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Oikawa was still pretty much flabbergasted, his past self would have never guessed he would be able to date Iwaizumi, yet just a few weeks ago he had just announced to the world their engagement. He was truly grateful to high school him for building up the courage to ask the boy even though he was shaking in his boots that day.
It was just like yesterday when he had confessed right after their losing game with Karasuno “Hm! Be grateful I asked you out” he teased to the person beside him.
He never passed the time to tease his fiancée. Iwaizumi rolled his eyes, swatting the boy he swears he loves so much with a magazine “Your lucky I even said yes”
His arm turned red in color. Oikawa felt a little pinch from his fiancee's hitting. He smiled despite the tinge of pain he felt, it just reminded him that all of this wasn't a surreal dream or a fever dream even though it totally felt like one.
Oikawa and Iwaizumi were now sat inside an uber in the bustling streets of the Philippines. Now that they went public Oikawa felt the need to formally introduce himself to Iwaizumi's family specifically his mother who was in the Philippines.Not even a month after he bought plane tickets to surprise his fiancée. Iwaizumi was a little hesitant at first saying his people aren't used to people like Oikawa.
He felt his heart shatter quite literally. He isn't some kind of alien. People couldn't be that different from one another, was his fiancée ashamed of him? Iwaizumi sees his fiancée spiral into some kind of depressed cat he gave in and that's when their whole trip started.
Now they're one their way to his parents house. From an Uber they switched to a kind of vehicle Oikawa couldn't wrap his head around. It was called a tricycle he remembered his fiancée teaching him the name earlier. It was like an ordinary motorbike but it has a side car where people could stay. It works like a taxi, he thought it was practical and genius like that the people thought about adding the side car.
He was sat inside the side car together with all their bags while Iwaizumi sat at the back of the driver. Oikawa complained a few times about him getting squished by their luggages and his arms being tired of holding them.
“That's literally all yours” Iwaizumi argued “ I warned you before, that if you couldn't handle it don't bring so much” Oikawa just returned with an angry puff.
He shouldn't be blamed for wanting to enjoy his fiancée's homeland and plus who could tell he might not even return to the Philippines for years. Oikawa wanted to experience everything, experience the life his soon to be husband had way before they met.
Soon the tricycle stopped in front of a gate. Oikawa struggled as he tried to maneuver his way out of the vehicle. He grabbed all their luggages in put them to the side.
Iwaizumi pulled out a bill Oikawa wasn't familiar with and handed it to the driver “Manong bayad po” (“Here’s the payment”)
Iwaizumi waved the man goodbye spitting out more nonsense he couldn't understand. “Maraming Salamat po” (“thanks for the ride”)
Iwaizumi handed the keys to his fiancée, knowing Oikawa couldn't be bothered with their bags and he'd just complain about his body hurting before he could even go out and explore. Oikawa gladly takes the keys, pushing the door open.
A loud crowd greeted them. He was quite stunned. Is his boyfriend some kind of celebrity here? Was he dating a celebrity? His face lit up with joy as he surfed the crowd. People greeted him with a smile, some even went as far as shaking his hands.
Iwaizumi pushed him through the crowd “You can't greet everyone” he says “you'll get your chance later”
Even with Iwaizumi's warnings he still smiled and shook almost everyone's hands and he gave the kids high fives. They soon reached the house and before Oikawa could greet the crowd inside the house he found Iwaizumi dragging him upstairs where their room was.
He dropped all their bags in a corner. Iwaizumi pointed to the corner of the bed, instructing Oikawa to just sit still and wait.
“You're probably tired” he says before he planted a kiss on Oikawa's forehead “rest first?”
Oikawa did feel a little tired from their travel but he felt all these kinds of emotions and he couldn't just rest like what Iwaizumi had asked. Though with a few insisting and a dozen or so pillows Oikawa and Iwaizumi found themselves cuddled up as they slept.
Oikawa woke up again around noon. He also woke up to an empty bed and no Iwaizumi beside him. Oikawa wouldn't deny that he felt quite upset, his fiancée knew he was so excited to meet everyone but he didn't even bother waking him up.
