CHAPTER 15

Tifa looked around the new cleaned place around her in satisfaction. She had finally managed to find a small place that was left for a long time. It was a shop house lot and she somehow got a very affordable price for it.

It was located in Edge, just on the outskirt of Midgar. She knew she told them she would go far but this was the farthest she could go.

She turned to the blonde girl beside her with a huge grin, "We made it Elena!" Elena just nodded and returned her smile. They met each other after Tifa left Cloud's apartment. While searching for a place, Tifa came across her who was working at a family restaurant.

Tifa didn't tell Elena what exactly happened between her and Cloud nor did she ever mention about meeting him here. Tifa only told her that she was looking for a place and Elena took her in for some time.

Then, when Tifa managed to find this place, Tifa told her about her plan of opening a small bar because it had been her dream to manage one. Elena gladly quitted her low-paid job to help Tifa set up the business.

It was risky but that was the Nibelheim spirit. Another person who they came across while finding a supplier for the bar's raw material was Johnny. He was also from Nibelheim but he was working at the local supermarket.

Sometimes he would drop by to see if there was anything he could help around the bar. Tifa was happy to meet her friends back and was even more ecstatic when they offered some help.

"So, what are you gonna call this place?" Elena asked as she looked around the completed bar, unable to hid her joy. Tifa bit her lower lips. She had thought about some names but only one seemed to be right to her.

"I have one suggestion but don't laugh when you hear it okay?" Tifa asked. Elena just nodded and turned to face her ex-schoolmate. "Seventh Heaven," Tifa said and it made Elena's face ceased.

"Seventh Heaven?" Elena repeated and Tifa nodded. "It sounds good to me," Elena's smile melted Tifa's worry. "Then Seventh Heaven it is!"

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"That's it AVALANCHE, the world tour plan. We'll start the first concert here in Midgar and the last one at Edge," the tour planner concluded their meeting.

Cloud just nodded and rose from his seat, following the manager's lead from his back.

"After this we got practice, so be back after lunch," Yuffie reminded them. All of them just nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm so hungry! Let's grab a bite!" Zack announced as he stretched his back.

"Yeah, I know there's a new restaurant where the waitresses are all good looking. Wanna pay a visit?" Cid suggested. "Oh really? Where? Count me in!" Zack's eyes shone. Vincent just shrugged and said, "I don't mind as long as we get to eat."

They all waited for Cloud to respond. Cloud turned, "You guys go ahead. I got something to talk about with the manager," and he went out of the room.

Yuffie just looked past him worriedly. It had almost been two years since that happened. Even they had released their album and now planning for their world tour concert. Although Cloud said he was alright and he knew he made the right decision, but sometimes, Yuffie saw regret and disappointment in his eyes.

And ever since then, it had always been work, work and more work. He hadn't taken a single day leave for two years. Everyone knew he was trying his best not to let his emotion became a hindrance in their works and they all respected him for that.

Although Zack was the leader in AVALANNCHE, it seemed like Cloud was doing more work than he was. It was obviously to distract himself from thinking too much.

Cloud closed the door behind him as he sat on the couch in the waiting room. There was no one else in the room and he was thankful for that. He leaned back and blew out his breath. They all gave him the same look again.

He pretended her didn't notice but hell, even a cat would notice that. How long had it been? 1 year? No, more than 2 years already. He didn't know why it was hard for him to let go of the memory. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled something out.

It was her cell phone. He just stared at it and although no one used it anymore, he always charged it just to make sure it would stay beside him. He knew he was being an idiot for acting the way he was but emotions weren't something that he could control.

He held the phone in his hand tightly.

Regret was clearly reflected in his eyes. If only he was brave enough to stand for what he really wanted to 2 years ago, maybe she would have stayed beside him now. But he was much of a coward. Just because he didn't want to let his band members down, he let her go.

In the end, he was the one who suffered for he thought was the right decision. He knew Zack, Vincent, Cid and even Yuffie felt guilty for not supporting him back then. He didn't blame them, because he never relied on them and never would be.

He closed his eyes but he quickly opened them as he knew where would this ended. He got up on his feet and shook his head. He blew out his breath quickly and shoved the phone back into his pocket

"That's why I need to work," he said to himself and left the room.

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"Elena, table 2!" Tifa called from behind the bar as she placed the order on the top of the counter. "I'm on it!" Elena replied as she took the order. It was only their third day of business and so far, they got so many customers, thanks to Johnny's advertisement.

