Leapt Through Time to Save You

Chapter 7 - Mary Ann's Diary

"Hello, Ms. Elizabeth, it's me Jinko Roxanne Dela Cruz. I'm the one who called yesterday about the story I wanted to write about your family." I went to the residence of Gonzalez to talk with Elizabeth as I tried to investigate with the case of Mary Ann.

"Welcome, please come inside, and you may sit on the sofa as I prepare for some juice and biscuits." Elizabeth said.

I called last night to Ms. Elizabeth saying that I am writing a story for the school news about the tragic story of her family.

I made a lot of preparation for this meeting. I've been looking for Mary Ann's Dairy. Kersh told me that Mary keeps a Dairy but never told where she hides it, I've been looking for it in her room whenever I sneak in however I can't find it.

She must have it, Kersh said that Mary Ann has one diary per year. She always write on her diary and never missed it. She started it when she was in 3rd grade that what was Kersh said. If it is not in her room, maybe on the locked room next to Mary Ann's room.

Kersh said that the first time he saw the diary was on their anniversary. Kersh said that Mary Ann's writes on her diary at exact 10pm. Kersh was only able to read the diary which was written from 2007-2008. It seems Mary Ann didn't mind if Kersh would read it. If Mary haven't hide it in Kersh's original timeline, then maybe now she did or because she never had the chance to show it in this timeline.

"You look so serious, Jinko." Ms. Elizabeth said while she set the table.

"Yes, I'm quite a bit nervous because this is my first big story." I said.

"May I ask why you decide to choose our family?"

"Honestly, I just can't afford to travel from here to St. Bernard, and I heard that there's a family in here that also suffered from the mudslide. From what I also heard is that your granddaughter killed herself. I am a part of organization that protect and fight for women's rights. The story of your family will open the eyes of many Filipino." I said which I am really glad, because I anticipate that question.

"I don't really want to talk about what happened to my family. My youngest son and his wife, and my first granddaughter died. It is just so hard to accept. The police officer said that there are some clues about the location of the culprit. I want to rest, I can't take this suffering anymore." She said.

"Your son, what is he like?" I asked.

"He is obedient, shy, and responsible person. He always like to earn money. I actually didn't expect him to have a family when he was young. He always love to eat Binagol, it is his favorite. He has a big dream. His been working too hard for his family and for us. I think, it is better for him to rest than to keep on struggling and suffering." She said.

"Your son owned hectares of land for his farm. He mainly focus on agriculture. He is known for his coconut and sugarcane. He also has the other major products of Leyte, rice, banana, and corn." I said.

"Yes, he is a business minded person. He supposed to start a poultry in this coming year, and when he got enough money, he will have his own resort in Panaon Island. It is his main goal, that's where she first met his wife. It is unfortunate that they die." She said.

"I heard that they were able to call you even when they got buried underground. What did they say?" I asked.

"The authority found them immediately. They said that they were buried up-side-down. Luckily they're not that deep." Elizabeth said.

Elizabeth stood up and walk towards the window and she looked outside of the window, she had this lonely face. I can see the pain as she hugged herself from the grief of losing her son.

"From what the police officer said when they examined Mary Ann's cellphone which I was also shocked when I learned about this. The police officer gave me a copy of the last call of Mary Ann and her father. The thought of it make me sick. My son is dead but I'm still glad on how great he become. That was so like him, earnestly showing how much he love a person, so loving and caring." She said.

"You mentioned that the police officer has the idea about the location of the culprit, did they said the name of the culprit?" I asked.

I want to confirm if it is really Bryan. Elizabeth is too old to fully see Bryan's face in a dark room. Which is why it took months before the police fully identified the culprit.

I haven't heard anything about Kersh. With him started working in RURU Printing & Allied Services Inc, he might have the idea about this.

"The police officer did mention the name, it was Bryan Baugbog." She said.

"So it was really him." I muttered.

"Did you say something?" She aksed.

"No, I'm sorry, I'm just talking to myself, anyway about Mary Ann, what kind of granddaughter she is?" I asked.

"I always played with her because her parents are always away. I feel really sorry about Mary Ann. I was glad when she told me that she has a boyfriend but her parents didn't know about this. It was the first time I saw her face like that. She was so happy, she said how lucky she is when she met her boyfriend. Though I never met him, I thought it was that guy but she said it wasn't. It was a different guy. I feel sorry for her, she lost her virginity to a maniac. I hope I can turn back in time and save her." She said.

