Author's Note: Wow, that was one long hiatus. Sorry! School plus writer's block is a terrible combination, don't try it. But I'm back, and I'll try to update more quickly and maybe even throw in a few new stories.
I read the reviews you guys left for the last chapter and I just have two words: THANK YOU! You guys really know how to make someone smile. (With all the craziness in my life right now, thank you for the smiles. XD)
I think Antonio + Booze + Suggestive "Quotation-Marked" Title speaks for itself. A strange way of looking into Antonio's true feelings. Enjoy!
PART 8: Love and "Lip Service"
The sun had shied away, but the moon had not yet made her glamorous entrance. The sky was the perfect blend of soft amber and deep blue, with the first few stars coming up from behind the backdrop of hues. They casually walked under that vibrant palette, Lovino sporting a coy smile on his slightly crimson face as his eyes made repeated glances at their intertwined hands. A glint of silver can be seen peeking from behind the collar of Lovino's shirt. Antonio had insisted on buying a necklace for him as a remembrance of that day. The embarrassed Italian had obviously tried to persuade him otherwise but gave in when two muscular arms wrapped themselves around him and fastened the accessory on his neck. A few whispers and breathless replies later, the silver rose emblem hanging so close to his heart was officially for keeps.
Damn his make-me-wanna-faint-from-the-sexiness voice, Lovino internally grunted.
They slipped in between the labyrinth of stone walls and cobbled streets, and chanced upon a contemporary-looking bar-slash-restaurant. An infectious soundtrack seeped through from inside and Antonio's eyes said it all.
He mumbled something to himself then turned to the boy. "Hey Lovi, you hungry?"
One step inside and they were bathed in candlelight. The illuminated walls gave off a sense of warmth in contrast to the cool and chic atmosphere that the bar had—a kind of thing that had to be felt to be believed. The place achieved a sense of "old meets new" with the vintage stone walls and medieval vaulted ceiling adorning the central area. An employee, one could assume she was a waitress, cheerfully greeted them in Spanish and led them to a vacant table. The pair gave an amused chuckle as they sank into the soft cushioned seats.
"This place is amazing, isn't it Lovi?"
"Yeah, but there's one thing that creeps me out though."
"Hmm? What?"
"That," Lovino said, pointing to the mess of red cushioned beds lined up on the far side of the room. "Why do they have beds here? Gives the wrong vibe, if you know what I mean..."
The Spaniard suddenly broke into a fit of soft giggles, much to Lovino's chagrin.
"What's so funny, dammit?" he snapped, cocking an eyebrow.
"You naughty boy," Antonio teased. "This place looks wholesome enough, so I doubt the beds are used for anything but good, hearty fun."
He was unaware that the night would turn out to be far from wholesome or hearty. Dinner had been the typical scenario: casual conversation while enjoying good food. But then Antonio got carried away with the drinks, ignoring Lovino's banter about ordering only a few cocktails. He downed several glasses of a suspicious-looking liquid, something Lovino decided he would rather not know the contents of, and his face began to grow flustered.
"Hey, I think you've had enough," Lovino said, his voice a mix of compassion and authority as he 'scoldingly' waved a fork at the man in front of him.
"Just a little more, Lovi. It's been a long time since I've had any," the clearly no longer sober Antonio wheezed.
"That's more of a reason to stop, idiot!" He quickly snatched the glass and stared spitefully at its contents. "You can't handle alcohol like you used to, so..."
His words were cut short when an unusual warmth took over his mouth, sending his wits on an impromptu trip to some distant land. He tried to push him away but his arms went limp under the wave of pleasure. He held back a moan as he felt something probing inside, seeking entrance as it tried to part his lips. Lovino hesitantly pulled away before the intruder was granted full access. He shot a weak glare at Antonio, his breath coming in gasps.
"W-Why..."
"Coz you wouldn't let me have any. So I'll just have you, Lovi," Antonio declared as he effortlessly swept the boy off his feet and threw him down on the nearest vacant bed.
"Dammit, you intoxicated moron! We're in public, for pasta's sake, so show some decency. Everyone's looking, you know..." Lovino tried his best to hide the overwhelming embarrassment building up inside him.
"I don't care. They're just jealous 'cause they don't have a hot boyfriend like you," he replied, licking his lips as they curled into a devilish grin.
"W-What..? Boy...boyfriend? Has all that alcohol gone to your brain?"
"Oh c'mon Lovi, what else would you call our relationship?" He burst into laughter and collapsed on top of his blushing 'boyfriend'. "I wouldn't mind swinging that way if it's for you, mi amor."
"Shit! Get off me, you crazy bastard," cried Lovino in protest.
"Nah, you don't want me to get off, do you?" he insisted, playfully rubbing their bodies together.
The Italian's expression suddenly burned with anger. He mustered all the strength he had to shove Antonio's dead weight off him and stormed out of the building. All eyes fell upon the dumbfounded Spaniard, staring at the door like his sanity had dashed outside as well.
"That fucking idiot! If I knew he was such a lunatic when he's drunk..." Lovino snorted out loud as he made his way through the crowded streets.
He stopped halfway through that statement when he felt something tugging at his conscience. Somewhere at the back of his mind, the words mi amor persistently lingered.
"...I would still probably be in love with the damn bastard," he finished, finding solace in those two words that, though uttered nonchalantly, still felt all too surreal.
A sense of terror overcame him when he failed to recognize the surrounding structures. He had somehow wandered off from any of the landmarks he had carefully pinpointed before the start of their date. A trendy boutique, a homely bakery, a dingy repair shop—he did not know any of them. To make things worse, he felt a faint raindrop graze his cheek. And then more drops followed, like a merciless salvo of bullets.
Of course it just had to rain. 'Coz the weather is a bitter spaz who has nothing better to do than make my life miserable.
He scrambled down the block and took refuge at a nearby chapel. The building was worn with the years, but one could still appreciate the elegance that the architects had skilfully inlaid in it. There was no one around save for a few small birds flapping their wings in an attempt to dry off. The moon's silver streaks shone through the stained glass above the altar, giving it an eerie but still strangely captivating glow. The only faint light in the building.
Tonio's probably too out of it to come look for me. I just hope he doesn't cause any more trouble...
He gently slumped down on one of the pews and let out an exasperated sigh. He was tired. He wanted to see the fountains in Plaza Espanya after dinner, believing that water could make any moment romantic and it would make the perfect setting for a confession, but that seemed like a distant dream now. He was too tired. And too upset.
"Pesky trio running amok, stupid bickering lovers and their God of Love cat, damn Spaniard's mood swings and alcohol-induced insanity..." he ranted then sighed again. "I thought this day would go perfect. Just once, I want something to turn out right. Up and down, good and bad, happy and sad... I'm sick of things going left and right. Just... make up your mind." With that, slumber slowly took hold of him.
"You still haven't answered my question yet. Where do people go when they die?" a persistent little Lovino pressed on.
Antonio bent over and gave him a pat on the head. "They go to where they need to be."
"Huh? That doesn't make any sense," the boy complained, puffing his cheeks.
"You're still too young to understand, my little Lovi."
"Then tell me..."
"Hmm, yes?"
"Where do you wanna go, Tonio? Where do you need to be?"
Antonio's expression softened into a smile. He stretched out his hand and lightly tapped the boy's chest with his finger. "I don't need to go anywhere, as long as you let me stay in your heart..."
TO BE CONTINUED...
