I decided to go out for lunch on a whim. I was sick of Eduard's Pikkara, and I really wanted to get outside after cowering in my room, or cleaning the kitchen, or even doing Ivan's laundry. Cleaning always brought up my mood, because of the content isolation, and quiet time to think about the little things, and the big things too. Now, cleaning only reminds me of Alfred, and after the experience at his house no more than two weeks ago, I wanted to get that out of my head.
I find myself at a small salad bar, and sit at a two-person table, looking up and down throughout the menu. As I glanced to my left and right, I noticed the other nations were giving me mocking looks, and Peter decided to go all out and just point and laugh. I checked my waist in panic, wondering if I left my apron on. No, I took that off. I checked my feet seconds after. No, I didn't wear socks with my sandals. I wondered what It was. Maybe they weren't laughing at me...?
"Sir? Anything to drink?" I hear my waiter say. Oh, right, I forgot I came here for lunch.
"An iced tea will be nice, thank you."
"Sweetened?"
"No sir, thank you."
"I'll be back with your drink."
The waiter turned on his heel and went to wherever it is waiters go in restaurants. I looked around once more, and somehow, Felicks just happened to sit in the chair in front of me, covering his mouth that was obviously in a smirk. He snapped his fingers and along came Eduard and Raivis, pulling up chairs and all exchanging looks and snickers. My fingers were clenching in frustration that I didn't know I even had.
"What's going on?" I grumbled through my teeth. Raivis backed his chair up a little bit. Eduard just widened his eyes, and Felicks, well, he's just Felicks.
"Like, totally chill man, seriously. We're here to discuss something very important. It's a matter of life and death!"
I gasped and leaned in closer, anxious to know what it was. Felicks opened his mouth until Eduard…
"YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ALFRED!" he spat out, then covered his mouth, eyes flickering around the room. My eye twitched, my mouth was wide open, and I think my fists were so tightly closed that my fingernails were making my hands bleed. The waiter brought back the iced tea, and he saw my face and just ran out, mumbling something polite to excuse himself. I got the tea and spilled all of it on Eduard's face, because I was hoping desperately he didn't actually find out. I was holding onto the possible, uh, possibility that he was just joking.
Raivis laughed at his face until I glared at him, too, and then he just clung onto Eduard. I then glared at Felicks; my face was demanding answers.
"Everybody knows, Toris. It's okay," he began, smiling warmly, "if that's how you feel then – "
"WHO TOLD YOU?!" I shouted, pounding my fist on the table. I didn't want anyone to know, obviously, just because it's so embarrassing that I was deeply attracted to the most oblivious guy on the planet. Raivis sounded like he was about to cry, but I just ignored that.
"Well, uh, it was Francis…"
"Francis? I never told him anything!" I exclaimed, now standing up, forgetting I was in public. I took quick glances around, and I could have sworn Peter probably peed in his pants by his expression. At least he wouldn't be laughing at me anymore. I was panting then, probably because shouting takes so much energy. I didn't know how Ivan or Ludwig did it, or even how Alfred could just be so flat-out loud.
I sat down, burying my face in my hands from embarrassment and shock that my little secret had been uncovered. I was trying to think of who would tell Francis, the bastard who can't keep a secret obviously.
"W-well…" Raivis stuttered out, raising his trembling hand, "It-t c-couldn't-t have b-been K-kiku, since he d-does-sn't t-talk to F-franc-cis…"
I lifted my head with a hopeful expression, likely scaring Raivis… but that doesn't matter, everything scares him.
"Well, then that leaves Arthur and Matthew," Eduard added, pulling out a calculator. I didn't really get why he needed a calculator to realize that. Out of impatience, and just to get Ed back for shouting out loud, I took the calculator and threw it behind me, hopefully hitting Peter. Eduard frowned at me.
"And Arthur can't stand Francis, but really, who can?" Felicks joked while giggling. I snickered a bit myself, probably because Felicks looks like a girl when he does, uh, everything. I thought he was doing that just to be funny, if so, then he should do stand-up. I stopped laughing, then looked at the three in front of me.
