"Noong ako'y nasa Espanya ay napadpad ako sa bansang Inglatera. Nanatili ako roon ng mahigit apat na taon. Dahil doon ay natutunan ko ang kanilang pananalita," Santiago explained.

Antonio went outside to finish his work while Corazon helped Tandang Sora and Aling Isay in the kitchen. Santiago and I stayed in the balcony since he's the guest and I'm not allowed to do chores because of my wounded leg.

I'm still shocked dahil nakakapagsalita siya ng english. Alam ko namang may mga tao ng nakakapagsalita ng english sa panahong 'to pero nakakagulat pa rin. Sa ilang buwan kong pananatili dito, puro makalumang tagalog 'yung naririnig ko.

"Inglatera.. England?"

"Oo."

I turned my gaze to the sky, "That explains the accent."

He nodded, "Ikaw?"

I came from the future where almost everyone in Philippines knows how to speak english.

"Tinuruan lang ako ng lolo ko," I lied.

"Ganoon ba."

Santiago Iglesias, was he an important person in the history of the Philippines? I don't read history books, but I swear, I've never heard of his name. But, he's close to Tandang Sora.

I looked at the guy sitting beside me. And why would a rich guy like him join the Katipunan?

I cleared my troat at ibinaling ang tingin sa kakahuyan, "Umm, Santiago?"

"Hmm?"

"Ba't ka sumali sa katipunan?" I asked without removing my gaze from the trees. "Mayaman ka naman. Hindi ka naman inaapi. Hindi ka naman minamaliit. Kung tutuusin kaya mong magkaroon ng mataas na posisyon."

It took him a moment to answer, "Katulad ng mga naririto. Hangad ko ang pagbabago, ang kalayaan. Hindi porke't ako'y nabibilang sa mayamang pamilya, ibig sabihin ako'y hindi na isang indio. Porke't nabibilang ako sa mayamang pamilya, ibig sabihi'y hindi ko na mahal ang bayan." He raised his right hand and pointed a bird flying freely, "Tayo'y tulad ng mga ibong iyon. Ngunit hindi kagaya nila, tayo'y nakakulong sa isang kulungang gawa sa bakal."

I stared at the bird. It landed on a tree branch, into a nest where her babies are waiting. Then, I averted my gaze from the birds to Santiago.

"Gusto kong lumipad, maging malaya. Gusto kong lakbayin ang bawat panig ng mundo. Ngunit hindi ko magawa." ibinaba niya ang kamay niyang nakaturo sa ibon. His expression changed, naging malungkot ito. His expression was the same with Antobio's when I asked him why he joined the Katipunan.

"Pero diba nakapunta ka na sa Espanya? Nakarating ka na sa Inglatera, kaya mo ng malibot ang buong mundo."

He shook his head at ngumiti, "Katulad ng Supremo, ni Gat Rizal, nina Antonio, mahal ko ang bayang ito. Mahal ko ang aking lupang sinailangan. Hindi ko kayang iwan ang bayan na nakagapos at nakakulong na gawa ng mga dayuhan."

My expression softened. He's willing to give up his dreams for the country. Just like Antonio, he's willing to sacrifice his life for the country's welfare. That's- that's something a coward like me can't do.

"Kaya ka ba bumalik dito."

He nodded, "Mas nais kong mamatay sa aking bayang sinilangan kaysa isang bansang dayuhan."

"Handa kang labanan ang mga Kastila kahit na alam mong mas malakas ang puwersa nila?"

"Mas malakas nga sila pagdating sa tauhan, sandata o kung ano pa man. Ngunit mas malakas kami dahil may ipinaglalaban kami. Kalayaan, pagbabago, at isang buha na walang pang-aalipin ang nag-uudyok sa amin upang lumaban." His gaze landed on me, "At Kristin, mas malakas kami dahil hindi bolo, mga baril o kanyon ang aming sandata," he pointed his chest. "Ito. Ang puso namin. Ito ang sandata namin. Mahal namin ang Inang bayan at gagawin namin ang lahat para dito."

I was lost for words. He and Antonio has the same conviction. A conviction no one can changed. A conviction that allows them to withstand any obstacles. A conviction that allows them to fight under any circumstances, that pushes them to be strong to the point of sacrificing what's important to them for something even more important. Something a coward like me... cannot have.

"Pareho pala kayo ni Antonio. Parehong handang magsakripisyo."

