It's-a me, Mario! Well, actually not Mario, it's just me. Anyways I just have the usual warnings of Anorexia/Bulimia, cursing, and improper spelling/grammar.
Korea scrolled through Tumblr, not paying attention to the time. Had he looked out the window or glanced at the clock on his phone, he would know it was ten at night. Visiting hours would end in about thirty minutes, and Korea needed to leave. "Hey jjingjjing-i, I'm going to leave now" Korea said, putting his phone in his pocket. America sighed, but nodded, putting a bookmark between the pages of The Order of the Phoenix. "See ya later dude" America said, and Korea gave him a one-armed hug (Very gentle, Korea didn't want to hurt America) before walking out of the door. The majority of their time was spent on electronics or reading, and while to people like China, Britain, France, and even Denmark, that wasn't socializing, it was still nice to feel another person's presence. Heading to his car, Korea wasn't surprised to see that the parking lot was nearly empty, save for the few people who were also leaving from visiting friends and family in the hospital. Once he got inside his car, he sat there for a few minutes, just thinking to himself and fiddling with his hands. "Damn, I sure hope Al's family know what they're doing" Korea sighed, grabbing the fabric of his pants in his balled up fists. "I need to get back to the hotel, or someone might notice that I'm gone-" As if right on cue, Korea's phone started playing a "Trap remix" of March of the Volunteers, China's national anthem. Answering the phone quickly, Korea took a deep breath, and said in an excited voice," Annyeong, Yao-hyung!"
"Yong Soo! Where on Earth are you!? Japan say he not see you since you left meeting yesterday!" China cried, anger overriding any concern he might have felt. "Just out and about, exploring the red light district" "WHAT!? You get your ass back to hotel now before I find my wok and punish you properly!" China snapped, before hanging up. Feeling anxious, and a bit guilty for lying to his brother, Korea's thumb swiped through his contacts, and stopped on one he knew he could tell anything. "It's not like he doesn't know about Alfred's condition, and I'm Al's best friend, he won't care that I know! I just want someone to talk to..." Korea hesitated, before calling the contact.
"I don't feel too good" America mumbled, curled up on his bed. His stomach had been shooting sharp cramps up his body all night, and he felt lethargic and exhausted. "Al? You okay dere?" New England asked, poking his head inside to observe his unhealthy brother. "I dunno dude, I might need to call off that Oovoo call with the others I had planned" America moaned, flinching as another pain racked his nerved. "Alright, I'll just make you some food to help settle your stomach-" "Don't feel like eating, thinking about it makes me feel sick" America interrupted, shivering slightly. "Are you sure Al? It might do you some good to have even a little bowl of soup or a small sandwich or something" New England reasoned, brushing the thin strands of blond hair out of the eldest's face. "I'm sure, just please email Britain, Canada, and France that I can't talk today. Just tell them it's the political shit messing with my head" America pleaded, and New England sighed, nodding. "I'll get someone too feed you eventually" He muttered, feeling despair clutch at his heart.
The next day, America was feeling better after sleeping the previous day away, and he felt the need to go running. Stretching, he dressed himself a hoodie and sweatpants, grabbing his phone and earbuds before going to find his shoes. "Going out on a run without even eating breakfast?" Came the voice of Oregon, sitting at the kitchen table. "It's a bit early for breakfast, isn't it?" America asked, and Oregon shrugged," Eight in the morning sounds perfectly reasonable to me" America sighed, and put his shoes on," I'll be back for breakfast eventually, don't worry" And with that, he left the house, earbuds plugged into his phone and blasting Fall Out Boy at top volume.