He changed to a random t-shirt he had bought with him before wandering down the stairs. Loud chatters flowed into his ears, it was quite a miracle he hadn't woken up sooner.
The chatter suddenly died down as he reached them “Haj gising na pala asawa mo oh” (“Haj your husband is awake already”) a random woman pointed to him.
He didn't know what the woman had said but It was like everything had stopped and the only thing that was important was him because everyone's eyes turned to him and him only. Oikawa was used to being watched by many but this time he surprisingly felt nervous.
His fiancée gets up from his seat, throwing his hands over him. Before Oikawa could speak or even react, Iwaizumi planted a kiss on his cheek and loud cheers erupted. Was kissing something grand here? He turned to Iwaizumi to ask him a question but he only got a whiff of an alcohol smell coming from him.
His eyebrows furrowed as the smell reached him “are you drunk?” He exclaimed though it came out a little too annoyed than he had expected.
He wasn't annoyed or anything, just surprised. Iwaizumi wasn't the type to drink, in fact he even refuses it sometimes. Iwaizumi leads him to a secluded place where people weren't looking.
“It's fine” he explained “I'm fine, just a little alcohol okay?” Even though Iwaizumi didn't like admitting anything, he is very much deeply afraid of a mad Oikawa.
“I know” Oikawa reassured him “You just don't usually drink you know?”
“It's family Oikawa,” he says like it's a reasonable reason.
Oikawa just nodded and without much thought, he found himself drinking along with his fiancée. Turns out ‘family’ was a reasonable enough reason. He didn't think it was before probably because his family isn't that big on drinking at parties; they had to maintain an image after all.
Oikawa felt at ease as soon as he sat down at the table with his fiancee's uncles and cousins, it was just like weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He calmed down letting his guard down for once as he drank with family.
Both didn't remember much of that first night as it seemed they both let themselves free. Oikawa did remember learning a dance called budots from the kids hanging there. Dancing wasn't his strong pursuit but he found himself dancing along with the drunk uncles and cousins. None of them cared, none of them judged him. All they were thinking of was having fun.
Iwaizumi couldn't help but smile watching his fiancée. Everything around did seem funny because he was drunk but his happiness seeing Oikawa being comfortable around his family was limitless.
The next day he was woken up by an equally hangover Iwaizumi. As Oikawa cranked his eyes open a surge of pain reached his head making him wince.
A laugh escaped from Iwaizumi “We both might have enjoyed a little too much”
Oikawa laughs along before he catches a glimpse of the outside. The sun was barely rising, he turned to his fiancée seemingly confused.
“I thought you wanted to see my life here” he says before once more dragging a drowsy Oikawa out of bed to their kitchen.
He grabbed mugs before heading outside “Wait I'm not even dressed properly” Oikawa complained covering himself.
“No one would mind,” he says before stepping out the gate confidently, wearing only a t-shirt and boxers.
Oikawa did the same though he was a little less confident than the first one before him. The lovers sat by the road. Oikawa grew impatient and he made sure that Iwaizumi knew, he would groan and complain.
“The sun had already risen” He tugged on Iwaizumi “what are we even waiting for?”
He was hushed by Iwaizumi before he could get an answer. A loud call came towards them from the corner of one of the streets.
“Taho!” (A Filipino delicacy enjoyed in the morning) the vender yelled.
Iwaizumi raised his hand calling for the vendor. “Wait here” he says before grabbing Oikawa's mug.
He stood there awkwardly, waiting for his fiancée who ended up chatting with the vendor. Soon Iwaizumi hands him his cup back filled with some kind of flan?
He stared at his cup which was suspiciously warm “Wait is that tofu?” He asks poking at the taho inside his mug with his fingers.
Iwaizumi swats his hand “that's disgusting” he exclaimed “go sit in the terrace I'll grab you a spoon”
He left Oikawa with his thoughts about what seemed like breakfast. He puts his face close to his mug examining it. The taho had some suspicious looking little balls and tofu but to him it didn't look like the tofu he knows. Oikawa looked at his surroundings and people weren't around so he dipped his fingers inside his mug trying to get a taste of the equally suspicious brown syrup.
