"Stop right there." he softly ordered the presidential secretary, in which he did as told, parking the white car yards away from their destination.

He shifted his focus to whatever, or rather, whoever was beyond the car window beside him. He couldn't help but sense a sort of yearning feeling inside of him, as he admired the sight of a certain lady treading joyously under the rain, despite being soaked.

Prancing a little unto caresses of showers, she wore a smile which never left nor was ever common to her face, and made his heart thump in a fast pitter patter, along with the rain. He, and the rest of the world, was never lucky to witness even the slightest tug on her lips, so seeing the slav in such a state was truly an honor, he wished to keep as it is forever.

"Sire?" his secretary signalled, making him look back. Manila was handing him a white retractable umbrella, which he accepted in turn. Gazing down at the umbrella he held, breathed out a sad sigh.

This mere object, reminded him that Russia... was never meant to be his.

"I like Russia." Joe proudly told Phil.

He couldn't believe his ears, the words shattering all his hopes, "W-what?"

"Hey, don't be flustered like that, it's pretty obvious, isn't it? You knew I like her."

Philip knew of his two friend's ups and downs, yet he did not expect for America to actually come and get to the point where he actually wanted the girl he liked as well. And it just had to be his best friend, exactly how lucky Philippines is?

"I-I don't-"

"I wanna ask you a favor." he cuts him off, handing him a neatly closed white retractable umbrella. Phil nodded in response, a tad dazed, as he examined the object.

"Open that." and so he did. The umbrella, beheld a blue symbolic star crest logo on one side; a perfect recpgnition for the tall country himself. He wondered what reason it may be for him to give this.

"I want you to use that somehow, for Sia." he grinned excitedly, "Make it creative and be sure it'd be very memorable, enough for her to think of me day and night."

"But I-"

"You're probably the person who makes the most creative ideas ever made. Will you? Please?"

"I don't know..." he thought of how this is going to be a bad idea, and he's sure of it. He was about to decline, when America suddenly took off his shades, and used his sky blue puppy eyes, the cutest he could muster up, to try convince the confused Filipino leader. He internally chuckled at how silly Murica was being and finally gave in.

"Thank ya, Pip! You're such a great pal. I knew I can count on my marvelous best friend any time!" Joe grinned, slapping his buddy's back, as he placed his sunglasses on Philip.

"Ha ha, yeah..." Phil gulped nervously, his eyes wavering under the shades, "any time."

Now is no time for chickening. he thought, gathering all his courage, making sure the same sunglasses Ame left for him was in place, along with his hoodie all pulled up, before he finally got off the car, and quietly ran towards Russia.

As he jogged, he recalled back of all the times, the short moments he had with the two of his companions, especially Sia. He thought of how foolish he was for even assuming she'd bother turning to glance at his way, when obviously, she's busy living the life of her own. All those stuff he did just to make her notice him, he imagined them sliding down the drain, along with his hopes.

He was helplessly despairing, he should've regretted for even falling for her in the first place. There's no way he'd dream of competing with his own best friend, just for the hand of the girl of his dreams.

I hope Ame and Sia would like this oh so creative idea I thought of.

He soon reached right next to her. Sighing to expect the worst, hepushed open the umbrella, shielding the both of them from the rain. He watched as she looked up to try process whatever was happening. Upon gazing up as well, he felt himself turn paler than mozarella at an 'oopsie' sight.

Instead of a star, there, engraved a bright yellow sun crest, that decors one side of the umbrella. This wasn't America's umbrella... this was his!

He quietly cussed the f-word under his breath, just as the slav turned about to meet with an ironic stranger face to face. He didn't know what to do, or what to fix, aside from just stare straight towards her eyes of blue, his own orbs peering right through the dark shaded lenses of his sunglasses.

After a good two minutes of staring, he felt his consciousness slap him hard, sending him back to reality. In realization of what he should've done minutes ago, he grabbed one of her hands, and placing the umbrella handle for her to grip. He lets it go, sprinting meters away, before promptly looking back to check on her. She was clearly in a bewildered situation right now, even he was confused himself with what he had done, as he continued to run and hop right into the car, the vehicle speeding away to the next car visible in the streets.

"Manila, what the frick! You gave me the wrong umbrella." Phil yelled at the driver. Instead of cowering, what's really surprising was how the city seemed to chuckle in an amused trance the whole time they drove.

