SUNDAY: if you can't guess, chapter title at the end (clue: the song Lovi will play; I think I've given a hint in one of the last few chapters)

(to those who had seen this coming… *wink*)


Everything passed like a blur for Antonio. What is happening?


"I'll still do it. I'll confess tomorrow," Lovino said meaningfully to the Spaniard. Actually, it was his answer to what Antonio said a while ago. But he has to wait until tomorrow, until Lovino is well-prepared for everything. After all, he still has to show-off his romancing skills to the Spaniard.

Antonio just stared blankly at him.

"So… tomorrow, you have to come to Bella's birthday with me, okay?" the Italian told him. He glanced at his watch. "I have to go now. I-I'll fetch you tomorrow by three, okay?" Lovino smiled awkwardly as he waved a motionless Antonio goodbye. Finally, tomorrow… He could hardly wait.

Meanwhile, Antonio felt a lump in his throat. What does Lovino want to happen?

One moment he looks smitten for Antonio and then the next he'll just leave him hanging there again?

He still likes Bella after all this time?

But didn't he… didn't he finally accepted Antonio's feelings?

So why?

But then… he hasn't given him a response yet.

Is this… Is this his answer?


When Lovino got home, Elizabeta, Kiku, Ludwig, Feliciano and Roderich are waiting for him.

Lovino was surprised at the three too many persons who are currently in his house. "W-What are you all doing here?" he asked the Hungarian, German and Japanese incredulously.

"I invited Ludwig over, fratello! It's alright, right?" Feliciano piped in.

"Of course not!" the elder Italian snapped.

"Veee… fratello's so mean," the younger Italian pouted and wrapped his arms around Ludwig. The German awkwardly patted his head.

"Get you hands off him, you potato-sucker!" Lovino went to strangle his brother when he heard camera clicks. "Stop taking pictures!" he snarled at Kiku and Elizabeta. "Why are you two here anyways?"

"You're so mean, Lovino. I thought we were friends, how can you invite Mr. Roderich over without me? (established AusHun here)" the Hungarian moped.

"I didn't invite you because I don't have to! And you, you ninja, why are you here!"

"I am always with Elizabeta-san," Kiku answered simply, still taking some candid shots.

"Just go on with you have to do, Lovino. After all, we all know what you were planning, anyways. Besides, you could also count on us to help you," Elizabeta said.

"The last time I asked for your help left me scarred for life," the Italian barked at the Hungarian.

"But in the end, you made up, right?"

"S-Shut up…" the Italian murmured, remembering the day.

"Hem hem," Roderich coughed. "If I may speak, I hope we could start the rehearsal now. We have to practice at least a hundred times to make sure that tomorrow will be perfect…"

"NO WAY!" the two Italians wailed.

"That's too many!" Feliciano whined, horrified.

"I don't want to play with a stiff neck tomorrow!" Lovino retorted.

The Austrian adjusted his glasses. "I don't want any room for imperfection. Or do you want your confession to be undignified?" The way Roderich lectured Lovino made him cringe in embarrassment. How did the Austrian manage to do that?


The next day, Lovino woke up with a very sore neck. Stupid Austrian. He wasn't even contented with a hundred. He made it 102! And everybody thought he was very serious about making things perfect when all he actually wanted was to appreciate the music! What a horrible hobby he has! And it's also tiring! They were up almost all night!

The Italian realized that he slept on a sofa chair (imagine the additional sore muscles) while Elizabeta was on the couch (since she's a lady), the Austrian was on another sofa chair though he was in a perfect posture sitting position. On the other hand, Feliciano, Germany and Kiku were on the floor (positions similar to that episode in the anime when they were stranded in an island). He has no idea why no one decided to sleep in the proper bedroom. Anyways, he instinctively glanced at the wall clock to his left.

Two thirty six.

SHIT.

"Wake up assholes!" he screeched as he flipped the mattress when Ludwig, Feliciano and Kiku were sleeping. The three woke up with strangled shouts and groans.

"What's going on?" Roderich asked as he stirred. Elizabeta was also stimulated by the noise.

"Fratello's gone mad."

"Lovino-kun woke us up."

"Lovino flipped the mattress."

"Where is he?" the Austrian asked again.

"Get your asses moving!" the Italian snarled as he came out of his room already looking gorgeous in his suit. "We'll be late for Bella's birthday!"

"Yeah right," and so the rest also prepared themselves. By 3:04, they had already set out to the road.

"Okay… so, I promised A-Antonio that I'll f-fetch him so go on without me," Lovino told the group. He did not blush when he muttered Antonio's name. Not at all.

So the group left Lovino behind as he braced himself to go fetch the Spaniard.

*knock knock*


When the group arrived at the school, a guard stopped them. "What business do you have here on a weekend?"

Luckily, Roderich was with them. "I'll handle this," and he went to show his teacher's ID to the guard, saying that they will just be having a rehearsal. The guard allowed them in.

"But then, what about Lovino-kun? Will the guard let them in?" Kiku asked sensibly as they walked through the field. the group stopped. What to do?

