#Filipina Family

[darrenwalleyconsultancy]

Cupid's Philippines Scams

Photo by Rainier Ridao Apparently, Cupid has an evil sense of humour and punishes the weak. YouTube is now full of Cupid’s Philippines scams videos, so I decided to dedicate this week’s article to the subject. Now you are now single. You have probably decided to follow the enlightened men of the west. Heading east to find the love of your life. “Karens” For those of you who have read my…

[mixelation]

i always assumed tori was latina from her last name. is she not?

that's a reasonable conclusion, yeah

[hecksupremechips]

A thing I really appreciate about the letter vn is that it doesn’t fall into that trope where the characters are idiots who go into the obviously haunted mansion for shits and giggles, but rather they’re just normal people who happened to fall victim to a curse

[melaniekudo]

Way Back 2017 - Start of my journey 🇵🇭

Mel had always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Growing up in a small town in the Philippines, she admired the dedication and compassion of healthcare workers. After completing her nursing degree, she found a job in St. Lukes as a reliever because she did not pass the employment exam, this was far from her expectations. The long hours, limited resources, and heartbreaking cases wore her down. She often felt overwhelmed, wondering if she was making any difference at all.

Her aunt, Carol, had moved to the United States years ago and often encouraged Mel to pursue greater opportunities. Carol saw her niece’s potential and frequently spoke of the Philippine Heart Center, a prestigious hospital known for its cutting-edge treatments and commitment to excellence. "You belong there, Mel," Carol would say during their video calls. "You just need a chance to shine."

One evening, after a particularly challenging day at the clinic, Mel confided in her aunt. "I don’t know if I can keep doing this," she admitted, her voice shaking. "I feel like I’m drowning."

Carol listened carefully and then made a decision. "Let me help you," she said. She began reaching out to her contacts in the healthcare industry, advocating for Mel's skills and passion. After weeks of hard work, Carol called with exciting news: Mel had been accepted for an interview at the Philippine Heart Center.

Nervous yet hopeful, Mel prepared meticulously. She researched the hospital, practiced her interview responses, and reviewed her nursing skills. On the day of the interview, she wore her best dress, a gift from her aunt, and took a deep breath before stepping into the bustling hospital.

The interview panel was intimidating, comprised of seasoned doctors and administrators. But as she spoke about her experiences and her dedication to patient care, Mel felt a surge of confidence. She poured her heart into every answer, recalling the struggles she had faced and the joy she found in helping others.

Weeks later, while she was working a shift at the clinic, her phone buzzed with an unknown number. It was Carol. “Mel, you did it! You got the job!” Tears of joy filled Mel’s eyes as she absorbed the news. She was going to be a part of the Philippine Heart Center.

As she started her new role, Mel quickly found herself in a supportive environment filled with passionate colleagues. She was challenged daily, but with each passing moment, she grew stronger and more capable. The advanced equipment and collaborative spirit of the hospital reignited her passion for nursing.

One evening, after a particularly rewarding day, Mel called her aunt. “Thank you for believing in me,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. “I finally feel like I’m where I belong.”

Carol’s voice was warm with pride. “You always had it in you, Mel. Now, you can make a real difference.”

With renewed determination, Mel embraced her role at the Philippine Heart Center. She became known not only for her skills but also for her empathy and compassion. As she cared for her patients, she remembered the struggles that had brought her here and vowed to inspire others just as her aunt had inspired her.

In the heart of a bustling hospital, Mel found her purpose—and in doing so, she transformed not just her own life but the lives of those she cared for, one heartbeat at a time.

[oldmanlusting]

I Sure Hope this work guy wants to go to an exhibition as friends and not as a date

[darrenwalleyconsultancy]

Expat Sacrifice

Photo by Dannyluo Expat life, Expat Living, although full of fun, adventure, love and maybe even money, comes with sacrifice. Once living and working abroad, you will have friends and family congratulating you on your move and even some who will be more focused on the crazy money you must be earning. Isn’t it funny how the apparent crazy money is why third-world immigrants flock to the shores of…

[my-cabbages-gorl]

Yes yes yes

Shoutout to Avatar the Last Airbender for thoroughly establishing spirituality as something rooted in specific places. Hei Bai guards his forest, the Northern Water tribe has a holy site they’ve built around where Tui & La reside, The Swamp is a specifically spiritual place, etc. And then that concept also extends  how the body is perceived so that Aang’s spirit has trouble returning to his body if it’s moved, Tai Li paralyzes people through acupressure points, Aang regains connection to the Avatar state when he is struck in a specific spot in the back, and multiple scenes including the final take-down of Ozai involve being touched in the Ajna (aka the Brow or Third-Eye) chakra point. They really said “fuck you” to Euro-American storytelling conventions and didn’t look back.

[angelhandstattoo]

Makati: After our tour of Malacañan Palace, our van was caught in Manila rush hour, where I observed all kinds of Manila life, including the little cuties in the first pic. 💖 At this point we were staying in Makati (an area of commerce and high rises in Manila) at the Dusit Thani, across the street from another big mall and more shopping. By that evening I was overtaken by a combination of dehydration and something I ate or drank not “agreeing” with me, and spent the night involuntarily clearing my body of any and all fluids and solids- from both ends. Let’s just say I am confident I made an impression on the staff 🥴 The next day was my long-anticipated reunion with the uncle who held me as a baby the last time we were together (Uncle Jojo), and meeting with my Auntie Beverly and cousin Jomalyn for the first time. They traveled a very long distance to see me thanks to help from afar from my mom, but I was so weak I didn’t have the energy to leave the hotel. They were so sweet and gracious, and happy to tour the sites within the hotel and spend time with me even though I was pretty depleted and not my most vivacious. Nonetheless it was very emotional to see them, and I loved being able to hug them and take photos and catch up - my cousin Jomalyn was a wonderful interpreter as well! All things considered, I am incredibly grateful to have been able to spend any time with them at all, even though I couldn’t enjoy their meal with them…but I did get some fancy bananas at the hotel restaurant for dinner 🤙🏽🍌🍽️ A fitting conclusion to one of the greatest adventures of my life so far- going “home” to reconnect with my family and culture, making lifelong friends on an amazing adventure, and making a sacrifice to the travel gods that was both terrible and hilarious 🇵🇭✨👯‍♀️✨🚽 . . @joatwood #philippines #manila #makati #travelphilippines #visitphilippines #filipino #filipina #mestiza #family #philippinesborn #motherland #cousins #grateful #reunion #banana #fancybanana (at Makati City, Manila Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/Coba0PaLkXa/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[arkipelagic]

The Spanish surnames of many Filipinos have often misled foreigners here and abroad, who are unaware of the decree on the adoption of surnames issued by Governor-General Narciso Clavería in 1849. Until quite recently in the United States, the Filipinos were classified in demographic statistics as a “Spanish-speaking minority,” along with Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Mexicans, and other nationals of the Central or South American republics. The Philippines, as is well known, was a Spanish colony when Spain was mistress of empires in the Western Hemisphere; but the Americans were “hispanized” demographically, culturally, and linguistically, in a way the Philippines never was. Yet the Spanish surnames of the Filipinos today—García, Gómez, Gutiérrez, Fernández—seem to confirm the impression of the American statistician, as well as of the American tourist, that the Philippines is just another Mexico in Asia. Nor is this misunderstanding confined to the United States; most Spaniards still tend to think of “las Islas Filipinas” as a country united to them through the language of Cervantes, and they catalogue Philippine studies under “Hispano-America.” The fact is that after nearly three-and-a-half centuries of Spanish rule probably not more than one Filipino in ten spoke Spanish, and today scarcely one in fifty does. Still the illusion lives on, thanks in large part to these surnames, which apparently reflect descent from ancient Peninsular forbears, but in reality often date back no farther than this decree of 1849.

