warnings: Some grammar mistakes.

Chapter 14

"Thank you Ivan." Elizabeta smiled as she sat comfortably at the soft cushioned chair. She had her hair styled in big sexy waves placed on her left side. She wore a one piece, champagne coloured cocktail dress; straight tube top and an above the knee skirt. "Good evening Gilbert." She added with a smile as Gilbert responded to greet her back.

The German's initial reaction was to look at the Russian who is standing behind the woman he dreamed to have as his girlfriend. The turn of events was overwhelming and shocking for him to take all in; it was too fast that it made him so confused and dumbfounded. "What the hell is going on? He did all of this just to set me up for a blind date?" Gilbert asked himself, it would be improper for him to ask that question in front of Elizabeta. He felt slightly insulted and offended in a reasoning that it's like he's not man enough to ask a girl out for a date. But Gilbert was hurt more when he realized that he was being deceived. He wondered; did Ivan really mean when he said that he love him? Or was it all bullshit.

"I shall take my leave now, have fun you two." Ivan smiled at the girl then to his roommate who is still in a state of shock and confusion. As the Russian was about to go, Elizabeta grabbed his hand by the wrist. Gilbert glanced at the connected hands of the two people in front of him. Ivan looked down at the girl and wondered why she stopped him.

"Thank you for everything. I really appreciate it." She smiled at Ivan "Have a nice and safe flight back to Russia tonight." She added then let go of him.

"...flight back to Russia?!" Gilbert was struck on what he just heard; there was an intense look on his eyes.

"U-uhmm thanks." The Russian stuttered as he worriedly glanced at his roommate. He forgot to tell to Elizabeta that she shouldn't mention that he'll be going back to his country. Ivan noticed that Gilbert had his head down; his eyes were focused at the opposite side on where Ivan stood. "Gilbert, I—"He called his roommate but he was cut off.

"You should go. We don't want you to miss your flight." The German coldly said. There was a moment of silence. The Russian wanted to say something but from the look of things, the German already closed any possible way for any further conversations between the two of them.

Ivan just made a one last timid smile at Elizabeta before heading out of the room. The German didn't bother to look at his roommate. The Russian leaned back at the door he just closed. He had his head down trying to hold his tears and control his emotions. He wanted to stay but he also had a reason to leave and go back to his motherland.

A black sedan was waiting for him as he got out from the restaurant. Ivan took one last glance and hoped that Gilbert might have followed behind and to say his goodbye but his roommate didn't came. The driver opened the back door for him to enter the car.

"Ivan, are you sure about this?" a woman sitting on the back of the car asked him. She had a short, bob cut blonde hair with front fringes clipped on one side. Her blue eyes and beautiful delicate face expressed worry towards her younger sibling.

"...Yes" Ivan answered hesitantly to his older sister.

"My assistants are already done in taking out all of your stuffs at your apartment."

"Is that so? Well then, I guess I have no reason to go back there anymore. Let's go."

The car directly went to the airport and parked at a nearby hangar. A private jet awaited the siblings to get on board. Ivan had a moment of resistance, fighting over himself if he really should go; it's a hard choice between his family and the one he loved. He heard his older sister called him as she went inside the small aircraft. "They need me..." he reasoned out pertaining to his family "...and he doesn't." He mumbled and referred to Gilbert. He convinced himself that his action is for the benefit of all.

The dinner date went fine; the German and the Hungarian girl talked about random stuffs about themselves and other people that they're related with. But it was evident that Gilbert wasn't at his best state tonight to impress Elizabeta. Yet he still tried to pull himself together and bring out his typical happy-go-lucky personality. He had some out of the blue moments where he'd just pause and be silent for no reason. Elizabeta didn't say a word about her observation but she knew that the man he was with is thinking about Ivan.

After the dinner, they went to a nearby park to stroll and get some fresh air. And afterwards, Gilbert offered to accommodate Elizabeta on her way home, but she declined.

"It's dangerous for a lady like you to go home alone late at night. There are bad guys out there." Gilbert insisted.

"Oh c'mon it's not that late. I can handle myself." She winked at him. "I know you're just concern, but I assure you, I'll be okay. Besides I think you have a more important thing to do."

"Huh? What would that be?" Gilbert wondered. He thought that girls are really difficult to read and to know what's going on inside their head.

"You still have time to say a proper goodbye."

"To you? Are you already rejecting me?"

"You silly! I meant to say goodbye to Ivan." Elizabeta noticed a sudden change from Gilbert's mood. He looked away and avoided to talk about the Russian.

"Does it matter?"

"Ivan and I might've not been close but you both are. You're his friend. And based from what I've seen, you seem not to care for him. It's like no big deal that he just left. Do you even have an idea on what he's going through?"

"He left without saying a word. If you haven't said about it, I wouldn't have known."

"Ivan told me that you liked me. He persuaded me to have a date with you because he wanted to see you happy before he goes back to Russia. When he said to me 'please take care of Gilbert', I was moved by his compassion for you that's why I agreed to his request." Elizabeta looked at Gilbert as she stopped before him "...Are you that tough?" she asked.

"I'm sorry...Please, forgive me." He mumbled.

"Don't be sorry for me. I'm not mad nor dislike you. I just feel sad for you if you let go of a loved one just like that."

"A loved one..." said to himself as he looked at Elizabeta.

"Now get the hell out of here and go to the airport!" she happily cheered.

"B-but what about you, I can't leave you alone."

"Dude, don't worry! I've got this!" Elizabeta opened her handbag and took out a frying pan.

