Chapter…TWO!

Cloud and Aeris stared at each other, while people are drinking, talking and laughing around them. But to them, only what was in front of each of them is important. Everything else doesn’t matter.

It was after sometime that they realized that some people are looking at them already. The two quietly walked away from the crowd, headed to the backdoor and went out to the alley.

The alley was quiet, and very cold too. Nobody else is at the alley and now the two are alone. Cloud couldn’t help to look at Aeris. She wasn’t the flower girl that wore the pink dress and carry a staff wherever she go. She was now wearing a black pinafore and a white blouse in it, her hair covered with a cloth. But still, she is as attractive as ever. She is still an angel with her smile, and her sorrow face make people’s heart squeal. Her eyes still have that kind and gentle touch, and the way she walked and talked still became the dream of many young men. A truly beautiful girl will remain beautiful, no matter however she dresses.

“So, how you ended up here? I thought you work as a clerk after they…uh…removed you.”

Aeris’s death in the game. What a grief. It seems that characters have to died in each Final Fantasy game. This goes for Final Fantasy 7 too. It makes the game more dramatic, though there are rumour that the script writer wants to conceive a message through this. Anyway, they chose Aeris, since she is one of the character most people loved. After they ‘killed’ her, Aeris started looking for another job to support her living. From what Cloud last heard, she was working as a clerk. But now, she was just a waitress dress in uniform.

“That job doesn’t suit me. The pay is quite low. As for now, the tips I receive is way more that what I used to get.”

Aeris tried to explain in a jokingly matter but she failed. The awkwardness between them is so much that it is difficult for them to talk like friends.

The two went silent for a moment, and the tension between them build. Both of the wanted to say something, but they don’t know what to say.

The two at first fell in love after they worked together a few times during Final Fantasy 7. They started dating, going out together, sharing wonderful moments but this does go well after Aeris was removed from the game. The two seldom met, Cloud busy with the game, and Aeris busy with her new job. It was this that brought them further apart, but not the reason they break up. After some time, they found out that they weren’t as suited for each other, and they have less things to talk about. They would argue over small matters, and finally under anger, they broke up. That’s all for this couple. Just like many other couples in this world.

“So…are you happy with your life now?”

Cloud asked a lame question. Aeris nodded and the two went into silent mode again. Cloud try to break off the silence, and approach Aeris. He held out his hand and hold Aeris’s hand but Aeris just withdraw back. Cloud expected this to come.

“Please, don’t. I am seeing someone else already. Besides, you are only lonely tonight.”

Aeris gave Cloud the cold shoulder and Cloud understood. Maybe the idea of getting back with Aeris only occur on this lonely night. He might regret after tonight.

“So, I guess nothing happened here, right?”

Cloud made another lame statement. Aeris just nodded and entered the backdoor. Cloud looked as she disappear. He then sat down on the cold alley, looking at the stars in the sky. Will he be as bright as those stars? Shining forever? His love didn’t. So why should his career be?

Somewhere in the less well-known places in Square World, there are apartments where many less well-off people stay. These are the daily ‘you and me’ type of people, with regular jobs and regular lives. But all of them have dreams, dreams of getting fame, wealth or knowledge. Some have big dreams and some have even bigger dreams. It is this that drive those people towards success in the future.

It is in these apartments, where ‘characters’ are born.

“Woo Hoo!!! I got it! I got it!”

A series of cheers were hear followed by the slamming of a door. A young man in his 18’s is running around in his small, little apartment, jumping up and down with joy. This young man has blonde hair and a cool hairstyle, a confident look on his face, and wore a T-Shirt and a really wide short pants. The most striking feature is the tattoo on his face, making him look like an overgrown kid trying to live an adult’s life. Well, he must be happy for something.

The man with the tattoo opened the door of one of the bedroom in that apartment and saw his friend lying down on the bed. His friend is another young man in his 18’s, but this person had short brown hair that has strands of hair covering his face, wore a tight-fit T-Shirt with a long leather pants, and a scar on his face. This man looked cold, totally opposite from his friend that just entered his room.

“Hey Squall! Guess what?!”

Squall that was lying on his bed ignored his friend but his friend kept on talking. Alright, you guessed right. His friend is Zell.

“I’ve succeeded in getting a role in Final Fantasy 8!”

Zell said and he shouted when saying this. He put his arm against his waist and walked around like a chicken, laughing to himself. Squall remained quiet.

“I bet the guys at the audition are impressed with my martial arts. Yea, I am going to play as a martial arts experts!” Zell said and punched at air, showing off his punching skills.

“I heard that there are still places for some NPCs! Since you are jobless and got nothing to do, why don’t you go and try your luck?”

Zell continued to talked to Squall but Squall still haven’t talked a word. Zell shook his head as a sign of giving up, and dashed out of the room.

“I am going to tell everybody that I am in Final Fantasy 8, see you at dinner!”

Zell was out of the room and only Squall is left alone in the room. Looking at the ceiling, Squall wondered.

Squall pulled out something from his pocket. It was an envelope with an address from Square. The envelope was already opened and Squall removed the letter from the envelope. It has Square’s letterhead. Squall put it aside and he wondered what will Zell say when he knew what’s in that letter.

The letter says: “Congratulations! You have been chosen as Final Fantasy 8’s main character. Please reply this message to confirm your employment.”

Boy, boy. I can’t wait to see Zell expression at his first scene.

<End of Chapter 2>

Something from da Author:

(Hm…kinda disappoint you Aeris fans out there, right? Come to think of it, Aeris deserves a guy better than Cloud. People wanted her to be with Cloud just because Cloud is the main character. Anyway, FF8 characters are out and if you are for it, continue reading. I believe that the story will get better and better.)