"Ganun naman ang tao, hindi ba? Handang ibigay ang lahat, para sa mga bagay na mahalaga sa kanila."

I nodded.

"Ikaw Kristin, ano ang handa mong isakripisyo para sa bagay na mahalaga sayo?"

-

The cold breeze kissed my skin and made me shiver.

Pagkatapos maghapunan kanina ay nagpaalam na si Santiago saying he has business in the neighboring town. After that I went back to the room and slept all day. Nagising ako magaalas dose na ng gabi, and decided na magpahangin muna.

Everyone in the house was asleep. Kahit ang mga kapitbahay. The night was eerily quite. Maybe because I came from a bustling city that a night as quite as this is strange for me.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano na ko katagal dito sa labas, but I don't feel like going inside. The house is giving off too much comfort that it makes me feel uncomfortable. The mansion back home was big and cozy, but it doesn't give off a feeling of comfort. Every night my brother's screams could be heard in the corridors. Sometimes, I could hear my mother's sobs as the maids and nurses rushed to my brother's room.

I never had a place to call my comfort zone. My haven. But at this place, sa lugar na hindi naman dapat ako nagi-exist, I found comfort. With the people I don't know, the places I've never been before.

I remembered Santiago's question.

Ano nga ba ang kaya kong isakripisyo para sa mahalaga sakin?

Mahalaga sakin?

My family, my brother...

Pero ano ang kaya kong isakripisyo para sa kanila?

"Perhaps you should try asking yourself, "What do I live for?" for you to answer his question."

I should really get to used to this but..

"Stop that!" I snarled at the kid standing in front of me. Both his arms crossed across his chest. Bored expression plastered on his face.

"Stop what?" he asked nonchalantly.

"You popping out of nowhere!"

Instead of answering, he just turned his back on me.

I sighed, feeling my heartbeat going back to its original pace. Mukhang may tampo pa rin sakin si Karlos. And, he's still acting like a brat. 'Di ako makapaniwalang anghel siya. May anghel bang matampuhin? Masungit? Spoiled?

"Sorry." I muttered. He must've heard it because I saw him flinched. "Sorry dahil 'di ako nakinig sa'yo. Dahil nasigawan kita instead of being grateful."

He didn't answer. Muntik na akong mapairap.

I am swallowing my pride right now. Sana naman maisipan niyang humarap man lang at tanggapin 'yung apology ko. It took me days to gather confidence para magsorry sa kanya. And he's not even gonna answer? How rude.

Napabuntong-hininga ako saka kinuha ang saklay na nakasandal sa bangko. Mukhang wala naman ata siyang balak na sumagot. Mas mabuti pang pumasok nalang kesa pagpiyestahan ng lamok.

Tatayo na sana ako ng bigla siyang humarap sakin. His hands are on his side while looking at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Because of the light from the torch, I could see his ears turning red.

"I-it's okay. That was childish of me to give you cold shoulders and not talk to you." nahihiya niyang paliwanag. He faked a cough. "About that guy's question..."

"Santiago?"

"Yes, him." he looked at me. "May sagot ka na ba dun?"

I shook my head, "A coward like me don't know the answer."

"Even cowards have something to protect." natigilan ako sa sinabi nito.

I stared at him but he just shrugged his ahoulder at naglakad papalapit sakin. I did not remove my gaze from him. I watched him sit on the bench I was sitting.

He used simple words, he didn't use a different language, but somehow, I find it hard to understand those words.

"By sacrificing, it means protecting those you love. While you're alive, you must find a reason for your existence. And that reason is something you'll protect. That's why, you have to ask yourself first, what or who do you live for?"

"What do I live for?"

He nodded, "Yeah. That's what living means, right? Finding your reason, your purpose. Being unable to find one is the same as being dead," he paused and stared at the stars. "The members of Katipunan already found their reason. It is to protect this country."

Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanya at ibinaling ito sa ibang direksyon.

What do I live for? In my eighteen years of existence, I never asked that question. I just went with the flow. I let hatred consume me to the point that I don't know what's important to me.

I bit my lower lip, "Is this the reason why you sent me here?"

"At first, gusto kong turuan ka lang ng leksyon. But, I saw you hiding behind the walls you built. So, I thought, how about teaching you the purpose of living."

I chuckled. So, ito pala ang rason kung bakit niya ako dinala dito?

"So, if I found the purpose of my existence, you'll send me back?" I asked without looking at him.

