My Dear Instructor
Chapter One - The Last Chance
My Dear Instructor
Chapter One - The Last Chance
Seifer was paying attention; in fact, he was actually interested in the class he was having. But he tried not to show it. Not to him, although his classes were the best he had ever had. Of course he’d never word it, but that was the truth and he would not dare lie to himself.
After Ultimecia’s defeat Seifer was welcomed into Balamb Garden (with a little help of Matron, he suspected) by almost everyone. Almost. They would say it wasn’t his fault, that he was being controlled, that they had already forgiven him... whatever! He didn’t care about what others would think anymore. He was tired of fishing, tired of be unhappy, tired of being rejected. Like any other human, he had the right to a second chance, and he knew it... He had his pride and dignity to restore and he would do it, whatever it’d take. The first step was to become a SeeD. A respected SeeD like Quistis, an enthusiastic SeeD like Selphie, a hyper SeeD like Zell, a loved SeeD like Squall.
"You’ll never be a SeeD!" Xu had said. And although, she didn’t say it again when he had returned, he knew, she still thought that way and not only she. She was one of the few who didn’t want him back. Just like his instructor. But Seifer knew. This time, this time he would make it. He would become a SeeD, no matter who was against him! Why did he think like that?! Oh! Come on! Did you ever think Squall and his gang would be able to defeat Ultimecia?! Well, he didn’t (or he wouldn’t be by her side for so long) but they made it, didn’t they?! So he would become a SeeD as well, surprising everyone who thought he was finished. Everyone who had pity on him! He had survived and he would rise from the ashes even stronger than before. They would see. But, for now, he just had to be patient, tough and friendly.
He wrote down something about Red Dragons in his workbook and looked to his instructor who was delivering some worksheets to the students. He didn’t look or speak to him when he gave him the paper.
He would never forgive Seifer or Seifer would forgive that thief. But, once more, Seifer couldn’t lie; he wouldn’t lie. He liked his classes. They were calm and productive. He was a good instructor after all: responsible, strong, respectful, admired and loved by his students, including him; Seifer Almasy. Yes, he liked him now more than he ever did, but still he couldn’t like him. Why didn’t he like him? He didn’t like him because he was jealous of him. He was everything that he wanted to be. And yet he wasn’t totally: differences characteristics of him that made Seifer like him so much. But Seifer didn’t spend time thinking of this confusion of his feelings for two reasons: one, he didn’t like them; two, he had to focus his energy on his goal: becoming a SeeD. And he was his instructor, so he had to deal with him like that "his instructor, forgetting he was once his rival; he was once his enemy...
"We’re doing a written test next week, preparation for the SeeD’s written exam, so be prepared!! Dismissed!" said Squall.
The students got their things and exited the classroom. Squall waited to lock the door. Seifer was the last one exiting. He didn’t know what gave to him then, but he stopped in front of Squall and asked:
"Instructor Leonhart," sounded strange address him like that, but... "I need some explanations about the first and second subjects broached, since I wasn’t here yet and I would like to have a good grade in the written exam and in next week’s test. If you could just sum me those two subjects after tomorrow’s class, in five minutes, I would be grateful, if you didn’t mind, of course...
Squall blinked in surprise, and he stammered, still in shock:
"Y... yeah! Of course I will, Seifer. I... we’ll... okay. Do you... hum... have something planned on Saturday afternoon?"
"No."
"Fine! Then meet me Saturday, 1400 hours, at the Library. We’ll take care of those subjects and if you have any other doubts, we’ll take care of them, too. Is the timing ok for you?"
"Yeah, great. Thanks!" said Seifer, surprised, looking into Squall’s grey eyes. He didn’t seem so distant now. Actually he seemed almost friendly.
"It’s my job, Seifer." he responded smiling.
Seifer blinked at the smile. Squall had a beautiful smile, and it, somehow, made his grey-icy eyes turn into a soft-warm blue ones. Without knowing it, Seifer managed to surpass the barrier between them, when he spoke to him; or Squall was feigning very well. He didn’t like that smile and definitely didn’t like those antithetic feelings he was having towards Squall lately.