Gilbert was left dumbfounded about what his date just did "Girls and their bags...are quite odd and frightening." Said to himself and wondered what other weird stuffs might be inside the handbag.

"Anyone who tries to hurt me will have a taste of what my frying pan can do!" she posed, holding the pan as if it was a sword.

"Are you sure about this?"

"What are you still doing here, go to Ivan now!" she shooed Gilbert away by swinging her frying pan to him.

"Thank you! I had fun tonight, stay safe okay?" Gilbert waved goodbye as he ran away from her and rode a cab to the airport.

"Ah boy love..." Elizabeta happy smiled as she returned her pan inside her bag. "Ouuu...Excuse me?!" she annoyingly blurted as she placed both her hands on her waist and turned around when she felt someone bumped her from the back.

"I-I'm sorry." A man was on his knees, searching for something on the pavement. "Could you help me find my glasses? I accidentally dropped it somewhere." He requested as his hands kept on searching the ground.

Elizabeta helped the man and finally saw the clear glasses at the grass area just beside the walkway. "Found it! Here yah go." She lent the eyeglasses to the owner.

As soon as the man put on his specs, he cleared out any dirt that got onto his hands and clothes. "Thank you Miss." He smiled to her "I'm Roderich by the way." Then he offered his hand.

Elizabeta stared at the guy "Oh my, he's a cutie." She felt like she hit the jackpot tonight. It was like love at first sight and she was attracted to him. After that, the two was able to get to know each other and had a fun chat.

"C'mon Ivan pick it up." Gilbert kept on dialling his roommate's number but he wasn't able to connect the call. "Shit!" he madly cursed. His phone died when the battery was drained at the wrong time and place. He was agitated and anxious at the moment. He can't put himself to relax and sit still at the back seat of the cab. And the heavy traffic worsened the situation. As soon as the cab was on line at the airport's taxi unloading area, he immediately paid the driver and ran out of the vehicle.

Gilbert hastily walked inside the terminal to find Ivan. He looked at the flight schedules and focused on the ones that are still available. He had no clue that his roommate didn't take a commercial flight. A tap on his shoulder made him turn around, for a second it made him smile because he thought it was Ivan, but it was only the cab driver.

"You forgot your change and receipt." The driver said as he handed over the paper bills and some coins.

Gilbert said his thanks as the driver walked away. He immediately roamed around the place and keenly searched at the waiting and holding area. As he heard the announcement for the last flight to Russia, he felt like his energy started to drain, he was losing hope to find Ivan. After two and half hours of searching, Gilbert decided to just quit it and go home. He lounged back at the back seat of the cab as he stared outside the glass window. The continuous trail of yellow lights at the road side was hypnotizing and it helped him calm in some way. It was a long day and he was definitely worn-out.

His apartment was pitch-black as he got inside. It was quiet. It took him a second before turning the lights on. Despite what happened hours ago, his mind can't still grasp that fact that there won't be anyone with him at his apartment. That starting tonight, he'll be leaving alone and for the days to come. Felt like he was frozen from where he stood near the main door, Gilbert called his roommate "Ivan, stop playing games and come out now!" there was no answer. "Okay! You got me, you win!" he said with a louder voice as he moved around to find his roommate. He opened his roommate's wardrobe but he found not a single piece of clothing and noticed that all of Ivan's stuffs are already gone except for his bed.

"Ivan please...I'm tired." He talked in a tearful manner as he slumped down on the floor and leaned his body on the side of his bed. "This is not a funny joke!" he whined and mumbled in frustration as he flexed his knees to his chest and hugged himself.

A chirp called his attention. Gilbert looked down and before of him was his pet bird. Gilbird had a piece of the sunflower petal on his beak and dropped it gently on the floor then chirped twice at his owner. Gilbert picked up the single petal and stared at it. He sobbed knowing that the flowers aren't worthy anymore. He had a remorseful and guilt feeling that he wasn't able to give it to Ivan nor had a chance to say what he's suppose to tell to him.

Gilbert stood up and grabbed the panda bear in which he acquired when they went at the amusement park. He sat down on the floor in front of the main door. He embraced the bear that's placed on his lap and rested his chin at the top of its head. Gilbird followed his owner and landed on the floor beside him.

"I'll wait for Ivan. Will you stay with me until he's here? Please..." the German begged as he tried to stay awake and then stroke his pet's head. Gilbert remained to be optimistic that Ivan would come home. Minutes, hours and the day after, his roommate never came back.

Days had passed, Gilbert still waited for Ivan. Sometimes he would just sit in front of the main door, staring at it blankly, just to imagine his roommate opening that door and greet him with a smile on his face. "He'll come back. He can't stand me being alone here. I know he'll come back. He promised that he won't leave Me." Gilbert kept on saying these words and almost as if he was like chanting it to himself; it served as his encouragement and also a false reassurance.

Ever since Ivan left, it made Gilbert feel very depressed that it already affected his daily life. There are nights were he can put himself to sleep and ended up crying hysterically as he lay on Ivan's bed. He kept on calling Ivan's phone even he already knew that the cellphone number is already inactive. He lost count on how many messages he sent and wished that he'll receive even just one reply from his former roommate.

Francis and Antonio were concerned about Gilbert's overall condition since he's starting to show signs of depression; lack of enthusiasm to do things, losing weight and isolation. Even simple things like hanging out or play arcade games, Gilbert had no motivation and hesitated to go with them. They never expected that Ivan would greatly affect their friend this way.

TBC. thank you for reading. reviews are greatly appreciated. have a nice day ^^