Somehow overlooked, this decree, with the Catálogo Alfabético de Apellidos which accompanied it, accounts for another curiousity which often intrigues both Filipinos and foreign visitors alike, namely, that there are towns in which all the surnames of the people begin with the same letter. This is easily verifiable today in many parts of the country. For example, in the Bikol region, the entire alphabet is laid out like a garland over the provinces of Albay, Sorsogon, and Catanduanes which in 1849 belonged to the single jurisdiction of Albay. Beginning with A at the provincial capital, the letters B and C mark the towns along the coast beyond Tabaco to Tiwi. We return and trace along the coast of Sorsogon the letters E to L; then starting down the Iraya Valley at Daraga with M, we stop with S to Polangui and Libon, and finish the alphabet with a quick tour around the island of Catan-duanes. Today’s lists of municipal officials, memorials to local heroes, even business or telephone directories, also show that towns where family names begin with a single letter are not uncommon. In as, for example, the letter R is so prevalent that besides the Roas, Reburianos, Rebajantes, etc., some claim with tongue in cheek that the town also produced Romuáldez, Rizal, and Roosevelt!

Excerpt from the 1973 introduction to Catálogo de Alfabético de Apellidos by Domingo Abella

[luvjunie]

KNEW BETTER — e42!miles x fem!reader

SUMMARY. the alluring pull of a stranger entices you to make a risky decision all too familiar to your last WORD COUNT. 3,754 CONTENTS. miles and reader are in their late teens for realistic purposes, language, brief mention of a kiss, my attempt at an adequate plot and characterizations that actually have substance SONG INSPO. “knew better/forever boy” by ariana grande AUTHOR’S NOTE. i currently have no plans to take this further but inspiration struck and i had to write it lolll

How did you end up here?

Sticking out like a sore thumb on the roof top of a family party that definitely wasn’t yours, though they’d started to feel like it in the last few months. It’s not like your family would be mature enough to come together, put their pride aside for five minutes, and get along the way these people were. And after your parents’ separation became official earlier this year, negotiation was way out of the question. This distraction from the chaos you left back home was more than welcomed.

Your friend’s hand was starting to pale from how hard you were clutching onto it, yet you didn’t notice. The music was loud and a little upbeat for your taste, but you slightly bobbed your head to it anyway, a mindless thing you found yourself doing regardless of whether you could understand the lyrics to the song or not. There's no way you’d be caught dead at a party looking as if you didn’t have at least an ounce of rhythm.

Noticing your nerves, as well as the growing ache of her fingers, your friend Camila turned her head to the side, her silky, chestnut brown tresses flowing over her shoulder when she shouted over the bass of the speakers.

“Don’t be nervous! They’re all real nice, I promise!”

"Camila—" barely hearing what she said, you stopped for a second to give a sweet smile to an older lady who passed you, then softly tugged her arm to get her attention. “Can’t we just, stay in that cute little corner over there with the—“ you paused. “What are those— enchiladas?”

“Empanadas.” She corrected with a lighthearted eyeroll, her Queen’s accent heavy on her tongue. “And no way! I want you to meet everyone.”

"Everyone—wait what?” Your eyes bulged. You probably resembled a looney-tunes character at the moment. “I thought I’d officially met everyone last month at the uhh— the fuckin—“ You made a wafting motion with your hands, as if it’d prompt your brain to get your thoughts out as quickly as the two of you were walking. “The Heritage Month BBQ, thingy?”

This was the first time the doe-eyed girl had stopped to look at you throughout your walk through the venue—like, actually look at you—and of course it was only to laugh at your ridiculous observation. She nearly doubled over.

“Ha!- Yeah, nah. That was a funny joke though.” she giggled. “That was family family. This is family and family friends. So basically, more family. You know that!”

Oh yeah. Makes complete sense. Family didn’t even sound like a word anymore at this point, you thought to yourself as she pulled the both of you to a stop at the drink table.

You and Camila had been friends ever since the second grade. The girl had the prettiest hazel eyes and the longest, shiniest hair you'd ever seen. Since time she’s liked to refer to herself as the “Puerto Rican-Filipina Rapunzel", and though the term she’d come up with was a bit of a mouthful, you’d be lying if you tried to disagree.

She’d waltzed up to your secluded spot at indoor recess in Mrs. Walter’s class, demanded the two of you be friends, and even gave you a pink Hello Kitty sticker to accompany her proposition.

And seeing as you couldn’t remember much before that, you really couldn’t remember a time when Camila wasn’t in your life, either. Protecting you from anyone who might have anything to say about her bestfriend, and always quick to step in front of you and get in someone’s face about it, even if the someone in question was a burly 6’3 football player who had to crane his neck to look down at who was cursing him out a mile a minute.

If people saw Camila, they saw you, too. That’s just how the two of you rolled. And yeah, you’d been to more than a few family parties, slapped on some low-waisted, bejeweled miss-me jeans and boots to fit in with the dress code, and attended a few bailes even though you couldn’t dance for shit. But you’d never been to a gathering of theirs that was this large. What was the occasion?

As you watched her scoop a ladle of some sort of homemade drink mix into a red solo cup, you realized you’d unintentionally asked the question in your head.

“So, what’s the big occasion?” You took in your surroundings, noting how happy everyone looked.

“Ah, my aunt finished her M.D program, or somethin’ like that. Basically, she’s gonna be a real big doctor soon, so you know we had to party. My cousin invited me."

“Mm,” you nodded stalely, accepting the cup she quickly pushed into your hand before she went to pour another for herself.

“Speaking of my cousin…”

There was a mischievous glint in Camila’s eyes. Was mischevious the right word? Maybe excited, but either way, you didn’t like it one bit.

Mid sip, you slowly lowered your drink from your lips, eyes narrowing at her in suspicion.

“Camila Janaé Reyes. What are you plotting?”

“Nothingggg!”

Judging by that tone, it was definitely not nothing.

“I just want you to meet him, that’s all.” Her words drawled as she gave you one of her sickeningly sweet smiles, and you whined like a child who’d just been asked to put a coat on before leaving the house.

“Seriously, ‘Mila? That’s why you invited me?”

“No! Well… Kinda?” she grimaced.

Your bestfriend could be quite persistent, especially with specific things others didn’t want her to be persistent with. Every human on this earth had a trait that irritated someone or made them slightly less favorable, and of course, that trait is almost impossible to recognize in yourself.

This—the overbearing persistence, the thinking that she knew better for everyone than they did themselves—was Camila’s, and it irked you to your core like no other.

“Camila, I told you, no boys. I don’t even think I have it in me after..." The rest of the sentence died on your tongue as your hand came up to pinch the bridge of your nose, prompting Camila to give you a knowing head nod. With her, you didn’t even have to finish the thought.

“I know, I know,” she said. “But his mom’s been a little worried about how quiet he’s gotten and asked if I could bring someone for him to talk to. So, I thought maybe you guys could be friends or something. That’s it! He don’t got many, and you—well…”

You almost cracked a smile at that, even though you were still annoyed with her. “Don’t finish that sentence.”

You somehow found it in you to let your guard down a bit, which, in theory, would probably come back to bite you in the ass later. You just didn’t know how soon that would be the case.

Your shoulders slumped, a telltale sign of you ready to throw in the towel, just this once like you always did. Camila was already getting excited.

