A Twist Of Time

twenty seven

A knock came on the door, Sergio responding with a loud "come in." Margaux had finally arrived with Jane and Elpidio, the latter still having obvious traces of tears in his eyes. I stood up and offered my seat to him, but he politely refused and sat on the one across. Sergio put his pen down.

"Senator Quirino, following my closest friend and your mentor's death, we will have a wake held for him. You will have to make a speech about it. Don't cry—he'll never leave us, especially you. He's told me a lot about you."

Mr. Quirino smiled. "He did?"

"Yes. He's always here, and he'll be happy if you help us commemorate him. It will be a simple ceremony, but that's all we need. We are in times of war, and we cannot afford such outrageous occasions when the Japanese armies have become stronger and stronger throughout the weeks."

Then why did you hold a ball for the Americans? I internally asked. But I decided not to. A senator was crying and my sass wouldn't do any good.

"And they need you, President Osmeña. The nation needs you, and they are lost without your guidance. I will be happy to advise you on what to do, only if you want to. Elpidio Quirino at your service."

Sergio nodded. "That would be great. Thank you, Senator. Manuel has taught you well." He smiled, then turned to Jane. "Make sure he has a nice guest room, not just like the others. We will need him and his wisdom later on."

"The one on the first floor, President?" Jane asked. It felt weird how everyone was calling him different names, while I was here acting as though I was the Head of State and not him.

"No. The third. Right next to Valerie's. Both of those rooms are the best in this house."

"Yes, Mister President."

"Is this Margaux? Your daughter?" Senator Quirino asked, pointing at Margaux. Sergio nodded again. "You've raised her well. And Jane here—you've got the right woman to manage a lot of things here. She's very helpful and sincere."

The five of us left his room and got Elpidio into his room, well, after a lot of consoling and patience. And I was here wondering why Sergio wasn't doing that too, so when Margaux and Jane left for their duties and the both of us were left alone, I asked him. He smirked and looked down.

"Valerie, Manuel wouldn't want me crying," he said. "He would call me a coward. But he always did; and he called that to himself, too."

"So it's because you know he wouldn't want you to?"

"And maybe because I have already cried all the tears I could ever cry over the many nights I had alone in my room."

"That sounds sad," I said. He nodded. "Very sad. Depressing almost. I'm not sure even being sarcastic and that's rare."

"It is. But on some nights, Hisako would be silently brought into my room, and she would keep me busy by making me chase her around the room and playing with the papers on my desk. I have to arrange them again, just for her to ruin it or run on it."

"She does? How come I never knew?"

"I didn't let you. You love Hisako so much, you would probably burst into my room and take her from me. Hisako's like your child."

The next days were sure as hell filled with business. The wake was held overnight, but Quezon's corpse had to be brought back to America right after. I only got the opportunity to talk to Sergio every after dinner and he would bring me into my room and leave. It worried me sometimes, that he would be sleepless for an entire week because he was making endless telegrams, diary entries, letters, orders, cabinet meetings, conferences, and negotiations. He started becoming thinner than he already was, his cheekbones became more defined, and his voice became raspy. It didn't help that he was starting to miss Manuel again, and I could sometimes hear him cry in his room on nights I couldn't sleep. Elpidio was exactly like him, so there were two grown men crying at 12AM that I couldn't do anything about.

One night, I got the opportunity to talk to him longer, since he had no duties assigned for the night. But I didn't take the opportunity, instead, I pulled him up to his room and commanded him to sleep becaude I knew and felt he badly needed it.

"Valerie, you're not my mother, let me stay up! I still have work to do," he said. But this was somehow taken aback when he yawned right after.

"Uh huh. Signing papers. God will give you tomorrow. You just need sleep tonight. I mean, look at you! You look more dead than Quezon at this point," I replied. "Or worse; if Quezon finds out you're tiring yourself out, he's going to pull you up with him."

"But—"

"I will not leave nor stop unless I see your eyes closed. Go to sleep, Sergio."

He groaned and shut his eyes. "I can't."

"You're not even trying."

"I can't, I tell you."

"Why?"

"Because," he started, "because I'm scared."

"Why?"

"The war. I'm scared more will die because of me, I'm the reason all those innocent lives will banish. Everything right now is against the fifth commandment. I'm the leader in a war—"

"Sergio, if only you knew, in 2016, everybody calls you the most humble and calm president. You're trying, that's what makes it count. Go to sleep. I'll be leaving."

I stood up and headed to the door when my hand was pulled back. He was smiling.

"Not until you give me a good night's kiss."

I blushed, and I thanked the darkness for hiding it. "Fine. Only one."

"I promise. And can you return one back?"

"What back?"

"Promise me you won't try to escape again."

"Not now, at least. I'm not that mean to leave during a wake," I said. "And why did you suddenly think of that? I already love you. I won't have the nerve to leave you alone like this, in your tired state, looking like a dead walrus."