"What Would I Be Without You"
-Kawaii Hana-
DISCLAIMER:
I don't own anything from FF8. Too bad... I would have made a direct sequel from it, though... (Ehehehehe...)
NOTE TO READERS:
- Italic – - represents thoughts
(Italic) – don't mind them
Bold – "emphasized" words
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Chapter 5: Before the Trip...
Tick-tock...Tick-tock...Tick-tock...
As the clock ticked and ticked, he shut his eyes even harder, trying to get some sleep. Only getting to sleep from 10:30 pm to 3:30 am, Seifer could only toss and turn around his bed... endlessly.
And now only up to 5 minutes before 5:00 where his alarm clock was set up to ring, Seifer could only, of course, mutter something about insomnia and sleeping pills.
4 minutes left...
- Damn it! Why did have to be this way...? – The clock ticked and ticked... as his muttering grew louder and louder... – Why did it have to be the Instructor!? Why did have to be at this time... –
3 minutes left...
- Why do I need to take this exam... with her...!? Now, I know I'm going to fail this one... AGAIN! –
2 minutes left...
- Damn it! Why can't I fall asleep for just one minute!!!? -
1 minute left...
The blonde SeeD Cadet opened his eyes finally after failed attempts to fall asleep again. He had his right arm on top his of forehead. He stared deeply at the ceiling. He sighed, trying to calm down...
30 seconds left...
- Hmph! What am I doing? No matter how I ignore or run away from it... It still comes back... I can't run away... It will only prove that I'm a coward... a 'little boy'... –
He recalled those words where the once-possessed Edea said to him...
10 seconds left...
Maybe... Squall was right... He had to face reality... To be given a second chance is to go through the same thing again... And this time, he had to make right...
5 seconds left...
Seifer got up from bed and stretched... It's about time that he should get serious... The mission will start tomorrow, after all...
3... 2... 1...
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Krrriiinnngg!
Quistis slowly opened her eyes... She sat up and stretched. Calmly, she slipped on her flip-flops and rubbed her eyes...
She looked at the calendar. Okay... Today's the day she has been waiting for... A mission... But it felt more like grading another student...
Turning off her alarm, she smiled. She suddenly brought to mind about her first memories as SeeD... She recalled the time about her very first mission as SeeD. It was only about 5 minutes before her alarm would go off and well, she has been trying to keep her eyes shut or cover her head with a pillow just to get one more minute of sleep... But, of course, that didn't happen...
But, ever since that, the youngest to ever become SeeD finally learned to get up from with or without her alarm clock sounding off... That was three years ago...
Quistis soon got her bathrobe and towel and proceeded to her bathroom. After all, she doesn't want to be late...
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It has been one week since the group had done their 'secret photo-taking' session. As some, especially Zell, enjoyed their little 'get-together' bonding while there were certain two who have been ignoring each other ever since...
This worried the others... as they might have brought them farther away than what they are now... If only someone would have the nerve to break the ice between them...
And of all people who actually took the initiative to talk... it had to be... Seifer...
Yes, you have read it right... It was actually Seifer who called for Quistis and the both of them were both seen chatting as they sat on one of the Cafeteria tables. This strange phenomenon caused the Garden to erupt with gossips and onlookers. In fact, the Garden had never been in this romance craze ever since everyone found out that the Loner Wolf Commander actually had a girlfriend!!! Seifer had actually beaten Squall in that category!
This news spread like the wildfire through out Garden and eventually to the ears of...
"Selphie... Good morning!" The blonde Seed greeted as they both left the Dormitory and proceeded towards the Cafeteria to eat.
"G'morning, Quisty... I can't believe it has been a week! You are going out to the world again, kicking butt!" Selphie said excitedly.
"Well, one could say I'm excited... and another could say that I'm not!" She said sarcastically.
"Huh?" Selphie looked at her friend skeptically. "Oh... yeah... Seifer..." Then suddenly, Selphie giggled with her hand covering her mouth.
"Now what!?"
"Awwwww ...Come on, Quisty... Everybody in Garden saw it!" She poked her friend playfully.
"Huh...?"
"We saw you and Seifer chatting the other day. You guys are most talked couple since Squall and Rinoa's romance craze two months ago!"
"What! Why would they assume that when... we don't exactly get along?" Quistis defended.
"C'mon... You guys were in that cafeteria for like two hours..." Selphie said.
"Selphie... We weren't chatting... We were discussing... Since Seifer is the appointed leader, he was the one who talked to me... so as that we know what to do when we get to Winhill." The blonde SeeD explained.
"What? Aww, man!" The brunette stomped her feet lightly, snapping her fingers.
"Ok... Why do you sound disappointed?" She looked at her friend skeptically...
"Err... Oh come on... You know me... Always in to the latest gossip, right?" Her face changed back to its ever jolly side.
