Chapter 22

Author's note: Advance Happy New Year everyone... Here's another chapter... hope you liked it. Thanks again for the reviews... =3

Tifa got surprised when the other line hangs up. She pouted, "He even didn't say goodbye."

At that moment, the door opened. Tifa quickly went to the counter to serve the customers who just came.

"Good afternoon," she bowed at them. When she raised her head, she was taken aback whom she saw. It was Rufus and Reno. Rufus waved at her while smiling.

"Hi, Tifa!" Reno smiled warmly.

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Rufus asked Tifa to eat with him at the café, but she refused to, at first. But, Yuffie told her that it's okay and she'll just take in charge in the café. Reno gladly helped her.

Yuffie put two coffees on Rufus and Tifa's table, "Enjoy!" she giggled before returning to the counter.

Reno was sitting on the floor and kept on looking at the cakes in the window shelf.

"What are you doing there?" Yuffie sat beside Reno.

"I'm looking at the cakes… They look delicious… All of them," he licked his upper lip.

"They are," she giggled, "Do you want to try some?"

Reno looked at her, his eyes twinkling, "Really? Can I?"

She nodded, "Of course! But, right after we finished our duty for today, okay?" she grinned.

He nodded many times, "Okay!"

Then, customers came in the café. Reno stood up and braced himself to serve the customers.

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Rufus sipped his coffee, "It's really good," he smiled and looked at Tifa. Tifa was just looking at the window, pouting. He waved his hands in front of her. She blinked a couple of times and looked at him.

"Hm?" was all she could say to him.

"Is something bothering you?" he looked worried.

She shook her head, "I am just thinking of…"

"Of?"

She pouted again, "Is Cloud alright now?" she looked up at him.

Rufus frowned a little when he heard Cloud's name came out of her mouth, but then, his eyebrows met, "What do you mean?"

"He is sick, right?" she sipped her coffee.

He was taken aback a little, "Really? I didn't know… and I left the house early." Maybe Reno forgot to tell him about Cloud's condition since they agree to meet at outside the cafe because he has to buy a watch and leave the house early.

Tifa just nodded, not knowing what she should say anymore. She sipped again her coffee.

"Tifa…" Rufus suddenly said while playing with the napkins on the table.

Tifa looked up at him. "Do you like Cloud?" he blurted out. Tifa suddenly coughed while sipping her coffee. Rufus went to her side and patted her back, "Are you alright?"

She nodded and cleared her throat. She looked at Rufus with a smile on her face, "What are you saying? Cloud is my friend… Just like you," she giggled and shook her head.

Rufus, feeling embarrassed, went back to his seat. 'Just like you…' he thought and sighed secretly, 'In the first place, why did you ask that to her? Stupid,!' Rufus cursed himself inside.

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After for so many hours, Yuffie and "Reno's" duty were almost done.

"Yay! We're just going to clean this place and boom! I'm going to eat delicious cakes!" Reno threw his arms on the air.

Yuffie giggled and pinched his cheek, "Alright… Let's start cleaning now so you can eat your delicious cakes."

Reno nodded and started mopping the floor.

Rufus and Tifa just kept on talking. While they're laughing, Rufus' phone beeped.

"I wish you brought Vincent here, too." It was Yuffie's message.

Rufus chortled and looked at Yuffie while she was cleaning up the tables.

"Next time… I'll bring him here." he replied and put his phone on the table.

Tifa sighed and looked at her watch and it was 5:45 in the evening. It was still early.

"Rufus…" she smiled at him.

He smiled back, "Yes?"

"Can I… Can I go to your house today?" she looked down.

Rufus leaned closer to her, "Why?"

She scratched her head, "I just want to visit Cloud. I want to know if he's alright…"

Rufus' heart fell. He nodded, "Sure…"

"Really? Thank you!" she smiled, "Should we get some soup for him? Maybe he needs that…" she crossed her arms, thinking what they will give to him.

Rufus sighed and looked down. He clutched his left chest. It hurts seeing Tifa kept on talking about Cloud. Seeing her very worried about him hurts him so much. He thought that if he was in Cloud's place, would she get worried about like that to him, as well?

