A Twist Of Time

thirty

"Putang inang Breadley 'yan," (That fucking Breadly.) Jane groaned. "Matalino naman ako. Hindi ko alam ano'ng nangyari sa kanya. Pati na rin kay Jake." (I'm smart, but I don't know what happened to him and Jake.)

"'Wag mo nga s'yang awayin. Walang ginagawa sa'yo 'yung tao," (Don't fight him. He's not doing anything to you.) Margaux replied. "He's your cousin. Respect him."

"I know, but who the fuck confuses a fucking loaf and a fucking baguette? What are we, in France?"

"Is that what he did? Oh god, let me see," Margaux said. Jane took out the foot-long baguette, laid it on the counter, and sighed.

"He's the fucking son of a baker. It's fucking stupid."

"You're getting mad over bread," I said, taking a sip of hot chocolate. "You both sound pathetic."

"Easy for you to say, you don't have to worry about using the wrong bread," Jane replied.

"Miss First Lady, the President has arrived," the small chef interrupted, coming inside from the lobby. He was always out of breath.

I laid my cup down on the counter and stretched out. I didn't want to go back to my dreaded duties as the First Lady. Margaux smiled.

"You excited?" she asked.

"No. I'm lazy," I said, hopping off my chair. "Why'd he come back so soon?"

"I don't know. Ask him!" the small chef growled then walked away. I shrugged at Margaux and Jane.

"By the way, his name is Fettuccine," Jane told me and Margaux. We laughed.

"Maybe that's why he's always mad. With a name like that, I'd never be nice to anyone," Margaux said. I laughed and exited the room.

Presidential security was roaming around, and Sergio was sitting in a chair facing away from me. He looked like he was reading a book. A guard approached him and bowed down, saying something about the meeting later. Sergio smiled at him, then spoke his reply softly. He returned his attention to his book.

I timidly walked to him and said, "Hello."

He jumped up in shock. "Hello, Valerie. I didn't see you there."

"It's alright. I can't blame you; that's a good book."

"Yes. Yes it is."

In his hands was a copy of The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila. I smiled at the book; the school I go to in 2016 had St. Teresa of Avila as its patron saint, and we were forced to read the book. I got attached to it.

"I don't think I've ever seen you like this," he said.

"Like what?"

"Like a shy girl. You're never shy."

I raised my eyebrows. "I don't know. I'm just tired. Nothing interests me. Jane and Margaux are always busy and only get to visit me during nighttime. And you barely even pay attention to me anymore. And I'm doing duties I'm not even supposed to be doing."

"Don't say that. Don't bring your mood down."

"I'm not bringing it down. Maybe at least a companion or somebody to talk to would be great."

I was saying that to make him realize that, hey, if you actually do love me, spend time with me. I'm bored as fuck.

"Well then, from now on, you will forever be by my side." He took my right hand and intertwined his left in it. "Never. And I got you something from my journey."

With difficulty, he used his free hand to rummage through his luggage, making me laugh. "You know, you can let go now," I said through laughs.

"There she is," he replied. "Look at you. You're more beautiful when you're smiling."

"And you're more cheesy when you compliment me. Go get what you're getting, nerd."

He took out a teddy bear from his bag and gave it to me. "Her name is Poppy. She'll be giving you company when I can't."

I was overwhelmed with happiness. He was so sweet doing this, and it made me smile harder than I already was. "Poppy. Where'd you get her?"

"A toy store I visited yesterday. She was the only one left, good thing I got her."

"Wow. All I can say is thank you. And I love you."

He smiled and kissed me on the cheek. "You're welcome, and I love you more."

Poppy was able to keep me company for the rest of the day, though I looked stupid walking down the halls of the palace carrying a teddy bear as if I were a kid. I was able to pay Hisako a visit, who squealed in excitement when she saw Poppy. She made Teddy become friends with her, and by the end of the day, Teddy and Poppy were best friends. And Hisako was very happy. I left Poppy with her overnight, since she was crying when I tried to take it from her. According to Hisako, Poppy was her long lost sister.

I was also told to attend the meeting because of "important matters," aka rolling my eyes at corrupt politicians who were obviously only using Sergio for power and money even in the midst of a war. Some soldier sat beside me and kept jumping up when any official suggested something. He kept contradicting to whatever Quirino said, too, and Quirino ended up raising his hands in defeat and looking at Sergio as if he was saying, "Well, this bitch won't let me talk, so it's up to you now."

Sergio was stressed by the end of the unproductive meeting. I had to accompany him all the way to the garden, the same garden we kissed in.

"I wish it wasn't so hard to run a country. I wish everything just came to you in surprise. Like a solution. To the war." He took a sip from his wine glass that he took from the kitchen before we went here. He took a wine bottle too, which he used to refill the glass whenever it ran empty.

"That can't happen. And you need to stop, you're going to get drunk."

"It's just hard, Valerie. Very hard. Very very hard," he slurred. "I wish it would all just end!"

"Look, now you're drunk. I'm bringing you back to your room before you drink the entire bottle."

"You know," he said, turning to me. "I love you. So much. So so so much. You don't understand."

"Yes, that's great. I know. Now, help me bring you upstairs so you can sle—"

"I love you so much, Valerie Helfon. You're the only thing making me sane amidst everything."

"Come on." I put his arm over my shoulder and raised him up, dragging him inside. "You're literally thin as a stick, how the fuck are you so heavy?"

"The grass is talking to me," he whispered.

"Now you're just high."

I brought him to his room, and when he hit the surface of his bed, he immediately slept. I exited the room silently and went in mine.

In my head, the words "I love you so much, Valerie Helfon" were resonating, and they made me feel comfort, like I never wanted to go home because this was my new one.