"Wow! That was an amazing number! Are you sure you haven't prepared for this?" Canada asked Philippines, with a happy smile on his face. He can't deny the fact that he was completely mesmerized at her.
"Actually…I am not prepared for that. YOU SURPRISED ME!" Philippines chuckled, emphasizing the last words.
"There's no wonder why so many people like you. To be honest, I found you a spontaneous person, performing such a number like that impromptu. I'm sure that there were many men chasing for you. If you know what I mean…"Canada added, as he was busy fixing the microphone stand.
"Well…I-I…" Philippines answered timidly, and then the Canadian interrupted her.
"Would you play another song for us, Maria?" Canada asked, holding the lady's shoulder and looked at her expectantly.
"I-I am not sure…but, I'll try." The Filipina replied bashfully, and then walked up on the stage with slow footsteps.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" a voice caught his attention.
He glanced behind his back and saw America holding his favorite soda. He never said a word.
"Come on, dude! You got to go over there and watch my little sister on stage! She's really awesome, man! I-I can't believe that she completely got us all with that talent!" America persuaded, holding the man's arm, trying to pull him inside.
"Alright…fine." the man asked the young nation with a solemn look in his green eyes. America chuckled.
"What? Is there something wrong?"
America replied, "No…actually…I want you to do me a favor."
A favor?
That thought slapped the man's brain, almost crushing it in uncertainty.
"W-what favor?"
"Would you sing with her at the stage? It's been a long time, since I've heard you sing, Artie!" America said with a grin. That man, England, wore a shocked look upon his face.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL ARE YOU THINKING, America?" the Brit exclaimed.
"Please Iggy! Come on, please do this for me…or should I say…DO THIS FOR HER!" the Yank said repeatedly, struggling to convinced the annoyed Brit.
England had never tried singing in front of a live audience. Of course, he knew that somehow he has the guts for singing. Still, the fact that he has to sing with Philippines in front of so many people alarmed him. After that breath-taking performance by the Filipina, how would he be able to do his best, not to mention that he was already distracted by her stunning looks? What more if she sang again with that beautiful voice that he heard of for the first time in his life?
Damn…
The Briton sighed and faced America with a determined look.
"Well then, I'll do it." he said firmly, despite of the reality that on the inside, he was trembling with anxiety.
"That's my old man!" the Yank said, followed by a hard slap on the man's back.
"OUCH! Watch it, you idiot!" the man gasped.
As Philippines walked slowly on the stairs, she was trembling.
"Oh no, my feet are shaking. I…I am nervous. How am I going to fight this?" she said to herself softly.
When she reached the platform, she looked at the sight in front of her. She was astounded to see a familiar person waiting for her on the stage.
She looked at him, who was at time, wearing a black pinstriped coat, a red collar buttoned shirt underneath it, and a pair of black leather shoes. He was also having his black tie. The Asian nation glanced at that sandy blond hair with its signature look, which made her grin for a while.
England…
His green orbs were sparkling with the lights as they looked at her ebony eyes, and his infamous smile made her heart leaped unexpectedly.
Not that smile again… the Filipina thought, as she felt that that smile had enthralled her in no time.
She walked straight to him.
"Hey jerk! You're late." Philippines said, teasing the man in front of her.
"No, I am not, fit bird." England said back, as he stared at Philippines from head to toe. He recognized the black cocktail dress which the Filipina was wearing.
He grinned, "I knew it. The dress suits you perfectly."
"Heh!" Philippines smirked, and then she went to the piano. As for England, he sat beside the piano, slightly facing the audience.
After a few seconds, the Filipina signaled the Briton that it's time to start the song.
The audience looked at them with glee. The members of the once Allied nations gave themselves a thumbs-up sign. Hungary, Vietnam and Taiwan watched their friend with their lovely smiles.
