Chapter…SEVEN!

Minutes had past since Zell’s initial shock after knowing the real identity of the person inside their apartment. No matter what, Zell couldn’t believe his senses. There is no way Squall’s mother could be such a young and beautiful person! Is Squall pulling his legs?

Zell was standing at a corner scratching his head, puzzled. Squall was still inside the bathroom, washing up. Occasionally, Squall’s mother would walk in and out of the kitchen, bringing out food and dishes and Zell couldn’t help but to steal glances of her. No matter from what angle he looked from, she still looked like a young girl…woman that is in her mid twenties…perhaps late twenties. There is no way she is old enough to be Squall’s mother!

Despite Squall’s warning, Zell still couldn’t stop noticing the attraction from this woman. Apart from the breath taking first impression, there seemed to be some level of maturity hidden inside her, something that couldn’t be found in girls in his age. Attractive both physically and mentally…wow…

Zell shook his head and stopped himself from thinking too far. Part of him started to feel sick for himself. He is actually attracted to someone much older than him, and is still his friend’s mother?! Zell couldn’t bear to let himself think further. That’s it. Stop thinking. Stop it. Stop…

“Supper’s ready!”

Squall’s mother spoke in a friendly manner to Zell and Zell got up from his dream. Zell replied with a smile and walked to the dining table with assortments of food on top. At the same time, Zell could hear the sound of the bathroom door opening. Squall walked out from the bathroom and continued towards the dining table. The three sat down but didn’t start eating first. Strange. An awkward tension started to form between the three of them.

Ever since Squall and Zell moved into this apartment, the dining table hadn’t been used before. Meals are normally taken outside and meals in the apartment are usually pizzas and Chinese food ordered from outside, and then enjoyed on the sofa in front of the TV. Sitting in this particular place in their own apartment seemed to be foreign for them.

“Please start. I am hungry myself.”

Squall’s mother broke the silence after a short while of silence. Squall, with his usual expression on his face, started taking some of the food and placed them on his plate. Zell was rather overwhelmed with joy. He hadn’t had home-cooked food for some time and he couldn’t decide which to choose. Squall’s mother just smiled, and slowly started her meal. The three started off the meal rather quietly, which should be the way. But still, there is something wrong here…

“Ma, what are you doing here?”

Squall finally asked the question that had been in his mind since he entered his apartment. Squall’s mother just looked at him and smiled. Squall continued eating and waited for an answer.

“Just visiting you. Why?”

Squall’s mother replied but Squall’s expression didn’t changed a bit. It looked as if he didn’t believe that. To Zell, he bought it totally. There is nothing wrong with it. But for Squall, he sensed that there is something behind it…

“Ma, I don’t think you will travel half way across the world (Square World) to visit me for the weekend. It’s way too far and I don’t remember that your job permits that.“

Squall expression his opinion and his mother just nodded as if she expected that answer. Zell just looked at that two. It seems that there is some form of telepathic communication between the two that he couldn’t interpret.

“All right, you guessed right. I am not just here for visiting. I had been transferred here. Happy?”

Squall’s mother answered with a smile and took a bite of a piece of meat on the plate. Squall’s expression changed from cool to shadowed surprised. He didn’t expect that answer.

“Ma, that a good joke…”

“Uh-uh. It isn’t a joke. I am being transferred here for real. The branch here is understaffed so here I am.”

Squall’s mother interrupted Squall and gave more convincing details. Squall just looked at his mother, not blinking. This seems harder to believe than the visiting excuse…

“I actually had a bigger surprise.”

Squall’s mother said and Squall just waited. Isn’t moving to this city a surprise big enough? There is something more?

“I just moved in across the hall. We are going to be neighbours.” Squall’s mother said and had another bite on the piece of meat hanging on her fork.

Squall eyes just got filled with more astonishment. His mother is moving in across the hall? Now that’s fresh. It’s going to be like when he was small again. His mother will be around always. He sense an end to his pizzas in front of the TV and ‘clean-free’ weeks…

“Does that mean that I get to have such meals all the time?”

Zell suddenly popped up a question and Squall’s mother turned towards him. She just tilted her head a little and made a smile.

“Of course. You are always welcomed to join us.”

Zell felt a sudden warm feeling in his heart. Home-cooked food everyday. Nice…That sweet smile. Even…

Zell suddenly recalled Squall’s warning and took a peek at Squall. He could see Squall staring coldly at him, as if he will strangle him at any time. Zell just acted as nothing went past his mind, though he knew that Squall could see through him.

