Ffffuuuuu~ Second chapter! ; u ;
Thank you to all those who liked the first one.
Again: Axis powers Hetalia and it's characters belong to Hidekaz Himaruya.
Philippines belongs to me.
Human names are used and this is set in an alternate universe. Enjoy! Please R & R!
Maria told him to take a bath first to freshen himself before they would eat lunch. She had prepared the bath for him then made her way back to the kitchen. Antonio took the offer and also took his time in scrubbing his body thoroughly. He had been out in the forest for quite some time. He was only able to bathe in rivers and other bodies of water he stumbled upon.
After a few minutes, he came out of the bathroom wearing a white polo shirt and brown pants that was matched by a pair of black boots reaching just below his knee. His hair was dripping wet and his polo shirt was half unbuttoned. He dried his hair with the towel he brought with him then went straight down to where Maria was.
"Oh! You're done." She smiled at him as she prepared the table for lunch. She was carrying a tray of plates and dining utensils. Antonio noticed this and walked beside the girl. "Let me help you with that." He offered.
"N-No need! I can manage!" Maria insisted thinking it rude for a guest to do her chores.
"I insist! It is the only thing I can do to repay your kindness."Antonio smiled reassuringly making the girl frown a bit and give in to his demand. She handed the tray to the man then helped him set the table.
He glanced at her as they were both preparing the table. "Maria?" he began.
"Yes?" Maria faced him with a beaming smile.
"What did you and Spratly mean by that 'I missed you'? I mean, did you leave him for quite a while?" he asked curiously. She chuckled hearing his question.
"Spratly went on a month's vacation at out Aunt's house in the capital. He just returned this morning." She replied calmly. Antonio nodded in understanding. "Sorry if I sound like someone intruding your personal life even though we just met."
"Oh!" she looked at the man then shook her head, "No, it's fine, really. So, where did you come from Antonio?" His eyes widened at the question. "W-Well..." he started nervously, "it's somewhere really far. I think you don't really know the place."
"Come on, please tell me? I'll look for it in the map!" she joked.
"W-Well... uh... it's—"his reply was cut short when an old woman's voice sounded from the kitchen.
"Maria! Maria, dear, please go get Spratly so we can eat." The old woman commanded through the kitchen. The girl answered with a loud yes then went out to where the little boy was—at the garden.
Antonio watched as she went outside to call for the little boy. He wondered if this was their daily routine. He prepared the table for dinner then went into the kitchen after that. As he passed through the door of the kitchen, he saw an old four-eyed woman with greying hair and hunched back. She wore a plain old woman dress with a pink apron on top. The old woman turned around and saw the man standing behind her. Her chapped lips pulled up into a smile as her dark brown eyes lay on the green orbs of the man opposite to hers.
"You must be Antonio, Maria's new friend." She began, wiping her hands on her apron. Antonio nodded and smiled politely, "Yes, I am Antonio. You must be her grandmother." The old woman smiled, "Yes, please call me Corazon." She removed her apron and placed it on a hanger. "May I ask a favour of you? If it's alright, that is." Antonio walked towards the pot of hot soup.
"What is it, dear?" Corazon took out a pitcher of cold water from the refrigerator.
Antonio lifted the pot, "Well..."
"Let's pray first." Corazon clasped her hands together in a praying position. Spratly raised his hand and waved it vigorously, "I want to lead!" Maria giggled and clasped her hands together then nodded to Spratly telling him to start. Maria's attention was then transferred to the traveller across her seat. He didn't know what to do. Maria waved at him and told him to put his hands together and join in the prayer. Antonio placed his hands together in front of his chest.
Spratly then started with the sign of the cross, "Almighty Father, thank you for this bountiful meal that we are about to receive. Thank you for the opportunity you have given us to eat with our loved ones. May more blessings come our way as we face the rest of the day with huge smiles upon our face. Amen." The prayer ended again with the sign of the cross.
"Let's eat!" Maria clapped her hands happily and started giving Spratly some soup.