Soon, they heard the beautiful music being played in the piano. Soon…it was the Brit's first turn to sing:
She walks in, and I'm suddenly a hero,
I'm taken in, my hopes begin to rise
The Filipina sang next. As her line goes, England managed to blend his voice with his:
Look at me
Can't you tell I'd be so thrilled to see
The message in your eyes
(You make it seem I'm so close to my dream and then suddenly it's all there)
As the two sang the chorus, the audience began to shout cheers for them repeatedly. Frankly, they've been wondering if the two prepared thoroughly for their performance.
"Whoa…they really get their heads into this, aru. Aren't they?" China said.
"B-but they haven't spoken together on what they are going to do for this number, da." Russia added, with a curious look in his eyes.
"That's what you call…amour…" France whispered.
These lines made everyone flabbergasted in amazement:
Suddenly the wheels are in motion,
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Coz I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you
America and Spain were smiling while watching Philippines and England on the stage. Japan was happily taking the two nations with his camera, recording a video of their performance.
The song number goes on:
And how can I feel you're all that matters
I'd rely on anything you say
I'll take care that no illusions shatter
If you dare to say what you should say
(You make it seem I'm so close to my dream and then suddenly it's all there)
In a few seconds, everyone applauded while supporting the two nations:
Suddenly the wheels are in motion,
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Coz I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you
"WAY TO GO!"
"YOU TWO ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GREAT!"
"YEAH!"
Soon they saw the Brit, standing up from his seat. He walked beside Philippines, as he sang. Philippines can't hide a shade of red hue on her cheeks. Her fingers pressed the piano keys swiftly:
Why do I feel so alive when you're near, there's no way any hurt can get thru
Longing to spend every moment of the day with you, with you
Now…the audience began to grow wild and vigorous:
Philippines smiled as she glanced at the Brit with amazement.
Wow…she thought.
The two sang their last chorus with those well-blended voices, which had made the audience, shouts for delight:
Suddenly the wheels are in motion,
And I, I'm ready to sail any ocean
Suddenly I don't need the answers
'Coz I, I'm ready to take all my chances with you
The party became more lively as everyone danced on the floor once again.
England was sitting on one of the soft couches beside a round table, sipping his precious rum. He couldn't believe that he just did the most marvelous thing that he can ever do tonight.
"Bollocks...I can't stand this anymore..." he thought while drinking his glass.
He coincidentally saw the Asian lady, talking with a small group of their fellow countries. All that he could register in his mind was the Filipina's captivating look in that black dress he gave to her.
He remembered that day when he felt the same stunned feeling that he had now-it happened during the Filipina's birthday celebration way back at the Palace. When he saw her that time, one thing was definitely clear for him...he already fell for her ever since that night.
Soon, he growled after realizing that he finished drinking two bottles of rum.
"Nah...I shouldn't drink too much tonight. Oh, why can't I handle myself in times like this? These things are quite...tempting. Oh, God!" he muttered to himself.
Well...despite of his inner conflict about his liquor intake...he ended up drinking five bottles of rum.
Suddenly, someone grabbed one of the bottles right in England's face. The Brit turned his eyes and saw Philippines holding the bottle with her hands.
"You should watch your drinking, jerk!" Philippines said with an anxious look in her eyes.
"Rubbish...I can hold my liquor well than you are, fit bird. I've heard that you Filipinos are mild drinkers, eh." England said with a slightly blurred voice.
"Apparently, not all of my people can hold it. But, somehow we can manage it on our own ways. Also, I would prefer to drink 'basi' in these kinds of parties." Philippines said as she sat beside England.
England began to look at Philippines longingly. Soon, he asked her, "By the way, I'm quite impressed with what you've shown earlier. Your voice..."
"Hah...I was thinking the same way. Yours was great." Philippines said solemnly.
"Oh, really?" England asked in disbelief, as he sipped a little rum from his glass.
"You don't believe me, do you?" Philippines said playfully. Afterwards, she took an old-fashioned, small jar filled with "basi". She opened the cork and took a little drink of the fermented alcohol liquor. The Brit was stunned with his eyes slightly wide open.
"I'm just drinking on special occasions, so you can't consider me as a big-time drunkard." the Filipina said with a small smile.
England chuckled. Suddenly, he stood up, leaving Philippines on the table.
