.
Len didn’t do much. Sure, he had his work and he had his hobbies, but those things confined him mostly to his house, or at least his grounds at home. So sure, rethinking the statement, he did a lot. Just not much outside of the home.
He did have one thing though, one pleasure that drove him outside of the confines of his small country home and into town. And it was the community garden.
Set up by the small elementary school in town, the community garden rented out plots to towns people to grown flowers or food. It was a project that was supposed to bring the community together, and Len thought it did a pretty good job of doing just that. He would walk down several times a week to see neighbors who might never have noticed each other chatting merrily over hopeful seedlings, or the class of elementary school children working on their own little patches, laughing, smiling. It was a sight that warmed this small countries heart, and of course he had to join in.
People had questioned him when they saw him digging out the lot he had payed for. It was well know he already had a vegetable garden, a beautiful one at that. But that didn’t matter to him. What mattered was that he was adding to the community, and after some kind words to the people he was finally left in peace to plant the seeds he had brought. That was, until a shadow fell over him. Looking up, he raised his hand to block the sun from his face.
” Hallo, did you need something?”
Antonio didn’t remember how long it had been since his last visit to Liechtenstein, and he didn’t know why it took this long to visit again.
The air was crisp, the scenery was wonderful as always, and the people were generally friendly and welcoming, despite Antonio only being able to get by on what little German he knew.
It felt nice to stretch out his legs and go for a walk after spending a good several days cooped up in his hotel room. Did he have a specific destination? Of course not. He never did, even though that ended up with him calling for help or asking for directions several times in his immortal life. It was more fun to pick a direction and just keep walking, and that he did.
The sound of laughter reached his ears, and he realized that the laughter came from a group of schoolchildren at play. Just the sound of happiness made a smile spread effortlessly across his tan face, and he could have sworn that the sun shined down much brighter than before.
A couple more steps and he saw a school, the apparent source of the laughter and children. A few more steps and he saw something that caught his attention.
It was a small plot of land, a garden, perhaps. A beautiful sight for Antonio’s eyes.
One foot in front of the other, the Spaniard sped up his pace and walked right in, not a care in the world. He had been right; it certainly was beautiful, and was even more so up close.
Blonde hair was visible from the corner of his eye, causing him to curiously turn around. It was a boy, or what looked to be a boy at first glance. But upon further inspection, the boy looked incredibly familiar, but the name escaped him.
Oh well. Antonio would worry about that later. The boy was probably the owner anyways.
With his typical smile planted firmly on his face, the nation made his way over to the blonde.
“Hola!” he said with confidence and hands on his hips, “Sorry for the intrusion, but I was just admiring your beautiful garden!”
“Funny,” he hissed again, snapping his sharp glare to the other’s face again. He wondered why he was still here, this quim is of no use.
“Aren’t I?” A cocky grin made its home on the Spaniard’s face. It had been a while since he last had this much fun.
He frowned. Not seeing this to make sense anymore. “Funny,” he hissed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He finally let his eyes narrow with his growing scowl.
“Is it? Hmm, didn’t mean it to.” And there was the face of annoyance that Antonio began to grow accustomed to.
Rolling his eyes, he turned his head away from Antonio. A low growl came from his throat.
“There is no need to make dog noises, sir.” He said, frowning a bit at the sound that seemed to be coming from the other man.
“I can change who I am. I can choose not to change who I am. It’s my life and I can do as I wish.”
“You honestly don’t think that this is your life to do with as you please, yes?”
“Obviously I do fore it is my life and I can do what I wish with it.”
“Alright, whatever you say.” Both hands raised in defense. “Obviously, you’ve made your mind. Even if you’re terribly wrong.”
He frowned. Not seeing this to make sense anymore. “Funny,” he hissed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He finally let his eyes narrow with his growing scowl.
“Is it? Hmm, didn’t mean it to.” And there was the face of annoyance that Antonio began to grow accustomed to.
Puuuuuueeeees…..
Es complicado?
I mean, there is someone who loves me, that I know. And there is a possibility that the feelings are reciprocated.
But are we lovers? Boyfriends? Friends?
That I do not know.
But I do know that I love being with him when I get the chance, and that I love every single one of his reactions when I kiss him, and that I love the feeling of his hand in mine.
Ah, sorry. Seems I’ve gotten a bit off topic there.
So, to answer your question, anónimo…
No, I am not.
“I can change who I am. I can choose not to change who I am. It’s my life and I can do as I wish.”
“You honestly don’t think that this is your life to do with as you please, yes?”
“You of all people should know what I’ve gone through. The horrible things I’ve done. Tell me, how does that make me naive.”
“You are a monster, but even monsters can be terribly naive about what the future holds for them.”
“Then tell me, how does me wanting to change who I become make me naive?”
“You think you alone can change who you are, but that is a poor, misguided lie.” A smile appeared on the Spaniard’s face.