"Rufus… Are you listening to me?" she tilted her head sideward.

Rufus looked at her, "I am," he flashed a smile, "So… I was just thinking… Should we let Yuffie come with us, as well?"

Tifa looked at Yuffie who was talking and laughing with Reno, "That'll be a good idea," she grinned. He grinned back.

"But… Is that okay to everyone?" she pouted.

"It will… Don't worry. They'll be happy to see you, guys," he gave her a sweet smile. Tifa smiled to him.

'What should I bring for Cloud? I hope his okay now. I hope it's not serious' Tifa thought to herself as she smiled to Rufus.

After half an hour, Yuffie and Reno were done cleaning the café. And, right before they left the place, she gave him plenty different slices of cakes. Rufus also told Yuffie that she should come over to their house. At first, Yuffie declined, but after Rufus said Vincent's name, she agreed already.

Right after they left the café, Tifa bought a soup for Cloud which made Rufus jealous. Reno pouted in front of her. She looked at him, wide eyes.

"What is it?" she smiled.

"I'm jealous, Tifa…" Reno kept on pouting.

"Jealous?" she blinked her eyes.

He nodded, "You bought soup for Cloud ONLY. You care for him so much. You want to go to our house to check up on him. I am very jealous," he crossed his arms.

Tifa giggled a little and patted his head that made Reno's face turned a little shade of red, "Of course, I care about him. He is my friend…" she smiled and sighed, 'I think it's really my fault why he got sick anyway…'

"So… If I got sick, you'll buy soup for me, as well? And, you'll come to our house just for me, to take care of me?" Reno's eyes were twinkling.

She giggled once more and nodded, "Of course! You are my friend, I will surely do that."

"Yay!" he held her arm. Rufus saw that and really felt jealous.

Yuffie nudged Rufus chest, "Are you okay?"

Rufus pouted, "Do you think I am? Look at Reno…" he whispered, "He can hold her arm... And, he can say in front of her face that he is jealous…" he heaved a sigh.

"So, what's your point now, mister? You can't do that to her?" she smirked a bit.

"That's my point…" he took a glance of Tifa smiling because of Reno.

Yuffie thought hard for a minute and looked at Rufus, "Say… Do you still remember what you did to Tifa when you first saw her?" she tapped her chin using her right index finger.

Rufus looked at her, curious.

"Don't tell me you forgot about it?" she shook his arm.

He scratched his head and thought hard, "Ah!" he turned red.

She giggled, "You remember now?"

He closed his eyes, feeling embarrassed, "Don't make me remember that, please?" his face was still red.

Yuffie pinched his cheek, "So cute… Well, you have courage that time, right? What did you do that time to her again? You just gave her a tip and…"

Rufus covered her mouth, "Stop it, okay? I want to forget about it," he looked down.

She removed his hand quickly, "But, why? It's cute, you know… What you did to her that time is very, very cute. 'I'll visit this place more often just to see you'. Still remember that line, Rufus~?" she said teasingly and grinned.

He rubbed his cheek, "Yeah…"

"So cute…" she pinched his cheeks once more, "See? You have courage that time. And, I know that you can do that to her once more. Don't be shy to her…" she grinned. Rufus smiled and just nodded.

"Hey… Let's go now!" Reno said.

"Coming!" Yuffie said and pulled Rufus arm.

Rufus looked at Tifa once more, 'I wonder why I can't do that thing anymore. I feel embarrass whenever you're around.'

That time only one thing revolves around Tifa's mind... 'I hope he's alright and what will he say when he saw her today... and that.. I want to take care of him' as that thought crosses her mind, she hit her head playfully and thought 'It's because I'm partly responsible for it! It's my fault for his cold!'

Yuffie notices Tifa's action and asked her, "You okay?". Tifa looked at her and smiled "Yes. I'm just thinking."

Yuffie heave a sigh as she realizes something about Tifa. Since morning Tifa's looking at her phone intently like she's waiting for someone to text or call then after Cloud's call she looks so distracted even while talking to Rufus. Maybe Tifa...