After getting back to the hotel, I didn't forget to message the family group chat.
The time zones didn't line up very well, which was good in this situation. It was late at night in Malalaka and early in the morning in Polo as well as Basilian.
I didn't bother messaging them earlier, since they would have been resting, but now I don't know if that was the right choice or not anymore.
Me: [I got to Malalakan. Went to the national museum and later the street market. Just got back to the hotel safely!!]
Big Brother Theo: [Why didn't you contact us earlier? Do you know how worried we would be?]
That was bs, I let Theo monitor my situation. If he wanted to know of my safety, it was as easy as a tap on his phone.
He was obviously digging me a hole.
Just what did he do this time?
Me: [Isn't that because I didn't want to bother your sleep?]
Big Brother Theo: [Still!]
He definitely did something.
Mom ﹏ ₃ ﹏<）]
Big Brother Nathen: [How can you stand to make Emi so sad?]
Big Brother Nathen: [We were just trying to help you accept a part of yourself. You should know that your sexual preferences don't matter to us, we will accept you no matter who you like. You are still you.]
Mom <3: [Your siblings are right; we will love you no matter what. How could you even talk about leaving us? ♡o(╥﹏╥)o♡]
Big Brother Theo: [You're all too two-faced… *Coughs out blood*]
Me: [Big Brother Theo, you have to take better care of yourself. I know that social pressure on same-sex couples is high, but the times are changing! You shouldn't have to worry yourself so much that you're coughing up blood!]
Me: [We're all here for you if you want to talk about it. <3]
Dad <3: [Yes, we'll always be on your side. <3<3]
Big Brother Theo: [I'll be going before I cough up more blood.]
Me: [Yes, you should go to the hospital to do a check-up. Rest well.]
Big Brother Theo: […]
Mom <3: [Take good care of yourself!]
Me: [I also have to get going to sleep]
Big Brother Nathen: [Sleep early, I'm going to get going to my morning class.]
Dad <3: [(^ _ ^)/]
After leaving the family group chat, I made sure to check up on Theo.
Me: [You okay? What happened? Will you be able to take care of it yourself or do you want me to step in?]
Big Brother Theo: [Nah, I'll be able to handle it]
Big Brother Theo: [It was just an accident, I hope. If not. Then he should better start praying for himself. It's no big deal, but it was in a public setting. It's probably going to be forgotten within the month or so.]
Me: [Be careful, it might come back up when you least want it to. That's normally how rumors and gossip work.]
Me: [Depending on what kind of person you want to portray yourself as in the entertainment industry, you may or may not need to be careful about such things.]
Me: [I don't recommend you trying to make a whole new persona like Big Brother Nathen. It takes a lot of work and self-control.]
Big Brother Theo: [Are you saying I have a short fuse?? Haha. You're right though. I don't think I could do it.]
Me: [It's not that you can't do it. It's just that while Big Brother Nathen's persona won't be constantly challenged due to his image, yours will. There will be people constantly provoking you and just waiting for you to make a mistake so that they can sign your execution in the industry.]
Big Brother Theo: [I guess it is a battlefield after all.]
Me: [A psychological battlefield that takes and changes real lives.]
Big Brother Theo: [I'll be careful.]