He just half smiled back and left. Suddenly that day had become a wonderful one.
Squall locked the door and went to a walk. He needed to think.
He exited Balamb Garden and went to Fisherman’s Horizon. He loved the sea breeze and the scent of the ocean. He walked towards the Junk Shop but it was closed. He then hired a boat and rowed to the end of the docks. He had a beautiful view of Garden from there. There, alone, he could think properly about his life.
He and Rinoa were in a good phase. He loved Rinoa; Rinoa loved him. Simple. Too simple, if he put a hard thought into it. Rinoa was pushing him into a deeper relationship, wanting to make love to him, even if she didn’t word it: she was dressing more seductively and putting on more make up when she was going to visit him in Garden. And although she hadn’t tried anything yet, he could tell she wanted him...
His father visited him often. It was weird to call Laguna his father. They were so different! At first sight, you would say that Squall and Laguna weren’t very look alike, but if you looked closer at both you could find the semblances, especially in the smiles (which you couldn’t see often in Squall’s face) and in the silky hair. He kind of liked his father. Well, he was his father, but he was also one of the most kind, sweetest and funniest people he had ever met. And he loved him; he loved Squall a lot. You could see the pride in his eyes every time he looked at his son.
And then there was his "Sis" Ellone, who always came to visit him when his father did, and she adored Squall. He supposed that she would never stop seeing him as a little boy, but he also didn’t care about that, because it came from his "Sis".
And then it was Quistis, always so caring about him and the new headmaster of Balamb Garden; and Zell, his best friend and the juniorclassmen instructor; Selphie, his training clothes stylist and instructor at Trabia Garden and Irvine, the worst ladies man on the entire universe and SeeD candidate: his friends.
And then it was Matron and Cid. And his students and Seifer.
Seifer: the arrogant Seifer, mister "ego", his rival, his enemy. He didn’t like him back. Not because he thought he had fault, if things were a little bit different he was probably the one controlled by Ultimecia; but because he saw Seifer as a threat to his happiness. He knew: Rinoa hadn’t forgotten Seifer. Quistis, Zell, Selphie and Irvine were becoming his best buddies, because Seifer was nice now. Because Seifer was now (and somehow always was) everything Squall tried to be in his daily life and because Seifer was successful too in everything Squall was, except being a SeeD. But even that, Squall saw that Seifer was going to make it, this time. He had changed, like all of them, in fact, but he more than everyone he knew. And not physically but mainly inside, deeply inside. People were starting to like him as much as they liked him or even more. Even he would like Seifer if he hadn’t been his rival before; if he wasn’t Seifer. God! Seifer had even asked him for help! Him! Squall Leonhart! He was a lot less arrogant, that was for sure! Worse! Had Squall denied him?? NO!! He said: fine. He even smiled! And the worst part was that he couldn’t help it. Seifer was being nice...
Squall would like to say he had just done it because he had to, it was his job; but deep down inside he knew it wasn’t true, it was a reflection, a non thought reaction, although he would never admit it out loud, not even to himself.
Seifer walked to the Cafeteria with a smile on his face. It was early in the evening and he wanted to eat something before the Cafeteria became full. He ordered a soup, some sandwiches and two hot dogs. He knew that someone wasn’t getting in time for them. He kept the smile on his face all the way.
He walked to an empty table and started to eat.
In few minutes, students started to come to have their dinner and fell up the Cafeteria. Some of his new colleagues joined him, and he was greeted by almost everyone with smiles and looks of envy. After all, the Sorceress of the future had chosen him, to be her knight. That is, because he was a very good fighter, even known in the future. Or so thought the boys: he was one of the models to them, being envied because of that. To girls he was one of the most gorgeous and handsome boys in the whole world, which counted as well. That is, he was now very popular and he liked it, so he waved to everybody happily (not only because of that, today, though).
When he was finishing his soup, a thunder entered the Cafeteria: Zell Dincht.
As always he wasn’t in time for the hot dogs. Seifer smiled and called him. Zell turned to him and waved his hand (?).
