“At least he will not become retarded.” Even though Lola Yma felt a bit relieved, she couldn't help but frown in contemplation about Lumawig’s situation once he woke up.

“It appears that Sabel will have a brother, but it depends on him if he either becomes the ‘younger brother’ or the older brother.” Sighed Lola Yma as she put her hand on Lumawig’s forehead and started muttering something under her breath. A moment later, the restless Lumawig calmed down and his breathing became steady. Lola Yma then turned around and started to head out.

On the wee hours of the fifth day, the sleeping Lumawig finally opened his eyes. As it was dark, and the only source of light was the moon hanging in the night sky, it took some time for his eyes to adjust.

“Finally awake huh?” An old woman’s voice was heard that sounded like she had been expecting Lumawig’s awakening.

“Who-?! Arrrghh!” Hearing the voice, Lumawig was surprised and suddenly sat right up from lying down. His actions caused a splitting headache which resulted in his suffering, hugging his head with his two hands in an attempt to alleviate the excruciating pain he was feeling.

Seeing the sudden action of Lumawig, lolo Yma immediately put her hand on top of the young man’s head and whispered something under her breath. In just a few moments the splitting headache that tortured Lumawig started to subside.

“Do not make sudden movements. You have just woken up and are still very weak. Do not be afraid, I am not a bad person.” Lola Yma assisted Lumawig to go back lying down and told him of his body’s situation.

“Rest a bit more, and we will talk once the sun has risen.” After saying her piece, Lola Yma walked out of the room.

Hearing the old woman’s words, Lumawig was able to somehow calm down despite not knowing where he was. A few hours later, as the sun started to break away the darkness that covered the sky, a cheerful voice could be heard.

“Heeeey! Kuya! You are awake already? You slept so long, I thought you were dead.” The high-pitched cheerful voice belonged to the young girl Sabel who, for the past few days, would wake up very early to check on Lumawig. Her Lola Yma could only sigh in amusement every time the little girl checked up on Lumawig, she would always ask “Hey kuya, are you dead or not?”.

This morning however, when she woke up, her Lola Yma immediately told her that Lumawig had woken up, thus, the little girl became excited and rushed inside the bedroom where Lumawig is currently.

Hearing the little girl’s high-pitched voice, Lumawig slowly looked towards the source and soon saw a little girl burst into the bedroom. Eyes sparkling, and an excited smile decorating her lips, Sabel immediately ran towards the bed and stared at the now conscious stranger.

“Are you really awake now? You are weird, sleeping for so long! If I did that, my lola would have already pinched my ear and called me lazy!” Somehow, her excitement became a complaint, but her smile did not disappear from her lips; it is evident that she is overjoyed in finding out that Lumawig is now awake.

“Please forgive my apò, she is a really curious and lively child.” At this moment, Lola Yma has also come inside the bedroom. She is carrying a small bowl that contains Aroskaldo – a type of rice and chicken gruel with a heavy ginger flavor.

“Eat this for now so you can regain your strength. We will talk after you are strong enough to get out of bed.” There was a sort of commanding tone in the old woman’s voice, signifying that her words are not up for a negotiation.

Lumawig could only nod his head and obey the old woman’s words. He slowly picked up the spoon given to him and started eating the food he was given. As soon as the food entered his mouth, Lumawig felt that his taste buds came alive and soon he was slurping the Aroskaldo. It only took him a few minutes to finish the bowl of food, and even though he did not yet know who these two people were, he still asked the old woman for a second serving, to which the latter complied.

By evening of the same day, Lumawig is finally able to stand and walk around the room. As he was standing inside the room Lumawig tried to imprint the surroundings on his mind. The room itself is not that big but is still spacious enough to allow two beds to be placed inside. On one corner of the room, a faded brown cabinet that is half a meter taller than Lumawig is located near the entrance. On one of the cabinet’s doors hangs a mirror. There is also a baul placed under the bed he was lying in. At some point after he was brought to Lola Yma’s home, he was transferred inside their bedroom, and the maglola have been sleeping on the makeshift bed where Lumawig was laid down before.