Chapter Text
The moment Maria opened her eyes, she knew something was wrong. The ceiling looked wrong, the bed felt wrong. Heck, even the comforter she used to keep herself warm felt less like a comforter and more like a very thin blanket.
One look at the room she was in was all she needed to scream like her whole world had flipped upside down because frankly, it did. She had somehow been transmigrated to an unknown body and from the looks of this room's structure, into the past. A sharp sting shot through her head as she tried to recall the events that took place right before she ended up here.
WTF! I thought this only happens in mangas or novels?! Or maybe to those desperate enough for a change in their life and end up dying either by truck or something ridiculously cliche for a way to die?!
Unfortunately, Maria did not have any time to think anymore because the door to the room suddenly flew open and a woman came running in with eyes wide and gasping. “Anak! You're okay!” Before Maria could even get a word in, the woman embraced her and began sobbing.
Soon enough, more women, young and old, began to fill up the room, the others were simply standing outside. “Langga, inakala kong hinding-hindi ka magigising. Limang araw na ang lumipas simula nang magkasakit ka. (Darling, I thought you would never wake up. It has been five days since you fell ill.)” One of the women said. Maria simply blinked and looked at each of them before blurting out the question in her mind. “Who are you?” The reaction was immediate as the men quickly went to call the doctor while the women gasped and began to quickly reassure Maria that it was alright, she was not in immediate danger and that she was surrounded by family.
Who else would you all be by this level of pampering?
The doctor came in and determined Maria wasn’t in any immediate danger but simply lost her memories as a consequence of being sick for so long, it must have been a defense mechanism of the brain. He quickly assured the family that the effects were only temporary and that Maria would have her memories back in due time. Before long, Maria had a big sit down with the entire family with an album wide open and began telling stories about her childhood.
Maria simply smiled and nodded while also feeling lightheaded for all the information they gave her. It was at this moment one of the boys, a cousin from her father’s side, asked the biggest elephant in the room. “Ano ang sasabihin natin kay Sir Lino na ang napili niyang leading lady may malalang kaso ng amnesia? (What will we tell Sir Lino that his chosen leading lady has a bad case of amnesia?) That threw Maria off on a loop.
What?
If there was any Filipino who didn’t know Lino Brocka, Maria would seriously question whether or not they had gone through proper schooling and not remember some of the greatest artists in the cinematic universe. I mean, it was because of them that the future Filipinos became so addicted to watching movies and TV dramas and became globally recognized.
Why the hell am I the leading lady of Lino Brocka?! And which movie am I supposed to portray as the leading lady?
Seeing the stunned look on Maria's face at the name of Lino Brocka, one of her aunties smiled at her. “Looks like you still remember Lino Brocka. He's a director managing a film called Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang.”
Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang! That came out in 1974.
She read about that film. She never actually saw it but she read about it. A story about cruelty of the people once their perspective of you solidifies as the truth and the tragic love of two people and a third person that seemed to be their friend and becomes the guardian of their child. Anyways, it was a dramatic scene that ended mostly with tragedy and rebirth of hope.
“Whose role am I playing? I can't seem to recall that?” Maria asked cautiously, silently praying that she was only part of a mob character or an insignificant supporting role.
“Of course, ginagampanan mo ang karakter na si Kuala. Ang trahedyang babaeng pangunahing bida. (You play the character Kuala. The tragic female lead role.)” One of the cousins said proudly.
I was wrong. I am in deep trouble.
Maria blinked and looked at the rest of her family who nodded with proud smiles on their faces. “Okay, um… can guys please just leave me alone for a bit. I think I need some space.” Surprise was stamped on their faces but Maria seemed to care less about that. She just wanted them out so she could confirm some things and find her bearings.
Seeing the pleading look on her face. The rest of her family reluctantly poured out of her room and quietly shut the door. The woman that hugged her (Rosa, this body's mother) poked her head out and gave a small smile.
“Don't worry about anything else, baby. Get some rest and come down if you're feeling hungry.”
Maria blinked as Rosa closed the door and there was no more movement. Slowly, Maria got out of bed and walked towards the mirror in her room and stared at her reflection.
Okay, this is not the face of the leading lady in Lino Brocka's movie!
Maria grimaced as she stared at the youthful face of this body. The face wasn't exactly Miss Universe beautiful per se. It was more like this body was still developing into the direction of a beautiful face but this wasn't Maria's biggest problem now.
What happened to the original lady that was supposed to be the female lead here? Did something happen in this timeline that changed the cast? Did my transmigration have something to do with this? But wait, it shouldn't have. The castings been finished the only thing that could change the cast would be-
The original body died.
“What kind of sick messed up joke is this?” Maria muttered as she stared at her face in the mirror. The poor girl looked so young yet she died just like this? What happened that caused her to end up like this?
If it was because of the Martial Law currently ruling the country that might be possible. Maria had seen the horrible scenes and pictures during this period but the rest of her family members looked well off and she had a mountain of gifts piled on her side so this isn't the main cause.
If Maria thought of her family members being the cause of the girl’s death, she would roll her eyes and smack herself silly. From all the coddling they did to her, it was more like she would be smothered to death by them.
