Midnight. Marissa is reading a book on a dim light of her lamp. She tends to spend her sleepless nights reading books or doing things that she considers productive in her room.
"You're still awake?" a familiar voice shocked Marissa which made her jump out of bed and held her hard cover book tightly aiming to smash it. Liam is standing leaning by Marissa's window while hiding his hands inside his pockets which seems he's been a long time there.
"What are you doing here?" She asks with a shake in her voice.
"Will try to convince you to come with me." Liam said while walking towards Marissa. But this only makes Marissa more nervous and curious.
"Where are we going? and why would I come with a man I just met earlier?"
"Uhmm… I'm just going to ask you for a walk but . . ."
"Do you mean a date?" Marissa said and Liam nodded with agreement. Marissa burst in a sarcastic laugh and takes his book down.
"Look, I like you. Not the Eros love. But you really interests me because I never met a woman before who's really determined to achieve her goals without being a subordinate by a man" Liam responded being overwhelmed by his emotions without realizing that he forgot the 19th century accent.
Marissa is confused by the way he talks but she understands what he means. She blushes by the compliment which took her a moment to respond.
"Will you ensure that you will stop this nonsense after this?" Marissa said and Liam agrees unsurely.
They jump down the window and ride their horses to the nearby lake. As they arrive, Marissa stands there feeling so cold in her nightgown watching Liam lay a table cloth by the lake. He places platters of chocolates on the table and offers Marissa to sit.
"I assume you did the same to hundred of girls you date" she takes a seat beside him.
"No, I don't. I never dated a girl before" he said and picked the triangular chocolate. "Try this one" Marissa got it from his hand and took a bite.
"Well, this tastes wonderful. What do you call this?"
"I'm afraid I can't tell you that but soon" Liam said, not minding Marissa who enjoys her chocolate.
"Tiyo Jose never mentioned a nephew before. Where are you from, gentlemen?"
"Kindly call me Lisandro. I'm from Sampaloc"
"Are you also studying Engineering the same as Tiyo Jose?"
"Ah yes… In University of Santo Tomas"
"You must be intelligent! What interests you from pursuing the course?"
"Uh hmm It wasn't my interest actually. It's a family choice"
"Good thing you did not struggle in learning the course that you did not like" Marissa said which chuckles Liam
"It was hard but I know that my parents knows better since they've been through the same"
"Yes, they've been through the same, in their times. What if you fail? They are supposed to be to blame but of course that will not happen since you're the one studying" they look at each other at the moment but Liam looked away.
"You're right. I've thought the same thing sometimes" he laid his back on the table cloth and placed his hands behind his back neck. "How about you? You're a successful painter, is it a fair choice" he added. Marissa lay herself on the table cloth and put his hands on her abdomen.
"At first, my father disagrees. He wants me to be an accountant or marry a Spaniard but I argue and claim my freedom".
"Well, you're freedom is a gift which leads you to numerous opportunities"
"It's hard also when no one is willing to buy my paintings. Sometimes they wanted to claim it for free. That's why I'm unsure about my future."
"All of us are unsure. We just need to design our present so that we can claim our own destined future" Liam said as both of them are silent for a moment as they admire their stay. "I'm sure your lover is very proud of you," Liam added.
"Lover? Men never stand in front of me for admiration, even my father. I'm just lucky to have Tiyo Jose by my side"
"What?! An intelligent and hardworking lady like you doesn't have a lover? You're lying" Liam sat.
"I'm not lying." Marissa said as she pierced her glance at Liam's eyes. "There's no need for a lover as they only make you weak," she continued.
Liam chucked and lay himself on the ground.
"You really are amazing," Liam said and noticed that Marissa had fallen asleep. He leaned closer as he watched her with pride.
The sun rises which wakes them up. They parted in different courses and sent their farewells.
DECEMBER 28, 1896 – 10:45 AM
After finishing her morning routine, Marissa often spent the rest of her day in the library to calm her mind from reality.
She takes a seat on her usual spot by the window and dive down to Rizal's books. A sound of approaching people interrupted her, she saw Tiyo Jose and Lisandro entering the library without noticing her. Tiyo Jose greeted the librarian politely and went to the restricted door. The librarian left her counter and went outside and Marissa decided to follow them with curiosity. As she opens the restricted door, she walks slowly on the staircase and the place seems like an underground tunnel with a one door by the right wall. She waits until they close the door behind them and walks closer to the door. She places her palm to it as she hears murmurs inside and slowly pushes the door open.
"Where have you been?" Tony asked Liam surprisingly.
"What do you mean where have you been? You told me you're going home?" Tiyo Jose asks.
"I did" Liam is about to tell a lie but he knows that his brother will then discover it right away. "Not, I'm sorry but I just went to someone," he added.
"To someone? How come you know someone here other than Tiyo Jose and . . ."Tony asked but the door slowly opened and all of them brased themselves with weapons but forgot to cover the time portal. The door opened revealing Marissa with a stunned face.
"So it worked" she said but Tiyo Jose interrupted her.
"You shouldn't be here, Marissa" Tiyo Jose as he put his hand on Marissa's shoulder to let her out.
