𝑫𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑽𝑬《 Philippines CountryHumans AU 》

xxii.

[I've been wrestling with this chapter for a whole week. I hate it. But when I woke up to 138 notifications I got some motivation to finish and finally publish it]

[Also, new book probably coming up at the 3rd-4th Arc of this book! I already planned out bits of the storyline! If you'd like, you can *ahem* follow me—]

[Enjoy!]

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Blood rushed to his cheeks, and for a moment, South forgot that Philip was also another human being with dignity. He stared at the country, an animalistic urge to claim him creeping and clawing and itching at the back of his mind.

What would it be like if Philip was on the ground, screaming his name with a lustful look in his half-lidded eyes? South could almost imagine the feeling of Philip's hot breath fanning the lobe of his ear.

Ah, and Philip would be in a skirt as well.

How... sinful of him to think of these things while staring right at him.

He remembers his and Philip's time before he had died. Philip was known to be a calm and meek person, but he always had a way with words that would seem to melt South's legs and reduce his heart into pudding.

While his brother Martial was strong, both physically and mentally prepared, Philip could knock anyone's pride into powder, almost like it was just a game to him. He used his words as a weapon, but not very often. It was more like his last line of defense.

And this was what intrigued South. How could someone be so weak and fragile, yet strong and bold at the same time? It was amazing how mere thoughts would become a deadly string of words— words that could stab someone in the heart and play with their mind.

So, South began to cling to him. Whenever he wasn't in his office, he could be found next to Philip, rambling on and on about useless adventures and pointless facts. But Philip enjoyed it.

South was easy to talk to. When Philip was too shy to even speak, South would notice and do the talking for him.

Almost everyone, even South's younger brother who refused to acknowledge that other countries exist— North— knew about the iconic duo. They were best friends, and some people even thought that they were secret lovers.

But when Philip passed, South's unrequited feelings died down into nothing. Whenever he looked at their old pictures, his heart wasn't racing and his cheeks weren't flushed. No. Instead, his chest tightened and his eyes burned.

God, his death turned the world silent.

He remembers the funeral. Almost everyone in the entire world came to pay their respects, but only the closest Country Leaders were actually able to actually be near his grave.

But when Philip was suddenly proclaimed to be alive? South almost turned his entire abode upside down in fury. How could someone play this prank? How could someone pose as Philip and announce that he was the person he loved so dearly?

He believed that it was all fake. A sham. A joke.

But it wasn't.

The day at the mall was quite possibly the best day of his life. South realized that he was real. He was Philip. And he was alive. That day, his heart was hammering on his chest, as if it wanted to leap out and cry in joy.

He hid his feelings well, opting to pay attention and annoy the fuck out of Canada. Ah, but his stay didn't last too long. It was only four days, and he had to go back to his mansion and watch from afar as North flirted with his best friend.