“Alright, alright. Who’s your cousin?”

The petite girl rolled her lips inward to bite back a wide grin, and instead of answering you, she slid beside you and slunk her arm around your shoulders. Her neck stretched for a second as she scanned the lively gathering, her eyes widening once she found who she was scouting for.

She gestured with her chin, not wanting to make it obvious.

“See that guy by himself over there? Like, six foot two, wide shoulders, lowkey thinks he’s Batman, kinda gotta mug on him? He’s nice though, swear. When he wants to be.”

You squinted into the distance. “Uhh… I think that’s a woman, ‘Mila.”

She gasped at that, shoving your shoulder hard enough to almost make you stumble. “No not my Tia Beatriz, you bitch!”

“Oh shit—“

A laugh tore through your apology before you could stop it, and the girl next to you made a sound with her throat that was clearly her trying to hold back her own laughter.

"Idiota," she mumbled.

Two hands clamped down on your shoulders before you felt your body shift to the side a bit, someone else coming into view once your perspective changed.

“I’m talkin’bout him.”

The last time you could recall your heart dropping into your ass at this same rate was when your mom caught you trying to stuff your bra in the sixth grade before the bus arrived. And somehow, that feeling still wasn’t comparable to this.

This—this was much different.

“Y’see him?”

How could you not?

A little ways down, casually leaned back on an elbow at the tall edge of the roof, stood a lanky-looking, brownskinned boy who was far too handsome for his own good. Clad in a fitted black shirt and a cropped leather jacket, you could tell that piece of clothing alone cost more than your entire outfit. He was rocking some straight-legged, black cargo pants and a pair of Air Jordan 1’s you’d never seen before. There was a jaded look plastered on his face, and something about his body language led you to believe that he was forcing himself to be here.

You swallowed,

“That’s your cousin?”

Camila’s insanely, good looking, cousin, if you hadn’t mentioned that already. Not even her older brother was this fine. This boy put the childish crush you had on Luis to absolute shame.

“Mm-hm.”

Your gaze alternated back and forth between her and the boy in the distance. "But, you guys don’t—“

“Yeah, yeah, I know. We get that a lot, big family.” She waved you off, probably having heard this a million times.

Her posture suddenly straightened with newfound determination, and it made your heart jump.

“Well, what are we just standin’ here for? Let’s go-“

“Nope. Nuh uh.”

Camila’s head recoiled when she raised a questioning brow at you. “Fuck you mean ‘nuh uh’?”

You balked at her as if the answer were obvious.

“I am not talking to that man!”

“Well why not?” she asked incredulously.

“Because he is fine as hell, are you crazy? I ain’t got no business goin’ over there.” You don’t know why you were lowering your voice; it’s not like he’d be able to hear you over the music anyway.

But, just by a stroke of luck, he suddenly looked up, probably due to the sweltering heat of your eyes dissecting his entire persona.

“Anddd now he’s looking at me. Oh my god,” you whisked around as casually as you could play off, fingers pressed to your hot forehead as you cursed beneath your breath.

His line of sight was cast in your direction, and though he could’ve been looking right past you, which was simply wishful thinking on your end, that was a chance you absolutely weren’t going to take.

“Yeah, he’s always able to catch people staring. I don't know how he does it… And s’kinda weird now that I think about it…” Camila mumbled distractedly to herself, her pondering eyes drifting skywards. A sharp elbow to her side, yours to be exact, was enough to pull her out of her observation and earn you a pained whine.

“Focus! What do I do now? He probably thinks I’m a creep.” you groaned.

A puff of amused air blew from her nose. “Yeah, I doubt that. He’s a bit of an odd ball himself.”

That definitely did nothing to make you feel better.

“Besides, he don’t bite,"

Your feet weren’t moving on your own accord as you began walking; it was Camila tugging you out of your in-plain sight hiding spot and towards the very boy you were just marveling at.

“I think.” she added.

“Camila, I really don’t think this is a good idea—“

Through the rush of the brief murmur-screamed argument you had with her, the walk over to him was surprisingly much shorter than your brain had estimated it to be. And of course, ever the gentleman with perfect manners, the boy in question clicked his phone off and tucked it away in his front pocket once he saw the both of you approaching him.

Camila put on her sweetest voice, and albeit a bit annoying, her intentions were pure.

“Heyyy, Miles! How are you?”

Miles. That’s a cute name. Or is it only cute because I think he’s cute? Fuck, I’m spacing out, aren’t I?

The light baritone in his voice edged you to believe that it was the latter.

“Hey cous’, I’m straight.”

Miles was talking to Camila, but he was staring dead at you while he did, as if he was purposely trying to send you into a terribly premature fit of cardiac arrest.

He had a solemn look to him; face hardened with faint frown lines that seemed a bit unfitting for his age. The only resemblance these two shared was the striking allure of hazeled eyes and how they were both able to have people lost in them without even trying. There was an energy that radiated from him—something about his presence that you felt a pull towards. It wasn’t intimidating, or brooding, no. It was more on the lines of intoxicating. And it didn’t necessarily make you uncomfortable, per se, but the fact that you couldn’t pinpoint the exact feeling his stare was giving you most definitely did.

It was a known fact that you couldn’t hold eye contact for shit, and an observing Miles easily picked up on that after the third time your eyes had darted back and forth between his own and any random object you could keep your attention on. So, when he finally decided to spare you and directed them towards his chirpy cousin instead, you felt like you could finally breathe again and stole an embarrassingly deep inhale that nearly made you lightheaded.

“So wassup, who’s this?” Miles motioned towards you with a slight tilt of his head, hands nonchalantly planted in the pockets of his jacket.

Now that the focus was off you for a second, you used this to your advantage and took a moment to get a good, close look at him.

Everything about him was clean cut and neat—strategic. From his sharp, tapered hairline that was so precise that not a single strand of hair was out of place, to the tidy twin braids that kissed his shoulders, and even down to his shoes. They were crisp, and looked like he’d taken them right out the box before he came here, but you could tell that wasn’t the case. It was clear from the way he carried himself and the fresh ass silver cuban link hanging round his neck that he simply cared about his appearance enough to keep them that way.

“This,” A subtle, yet intentional squeeze to your right arm brought you back to the conversation. “is Y/n, my bestfriend. I don’t think she’s met you yet, so I just thought I’d introduce the two of you.”

He didn’t even nod. You weren’t even sure if he blinked. All he gave was a vague,

“Mm.”

What the fuck did that mean? Was that a good mm, or a bad mm?

Your ruminating was interrupted when Camila quietly murmured something to Miles that you couldn’t quite make out, her eyes hard in warning.

“Sé amable y no hagas nada estúpido. De verdad.” (Be nice and don’t do anything stupid. For real.)

He kissed his teeth at that, an indistinct irritation lingering in his tone at the latent reprimanding. “Nunca hago nada estúpido.” (I never do anything stupid.)

Brows bunched in confusion, your lashes fluttered in annoyance upon realizing it was their intent to keep you out of the brief exchange.

“Well,” Camila clapped her hands. “I’ll leave y’all kids to it! I need to go grab some of those pinchos before they’re all gone.” Both you and Miles sent an irked look her way when she gave a cheesy thumbs up and dipped.

It was just the two of you now, and since names were already out of the way, you hadn’t the slightest idea of where to start. But the worry didn’t last long; Miles was the first to speak up, which you were more than grateful for.

“So, how you know my cousin again?” His brow peaked. “Don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

Miles was good with faces—excellent, actually. He spent a lot of time people watching; knew most of Brooklyn by now, and he definitely wouldn’t have forgotten a face like yours. So he let his eyes drink you in from head to toe, committing you to memory. And damn, he sure picked a good day to be social.

