Cloud is, unfortunately, taking a sip of coffee when she asks her new questions. He manages not to spit take, but he does end up inhaling a little bit of it before he manages to swallow and then succumbs to a coughing fit for a minute.

"Uh...sorry. Whew." He shakes his head as if to banish what just happened. "U-um...getting along. You could say that, yeah." He can feel his face and ears heat up like a tea kettle. This shouldn't be that hard to tell Tifa! She's his best friend! Isn't this what friends are supposed to do, gossip about each other's love lives?

Yeah, well, Cloud's only ever had two friends until recently, he's never done any of this before.

"Guess you kinda answered your own question." His eyes are fixed on the table.