A Twist Of Time

twenty eight

"We need the President's approval, Miss First Lady. We cannot just do this just because you told us to—"

"But I believe that I have the same power as him in this household, am I right?"

He looked down. "Yes, but not quite, for he's the President and—"

"Do you think he won't approve of this in the first place? Let the kid out. You can't let her stay in there forever. She has a life."

Hisako was looking at me through the kitchen doorway, Teddy in her arms while the men were moving things around the Palace in preparation for President Quezon's wake. I was talking to one of the staff who seemed to be utterly terrifed of me but managed to cope through.

"But the Americans—"

"She's a kid, for crying out loud! She didn't join some army and go against the Americans."

"Valerie! How'd you find Jake?" Jane exclaimed, chiming in our conversation.

"Jake?" I replied in confusion.

"My cousin Jake. I didn't know you two got along so well," she replied.

"Not so well." I eyed Jake.

Jane glared at him. "What did you do, you scathing idiot?"

"Nothing! I was just telling her that she needs the President's approval—"

"Jake, she needs no one's approval. Not even the President himself can control her. Shame on you," Jane retorted. I lifted my head up.

"But the rules—"

"Valerie has no rules. She just does whatever she wants but she manages to get away with it. Don't even try to tell her anything to hold her back. Now, whatever her request is, grant it. Unless you want to get smacked in the face."

Jane hurried away. Jake smiled at me and said, "I'll go get Hisako."

A few hours later, I was sitting down on the same chair I sat on during Osmeña's inauguration while listening to Quirino's speech. It was obvious that every word was filled in with the emotions he had; the brotherly love he had for his mentor and the country being left in the hands of someone who loved it very much but had a heart as soft as a quilt.

"The country must rise from its necessitous state, together. We cannot leave all the work to our new and beloved president, so I tell all of you, that I, Elpidio Quirino, will singlehandedly be taking the fraught job of being the newly-appointed Presidential Adviser of President Sergio Osmeña. Current Presidential Adviser Margaux Brooke Westfeld will be resigning but will continue contributing to the continuous programs of President Osmeña."

A round of applause came to be while Margaux stood up and waved. "You didn't tell me you were resigning!" I exclaimed worriedly. She sat down.

"I didn't. Because I knew you were going to tell me not to. Quirino really wanted the job, though. And don't worry. I'll be fine," she replied.

"But why is your last name 'Westfeld?' Shouldn't it be 'Osmeña?'"

"Nobody in the palace really knows I'm his daughter yet. Nor do the Filipinos. Quirino knows because Jane told him. In the time they spent together, you'd expect them to know everything in the palace. Two open minds. Val, stop worrying. I'll still be the same Margaux, just less busy. And we'll have more time to spend together with Jane," she said with a smile. I returned the gesture.

"Fine. As long as you're happy. Just don't come running to me saying you miss your job, Miss Diligent."

"I won't. I promise." Margaux looked over my shoulder and frowned. "It's that creepy Jake guy again. He's been creeping up on the palace people ever since he got here. Getting creepy."

"Who invited him here?"

"No one. Not even Jane. Jacob Harvey Sison. He's got a brother, but I'm not sure who or what he looks like. Nevertheless, I think he's just as dumb and idiotic as Jake. I'm happy Jane didn't get that from them."

"Hey, they might hear you," I whispered.

"It's true, though. Jake's an idiot."

"Valerie, may I talk to you for a second?" Sergio said, cutting my talk with Margaux. She smirked and mouthed something, but I couldn't quite pick it up. I turned to Sergio.

"Go ahead."

"Not here, somewhere else. It's private."

"Don't murder her," Margaux warned. "I'm joking. I'll be off. Hisako, let's go."

And they left. Sergio took Margaux's empty chair and sat down. "Valerie, I'll be honest with you, this is the most beautiful outfit I've ever seen you in. But you have to let go of it."

"Wait, what?" I loudly asked.

"No! Not in that way. Bakit ba ganyan ka mag-isip?" (Why do you think that way?)

"Then what do you suppose I should think?"

"Listen, you're the First Lady now, and the people strictly suggest that you wear more formal outfits rather than these ones. I'm not saying I don't like them. I actually do love them, but it's a rule that we have to follow. I'll have you wear anything you want if it was up to me. But it's not."

"That's it? I thought you were going to tell me that I needed to wear more black. This is the most black I've ever worn in my whole life."

"It's a wake, Val."

"I know," I replied defensively. Actually, I didn't. My pride was simply too high.

"Remember that, alright?"

"Sure."

He was about to leave when he looked back at me.

"Meet me later in my office."

"Again?" I asked.

"Just go do it. Maybe about past five. And tell that Jake friend Jane's got to go do something worth his time. He looks like a mindless chicken."

"Alright, again. Go ahead, I want to talk to Margaux."

"I love you," he said, kissing my cheek before he ran off. With a visible smile, I rolled my eyes. Margaux sat down beside me again.

"Mar, do you ever miss Quezon?" I asked Margaux, staring at Manuel's corpse. She nodded.

"Very. He was like my father. He raised me. He took care of me more than Osmeña did. I guess what Sergio's doing now is bumabawi siya sa mga taon na mas tatay pa si Quezon kaysa sa kanya," (paying off the years where Quezon was more of a father than he was) she said.