Amore Mio, Aking Mahal

[Romano x Philippines: Philimano]

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I gave specific ages in the chapter. There is no exact age specified in the canon... Only ages based on appearance. Bu I imagine Romano to be at least 2 years older than Philippines

Chapter 2

As a kid and being two years older, I always saw her as my little sister like how she saw Spain as her father. She saw me as her older brother… We grow close. We ate together, we talked with each other, we laughed together, we shared the same room too.

I could see that she enjoyed my company. She was always smiling. But she loved Spain's company more than anything out there. She was in love with that damned bastard back then.

I feel for her around this time. I don't know what came over me. I never admitted it. But watching her with other guys, and when she told me she loved Spain….

It all just broke my heart.

"Her fourteenth birthday…"

"Oh Lovi~" A happy young Philippines cried out to her older brother, Romano. She greeted him with a hug and he would blush slightly as he looked away trying to act like he didn't like it.

She giggled slightly. "You know what today is right?" The happy girl said gleefully pulling her brothers curl in amusement.

The older boy slightly swats her hand away from his head. "Of course I remember Maria…" He made his way out of her hug and tapped her head a few times. "I thought Spain was taking you out to for your birthday?"

Philippines pouted and rubbed her arm. "Kuya Antonio has something to with his boss again…" She said in disappointment. "He never seems to have time to play with me anymore… It makes me sad…"

Romano bit his lip.

"So I was wondering if you would like to hang out with me?" She said with a soft smile on her face. "I bet it would be just as fun being with you as it would with Kuya Antonio, Lovi~"

Romano scratched his cheek. Philipines couldn't seem to tell that he was red. "I guess that would be alright. I have nothing to do."

The birthday girl grabbed his hand and began to running off with her older brother by her side.

It was a beautiful day in Spain. The two walked through its beautiful streets. Philippines had a very bright and cheerful expression on her face. But Romano looked away; he wasn't so sure what to do.

Philippines began to drag Romano into an ice cream store. Her eyes widened and she was about to drool. "It's ice cream!" She shouted.

Romano wanted to laugh but for some reason he couldn't. "It's called a gelato. They brought it here over from Italy." He said with a slight smile. He pulled her over to the counter and asked, "So what flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate!" She exclaimed. She hugged the boy saying, "Thank you so much Lovi~ If you want, we can share! It'll save you money." Philippines squeezed him once more and left to go find a table and Romano found himself smiling.

"You have a really cute girlfriend." The guy behind the counter told Romano.

The Italian boy stopped smiling and went back to regular expression. "She isn't my girlfriend…"

"So she's your crush or something?"

Romano was starting to get irritated. "Look here you goddamned bastard." He started out. "First of all… She's two years younger than me! And second! We're just friends!"

The guy just smirked as he handed him his order. "Don't worry~ Your 'friend' made it clear as to what you both want."

The embarrassed boy threw the money owed at the cashiers face and grabbed his order. "Go to hell you son of a bitch bastard!"

As he walked towards the table Philippines was at, he noticed two other figures along with her. It was Belgium and Netherlands.

"Oh Phili~ Happy birthday!" Belgium said hugging the younger girl.

Philippines began giggling. "Who knew that we would run into you two!" Belgium looked confused. "Two? Are you here with Spain?" The younger girl shook her head. "Lovino took me."

"Oh Romano is here with you?" She asked. Philippines nodded then pointed at something. "He's right there actually!"

Belgium and Netherlands began to wave at the Romano. He sighed and walked over to them. Romano placed the gelato on the table and sat down with Philippines. "Why are you two here?"

"We were looking for Philippines." Netherlands said. Both him and Belgium both pulled out gifts boxes and placed them in front of her.

Philippines was over joyed that they remembered. "What are these?" She asked. They replied with, "Just open it them."

The Filipina began with Netherlands gift. I beautiful doll from him homeland. "It's very beautiful Kuya!" Netherlands smiled at her as he patted her on the head. "I'll never let it go~"

Romano shot Netherlands an irritated and disgusted look. But no one seemed to notice.