"Ugh, Corée?" Came a tired, accented voice. "S-sorry if I woke you up!" Korea apologized, putting the conversation on speaker. "It is fine, I was not planning to sleep for a while tonight, might I ask why you are still up?" France asked, and Korea shrugged, not remembering France couldn't see him. "I was... visiting America" He admitted, and France was silent for a moment, before laughing slightly," Zhat was a funny joke, but please, tell me why you are awake" "I really was visiting Al! I gave him his phone and we talked for a while" "Please do not joke of zhese zhings, Alfred's phone is on zhe counter- where did it go!?" France cried, and Korea sighed," I told you so" "But you- did you break into Amerique's 'ouse!?" France demanded, and Korea hummed in affirmation," He seemed bored last time we talked, so I gave him something to keep in contact with us" He explained, and France sighed. After a minute of silence, and of Korea thinking France had hung up on him, France spoke again. "Do you need a place to sleep? All zhe guest rooms are taken, but zhe couch isn't too bad" France offered, and Korea grinned slightly," Thanks, I did check out of the hotel earlier. It's better than sleeping an alley and begging to be robbed or raped" "Oui, zhat is true. See you in a bit, Yong Soo" "I'll see you later too! Bye!" And with that, he hung up.
Korea turned onto America's street, slowing the rental car to a gentle cruise so he could make another call. "Im Yong Soo! It is almost eleven at night, where are you!?" China demanded, and Korea could hear the hushed voices of his siblings in the background. "I'm not going back home yet, apparently I'm meeting Jae-In at the US Embassy tomorrow and I'll be staying for a while, oopsie" Korea lied, amazed at how smooth that sounded. After a moment or two of muffled cluttering, a new voice came over the phone," Yong Soo? Can you hear me?" asked Taiwan, and Korea hummed. "I want you home immediately after your meeting at the Embassy, okay? We're planning a huge family dinner for Dongzhi and we want you to help make the Tangyuan" "Can do sis, I'll be home in a month or so, alright?" Korea asked, pulling into America's driveway. "Okay, see you in a month. Goodbye" Taiwan sighed, and Korea said goodbye before Taiwan hung up. Korea rested his head on the steering wheel, thinking to himself. He had lied twice to his siblings, would he have to do it again for America's sake? He sure hoped not, because he probably couldn't keep it up. "The things I do for you, Al" Korea said after a while, leaving the car and taking his things into the house, where France could be seen reading a copy of The Three Musketeers on the couch.
"How long has it been since I got new prescriptions for my eyes?" America asked himself, peering at the lenses of his glasses with blurred vision. "Probably sometime in the 1960s" He mumbled, putting his glasses on. Lately his vision had been going out of focus at random times, and it was a pain during the meetings when he couldn't see properly. Canada was lucky his eyes didn't change much after the whole "Tear gas at Ysef" thing in World War 2, so he didn't change glasses often. Of course, if America were to see a doctor, they would tell him his vision impairment was because he didn't eat, but America, like some weird anti-vax mom, didn't trust doctors very much. Forcing himself out of the bathroom and down the stairs, America eventually flopped onto the couch, the cushions sinking slightly under his weight. He was home alone for most of the day, since the territories were all at school, and he was feeling pretty bored. "It shouldn't be very late over in Europe, maybe we can finally do that Oovoo call I cancelled!" America exclaimed, pulling his laptop off the floor and calling Britain, France, and Canada. After a few tries, America began to think he should give up, before his calls were answered. "America, it's like seven over here, I was trying to read" Britain complained, and France snickered.
"Oh Angleterre, you need to lighten up!" France said, and Canada rolled his eyes," Good afternoon Al" "Good afternoon Mattie! These two old geezers sound like they missed their nap" America joked, and Britain gasped while France gave an offended look. "Anyways, I just wanted to make up for that call I bailed out on about a week ago-" "Mon dieu Alfred! You 'ave gotten so skinny!" France cried, looking worried," 'ow about I come over and make a big meal for you?" "Nah, it's fine-" "He obviously needs something sweet for his blood, you frog. How does a pastry or two sound lad?" "I'd love that but I'm fine really-" "Poutine always seemed to settle your stomach, eh?" America was silent as he had been interrupted many times in the past minute, before scoffing," I'm fine dudes! But I think I need my eyes checked, things keep getting blurry at random moments and its an ass when I can't see during a meeting, y'know?" America joked, and Canada shrugged," You didn't get your eyes checked after September 11, which probably screwed your vision. You might want to get a new prescription." He offered, and America nodded," Yeah, that sounds about right. I'll schedule an appointment for next week or somethin', but for now let's just have fun!"
