No longer warm (A CountryHumans AU)

Arc I, Ep 1: Dinner with the Filipino family

When Martial came back, after he help Mindanao from the terrorist attack. He was exhausted, both from traveling and fighting in the frontline. Manila, his personal servant, came and help his luggage.

"Good afternoon master, how's the situation in Mindanao?" Manila ask as he help Martial take his coat off. "We successfully eliminate the threat and the terrorist, the only problem is how we're going to fix the cities that was affected?" Martial as he stretch his back and heard that satisfying pop. Martial then walk towards the dinning room where he saw his brothers eating with awkwardness radiating from Del who couldn't eat properly.

"Magandang hapon Ma- *cough* Kuya Martial..." His twin brother, Philippines, greet him, his attention is still at the food. Martial then understand why Del gives awkward vibes, it was because how Philip almost greet him Martial than just saying Kuya, and also how he response with no emotion. Martial holds back the shiver when Philippines greeted him like that. "M-Magandang hapon rin sayo, Philip..." Martial greet back, but Philip didn't even react to it, 'No wonder Del was so awkward eating with him, he doesn't even react! Philip wasn't like this, could it be he's currently in a bad mood?' Martial thought as he took a seat in front of Philippines.

Seating arrangement:

Vacant Del
Philip ┬──────────────┬ Martial
┬──────────────┬
Vacant Vacant

Philippines suddenly stand up startling the two. He then look at Davao who was standing beside the door towards the dining room and look a bit nervous. "Call Cebu and Manila, bring them here." Philippines command, and Davao bow and quickly left the room to call the two personal servants of the country masters. Philippines walk away from the table and towards the kitchen. Del and Martial look at each other and back towards the kitchen where their younger brother was seen.

"Psst! Martial, I never knew Philip can be this... scary!" Del whisper to his younger brother who still remember how cold his twin was with him. He nodded at Del, as he knows that Philip can be serious when needed but, he never knew that Philip can act so emotionless and blunt. Their convo stop when Del notice Philip coming back with 3 more plates and utensils, Del's eyes widen 'Could it be?!' Del thought, gawking silently as he saw Philip arrange the plates and the utensils.

"My lord, I have brought Manila and Cebu with me. Is there any concerns on why you brought us here?" Davao politely inquire, Philip turned his head towards him and stare at him for a bit before turning back towards the table. Davao unconsciously let out a sigh of relief, "Yes, I notice how my brothers, Kuya Del, and Kuya Martial, are uncomfortable eating with me." All of the present people flinch, 'Are we really that awkward!' Martial and Del thought simultaneously, as their eyes look down at their food, and gripping lightly at the utensils. Davao, Manila and Cebu, look at the two country master who was gripping their utensils, and then look back at Philippines who kept staring at them. "So to solve this, I would like to invite the three of you to have lunch with us." Philippines provide his answers, and the 3 butlers looks a bit anxious.

"My lord, it is rude for us to eat wi-"

"Are you disobeying my orders, Davao?" Philip ask coldly as he frown, dull eyes started to narrow and the room temperature drops. Manila and Cebu tried to keep a straight face, but they're sweating a lot. They never knew their masters younger brother can be this terrifying. Martial and Del just watch the situation unfold, helpless and scared for Philip's servant. Davao realizes his mistake, quickly bow 90° degrees and ask for his lord forgiveness.

Philip stared for a bit before closing his eyes, "Accepted, as long as you remember your place. Come sit down and have a meal with us." Philippines sat down as he gesture the three servants to eat with them. They reluctantly goes towards the table and sat down.

Seating arrangement:

Davao Del
Philip ┬──────────────┬ Martial
┬──────────────┬
Cebu Manila

The awkward intensifies when the servant sat down with them. Manila knowing if they disobey Philip again, they will suffer his wrath, so he got himself rice and took 2 serving spoon of their lunch. The other two follow behind him, but choose a different meals.

"Kuya Martial?"

"Y-Yes!" Martial scolded himself internally for yelping like that, while having their lunch. Philip who's attention is still with his food, ask. "How's the situation in Mindanao? I heard that you successfully eliminate the terrorist."

"Yes, we did eliminate the terrorist successfully but..."

"You're thinking on how to help the affected cities, or the civilians who lost their homes?"

"Y-yeah..." Martial answered his twin, who hum and continued eating.

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

'Shit! The awkward intensifies even more!' Most of them thought.

"... W-who cooked the adobo? It taste really good!" Cebu ask trying to start a convo, though he really loves the taste of the adobo. Manila, Davao, Martial, and Del, thank him internally for making the awkwardness, less awkward. Philip after swallowing his food, answer Del's personal servant. "It was me... I ask the maids to let me cook for today." The occupants on the table, eyes wide when they heard the young country master answer.

'He cooked this?!'

'I didn't knew he could cook?!'

'Country master Philippines, is a talented cook!'

'My lord, knew how to cook?'

All of them (minus Philippines) thought simultaneously. "Lord, thank you for today's meal." Philip silently prayed after he finished eating, he carries his plate and utensils and walk towards the kitchen where the sink is located and placed his plates there. Before going back at the dining room to see, the 5 quietly eating, they must've heard his steps for their head to turn towards him. Philippines shot them a small gentle smile before saying, "Let's do this again." Before leaving the room and goes to his office/bedroom. The remainders openly gawked at the door Philip was last seen.

"Holy shit!" Del Pilar shout, then quickly close his mouth when he saw Martial glare.

"Did master Philippines just smile?" Manila asked, surprise at the sudden action the young country master did.

"I never knew my lord smile was so- so gentle and warm... I miss his smiles..." Davao reminisce the past when Philip smiles everyday, it wasn't a fake smile he showed, it was always genuine.

"Del..." The said person look towards his younger brother who was gripping tightly the handle of the spoon, and looking downwards. "Ha-..
Have we been taking for granted Philip's bubbly personality?" Martial look at his older brother, who look back with surprise spread across his face, before his eyes reflected a bit guilt and sadness, then looking down towards his plate. Del hopes that they did not take Philip's personality for granted, he prayed heavens above that Philip was just having a rough day.

"I-... I don't know... Maybe his currently in a bad mood." Del tries to comfort his younger brother with his words, it wasn't really effective, but it did help Martial calm down for a bit.

"Let's just hope that this day will be the last day, that Philip acts like that."

"Yeah.. yeah let's hoped for the best..."

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Translation:

Magandang hapon - Good afternoon

Magandang hapon rin sayo - good afternoon to you too.

Kuya - older/big brother