BELLUM. will reiterate that Jack HAS NOT attempted to learn a language for anyone else before Visi
she's never needed to, because most people on the streets where she was spoke English, and after she got her amp / aid with the translator also installed, it translates the most common languages (Spanish, Chinese, French, and a couple others) so she doesn't HAVE to learn an entire language when she, most likely, isn't going to use it very often
Filipino ? that's not one of the ones it translates for her
AND ... she's not gonna ask Visi to teach her
not because she thinks Courtney would say no or roll her eyes or not put in the effort to teach her, Jack is pretty sure if she asked, Courtney would at least try
but she won't ask, because ... when she starts to say little things in Filipino, Jack wants it to be a SURPRISE
she doesn't want to put the onus of teaching her on Courtney's shoulders, she wants to learn it on her own and surprise her girlfriend by saying words and simple phrases
because it's something that shows Jack is putting in effort, into something she doesn't really HAVE to put effort into
because like. Courtney speaks English. there's no language barrier where Jack NEEDS to learn Filipino to better communicate. but this is a part of Courtney's background and heritage and like, it's a part that's obviously important enough to her that she DOES use the language
Jack wants to put effort into learning, even if she'll probably never be fluent, even if she struggles with it, because ............. it's a piece of Courtney's life. and Jack CARES about those things, she cares about Courtney
when she says "how's your day been, sinta?" she wants to see the way it clicks in Courtney's mind that she just got called "darlin' / babe" but it took her a minute to realize because NOBODY ELSE uses those words, nobody else speaks any Filipino
when Courtney's having a not so great day, Jack wants to be able to hold her and murmur "Nakikita kita" against her ear for comfort, and for it to HIT HARD that not only is Courtney's girlfriend saying "I see you" when she feels invisible so much of the time, she's saying it in a language nobody around them speaks, a language that's a part of her but that no one else will understand that this phrase means her insecurities are being soothed
learning another language for someone is such an act of love it's such a big thing and even though Jack is never going to speak it the way her girlfriend does, she's ......... putting in effort to at least get a few what she thinks are important words and phrases down. and she doesn't tell Courtney until she SAYS THOSE WORDS.