"Come here!" said Seifer. Zell complied. They had become friends when Seifer had come to him apologizing. Zell’s big heart forgave and he was now discovering that Seifer wasn’t as bad as he thought, actually he was real nice when he wanted to.
"What?"
"Gimme 50 Gil!"
"Why?"
"For the hot dogs!" said Seifer smiling and giving him the food.
"WHAT?"
"It’s for you! I knew you didn’t get here in time, you never do."
"Thanks man! Here you go!"
"This is a bet you lost," said Seifer waving the money.
"What? Why?"
"If anyone knows this, it will ruin my reputation as the bad guy."
Zell laughed.
"Well, I’m afraid you are late. I think no one considers you the bad guy anymore. You’re as popular as Squall."
"Yeah!" Seifer smiled and happiness allured his face.
"You’re just happy about that or are there anything else.
"Well, I just had a good day, that’s all!"
"Hum! Yeah! Right! A good day?! Right!"
"I’m serious chicken wuss!!" smirked Seifer.
"I just heard that you were serious, ok?"
"That’s fine to me."
"Good! Hey! That’s Squall entering."
"Yeah! Should we call him to seat with us?!" questioned Seifer.
"Yes!! We should call instructor to sit here with us," said a girl with long brown hair, who was the new attention of a certain Galbadian cowboy.
"Oh! Come on, Ronny! He’s with Rinoa! They probably want to be alone, you know?!" said her twin.
"Yeah, guess it was a bad idea," agreed Seifer almost sadly.
Seifer’s tone didn’t pass through Zell, who smiled and waved to Squall and Rinoa. Surprisingly they approached their table.
"Hi!" said Squall, nobody understood to whom. They just presumed it was for all because they all replied in unison:
"Hi instructor Leonhart!" (including Seifer to Zell’s, Rinoa’s and Squall’s surprise)
"Hi Squall, hi Rinoa!" said Zell, "want some?" He offered the hot dog half eaten. Squall didn’t answer and Rinoa waved her hands.
"Finally you caught them, eh?" she said
"A friend did for me..." he replied. Seifer smiled at the word friend.
"Oh?! A friend?"
"Yes, Squall. A friend..." Zell answered looking to Seifer. Rinoa also looked to him.
"So, Seifer... how are you?! Didn’t see you in some time..." she asked tenderly.
Seifer was admiring Squall’s new haircut, and when he heard his name he turned quickly to Rinoa, blushing a little. He disguised wisely, smiling. Once again his reaction didn’t pass through Zell, who smiled, looking to Squall, but this one only had eyes for Rinoa.
"I’m fine Rinoa, thank you. What about you?"
Rinoa smiled grabbing Squall’s arm.
"Fine," she said. "Are you candidating for SeeD exam, Seifer?"
"Yeah! For the last time, I suppose! At least my instructor doesn’t suck too much..." he smirked to Squall who glared in return.
"Don’t push it Seifer!!
"This time you’ll make it, I’m sure," said Zell, trying to change the instructor’s subject. He knew how Squall had hated being chosen to be the last’s year’s instructor, especially because he knew Seifer would be there. "And then we will make a perfect team again, ne Squall?"/p>
"Team?! You and Seifer?! People sure change. Who would say, a few months ago, that Zell would be referring to me, Seifer and him as a team?! Worst! A perfect one!! Oh, well! I guess Ultimecia’s thing changed all of us... and we could start by me..."
"Yes, Zell, I guess that when we are in the same side..."
"... Yeah, we do make a good team!"
Seifer looked at Squall. He could see that Squall had been thinking, though he never expected such an answer. Squall had changed in some ways, but remained the same in others.
That thought accompanied him when he said goodnight to his friends and went to his room and to his bed. He fell asleep thinking about Squall’s reactions that day.
To be continued...
Author’s notes: So... what did you think about it. My first part of my first fic. I’m doing the others already, but first I wanted to know if you’d like it to go on, so feedback is highly appreciated. Please send your opinions and suggestions to red_fenix @ hotmail.com. Thanks a lot for reading it. See ya soon... (I hope J).