"Hmph... OK... C'mon let's eat... Seifer scheduled our leave at 7:30 PM..." And with that, Selphie and Quistis had already arrived at the counter of the Cafeteria.
"Your order, Ms. Trepe?" The woman behind the counter asked.
"Bacon and eggs as usual..." Quistis answered and she was given her order.
"Me too!" Selphie said. And both girls sat on a vacant table.
And so, the girls ate their breakfast. There were also other students, cadets, and SeeDs doing their normal routines around the Cafeteria.
"So, what were the things you discussed about!? How did he call you? Trepe or Instructor?" Selphie began...again... Well, she won't just stay put now, wouldn't she?
"You see... This happened about yesterday, right? Ever since our little 'photo' session, we have been... ignoring each other..." Quistis began her story.
"Duh... We were worried sick that you guys would forfeit the mission! So... Come on! Tell me how he approached you..." Selphie once again begged in her excitement.
"I was going to my dorm. Since, I couldn't do anything... And then, I heard a deep voice, he said: 'Trepe... we need to talk...' I asked about what. He responded with 'SeeD work'. He led me to cafeteria... and there... We planned about the whole mission, based on the briefing and the Intel we got from Squall... I was taken by mere seriousness too, you know?" Quistis finished.
"Whoa... that's one side of Seifer I did not know ever existed. Hey, maybe he thought he should take this seriously because this is his last chance to become SeeD..." The cheerful girl assumed.
"Well, thank Hyne for that! I was real impressed, though. When we both were discussing, he listens to my ideas and he expresses his carefully, too. In fact, he already had an overall plan before he came to talk to me... He just asked me of how think about it. And I said it was real good." The blonde SeeD recalls.
"Really!? If he ever makes it to SeeD, I'd love to be working with him... Geez, he sounds like Squall nowadays... The ever workaholic!" Selphie commented. "But, have you guys discussed on this pretend-to-be-married' thing?"
"Errr...welll that is one topic we kept on ignoring... Ehehe..." The blonde sweatdropped.
"What!? But you guys are in an undercover mission. Of all the stuff you and Seifer talked about, that should be the first one on the list!" Selphie supposed.
"Yes, I'm aware of that Selphie... But, well with the wedding picture and the wedding rings, I'm sure that'll convince the people."
"Oh well... good luck!" And with that, both girls have finished their food. They left the Cafeteria to meet up with their other friends. And yes, Rinoa had gone for Timber two days after their little fun, although, she calls them pretty often for little updates.
Just as Quistis and Selphie were heading towards the elevator for Squall's office, a group of five students suddenly barged in their way. It was a group consisting of three female and two males
"Hi, Instructor Trepe! We missed you in class! Good luck for your mission!" A black short haired girl spoke up. She seemed to be the leader as well.
"Uh...Hi, Kate Ganerwood... What's up?" Quistis asked. Calling her instructor in a decent way makes this group the...
"Oh hi, Trepies!" Selphie greeted. "Errr... what were your names again?"
Suddenly, the group formed a triangle formation. Kate was on the front and then shouted in a pep kind of talk.
Alright, Trepies! C'mon let's go!
She wanna know who we are
Let's get to the cheering we got so far!
Alright!
My name's Kate. And I'm the leader.
I started this group with pride and honor!
As weird as it may seem, Quistis and Selphie watched with their mouths agape... Then, Kate changed places with another girl who was a little shorter and had long dark brown hair tied in a ponytail.
Next in the line is M-E-G
All I can say is I'm proud to be a Trepie!
Meg's the name but Ms. Trepe got the fame!
Yeah!
- Nice rhyme... – Selphie thought. Just then, another girl came to change places. Her height and some parts of her uniform can state that she is the youngest of the group. This time, she has blonde hair and was tied just like how Quistis does it.
I may be new! I may be young!
But joining this club was never wrong!
My name is Natalie... And I'm the newbie!
Go! Go! Trepies!
Next up was a dark haired guy who seemed to have the tallest rank in the class. Selphie recalls that he was the student used to be the top notcher in class. But, because he got infatuated by Quistis, well, his grades went down...
Craig's the name and Quistis's my dame!
I may be down... But I'm high when I see you
The Trepies rock! This statement's true!
Selphie looked at the Quistis carefully. She caught her mutter something like: "Oh for the love of Hyne... I thought he was already through with me..."
The last guy was yet another brown haired man. He was the last one to go.
Yo! Yo! Instructor
It's with great honor
To meet you... up close and personal
Full name's Ricqard L. Monétal...
But the nick is Rick!
I admire you... And that would be it...!
And finally, after long last, the Trepies formed a straight horizontal line and bowed...
"So, Instructor Trepe... Did you like it!?" Kate was the first one to ask.
