloud thought and decided it was not important to make him understand. "It's actually nice to have so many people to like you," the man said. Cloud met his eyes in the rear-view mirror.
"It's even harder trying to put up with that and acting all perfect in front of everyone," Cloud felt intrigued with that man. Tifa just remained quiet. "That's too bad but it's your job. You know it was going to happen before you set your mind to be in this field. And I've said it once, there's nothing not tiring in this world. Not even when you love someone. Am I right young lady?" he asked.
Tifa snapped when he directed the question to her. "I guess so." She turned to Cloud. He seemed to be thinking. "Well, I guess I'm in no position to talk like that considering the fact that I'm just a taxi driver. I won't understand the live of a celebrity anyway," the taxi driver said ending the conversation.
When they reached the train station and bought the tickets, they around 15 minutes until the train arrive. Tifa looked around and saw a group of girls making their way towards Cloud. "Danger," she said as she pointed towards them.
They quickly got up and went towards the toilet direction. "I know it sounds ridiculous but we have to wait in the toilet." He announced. "Nope. You have to wait in the toilet. I will wait outside here," Tifa refused. She could smell the toilet from where she was standing.
"Whatever. Just wait outside and tell me when the coast is clear," Cloud said and entered the male toilet. Tifa just stood outside there like a statue.
She glanced into the female toilet and saw a few people in it. She didn't feel like she has any business to do in the toilet anyway. She eyes the group of girls who seemed to be searching for someone and Tifa smiled to herself.
After some time, the group of girls left. She was about to call Cloud when she felt someone covered her mouth and pulled her into the deserted alley beside the toilet. It smelled even worse there.
"Give me your purse and I won't hurt you," a man approached her from her front while holding out a pocket knife. The one who was holding her was pinning her and her mouth. It wasn't like she had a choice.
'Do it or regret it,' she said to herself. Using her left leg, she kicked the man in front of her as hard as she could and she hit his private part. "Ugh!" the man dropped on his knees while dropping his knife.
"What the hell!?" the man was rewarded by a hard stomp on his foot and he released her immediately. Seeing her chance to run, she quickly made her way away from those men but the first man caught her foot and she stumbled onto the ground.
"Ouch!" she looked at her hand to see if there was any bruise but luckily none. The man was standing in front of her with the second man.
"I've been nice," the man spat and hold out his knife to her. She wasn't afraid of him but she couldn't take them down at the same time. She needed a distraction.
It was as if a knight in a shining armor decided to show up at that moment and the first man was sent flying crashing into the wall of the alley. The second man was shocked but more shocked when he saw Tifa lifted her fist and met his jaw in one deadly blow.
"Hurry up, before things get worse," Cloud pulled her and they dashed out of the alley. The train arrived on time and they quickly boarded it while laughing like little kids.
"A celebrity comes to the rescue. I'm so moved!" Tifa contained her giggles as she found her seat and sat on it. "Why don't you announce it to the whole train?" Cloud asked her sarcastically.
"But then I have to do the rescuing. Nah, it'll be troublesome," Tifa said and caught her breath. "Plus, you never heard a prince got saved by the princess right? It'll drop your ego to zero," she added and Cloud just rolled his eyes in pure annoyance.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cloud looked at the brunette who was moving around the kitchen, cleaning up the dishes and clearing everything. He had a favor to ask her. The song that she helped him to make sounded weird when he sang it. That was what Vincent said when they practiced it.
They were supposed to perform that song and the song that Zack made on Shinra's anniversary. So far, only Zack's song got approval from his band members. Cloud didn't know which part of the song didn't fit his voice.
And Vincent was the one who came up with the idea of asking Tifa to sing the song for that night. He even got the permission from Rufus to let a female to sing that night. It was supposed to be a surprise for the audience. The rest of AVALANCHE also agreed with Vincent.
Now, it was his turn to do his part, ask Tifa if she could help him. Yuffie was supposed to come over to help him persuaded her but Yuffie was late for 15 minutes now.
Then, the bell rang. "I thought she's never going to come," Cloud murmured as he went to the door. "Sorry Cloud! I had a last minute arrangement with that anniversary thing!" Yuffie apologized as she made a guilty look.
Behind her were Vincent, Cid and even Zack. They all showed up to help him? "We thought you might need some back up to convince her," Zack grinned as he entered the house.
"Yeah, we can't let you mess up the plan. I can't stand hearing you sing that song," Cid said bluntly but then he let out a grin. Cloud just made a 'I-don't-care' face.
"So, where is she?" Yuffie asked as her eyes glittered up. Cloud pointed to the kitchen. All of them made their way to the kitchen. "Stop following me. The kitchen is small. You people go and wait in the living room. I'll drag her there," Yuffie said a little irritated as Zack stepped on her foot.
"Puff…fine," Zack said and he retreated to the living room.
The guys waited at the living room nervously. Cloud was pacing around the room. 'What if she refused?' He didn't have any back up plan. That would mean he had to come up with another song. He scratched his head.
Then, from the kitchen, "Heh!? You gotta be kidding me!" All heads turned towards that direction, silently prayed that Yuffie would come out in one piece.
"It won't be that bad," Yuffie's voice was heard trying to persuade Tifa. Then, there was silence once again. Their voices became louder as they approached the living room. "That's not possible. Plus, I have stage fright. I won't be able to do it," Tifa tried to find excuses.
As they entered the living room, Tifa was shocked to find AVALANCHE was there. "Everyone," she gasped. They were serious about inviting her to sing at the Shinra's anniversary.
4 pairs of eyes were set on her. "Please Tifa!" Zack rose from his seat and made his way to her. "It's an important event for us!" Zack added. Tifa felt bad at the moment to refuse the offer. She looked uncomfortable at the moment.
"I know I'm bad at this but I really need your help right now," Cid added in a serious tone that added more guilt to her. She looked at Yuffie, who already made a begging face.
"Yeah, they will decide whether we should be recording an album based on our performance that night," Vincent who had always been quiet said. "I don't know. I never sing on a stage before and I always mess up things when I'm on stage," Tifa warned them.
"That's all right. They'll back you up. And we'll have practice session before the event," Yuffie said in a convincing voice that almost made Tifa said yes.
"And you'll get paid handsomely if you perform well," Zack added. Tifa looked around. She was a bit shy with the thought of people watching her on stage.
"Plus, it's a masquerade party. People won't see your face," Zack said and Tifa looked at each of them.
"I'll try my best," Tifa said in a low voice but was replied with a tight hug from Yuffie and a loud, "We're saved!" from Zack.
And the one who was supposed to convince her to agree never said a word. He just watched from his corner.