[Capítulo Ocho: Goyo]

"HUMINAHON ka, Señorita (Calm down, Miss)."

My mind jolted at the sound of voices emanating from downstairs.

"Pakiusap lang po (Please). Ibalik niyo na ako kay Papa (Bring me back to my father now)," another woman pleaded. If I wasn't mistaken, it was that same annoying girl. "Itigil na po natin ang pagpa-prank na ito o kung ano man po ito (Let's stop this prank or whatever this is)!"

I hastily propelled myself off the bed and rushed toward the source of the voices.

"Binibini, ano ba ang iyong sinasabi (Miss, what are you stating)?" said a different voice.

Descending the stairs, my eyes fixed on the scene in the nearby room where Marianne had been taken. Instincts whispered that something was amiss, propelling me towards them.

"Akala ko ba shooting lang ito (I thought this is just part of the film)! Akala ko puro lang sound effects pero (I thought it's just full of sound effects but)... pero bakit may pagsugat na ng braso (but why do we need to cut a thin piece of our skin on our arms)?" Marianne continued.

There, I saw the elder lady and Clara in the midst of the chaotic situation.

"Señorita (Miss)."

The tension escalated as Marianne confronted the two women before her.

"Alam niyo (You know)," she spoke, creating distance from the ladies. "Siguro kayo ang mga nagtangkang patayin kami, ano (I think you were the ones who tried to kill us, weren't you)? Ano ito (What's this)? Ito na ba ang bagong style niyo ng pag-torture (Is this a new way of torturing)?"

"Marianne!" I called, urging her to pause.

"Jong, come!" she stepped forward, firmly grasping my hand. "We're going home! Maglalakad tayo pauwi (We'll go on foot)!"

The commotion echoed through the house, leaving an air of confusion.

"Diyos ko po (My God)! Ano ba ang nangyari sa babaeng iyan (What might had happen to that lady)?" I overheard the elder lady whisper to someone nearby. "Kanina lamang ay naglakas ng loob siyang sumapi sa Katipunan subalit ngayon ay ganiyan na lamang ang kaniyang ikinikilos (A few moments from now, she had the guts to join the Katipunan but now she's acting like that)."

Amidst the tumult, Marianne guided me out of the room. Clara's lingering gaze left an impression.

A brief pause occurred, and we halted. Marianne's attention shifted.

"What are you doing?" I asked, curious about the sudden stop.

"Anong nangyayari rito (What's happening here)?" I heard a familiar voice queried as I scan the scene.

"Kuya, please naman o (Sir, please). Uuwi na po kami (We're going home)," Marianne urged, seeking resolution.

"Taga-rito lang ba kayo (Do you live in this area)? Maaaring matagpuan ulit kayo ng mga Espanyol (The Spaniards could find you again)," Señor Emilio voiced concern.

Marianne sighed, her eyes briefly closing. "Jong panot (Jong, you creep)," she whispered before meeting my gaze again. "Do you want to stay here?"

"I want to," I replied without hesitation.

Another sigh escaped Marianne. "Kung sabagay ay maaaring maging mas ligtas kami rito (Indeed, we might be safer here). Siguro ay pinaghahanap na kami ng mga mamamatay-tao na iyon (Perhaps those killers are already looking for us)," she reasoned. "Jong, I guess I'm going to stay here for a while. It's up to you whether you'll go away or stay as well."

"If that's your decision, then I don't have a choice," I whispered, aware of my language in their presence.

"Saan ba kayo nakatira (Where do you really live)?" Señor Emilio inquired.

"Uhh... Dito na lang po muna kami kasi may puds naman at ebriting (We'll probably stay here for a while because there is foods and everything)," Marianne replied casually.

"Puds? Ebriting?" he probed, seeking clarification.

"Nevermind, Kuya (Brother). Basta (It's nothing)," the quirky girl dismissed.

"Kung ganoon ay maaari kayong mamalagi rito sa bahay ni Miguel del Rosario upang magpalipas ng gabi (If that's the case, you can stay here at Miguel del Rosario's house to spend the night)," Señor Emilio suggested.

"Salamat po, Kuya (Thanks, Bro)," Marianne expressed gratitude.

"Gutom ka na siguro, Señorita (I think you're hungry, Miss). Maaari kang sumabay sa kanila roon (You may join them outside)," Señor Emilio proposed, pointing towards the group of men I had shared a meal with earlier.

"Jong, if you want to, then why don't you go and seek food to eat?" Marianne teased, playfully running past Emilio.

In the dim light near the wooden house door, Señor Emilio and I stood in silence. Memories of his earlier actions lingered, but my words faltered.

"Buenas noches, Primo (Good evening, Cousin)," he greeted, taking a step back.

"Señor (Sir)," I uttered unexpectedly, causing him to pause.

"Sí (Yes)?" he inquired.

"¿Por qué sigues llamándome tu primo (Why do you keep calling me your cousin)? " I asked.

He turned, offering a smile. "Clara fue quien planeó eso. Sabía que si el Supremo descubría que no estabas relacionado con ninguno de los miembros, podría tratarte como a un espía (Clara was the one who planned that. I knew that if the Supreme found out that you were not related to any of the members, he might treat you as a spy)," he explained.

My eyes widened, realizing the potential danger I had narrowly escaped by listening earlier.

"Uh... Señor," I continued. "¿Es cierto que la fecha de hoy es agosto de mil ochocientos noventa y seis? (Is it true that today's date is August eighteen ninety six?)"

"Sí (Yes)," he confirmed, his expression serious.

"How did this happen?" I whispered to myself, my heart quickening.

