Again, it is another beautiful day in Square World. The sky is blue, the sun is shining, the air is fresh... but like always, the dwellers of Square World are too busy to realized that. Everyday is work, work, work. That's all that is in their mind. This goes to an even further extend in Square Studios.
Now, is another one of those precious breaks that Reeve's crew longed waited. NPCs flocking around, crew members setting up the next scene, Reeves sitting there thinking and discussing with his crew... you get the picture. This really gets repetitive.
Well, not everything. From an bystander's view, Cloud and Rinoa had been really awkward to each other lately. Cloud is always around Reeves, acting like he is participating with whatever discussion they are having, and Rinoa flocked around the NPCs all the time. Cloud and Rinoa, who are once always down each other's throat, slowly grew further and further apart. The fights became less, the teasing stopped, until finally, no words other than work related were spoken between them. This became worse after that costume party thing. The entire crew observed in excitement. Not everyday you get a juicy celebrity news like this. It is only a matter of time until something happens...
“Um... are you... Miss Rinoa?”
A young boy with a bunch of flowers suddenly appeared from behind Rinoa and Rinoa that was chatting with some NPCs turned around and noticed him. The boy then handed her the flowers and a pen.
“Please sign here.” The boy pointed out to card on his palm and Rinoa just signed it. The boy then thanked her politely and left. The NPCs around her then slowly rounded around her, trying to figure out who is the one that sent those flowers. Some of them looked at Cloud. Could he...
“Stefan?”
A female NPC peeked at the card slid inside the flowers and spoke out loud without realizing it. Cloud's attention was immediately brought toward them.
Stefan? THAT Stefan? He said he only take her as his friend! Why did he...
Cloud was even more shocked to see Rinoa smiling while reading the card. She seemed to be happy about him sending her flowers. Could it be that she still...
“Oh, I really envy you! No one ever sent flowers to me before!” A female NPC said and Rinoa just replied with a slight smile.
“Stefan... is he handsome? He must be something to have the nerves to show his affection to you this way!” Another female NPC cried out but Rinoa remained quiet.
“Or maybe... you have a boyfriend all the time but you are just keeping it a secret!” More and more weird idea sprouted and Cloud looked at them with his jaws wide opened. Stefan... he seemed to make his move already... Rinoa still seemed to be...
“Cloud.”
Cloud just gazed at Rinoa stupidly.
“Cloud!”
Cloud woke up from his thoughts and realized that Reeves is calling him. He scratched his head and looked at Reeves.
“What do you think about this?” Reeves said and pointed out to some writings on a booklet that is in his hands. Cloud, not knowing what they are discussing about, looked at them without a clue.
“Never mind...” Reeves replied while shaking his head and Cloud felt a little embarrassed with the other crew members staring at him. Cloud excused himself and walked away from Reeves. He stole a glance at Rinoa and couldn't stop wondering. He couldn't keep his mind off Rinoa, those flowers...
Cloud is now sitting quietly in a corner of the pantry. He was all alone now, the break is now over and the other crew members resumed their job. He is only Rinoa's manager, he do not need to be at the setting all the time. He needs to be left undisturbed, left alone for a while to think...
“Rinoa...”
Cloud thought in his mind again and again. He remembered her the first time he saw her. The rude and mean girl that he did not quite fond of. Then, because of their job, they got closer, became close friends. Arguing all the time, teasing each other... but somehow soon discovered her deeper side... her past...
Rinoa. Cloud had never thought that he could have so much feelings for her. His heart squeezes whenever he thought about her, the picture of her smile could make him smile to himself, he had never had such strong feelings for someone since...
“Should I...”
The picture of Stefan coming and take Rinoa away from him suddenly seemed so real. Stefan said as if he had really given up hope on Rinoa... but what if, what if part of him still had strong feelings for her? Rinoa seemed to had strong feelings for him last time, did those feelings came back recently?
The more Cloud think about Stefan and Rinoa, the less confident he became. They were high school sweethearts, something many people cherished. Stefan... Stefan even went to prison for her. A stupid reason and an unnecessary sacrifice... but somehow showed his deep feelings for her...
Cloud tried to shake his negative thoughts from his head. He tried to recall his moments with Rinoa. Their closest moments... he could feel her feelings for him, those eyes... at that few occasions...
