CHAPTER 6
537 Words
The morning in San Isidro Village was unusually peaceful.
Which, to Theo...
Meant it was the perfect day to cause trouble.
He leaned against the wooden fence outside Wade's house, arms crossed, watching Wade hang freshly washed clothes.
"...Wade."
"Hm?"
"I think someone's looking for you."
Wade didn't even look up.
"Who?"
"A woman."
That made Wade stop.
"A woman?"
Theo nodded seriously.
"She looked... angry."
Wade blinked.
"Angry?"
"Mhm."
"...What did she want?"
Theo bit back a smile.
"She said..."
"...she's pregnant."
The clothespin slipped from Wade's fingers.
"...Excuse me?"
Theo kept a perfectly straight face.
"And..."
"...you're the father."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"W-What?!"
Theo nodded solemnly.
"That's what she told me."
Wade stared at him in disbelief.
"When?"
Theo answered immediately.
"Anytime."
"..."
"..."
Wade slowly narrowed his eyes.
"...Anytime?"
Theo nodded with complete confidence.
"Yes."
"Anytime."
Wade pinched the bridge of his nose before muttering in Tagalog,
> "Theo... umamin ka nga sa'kin, dati ka bang baliw?"
Theo blinked.
"What?"
"What did you say?"
Wade folded his arms.
"I asked if..."
"...you've always been this crazy."
Theo gasped dramatically.
"I am not crazy."
"You just told me I have a pregnant wife."
"I never said wife."
"That's not the point!"
Theo burst into laughter.
"I've never seen your face turn that pale."
"I almost had a heart attack!"
"You should've seen yourself."
"I don't need to!"
Theo laughed even harder.
---
Wade suddenly smirked.
"Oh..."
"You want to play that game?"
Theo's smile slowly disappeared.
"...Why are you smiling like that?"
"No reason."
"That's exactly what someone says before revenge."
Wade nodded toward the road.
"Theo."
"Hm?"
"I think someone's looking for you."
Theo raised an eyebrow.
"Who?"
"A handsome foreign man."
Theo froze.
"...Really?"
"He said..."
"...he's been searching for you."
Theo's expression immediately changed.
"What?"
"He also said..."
"...you owe him a million pesos."
Theo stared.
"...I don't even remember who I am."
"Exactly."
"So how could I owe someone money?"
Wade shrugged.
"Maybe Past Theo liked borrowing."
Theo grabbed the nearest broom.
"You little—"
Before Wade could react—
Theo chased him around the yard.
"Wade!"
"I'M JUST DELIVERING THE MESSAGE!"
"YOU MADE THAT UP!"
"I LEARNED FROM THE BEST!"
"I'M GOING TO HIT YOU!"
"You'll miss!"
"I WON'T!"
The villagers watched the two run past the sari-sari store for what felt like the hundredth time.
Aling Rosa chuckled.
"Para na talaga silang magkapatid."
("They're really like siblings.")
The old doctor standing nearby smiled.
"No..."
He watched Theo laugh harder than he had in months.
"...I think they're becoming something much more important."
Neither Theo nor Wade heard him.
They were too busy arguing.
"You started it!"
"You believed me!"
"You believed me too!"
"...Fair point."
Theo lowered the broom.
"...Truce?"
Wade extended his hand.
"Truce."
Theo shook it.
Then immediately pulled Wade closer and flicked his forehead.
"Ow!"
"That's for making me think I had debt."
"And that's for making me think I was about to become a father."
They looked at each other for a second...
Then burst into laughter.
For someone who had forgotten his entire past...
Theo realized something.
Every day with Wade...
Felt like a memory worth keeping.
End of Chapter 6
- Writer
