CHAPTER 4
621 Words
The morning in San Isidro Village was as lively as ever.
Roosters crowed.
Children ran barefoot along the dirt road.
The aroma of freshly baked pandesal drifted through the air.
Inside Wade's small house...
Chaos had already begun.
"Theo!"
No response.
"Theoooo!"
Still nothing.
Wade sighed before pushing open the bedroom door.
Theo was still asleep, hugging a pillow.
"You really sleep like you're getting paid."
Without opening his eyes, Theo replied,
"...I dream in peace until someone starts shouting."
"I'm someone?"
"No."
Theo opened one eye.
"You're my daily headache."
Wade grinned.
"Good morning to you too."
---
Later...
The two walked toward the village clinic.
Theo had started helping the doctor organize patient records. Although he couldn't remember his past, his knowledge of numbers and paperwork came naturally.
"You know," Wade said, "for someone with amnesia..."
"Hm?"
"You're weirdly good with paperwork."
Theo shrugged.
"I guess muscle memory exists."
"Brain memory."
"...Don't ruin the moment."
Wade laughed.
---
As they crossed a bamboo bridge, Wade suddenly stopped.
"Theo."
Theo looked at him suspiciously.
"What?"
"I have another Tagalog lesson."
Theo immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
"This one's useful."
"You said gwapo meant best friend."
"It was... partially true."
"You also said mahal kita means 'you're annoying.'"
"It can..."
Theo folded his arms.
"I'm not believing another word until someone else confirms it."
Wade placed a hand over his chest dramatically.
"You wound me."
"I intend to."
---
Wade cleared his throat.
"In English..."
"You say, 'Be careful.'"
Theo nodded.
"Okay."
"But in Tagalog..."
"We say..."
'Mag-ingat ka.'
Theo repeated carefully.
"Ma...gingat...ka."
"Perfect."
"And if someone wants to say..."
"I'll protect you."
"We say..."
'Iingatan kita.'
Theo smiled.
"That actually sounds beautiful."
"It does."
"So..."
"What does it literally mean?"
Wade paused.
Then, with the straightest face imaginable—
"It means..."
"Don't be stupid."
Theo blinked.
"...Really?"
"Absolutely."
"So if you're about to cross the road..."
"I say Iingatan kita?"
"Exactly."
Theo nodded seriously.
"I think I'm finally learning."
---
That afternoon...
The village children were playing near the river.
One little boy slipped on the rocks.
Theo instinctively ran toward him.
"Hey!"
The child regained his balance before falling.
Relieved, Theo smiled and proudly said,
"Iingatan kita!"
The boy stared at him.
His older sister, standing nearby, suddenly covered her mouth to hide a laugh.
"W-What?"
Theo looked confused.
The children exchanged amused glances.
Just then, Wade arrived carrying a basket of vegetables.
The older sister called out teasingly,
"Naku, Kuya Wade! May umaamin yata!"
Wade froze.
Then he looked at Theo.
"...You actually said it."
Theo frowned.
"What?"
"What does it really mean?"
Wade scratched his cheek, trying not to laugh.
"It means..."
"I'll take care of you."
Theo's eyes slowly widened.
Silence.
"..."
"..."
He turned toward Wade with the calmest smile he'd worn all day.
"So..."
"You lied."
"A little."
Theo gently placed the basket on the ground.
"Run."
"What?"
"I said..."
"Run."
Wade bolted down the path.
Theo chased after him while the villagers laughed at the familiar sight.
"CASPIAN WADE HASHIRO!"
"I'M SORRY!"
"YOU TAUGHT ME TO ACCIDENTALLY CONFESS TO A CHILD!"
"I PANICKED!"
"I'M GOING TO THROW YOU INTO THE RIVER!"
"You'd miss me!"
"I WOULDN'T!"
"...You would."
Theo couldn't stop himself from laughing.
"...You're unbelievable."
Wade smiled.
"And yet..."
"You still keep following me."
Theo rolled his eyes.
"Someone has to make sure you don't teach the entire village fake English."
The two continued walking home, bickering all the way.
Neither of them noticed the fond smiles the villagers shared as they watched.
Somewhere between the teasing...
The stranger and the boy who rescued him had already become each other's favorite part of the day.
End of Chapter 4
- Writer