"I don't think so," he replied with a smile, "that was the umbrella, I'm sure of it, Your Excellency."

"It was my umbrella! It wasn't America's-" he quickly stopped himself, processing what was happening at the moment. Upon realization, he thwacked his secretary's head, not caring he was driving.

"You did that on purpose didn't you?" he demanded a reply, a sudden sense of annoyance welling up inside him.

"Did what?" Manila grinned innocently, rubbing the back of his sore head, "I could not comprehend what you are saying, sire."

"Bull! You nasty puta, you know I liked Russia!" he bluntly cried.

"Oh? So now you admit you liked her? Interesting."

"Frick!" Why did I say that loud? he internally screamed at his foolishness, grabbing the nearest car cushion, before immediately shrieking at the top of his lungs to its surface. The driver couldn't help but stifle a laugh at such a scene.

"Man, that's not how you should thank me for doing you a huge favor." he proceeded to chuckle.

"S-shut up." Philip groaned in a very flustered manner, he was a huge embarassed blushing mess. Joe is going to kill me. He could imagine his best friend launching a battalion of nukes at him any moment soon, he could feel it.

Their car finally skidded to stop right by the Soviet's vehicle. Manila then hopped off to offer the Palace service's help, leaving Philip in the backseat.

He felt like hiding, and as he was to check the window to his left, he swore his heart could disconnect from its arteries, and topple out all the while nervously gazing at a curious Russia outside, her eyes staring straight through the window, as if she could see through. Luckily, the windows were tinted, he hoped it was all enough to block his features out, out of sight.

It really scared the hell out of him, how she just stared too long, to the point that chances of creating a hole through the window by her gaze is high. He silently prayed a thank you after she went inside their car with her brothers.

"You seem shakened. Is everything alright, Your Excellency?" the presidential secretary suddenly asked as he hopped into the car and drove.

"Y-yeah, I'm fine." He is so not ready for that meeting. Manila was about to add one of his snarky remarks when both men jumped upon hearing the countryleader's phone ring.

"It's Ame." Phil gulped at the screen of his gadget, the caller's photo was showing Joe in all his red, white, and blue glory, winking in such charisma, that one of the many things Philippines would love to wipe off.

"Answer it, sire." the driver insisted, switching his focus on the mirror and back to the wheel.

"W-what if he found out I used the wrong umbrella?" he panicked. Does that umbrella had a secret camera, or something? Who knows what advanced technology the American could be using.

"That's childish, answer it." Manila demanded further, "Mr. America only calls you when it's really important, you do not have to worry, Your Excellency."

"I guess you're right." he frowned, finally answering the incoming call, "Hello?"

"Pip! Oh man, why weren't you picking up, I thought something happened to you, I was worried sick!" a concerned voice from the other line spoke up. Why exactly should he worry about me? I'm not like his lost puppy, or his girlfriend. he rolled his eyes in thought, "I'm perfectly fine, Joe."

"I'm glad to hear that. Anyways I have something to tell you. It's really important." he could here slight shuffling in America's line. He's probably still in his car.

"Where are you?" Philip asked, assuming his friend would like to talk to him in private, which they normally do.

"I'm at the airport." he answered, with Phil gesturing at Manila, who immediately understood, before quickly turning the wheel to the other route's direction. The airport wasn't that far from them and the Palace, so he'll be meeting him soon.

Arriving at their shifted destination, the Filipino quickly hoisted himself out of his car, and calmly walked to climb into that waiting black vehicle in front of theirs, watching his secretary drive away to the Palace first. The car he was in soon followed suit.

Before he could do anything else, a hand grabbed him from behind, and started giving the smaller country a huge noogie. "Philip! It's so nice to see ya again! You still look so fricking great." the owner of the arm practically man squealed.

Phil pushed himself away from his 'assaulter', dusting himself a bit, "You to, Joe. So what was it that you want to tell me."

"Yeah, right, but first of all, holy frick, you're wearing the gaddang shades I gave you! Did you-"

"Yes, yes, I did, now could we go back to the crap?" he said, avoiding the incoming topic.

America pulled out a portfolio of confidential documents, handing them to Philippines, as he gave a devious smirk.

"Why don't we land some shit on a certain Ching, shall we?"