You tried to focus on your answer instead of the glint of his earrings or the sharp of his jaw when his head turned to the side, so you settled on studying the buildings that lined the magenta-stained skyline in the distance.

“Well, there’s not much to it, really. I met her in the second grade, and she said we were bestfriends now, no questions asked. Guess it’s been that way ever since.” you shrugged.

“Yeah, sounds like her," he chuckled, shifting to rest both his elbows on the ledge as his back leaned against it. “She can be a little—“

“Persistent?” you interjected knowingly, a small smile painting your features.

“Shit, you tellin’ me," he snorted. “I guess that’s a nicer way to put it.”

Miles picked his cup up from where he’d previously set it down and took a swig. So far, this conversation wasn’t nearly as grueling as he’d expected it to be, and shockingly enough, he might’ve even been enjoying your company.

But unknown to you, this wasn’t the first time Miles had been introduced to one of Camila’s friends. He’d met probably three of them at this point, and honestly, he was a little over his cousin trying to throw him a bone he didn’t ask for. Did he entertain them? Possibly, for fun. Though it’s not like he actually enjoyed their presence. But there was something intriguing about you that he didn’t pick up on with the others, and he was starting to wonder what was in this punch.

“Hol’ on,” a curious look crossed his face. “You from Queens, right?”

“Mhm, grew up in the same building as Camila and everything. Why?”

“You’on really sound like it, that’s all.” he noted. Poking at the inside of your cheek with your tongue, you battled with an answer.

“Yeah, I… go back and forth, a lot.” You gave a half-hearted smile, in which he responded to with a simple nod.

Your brows furrowed as a sudden realization dawned on you.

“Y’know, now that I think about it... I don’t think I’ve ever seen you, either. You don’t come around often, do you?”

“Mm,” His lips pushed into an upturned frown—that thing people usually did when someone wasn’t far from being correct. He gave a shadowy answer and changed the subject.

“You could say that. Camila’s brought you to one of these before, I’m guessing?”

“Mm-hm, all the time.” You nodded, swirling around the fizzy liquid in your cup. “I usually chill with the elders, though.”

“Heard that.” Miles understood you completely, the corner of his mouth lifting into a lopsided smile.

Now that you’d had the chance to actually speak with him, he wasn’t nearly as aloof as you’d presumed him to be.

“This your mom’s party?”

“Yes ma'am." he hummed.

You took a quick breath in through your nostrils, and Miles almost laughed at how much one word affected you.

"So..." Your eyes cautiously dragged their way over to him. “Why aren’t you celebrating with everyone else?”

Your tone was careful. Like you already knew your question was personal.

His jaw tensed for a beat and his smile dimmed a little, but he was shrugging and back to his coolheaded mien before you could make any inferences on how your question might’ve made him feel.

“Just like bein’ by my lonely, I guess. Better this way.”

Every human on this earth had a trait that irritated someone or made themselves slightly less favorable, and this was yours. Asking intimate questions too soon, unintentionally trying to uproot information about someone’s life through the innocent curiosity that usually got you into trouble.

“S’ain’t really my kind of vibe anyway." he admitted with a flippant gesture toward the party.

You mindlessly fiddled with the charm bracelet dangling from your wrist.

“And what’s your ‘kind of vibe?’”

It was a genuine question. Honest. You knew his confession came in passing, yet that didn’t deter you from wondering what he was thinking when he said it.

Miles’ aureate gaze floated to your person, and you watched as he studied your features. Eyes flitting between the both of yours, as if he were trying to get a read on you without having to ask.

You relaxed a little when he finally cracked a mirth-kissed grin.

“You just full of questions, huh?” he teased, a glint in his eye.

Somewhere in the midst of this conversation, his body had turned towards yours, and you hadn’t noticed until now that he was facing you completely. You looked to him with the same intensity he gave you and played right back.

“You could say that.”

There were a few seconds of internal struggle, seen in the way he fought to pull his gaze away. Teeth biting at the inside of his cheek like he needed a taste of pain to remind him to behave. But, when he caught sight of the way you were looking at him, that little voice in the deep of his mind wasn’t nearly loud enough for him to listen to it.

Licking at his dry lips, he knew better, but he asked anyway with an appetent tilt of his head.

“You wanna get outta here?”

—

Now how did you end up here?

Party forgotten like an old toy on Christmas morning. A newfound agenda on your mind and a new pair of lips on yours to match.

You knew good and well that the question he asked didn’t entail stepping away from the party to get a breath of clean air; in fact, you were finding it quite difficult to breathe right about now.

Huh, and here you thought he was a gentleman.

And Miles was fully aware that this was probably a bad idea, but when he wanted something, it was as if tunnel vision clouded any chance of better judgement.

Every human on this earth had a trait that irritated someone or made them slightly less favorable, and Miles was not excluded from this verity.

Starting things he knew he wouldn’t finish, was his.

[maevebabyy]

CONFIDENT

lara raj x fem reader

a/n - part 2 to push n pull, there’ll be a third part to this LMAOO

wc - 2.5k

a piercing squeal rang through your car as your best friend, sophia, dramatically placed her hand over her mouth, almost choking on the guyabano juice she was sipping on.

“jesus! i’m gonna crash the car, soph!” 

“sorry,” the filipina covered her mouth again, her eyes wide with excitement and surprise. “it’s just– she said what?”

you took a deep breath, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. “...that i must be really good with my fingers.”

sophia’s jaw dropped once more, bursting into laughter shortly after, setting her juice down into the cup holder. “oh my god, that’s so bold! what’d you reply with?”

you could feel yourself turn into a tomato, recalling the way lara had leaned in closer when she said it. “i mean, i didn’t know how to respond! i was caught off guard! i kinda just said… yeah and nodded?’

“yeah and nodded?” sophia echoed, shaking her head in disbelief. “that’s your big move? what are you, a middle schooler? you could have played it up! ‘oh, you think i’m good with my fingers? wanna find out?’”

“what if she really just meant that i was good with my fingers in like a guitar way though!” you countered, trying to defend yourself. “i don’t wanna just assume that lara swings like that.”

sophia rolled her eyes, a playful smirk on her face. “girl, if she’s leaning in that close like you said, she’s definitely not just talking about your guitar skills.”

“soph, can we not?” you groaned, swatting her arm playfully with your free hand, “this isn’t a rom-com.”

the older girl laughed, leaning back in her seat. “but it totally could be! can you imagine? ‘coming this june: two girls, one guitar, and a whole lot of sexual tension!’”

you couldn’t help but giggle at the thought, your best friend was too unserious. “june? seriously? and god, it was a mistake telling you this, you’re making everything so suggestive!”

there was a moment of silence as you focused on the road, the gentle hum of the car filling the space. then, sophia’s tone shifted, more earnest now. “but really, you need to be more confident, y/n.”

you raise your brow, humming lightly in response, “where’d this come from?”

the filipina grins once more, “as your best friend, with my amazing intuition, i’m telling you right now, y/n. you’ve got a really good chance with lara.”

“and what makes you say that, soph?”

“I’m telling you, best friend things.” 

you shoot her a skeptical look, but she continued, her enthusiasm infectious. “seriously! there’s definitely a spark there if everything you’ve told me is true. just be more confident! just be a little flirty and reciprocate the energy, especially when we’re in south korea!”