"H-hey, where are you going?" Philippines called.
However, the Brit couldn't hear her. Instead, he looked for his colleagues.
America, France, Russia and China were in the middle of a conversation when they saw England approaching them.
"Geez...England...finally you're here." America said.
"I was having a little talk with...her." England reasoned out. France can't deny his grin towards the Brit.
"Ohonhonhonhonhon! What brings you here, mon ami?"
England went silent for a moment. He breathed deeply, saving his breath, and then asked the four of them.
"Would you mind if we play a song together?" England finally spoke.
China and Russia was surprised. France smiled. America patted him on the shoulder.
It seems like the five of them already read each others minds.
"Sure, Iggy! What are we waiting for?"
Blended sounds of guitar strums and the piano were heard. Everybody started to look at the five male nations on the stage.
England stood proudly, handling the microphone and his precious "six-string". America was on his right side, carrying his electric guitar. Russia was on his left with a guitar too. Farther, at the three nation's backs, was France sitting beside the piano. He haven't brought his accordion, because they're going to have a performance "on-the-spot". At least, he could play the piano too. China was on the far middle part with the drums.
Soon, as their fellow nations were ready to watch them, the five nations began to play in unison.
Afterwards, England sang these lines:
I feel it in my fingers
I feel it in my toes
Love is all around me
And so the feeling grows
Philippines, who was sitting on the table with the small jar of "basi", was shocked. She watched the five on the stage, gluing her eyes on the Brit with a stunned look.
"W-what the?"
It's written on the wind
It's everywhere I go, oh yes it is
So if you really love me
Come on and let it show
Soon, she found out that England was looking at her. She noticed a unique spark in the Brit's emerald-green eyes. Her heart started to pound fast.
"No...what's going on?" Philippines thought to herself.
The Filipina noticed a sense of sincerity and that unexplained sweetness in England's eyes. She could feel her body starting to heat up in mixed emotions. By looking at the foreigner's eyes, Philippines remembered those same eyes which stared at her that night:
"He was looking at me with those deep green eyes. There was something in the way he looked at me. My eyes met his; I was completely and unconsciously mesmerized for some reasons which I don't know."
That was the same way she was feeling right now.
She slowly stood up from her seat and walked slowly to have a closer look at the singing Brit. She carefully listened to England's singing voice. She found it somewhat husky, but captivating and deep. When she remembered him singing her a song at the Palace that Christmas Day, when she was ill, she can't stop thinking about it. His beautiful voice was successively echoing inside her mind since then.
Much with her amazement, these lines began to cause an impact on her. It's as if they're being said to her intentionally:
You know I love you, I always will
My mind's made up by the
way that I feel
there's no beginning,
there'll be no end
'cause on my love you can depend
Philippines continued walking near the stage.
England sang his heart out, as he never take away his eyes off of the Filipina. The music had a swift transition, signaling a new song will be played and heard by everyone:
I gotta take a little time
A little time to think things over
I better read between the lines
In case I need it when I'm older
Aaaah woah-ah-aah
The crowd was shouting, even Hungary, Taiwan and Vietnam, together with their respective interpreters can't stop screaming for the five nations who were playing on the stage:
Now this mountain I must climb
Feels like a world upon my shoulders
And through the clouds I see love shine
It keeps me warm as life grows colder
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Aaaah woah-oh-ooh
Soon, Philippines found herself singing with England while standing amidst the audience:
I'm gonna take a little time
A little time to look around me, oooh ooh-ooh ooh-ooh oooh
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
As the Brit noticed the Asian lady singing with him, he simply smiled and rose up his voice, making it more beautiful to hear:
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
I can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me
Everyone was astounded, when they finally heard the other four nations singing with England. The crowd became wilder:
Let's talk about love
(I wanna know what love is) the love that you feel inside
(I want you to show me) I'm feeling so much love
(I wanna feel what love is) no, you just cannot hide
(I know you can show me) yeah, woah-oh-ooh
France, Russia, China, and most especially, America...were smiling. They ended the performance by playing the final notes.