"You didn't tell me it worked" she was still amused until something shot her arm. Her amusing face turned into emptiness as she fainted but Tiyo Jose caught her.
"Tony, what have you done?" Liam asks.
"Take her to the lab and I will erase this and you from her memory" Tony said.
" what? We don't have to. Can't you see that she already knew. Tiyo Jose, how did she know about this" Liam said while carrying Marissa and laying her on a bed on the other side of the portal.
"Uh mm I don't know but she likes reading my journals. Maybe she has read it" Tiyo Jose said. Tony approaches Liam and immediately prepares the things he needed for erasing Marissa's memory.
"What did you just shoot to her, tony?" Liam asks.
" it's just general anesthesia. Brother, move. I need to do what I have to do"
"You will not lay hands on her" Liam said.
"Tony, stop. You can trust her!" Tiyo Jose said. Tony is so worried for his brother but he take a last look at Marissa
"Fine, just stay away from her. She will be a threat" Tony said while walking away from them and leave the room.
Marissa woke up in a minimalistic white room. The blanket on top of her is so plainly white neat. Two tables are placed between the bed that she's laying. In front of the bed stand a plain white wall and two plants in pots in each corner. The room is so bright which tempted Marissa to open her eyes.
Liam enters her room and approaches her. He wears a lab coat while carrying a clipboard.
"Good morning," Liam said and smiled. Marissa sits in a comfortable position.
"Where am I? Why am I here?" She asks while adjusting her eyesight.
"You are recovering from a general anesthesia shot which was performed by my brother if you remember and I'm here to cure you with your mild flu. Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes, I'm feeling better now. Thank you. Where am I? Why is this room so bright? Where are we and someone can cure me but why you? I thought you're an engineer? Why did your brother shoot me?"
"Marissa, you're in the future"
"What? So it really did work?" Marissa said with confusion in her eyes.
"So you already know about this?"
"Yes, I read Tiyo Jose's journal before and you're so suspicious with your accent."
"Yes, actually I struggled with the accent" Liam said and chuckled.
"So why did your brother shoot me?"
"Um, he just don't want other people being involved"
"Seems friendly," Marissa said. "What brought you in traveling back in the past? I think future will be more fortunate"
"Yes, future is a fortunate one but since this is a prototype, we thought that visiting our grandpa will be a good start"
"Hmm, so Tiyo Jose is your grandfather? What a good liar. Did you also lie about your name? I assume the name in the future would be a huge difference from the past?" Liam laughed feeling so amuses for Marissa being so observant
"I'm sorry that I lied but my real name is Liam"
" I understand. I would do the same if I'm in your position. Unless I have some other things to do." Marissa said, waiting for Liam to say something confidential.
"What do you mean?" Liam asked and lay his clipboard on the side table.
"Uh mm, I think there are more things that a time traveler would do, like changing the past or even saving someone?" Marissa dives deep into Liam's eyes as she says it.
"Okay, get up. I'll ride you home" Liam said without looking at Marissa. He went to the right wall and clicked something in the wall which makes it split into two revealing the time portal. She could see Tiyo jose on the other side of the portal arranging documents in a table. Marissa gets out of the bed and approaches Liam.
"So it's true then? You're on a mission, gentlemen."
"I don't know what you're talking about," he said as he grabbed Marissa's arm and pulled her into the other side of the portal. Marissa let go of his hand and said "What is it? You can trust me" Marissa said and Liam looked at Tiyo Jose with fear in his eyes. Unfortunately, when Liam is about to say something, Tony emerges from the door and understands what's happening.
"Marissa, this is my brother, Tony" Liam introduced his brother but he seemed not to mind his introduction. Marissa extended her hand while expecting a handshake. Tony walks closer to Marissa and she could feel his boiling blood inside him. His around 5'8 tall which underestimates Marissa's 5'2 height. Marissa realize that Tony is the kind of guy who will make you suffer if you don't cooperate with him.
"Stay away from my brother" Tony muttered and walked away from her but before he could go far, she interrupted him.
"I can help you with your mission" Marissa said while waiting for Tony to face her.
"And how can you help us?" Tony said while slowly looking back at her.
"Depends on your mission but I'm surely can say that I can help you"
Liam looked at Tony with begging eyes of agreement. Tony took a deep breath and a moment passed till he nodded.
"We are planning on saving Jose Rizal from execution," Liam said. Marissa was shocked and she put her right hand in her lips.
"Why did you choose Rizal?"
"Actually, it's a trial. Since we've tested adding an event or scenario in the past and concluded that nothing will change in the future just like what happened last night. Then we will try if we can change the history"
"What if you failed"
"Then we might lose a soul," Liam said sadly. Marissa was shocked by the thought but she wanted to convince them that she's worthy.
"No, you can't lose a life. I can help you"
"Can you help us deter ourselves from dying?" Tong asked
"Marissa, you don't have to. We can do this." Tiyo Jose said
"No, Tiyo Jose. I may not deter ourselves from the underworld but I can lessen the possibility of us getting killed. Rizal is my friend and my mentor. It would be hard to persuade him but he'll listen to me. Trust me." Marissa said and gave them a hard look
"Well then, work on your charm" Tony said.
"What is your plan?" Marissa asks.