Saudade | CountryHumans RusAme

CHAPTER 4: Written In Unspokens

POLAND
The comfort of Poland's room was designed to sink into after a brutal school day. Soft pillows, an abundance of plushies from Japan, and a photo taken on the first day of school that he insisted he keep up, no matter how embarrassing it was.

It was taken and printed with Ukraine's polaroid camera. America was in the front, his two arms wrapped around Japan and South, the latter of which was desperately trying to cling onto Poland because Japan pulling out of the pose was throwing everyone off balance. America's sunglasses were hanging off one side of his ear, South and Japan were in a silent battle for the possession of the latter's bubble tea, and Poland showed off two bright lines of teeth because, as he remembered, South's grip on his arm was kind of ticklish. Meanwhile, a significantly calmer Canada stood to Japan's side, hand around his girlfriend's waist. The photograph also caught a few curious students, drawn to admiring them by the sounds of their loud laughter. 

He didn't quite remember who had taken the photo, but he was pretty sure it was Britain, who had dropped his kids off the first day. It was a memorial of simpler times bygone.

From the pressing demands of a daunting world, his room was a solace. The relaxing ambience was what he looked forward to every day after school.

His phone, however, was a different story today.

Poland pursed his lips, watching Germany's profile appear in their chat box again, type something, and then leave. (This process had repeated for the past twenty minutes.) Finally, he let the impulsive thoughts win over and clicked hesitantly into the chat, typing furiously to leave a message before Germany re-entered.

"hey, are you okay? you've been clicking on and off for so long," he wrote.

Almost immediately there was a reply: "You saw all that? That's embarrassing. There's something I think you deserve an explanation on, but I don't want to tell you here. Can you meet somewhere outside?"

Poland winced. Ukraine had warned him. What was this about now? 

"Oh, right. We'll meet somewhere crowded, if you're worried. What about City Square? I heard there's a new dessert place that opened. Don't you really like Karpatka?" came another reply. 

"ohhh that's fine then. what time should i be there? i'll meet you at the Historical Monuments display," Poland typed back gratefully.

"Three would be fine. Thanks a lot for this."

When impromptu three o'clock rolled around, Poland found himself struggling to pick out a reasonably fashionable set of clothes from his wardrobe, for City Square was the center of all high-end malls and trending food photoshoot areas. He eventually decided on a shirt that South had picked out for him last time they went as a group, arguing that it was "all the rage" in Korea.

He stuffed his phone and a few other accessories into his pockets, checking the time on his watch sporadically as he hustled to get to the square before the designated time. When he finally reached the Monuments display, Germany patiently awaited him there.

"Hey," Germany smiled.

"Hi," Poland replied, out of breath.

★

The dessert shop, although crowded and bustling, served a myriad of delectable foods that only added to the carefree atmosphere of the place. Over cake and coffee the two Representatives talked ⎯ it was a little hard to keep a topic at the beginning, but Poland found it surprisingly easier and easier to strike up conversation starters with Germany as time progressed.