Timelessly (ENGLISH Version- Ongoing)

CHAPTER 2

TWO: "Untrue stories."

“Lapu-Lapu, the former heroic leader in Mactan, became the first hero of the Philippines. He fought and led the victory against the Portuguese foreigner Ferdinand Magellan, also called an ‘explorer.’ With Lapu-Lapu's courage and strength, he killed Magellan in their bloody battle."

Quint is currently in class, and unlike usual in 2018, the history teacher used pure Filipino language in class here in 1990. Professors in 2018 prefer the English language when discussing even Philippine History, while here in the old world, they use the Filipino language.

He was in the classroom and while class was going on, his ear was listening, but he was floating really and absent-minded. He looked far away, and nothing from the lessons absorbed his mind. He was still busy thinking about how he suddenly came into this wrong era.

The last time he remembered, he went to his father’s locker and read his letter, then there, he suddenly teleported to a different timeline.

"Mr. Theodore Angeles, I think you're deep in your own thoughts, and you don't actually listen to my lessons?"

This probably isn't his world and time… he needs to get back to the year 2018!

He only regained his composure in class when his classmate next to him gestured for him to sit up properly as he was called by the professor in front. Now, the professor looked very upset.

He was suddenly agitated. Has he noticed that his attention and thinking are out of class? D*mn, he’s doomed!

The teacher looks like the ordinary traditional teacher in the 90s who was strict. Mirrored eyes and a large belly in his almost late age. He seems like the type that you will eventually be given corporal punishment when you don’t listen and you just reprimand.

"Are you listening to what I'm saying?" It's a compelling question.

“Huh? Ah, yes. Yes, Prof,” he immediately answered, accompanied by nods.

"Then stand up," the professor ordered.

Slowly, Quint stood up. Everyone in the class looked at him and was silent, also nervous about the punishment imposed on him once the teacher confirmed that he was not focused on the lessons.

"According to what I said just a while ago, who did I mention to become the first hero of the Philippines?"

D*mn. He’s doomed! He couldn’t remember because his attention wasn’t on the class.

“It was Dr. Jose P. Rizal,” he answered uncertainly.

Quint is smart in the modern world, but his unique talent is in Science (even most of its branches) and Math. He was never interested in history or even language classes. He is drowsy and often floats his mind when his subjects are like what is being taught right now.

His classmates sighed at his answer. He just closed his eyes for fear of the teacher and being put to shame. Quint knew he had got it wrong!

"So, I was right! You weren’t listening to me, and your attention was away from this class!!"

He almost flicked the strength of the professor’s voice in disappointment and anger. When he opened his eyes, he saw that not only his nose was now smoking but also almost his ears!

“How can you learn if you don't listen to me! We have not yet reached the page of Dr. Jose Rizal, is on the first page of the book History of the Philippines that the so-called first hero was Lapu-Lapu because he won the battle against Magellan in Mactan! ”

Quint wanted to pinch himself. Of course, it was Lapu-Lapu! How many times had the teacher mentioned that he just forgot because of his absent-mindedness in the class!

“I’m sorry, prof., I’m listening. It’s just that I couldn’t help but think ofー“

He was interrupted in an attempt to explain when all his classmates looked at him sharply again as if they were worried that he had done or said something wrong for the nth time!

Oh, come on! What is it this time, folks? I didn’t say anything wrong. Why look at me like that?

"And who gave you the fre*cking permission to speak English in my class?!”

Once again, Quint closed his eyes tightly and was startled by the volume of the teacher's voice.

"My class is about Philippine History, so I strictly forbid the use of foreign languages. Have you forgotten that?!"

"I'm sorry, prof." He apologized with a bow.

How would he even know about that? He was born and used to a setting where classes often use a mixture of Filipino and English languages as a medium of communication in the 21st century!

"Get out of my class, Mr. Angeles," the professor commanded.

"But, prof.ー"

"Will you come out, or will you wait for me to drag you away from my class?!" His voice raised again in warning.

"Alright, professor." He hurriedly went out of the classroom before being murdered by that terror professor!

When he came out, Quint shook his head.

He needs to go back to the modern era because he really can’t afford to live in a world he doesn’t even know of!! He's going crazy! Everybody’s polite, traditional, and formal! And additionally, he is the only one wearing a uniform in classーmodern uniform! His usual neatly get-up of white, collared, buttoned polo with a light brown necktie, loose khaki slacks, and black leather shoes.

It was probably the 2000s that the uniform policy was thought to be made and enforced, and through time, the colors and styles of the uniform also changed. Here in the ’90s, there were no uniforms yet! The students wore only knee-length dresses, and the boys wore faded jeans and polo shirts.

According to the story of his mom, when she was still alive, in their time, the teachers were said to be really strict. Most of them were purely authoritarian, so the students were disciplined, there was no reprimand during class time, and everyone was forced to listen and study hard so that when they were suddenly asked, they could answer and not be embarrassed and especially so that they were not shamed in front of everybody in the class. That was corporal punishment in a traditional setting. That was how obedient students used to be.

