Month of Sorrow

Chapter 6 - Strings of Fate (part 1)

Hong Kong let his shoulders slump. Then again...I was the one who felt like crying today... when I was arguing with Ice...

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Fully dressed—well, mostly, he was carrying his beige suit jacket in his arm—Hong Kong walked down the white hallways at a steady pace. His mind drifted back to his fight with Iceland. He's not going to tell China that he's been seeing Philia, is he? No, no, he wouldn't. Iceland's his best friend, there's no possible way that he would just betray him like that if he promised to keep it a secret between the two of them.

As he reached the end of the hallway, the brunette Cantonese city-state heard voices there. Stopping, he listened closer. There are two people conversing in different accents. At first, his heart started to race in fear, but he calmed down when it was actually France and Iceland talking. 

Wait, France and Iceland?

Hong Kong frowned at that. Just what exactly is Iceland telling the Frenchman? His most recent heart attack? His blossoming unfamiliar feelings for Philia? Or possibly both? He sighed as he dreaded on what France would say to him.

"Mon ami, you should let him follow his heart and pursue the girl he longs for," he heard France saying.

"I-I wish I could," he heard Iceland say next, with strain in his voice. "It's just that... it's just... that..."

"It's just that what?"

Hong Kong stopped walking and leaned flat against a right wall, correctly assuming that he's in an angle where they can't see him. 

For a brief moment, there was silence. Then France spoke again, "Is it because you're... jealous?"

Hong Kong snickered at that. Well, he won't be once he scores with Lin Yi! he thought mischievously. If he mans up for it, that is.

"Or... afraid that he would leave you?"

Another silence. And this time it lasted far too long.

"Emil, I don't know much about your chemistry with Li Xiao, but the best I could say is wish your friend luck in pursuing the one he loves. There is no need to be afraid or jealous."

Hong Kong felt his legs practically turn to jelly upon France's words.

And there was another silence. He waited for either France or Iceland to say something, but there was none. Just a silence that ringed in his ears. 

Then he heard an exhale of a breath and footsteps followed after. Now Hong Kong wished that it would be France leaving and Iceland staying behind after all this, just so that Hong Kong could talk to him.

Bracing himself, Hong Kong walked away from the wall and continued down to the waiting area, but let out a shriek as France appeared smack dab in front of him.