"It's quite flattering... Trepies..." That was all the blonde could say. Just then, a round of applause came from Selphie. "You guys are G-R-E-A-T!!! I wish I have my own fan club... But... hey... Can I join you, though...?"
"Ermm... Selphie? I believe one of their rules requires their members to be Garden students, junior classmen or SeeD cadets...only." Quistis replied.
"Aww... really? That's too bad. I wish I was here a little sooner..." Selphie as she looked at the five people. "So, you're Kate... Meg... Natalie... Craig... and Rick!"
"Yes!" Kate said. "Oh, Instructor Trepe..."
"Please... I'm no longer an instructor. You can all me by my first name, Quistis or... Ms. Trepe... Whichever you guys prefer..."
"Ermm... Quistis..." Kate tried again. "Is it true that you and Seifer are...?"
"No! No! No! We are not what you think you are..." Quistis defended quickly. And for some strange reason, each member looked relieved... especially Craig.
"Well, why were you chatting at the Cafeteria the other day...?" It was Meg's turn to ask.
"We were discussing about the mission..." Quistis was interrupted...
"Mission!? Almasy's a SeeD already?" Rick reacted pretty badly. "But, he's like my classmate and Squall, too... Why...?"
"He's taking a special SeeD exam... What makes this special is that it's a mission with a real SeeD. But, he's the leader and I'm just there to support him... We were just discussing about our objectives and other related matters..." She explained. (Is it just me... or Quisty's acting too professional...?)
"What mission is that, Ms. Trepe?" The youngest member, Natalie, was the one who inquired next.
"Oh, sorry... It's an undercover type of mission. Only the Commander knows and the two of us..." Quistis said.
"W-what!? Just the two of you in the mission!" Craig got startled.
"Uh, duh... She's the evaluator... He's the examinee! That makes complete sense... It's like a one-on-one performance evaluation..." Selphie said. Just then, the P.A. system was heard all across the Garden.
"Quistis Trepe... You are urgently needed in the Commander's room. I repeat: Quistis Trepe... You are urgently needed in the Commander's room." A deep voice sounded off. Of course, Balamb Garden has come to know that the voice belongs to Squall Leonhart.
"Oops... Um, guys... Selphie and I have to go..." Quistis said. "See you soon!"
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Meanwhile... During Quistis and Selphie's breakfast at the Cafeteria, somebody didn't have any mood to eat. ..
"Hey, Seifer... This is the big day, ya know! You got to eat, ya know..." The unmistakable Raijin told his friend for the umpteenth time.
"EAT..." That was all our Fuujin can say.
Seifer looked at Fuujin's reflection on his mirror. Ever since, they had left the Lunatic Pandora and he had regained possession of his mind, the silver haired girl was back into her old Laconic speaking self... Her voice was like a normal one when she pleaded him to go back to the good side. And now, it's as if nothing ever happened... Weird...
"Look, guys... I already ate something last night. I'm not feeling hungry either. So, please, stop bugging me around!" Seifer said.
"Aww...c'mon, Seifer, my man! You're just anxious about your 1st mission with the Instructor, ya know..." Raijin actually had the nerve to tease his friend. "Just pretending to married is a big deal, I guess..."
Seifer looked at Rai with a startled look. "Hey, how'd you know about the undercover mission? Only Squall and his 'team' know that...?"
"Let's just say we were involved too, ya know..." Raijin replied.
"Then what did you guys do?" Seifer asked.
"...SECURITY..." Another short reply came out from Fuujin.
"Huh?"
"Have you ever wondered why there was no one else but you and the others in the 3rd floor...? We shut down the elevator and guarded both of the lower floors from there, ya know?" Raijin answered back. "That was like our contribution, ya know..."
"Oh, really... How come you guys just mentioned it today?" Seifer inquired again.
"SCARED... KEPT IGNORING... INSTRUCTOR..." Fuujin said. (She meant: "It's because you two were ignoring each other... We got scared you might blow a fuse when we bring up the topic...")
"Oh... that? Err... well... We talked just yesterday, right? We're in good terms... Except for the 'marriage part', that is..." Seifer replied with a sheepish grin.
Soon, the trio decided to get out of Seifer's dorm and... Well... do whatever they want. The trio had long abandoned their Disciplinary Committee duties as they never did anything at all and stuck to being just the normal students...
"So, Rai... Fuu... When are you guys planning to take the SeeD exam?" Seifer asked as they walked.
"NEXT YEAR..." Fuujin replied.
"Maybe next year's SeeD Field exam, ya know..." Raijin said. "But, where are you gonna be...?"
"Hmph! I guess... Maybe I'll be your SeeD-in-charge! Damn... I don't want to see Rai experiencing his Mild Anxiety in a middle of a fight." Seifer commented, throwing a laugh and joined by his friends...