"Matthew. It was Matthew."
They gave each other glances, but now with serious faces, then looked back to me.
"That's v-very l-likely…" Raivis stuttered, looking over to Felicks, "b-but he has-s more to t-tell you…"
I turned to Felicks, desperate expression on my face, and he just smiled.
"Francis held a meeting – "
"ABOUT ME?!" I interrupted. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions, it just sounded accurate.
"No, Torrie. Anyways, he also spoke of Matthew's, Arthur's, and Kiku's feelings for Alfred. The only five that weren't there included in the meeting were the 'Alfred lovers'," he giggled, "and Alfred himself."
I gestured my hand for him to go on, I wasn't in the mood to tolerate dramatic pauses.
"So… we placed bets on who would win Alfred first and successfully."
I gasped, and fell back in my chair, feeling tears well up in my eyes. I was a game now. I was a small piece rolling dice to get to the finish line, which would be Alfred, I'm guessing. Not only that, but I'm being bet on. I tried to just ignore what he just said, but it was impossible to brush off the fact that I'm part of a stupid "get-rich-quick" scheme.
"So, you all betted on me," I mumbled out, looking down at the napkin, my heels clicking together with no rhythm.
"A-actually, n-no, not-t all of us…" Raivis peeped out, flickering eyes to and away from me. I raised my eyebrow in curiosity. The embarrassment just couldn't end.
"What? You are my brothers! And you – " I turned to Felicks, "you're my best friend!"
"Chill," Felicks whispered, putting a hand on my shoulder, "I put one million dollars and Mr. Sprinkles on you. I bet on you," he patted my shoulder to cheer me up. My lips made a small smile. To have him bet his favorite pony on my meant a lot, probably meaning he thinks there's no way I would lose. My hopes went up.
"Who else bet on me?" I asked, with eager eyes. Raivis and Eduard pulled their collars and made pathetic facial expressions.
"Nobody else did, Toris. We're sorry," Eduard uttered, while cleaning his glasses, then looked back up at me to finish. "Raivis and I voted for Arthur, personally because we think he will win, don't take it personal."
"Personal?" I repeated, feeling a surge of rage up my spine. "Personal? You bet money on people falling in love, like we're stupid racehorses or basketball teams, don't even vote for me, because I'm obviously never going to have a chance with Alfred, since you think British-McBushy-brow is going to win, and you're telling me to not take it PERSONAL?" I had a death grip on the back of my chair, in a position to throw it, and just glared as hard as I could at Eduard.
"Forget this," I mumbled, walking away. I was so angry with Eduard at the moment. What made him think he could tell his own brother that he's not good enough for Alfred? I just didn't want to look at him. No, I wanted to move out.
"Liet! Where are you going?!" Felicks called out, walking a few meters behind me, with his heels clicking at a brisk-walking pace.
"I'm moving back in with Alfred," I answered, not turning back, nearly stomping back to the house. I stopped hearing the clicking noises.
"You'll prove them wrong, Torrie! Go get him!" he exclaimed, then clicked back to the salad bar.
I grinned, enjoying the thought of proving everyone wrong. As corny and feminine as Felicks could be, he was my best friend, and even though he can bug the crap out of me, I couldn't resist but give into his charm and skills in socialization. I shake my head while opening the front door, then putting a hand on my stomach. I had forgotten I was supposed to eat.
Shrugging it off, and looking around the house to make sure Ivan wasn't home, I run up to my room, and pack clothing, toothbrush, Foje cassettes and autographed t-shirts, and my basketball. I put them all in a suitcase and sprinted out the door, trying to recall every turn and road to Alfred's house.
Well, hopefully, my future house.
(A/N) OHMIGAWD. Sorry it took a bit, I was on vacation ^^0
This chapter practically explains how the bets are going to work, and how Liet feels about it.
Which wouldn't be very highly.