Wracking her brains for other possible causes and finding nothing but a headache for all the thinking. Deciding she had enough thinking for the time, she went to her closet to find suitable clothes for an outing. What she found however, almost gave Maria a heart attack and the hairs on her skin went up with shock.
Pictures, at least dozens of pictures of Michael Jackson and a few of his brothers. Some pictures were from official settings while others were candid shots all taken from newspaper clippings and hanging on top of the pictures was a banner and literally painted on it was the name of the group of kids: JACKSON 5.
OH MY GOD
Feeling highly flustered and embarrassed, Maria quickly shut the cabinet to blink and rub her eyes before opening it again. Yep, still there. A literal freaking shrine and she didn’t even need to think about who her favorite person was, based on the number of Michael Jackson pictures.
“The family doesn’t know, right?” Maria thought as she looked around for any hiding family member regardless she had shown them out of her room for some peace. She had half the mind to take down the pictures but something inside her let out a sharp twinge in her chest. Okay, so she can’t take down the shrine.
Looking over at the pictures she had. Maria felt a small twinge of sympathy for the young boy in the picture. The smiling boy she saw from the picture and the man she knew only in screens and songs, plagued with all sorts of gossip and scandals, looked very different in terms of their mentality.
This Michael has yet to experience the very harsh truth of the industry.
It wasn’t far off to say that Michael was sheltered like a beautiful rose with its thorns cut off before it could sharpen to protect itself.
Eyes moving to the calendar that stamped today’s year (1974), Maria sourced through her memories and realized this was the year the Jackson 5 went on tours and their songs would eventually become a hit, if it wasn’t already.
A very dangerous thought suddenly occurred to Maria the longer she stared at the pictures. Could she do something to change his life and possibly extend it? As soon as that thought entered Maria literally slapped herself hard. “Are you crazy?!” Maria turned to the mirror that held her reflection and glared at it.
“Do you want to see yourself condemned by the world?! You seriously have nothing in name and he’s already reaching the heights of stardom! People are gonna speculate and make weird stories about him and all his relationships. Am I seriously prepared to jump ship and straight to the fire - no - straight to the void for one man?!”
“What man?” A voice from behind her made her jump and turn around. Rosa stood in the doorway with her arms crossed together. “Is it a man I should know about or a man in your movie?”
“Mom, why are you here?” Maria deflected quickly by asking another question. “Clara came up to check on you to hear you screaming like a madwoman and called me. Now, am I supposed to worry about a man right now?” Her mother didn’t buy it and asked again. Maria laughed and shook her head, her face betraying nothing. “There is no man mom. Nagsasabi lang ako ng ilang salita mula sa draft ng iskrip na ipinadala sa akin ni Sir Lino. (I was just saying a few words from a script draft Sir Lino sent me.)” Rosa stared at Maria with a face that didn't believe a word her daughter just said but just let it go.
“So long as you know. I don’t want you to have kids before you reach the appropriate age. You are still 14 years old.” Red bloomed across Maria’s face. “Nanay, wala talaga akong ibang tao sa buhay ko! (Mom, I really don't have anyone in my life!)” Maria said in exasperation before making a pledge herself. “I promise, I won’t bind myself to a man until it has the entire family’s approval.” Rosa nodded before sighing.
“Come down and eat something dear and…make sure your cabinet is closed the next time someone enters, okay?” Realizing this, Maria turned white then red as her mother went downstairs to order the girls to start setting up plates. Maria waited for a few moments before she turned to look at the shrine the original owner left her along with other unwarranted feelings.
I am literally out of my depth here.
Dinner with this body’s new family was slightly awkward as there was nothing to be said or heard except for the clanking of the spoons and forks on the plates. Maria coughed to break the tension. “So, can I ask what date today is?” Silence in the table and one of the aunties looked at Maria with sympathy in her gaze which made Maria extremely uncomfortable but she had no choice if she needed to survive this sudden ‘Back to The Future’ plotline.
Except the plot never mentioned soul transmigration and I don’t have a mad scientist to get me out of this predicament.
“It’s January 4, 1974, dear. Rosa, why don’t you contact Sir Lino and tell him that Maria needs a few more days rest. The poor girl looks pale.” Maria inwardly rolled her eyes. “I’m fine, I can go to the shooting tomorrow. I think I need the work, it might help me jolt some memories.” Maria replied quickly, turning to look at Rosa with a pleading look. Rosa sighed. “So long as you don’t overwork yourself and make sure you won’t be seen by the military. A lot of us are on the run from the regime.”
Maria nodded seriously at Rosa. “Huwag kang mag-alala, Nanay. Sisiguraduhin kong mag-iingat ako. (Don’t worry mom. I’ll make sure to be careful.)” Maria helped clean the dining table, feeling a semblance of familiarity in doing chores around the place. Entering her room and feeling exhaustion took over. She turned to the closed window, feeling hot and opened it.
She was met with thousands of fireflies flying around her. She watched them with slight awe, feeling the tiredness slowly melt away. She had never seen that many fireflies in her own home back in the future.
“Pretty..” Was all she mumbled before she plopped on the bed and fell asleep, slightly hoping that all of this was just a dream.