//Katipunan's POV

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//At the dormitory building...

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As my family and I enter the dormitory building, I notice how the walls of the halls were painted with a deep olive green hue with statues of knights lined up against the walls. Each of the doors have three little flags on them, telling who are its inhabitants.

"Okey! Ano ngayon, Gregorio?" I asked my eldest son.
("Okay! What now, Gregorio?)"

"Asians are on the third floor, so I suggest we start looking for Pip and I's rooms there."

"Sounds like a plan."

While looking for the elevator, I caught sight of a familiar European empire. It seemed like he noticed me, too, and smirked. I felt anger beginning to rise in me.

Fortunately enough, my sons didn't notice and continued walking ahead. But Perla, my beloved wife, noticed and asked me what was wrong.

I looked at her and gave her the best reassuring smile I could give her. "Wala, mahal."
("Nothing, love.")

She didn't seem to believe me, but didn't ask any more questions.

After a few confusing turns, we head to an elevator and press the button for the third floor."

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Ding!

The elevator doors slid open to reveal a hall up ahead. This time, the walls were painted with beautiful cherry blossoms, tigers, and what looked like Chinese writings scattered here and there. Little bonsai trees even lined up the walls.

We walk through the long, winding halls of the building for quite some time, until Gregorio stopped walking and called for us.

We all gathered around him, who was standing in front of a door.

Room SEA323.

"Looks like this is where you'll be staying, Pip."

I look at the door, and he's right. His flag is right in the middle of Indonesia and Malaysias' flags.

Aha, MaPhilIndo...

"O, anong hinihintay mo? Red carpet? Sige, pumasok na tayo!" Perla exclaimed.
("Oh, what are are you wating for? Red carpet? Let's go inside!")

I noticed there was a doorbell and pressed it.

"Saya akan menjawab pintu!" A familiar woman's voice rang out from inside.
("I'll answer the door!")

The door unlocked, revealing a woman with a similar hair color to Perla's, but with what looks like three interlocking diamonds, and she's wearing a different headpiece...

Ah, it's Malaysia's mother, ate Golden Kherosene.

"Ah, akak Katipunan!" She smiled and clapped her hands together. "What took you so long? Come in, come in." She stepped aside and gestured for us to come in.
(Ah, brother Katipunan!")

We stepped inside, and I was immediately taken aback at the sheer area of this dorm!

I looked around, looking for someone.

"Ah, Ate Golden Kherosene, ate Zamrud, if you don't mind me asking, where are your husbands?" I asked them.

"Oh, Malaya is with Singapore in her own dorm, helping her unpack." Ate Golden Kherosene told me.

"And Majapahit is with Papua New Guinea and Timor Leste in their dorm, helping them unpack." Ate Zamrud, Indo's mom, told me.

"I see," I said and turned to Perla. "In that case, mahal, you and Gregorio can go find his dorm. I'll stay here with Philip and help him unpack."

"Okey, mahal. But before I go," Perla walked torwards Phil and gave him a small kiss on his forehead, and smiled. "Be a good boy, and enjoy, hah?" She cupped his cheeks. "And don't forget to call and visit us every once in a while, especially during Christmas-"

"Opo, 'Nay."
("Yes, Mom.")

Greg called out for Phil from the door. "I'll text you about my dorm once Nanay and I finish unpacking, okey?"

Perla finally let go of our poor boys' cheeks.

"Opo, kuya."
("Yes, big brother.)

Greg smiled and looked at his mother. "Let's go na, 'Nay. These boxes aren't going to unpack themselves, you know?"

"Aha, right." With one last smile toward me and Phil, she left with Greg to find his dorm and unpack.

The door closed behind them and I put my hand on Philip's shoulder. He flinched and looked back, and I smiled at him.

"O sige anak, which box do you want us to start with, hm?"
("Alright son, which box do you want us to start with, hm?")

//Hours later...

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With so much boxes to unpack, we didn't realize how late it was by the time we were finally done.

My son, his friends, and their parents all finished unpacking around the same time. We all gathered in the living room with our sons to wish them goodbye for now.

As Indonesia and Malaysia's parents were giving them little kisses and talking in their native language, I was giving Philip a brief talk and running through our checklist one last time.

"One more time, anak. If anyone here is giving you a hard time-"

"Beat the living daylights out of them. I know, 'Tay. This is the 50th time we've gone over this." He exaggerated.

I chuckled and ruffled his hair. "Tama, I just wanted to make sure, because no son of mine is a push-over wuss."
("Correct, I just wanted to make sure, because no son of mine is a push-over wuss.")

