Chapter 5

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5 – The Man

“Buenas Dias, Señorita .”

Tammy was stunned when she felt a hand tapping on her shoulder. Her head immediately turned back, preparing herself to see the Guardia Civil from earlier and bracing herself to be arrested if ever that was how she would end up in this Spanish Era.

However, what greeted her was a smiling young man.

“Did I surprise you too much?”

Tammy turned dumb as the young man’s features registered in her eyes. He was wearing a uniform which seemed to be from a university: a long sleeved, white polo and black trousers. On top of his head was a cap which appeared to be a top hat. Tammy’s first impressions of him were respectable and elegant. In addition, the young man also seemed to possess good looks. He resembled a TV actor, but she couldn’t exactly recall who it was.

“Senorita, why do you look like you have seen a ghost? It’s me, Manuel. The younger brother of your lover, Julian.”

The guy widened his smile. Tammy secretly felt overwhelmed because his left cheek had a dimple. However, she immediately came back to her senses. She realized this was simply not the right moment to feel kilig. 1

“Huh…. Wait… Who’s Julian?” Tammy exclaimed.

“Señorita Almira – “

“Stop, that’s not my name!” she protested.

The young man moved his face closer to properly examine Tammy.

“Por Diyos, you really look like Señorita Almira!” he said in amazement.

“I’m really not the Señorita you’re talking about!” Tammy replied, irritated. “I am…”

She halted her words. She suddenly remembered that she got thrown into the past and became teary upon the thought that she might no longer be able to come back to her time.

“Señorita , are you weeping?” asked the young man named Manuel.

He won’t probably believe me if I tell him that I’m a time-traveler. Wait, did he notice my clothing? What should I say?

Tammy recalled that she was currently wearing a white peasant-sleeved blouse paired with a floral skater skirt, her feet adorned with sandals.

“Please accept my apology if I was the reason you cried,” Manuel said.

Tammy had already finished pondering over what to say while crying.

“I am not the Señorita you were talking about. Most probably, I just look like her. Actually, I am from Hong Kong. I was looking for my mother here in the Philippines, but unfortunately, she had already passed away.”

“Your story is so heartbreaking, Senorita.” Tammy once again felt the young man’s hand on her shoulder.

“Now I can’t go back to Hong Kong. My money got stolen and I also don’t have anywhere to stay.”

Tammy sobbed harder, not because of her made up story, but because she was very confused and lost. She didn’t know what to do in this era. Good thing she had managed to create a believable story.

“What you have gone through is really unfortunate. However, I think I can help you.”

Tammy’s head rose up when she heard what he said. “R-really?”

“I currently live in a nearby dormitory. As of now, our mayordoma 2 is in need of another house helper who can help her tend the house. If it’s possible, will you agree to my proposal?”

“Yes, I will!” Tammy gave him a wide smile before wiping away her tears. “Very well, I’ll go with you!”

“My name is Manuel. Manuel De Leon, from the University of Santo Tomas , taking up Law course.”

“I’m Tammy Cho.”

“Ah! So that’s why your appearance is that of a Mestiza.”

“My mother is a Filipina, my father is Chinese.”

And what she had just said was the truth.

Manuel smiled at her.

She followed Manuel back to his dormitory. As they walked, Tammy didn’t stop looking around her. The Intramuros she was seeing right now was really different from the Intramuros in her memory. While the place was a tourist spot in her era, as of now it was the heart of commerce and education. Tammy remembered that the UST or Unibersidad de Santo Tomas used to be inside Intramuros.

I’m glad I listened well to my History professor before.

They went by several stone houses. Manuel, with her following closely, entered an alley which led them to a building with a ‘Dormitorio de Los Hijos’ signage above the main door. It was the same with the other houses that were made out of stones. The said dormitory was quite huge. It had big windows on its upper part, greatly resembling the old houses she saw in black and white pictures before.

“Let us go upstairs, Senorita Tami,” Manuel spoke.

Silently, Tammy followed him as he ascended the stairs. Upon reaching the floor above, a spacious living room greeted her. Manuel marched to the side to take his hat off and place it on a rack which was also full of hats.

On both sides, there were pathways. Tammy noticed someone peeking from her right. There were rows of doors on both the left and right. Obviously, the rooms were there.

“Aling 3 Simang! Someone is here, wanting to be your helper!” Manuel shouted.

Due to the volume of Manuel’s voice, the other male occupants within the dormitory rushed out of their places. All of them whispered to each other about the one accompanying Manuel.

“She’s a beauty.”

“Seriously? She’s going to be a maid here?”

“This lady has the skin of the rich.”

Tammy could hear what they were saying. She was feeling uncomfortable since she could feel the stares directed at her.

“Come with me. I’ll bring you to the back of the house. Let’s hope Aling Simang is there,” whispered Manuel to her.

Tammy only nodded before following. She still could hear the boys’ chattering about her. One of them even shouted, “Manuel, please introduce us to the beautiful lady!”

“Just shut up, Dario!” he responded in a joking manner.

“I seek your forgiveness, my friends are really playful,” he said as he faced Tammy.

“I can understand,” she shyly smiled.

As they walked, they encountered two young men sitting next to each other on the solihiya chair. The two were busy reading.

“Hey, Juan and Ilyong. Can you please take a break from studying? You both look like books!” Manuel mocked them.

One of the two young men raised his heads. “And you, Manuelito, go study! Look at you, you have even brought a woman here! That is strictly prohibited!” The man smirked at Manuel.

“This lady is not my lover! She’s going to be a housemaid!” he laughed.

“She’s suited for Ilyong!” Juan teased Tammy with a wide grin.

Tammy looked at the young man named Ilyong. The guy only continued reading. He did raise his raise for a moment to size up Tammy, and then went back to reading. “I hope in the future you guys will learn how to respect members of the opposite sex,” he said.

“We’re just kidding!” Juan elbowed Ilyong. He glared at him as if he was irritated.

“We’ll go ahead,” Manuel chuckled.

“I don’t mind,” Tammy answered.

With the backyard as goal, they headed down. They immediately saw a middle-aged woman cooking an unknown dish in a pot.

“Aling Simang, there is someone who wants to apply as housemaid,” he began.

The woman stood up to face them.

It was her first time being sized up by the woman, yet she could already feel that she was being keenly observed.

Notes:

1 – kilig: romantic excitement, the fluttery feeling of butterflies in your stomach, the electrifying current when you are thrilled with love

2 – mayordoma: dorm head/lady

3 – aling: a term that people use on middle-aged women.

4 – Mestiza: a woman of mixed race

5 – Por diyos: My god, or for god’s sake

6 – Ilyong: a nickname for Emilio

7 – Intramuros: a walled city in the capital

TL: WS25

ED: Corensi

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