"Who-," the Spanish boy started, before words seemed to fail him. Francis understood what he meant. "That," the blond boy answered, "Was Alfred F. Jones. Also known as your problem."
Antonio stood frozen for a moment, white-faced, before he took off towards the front door, ignoring Francis' calls to come back. Before he got to the door, however, his blond friend caught him and pulled him behind a large shrub. "Francis-," the Spanish boy started heatedly, before being shushed. "Watch," Francis whispered. They peered through the leaves, waiting for the brunet to come into view.
Soon enough, the door opened and out came Lovino. Antonio dug his fingernails into his palms. Then the blond boy- Jones, Antonio reminded himself- bounded into view. The tall blond scooped a protesting Lovino up and swung him around, laughing cheerily, then set him down. Alfred grabbed Lovino's backpack and slung it over his shoulder. With his free hand, the boy grabbed the smaller brunet's hand.
Antonio waited for his tomate to push the blond away, swearing, but instead Lovino just blushed. Slack-jawed, the Spanish boy watched the two walk away.
Antonio collapsed on the ground. He put his head in his hands. It was a sign of his friendship that Francis joined him, despite the peril the grass posed to his pants. The blond sighed and stared up at the sky, leaning back on his hands. "A lot has changed since you left," he said.
The brunet just asked quietly, "Are they dating?" Francis hesitated. "Well, they say they're just 'best friends', but honestly, you'd have to be stupid to believe that," he finally replied. Antonio groaned. "I am so screwed."
Francis leered, but thought better of his comment upon looking at his friend's bowed head. Instead, he just suggested softly, "Perhaps you should just let him go. He was a wreck after you left, but even I can tell that he's been ridiculously happy lately. He only scowls half of the time, instead of all of it."
Antonio was silent before looking up, steely determination in his green eyes. "I didn't give up through years of him swearing at me and pushing me away; I'm not going to give up now."
Francis shook his head. "You are too stubborn, mon ami. Fine. I have to go bother Arthur now in the student council room, but I will see you later. You, me, and Gil will go drinking tonight, yes?"
Despite himself, the brunet grinned. Some things don't change, after all. "Si," he replied. When his friend had left, Antonio sprang up from the grass, cheery mood regained. He had work to do, if he was going to win his Lovi back. The first step? To let Lovino know he was back. He needed to figure out where those two went. Antonio pulled out his phone. He knew just who to call.