Zack is a spikey-haired fellow, whom we learn was a SOLDIER and took part in the pasts of both Cloud and Aeris. We first hear about Zack during the scene at the playground where Aeris mentions how he was also in First Class as Cloud was. When he asks about him, she says that he was her first boyfriend, although they weren't exactly serious.
I do believe Zack was definitely an important part of Aeris' life. Although she says they weren't serious, it's obvious to see that he was really dear to her. And she was also extremely important to Zack as well. Aeris notes that Zack was much of a ladies man, but despite that, although he probably enjoyed flirting with most girls, he actually felt something for Aeris. When escaping with Cloud, he comments about going to her. He deeply cared for her, and wanted to return to her, but under the circumstances that he had been in, he couldn't. And then it was too late.
|
'He was like .
. . a white cloud that drifted in the blue sky. We
look up at the sky through a break in the clouds.
The promise we made then . . . was the last
conversation I had with him.' |
In the upcoming Crisis Core, Aeris mentions a promise she and Zack had made. Although what this promise was is unknown, it was probably exteremely important to their relationship. Perhaps he had promised that when he left to fight, he would return to her. Although of course, things did not go as planned when Zack was shot and killed when he and Cloud were escaping.
As it is fought about who was meant for Cloud: Aeris or Tifa, it has been argued whether Cloud or Zack was meant for Aeris. I don't think it's a matter of "who was meant for her" or anything, but that both of them were extremely important to her. Zack was her first love, and if he hadn't died, he and she would have probably been together at this point. Zack's death, however, did bring her to Cloud. Although he had reminded her of Zack, she and he formed a relationship of their own and was different than that of hers and Zack's.
Aeris did love Zack. And now that she has died as well, she and he are united together in the lifestream, and although that does not necessarily mean that what she and Cloud had wasn't real, she and Zack did have a deep, important love together. And that love is still there with them in the lifestream.
