Flowers and Chocolates

Part 4: Ludwig & Feliciana

It was almost like being at a carnival~

Which was lots of fun, because Feliciana loved carnivals. Whenever one came to town, she'd always beg her nonno or Lovi or Ludwig to take her. And then she'd spend the entire day having tons and tons of fun. They'd eat cotton candy and watch all of the performers and ride on the rides... Those days were always her favourite days.

And today, her school was almost exactly like a carnival.

Because it was all decorated! There were paper hearts everywhere—hanging from the walls and the ceilings. Pink and red streamers hung from the doorframes; it seemed like almost everyone was dressed up in Valentine's colours.

There were still classes, but lots of the teachers had decided to just do easy stuff today since most of the students were too excited to concentrate.

Feli was really happy that her nonno was the principal. He made school so much more fun.

And there was even a mariachi band wandering around, playing music and singing to people! That was one of the best parts of the entire day!

They had been following Lovi around until an hour or so ago. But then Feli's sister had yelled at them to stop and they'd decided to just go off and play to other people too. Which honestly, Feli thought was much more fun than when they'd just been playing for Lovi.

She squeezed the arm that she was currently attached to and looked up with an excited, "Ve~ Everyone looks like they're having so much fun! Don't they, Ludwig?"

It was her favourite time of the school day too! Lunch time! And she even knew that they'd be having spaghetti today. Spaghetti covered with Grandpa Roma's super tasty, super secret, super special tomato sauce. And there'd be special red and pink Valentine's Day cupcakes for dessert.

If only Ludwig would be more excited about everything... Right now he was just walking along, not looking very excited at all. Just walking along like it was a normal, boring day at school.

"Ve~ doesn't Ludwig like Valentine's Day?"

And she was rather startled when Ludwig stopped dead in his tracks at her words. Managing to jerk her slightly.

"Ludwig?"

He was turning all red now... And was refusing to look at her, which was very strange, unless...

Oh no! Maybe Ludwig was being so quiet because he was sick. And she hadn't noticed because she was so excited about Valentine's Day and getting to have some of Grandpa Roma's super tasty, secret, and special spaghetti for lunch!

She'd been such a bad friend to poor Ludwig! She hadn't even noticed that he wasn't feeling well!

"J—ja," and now he finally spoke, which helped alleviate some of her panic. Because at least he hadn't lost his voice. That would just be sad. Feli couldn't imagine being so sick that you couldn't talk anymore. "I—I enjoy Valentine's Day. I—I actually had something I wanted to...to..."

Why was Ludwig's voice shaking so much? And why was he turning so red?

He must be very sick!

"It's okay, Ludwig!" And she hurriedly grabbed his hand before he could continue to talk—if he was sick, he should conserve his strength! "We can go to the Nurse's Office before we go to get Nonno's super tasty, super secret, super special spaghetti!"

"W—was?"

"Don't worry, Ludwig!" And she tugged—or attempted to tug; he didn't actually move at all—him back in the direction of the Nurse's Office. "We'll make sure you're all better so you can enjoy Valentine's Day!"

Except he didn't follow her. Instead he shook his head and managed to pull his head away. "Nein. Nein, Feli. I'm not sick. I needed to—to ask you something."

Ludwig wasn't sick?

Feliciana tilted her head to the side in confusion. Then why was he acted so funny? But then she nodded. "Ve, okay! What does Ludwig want to ask me?"

And now he started turning that funny shade of red again. Before he glanced around the hallway... Nobody was around; they were probably already all in the cafeteria, eating Nonno's delicious spaghetti. Hopefully they'd save some for her and Ludwig...

"I—I wanted to..." He hesitated and then reached into his pocket, pulling out a little dark blue box. "I got you this. Since it's Valentine's Day and that is the...traditional...time to do this."

Ve~?

She reached forward, taking the little box in her hands. Ludwig had gotten her a present? But she hadn't gotten him anything... She hesitated a moment, glancing up at her friend before removing the lid.

And inside was a little ring.

A tomato ring.

She stared at it in surprise. And then smiled brightly. It was a ring with a little tomato on top! So cute!

"I—since it's Valentine's Day, I thought that it would be the appropriate time to tell you that I—that I—" Ludwig continued, turning even more and more red. "That I—that I—that I like you..."

"Ve~! I like you too, Ludwig!" She took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger, admiring it for a moment before deciding that Ludwig needed to be thanked appropriately. With a very big hug! "Grazie!"

And he actually hugged her back!

A/N: Ludwig and Feli are adorable. And clueless.

Just as a note for anyone wondering, yes, Feli did just put the ring on her left ring finger. Which you know her sister's sure-as-hell gonna notice. Hehe.

And I didn't do this from Ludwig's POV because it's more fun to make this super ambiguous. Hehehe.

Hehehehehehe. I'm in an evil mood today.

Also, the song "Be My Valentine" by Svetlana Loboda (from the 2009 Eurovision) has henceforth become this story's theme song. Because I've had it on repeat while writing the past like three chapters. Although it doesn't really work with this chapter... (It will definitely work when I get to Franny's later chapter, though).