"Someone has to fetch them," Roderich suggested.

"But I'll still have to do the decorations," Feliciano said.

"Kiku and I will have our own business," Elizabeta grinned evilly.

"I refuse to do so," Roderich said simply.

"J-Ja, I'll do it," Ludwig said, defeated. And he took off. When he arrived back to Antonio's house, he found it peculiar that Lovino was banging his fists on the door.

"W-WHAT T-THE FUCK, ANTONIO!" Lovino screamed. "OPEN UP!"

"I don't want to! I don't want to go Lovi!" Antonio shouted back from the inside.

"WHY? WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU!"

"Why? I should be the one to ask you why. Why do you want me to go with you in that Bella's birthday party?" his voice sound very annoyed,

"Wha- Why… I can't tell you…"

"Why Lovi? Why can't you tell me?"

"It's… It's a secret dammit! Just come out! We're already running late!"

"I don't care. I'm not going."

Lovino was so confused as well. Why is Antonio being stubborn right now? Of all days? They have been dating for a week already, dammit! Why is he being so difficult now?

They have been dating for a week already.

A week.

Seven days.

Oh.

"A-Antonio…" Lovino said shakily. "Is it because a week has passed?"

What is Lovino talking about? Antonio thought.

"So… this is it?"

"…"

"The end?" Lovino's voice cracked. But… But Antonio said he loved him, right? So… why? Why does it still has to end? Or… was that also a part of the game? Did Antonio said those words because they are dating? S-So… he also told other girls that?

Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Antonio was dumbfounded at the Lovino's words. He almost forgot about the rule. Is it really the end?

"G-GAAAAAHHHHH!" Lovino screamed. "W-What are y-you doing here!"

Antonio felt his blood run cold. Who could be hurting Lovino? He slammed the door open to see Ludwig.

"Where's Lovino?" he snarled angrily. He knows Lovino has an evident hate for the German but he did not think the Ludwig would ambush the elder brother of his boyfriend.

"H-He… He flew…" the timid blonde pointed at bushes just beside the Spaniard's door.

"Flew?" Antonio followed Ludwig's finger point. There he saw Lovino slumped on his camellias. He quickly went to see if the Italian had injuries.

"L-Lovi… are you alright?" he fussed over the shocked Italian. "Did you do this to him?" he spat dangerously at the still motionless German.

"Actually…"

"You bastard! Don't slam the door open suddenly like that!" Lovino yelped. "Look at what you've done to my suit!" Some flowers and leaves are sticking out.

"Ah… I did this?" he asked awkwardly.

"J-Ja… when you opened the door, it hit Lovino at he flew…"

"S-Sorry," he apologized for the deed and for suspecting the German.

"What are you doing here anyways?" Lovino asked the German angrily as he fixes himself.

"Y-You'll see… so, shall we get going?"

Lovino glanced at the Spaniard. Antonio turned to go back to his mansion.

"No you don't!" the Italian grabbed Antonio's hand and yanked him back, so that they are face-to-face.

"I said I'm not going, Lovino!"

"I don't care about what you say, you'll come with me even if I have to beg for the potato bastard to drag you!" With this remark, Ludwig felt a bit honored. Just a bit.

"But Lovino-"

"No more buts! I don't even care if we've broken up, I'm planning to break up with you anyway-"

"You what?" Antonio frowned. "What the hell Lovino?"

Lovino was taken aback by the sudden swearing on Antonio's part. He realized that what he had just said wasn't quite nice.

"Are you serious? You're breaking up with me?" Antonio asked very sadly.

"Come with me." Lovino turned around and tried to drag him. He can't face Antonio right now.

"Answer me first." Antonio didn't budge.

"Come with me first."

"Answer me."

"(sigh) I'm sorry Antonio…"

"Is that so…" he let go of Lovino. He bit his lip until he tasted blood.

"L-Ludwig…" Lovino spat bitterly, as if the name was sour in his tongue. The German was at once alerted by the sudden politeness of the elder Italian. He made a hand gesture and Ludwig immediately loomed over and knocked Antonio out. He then carried the Spaniard on his shoulders and they walked to school in silence. Though Ludwig did explain his presence. The German knows that Lovino meant well but he can't help but feel sorry for Antonio at the same time.

On the other hand, Lovino is thinking deeply. It doesn't seem that Antonio was happy about the break up thingy. Is it because he was used to be the one breaking things off? What a proud bastard he was, if ever. But then… if that's the case then what Lovino was about to do might go wrong.

But even so… he'll never know if he won't try right?

He just wished that everything that has happened between them isn't a mere act.

Or else…

"What do you have in there?" the guard asked.

When they arrived at the school, Ludwig was uncomfortable. How could they explain to the guard about the knocked-out body he's carrying? Luckily, Lovino told the guard that it was props.

When they reached the room…

"Why is big brother Antonio knocked out?"

"Long story," Lovino said dismissively. "Tie him up in a chair."