“south korea?” you raise an eyebrow, laughter escaping you. “how am i supposed to be flirty when i can barely talk around her?’

sophia waved her hand dismissively, her confidence unwavering. “that’s because you’re a hopeless gay, but!” she said, popping the but, “that’s why you have me!”

you shake your head at the playful jab, chuckling lightly. “gee. thanks for the vote of confidence, soph.”

“anytime, y/n.” the older girl laughs, sipping on her guyabano juice once more. “but seriously, just flirt a bit more, it doesn't hurt to tread the waters a bit.”

you hum in response, nodding your head to sophia’s words. the idea of being flirty, especially with lara, felt like a huge jump, but maybe that was exactly what you needed.

with the trip to korea as part of mission two on the horizon, you imagined the possibilities there. maybe you would listen to sophia– after all, what was the worst that could happen?

-

as you stepped into lotte world, the vibrant atmosphere wrapped around you like a warm embrace. the air buzzed with laughter and excitement, the colourful lights of the rides making themself prominent. you glanced around, taking in the sights: families with cotton candy, friends squealing on roller coasters, and couples taking selfies against the backdrop of the stunning castle at the centre of the park.

you couldn’t believe you were actually here, yoonchae made a passing comment about how she wanted to go to lotte world with the rest of dream academy to pd bang, and here you were– actually at lotte world.

you’re pulled out of your thoughts as you hear one of the dream academy supervisors telling you girls to gather up so you could be split into groups.

once everyone was gathered, the supervisor began assigning groups. “you’ll each have some time to explore, take pictures, and enjoy the rides. just make sure to check in around halfway, so around 2 hours!”

your heart skipped a beat when you found out you’d be in a group with lara, sophia, megan, yoonchae, daniela, and manon. it felt like the universe had conspired to create the perfect scenario.

sophia nudged you playfully, “someone got lucky.” she whispered, a teasing smile on her face.

you couldn’t fight the small grin that appeared on your features, excitement bubbling inside you. being in the same group as lara during your day at lotte world was a complete godsend. as the supervisor wrapped up the instructions, your gaze wandered off to lara, who already had her eyes on you. she gave you a small smile, almost smirking at the way your eyes widened when you caught her gaze.

“let’s go explore!” daniela exclaimed, already pulling out her phone to capture the moment. the group erupted in agreement, and you fell into step beside lara as everyone began to move. 

“where to first?” sophia asked, bouncing on her heels.

“let’s hit the roller coaster first!” manon suggested.

“you sure you can handle that though?” daniela teased.

“please, i thrive on adrenaline,” manon shot back with gusto. 

the roller coaster, a massive structure twisting and turning against the sky, loomed ahead. as you approached, the thrill in the air intensified. the line moved quickly, and before you knew it, you were strapping yourself into the seat beside lara. your heart raced, a mix of anticipation and definitely not because you were so close to lara. 

as the coaster climbed higher, you could feel your stomach drop. you glanced at lara, who was practically bouncing in her seat. how was she so excited? you were about to pass out from the thought of the drop. 

you swallowed hard, the ascent feeling endless. the clattering of the tracks was nearly drowned out by your heartbeat. with one final lurch, the coaster crested the peak and paused for a heartbeat that felt like an eternity.

then, without warning, you plummeted down, the rush of air hitting you like a wave. lara screamed, but her laughter quickly followed– it was very different from you, who was holding on to dear life as you feared for your own life. 

when the ride finally came to a halt, you stumbled out of your seat, breathless and a little winded. “never doing that again…”

lara was doubled over with laughter, her hair tousled from the ride. “you survived! that’s a win!” she said, flashing you a grin that sent your heart racing again. damn, you couldn’t catch a break, could you?

“i think i need a moment you replied, leaning against the railing to steady yourself. the thrill had been exhilarating, but you weren’t sure you were quite ready for another round just yet.

“c’mon y/n!, we’re just getting started!” manon exclaimed, pulling out her phone. “let’s get a group photo!”

as the others gathered around, you couldn’t help but admire the way lara’s eyes sparkled with excitement. when she stepped closer to fit into the frame, your heart skipped again. you leaned in, acting casually, and have a quick smile for the camera as if the butterflies in your stomach weren’t going crazy.

“okay, one, two… cheese!” megan announced, capturing the moment. everyone laughed as they struck silly poses, but you felt a rush of warmth as you noticed lara leaning slightly closer, as if wanting to be part of your space.

“what’s next?” yoonchae asked.

at the korean girl’s question, sophia clapped her hands together, “teacups!” 

with no objections, the filipina girl started dragging everyone toward the spinning ride.

honestly, the thought of spinning in circles again made your stomach churn slightly. but the way lara’s eyes lit up at the idea made it hard to resist.

as the group made its way to the teacup ride, you listened in on the group’s conversation. the lighthearted banter making good background noise as you were trying to steady your beating heart.

once at the ride, the vibrant colours of the teacups spun around you, each one more colourful than the last. “ooh, let’s go for that one!” lara suggested.

“sure, let’s go.” you agreed, pointing to a cup adorned in vivid yellows and pinks.

you both climbed in, with lara settled opposite of you so that the weight could be evenly distributed. before you could grab the wheel in the middle, lara beat you to it, a mischievous grin on her face.

“looks like you’re at my mercy now,” lara teased, her fingers already spinning the wheel, the ride starting to move.

“oh no, what have i done?” you laughed, trying to keep your balance as the cup began to spin faster.

the colours blurred around you as lara twisted the wheel with enthusiasm, her laughter mixing with yours. you couldn’t help but feel a thrill, even as your stomach turned slightly from the spinning. “okay, okay! slow down a bit!” you called out, but she just grinned wider.

“not a chance!” she replied, clearly enjoying the chaos.

when the ride finally slowed and came to a stop, you stumbled out, feeling slightly disoriented but better than when you got off the rollercoaster. “you’re absolutely sick” you joked, clutching your stomach. 

“i don’t regret anything.” lara giggled, stepping off the ride as well.

with two rides done, the group decided to take a break and grab some snacks. as you walked over to a nearby stall selling cotton candy, you could feel lara’s presence beside you. “getting cotton candy?”

you nodded as response, “yeah, i mean, it’s practically a rule when you’re at an amusement park, right?”

“well, if we’re going by rules, we gotta hit up the haunted house next.” lara grinned.

“sure,” you chuckle, “but try getting the others to say yes to that”

you offer lara a piece of your cotton candy, scanning the crowd. “actually, where is everyone else?” you wondered, noticing that the group somehow drifted apart.

lara shrugged, her mouth full of sugar, “probably off taking pictures or getting more food. let’s just go!’

against your better judgement, you agreed to lara, not wanting to miss out on a chance on actually getting some alone time with her. 

as you approached the haunted house, the dark, ominous facade loomed before you. the creepy sounds and flickering lights creating an eerie atmosphere.

“hm, i don’t think it’ll be that bad” you say genuinely.

“famous last words.” lara giggled.

you weren’t joking though, having sophia as your best friend meant that you’d also deal with her interesting fondness for haunted experiences, making you somewhat resistant to haunted houses.

the line moved quickly, and you two were already stepping side the haunted house. the dimly lit entrance was lined with cobwebs, and the air was thick with an unsettling chill and fog. as you went further in, the sounds of eerie whispers and creaking wood surrounded you.

“okay, this is kinda creepy,” you said, trying to sound brave as a particularly loud bang echoed from the depths of the house. 

lara laughed, nudging you with her shoulder. “what happened to being all tough and brave?”

you chuckled, trying to brush off the nerves. “well, i might need a little backup. you know, just in case a ghost decides to jump out at me.”