"Turning back in time seems impossible but if I also have the chance, I will also do it." I said.

"You know, when Mary Ann is 12, she made me a Suman Moron. It was good, I always ask her to make me some of it whenever she visit my house. You see, I am widowed, and I only live alone. I have two daughter and one son. The girls live with their husbands in Metro Manila." She said.

"I know the loneliness of not being with your family. My parents are in Japan, and I only live with my grandfather." I said.

"Do you want some bread?" She asked.

"Sure I would love that. Elizabeth I want to know if there's something else I could learn about Mary Ann, it will be really become helpful for my article, is there something I can have? Like did she have a diary?" I asked.

"Diary? She did and the police also asked about it. Mary Ann has a collection of dairy but only her year 2006 diary is missing." She said.

"It wasn't in her room?" I asked.

"Mary Ann hide her old diaries in the room next her room. She always keep her current diary on her desk next to her bed which is why it is surprising that it wasn't in her room." She said.

It wasn't in her room? Did I miss something? If it wasn't in her room then someone took it before I came to search for it.

The morning since Mary Ann killed herself is when I tried to look for it, and it wasn't there. The police officer stayed all night in the house, so it is impossible that someone took it at that night. The police officer doesn't have it. Where is it? Does Bryan took it?

"Ms. Elizabeth, is it possible that the culprit took it when he run away from you?" I asked.

"I don't think so, he is n***d, and he immediately took his clothes. I'm sure of that so there is no way that he could take it." She said.

I also don't think that Bryan knows the existence of this Dairy and he wouldn't have any motive on taking it unless he learned that Mary Ann wrote something about him, but if it is not him, and someone else took the diary, who was it? Is it Kersh?!

On a beach in Sipadan, Kersh was sitting next to a window.

I haven't seen this Diary for a while.

On that night, when I ran away, I saw myself in front of the house of Mary Ann. It was 5 am in the morning. The police officer already left the house. For some reason I sneak in to Mary Ann's room. I was able to enter the room because Mary Ann has a spare key under the jar besides her room. I took it and opened the door. The first thing I saw was the trace of her blood. I don't have the strength to enter the room but then I saw her diary. I took it then immediately left their house, I actually still never opened this diary. I never tried, I just can't help, I might cry. The memories of us together is in here and also the memory that I don't know about. She must wrote something after I left that night. I bet she hated me.

Should I throw this away? I don't know what to do with this.

I tried to investigate about on what happened to Mary Ann, the culprit was Bryan. Why it always has to be him? I want to kill him but I can't, I can't, I just can't. Which is why when I learned his location, I called the police officer and tip them. It was here in the Sipadan.

The police officer should be in here in a moment. You may now rest in peace, Mary Ann.

I hope you can forgive me. I will never forget you Mary Ann. If I came back on my original timeline and we met. I will make sure to protect you. That is my only way to keep myself in sanity.

I feel bad, I'm so bad. I always think of myself. I guess all of this happen because of my cowardice.

The police officer is here, they already surrounded the Nipa Hut that Bryan stays in. I don't know what will happen to him but I feel sympathy. We're nothing but culprit and killer of Mary Ann. This is the burden we must carry. My role ends here, I have done what I can for you Mary Ann. I hope this would be the last. I don't want any more deaths and misery. I don't want to make someone a criminal.

All of this happened because of my selfishness. I hope you all can forgive me. No, I will understand if you can't. I will carry all of this, till the day I die. Your memories is in me.

It is time to go back in the company to report to Mr. Saludo. I've taken photos, for tomorrow's headline.

I didn't randomly found him. I know this place. It was Bryan's secret hideout. He once brought me there when we run from the police officers. That was the days when we still uses some illegal drugs, and he said that this is where he always hides. I'm sorry Bryan, I betrayed you.

Now I wonder if what kind of chain reaction will happen, I hope Sarah is fine.

How is JR? I haven't seen him. I almost forgot about our plan. Mom keeps asking me about JR. She haven't seen her for 6 months. They think we broke up or something.

I should better tell the truth to them. Then after 2 years, once I gain enough experience. I will go to Metro Manila and started on searching for Sarah.

After all she is the main goal, why I came back in the past. If by chance I met her, I must be able to ignore her, even if she has a boyfriend.

I have to endure everything, it is for the sake of my family. Mary Ann's family is enough. I don't want any more deaths. I don't want to make myself more miserable than I am.

"I hope that this is the last dawn."