Or is all of it his imagination? Or what if those feelings are not enough? Not enough to overcome her feelings for Stefan? What if... her feelings for Stefan is stronger?
“Um... are you alright?”
Cloud got a shock when he heard those voices and turned toward it's direction. He saw Rinoa standing at the door looking at him with a concerned look. He seldom saw such a look on her face. She is always teasing and making fun of him but recently, she had been very quiet. Had she sensed his feelings for her but do not know how to reject him? More and more thoughts poured into Cloud's mind.
“I... think I am alright... a bad night's sleep...” Cloud said and massaged his neck, acted as if he had a sore neck.
“I see...”
Rinoa replied and then the two became very quiet. The silence is making the atmosphere more and more tense, as both sides do not know the right words to say to each other. Usually the two will very naturally have something to talk about or something to argue, but now this silence is making them... unlike 'them'...
“Shouldn't you be out at the shooting?”
Cloud suddenly blurted out and Rinoa just listened until he finished his sentence. She then paused for a moment as if she was composing her sentences.
“It's not my turn yet.” Rinoa answered and then the silence crept in again. Some moments past, then Rinoa started to turned toward the exit.
“I think I will go back to the others...”
“Wait!”
Cloud suddenly stopped Rinoa and Rinoa just looked at him in the eyes. Rinoa waited for Cloud to say something, but Cloud just looked back at her, trying to find the right words to say. Rinoa waited some more, and then Cloud spoke after taking a short breath.
“Are you free tonight?” Cloud asked Rinoa. Rinoa just nodded.
“Ten o'clock at Square Park.” Cloud said and then Rinoa nodded again slightly and then slowly left.
Ever since Cloud knew Rinoa, he had never asked her out. She must had sensed that he had something important to say. Will she be there? Or... will she be there to reject him?
Square Park at night. Only one word is needed to describe it. Spooky. The darkness that eludes the greeneries, the dim lit moon hanging on the sky, the shadows that seems to move behind the trees, the stray dogs howling to the moon. Howl...
Great. Not the perfect place for a date. It must be the lightings that make this location looked good in movies and games. Cloud was seen standing in the middle of the park next to a status standing tall. Cloud rubbed his hands against his arms again and again. It is a really chilly night. Worse of all, Cloud had been standing there for near an hour already. He made sure that he had to be early and he really did the job way too well. Good thing he did not mind.
“Will... she show up?”
The same words appeared again and again in his head. There are others thoughts that he feared to think even more. What if she appeared but she said no? He could imagine that sympathetic face of hers. Hers eyes saying sorry. He... can he bear to go through that...? His heart beat faster again...
“Don't think about it! Don't think about it!” Cloud convinced himself again and again with others thoughts to regain whatever confidence he had left. But the important question now is... will she show up?!
Hm... firstly it's cold... it's really cold out here. Secondly it's dark... spooky too... why would I thought of here...? Wait a minute... a couple in the dark like this... what will others think of us... besides...
“Cloud.”
Cloud got a shock hearing that voice and looked at his watch. It is Ten o'clock sharp now. Hey! Shouldn't girls always be late for such occasions?
Cloud turned around and saw Rinoa dressed up in a windbreaker, keeping herself warm. Rinoa stared at Cloud, as if she was waiting for Cloud to say something. Cloud somehow got the message and he is going to say what he intended to say...
“Tonight's weather is fine eh?”
Rinoa's eyes grown wide looking at Cloud and Cloud stared stupidly at Rinoa, not knowing what to do. He saw himself smashing his head into the wall for doing that. Why on earth did he said that for?!
“You... have something to say... right?”
Rinoa then broke the silence and Cloud started to regain his consciousness. Somehow this do not seem too good a situation. She knew... she is punctual... not very good signs...
“Uh... Rinoa...”
Rinoa just stood there quietly and looked at Cloud. Cloud tried to look away but finally he managed to looked back at her. He stared her straight in the eyes. Then he said...
“Damn it, Rinoa! I don't give a damn about whatever! I like you!”
Cloud blurted out with an unnecessary phrase in front of it. Cloud can see himself smashing his head into the wall again. A confession should be beautiful, not like this! It spoils a girl's dream and all, argh!!! what had he done?!!!