Philippines opened Belgium's present. It was a beautiful white dress. The young Filipina was amazed yet confused at the same time. "I love it! But… This is a little big don't you think Ate Bella?"

Belgium placed both her hand on Philippines shoulders. "Oh my dear Phili. I don't expect you to wear this anytime soon~" Philippines was completely confused. She looked down and saw a Belgium laced viel. Philippines' face turned red. "Ate Bella! D-Don't you think I'm too young to think about it?"

The blonde hugged the black hair one tightly. "You are growing up so fast Phili! I just want you to be prepaired!" She said in a motherly tone. "You maybe fourteen but when you're old enough you'll get married! Don't you ever think of who you want to marry when you get older?"

Philippines turned red. She seemed content. "Oh course… I do all the time. There is one person in particular I want to marry."

Romano looked at the girl. He was wondering who this person she wanted to marry was. He bit his lip again with the temptation of wanting to ask but for some reason couldn't. Fortunately Belgium was willing to ask.

"Who do want to marry so badly Phili?" Philippines giggled and shook her head as she said, "That's a secret Ate Bella~"

After hours of talking, both pairs bid their dues and left. What ran through Romano's mind was who she really wanted to marry. Philippines didn't know that many countries so his choices were limited. He smiled at the fact he could have been the one she wanted. He hoped it was him."

"Oh Lovi?" She called to the older boy

He stopped smiling, put back his normal expression and looked back at her. "Come va, Maria?"

She began to push herself up on her tiptoes. "You are very tall! Why is Lovi taller than me?"

Romano tried to hold in his laugh with how silly the young girl was. He stopped and gave a little smirk as he tapped her on the forehead. "Maybe it's because I'm sixteen and I'm a boy~"

She pouted at him. "I hope you stop growing!" She exclaimed as she stuck her tongue out. "Sometimes you can be so mean to Lovi!"

Romano began to laugh. He was actually having fun with the little girl. Nothing could ruin it.

As the day went on, Romano had bought Philippines almost everything she wanted, from clothes to toys to books! He did it just to make her happy, even if he wouldn't admit it. Philippines smiling face is what actually let him go on for the day. Occasionally, he'd try to win her over by flirting with random girls on the street. But it was just him being himself.

When they finished, they both went to their room, which had been the same room since Spain decided they be roommates till they leave. Philippines put her thing in one corner and changed into her sleeping outfit, as did Romano.

But still, before they head of to bed, Romano had to ask her the one question that was on his mind.

"Maria?" He called.

She turned around. "What is it Lovi?"

"What you and Belgium were talking about earlier?"

"What about it?"

"Who was the one you wanted to marry?"

Philippines giggled. "Oh that! You wouldn't want to know. It's just silly."

He smiled at her. "It can't be that bad just tell me!"

"I guess you could know Lovi…." She said as she got into bed. "He is someone how lives here… Now good night~"

Lovi followed her movement. "Come on! Tell!"

"You won't laugh?"

"Promise!"

"Fine!" She turned over to look at him. "I um… The man I want to marry is… Um…"

"Go on! Tell me!"

"K-Kuya Antonio! There!"

Romano's eyes widened when he heard that. She wanted to marry Spain. Out of all the people there she chose Spain. Romano's heart broke in two right then and there. His happy face turned into a face mixed with rage and heart break. His lips started to quiver. He was going to tear up. He immediately went to bed without as much as a good night and face away from the girl

When Philippines told him goodnight, he responded with "Yeah whatever…" For hours, tears fell from his eyes till eventually he fell asleep. When he woke up, he wouldn't admit to himself why.

He just hated Spain even more.

The day after her birthday, he walked by the girl he cared for and the man she was infatuated with.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take you out Mi nina."

"It's alright Kuya Antonio. Maybe some other time when you are free?"

"Si! Just the two of us my treat!"

She blushed. "That would be very nice."

He pinched her cheeks. "How cute! You look like a tomato!"

The Italian boy walked away in disgust and anger.

The Spaniard took the one he cares for.