A Twist Of Time

twenty six

"Calm down, Sergio. They're out now, the ceremony has to start. Go up there, the guests are getting bored," I said at the man who was sitting beside me, still shivering in anger with his daughter and Jane calming him down. "You're not like this."

"That imbecile. Shouldn't've invited her," he hissed.

"You already proved your point, Osmeña. You don't need to hold a grudge against them."

"Useless, pathetic, unmannered baboons."

"Watch your mouth," I whispered. "Hisako's here."

"Sorry."

"I recommend you ban them from the palace permanently," said Margaux.

Sergio did, and the event went as planned. Fortunately. After the huge gathering, he told me that today was his last free day; all the others would be preoccupied due to his duties, and Manuel's corpse was expected to arrive tomorrow. He was immediately gone after leaving Hisako in her usual hiding spot and I inside my room and telling Jane and Margaux a couple of orders.

The next day, I was awakened by a loud noise. The front doors were open, and a black carriage was in front. I made my way downstairs and Margaux immediately greeted me, though she seemed very exhausted.

"President Quezon's here. A wake is scheduled to happen today, there will be another wave of stressful visitors, Quirino's there—somewhere, I am suffering from a lack of coffee, Sergio's talking to the people carrying the body, the Rutherwelds are banned forever, and that's about it," she listed down. I raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you telling me?"

"You're the First Lady. And President's orders. He wants to keep you informed somehow."

"And you're back to your regular duties?"

"Unfortunately."

Jane and Elpidio came out of the kitchen, the latter obviously crying, his face cupped in his hands. Jane was trying to comfort him while they took a seat on the long couch. The last time I saw Quirino was back in Corregidor, and from what I heard, he came with Quezon to America. Now that Quezon's body is back, I guess he is, too.

"What happened?" asked Margaux as she approached the two, me following suit. "He's not crying again, is he?"

"Is it obvious?" Jane retorted.

"I'm curious. Mr. Quirino, I think President Quezon wouldn't want to see you crying like this. You're a strong man, remember?"

"He was my mentor," muttered Elpidio. "He was my inspiration and I can't believe that he's gone, that he's left us. We lost a brilliant, strong, and confident man. We lost a million."

"I understand. Shall we leave?" Margaux asked me. I nodded and we walked to the kitchen to fix her coffee shortage. She was sipping on her cup when she said, "Quirino's a great man, much like Quezon. He's got a lot from him, probably from years of being his compadre."

"Obvious. They're both helpful and smart—"

"Ma'am Margaux and Miss First Lady, the President wants to see you." The small chef appeared out of nowhere, out of breath, then bent down and exited. Margaux and I looked at each other in a questioning way before heading to Osmeña's office.

He was writing on papers, a handkerchief on his desk, his eyes obviously wet from crying. "Glad the two of you could make it," said Sergio. "Take a seat."

"Don't cry," I said, comforting him. "At least you got to spend time with him. Nearly your whole lives, actually."

"That's the worst part. There's so much more to remember about him that I will miss—he was my closest friend."

I nodded in understanding. "What did you call us for?" Margaux asked.

"Oh. Uh, I just wanted company. My room seemed empty, Jane was busy with Quirino, Hisako's asleep, so I decided to send the both of you here. That's alright, right?"

"Perfectly fine. I just thought we did something wrong," Margaux replied.

"You didn't. I really just need a friend."

"You have your cabinet members, too. Do you want me to call them so you have more people to stay with?" I asked.

"No. But maybe ask Elpidio up for a minute. Margaux?"

Margaux nodded and left to fetch Elpidio. Sergio smiled at me. "How's everything?"

"Good. I miss Manuel. He was my favorite president way back in 2016. Mainly because every time it was his birthday, I had no school," I replied. He laughed.

"There's a day for him? Does any other president have a day, too?"

"Quezon Day's on August 19 and because of him approving Filipino as the National Language, August is Buwan ng Wika. There's also Osmeña Day in Cebu on September 8."

"They have a day named after me?" he asked, his mood improving, his eyes lit.

"And a highway. And an avenue. And many many roads. There's also Sergio Osmeña Sr., a place in Mindanao. A lot, actually."

"All that—for me?"

"Yes. And a ton of schools, too. Cebu loves you and your house turns into a museum. Dedicated to you and your family."

His smile was so big that you couldn't possibly imagine he was crying two minutes ago.

"What family?" asked Sergio. "All of them are in Cebu, I have no kids."

"You will. Fourteen, actually. With two women. That's how it goes in the future. Allegedly three, but... it's a rumor.

"What happens to you, then? Are you just going to be some person erased by history in 2016?"

"No, silly. I'm still alive."

"I mean—we're together, and I think they should dedicate something for you. Maybe a museum, like mine."

I raised an eyebrow. "I'm not married nor related to anyone in Philippine history. And besides, it's already been writen down on textbooks. You can't just magically name something after me."

"Well, you got here through magic and you're allegedly from 2016, so I don't know why I shouldn't believe in magic."

"We're not in Hogwarts. Stop dreaming."

"What's Hogwarts?"

I widened my eyes in realization. "Oh. I forgot. You don't know what Hogwarts is. It's a great place in a book called 'Harry Potter.' It's where he goes to school and learns magic. I've always wanted to go there."

"Then I'll take you there."

"As if you could."

"Again, magic gave me you. Magic turned back time. I don't know why you still continue telling me magic doesn't exist."