Before Oikawa could indulge said syrup on his fingertips a slipper flew to his head. “You don't have to be so harsh Iwa-chan” he complained as he felt the pain in the back of his head.
He shook his head dismissively before handing Oikawa a spoon. They both decided they'd just sit there and watch the road since some kids were playing volleyball on the street. It wasn't anything unusual to the locals but surely it was to Oikawa.
“Iwa that's dangerous” he said pointing at the kids “They might get hit by a car or something”
Iwaizumi just tilted his head laughing at his fiancée before taking his mug and tossing it back to take a sip. Oikawa on the other hand looked scared that Iwaizumi didn't even say anything to him and he even laughed.
“Don't worry” he reassured after seeing Oikawa pouting as he ate his Taho with a spoon “Cars don't pass here much”
They both head back to the house as soon as they finish their Taho. Once again Oikawa faced another struggle
“Iwaa” he called from the bathroom.
A worried Iwaizumi rushed to his fiancée only to find him half dressed inside the bathroom pouting.
“I thought you were in danger” He sighs “Don't call for me like that”
Oikawa pointed to the faucet and to Oikawa's surprise a few minutes ago it didn't have a shower attachment or anything.
“How am I gonna shower??” He whined, making Iwaizumi laugh at his face.
Iwaizumi pretended to wipe tears from his face “Bringing you here has been hilarious”
An aunt of his hits him. It seems like violence is a family thing “Ipakita mo yung paliguan sa labas, baka di sanay yan sa tabo at timba” (Take him out back, he isn't used to showering here)
Iwaizumi nodded while Oikawa just stared blankly at them. As soon as Iwaizumi's aunty went away Oikawa started to question his fiancée.
“What did she say?” He asked “she must be making fun of me”
Iwaizumi just smiled this time probably because he was still in the earshot of his Aunty. He brought Oikawa and his toiletries out back like his Aunt had suggested. Oikawa covered his torso with a towel as he was dragged outside.
He made Oikawa sit on some rock for a few minutes before getting out of a shed with a hose.
Oikawa stood up “I'm not showering here!” He crossed his arms trying to look more demanding “I'm not putting on a show for your neighbours”
Iwaizumi, despite Oikawa's dramatic refusal, hooked up the hose to a nearby faucet.
“It's fine trust me” he insisted to his fiancée only to be met by an upset huff.
He began to strip off his clothes as well, only leaving his shorts on. Oikawa turned a shade of red, he shoved the towel he was covering himself with to his half naked fiancée. He looks around making sure no one saw them.
“Are you stupid?” He said panicked
“You didn't want to shower so I'll shower with you.. here”
With a few more insisting the two showered together under the hose. When Oikawa wanted to rinse himself Iwaizumi would hold up the hose spraying him with water.
“Are you sure this is completely normal?” He asked once more while rinsing Iwaizumi.
Iwaizumi nodded, washing off the suds on him. “Do you see anyone stopping by to look?" he says with a raised eyebrow.
The two soon finished, they dried up and headed to their shared room to change.
Oikawa flips through the hundreds of clothes he had brought “what to wear..”
Iwaizumi throws him a plain wife beater “It'll be hot wear this” he suggested
Oikawa's face just turned sour at the plain white wife beater his fiancée had tossed to him “I'm not wearing that.. it looks so plain” he says holding up the tank top with disgust.
Iwaizumi rolled his eyes “Don't come complaining to me when it gets hot” he says before heading outside.
Oikawa glances at the window and seeing the scorching sun made him agree with his fiancée and apply about 3 layers of sun screen. He partners it with a floral polo but unbuttoned to give it THE IT FACTOR.
He heads out to where Iwaizumi's relatives pointed him too. “Thanks I'll head there right now” he says
“Iwa-chann” he called only to be startled by a loud beep.
