The Language of Summer

Lorenz's life was predictable. A small, bustling coastal town in the Philippines, university applications, and the constant, familiar rhythm of his language, Tagalog.

He was nineteen, easygoing, and entirely unprepared for the American summer that was about to arrive.

Lucas flew in from the United States-handsome, refined, and completely out of place. He was the son of Lorenz's mother's close friend, sent to the tropics for a month-long vacation. He knew crisp English and nothing of the sticky heat, the crowded jeepneys, or the deep, complex hospitality of a Filipino home.

The two were immediately bound by obligation. Lorenz was Lucas's unwilling guide; Lucas was Lorenz's linguistic burden.

They were forced to navigate small spaces, loud family dinners, and streets full of noise, communicating through simple sentences and frustrated gestures.

Every encounter became a study in translation. Lorenz struggled to find the perfect English phrase to explain a cultural nuance. Lucas struggled to understand why rice is life.

But as the initial annoyance faded, something else began to form in the gaps between the two languages. In shared silences, in accidental touches, and in the effort to simply understand each other, the distance between them narrowed.

This is a story about what happens when two worlds collide, and when the words you use aren't enough to contain the feelings you are trying to hide.

........

Please note: This story is entirely fictional. The characters, settings, and plot are fabrications designed for entertainment. They are not related to, nor intended to represent, the views, experiences, or actions of any specific real person or entity.

#you may encounter some errors so bare with me

Characters:
Liu as Lorenzo
Zhan as Lucas