"Tifa! I've come with the supply!" Johnny's voice was heard from the back. "Thanks Johnny! Sorry to make you come all the way from the supermarket," Tifa replied.

Johnny poked his head into the bar and raised his brows in amazement. Although there were only the two of them running the bar, they seemed to be quite excellent in it. "You can go back now. I'll drop by your store after things slow down a little," Tifa said as she saw Johnny.

"Ack that was cold!" he said pretended to sound hurt. Tifa laughed a little at this. "I told my boss I was going to help around here for a while," Johnny said as he took an apron that was hung on the wall and put it on without being asked.

"Oh… that's so sweet," Elena who had just arrived at the counter said in a lovable voice. "Now, help me out with the orders will you," her voice suddenly changed as she took the orders and walked away to give them to the customer.

"Yeah yeah! I'm on it!" Johnny said as he swiftly took 3 plates of order and marched his way to the customers.

Tifa smiled at this while her hands didn't stop moving from making the dishes that were ordered by the customers.

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It was almost midnight and the bar was closed. The three friends from Nibelheim were sitting and chatting casually about the day. "I'm so tired!" Johnny said as he drank his drink in one gulp.

"But it sure is satisfying," Tifa said as she stretched herself. Elena agreed, "Better than anything else," she added.

Johnny looked at the two girls and suddenly remembered something. "Hey you girls know that AVALANCHE is coming to town?" he asked out of the blue. Upon hearing the name, Tifa almost choked her drink and she coughed.

"What?" her voice was hoarse. "AVALANCHE is coming to town. For their around the world tour," Johnny replied. "Really?" Elena asked sounded almost uninterested.

"What's with that attitude?" Johnny looked at her in horror. "All the girls in town are crazy about it. And that is the best you can do?" Johnny said. Elena just blew out her breath.

"Come on. There's our senior in it. So far, it seems like he hadn't changed one bit since the last time I met him," Elena said. Johnny just nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, but I like their music. So much energy and I always listen to their album," Johnny said back, not wanting to retreat. "Yeah sure," Elena said, not caring.

Johnny just let out a sigh. "Come to think of it, he was quite close to you back then, right Tifa?" Elena wanted to change the subject. Tifa who was occupied with her thoughts snapped back, "Who?"

"Cloud, he always walked behind you every time we finished school. No matter how late we were," Elena recalled. She noticed that Cloud had always waited for them, although not directly, to go back home.

At first, she thought she was over thinking about it but when the night where they were extremely late because of preparing for the school festival, she realized the truth. Cloud wasn't keen in involving in the school activities, so Elena did some investigation on him.

It was true, he didn't take part in his class preparation and it was particularly strange for him to wait that late at school by himself. That was when she knew the truth. He was waiting for Tifa. Elena and Tifa always went home late and the way to Tifa's house was slightly darker and longer than her own.

He was being her guardian without her realizing it. Maybe he was afraid to say anything. Tifa herself had several times confessed to her that she had never been asked on a date. It shocked Elena at first because Elena admitted that she was pretty and attractive. But somehow, boys were afraid at her because of she was independent, maybe too independent.

"That's simply because their houses were on the same direction," Johnny replied since Tifa decided not to say anything. "Well, you live in the same direction too. Have you ever waited for her?" Elena asked him back.

Johnny just shrugged. "Anyway, this topic is not fun!" Johnny announced and it made Tifa glad. She didn't want to think about it at the moment, not when she had just managed to suppress her feelings.

"It's nice that you girls managed to make your dreams come true. I have a dream but so far, I haven't been able to work towards it," Johnny said. It made the girls looked at him. "Really, what is it?" Tifa asked.

"Well, seeing the Shinra Company had been successful, I'm inspired to open a talent agency just like they did," Johnny started. "Talent agency?" Elena asked.

Johnny rose from his seat, "Yup, not just to find talents but also to make the stars shine!"

Tifa and Elena just waited for him to continue. "And in that company, we will train young boys to sing and dance to produce the most amazing young artists in history. I will be the world famous Johnny!" He said full in enthusiasm.

"Wow," the girls just gasped. "And someday, we will make everyone from the North, East, West and South to gather under one name. Also, the name of this amazing company is Johnny's Entertainment!" Johnny spoke at a very high and proud voice.

"So, what do you think?" Johnny returned to his old self and waited for the girls to respond.

The girls looked at each other and said, "Don't forget to bring your boys to eat here when you are successful! We're looking forward to it!"

A/N – and that's how Johnny's Entertainment started… just kidding! I just wanted to 'unleash my imagination'…