He felt as if his heart had just jumped out of his chest. Oikawa turned around and was about to give the driver a lecture about driving when he noticed a smirk he remembers all too well. Iwaizumi was the driver inside the jeepney.
His anger sizzled into a smile. Oikawa peeked inside the jeepney “woah cool ride Iwa-chan” he said, eyeing the jeepney.
Iwaizumi helped him get up to the passenger seat. They drove for about an hour. Oikawa was too stunned by his surroundings to say anything or to start complaining about the heat. It was all so green, the valleys, the mountains and the random wild plants beside the houses and roads. He would occasionally raise his sunglasses to see the color more only to put it back down because the sun hurted his eyes too much.
Oikawa was a little too busy to pay attention to his grumbling stomach. That taho surely wasn't enough for his stomach to be considered breakfast.
“Hungry?” Iwaizumi asked as he stopped the jeepney by once again another street vendor.
This time the vendor was selling some type of squiggly and square shaped things that was grilled along side some meat which he was completely familiar with.
“One of each nga po” Iwaizumi stated before Oikawa could take his pick.
Surely his boyfriend wouldn't feed him the squiggly thing “I'm still full..” he says looking sadly at his order.
Iwaizumi looked towards a pouty Oikawa. “Try it it's good,” he says, handing him a cup with vinegar for dipping.
Oikawa only poked around the things that aren't meat with his stick. Iwaizumi grabbed one of them, putting it to Oikawa's face like he was some kind of baby.
He grimaced before taking a bite. He was unsure of the taste at first it took him a few chews before concluding that it was good. It was smoky with a slightly salty taste and chewy texture. Iwaizumi hands him another bite now with vinegar, a taste so good it could just melt Oikawa.
“I can eat this everyday! We need to bring some home” he says eagerly
The vendor couldn't help but smile at Oikawa's reactions “Mukhang hindi ata sanay ‘tong kaibigan mo sa pagkaing pinoy ah” (“it seems like your friend here isn't used to eating Filipino foods huh?”)
“Fiancée ko po” (“he's my fiancée actually”) Iwaizumi corrected while Oikawa muched obliviously.
He just looked at their expressions and guessed they were talking about something boring, things he couldn't be bothered with like the current news or like the hot weather.
The old man just smiled at them both prompting Oikawa to smile and bow his head. The old man was stunned at first but laughed and even gave Oikawa a freebie.
They both head back while Oikawa muched on his freebie “Now that you're almost finished..” Iwaizumi dragged his last few words “You wanna know what you're eating?”
As the jeepney started he contemplated a bit before spitting it out “What did you feed me Iwa?!” He whined
Iwaizumi just laughed at his boyfriend's reaction “It's better you don't know as long as it's good eat it” he paused “well unless it's poisonous then don't”
Oikawa trusted his fiancée that time but looking back at it when he arrived back in Japan and decided to look it up he shouldn't have. He rushed to the bathroom to throw up when he found out it was intestines and blood. Iwaizumi learned his lesson by feeding Oikawa exotic foods after he was ignored for two whole days.
After Iwaizumi drove to a place that looked like a market but there was a sign outside that read palengke.
“Is a market called palengke?” He asked looking between the sign and Iwaizumi
“Yeah and now you'll learn how to shop in a Filipino market” Oikawa's jaw dropped
“Not in this heat Iwa” he whined, wiping off invisible sweat. Iwaizumi wasn't fooled; his fiancée had a mini fan with him that was always turned to high speed.
“Isn't that why you brought a bag?” Oikawa grimaced at his fiancee's words “This is a luxury bag Iwa”
Iwaizumi parked the jeep into a shaded area before dropping off. Oikawa watched as Iwaizumi walked away, nervousness grew as well as the distance.
He didn't like being alone and crowds are easier to deal with “Iwaa I'm coming with you” he whined.
Iwaizumi turned around with a smile that screamed ‘I told you so’. He knew how Oikawa would react. “Come on then and grab that bucket”
Oikawa peeked his head at the back of the jeepney. He grabbed the bucket before running off to Iwaizumi.
