Monika - Chapter 3

A pleasant aroma filled Monika’s kitchen as she prepared dinner that evening. She stirred the veggies and checked the time on her phone, which sat on the counter nearby.

“Has he texted you yet?” Daisy asked, walking into the room at just the right moment.

“No,” Monika replied. “Just seeing what time it is.”

“You sure you weren’t checking for a message just in case?” the redhead teased. She leaned against the counter and looked up at her friend with that same devilish grin she had on the car ride back.

“I’m sure,” she insisted. “You know I’m always looking at the time.”

“So… you’re not anxious to hear from him?”

The German continued to slowly stir the vegetables, taking time to answer the question. She didn’t want to make it seem like she didn’t like Feliciano, but she also didn’t want Daisy to think she liked him in that way. She thought about it for a moment, wording her answer carefully.

“I enjoyed speaking with him earlier and I’m sure I will when he does decide to contact me, but I’m not going to just sit around waiting for the text or call. When it comes, it comes, and until then I’m going to go about my usual business.”

The two fell silent for a moment, the only sound in the kitchen the gentle sizzle of the vegetables in the pan. Then Daisy said,

“You know he really likes you, right?”

Monika sighed. “Did he tell you that himself?” she asked.

“Well, not… technically,” the Italian stuttered, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. “I mean, he didn’t say it directly, but I can tell he does.”

“That’s more or less what I thought you would say. I’m not sure that exactly counts as knowing.”

“Does being his other half count as knowing?”

“I don’t know, Italy.”

“…I’ll be honest, I’d date you if you were a guy.”

Monika’s expression twisted into one of confusion as she tried to work through what Daisy had just said.

“Why don’t you just… date Ludwig then?” she asked. That seemed like the obvious thing to do.

“Because the man never stops working long enough to even have time for a relationship. But you actually know how to relax. You should give Feli a chance.”

“I also know not to rush into things. And I have no way of knowing that he does like me that way, other than you telling me. I mean no offense, but I don’t want to assume anything unless I hear it from him.”

“Yeah…” Daisy sulked; she felt defeated. Monika had made a lot of good points for which she had no counter argument. But even so, she saw a lot of potential for something between Monika and Feliciano and was determined to get something out of one of them. She decided to change her tactic slightly.

“What do you think of him?” she asked, genuinely curious. Monika smiled, and shut off the stove.

“I will admit he’s a sweetheart,” she said as she began to dish up their dinner. “But—”

Just then, her cellphone buzzed on the counter top, displaying an unknown number. Daisy rushed to grab it before Monika even had the chance to set the food on the table. She squealed with delight when she recognized the number, and handed it to the German to answer.

“It’s him,” she informed her. She bounced up and down, practically grinning from ear to ear. Monika shot her a quick look telling her to calm down, then answered her phone.

“Hello?”

“Ciao, i-it’s Feliciano,” came the Italian’s voice from the other end. “Daisy gave me your number, I hope you don’t mind. I just thought I would say hi since we didn’t get much of a chance to talk after the meeting today.”

“Hey Feli,” she replied. “Can I call you back? Daisy and I were just about to have dinner.”

“No problema! I’ll send you my number, call or text whenever. No rush, really. I don’t have any plans for tonight, so no worries about interrupting anything. I already had dinner so it’s fine. I’m basically free to chat any time between now and when I go to bed, which probably won’t be until late.”

“Alright, I will talk to you later,” she said, and hung up the phone. When she turned back to Daisy, the Italian was snickering at her.

“You like him,” she teased.

“And what makes you think that?”

“You said he was sweet. AND you just called him Feli.”

“Only because that’s what you always call him. I didn’t really think about it, it’s just how it came out.”

“Hmmm… I don’t know, Germany. I think you like him.” she said. She began playfully poking at the blonde. “You like him, you like him, you—”

“Italy, please. Let’s just eat, okay?”

“Alright. But you totally like him.”

***

Feliciano stared at his phone for several moments after ending the call. He didn’t quite get it; why did he feel so awkward talking to her? Ludwig and girls were the people he had the easiest time talking to, and Monika was basically a combination of both. But for some reason, he just found himself rambling on. Hopefully she would turn out to be a good conversationalist, because, for the first time in his life, he definitely didn’t feel like one. He really hoped she would like him…

Daisy’s words started coming back to him. Why did it bother him when she suggested he liked Monika? It shouldn’t. He was Italian, he liked every girl he met. But then…
Monika was somehow different.

She wasn’t just a pretty face. Well, she was, but there was more to it. There was more to her that he wanted to get to know. So, he did have a crush on her?

Am I… falling in love with her?

No, that’s a crazy idea, he decided. No one falls in love with someone after knowing them for only a few hours. Not before really getting to know them. Love at first sight doesn’t exist.

…Right?

These questions plagued his mind all evening. Even when he crawled into bed beside Ludwig and shut out the light, he could not seem get any of it off his mind. He lay wide awake for several minutes, just thinking about her. All he needed to do was hear back from her, for even just a brief conversation, and he would settle down.

Only a short time after finally deciding she wasn’t going to call back, his phone vibrated once beside his pillow. He picked it up, and opened the text.

Hey Feliciano. Hopefully you’re still awake. Sorry for not calling back earlier, I got caught up in a lot of paperwork.

He nearly burst out laughing upon reading the message; not because it was particularly funny, but because it seemed exactly like something that would happen to Ludwig. The similarities between the two were almost uncanny. He suppressed the outburst, however, to avoid waking the German now sleeping beside him, and sent a quick reply.

That’s okay! Ludwig had extra work tonight too. That’s the downside to being the host country, I guess.

Although Feliciano had gotten a bit worried when Monika hadn’t called back, he had a feeling work had been keeping her busy. The nation hosting the meeting always seemed to end up with extra papers to go over, and knowing how Ludwig handled these things, didn’t really expect to hear from her right away. He felt happy, though, when her next response came quickly.

It is. I actually need to get in touch with him about a few things. Perhaps you both would like to come over tomorrow?

Feli’s heart skipped a beat when he read the text. It made him feel all fuzzy inside to know that she already wanted to see him again, even though they had just met. Apparently he made a better first impression than he thought. He tried to suppress his excitement.

“Hey, Germany,” he whispered, gently shaking his friend awake. “Germany, can we go visit other Germany tomorrow?”

“But… we are in Germany,” he mumbled. In his half-awake state, he couldn’t quite comprehend the request. Feliciano giggled.

“No, I mean Monika. She invited us over tomorrow ‘cause I guess she wants to go over some stuff with you, but she invited me to come along too.”

“Uh… Ja, I guess I don’t see why not.”

“Yay! Thanks, I’ll let her know,” the Italian said, and sent off one last text before giving in to sleep.

We’ll be there!