“oh, is that what you’re hoping for?” she teased, her voice playful yet laced with a hint of something deeper. “to get spooked and have me save you?”

“maybe,” you said, glancing at her with a soft smile. feeling bold, you say your next words, thankful for whatever deity above that you didn't trip over your own words. 

“but i was thinking more along the lines of a rescue where you pull me close and i, uh, ‘thank’ you later.”

lara stopped in her tracks, her eyes widening with surprise before a grin spread across her face, a light blush dusting across her cheeks as well. “damn, okay y/n, i wasn’t expecting that from you.”

a small grin appears on your face as you watch as lara shakes her head, giggling at your comment.

as you moved deeper into the haunted house, you found yourself brushing against her more frequently. each flicker of light seemed to bring you closer, your shoulders occasionally bumping together as you navigated the tight corridors.

“okay, that’s just a prop,” lara said, pointing at a creepy skeleton hanging from the wall. “but i’d rather– AH!”

just then, a loud blood curdling scream echoed from nearby, causing you to flinch but makes lara jump slightly and yelp.

without thinking, you pull lara closer, wrapping your arm around her waist. the warmth of her body against yours sent a rush of adrenaline through you, eclipsing the fear of the haunted house.

just as quickly as you pulled lara closer though, you let go right away, afraid to have crossed some boundaries.

you felt your heart race as you pulled away, suddenly acutely aware of the closeness you’d just shared. “sorry, i just kinda did it on instinct,” you said, trying to play it cool, but the heat in your cheeks betrayed you.

lara chuckled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “no need to apologize. i mean, who wouldn’t want to be saved by a sturdy hero like you?”

your breath caught at her choice of words. “oh, so you think i’m sturdy?” you replied, leaning in a little closer, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. “i mean, i guess i… i do have some good qualities.”

you repeated sophia’s words to you like a mantra as you said that. just be confident, but ultimately that failed you for the next part to come.

lara’s gaze met yours, a playful smirk spreading across her face. “definitely. you seem like someone who could hold their own… in more ways than one.”

you swallowed hard, your pulse quickening. “yeah, well, it’s, um, easier to be… reliable? when it’s… y-you know, in a haunted house,” you stuttered, your confidence wavering slightly.

she raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. “oh, i’m counting on it. i might just need to put that to the test. out of this haunted house of course.”

you took a deep breath, careful not to mess up your next words, but once again failing. “j-just let me know when you, uh, wanna put that to the test, then.”

a/n - terribly rushed, it's 3 am and i clocked out at 11 before i even started writing this. WEIRD PACING!!!

[getvalentined]

Ryan vs Markiplier Asian on Asian throwdown

Web Celebs

Yr welcome fellas. XOXO, Coppy

Markiplier

Shane Madej +4

Ryan Bergara +5

Jerma +1

Hatsune Miku +2

Marisha Ray +8

Ned Fulmer

Amaury Guichon

Laura Bailey +10

Travis Willingham +11

Sam Riegel +13

Liam O’Brien +10

Brennan Lee Mulligan +18

B. Dylan Hollis

Ashley Johnson -5

Thomas Sanders -12

Taliesin Jaffe +6

Matthew Mercer +2

CrankGameplays -16

Misstrixtin -2

Daniel Howell -12

Aabria Iyengar +13

Robbie Daymond

AmazingPhil -13

Billzo

Steven Lim +12

Jacksepticeye -14

Snapcube +16

Tinakitten

Lou Wilson

Bigbst4tz2

wayneradiotv +2

Eugene Lee Yang

Emily Axford

Jaiden Animations

Chris Fleming +3

Zac Oyama

Zach Kornfeld

Keith Habersberger

Badlinu

Vinnie Hacker -25

Jojo Siwa

Brian David Gilbert -18

SAD-ist -29

5up -17

Thurston Waffles

Ariel Fulmer

Oscar Montoya

Rhett And Link -17

Amy Nelson -9

The number in italics indicates how many spots a name moved up or down from the previous year. Bolded names weren’t on the list last year.

[dinums]

The Unexpected Visit

Thomas Shelby x Reader.

Summary: A Filipina woman accidentally travelled back in time. There, she began to work for the Shelbys

Part 2

"Hurry up! We're going to be late for your birthday celebration!" My best friend, Ava, shouted down the hall, prompting me to respond in the same hurried tone.

"Alright! Just give me a moment!"

I looked at myself in the mirror, feeling a sense of satisfaction as I admired my appearance. I was wearing a stylish black and white dress that fell just below my knees, with a white bow tie adorning my hair. My makeup was flawlessly done, accentuating my features.

"Shit, ang ganda ko," I murmured to myself. After securing a job as an animator and starting a new life in the United States, I was finally able to enjoy the fruits of my labor. This was where I would find happiness. Despite missing my home country, the Philippines, the familiar places there held too many painful memories that I preferred to leave behind.

Everything was supposed to go smoothly, until it didn't. From the far corner of my room, I caught a glimpse of someone—a dark figure—watching me. A chill ran down my spine, and my body instinctively went into fight-or-flight mode. Without a second thought, I fled from my room, convinced that the figure was pursuing me. It emitted a sinister laugh, filling the air with an eerie presence. Was this what my mother had warned me about?

---

"Puta... tangina, tangina! Ava, where's Ava?" These thoughts raced through (Y/N)'s mind as she ran, desperately searching for her friend while panic consumed her. As she neared the stairs, she could swear that the figure was still chasing her. In her haste, she stumbled and began to fall, but just as she was about to hit the ground, a blinding light engulfed everything.

---

On a quiet evening in the streets of Watery Lane, Birmingham, Thomas Shelby lay in his bed, lost in thought, cigarette in hand. Suddenly, the drawers started opening, and the air seemed to thin. The entire house shook, as if an earthquake were rocking the foundations. Thomas swiftly grabbed his gun, prepared to confront any potential enemy lurking in the darkness of the night. It felt as if the very earth were tearing apart at the seams. He was about to call for his family when a brilliant flash of white light blinded him, causing him to shield his eyes and turn away.

A loud crash followed, accompanied by the sound of a woman's voice. Thomas, now disoriented, cautiously approached the source of the disturbance, gun still aimed at the woman who had appeared in his home. She seemed panicked, her eyes darting around as she struggled to get to her feet, wincing in pain. It appeared that she had injured her leg, possibly a sprain, which forced her to remain seated on the floor.

Their eyes met, and the woman's breath seemed to catch in her throat. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stared at the gun pointed at her. With trembling hands raised in self-defense, she stammered, "Who the hell are you, eh?" Thomas questioned her, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. This woman was unlike any he had encountered before.

"M-me? (Y/N), my name... (Y/N). Please, can you... I don't... the..." Her words faltered as Thomas took a step closer, the gun still pointed at her. Overwhelmed, she broke down, crouching on the floor, averting her gaze. If she were to die, she would rather not see it coming.

As the door opened, she looked up and saw a woman and two other men entering. When her eyes met theirs and then returned to Thomas, the woman spoke up, moving to disarm him.

---

"Jesus, Tom! What are you doing to this poor lady?!" I heard the woman exclaim after the gun was taken away from him. I let out a sigh of relief. Tom, as the man was called, pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated. The two other men seemed to be stifling their laughter, although it was difficult to discern as everything started to blur, as if the room were spinning.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in bed, still in the same room as before—at least from what I could remember. As I surveyed my surroundings, I realized I was still wearing the dress, although the bows in my hair were gone. When I attempted to get up, the door opened, revealing the woman from earlier. In her right hand, she carried a tray with tea.

