A Day with Pepe

It was a sunny Sunday afternoon, just another typical day for me. My mother and I went to the Baclaran Parish Church to attend mass. It has been a customary for the two of us to go there on a Sunday before her birthday.  We went to a restaurant for our midday meal. My stomach was unconscious that time that's why I wasn't able to enjoy eating my food.  I asked my mother if I could go to the restroom, and she agreed. Unfortunately, there were lots of people in line waiting for their turn to use. 

 

"What a crappy day!", I said. I was already in annoyance. I went outside to find any restroom when I found myself in the middle of nowhere. Battalions of people were walking, talking, selling something and shouting. I already don't know where I am. Suddenly, I found myself standing in front of a bronze-and-granite man holding a book with some men sitting on his back. 

I looked at my watch; it was already 12:30 in the afternoon. Until I felt a hand tapped me on my shoulder. I looked at my back immediately. There was a man, as tall as I and he's wearing the same as that of the bronze-and-granite man in front of me. "Good Afternoon, fair lady.", the man greeted me. Ah, now I know who he is. He is Rizal, yes, Dr. Jose Rizal. I was terrified when I realized who he was but I still greeted him back.  "Good Afternoon, Sir." He smiled at me and I smiled back. He invited me to drink coffee in a café nearby.

I was amazed and flabbergast because I was now in front of our National Hero. Lots of questions came into my mind. I want to ask him everything, like what really happened before. I was surprised when he gets a tobacco out of his coat and lighted it. He crossed his legs and he continued smoking. 

"How are you now, Sir?", I asked Rizal

"I'm fine.", he answered.

"Are you really the one who wrote all those masterpieces like Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo.

"Yes." he nodded as he continued smoking his tobacco.

"What really happened to you and Ms. Josephine Bracken?"

"I no longer want to talk about it.", his face became sad after I asked him.

"What do you think made you the National Hero of the Philippines?"

"The truth is, I don’t even know. I was just an ordinary person writing what's on my mind against the Spanish Government. I am just like you. You could even do what I did before.", he said and he smiled at me.

"Really", I asked.

"Yes. Well, I think it's time for me to go. Be good! J" 

I looked at my watch. The hours changed so fast. It was already 4:00 in the afternoon. Rizal was no longer there when I rose my head. There's so much more I would like to ask him. It was only by that time when I realized that it was December 31, 2012.