He hands him the bucket “Here” but Iwaizumi just refuses his hand “You want experience right? Carry that”
Oikawa's eyes widened at his fiancee's words “are you serious? It's clashing with my outfit”
Iwaizumi scoffed “You aren't some model don't worry” he says before dragging Oikawa into the palengke
It wasn't a super mall of any kind. The pathways were narrow and the smells made Oikawa want to throw up. It was sweaty, fishy and something else lingered that he couldn't quite explain.
The people were extremely nice though which was a nice turn. They all smiled and waved at Oikawa as he looked through their stalls. Iwaizumi just kept dragging him and adding more things for him to carry. Oikawa thought this would be vacation, not labor.
He got super embarrassed when Iwaizumi haggled for some fish? A fish? We could totally pay for it. He got so much second hand embarrassment that he just got some money from his wallet and offered it to the vendor before hiding his face and leaving the stall with Iwaizumi.
He sighs “Iwa we can pay you know” he suggested but Iwaizumi just laughed once more “I know it's just how you do it here”
“I'll teach you, come on,” he dragged Oikawa to a stall that offered some kind of souvenirs. Haggling was kind of fun especially when he got a keychain half off.
He was busy attaching his new cute keychain while Iwaizumi was buying some vegetables. They both headed out. Beads of sweat formed all over their bodies but Oikawa didn't mind because he had fun with his fiancée and that's all that mattered.
Oikawa probably was tired because he fell asleep 5 minutes in during their car ride. They plan to go to Iwaizumi's house where his mom lives.
He was woken up by an intense shaking due to a pothole in the road making him scream “Are we crashing?”
By this time the jeepney had stopped and Iwaizumi looked over to him confused “What are you talking about?”
Oikawa had his hand by his chest, feeling his heart beat. “Maybe just a dream”
Iwaizumi nodded before he planted a kiss on Oikawa's forehead. He dropped off the jeepney so he could grab all the things they had bought in the back. Oikawa didn't want to be a bother so he copied what Iwaizumi did. He hopped off the jeepney.
Hopping off was easy but landing back down isn't the easiest. His mind swirled with ‘how hard could it be’ until his butt came in contact with the ground making him yelp.
It was a hard crash, he felt as if his pelvic bones had just shattered. A small woman came over helping him up. “Nako utoy! Be careful ha be careful” the lady scolded.
He helped Oikawa to a wooden bench. “Hajime ‘di mo man lang tinulungan asawa mo oh alam mo namang ‘di pa yan sanay dito” (“You didn't even help him, you know he isn't use to here”)
Now that Oikawa was observing. The lady looks like Iwaizumi so well she's just a bit smaller. He concluded it was his fiancee's mother, you couldn't blame him for not knowing at first because Iwaizumi didn't talk about family much. He immediately got up from the wooden bench before grabbing the lady's hand and doing a botched way of ‘mano po’. (Filipino tradition for respect)
The old lady couldn't help but bark out a laugh at Oikawa's effort. “You taught him well son” she says to Iwaizumi with a smile and Oikawa couldn't feel but more proud of himself.
They walked for a bit through a valley of some sort before reaching a small hut. Oikawa looked around as he felt the breeze running through his whole body. The land was big, it even went farther than his eyes could reach.
He smiled when he felt arms wrap around him. “That's all ours,” Iwaizumi whispered.
Oikawa being filled with excitement turned to Iwaizumi planting a big kiss on his cheek. “Really? But it's so big”
Iwaizumi laughed at his fiancée's antics “I used to play through those fields when I was young”
“Our kids are going to play there too, okay?” He stated catching Iwaizumi off guard, “We'll teach them our volleyball skills” he added.
“Sure we will” Iwaizumi said before they were called in for lunch.
Oikawa couldn't help but feel over the moon. Maybe for once he actually felt accepted and he didn't even have to worry about how he's acting. No one judged him. He would have never guessed home was a whole other country. Oikawa found his home in someone else's.