"Don't. You'll hurt yourself," she cautioned, pointing at my ankle. I nodded, and asked, "Can you tell me where I am...? Can I go home? Please..."

"You're in Small Heath. Thomas said you appeared out of thin air. How did that happen?" she responded.

"What year is it?"

"1919."

Small Heath, in 1919? That was far away from home, possibly evenin a different era altogether. It seemed impossible for me to have traveled there in the blink of an eye, let alone through time itself. Sensing my confusion, the woman tried to reassure me. She set the tray of tea on the bedside table and introduced herself as Polly Gray. I nodded in acknowledgment and placed the cup of tea on my lap.

"You're not from around here, are you?" Polly asked, her gaze lingering on the tea leaves in my cup.

"No, I'm not," I replied. She clicked her tongue, taking the cup from me and placing it back on the tray.

"Are you a Gypsy?" she inquired.

"No, I'm not," I repeated. I was starting to feel a glimmer of hope that Polly might be able to help me find my way back home. However, instead of directly answering my question, she posed one of her own.

"Can you read? Are you good with numbers?"

"I can read and do math. Why?"

"If you're going to stay here, you might as well work for us," Polly suggested, her tone implying that she had more to say on the matter.

"Why do you want to help me?" I asked but only got silence in return. The unexpected turn of events had left me bewildered, but I knew I had to gather my wits and adapt to this new reality. Working for Polly and her associates seemed like the only option available to me at the moment. Maybe, just maybe, they could provide me with the answers I sought and help me find a way back home.

"I'll work for you"

"Good."

////

It had been precisely one month and four days since I had become a part of the Shelby family. Despite initial reservations and a sense of distrust, Polly graciously took me under her wing. The other members of the family had an unspoken understanding not to pry into certain events that were yet to happen in their lives, acknowledging that I possessed knowledge of the future. However, that didn't stop some of them, particularly Finn, from asking what it was like. It was a joy to share stories with the young boy, and I was grateful that they kept my arrival in Small Heath a secret, creating a story on how I got up here, to not make the townsfolk ask questions, but then again who would ask the Shelby family questions?

In the present moment, I found myself inside the bustling betting shop, surrounded by a lively crowd. My responsibilities included tallying numbers, verifying receipts, and handling money and the transactions that came with it. The work was demanding, but it provided me with a sense of purpose, a distraction.

Across the room, John stood by the blackboard, inscribing odds while announcing them loudly for all to hear. Meanwhile, Arthur and Thomas had stepped out for a while, leaving Polly and me to manage the shop, with Ada looking after Finn.

"Mas maganda siguro kung animator nalang ako... or if I had a calculator here," I mused to myself, finishing up the last part of my work and giggling at the thought.

"A calculator? What's that?" I heard John's familiar voice as he approached me, a toothpick dangling from his mouth.

"It's- er, a device that helps you with calculations—counting, subtracting, multiplying, and even dividing numbers," I explained.

"Even the big ones?" John asked, curiosity evident in his eyes.

"Even the big ones," I confirmed, a hint of amusement in my voice.

Our conversation was abruptly interrupted when a bloodied Arthur burst into the shop, sending panic through the air. Everyone was ordered to leave, and Polly swiftly took charge, guiding Arthur to the house connected to the betting shop. Ada and John exchanged concerned glances, and I hurriedly joined them, mindful of my sprained ankle. I grabbed a clean cloth to help with Arthur's wounds, while Ada rushed to fetch a bucket of water.

Word seemed to spread quickly, and soon Thomas barged into the house, a bottle of alcohol in hand. He took the cloth from me, and I sat there, observing the scene. Conversations and typical sibling banter filled the air as Arthur and Ada exchanged words, while John and I simply watched them. Arthur began to explain how Inspector Campbell had asked him to assist with a robbery, recounting the encounter. Lost in my own thoughts, I couldn't help but voice my concerns.

"Will you help him? I mean, I wouldn't want to even think of helping a man who beat and bruised me... but..." I trailed off, realizing that all eyes were on me.

"Sorry, please continue," I quickly added.

"We don't help coppers," John stated firmly beside me.

Arthur continued, "He knew all about our war record... said we were patriots like him. I told him we'd take a family meeting and vote."

Knowing this was turning into Family business, I quietly saw myself out, going back to the betting shop to try and do extra work to keep myself busy. Despite the trust I had gained from the family, I understood that certain matters were their own to handle. It was their business, and I respected their boundaries.

///

My mind couldn't seem to shake off the lingering thoughts from our conversation. It had been a good thirty minutes, yet I couldn't help but wonder if the Shelby family would truly help that man with the robbery. After all, how could they trust someone who had beaten one of their own? The situation seemed precarious at best.

"Sana talaga bumalik na ako. Mas masaya siguro ako kung animator na lang ako... please, Lord, babait na ako kung ibabalik niyo lang ako..." I quietly murmured to myself, longing for the familiarity of my previous life.

"What are you blabbering about, eh?" a gruff voice interrupted my thoughts. I looked up to find Thomas standing before me, a quizzical expression on his face. I raised an eyebrow at him, which seemed to amuse him.

"You haven't apologized since the first time we met," I said, a hint of amusement in my voice.

"And you haven't told me what you said," he replied, curiosity piqued.

"It was a curse. I was cursing you to make a bad decision for pointing a gun at me," I snickered.

A moment of silence passed between us before we both chuckled. "So maybe it isn’t a curse... I was actually wishing to go back home. I even asked the Lord. I told Him that if He took me back, I would be nicer. I just think it would be nice if I could work as an animator. After all, I studied to become one after everything," I confessed, grateful for the Shelby family for taking me in and caring for me in their own ways.

To my surprise, Arthur and I discovered a shared love for drawing. It became apparent when he noticed me doodling one day, and he revealed that he used to love drawing horses. We began to draw together from time to time, he even thought me a few things or so.

Thomas, on the other hand, was more reserved. We didn't have much in common, but whenever I spoke in my native language, he would ask questions about its meaning. He also showed patience when I acted differently, allowing me to talk to him in a more casual manner over time.

John, being closer to my age, was a friendly presence. He had a boisterous personality, and I appreciated having someone to distract me from the noises in my head, a breath of fresh air in this intense environment.

Ada was easy to get along with. She lent me some of her clothing and was always open to conversation. She reminded me of my friends back home, particularly Ava.

Polly and I had a relationship reminiscent of the one I shared with my mother. At first, it felt like walking on thin air, but as I diligently carried out my duties and refrained from meddling in their affairs, she began to open up. She treated me like her own, and when I mentioned the similarities between her tea leaf reading and the practices of lbularyos or witch doctors, she encouraged me to share more.

And now, here I sat with Thomas Shelby himself. Thomas, who stayed quiet for most parts. His presence made me feel like I should continue talking.

"You lot can speak a different language too, right? Maybe you can teach me so that when I go back, I can make an impression, hm?" I suggested, which made him quirk a brow

"Then you'll have to teach me yours too, so it'll be fair, eh?" he replied with a smile and a shake of his head. Jackpot.

"Sure. Speaking of learning, do you know how I got good with numbers?" I asked, looking at him intently. It was just the two of us in the betting shop now, giving me the freedom to share. He then sat down next to me. Taking his gesture as an invitation to keep talking, I continued.

"When I was seven years old, my parents enrolled me in a program, a math center. It took me eight years to complete the whole program!" I explained, shivering at the memories.

"You didn't go to school?" he inquired.

"Oh, I did. I attended school while also studying math at that center. By the time I was sixteen, I was juggling school subjects like statistics, probabilities, and calculus, along with history lessons about my country... all that stuff. Later on, I learned animation, which gave me something to do, something I enjoyed."

