This is my shortest chapter yet... If you wonder what happened to Irene and Ivan, you'll have to wait for the next update :P
THANK YOU ECHOLILY AND FRIENDS!

Irene dialled the only number registered in the old navy blue nokia resting in her hand.

"Wei?" answered the other side of the line

"Hong Kong? It's Irene!"

"Oh, hey! I guess you got my package?"

"Yup! Thanks a lot, I seriously don't know what I would do without you." The teen glanced at the open box lying on her bed. She had received it in the morning, three days after China and Hong Kong left. A little note was attached to it "Got Taiwan to help me gather stuff needed for a fan girl's survival in an unfamiliar environment, Xiang." Inside were casual clothes, finally free of those old fashion dresses, a pair of boots, a lot of coats, a hairbrush, hair bands, underwear, doujinshis, hygienic stuff and a charger for the phone that came with it. Irene was very happy but something bothered her… "Just one question… How did you guess my size?"

"For the shoes? I remembered receiving the shoe you wore that day in my face during the pillow fight."

"You know that's not what I meant."

The boy's voice was obviously feigning ignorance "What did you mean?"

"My cup size. It's a perfect fit. All you saw a few days ago were bras too small for me."

Xiang laughed nervously "Taiwan was in charge of lingerie."

"Taiwan has never seen me."

"Anyway, if you need the number of any country just call me or send a text."

"Don't change the topic."

"I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Hong Kong's level of discomfort was starting to amuse the brunette

"Okay, different question:" The island relaxed "How long did you stare at my boobs?"

"WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?"

Irene had to try her best to control her laughter "Sorry, sorry, you don't have to answer that *cough* for now *cough*…"

"I heard that between the fake coughs!"

"Wooops, my bad. Here's a virtual hug to make you feel better… and feel my chest against yours."

"AAAAAARGH! I'm seriously going to hang up if you only called me to talk about your… your…"

"Come on, you can say it."

"Things." At this point, the girl could picture her friend's face turning as red as the dried blood on Ivan's pipe and was reaching her limit as her need to laugh grew "Okay, that's it I'll –"

"Wait wait no! I'll stop, don't hang up!"

"Fine. But it's nine in the morning where I am, isn't it like 3 am in Moscow?"

"You're good with time zones." Way better than with girl stuff.

"Why are you awake?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"And you wanted me to sing you a lullaby or something?"

"Actually, I wanted to know if countries could catch colds."

"Only if we're in economical difficulties. Why?"

"So if Russia's sleeping on the couch with his stomach exposed I won't need to buy over nine thousand tissue boxes, right?"

"He'll be fine. What happened?"

"He had a bit too much vodka."

"Are you okay?"

"Dude, Ivan's the one passed out not me."

"Yeah but drunk people aren't usually in full control of their actions and if, like you said, Russia finds it natural for people to suffer then he might not have been able to hold back."

"He would never hurt me."

"What makes you so sure?"

"…"

"Irene?"

"Y-Yeah?"

"Are you okay?"

"Stop asking me this, I'm fine!"

"You don't sound fine."

"What do you mean?"

"You would have answered my question if you were alright…"

"…"

The asian boy sighed "I remembered you told me you were a fan of an anime starring us in it, I seriously doubt you didn't know about what kind of stuff affects our health, especially when Russia has lived in the cold for so long. What did you call me for?"

"… He didn't get drunk."

"I know. That guy can drink ten bottles and only feel a little dizzy. I just felt like contradicting you would be the wrong thing to do."

"If we manage to make Russia befriend more countries, it should help, right?"

"So you called me because you were starting to doubt yourself? That's not like you."

"Not like me…" The girl chuckled lightly

"Irene?"

"It's nothing, I just realized something a few minutes ago and… It's nothing, really. Russia's loneliness is worst than I thought and maybe you're right, maybe I don't have as much confidence in my plan as before but I'm not giving up, I would never give up on Ivan."

"Just like he won't hurt you?"

"Exactly like that. Because neither me or Ivan can stand seeing the other hurt."

"Why is that?"

"We both remind each other of someone we failed to protect… I can't believe I'm being so vague" she laughed nervously "I hate it when people are being vague with me. Anyway, it's a very personal subject and even if you are my friend, I don't think I'm comfortable talking about it with you, sorry."

"Then why did you call me? Face it, you need someone to talk to and I'm here… Not here as in in Moscow, I mean he – "

"Yeah, I get it. Thanks for keeping me company, just forget about this conversation, see ya!"

"Wait don – " too late. The line was cut off.

Irene sat on her bed, her right hand still trembling as it held the gun and her left hand slowly loosening its grip on the phone. The conversation took a turn for the worst; she only wanted to hear someone's voice, why did it have to end up focusing on her problems?