And I’m definitely over those corporal punishments! Around the early 2000s, when Quint was still in elementary school, he also experienced being hit by a teacher with a stick in his hand because, while in class, he was chitchatting with his classmates. They also have to go to the front to be embarrassed and to learn a lesson the hard way, squat until the whole class is over. Suddenly, the chalk and eraser would fly in the faces of the silly and noisy students. The whole class would be commanded to stand right in the sun's heat for a few hours!

Yes, those childhood memories were great and good, but they were already definitely old. Such practices have been banned since 2010 and in the following years. Many measures have already been implemented and enacted to protect the youth, which he also admits has been exaggerated because the outcome is more advantageous for children than young teachers in modern times.

He walked down the corridor, not knowing exactly where he was going now that he was out of class. As he was walking around, he saw a very beautiful woman he had talked to in one of the classrooms in the library. She listened intently and quietly to the teacher's lecture in front. Quint just leaned on the concrete railing of the floor outside the said classroom and then watched the woman from the classroom’s window.

When the class was over, he didn't hesitate to go and aim for the beautiful girl.

"Miss, wait," he called to her.

She turned to him and was even slightly shocked to see him again. He approached her.

"You? W- what are you doing here?” She even looked at the part where he had stood earlier and leaned back. "Have you been waiting outside since then?"

He couldn’t help but smile as he gently shook his head. She’s amusingly beautiful that he forgets about his concerns whenever he’s in front of her, even for a second.

"Uhm, kind of?” He wasn’t so sure, but he looked like a cutie i***t.

“So, you were waiting for me? But why?”

“I have something important to tell you. Can I talk to you?”

Eventually, she agreed. They ended up sitting together on one of the benches located on one side of the wide field.

"What is it that you’ll tell me?” she asked.

“The truth is, I have a problem. I'm not sure if you can help me, but at least I just really want someone to talk to.”

She did not speak, signaling that she was ready to listen to him completely.

He sighed. He didn't know how to begin because he knew what he would say would be impossible to believe.

“I wasn’t born in this era. I shouldn’t be here.”

The woman’s forehead furrowed, unable to understand what he was saying. “What?”

He shook his head. "I am not from the 1990s."

She looked even more confused. "What are you saying?"

“The current year is 2018. The world is now 2018, the 21st century. I don’t know why and how. I just woke up back here in the year 1990. I was born in 1997 and raised in an innovative world. Everything is modern, very different from that old and gray era I went to in your time. ”

She stared at him for a long time. They both stared at each other. His eyes almost begged for it that even if it was impossible, he hoped she would still be able to believe him.

"Believe me…"

She shook her head. "How can I believe you if the very substance of what you are saying is unbelievable!"

"I know it's hard to believe, but that's the truth."

Her eyes continued looking at his for a long time but eventually stood up and avoided him coldly. "If you're saying that because you think you can play on me, just find someone willing to believe in your fictional story."

He also stood up and spoke from behind her. “Do you think I'll wait a few minutes outside your classroom for your class to end just to waste your time fooling around? And do you think I have a reason to make up a story to fool you? Why would I do that, right? What do you think I'll get if I play with you and make you believe in an untrue story?”

She was stunned for a moment and was unable to speak. Gradually, she faced him again. They looked into each other's eyes. She might have realized that he was right. There is no reason for him to make up a false story.

"Flor!"

They both looked at the oncoming girl, who was probably a friend of the woman in front of Quint, who he seemed to have finally found by her name. Flor.

"I've been looking for you in the classroom for a while. I thought you were still there waiting for me. I told you to wait for me there, ‘right? But then, when I came back, you had already went out. You are already outside the building,” she said comfortably to Flor.

Flor seemed to suddenly remember that. “Ah, of course. I'm sorry, and I went out first, Lili. ”

The woman named Lili smiled. "All right." Then she noticed the man's presence. "Who is he?"

Flor looked at Quint, not knowing what to say to her friend because they hadn’t introduced themselves to each other yet, so Quint took the initiative to introduce himself to the young ladies. He smiled friendliness at both girls and offered a handshake to Lili. “Quint. Theodore Quint Angeles, Jr. is my full name, but you can just call me Quint.”

Lili accepted it in a naturally friendly way. “Lili. This is my friend Flor.” And it was her who introduced Flor to him because the latter was just too shy and aloof to say a thing.

He smiled even sweeter when he turned to the girl who captured his heart from the start and extended a hand to her. "Nice to meet you, Flor."

Hesitant, the girl accepted his hand. "Thanks.”

When their handshake was over, Flor immediately noticed that her best friend Lili was staring at the young man as if her forehead was furrowed, and she seemed to be examining his face.

"Lili, is there a problem?" Flor asked the friend worriedly.

Lili’s gaze remained on Quint. "I just saw you here at school, but I feel like I've seen you before somewhere. I just don't know when and where exactly that location is, but your face is familiar."

Quint blinked. Could it be that Lili knew the real era where he came from?

Flor decided to shake her head and then hold on to her friend's arm. "I'm sure you're hungry. Come on, and let's go home now, Lili."

"Waitー" Quint couldn’t do anything when Flor quickly guided her friend to leave.

He was left staring behind the two beautiful girls.

He sighed. Not sure yet, but he will make sure he finds another chance to talk to the two and prove to them, especially to Flor, that he is telling the truth.