His gaze shifted away, and as I followed it, Clara stood behind me.

"Ahora me iré, Primo. Tuve que monitorear a los soldados alrededor del campamento (I will go now, Cousin. I had to monitor the soldiers around the camp)," he spoke, walking away.

I let him pass, thanking Clara, whom I addressed as "Señorita."

In front of me stood a woman from history. My heart raced at the surreal moment, yet my mind grappled with the unfolding reality.

"Señorita, muchos gracias (My lady, thank you very much)," I spoke as I slowly let myself turn towards her.

In front of me was a woman from history. My heart was thrilled for the moment I had, but at the same time, my mind was wondering about how it could happen.

"No problemo, Señorito Joaquín (No problem, Mister Joaquin)," she replied with a radiant smile, reminding me of my new name.

"Quizás deberías ir a buscar a Marianne. Esa chica podría perderse allí o pelearse. Ella parece tan dura (Maybe you should go find Marianne. That girl could get lost there or get into a fight. She seems so tough)," she suggested.

Moment by moment, I knew that I could run out of Spanish understanding. I was just home-schooled, and I knew that I was not an expert.

That was my current barrier - language. Once I gave up on my Spanish, I could be trapped until I finally died in history.

"A veces está realmente loca. Mejor voy a buscarla (Sometimes she's really crazy. I better look for her)," I spoke.

Nodding, she granted me a reprieve from Spanish and Filipino languages. Glancing around, I noticed Marianne walking away. She halted in front of three women, extending her plate towards them.

"Narito na po ang kinainan ko, mga ate (Here's my dish, Ma'ams). Tenkyu berimuch (Slang: Thank you very much)," she spoke.

Spotting Marianne, I refrained from engaging her in conversation. Besides, I was already drained on understanding several languages, and I wanted to have some rest.

"Ang mga Espanyol ba ang may gawa ng mga pasa sa inyong katawan? Kumusta ka naman ngayon?" one of them asked.

"Actually and honestly... Hindi ko po alam kung Espanyol po talaga sila (I don't know if they are really Spaniards)," she replied. "At syaka, ang alam ko lang mga shaka at mukhang kargador mga 'yon. Pero don't yah warry mga ate (All I know is that they look like shippers. But don't worry about that). Maayos na po ang pakiramdam ko (I feel good now). Napakaayos na po (Better than before)," she replied and smiled.

"Mabuti naman, Binibini (That's good, Miss)," the three replied.

"Shaka, binibini (Shaka, miss)? Ano ang ibig sabihin niyon (What do you mean by that)?" asked by one of those women.

"Shaka po, ang ibig sabihin n'on (Shaka means)... " she paused abruptly, glancing in the direction where I stood. Instinctively, I moved behind the group of men before me.

Eagerly watching, I saw her grinning before resuming.

"Makisig na lalaki at magandang babae po, katulad nung si Joaquin (A well-built man and woman, like that Joaquin)," she replied, then turned her gaze back toward me with pouted lips.

"Ngayo'y naiintindihan na naming mga espanyol nga ang may kakagawan sa inyo niyan (Now I understand that it was really the Spaniards did that to you two)," one of the women spoke.

"Asawa mo ba ineng 'yang si Joaquin (Is Joaquin really your husband)? Nalaman ko iyon kay Tandang Sora (I knew that from Elder Sora)," one of the women asked.

"Korek na korek, este (Slang: Correct, I mean)... Opo, ang nakakalungkot nga kasi wala po kaming pwedeng matirhan na sa tingin namin ay safe o ligtas (Yes, unfortunately, we don't have a place to stay that we consider safe or secure)," she replied, trying to act like she's sad about it.

"Maaaring doon muna kayo manirahan sa aming bahay. Nakalaan talaga ang dalawang higaan na iyon para sa mga bisita (You can stay at our house for the meantime. Those two beds are specifically reserved for guests)," one of the women, bearing a resemblance to Clara, extended a warm invitation.

In her approach towards my direction, she inadvertently collided with someone. "Ay, sorry!" she apologized, her expression reflecting genuine regret.

"Pasensiya na, Binibini (I'm so sorry, Miss). Ayos ka lamang ba (Are you alright)?" It was the boy I had noticed earlier near the river. He cast a concerned gaze at Marianne.

"Ayos lamang ako, Kuya pogi," she reassured, though her eyes seemed fixated on him.

"Bilang kapalit nang aking pagkakamali, ihahatid na lamang kita sa kung saan ka paroroon," the boy offered.

"Ay, bet na bet (It's great)! Sige, Kuya (Go on, good Sir)!" Marianne enthusiastically agreed. "Pupunta lang ako sa bahay na iyon (I will just go to that house)." She gestured toward the house where we first gained consciousness.

Unseen, I quietly returned to the house, finding Clara absent, prompting me to wait outside.

From a distance, the two figures strolled together, sharing smiles and exchanged glances.

"Maaari ko bang malaman ang iyong pangalan, Binibini (May I know your name, Miss)?" the handsome man inquired.

"Ako nga pala si Marianne de Guzman (I'm Marianne de Guzman)," replied the eccentric girl.

"Nagagalak akong nakikilala kita, Binibining Marianne (I am pleased to meet you, Miss Marianne). Ako nga pala si Gregorio del Pilar (I am Gregorio del Pilar)," he introduced himself. "Muli ay pasensya na sa nangyari kanina (Again, I'm so sorry about what happened earlier)."

He walked alongside Marianne until they reached the house. Despite my discreet observation, she remained standing, her gaze locked onto the man. As they conversed, he gradually blended into the crowd, disappearing from view.