“Well, thank you in advance, uh…”

Zell stopped the moment he didn’t know what to address Squall’s mother. Squall didn’t mentioned about his father so it probably isn’t a good idea to address her as Mrs. Leonheart. What could it be…

“Raine.”

Squall’s mother replied. Zell nodded his head.

“Thank you, Aunt Raine.”

Strange. That ‘aunt’ sounds so strange when used on her. Still, Zell didn’t bother and the three continued eating. Well, things might seem simple at this time. But as time pasts by, who knows…

In the middle of a forest in nowhere, Squall, Zell and Rinoa are standing in an opening in the forest. There is nothing in front of them but these three people keeping on attacking the blank opening as if there is something there. At first there are physical attacks, followed by combo moves and many weird looking attacks. This repeated again and again until…

“Cut! That’s all for today! Leave the rest to the special effects team.”

A man stood up from a director’s chair, shouting through his megaphone. The entire area was filled with people setting up the equipment and the three people in the middle walked away from the opening. Obviously, this is a forest-fighting scene in FF8…with no monsters or what sort ever in front of them. This will be added in later. It’s amazing what computers can do these days…

“How is it?”

Cloud popped out from the crowd and approached Rinoa. Squall and Zell disappeared among the crowd and Rinoa was once again with Cloud.

“Nothing difficult really.”

Rinoa said confidently. Cloud recalled her lack of confidence on her first shooting and she is totally in contrast with herself today.

“You should had seen yourself on your first shooting.” Cloud joked and Rinoa just sulked.

Cloud was actually surprised with Rinoa’s reaction. Cloud’s past experience tells him that people actually complained a lot when doing outdoor shots, especially in forests. Judging from the first time he met Rinoa, he expected her to complain a lot and blame the entire world. Strangely, she didn’t seem to fit any of the description when he first met her. She still sulk when he made fun of her, but how come…

Cloud was looking at Rinoa when he suddenly spotted something that caught his attention in the background. It is a familiar face, a really familiar one. It couldn’t be…

“Wait here.”

Cloud ordered Rinoa with a hand signal and left her to approach the familiar face that caught his attention. That familiar face…how can it be…

“Vincent?”

Cloud called out when he was just a few steps away from the person. The person turned around and had a surprised look on his face. There is only one word to describe this man. Dashing. Long hair, fair skin, male-model like features… just perfect.

“Cloud! Don’t expect to see you here!”

Vincent replied with a surprise tone and Cloud sense a feeling of familiarity. Finally, someone from FF7. But there seems to be something wrong. Square doesn’t reuse characters. Why is Vincent here?

“Bet you can’t figure out why I am here, right?”

Vincent spoke out what that was running around in Cloud’s mind and Cloud just waited for his answer. Vincent made a smile to himself.

“Heard of Laguna?”

Vincent asked and Cloud rubbed his chin and figured.

“If I am not mistaken, it is one of the character in something like a world in the past in FF8. So, what does he have to do with you?”

Vincent suddenly made a pose in front of Cloud. He then continued.

“Vincent is gone. You are now looking at Laguna of FF8.”

Vincent declared and seemed satisfied to himself. Cloud just looked at him. Vincent is now Laguna? That’s fresh.

“In FF7, since I am the character that doesn’t reveal my face much, I get a chance to reappear in FF8. Finally I get to spread my charm worldwide.”

Laguna explained and laughed to himself. Cloud was envious to hear that. That’s not fair! He gets to be in two FF games!

“Uh…Cloud.”

Cloud hear a voice from behind and saw Rinoa approaching him from behind. Cloud turned around and all he could see is an astonished looked on Rinoa’s face. Cloud turned back to Laguna and realized that Rinoa is looking at him. Wow, that Vincent really had his charms without his mask.

“Psst. Cloud.”

Laguna called for Cloud and Cloud approached him nearer.

“I didn’t know that Rinoa’s that cute! You…don’t happen to have her phone number do you?”

Laguna whisper to Cloud, and Cloud looked at him with a strange look.

“Just joking. I bet you want to keep that for yourself.”

Laguna answered his own question and laughed to himself. What does he means? Laguna thinks that Cloud is interested in Rinoa? If so why Laguna asked for her phone number? This leaves Cloud puzzled.

“Well, my shooting is about to start anyway so see you.”

Laguna excused himself from Cloud and before he left, he made a smile to Rinoa. Cloud could see that there is a sparkle in Rinoa’s eyes the moment Rinoa saw that smile. Rinoa…she can’t be…

“Cloud.”