It was soon there that a certain group of five people came in their way... Intentionally, the leader hit his shoulder as she passed by Seifer.
"Oops! Oh, sorry... I guess I didn't see you..." She said in a sarcastic tone. With that, she and her group still kept on.
A certain former top notcher looked at Seifer in a scornful way that Seifer didn't even know why... But the last one came in with her friends and looked at the trio with an apologetic stare. She had blonde hair tied up in a pin. She mouthed in a 'sorry' unbeknownst to the rest of her friends...
"Hey, Trepies..." The leading girl called her group mates' attention. "There's our idol...! Let's go and say and wish her good luck!!! From the situation though, she's gonna need all the luck she can get!" She said, emphasizing the last sentence as she eyed at Seifer in a split second.
As Seifer looked at the group walk away... His gigantic friend asked, "So, still have any mood to eat then, Seifer?"
"No... It's almost 7:30... I should be at the Commander's room now... C'mon let's go..." Seifer said... His head had hung low as he walked. His joking spirit had vanished.
- Hmph! I'll show this stupid fan club! They'll soon be under my charge... – He thought as the trio moved in the elevator...
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"Seifer... Is there something wrong?" His deep super-serious voice intercepted his unusual silence.
The blonde looked up and nodded. "Fine... When is the Instructor coming, anyway?"
"For the last time Seifer, I'm not an Instructor..." Her voice was heard in the room as she entered the door.
"Good, both of you came just in time." Squall declared as he took out the brown envelope he had showed them one week ago... "You guys might need this, then..."
As the leader, Seifer took the envelope.
"OK... From what the both of you discussed and planned, you are going to need a moving team to get some of the borrowed appliances and furniture to your home in Winhill... For that, I have asked Zell, Selphie, and Irvine to do the job since their mission is located somewhere in the Galbadian Continent. You also asked for a train tickets and... Here..." Squall began to elaborate his last minute specifications. It was Quistis who took the tickets.
"A SeeD cadet team from Galbadia Garden had been informed of your upcoming arrival and will do their best to help you move in. They were the ones in watching over Winhill from the monsters still found in the town. This mission requires you not to fight. So it's better if you don't expose your weapons. Use them when it is very necessary. The same goes with the Items... Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes sir." Both replied.
"Good... OK... You guys can go. The moving van with Zell and co. is waiting for you outside of Garden. Good luck..." Squall said finally and both the two of them left the office...
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"Hey, Rai... Fuu! It's time! I have to leave. Take care." Seifer said as he was about to leave the main gate.
"Almasy, wait up!" A female voice was heard.
He turned around and to his surprise... It was Xu...
"Xu?"
"Well, as the second-in-command of Squall, I'm pretty much aware of what's going on... And... Well, I just came here to say: good luck!"
Seifer's eyes widened up for a moment. How many more surprises is there to come...?
"Uh... Thanks. I'll do my best..." He answered back, sort of a forced statement.
"Good then. I sure hope I'll see good results when the two of you return. Well, I gotta go... There are like tons of paperwork waiting for me..." With that, the brunette SeeD left and re-entered the Garden.
Just outside the Garden, as what Squall said earlier, was a large moving van parked in front. Zell, Selphie, and Irvine were uniforms so as not to be recognized.
"Well then, let's go..." Seifer said as he got in the van first. The others followed soon after. The vehicle soon kicked off its engine and headed towards the Balamb Station...
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Tick-tock... Tick-tock...
Time runs one tick at time. It has been doing it since the beginning... And still doing it now... Time changes places, people, and almost everything...
It's only mere hours away till Seifer and Quistis will be left alone in the little hick town of Winhill... For once, could they have settled their differences and proceed with the mission effectively?
Maybe yes... Maybe no... Only Time knows...
Tick-tock... Tick-tock...
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AUTHOR'S HERE AGAIN!
Okaaayy... I know what you guys are thinking: "Why didn't she continue up to the point they are going to live out their 'pretend' marriage...? I've been waiting for so damn long! "
Ehehehehe... Yes, I apologize... You see I was going to continue up to that point... But, considering I have inserted the Trepies, I realized this is goin' to be the longest chapter ever made in my writing experience...
That was why I had to cliffhang here a bit... What's more? I'm still waiting for new reviewers... Not that, I'm bored with loyal reviewer... In fact, I love all of them! (Thanks for waiting for this story...)
Don't you guys worry... The next chapter's going to be uploaded soon... We had no classes in school lately because of the sports intramurals, the prom and well... yeah... the quiz bees...
And oh yeah... this late update is partly due to my ever- annoying return of Writer's block! If you want your voice to be heard, please do give me a suggestion or two in your reviews, kay?
That's about it! Thanks for reading...
SAYONARA!