Napapak ata ako ng lamok. Naubusan ako ng dugo 😭

Mm, yeah... they're sweet. I did a good job.

[ acting nonchalant, but is actually a blushing mess right now ]

Sige nga sample?

Yabang mo. Bakit may ipapalag ka ba?

[ Face starts to light up ]

Are they sweet? I'm sorry some of them got dirty. Do you like it?

[ Nakasimangot na yan sya 😅 ]

Ikaw ata yung gago, kuya. Hirap mo pakiligin. Nauubusan na ko ng pickup line???

I can feel! Stop pinching my cheeks. You wouldn't even let me touch your face. If you're not going to eat these cherries, i'll throw them away now.

[ Honestly, at this point, he's just having a tantrum. ]

Lapit saan? Sa puso mo ba?

You did that earlier because I was acting like a child, right? Well then, child labor it is. Gege, do better.

Panget tuloy.

A child... right. Alright.

[ Whines at the sudden loss of contact, but shrugs it off as he has more things to worry about. ]

W-Why did you do that?

Bawal po magmura. Pero pwedeng magmahal— magmahal ng kagaya kong cute.

[ Winks, kasi lalandi hanggang kaya. ]

Grabe naman. Di ba pwedeng tanga lang sayo?

[ stunned to death, if he was even alive right now ]

W-Wait, what—gege?!

[ San Lang gaped at the god in front of him. His hands were shaking, chest hurting for some reason—like, how in the world did he just feel like he had a beating heart?! ]

Chill. Wala pa tayo sa exciting part. 😬😬 Kiss nalang kita— //natalisod, nahulog sa'yo

[ He pouts; eyes averting the general. ]

I am better than them—way better. I wanted gege to admit that, but you never once said I was. You said you disliked ghosts, so I tried my best to be of use. Perhaps I could change your mind. I was hoping.

I am!

[ San Lang frowns, his strong facade completely forgotten. ]

You have your junior officials you take so much pride in. You can ask them to clean and pick the fruits. Why would you still need someone like me? I'm upset. It took so much effort to collect these, gege. But a no is a no, yes?

What the fuck—

[ San Lang muttered a string of curses, trying his best to uphold his pride by quickly wiping a teardrop. He wasn't even aware that such vile emotions still existed. How could a ghost like him cry like that? ]

D-Don't look at me. Ghosts do not cry...

😾

[ Tried to act tough, but was actually on the verge of... tears? ]

I don't need your concern. So what if I'm upset? You only dare to insult and tease me, but you mean none of those. Who cares about these stupid fruits—

/ drops the basket on the ground, letting the cherries free fall on the dirt /

You don't have to. And I am not upset.

/ he said that, but he was up on his feet, already walking out of the shrine; his cheeks were bright red, as if he was trying to withhold an emotion. /

I wasn't making it up! It is untidy here. You can pretend you don't see that mess, go on. Call for your servants. Maybe if they speak, you'll care to listen.

[ He was pouting at this point. He grabbed the basket of cherries and walked out of the temple without saying a word. ]

You call this pristine? Dusts are accumulating faster than your merits. I'm—

/ clears throat /

I-I'm very much accustomed to not having your entire presence lingering around here, General Stone-faced.

Well, I, for sure, can defeat your petty little servants. Besides, you definitely need me around here. I was gone for weeks, and your temple looks this dilapidated already? What can YOUR junior officials do aside from slacking off from duties? Look at that tablecloth! It was white!

[ He let out an animated gasp, confused at whether he would show his disdain or the little boost of energy he got from hearing the said nickname. ]

I can lift your temple and toss it across the border, General! That's an insult, and I'm not taking that lightly. You're not getting these cherries!

That's wrong. I'm the best. You can't just compare me to those mid-tier gods!

Stop overreacting, gege. I just got back from a long journey! I walked for miles, climbed mountains, and swam across the coldest rivers just to get you these cherries! Could you at least take a moment and appreciate my good deeds? All you have to do is stop writing your proverbs and eat these w/ me.

Oh.

/hesitantly comes over/

I stayed too long outside. I must have fallen asleep on the porch...

I thought it was only His Highness who saw me as a person and not just some disgusting wandering monster. That was unexpected...