I felt him shrugged, "Maybe. Maybe not."

I sighed, "I don't get you."

He stifled a laugh, "No one understand the angel of time."

I rolled my eyes heavenward. He's back to the Confucius-type Karlos. Math equations are easier to understand that him.

"Kristin, protect the people you love. Sacrifice. It's an inevitable part of life. It's supposed to be. But it's not something to regret, it's something to aspire to." he stood up at hinawakan ang pocket watch na nakasabit sa leeg niya.

He sighed at hinubad ang kwintas. Then he gave it to me.

I gave him a confused look, "What's that for?"

"Give it to the person you want to protect." imbes na tanggapin ang kwintas, I stared at him. There is definitely wrong with today. He's not his usual bratty self.

He rolled his eyes heavenward at ibinato sakin ang kwintas saka tumalikod.

"What the hell, brat!"

"I'm giving you the necklace. Accept it. Don't be rude, old geezer."

Okay, there's nothing wrong with him today. He's still Karlos.

I looked at the necklace. Its pendant was a gold pocketwatch. It was rusty but it's still beautiful.

"Protect those you love." ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kanya. "Protect those who protect you."

"Huh?"

"That guy," he averted his past me. Kahit na nagtataka ay tinignan ko ang direksyon itinuro niya.

My heart thumped when I saw Antonio sitting on the house's roof. His knees were bend at nakapatong dito ang mga siko niya. He was staring at the moon. He cannot see me because he was facing a different direction. And even if he was facing my direction, he looked too preoccupied to even notice my presence.

"You're one of the people he wants to protect." I felt my heart beat faster. "Sadness, hatred, those are the foundations of the walls you built. He destroyed those walls to save you from yourself. Now, it's your time to return the favor."

He's right. Antonio did so much for me. Kahit na 'di niya ako kaano-ano, he helped me. He helped me recuperate. He saved me from myself, from getting consumed by my hatred. He rescued me from my loneliness. He trusted me. He taught me not to look at my life as something insignificant.He accepted me for who I am.

Now, it's time for me to return everything he did for me.

I stood up at naglakad papalapit sa bahay, just enough for him to see me.

Every step, my heart pounded even faster.

That's right.

I stopped.

"A-antonio!" I called. Mukhang narinig naman niya dahil hinanap niya kung saan nanggaling ang tinig. Then his gaze landed on me.

Nakita ko ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya when he saw me, "Kristin? B-bakit nasa labas ka pa?"

My heart thumped even faster. Faster, as if it wants to rip my chest open. I bit my lower lip and gripped the necklace I was holding.

"T-thank you! Thank you for everything!" I shouted at the top of my voice. "Maraming maraming salamat sa lahat! I.. I want to return the kindness you showed me!"

"Bababa ako. Sandali lang."

I shouted like there was no tomorrow. I don't care if anyone hears, wala akong pake kung maingay ako. I'm happy. More than happy.

Tears streaming down my face, not because of sadness or any negative feelings but because of happiness.

All my life, I thought I was just an empty vessel of life. Without any purpose, nothing to protect. I was just full of hatred, loneliness, insecurities. I thought, no one could save me from depression. I thought, I'll continue living life the way I did.

But now, I realized, I shouldn't. And it's because of the people I met in this era, the angel of time, and Antonio.

"Kristin." I turned a round to face Antonio. Hinihingal siya and beads of sweat are streaming down his face. "U-umiiyak ka."

I wiped my tears at inilahad ang kwintas na hawak ko. "P-para sayo."

"Bakit? H-hindi na, Kristin."

I shook my head, "Para sayo 'to. Tanggapin mo. Accept it."

Nagtataka man ay tinggap niya ang kwintas. He looked at it saka ibinalik ang tingin sakin, "Salamat-"

I didn't him finish. I dropped the crutch and hugged him. My feet ached but it couldn't compare to the joy I was feeling.

"Kristin..."

Without knowing it, he healed my sadness. I used to go to bed, dreading the next day. But now, I go to bed with butterflies in my stomach, looking forward to tomorrow.

Oh, God. How I wish..

"I- I wish... I met you in the future."

-

Gaaaaaah. May isa pa akong exam 😭😭😭 Yung dedications, saka nalang pagnakahawak na ako ng computer. Sorry antagal kong mag-update. Andami kong requirements. Jusko. 😱😱😱 Sabaw. Sabaw. Sabaw.

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