Ever as in FOREVER

Lovino knew he had seen that guy somewhere. He tried not to stare, but it was bugging him to no end.

Why in the hell he looks so.. familiar.. Fucking damn it.

"Hey, could you move forward in the line..!" Someone told rather impatiently and Lovino realized that it was his turn to go pay for his groceries.
"Ah.." Lovino opened his mouth to ask if he knew the man behind the cash counter, but the man was faster.
"Hey, I think I know you!" The man exclaimed and his eyes lit up. "Lovino Vargas, right?? Oh man, it's been so long!" The man laughed and leaned a bit forward to scan the face in front of him.
"Ah.. um..." Lovino dug his head feaverishly to remember that laugh. He knew it! He most certainly did, since that man knew him from somewhere.
"An-Antonio. Huh. Antonio Carriedo?" Lovino asked a bit unsure.
"Yeah!" Antonio laughed blissfully. "You remember! Right? It was-"
"Hey!" The same miss impatient. Seemed like she was busy.

Antonio flinched and remembered that he was actually working there. Lovino sighed and dug his hand into his pocket to take his wallet to pay for the groceries.

"It's amazing.." Antonio stared at Lovino while he moved the groceries forward. "Where have you been?" Antonio's grin was so wide. How Lovino had been able to forget something like that?

"A... Um, maybe not now." Lovino spoke much quieter than Antonio and poked his head slightly towards the line behind him.

"Oh, okay! How about I call you? Or you call me? Here's my number." Antonio offered a little paper where he quickly scribbled his number. "It's been so long time, I would really like to know how your life have been all these years!" Antonio grinned. "And it's 32,50 euros, please." He added quickly before he forgot.

Lovino handed him the money and pushed the paper with Antonio's number into his pocket.

"Seven euros and 50 cents back!" Antonio smiled and dropped the money on Lovino's open palm. Their eyes met quickly before Lovino turned away to collect his groceries in a plastic bag.

"Hi!"

Lovino listened how Antonio greeted his new customer.

Antonio Carriedo... How long has it been.... Weird.

Lovino thought and took his grocerie bag. He started to walk quietly toward the market's doors.

"Oh, bye!" He heard how Antonio shouted. Lovino turned around to see how Antonio waved a little to him. Smile tugged Lovino's corner of mouth a little upwards and he raised his palm to answer.

"Bye." He said and turned, head last.

Haha... Weird indeed. I didn't even remember how much I've missed you.

Lovino smiled in his thoughts and walked out of the shop.

~

"I'm opening this cash." A young woman said to customers and they started to change the cashline there almost immediatly. Antonio snapped from where he had been staring after the guy he had long time ago known as a friend.

"Come. On. Antonio..." The woman whined and started to service the customers in a good pace. "You're in work, try to remember that."

Antonio gave the woman an apologetic smile and laughed a little.

"I'm sorry Bella, but it had been so long since we saw each other..."

Bella sighed and smiled just a little. "Okay, okay-"

"Maybe eight- no, no, fourteen years! ....Has it really been that long..?" Antonio continued suddenly.

Bella rolled his eyes. "Just go away for a while, can you?" She sighed.

Antonio laughed and stood up from the stool he had been sitting.

"Okay, sure!" He chuckled and left to the break room.

The break room was empty. It was weekend and there was not much workers in the small market today.

Antonio slumbed down on the couch. He couldn't stop smiling.

Lovino Vargas! Who could have guessed... We were both children back then...

Antonio chuckled. How small world.