Korea lay awake on the couch, unable to sleep for once. He was wearing a pair of sweat pants that he had gotten from America's drawers, and had taken a shower before lying down with an old blanket and pillow. In all honesty, he figured he should be able to sleep at this moment, but he just couldn't. He was thinking so many thoughts he thought he couldn't think anymore thoughts, but he was wrong. His mind was instantly bombarded with even more thoughts, telling him to sleep so he could see America in the morning, telling him to check the time so he knew how much longer it was until visiting hours, get dressed so he was ready to see America all his thoughts revolved around America and seeing him as soon as possible. Korea rolled onto his side and grabbed his phone from the ground, turning it on and shielding his eyes from the bright light. He groaned inwardly when he saw his phone was at 15% and would't be charging until the next morning, but he looked through Tumblr for anything to take his mind off America. Check his blog- see if there are any concerned followers- see for any reblogs that could have led to this- check his blog now Korea's thoughts demanded, and he gave in to their cruel desires. Checking America's blog "Big Mac McDaddy" and sees that there were, indeed, many followers spamming his asks and flooding his notes with questions about his wellbeing. His most recent reblogs had been of people encouraging others to skip meals, exercise for extreme hours and even force themselves to throw up. It was utterly shocking and sickening for Korea just how obvious America had been, and he wasn't even looking out for it.
Korea eventually did find a picture of America himself, making a small post-exercise smoothie while showing off his newly flattened stomach, exposed spine and prominent rib cage. The caption read," Lost another 5 pounds this week, need to step up my game, huh?" and Korea was ready to vomit. He closed the app and took a deep, shuddering breath, telling himself to get a glass of water. Walking into the kitchen, he bumped into Britain, who merely glanced at him before heading to the top cupboard. "I heard France talking to you over the phone" He mumbled after five minutes of silence, a tea kettle on the stove. "Sorry for intruding on family business but... Al is my best friend" Korea replied quietly, and Britain nodded. "Do you want a cup too?" He sighed, and Korea nodded. "Milk or no?" "No milk please" Korea said in a raspy voice, and Britain nodded. "It's alright that your here, actually" Britain said while pouring the boiling water into two mugs," We don't exactly know what Alfred is liking anymore, whether he's fine with our jokes or not or even if he likes us very well. It's nice to have someone around us who knows Alfred well" Korea nodded, blowing on his tea before taking a sip. The duo sat in silence; Not an awkward, uncomfortable silence that needs to be filled with noise, but the silence that two experienced nations can sit in while having a cup of tea while reminiscing over their young friend/brother. "How are you doing?" Korea asked after making it half-way through his cup, and Britain shrugged. "That damned Prime Minister of mine is going to run me into the ground, but who hasn't had leaders like that" "Yes yes, but I meant how are you as Arthur doing?"
Britain blinked in surprise, before smiling," Not bad at all, I have just received a new set of books to read, not mention an entire embroidery set. What about you?" "Saw my brother the other day, granted it was across the border but it was nice. We waved to each other and went back to our duties, but nothing else has happened really" Korea sighed, brushing strands of hair out of his face. "We should probably go to bed now" Britain said, and Korea shrugged," I can't sleep" Britain took the mugs and set them in the sink, sighing and leaning on his hands. Turning to face the elder of the two, he opened his mouth to speak. "Neither can I"
This chapter seems a bit short... oh well. Anyways, in other news, I have a new story up! Read it if ya want, or don't, It's not my choice now is it?