To Follow You

CHAPTER 5: SECRETS REVEALED

The next day at Westfield High School in Metro Manila Philippines I couldn't stop thinking about the shadowy figures I'd seen the night before. Every time I turned around in the hallways or looked up from my desk I felt like someone was watching me. My mom had packed my favorite breakfast that morning scrambled eggs and toasted pandesal but I'd barely touched it during first period break. During lunch I sat with Dave Martinez and a few friends from art club but my mind was far away from their conversation about the upcoming Metro Manila inter-school art exhibition.

"Elara... can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" I asked pulling her aside from the lunch table where Dave was already excitedly reenacting the final dunk from our basketball team's recent win. The cafeteria at Westfield High was busy as always with students from different year levels chatting and laughing while they ate meals their families had prepared or bought from the school canteen.

"Sure May is everything okay? You look worried" she said her cheerful expression turning serious as she noticed how tense my shoulders were. She grabbed her water bottle and followed me toward a quiet spot near the windows that looked out onto the school's courtyard where a group of freshmen were practicing their dance routine for the upcoming foundation day celebrations.

I told her about the figures in the alleyway how they'd been standing there in the shadows as we walked to the café after the game how their eyes had seemed to follow us even though they didn't move how they'd disappeared into thin air the moment I'd looked directly at them. I described how cold it had felt when I'd seen them like all the warmth had been sucked out of the air around us. When I finished Elara's face had gone pale and she reached out to hold my hand tightly.

"Oh no... they've found us" she whispered her voice barely loud enough to hear over the noise of the cafeteria.

"Found us? Who are they?"

She looked around carefully to make sure no one was listening then pulled me a little closer so she could speak quietly. A group of teachers walked past us heading toward the staff room and she waited until they were gone before continuing.

"May there's something Erick Liam Smith and I haven't told you. Something we were supposed to keep secret until we were sure we could trust you completely" she started her fingers tightening around mine. "The people you saw last night they're called the Keepers of Time. They're from our world Aethelgard and they've been following us across dimensions ever since we left to find you here in Metro Manila."

"Following you? Why?"

"Because they don't want us to change our fate. In every lifetime Erick and you have been together your love has caused problems. Not because of anything you did wrong but because some people believe that love as strong as yours can disrupt the balance between dimensions. They think it's too powerful that it can tear holes in the fabric that holds everything together."

I stared at her in shock my mouth going dry. The idea that something as beautiful as what Erick and I shared could be seen as dangerous felt impossible. "What do you mean? What kind of problems?"

"In our original timeline the first time we were all together back before we started traveling through lifetimes your love for each other created a powerful energy that accidentally opened a rift between our world and yours. It caused a lot of damage in both places and many people were hurt. The Keepers of Time believe that the only way to prevent this from happening again is to make sure you and Erick never get together."

"That's not fair!" I said angrily my voice rising a little before I caught myself and looked around to make sure no one was listening. "We didn't mean to hurt anyone we just love each other!"

"I know May and we believe you. Erick and I have spent our whole lives searching for you across different worlds and different times because we know there has to be another way. We refuse to believe that love real love could ever be a bad thing. There has to be a way for you two to be together without causing harm to anyone."

Just then Erick walked up to us holding two trays with extra food he'd picked up from the canteen. He'd been talking to Coach Reyes about scheduling extra practices for the Westfield High basketball team and had clearly noticed that something was wrong. His face was serious and his green eyes were filled with concern.

"Everything okay? You both look serious" he asked setting the trays down on an empty table nearby and walking over to us. He immediately put an arm around my shoulders pulling me close to him. His warmth made me feel a little safer.

"She saw them" Elara said simply and I could see the worry in her eyes as she looked at her brother.

Erick's face darkened and his arm tightened around me. "The Keepers? Where?"

I told him exactly what had happened the night before how I'd seen them standing in the alley how they'd watched us as we walked how they'd disappeared so suddenly. I described the way one of them had raised their hand as if to wave and how cold it had made me feel. When I finished he pulled me fully into his arms and held me tight resting his chin on top of my head.

"I'm sorry May I should have told you about them sooner. I just wanted to protect you to give us a chance to be happy before they found us here. We thought we'd have more time that we could figure out a way to keep you safe before they tracked us to Westfield High."

"What are we going to do?" I asked looking up at him. The idea that there were people out there who wanted to keep us apart made my chest ache but being in his arms made me feel like we could face anything together.

"We're going to fight back" he said firmly looking down at me with determination in his eyes. "We're not going to let anyone keep us apart again not in this lifetime or any other. But we need to be careful. The Keepers are powerful and they won't stop until they separate us completely. They'll do whatever it takes to make sure we don't change the timeline again."

Just then the school bell rang loudly through the cafeteria signaling the end of lunch and the start of our afternoon classes. Students started gathering their things and heading toward the doors and we knew we couldn't stay there talking forever.

"We should get to class" Elara said looking at both of us with worry in her eyes. "But May be careful. Don't go anywhere alone not even to the bathroom or your locker. Stick with friends whenever you can and if you see anything strange tell us immediately. And make sure you let your mom know what's going on too she should be aware so she can keep an eye out for you when you're at home in Metro Manila."

I nodded knowing she was right. The thought of telling my mom scared me I didn't want her to worry and I wasn't sure how I'd explain what was happening. But I knew I needed her help. She'd always been there for me always been able to make things feel better and I knew she'd do whatever she could to keep me safe.

The rest of the day passed slowly every minute feeling like an hour. I couldn't concentrate in class not even in Art which was usually my favorite. My teacher Ms. Santos noticed I was distracted and asked if I wanted to talk but I just smiled and said I was tired. Every time I looked out the window at the school grounds I half-expected to see the shadowy figures standing there watching me. During Science class I dropped my textbook twice because my hands were shaking and Dave had to help me pick it up.

After school Erick walked me to the bus stop just outside Westfield High School's main gate holding my hand tightly the whole way. Dave and Elara walked with us part of the way with Elara reminding me again to be careful and Dave promising to check in on me later that evening. The streets of Metro Manila were busy with people heading home from work and school and the sound of jeepneys and cars filled the air.

"Will you be okay?" he asked as the bus pulled up to the stop its headlights cutting through the early evening darkness.

"I'll be fine" I said even though I wasn't sure if that was true. I squeezed his hand one more time not wanting to let go. "You be careful too don't go anywhere alone either okay?"

"I will" he said leaning down to kiss me gently on the forehead. "I'll text you later tonight to make sure you got home safe. And I'm coming over tomorrow afternoon to help you with your Art project remember? We're supposed to be painting that landscape of Metro Manila's skyline for the exhibition."

I nodded feeling a little better at the thought of seeing him again soon. I let go of his hand and climbed onto the bus finding a seat near the front so I could wave goodbye to him as it pulled away. He stood there watching me his hand raised in a wave until the bus turned the corner and I couldn't see him anymore.

As I settled into my seat and looked out the window watching the familiar streets of Metro Manila pass by I saw three figures standing on the corner ahead. Tall and dark their faces hidden in shadow even though the streetlights were bright. They were looking directly at the bus directly at me and I could swear one of them raised a hand as if to wave just like the night before.

I quickly pulled the curtain closed and sank down into my seat wrapping my arms around myself as the bus continued on its route. The Keepers of Time had found me not just at school not just when I was with Erick but even when I was alone on my way home. And I had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated than any of us could have imagined.