“Uh, Cloud...”
Rinoa just stood there looking onto the ground. Cloud felt that this is not good. Not good...
“I am sorry...”
Rinoa spoke quietly and Cloud felt his heart fell to the bottom of his world. Rejection... just as he feared...
“Okay... I understand...”
Cloud replied and then made a forceful smile at Rinoa. He then started to walk away from Rinoa and then started running away from Rinoa to wards an unknown direction. He do not know what to think, what to feel, what to expect. He just wanted to run, just to run...
Cloud ran blindly into the darkness with his eyes closed. No! No! No...
Cloud suddenly bumped into something large and the impact knocked himself backwards. Cloud felt onto the ground, recollect himself and then opened his eyes. He saw someone he do not expect to see. The man called Stefan.
“Talking about giving up... what are you to lecture me about that?”
Stefan said while looking at Cloud that was getting up. Cloud just kept quiet. He do not know what to say to him.
“Not good leaving a girl all alone like that. My impression rating for you... way down.” Stefan then continued and Cloud nodded. Wait a minute... how did Stefan know Rinoa is here? Did he came along with her?
“That's none of your business.” Cloud said, not feel like talking about him being rejected.
“I had really no idea what that girl sees in you.” Stefan continued but Cloud ignored him.
“It's no use. She do not...” Cloud tried to explain but he saw that Stefan is looking to wards the direction behind of him. Cloud naturally turned around, and then he felt somebody grabbing around around his neck, nearly knock him off balance, and then a sensational feeling on his lips. It happened all too fast... what was that...
“I am sorry...”
Cloud opened his eyes and saw Rinoa putting her forehead against his, closing her eyes with tears flowing out. Cloud had no idea what is going on. It looks like a dream come true, but this is not a dream! This can't be!
“I am sorry that... you lost that bet about not falling for me!” Rinoa opened her eyes suddenly and smiled broadly at Cloud and he got a shock and put her down immediately. Now he is confused. What is going on?!
“Can you two consider the sensitive feelings of a lonely man over here?” Stefan get the two's attention and Rinoa looked at Stefan and smiled at him. Stefan nodded and started to do the explaining.
“Rinoa and I arranged all this. She said you take too long to show your feelings. The flowers are really sent by me, but not as a token of love. More of a farewell gift.” Stefan explained.
“Farewell?” Cloud asked puzzled.
“Stefan is going off on a Square World journey on foot. That is his dream since high-school.” Rinoa added and Cloud looked at the two alternately.
“But... I though you two are...”
“Friends. Very good friends.” Rinoa and Stefan replied together. Cloud, starting to get the whole picture, began to smile and felt joy leaping in his heart. Rinoa actually...
“Cloud, there is something I must tell you...” Stefan said and approached Cloud.
“You be nice to her. You be by her side. Or else...” Stefan said and cracked his knuckles.
“I will be there to defend myself against you, for her.” Cloud replied and flexed his muscles. Stefan looked at him and broke out into laughter, walking away from the two into the darkness, beginning a new chapter of his life.
“You know, Cloud...” Rinoa said while wrapping her arms around his, leaning her head against his shoulder.
“You lost that bet... according to the rules, you should arrange a date for me with Laguna...”
Rinoa looked at Cloud with a sinister look and Cloud just looked back blankly. That was what he promised some time ago. He completely forgotten about it for the past few days. Now that she brought it up again...
“I... don't really enjoy my last date with Laguna. He was too good to be true. But I still want something else...”
Cloud looked at Rinoa talking like a kid but she is holding him closer and closer by the second. She just seemed so beautiful tonight. Making him feel like the luckiest man on earth. She is a goddess... for tonight...
“A real, goodnight kiss?” Rinoa expression became more serious and brought her face closer to wards Clouds. Cloud brought his face to wards hers too, and then they enjoyed that sweetest moment, where they both thought to be impossible, just less than a month ago.
Aw, don't make me say anything...
(Okay, you got more than 10 new chapters in a shot. Something I worked out a lot to make it happen. Better ideas in store for the next few ones. Wait for the next installment. It will get even better. Thank you for paying attention to me so long. I really appreciated it.)