After a few chuckles, I spoke again.

"But in all seriousness, tandaan mo yung sinabi ng Nanay mo sa'yo-"
("But in all seriousness, remember what your mother told you")

"Opo, be a good boy and enjoy." I smiled.
(Yes, be a good boy and enjoy.")

"And?"

I sighed. "And... don't forget to call every once in a while and visit you, especially Christmas-"

Suddenly, I pulled him into a hug, much to his surprise.

"Mahal kami ng Nanay mo ikaw at yung kuya mo..." I whispered.
("Your mother, older brother, and I love you...")

"Naks, iiyak na yan~" He teased, recieving a soft smack on the back of the head from me in return.
("Naks, he's gonna cry~")

I let go and headed with Indonesia and Malaysia's parents to the door. Indonesia and Malaysia were wishing their parents one final goodbye in their language, and I decided to do the same with my son.

"Ingat, 'Tay. Mahal kita ni Nanay." He called out to me, whispering that last part. But I still heard it and smiled.
("Be careful, Dad. I love you and Mom.")

"Alam ko."
("I know.")

Then the door closed.

"Alright! So, what's for dinner?"

Ate Zamrud sighed. "I just don't know what to do with that boy, sometimes." And we all had a little laugh.

Suddenly, I heard a little ding! coming from inside my right pocket. I took it out and saw that Perla messaged me.

Mahal~ : Mahal, nasaan ka? Tapos na 'ko mag-ayos ng dorm ni Gregorio. Nandito ako sa tapat ng room NEA318.
(Love, where are you? I'm done helping Gregorio unpack his things in his dorm. I'm here outside in front of room NEA318.)

Me : Sige, I'm heading there na. -3-
(Ok, I'm heading there now.)

I put my phone back in my right pocket and looked at ate Zamrud and ate Golden Kherosene. "My wife is only a few dorms ahead, so I guess I'll see you guys soon?"

The two nodded at me and smiled. "We're looking forward to it."

We bid each other farewell, and went our separate ways.

A few seconds later, just straight down the hall, I see Perla standing outside a dorm. I call out to her. She looks at my direction and smiles.

Dyos ko, yung ngiti yun...
(My God, that smile...)

My heart flutters everytime I see her smile, making me temporarily forget my troubles. The way her cheekbone rises and her eyes seem to just sparkle with that smile. Oh and her eyes...

"Kati... Kati!"

She snaps her fingers in fromt of my face, and I immediately snap out of it.

"Anyare sa'yo?"
("What happened to you?")

I chuckled and smiled back at her. "Pasenya ka na, mahal. Nawala ako sa gandang mata mo dyan~" I winked.
("I'm sorry, love. I got lost in you're beautiful eyes, there~)

She gently punched my upper left arm. "Nako, ikaw at yung mga pickup lines mo, hah." She gave the cutest, quietest giggle.
("Oh, you and you're pickup lines...")

"Did I keep you waiting?"

"You didn't take long at all, don't worry about it."

We took the elevator back down to the ground floor.

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Ding!

The elevator doors slide open, and we head for the exit.

But on the way there, I catch a glance of that same European man from earlier. He was talking to someone.

I guess he saw us too, because he ended  his conversation with that person and walked towards us.

I gritted my teeth as I felt my blood begin to boil.

Great, what does that puta want now?

He stopped in front of Perla and I. "Well, well, if it isn't Katipunan and his lovely Pearl. Long time no see, sí?" He gave us a dirty smirk.

"And I would've preferred it stay that way."

"Now, now, don't be like that, Kati-"

"Don't call me that."

"- The past is past, hm? New day, new beginnings~"

I was about to say something back, but  I felt Perla tug on my arm. I look back to her and see her looking down to the side, frowning.

"Umalis na lang tayo, mahal...."
("Let's just leave, love...")

As much as I wanted to stay a little longer, and give him a piece of my mind before I go, I couldn't. I saw the look in Perla's eyes, how uncomfortable she was growing the longer we linger.

So I pushed past him without another word, all while holding Perla close to me.

But of course, he just had to yell out one last thing...

"It's a new generation, Kati. Who knows what bonds our children may form? What legacies they'll keep and change?"

•••

Word count : 1449 words

Lmaoo, I tried to create a light... angst(?), but I guess that really isn't my strong suit, hm?

Coming up ---> 'chapter 4 : MaPhilIndo ; Dorm Rules'

Anyway, as always,

And ayye, thank you! -3-