"I never knew you were the sadist-type, Lovino," Elizabeta said as she nurses an impending nosebleed. Even Kiku was blushing behind her.

"Stop with your dirty thoughts," Lovino said lamely. "Do you have something that can wake him up?"

Kiku, handed him a strange ointment. "Let his smell this…"

The Italian held back his question as to why the Japanese man brings something like this with him.

"You can hide now."


Antonio woke up from a very weird and dizzy-ing scent. He saw Lovino in front of him.

"What the-?"

"I didn't want it to be this way, Antonio," Lovino explained himself. "But you're just too stubborn."

"Who- Where the hell are we?" the place looks familiar but Antonio couldn't point it out.

"The music room."

"Why… I thought we are going to the birthday party?"

"I… I had to do this first before we go. Or else… Or else Bella will confess to you-"

"So what is this now? You're briefing me so I won't accept her confession? So you can confess to her?" the Spaniard muttered venomously at Lovino.

"What the hell are you talking about?" the Italian was utterly confused.

"Wha- aren't you… didn't you say you'll confess to Bella!"

"When did I ever say that!"

"But you said…"

"When did I ever think about Bella when I'm with you?"

"…what?"

"Ahhh! Forget it! I broke up with you already so…" Lovino tried to hide his embarrassment. But Antonio was still absorbed with his last remark.

"What do you mean… you don't think about her…"

"I don't think about anybody else!" But then the Italian slapped his hand on his mouth. Dammit I slipped again. "Arrghhh! You're ruining my plans you know what!"

"Ha… ha ha… Lovi you're confusing…" he started calling the Italian his pet name again.

"Shut up! I'm not your Lovi yet!" Lovino snarled. "Arrghhh! Never mind bastard! J-Just… Just listen to me first."

He took the violin and positioned himself. "Look at the clock, Antonio." The music started playing. Lovino smiled and he started playing on the right timing.

The melody was different from the one he heard Lovino play the first time he listened to him. It was also different from the one he was supposed to play for Bella. This one has a catchy and happy tone, unlike the first two which were too lonely.

Antonio recognized the song. He heard it from Feliciano during the camp. He knows the lyrics as well. It was a song that he thought, ahh, this kind of suits me and Lovino.

So this means…?

Lovino stopped playing, but there was still some background music. Antonio suspected that Feliciano was one of the background musicians. Lovino definitely prepare for this…

"I've broken up with you Antonio… because I don't want a relationship that started as an accident. I don't want a relationship where I don't know if you're just acting out on a pattern. I want a relationship where I know everything it real. And I don't want a relationship that'll just last for a week, especially when it's with you," Lovino finally said, trying very hard not to falter. He untied Antonio from the chair. When the music finally ended…

"Antonio. I like you. Please go out with me."


"Veee… fratello is being eaten up."

"Feliciano… the way you say it is so…"

"Huff… huff… that's just so… so hot… (taking a video)"

"(camera clicks and angular movements)"

"They seemed to have forgotten about us, really. How rude."

After taking enough blackmail and other purposes material, the group went to Bella's birthday party where Elizabeta told Bella that Lovino's gift for her is to be found on her video cam.

That night…

Lovino and Antonio are sitting together on a couch in Antonio's mansion, watching a romantic chick flick. The Italian has his head resting on the Spaniard's left shoulder, his hair touching the taller's neck. Antonio's left hand meanwhile is on Lovino's left shoulder, holding the Italian is place. Under the blanket, their feet are tangled with each other's (to produce more warmth, dammit! just warmth!). Between them is a bucket of popcorn and some cookies.

Lovino felt his cellphone vibrate.

"Hmmm. Lovi? Who's that?" Antonio peeked.

"Uhm… Bella? Damn she must be angry 'cause we didn't show up…"

Antonio moved his left arm leaned Lovino's head closer to him with his hand. He planted a kiss on the Italian's forehead.

"You don't have to be jealous, idiot…"

"He he he, can't help it, sorry. So what did she say?"

Lovino read the message.

Fr: Bella
Sub: Birthday Gift
Message: That was so hot, Lovino.
I think you and Antonio really suit
each other well, congratulations!
Thanks for your video!

"What. The. Hell?"


fin

Title: Nine in the Afternoon
String version: /watch?v=frhtrLcvKes (add to youtube address)

I just stumbled this song while searching for your suggestions, then I got carried away and watched doujins instead and an USUK doujin (if I'm not mistaken, it's "Appear") has this as background music… and I was like, whoa! I think it's catchy, not really the solemn type. Then I searched for the lyrics and I kinda felt that it suits their situation… yay! It's like a destined encounter! I hope it's an alright pick.

Aaaand this marks the end of this story (though I have a one-chapter sequel in mind). Thank you very much for all the support until now, even though this is hardly any good. Also thanks to those who added this on their alerts and favorites, of course, to those who left reviews, especially those who did almost every chapter. I know, I don't reply to those (sorry for that, because most of the time, I just don't know what to say…) but I really really really appreciate them. They inspired me to write faster…

Thank you!

Until next time!