"What do you do in animation?" Thomas asked, my face seemed to look very excited as i moved my chair closer to him, as if it wod be easy for him to be absorbing the knowledge I was about to share.

"Well," I began, a smile playing on my lips, "I draw illustrations, frame by frame. Basically, you see this?" I gestured, moving my hand as if I'm waving. He nodded in response as If my gesture wasn't obvious. "I draw something like that, people in motion, you know, like those pictures Ada goes to see. But Instead of people, its drawings. That was my job."

"And you can't do that now?" Thomas questioned, curiosity evident in his voice.

"Well...its easier to do it digitally," I explained, trying to find the right words to describe the concept, I used my hands, waving them in the air as if it would help the situation. Seeing his puzzled expression, I sighed and admitted defeat. "You know... its like this technology. It's hard to explain, to be honest. It's giving me a headache just thinking about it."

Thomas nodded, tilting his head slightly to indicate that he had listened to my explanation. After awhile more, we both stood up

"I've go to go, somewhere I need to be"

"Oh? Did my curse work? You're off to make a bad decision?" I joked which earned me another smile and a shake of his head.

"Maybe tomorrow, Do you drink?"

"That depends, is there an occasion?" I asked,walking over to the window, there I realised it was already dark, we've talked throughout the afternoon.

"Just come, eh?"

"Ask me again next time and I'll agree, if we spend too much time your ears might bleed."

"Next time then."

///

///

She stayed in Thomas' room during her stay, a decision made by the family. As she headed upstairs, she spotted Polly taking care of Finn. Pausing in her task, Polly spoke up.

"Need any help?"

"No, just check on Ada for me, thank you, love," she replied, and I agreed to do so.

"Alright, goodnight, Pol."

"Goodnight, love."

Making my way upstairs, I found Ada in her room.

"Are you going to sleep? Pol asked me to check up on you," I asked, and she yawned and nodded, pushing me towards Thomas' room.

"Yeah, off to bed. You too. I can manage myself. Goodnight, (Y/N)!"

"Oh, goodnight Ada," I said before she shut the door, leaving me confused, what are you up to Ada? I walked to the bed and crawled under the covers, ready to sleep.

As I drifted off, I couldn't help but utter a quiet gratitude, "Thank you, po," to no one in particular.

---

"Pol, do you know anyone who might know a way for me to get back? I think I'm losing hope already," I asked Polly, seeking some answers. It had been quite a hectic week word of mouth saying Thomas shooting someone, Mr. Campbell raiding homes of communists, Ada's pregnancy, and Thomas picking a fight with the Lee family.

"Oh, love. Just a little longer, hm? You'll go back. I'm sure of it," Polly said, her words providing temporary comfort. I had grown attached to the Shelby family, and the thought of leaving without knowing their fate weighed heavily on my mind.

"You know, Poll, I'm scared. If I do leave, then what about you guys? I won't ever get to see you all again... I won't know how you guys are doing unless I can read it from history books. I won't know how to help," I confessed, my voice filled with concern.

She took my hand in hers, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, love. Just give us a proper goodbye, and we'll be fine, alright?"

"I'll miss you if I do go," I admitted, a touch of sadness in my voice.

"We'll miss you too," she replied, understanding my worries.

---

That night, I decided to stay up late. I sat in the kitchen, working on a few doodles on a piece of paper. I drew frogs, horses, Polly, Ada, and Finn. The door swung open, revealing a drenched Thomas holding a bottle of whiskey.

"Woah," I exclaimed, surprised by his sudden entrance.

"A drink?" he offered, though his tone felt more like an order than an invitation. Remembering my promise, I grabbed two glasses and placed them on the table as he poured a drink for both of us.

"So, rough day? What happened this time?" I asked, curious to hear the events that had happened, though by the looks of it, thos wasn't a good one.

"I shot a horse," he replied. My eyes widened, my mouth agape, silently urging him to continue.

"It looked at me the wrong way, so I..." he trailed off, the weight of his actions evident in his voice.

"I look at you the wrong way most of the time. Maybe you should've done the same to me," I mumbled, moving my chair closer to him. He sighed, taking a swig of his drink.

"Back in France, I got used to seeing men die, but I never got used to seeing horses die," he confessed, his tone filled with remorse.

I nodded, taking small sips of my whiskey. "Horses, or any animals in general, they aren't like us. When we kill, it can be for so many reasons, but they do it to survive and protect. So, it's good that you feel bad about it. It makes you human. It proves you're not what you think you are."

"What do you think I am?" he questioned, curiosity lacing his words.

"You're not that far off. You're not as cold as anyone, or even yourself, perceives you to be, and that's a good thing. So, let it all out today," I encouraged, understanding the weight of his burdens.

We fell into a comfortable silence, interrupted only by the clinking of glasses as he poured himself more whiskey. After a while, I nudged him with my glass.

"I don't drink much," I confessed, offering him my glass. He took it and drank, and eventually, he began to talk again.

"Is that Polly?" he asked, pointing at the doodle I had made of her. I nodded, pointing out the other family members as well.

"I drew the people I talked to today. I guess I should draw you too, huh?" I suggested, feeling a sense of warmth in our conversation. He shrugged, turning his chair to fully face me.

"Should I stay still, then, eh?" he asked playfully.

"Nope! I've already memorized your face by now," I replied without much thought, not realizing the subtle smirk that graced his lips as I began to sketch him.

"You know, I'm glad that it was your house I accidentally traveled to. Even though it was scary at first," I shared, stealing quick glances at his drenched face to capture the details in my sketch. "Anyways, you'll catch a cold if you stay like that. When I was a kid, my parents used to throw their slippers at me from inside while I played in the rain."

"What? Would you do that to me?" he asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Imagining the scenario, I burst into laughter. The image of me throwing slippers at Thomas in the rain seemed quite comical.

"I will if you let me."

"Maybe someday"

When I finished the sketch, I looked at it with satisfaction.

"Pogi," I murmured, using a Filipino term that meant "handsome." Though he didn't need to know that

"Pogi?" he repeated, looking at me curiously. I shook my head, realizing I had slipped into a different language.

"I said I was done," I clarified, handing him the paper with a smile. He took it, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Thank you," he whispered, barely above a breath. We both knew that those two words held multiple meanings, and despite everything, he meant them sincerely.

[darrenwalleyconsultancy]

Expat Life

Photo by Kranich17 I decided to write this article on Expat Life because it has and still is a crucial part of my life. Although I cannot even determine a time when I got the bug and desire to have such a lifestyle. I was born outside of the UK as my father was in the British Army. We moved back to the UK when I was 11, and at 17, my parents dropped me off at Edinburgh train station and off I…

[tlajtollirambles]

Fiction Podcasts + Language Learning!

(Audiodramas recommendations whcih main language is English but they also future heavily other languages)

Korean- Moonface

A fiction show about a Korean American son (Joel Kim Booster) who wants to come out to his mom (Esther Moon), but can't because they don't speak the same language

Tagalog- Hi Nay

Hi Nay, literally translated to “Hi Mom”, is a supernatural horror fictional podcast about Filipina immigrant Mari Datuin, whose babaylan (shaman) family background accidentally gets her involved in stopping dangerous supernatural events in Toronto.

Spanish- Celestial Blood

Celestial Blood is a bilingual radionovela about love and secrets in the family of twins Sol and Mundo Lucero.

If you have any other recs (specially of hindi, nahuatl, arabic, tagalog or thai) pls comment!