Soon, the crowd cheered for them, and the song was coming to an end:
I wanna know what love is, let's talk about love
(I want you to show me) I wanna feel it too
(I wanna feel what love is) I wanna feel it too
And I know, and I know, I know you can show me
Show me what is real, woah (woah), yeah I know
(I wanna know what love is) hey I wanna know what love
(I want you to show me), I wanna know, I wanna know, want know
(I wanna feel what love is), hey I wanna feel, love
I know you can show me, yeah
A few nations bade their goodbyes to the others. Philippines was preparing to leave the pub. She felt a little dizzy. She gently held her forehead.
"It must be the 'basi'. Still, how strange for me to have this little headache."
The Filipina walked out of the pub. As she was roaming the cold streets of London, she felt her body shivering because of the cold air. She gently wear her coat and continued walking.
She passed by a beautiful park, dimly-lighted with lamp posts. There were Victorian benches on the sidewalks. She took a seat and take a good look at the sky. She could see a few stars, and some dark clouds floating above her head.
She sighed. "Wow...what a long night this is."
In an instant, she felt something heavy. She looked at her shoulders and was surprised to see a thick coat wrapped around her. She looked behind her, and was more shocked at what she had seen.
"It's bloody cold outside, don't you think?" the voice said, as she noticed that someone sat beside her.
She closed her eyes for a while and stared at those stars. "Yeah...thank you, by the way."
There was silence. Soon, she broke it up.
"I-I...I would like to thank you for...singing with me during the performance."
"D-don't mention it. To be honest, your idiot brother made me do that."
"Kuya Alfred...did he just..."
"Yes, he surely did."
"Well...I guess that he made the right choice then. I'm honored to hear you sing under the spotlight, Mr. Kirkland."
"I was going to say the same thing to you, Ms. dela Cruz."
The two of them laughed, and then became silent.
England was beginning to feel his heart beating rapidly. He looked at Philippines sitting beside him. Even her face was glistening before his eyes, as he stared at the Filipina who was looking up above the sky.
He felt a lump in his throat. Afterwards, he saved his breath and heard the Filipina spoke.
"You were amazing, England. When I was watching you on the stage a while ago, I felt proud. Seeing you like that was...different. It was completely disturbing...in a positive way."
"W-what? Do you m-mean it?" England asked surprisingly.
"Yes...you're so great back there, really." Philippines replied gently.
Soon, England can't fight his feelings anymore.
"To be honest...I sang that song for you."
Philippines looked at him in an instant.
"D-did you just said t-that..." Philippines uttered anxiously.
The Brit can't take away his eyes off of her now.
This is it...he thought to himself.
As soon as he was going to speak out, he found Philippines trembling. Worse, raindrops began to fall from their heads, gradually growing louder and stronger.
"I-I-I am c-cold..." Philippines uttered weakly.
"This isn't good. It's better if I take you home now." England said as he stood up, assisting the lady nation.
Soon, the Filipina's sight began to blur. In a few seconds, she lost balance which shocked the Brit.
England, with a worried look upon his face, carried Philippines bridal style and thought of a way to keep her warm as soon as possible. He didn't have any choice. He knew where Philippines was staying in but, the hotel was almost five streets away from the pub.
"G-God, w-what's happening to m-me?" Philippines said, her voice terribly shaking.
"Damn...what now?" England thought as he held Philippines' shoulders firmly, assisting the Filipina not to fall down on the ground.
Once he saw a waiting shed a few meters from his position, it was followed by a fast act to call for a taxi cab.
As soon as he managed to carry the lady nation in the vehicle, he closed the door and held Philippines tight. He held her cheeks. They were cold.
There's only one thing that he could do right now. As he looked at Philippines, with her dress slightly wet, her pale blue cheeks and her shivering body, he got more worried. He took his coat and covered Philippines' trembling body with it.
"I have to bring her in my home."
Soon, the cab left.
A/N: WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?
Sheesh...now my head is starting to spin round and round and round! XD
Watch out for the next chapters, mates! And now...I'm telling you, guys, things are starting to get well, so keep hanging on...hehehehehehehe!