"Maria..." the old woman began, "I wish to inform you something." Maria stopped what she was doing and faced the old woman.
"What is it, grandma?" she smiled in question, tilting her head to the side. The old woman glanced at Antonio who then nodded in reply.
"Antonio is going to stay here in our house for a while, is that alright with you?" Corazon told her calmly. Maria's eyes widened at the news but it was only for a split-second. "O-Of course it's fine! Why would it not be?" she smiled.
Antonio released a small breath of relief hearing that the girl had no problem with him staying there. All of a sudden, Spratly threw his utensils on the ground and stood up, "No! I do not agree to this! I don't want him staying in our house!" After that, he ran off towards his room—angry.
"Spratly!" Maria called out to him then ran after the little boy. The old woman and Antonio were left alone in the dining room. Corazon released a distressed sigh; she could not believe Spratly would disagree. Antonio looked at her with disappointed yet curious eyes. "I'm so sorry for how Spratly acted, Antonio. He was never like that—just now." She pinched the bridge of her nose in trying to lessen the headache she felt.
Antonio shrugged, "N-No, it's fine. I can understand." Then he smiled reassuringly. "Thank you for understanding; I will talk about this with Spratly later."
A few weeks had passed since Antonio stayed in the house of a girl he met coincidentally on the beach. Every day they would walk by the beach while talking about each other's life. Antonio had grown attached to Maria and so did she.
"You know," he began, "I just realized that I never asked how old you are." Maria giggled at the shallowness of the man's question, "So did I. I'm 16. I will be turning 17 on the 12th of June."
The man began counting on his fingers, "Wait! That's... 3 days from now!" he exclaimed in surprise. "Why didn't you say so? I could've prepared a gift for you!" he pouted childishly. They kept walking by the beach, side by side, laughing at almost anything.
"You don't need to, you know." Maria smiled, "Just tell me how old you are and when your birthday is!" she childishly walked in front of him and grinned. The man's face heated up instantly. He turned his head to the side to hide his red face. "I'm 18... My birthday's on the 12th of February."
"Heeeeh... We both have our birthdays on the 12th!" she smiled and twirled around, playing with the sand on her feet. Antonio stood where he was—dumbfounded. Just now did he realize how much he loves her. She was the kindest, the most gentle, most caring, most loving, and the most beautiful person he ever laid his green orbs upon. Though they both know she's not perfect; she is, for him.
It was Monday, June 12—Maria's birthday. She already turned 17. "Happy 17th Birthday, Maria!" Antonio greeted her happily with his infamous goofy smile. Maria's cheeks turned red, she smiled gratefully and replied with a 'Thank you.'
Spratly was crying hard on one corner of the room. "What's wrong, Spratly?" the man asked, tapping the shoulder of the crying boy. "A-Ate... she..." he tried to speak, choking in sobs in between. Antonio cocked his head to the side, "What's wrong with Maria?"
"She's going to the capital tomorrow. She'll be gone for a long time!" Spratly burst out in tears, even harder than how he cried before Antonio talked to him. "I'm sure she'll come back early." He gave him a reassuring smile.
Spratly glared at him, "You don't understand! She's going to live there! She's never coming back."
His heart broke as soon as the boy finished his sentence. How? Why? His mind was filled with questions.
"Yes, it's true." A voice from behind the boys was heard. Antonio turned around to find Maria standing by the door frame with moist eyes.
"Why? Aren't you happy here?" Antonio asked—hurt.
"I am, in fact, very happy. There are just some things I need to attend to." She smiled weakly, her tears slowly running down her cherubic face.
"Then, why leave?" he asked, thinking that talking might change her mind.
"I have neglected a promise. I am to fulfill it." She forced a smile, yet her eyes kept tearing up. "I'll come visit!" she tried to brighten up the mood.
Antonio kept his eyes on the ground. His whole being was swallowed by disappointment and heart break. He lifted his face, meeting her hazel eyes. "I understand."
T-There... second chapter! ; u ;
I hope you like it! Hopefully, next chapter, Arthur will appear!