Rinoa addressed Cloud and Cloud just stood by her and waited for her to talk. He somehow expected what question she is going to ask.

“You seem to know him well. What is his phone number?”

Cloud looked at Rinoa, surprised to be asked the same question again, but from the other end. Cloud just shook his head and couldn’t stop wondering what will happen between the two.

This is what you get when you put too many beautiful and charming people together.

The outdoor shooting scene was done and once again, the crew were sent back to Square Studios. While waiting for the crew to set up for the next scene, Cloud and Rinoa were at the cafeteria, taking a short coffee break. Although it was already some time after the two met Laguna, Rinoa still seemed to be in her clouds, day-dreaming about the prince charming she just met…

“Ahem.”

Cloud made a cough and interrupted Rinoa that was in her fantasy world, smiling at herself while endlessly stirring her cup of coffee. Rinoa just replied with a broader smile.

“Is Laguna that good-looking?”

Cloud asked with an offended tone. He couldn’t believe the looks on Rinoa’s face the moment she saw Laguna. Somehow, he felt that he lost badly to Laguna when impressing girls.

“Ah…He is like a dream come true. That long silky hair, that smooth feature on his face, his emotional eyes…and oh…that smile of his…”

Rinoa started complimenting how good Laguna looked. Cloud looked like he got more offended.

“You described him like you are describing a girl.” Cloud said half-jokingly. Rinoa made a mean look at Cloud.

“Who are you to say something like that?” Rinoa protested. Cloud just shook his head and sighed.

“Good looks aren’t everything a person looked for. It is the beauty within that counts.”

Cloud made a philosophical statement. Rinoa leaned back and brushed her hair.

“Well, I believe more in first impression, and that surely works for Laguna. Of course, it worked for me too…”

Rinoa made a proud statement and made a breathtaking smile at Cloud. Cloud just stared at her blankly. First impression? She mustered that very well. The first time he met her was an unforgettable experience. A girl with a goddess like features but with a horrible temper. Though she mysteriously doesn’t behave in that level of bad manners after that, still, that image of her was unforgettable…

“You sure are confident in yourself. Wonder what will people say when they saw how you treat me the first time we met…”

Cloud said while sipping his cup of coffee. Rinoa face just puffed up with steam and looked at Cloud with a really mean looked. Cloud provoked her but didn’t seem to care.

“You know what?”

Rinoa stood up and place her arms on the table, supporting her body weight.

“People who know me long enough will know that I am irresistible not only from my looks, but only my character within. So, let’s make a bet…”

Rinoa said and leaned forwarded towards Cloud. Clouds just continued to stare at her.

“I bet that you will fall deeply, madly in love with me in a month’s time.”

Cloud almost sneezed out his coffee from his nose the moment he heard this. That was one challenge way far out! Him falling deeply, madly in love with Rinoa?! He admitted that he was impressed with her looks, but to him she was another idol that he will never want to fall in love with. He is impressed with her, not love her!

“You…you got some guts to bet something like that!”

Cloud exclaimed and Rinoa just made a sly look at Cloud. Cloud leaned backwards and calmed himself.

“But sadly, this is a bet that you will lose. What do I get if I win?” Cloud asked while sipping his coffee.

“Well, you get to have a date with me.” Rinoa replied and Cloud got a shock the second time. This girl is bolder than he thought!

“But if I win, well…I don’t ask for much. Could you set me up a date with Laguna?”

Rinoa asked with cute puppy dog eyes and Cloud just looked back at her blankly again. She wanted him to fall in love with her and at that time arrange a date for her with Laguna. Is she a sadistic lover?

“All right. You are on. But as I told you, this is a bet that you are going to lose.”

Cloud said confidently, believing in himself. It was at this time, Rinoa gave a slight peck on Cloud’s forehead. Cloud was of course petrified but acted that he felt nothing.

“That will not work on me. Save your effort.” Cloud said and Rinoa just returned a confident smile.

“Don’t be so sure. This is just the beginning.”

Rinoa replied and turned around and left. Cloud looked as she left. The question in his mind is not how he is going to resist her, but how he is going to cope with that date with Rinoa.

Cloud, don’t be so sure.

Something from da author...do bee do bee doo...

(Cloud and Tifa... Cloud and Aeris... Cloud and Rinoa?!!! I heard some fanfic writers saying that writing bizzare fanfics pairing world apart couples is a fatal mistake. I am willing to take the risk. Read on, I smile to myself everytime I think of the story lying in future chapters...)