A Twist Of Time

eighteen

"I don't understand; when's the funeral?" I asked Jane who was taking the pieces of lint off of my gown.

"The body will arrive soon. I'm honestly so sad over Manuel's death. I liked him better than Sergio." She stopped for a minute and examined my gown. "It's done!"

"Why is that?"

"Why is what?"

I gestured random movements. "That. That you like Manuel more than Sergio."

"I just do. And Manuel's been my boss for how long. I'm just dealing with Sergio."

"Is Sergio really that bad?"

She sighed and lifted my dress up. She headed for my closet, hanging it on one of its handles. "No, he's not. He's a nice person, but I just don't like him. It's because of an issue they had wjth each other. They were enemies once and Manuel hired me during that time. I got used to being mean to him all the time that when they got reconciled, I had a hard time adjusting to him. But he's very nice and soft-spoken. Maybe not to you, but he is. Trust me."

"He's nice to me, just not soft-spoken as you tell me. I understand he has flaws, though. Everyone does."

"True." Jane clapped her hands, her voice getting louder. "Now, why don't you put on this dress of yours? It's perfect. Not a trace of lint or dust. Mainly because I arranged it and all."

I cross-examined the dress. It was then that I realized how extravagant yet elegant it looked, making me gasp. "Jane! It's amazing!"

"Thanks. Put it on. It'll look better."

I immediately did as told and rushed to the bathroom. Memories of me putting on my clothes while still dripping with water rushed through my mind. It was those first days when I had no idea what to do here. Now here I was, putting on a dress for the inauguration of a man who I was ashamed of showing my face to. Character improvement, maybe?

The dress was tight, but it somehow managed to slip on to me without difficulty. It was a white baro't saya with a black sparkling skirt that went all the way down. It made me look somehow like a white lady, but at least I looked formal. I stepped out of the bathroom.

Jane smiled. "You look stunning."

A couple of compliments and Margaux barging in the room later, I was sitting on a chair beside the two of them, patiently waiting for the program to start. Women in fancy baro't sayas and men in formal outfits were flooding in. Margaux had to leave her seat at some point to accompany the guests.

She came back with a small girl wearing a white dress with her hair in pigtails. "Vawee!"

I gasped in shock. "Hisako? Where have you been?"

"Vawee!" she just screamed again and ran to me, hugging my body tightly. I did the same to her back.

"Oh, I missed you! Where did you go?"

"Good soldier take me to hee. Mago saw me and now I'm hee!"

"You found her? Where?" I asked as I turned to Margaux.

"Well, she was running around and such with an American soldier this morning so I showed her to Sergio before I went to your room. He told me to keep her until we find her parents."

"Can I keep her in my room? Would you like that, Hisako?"

The kid nodded at me. "Sure, if Hisako likes it," Margaux replied and took her seat. Jane waved at Hisako in a friendly manner before I sat Hisako down on the chair beside me. Sergio was now making his way to the podium slowly. His black hair was neat as always, and he was wearing the most formal outfit I've seen him wear in the span of the few weeks I've spent here.

He stopped at the center stage and the oath taking started. Hisako clapped everytime Sergio would reply to anything the American official said, which caused eyes to land on us, including his own. I silently told Hisako to stop right after that and she luckily did.

Once it was over, the room errupted to a resounding applause. We stood up to honor our new president, but then I thought, your president for nine years just died and got replaced in a few hours, aren't you sad about that?

The Nacionalists went to greet Sergio as he went down from the stage. They were shaking his hand strongly, and I was contentedly watching him until Hisako decided to jump off from her seat and run to his direction. I ran after the kid and whispered her name to call her, but she continued and pushed past the people in formal attire to hug Sergio's right leg. I caughty breath and sighed.

"Oh my. I'm so sorry to interrupt your greetings. Hisa—Isabelle here just wanted to see the new president," I breathed out. I wasn't going to say that her name was Hisako. It was Japanese and the Nacionalists were known haters of the invaders.

"Is this your daughter?" a man asked, pointing at Hisako.

"Yes. Yes she is," Sergio politely answered. I moved my eyes towards him swiftly and back at the man.

"And this is your first lady?"

"Certainly."

My eyes widened. I was about to slap his shoulder and ask him what that was about until a woman gasped and hugged him. "I'm so proud of you! You never told us!"

"Just wanted to keep it a secret between us." He winked at me. I forced a fake smile.

"Are you married? Or are you planning on?"

"We're still planning on it. But it'll be soon.""

"Alright, I think it's time for Isabelle to get the rest she needs. She stayed up all night and she might fall asleep here. I'll leave you with your important matters. Goodbye, Sergio, and uh, friends," I said in the sweetest way possible. I bent down to get Hisako from his leg and walked outside the room. It was nearly empty and the visitors were expected to be at the dining hall, but I went straight to my room as fast as I could without running while carrying Hisako in my arms and trying to balance in high heels. I nearly tripped thrice until I finally got the opportunity to get inside my room and lock it.

"Hisako, your name from now on is Isabelle, okay?"

"Why?"

"I don't want you getting hurt," I whispered, putting a strand of hair behind her ear. She nodded and yawned, falling backwards on my bed.

The footsteps of the visitors were heard from inside, but an hour later, I heard the knock I have been waiting for. I hurriedly opened the door.