"Y-yeah, I'm fine..." you muttered, gently prying his calloused hand off your forehead. He blinked before helping you up on your feet.

Mayanka held your (s/c) hand in his caramel toned one. His grip was firm, but not too tight. Just enough to make sure you won't wriggle out of his grasp.

He brought you outside through the back door.

Looks like his backyard is also his kitchen. A tower of stones is arranged in such a way that it functions as a grill. Under the stone is a campfire burning away.

Mayanka then handed you a plastic bowl with vegetable and fruit scraps on it. You could see the wear and tear on the container.

He pointed at it, then pointed at the fenced area where his chickens are located.

You nodded. You never expected him to playfully ruffle your hair in response, it left you with (h/c) hair sticking out in every direction.

His sharp eyes lingered on your form as he sat on the log next to the stone grill. It's oiled with handmade corn oil as that is the most accessable one he has. At least it's 100% natural, all from his garden.

But it was excruciatingly tedious to make it.

Mayanka picked up a smaller knife and started skillfully shucking the clams he gathered earlier.

You looked over your shoulder to see your companion preparing dinner without a care in the world.

Looks like he actually started a while ago, there are two bamboo tubes roasting against another campfire. They're leaning against a structure and there are some water bubbling out of the small crevices.

...Is he preparing bamboo stuffed rice? You remember reading about the dish before.

Looks like you'll find out later. Right now you're occupied with the task of feeding his chickens, they don't look very fat or friendly. But healthy enough to produce eggs.

He then washed the flesh of the shellfishes in clean water to remove the sand before putting it on the hot stone. His ears perked up at the sound of it sizzling, good, it's hot enough.

Mayanka neatly laid them all on the stone before sprinking a good amount of seasalt he harvested earlier on it.

—

You don't know what he sees you as.

A slave? Not really, he does show respect and care for you. (not including the first time meeting each other)

A burden? Why did he not kill you off as soon as possible then?

A friend? He's not that friendly.

Livestock? No, why would he waste so much resources on you if he's going to eat you anyways?

A lover? That doesn't really make sense to you. You're a total stranger that does not know how to communicate with him at all.

He ate another spoonful of the bamboo stuffed rice along with a piece of clam. Mayanka ignored your staring and enjoyed the meal.

You already had your portion, Mayanka made a little too much for you.

It's just the perfect amount of food for him because he burns an awful lot of calories during the day. So he needed the extra energy, you don't.

Mayanka forced you to scarf it down anyways, now you're bloated.

You don't dare to puke as you fear that he might just force you to eat it back up as punishment for wasting food.

Why did he make so much!? You don't need to eat as much as him, what was the purpose of this!? He's just wasting food on you.

Once Mayanka is done, he picked up the bowls and utensils. The man pointed at you and wagged his finger, gesturing you to follow him.

Mayanka made sure to pick up his lit lantern too.

"Well, that was rude." You pursed your lips as you moved forward.

Mayanka sets all the dishes and the bamboo tubes on one side. You watched him as he walked further away towards a particular tree.

Of course, not wanting to be left in the dark, you followed him.

Mayanka then cut two sticks, each the least six inches long from the branches. He gave one to you.

You looked at it, it has the same colour as the sand beneath Mayanka's bare feet. Though, it does have a pleasant smell of cress.

"What do I do with it?" You asked.

Mayanka began chewing on one end.

"What?" You thought to yourself, he removed the bark and spat it on the ground, making the twig become brush-like.

You watched Mayanka in disbelief when he used it to brush his teeth and massaged his gums with the natural bristles. No wonder his teeth are in wonderful condition and his breath isn't as deadly as you expected it to be.

"Miswak."

"What?"

"Miswak." He pointed at the stick he used as a toothbrush.

"Can't get ya."

"Miswak." He pointed at it again, He's patient.

"So... this is... what you call, Miswak?" He nodded once he sees you correlating 'Miswak' with the twigs.

"Alright, that's cool, that's cool..." He gave you an upward nod, silently telling you to copy his actions.

You hesitantly chewed on one end...

...except your jaw isn't as strong as Mayanka's and you needed to chew for a while. It gets frustrating, but you thought that it's kind of tasty. It's fresh and a bit gingery, you felt at peace knowing that there will be some kind of oral care.

Mayanka sighed before coaxing you to get back into the wooden cabin. While walking back, he's brushing his teeth with his own Miswak whereas you're still struggling to separate the bristles.