CHAPTER 2

Lila stared at the man before her, her mind racing. Everything around her had transformed - the modern flower shop had given way to a space that looked like it had been plucked straight from the past. And this stranger, with his traditional Tagalog greeting, was clearly not a present-day customer.

"I'm sorry, I... I don't understand," Lila stammered, her heart pounding in her chest. "Where am I?"

The man furrowed his brow, his dark eyes filled with concern. "Tila'y may problema ka. Paano ko makakatulong sa iyo?"

Lila shook her head, struggling to comprehend the situation. "I'm sorry, I don't speak Tagalog. I don't know what's happening. One moment I was in my family's flower shop, and now..." She trailed off, glancing around the unfamiliar space.

Realization dawned on the man's face. "Ah, I see. You are not from around here, are you?" He offered her a gentle smile. "Do not be afraid. My name is Maro Aguilar. I am here to help you."

Lila let out a shaky breath, some of the tension leaving her body at his reassuring tone. "Lila Flores. I... I don't know how I got here. This place, it's not my shop anymore."

Maro nodded slowly. "You are in Maynila, in the year 1564." He paused, studying her closely. "I believe you have been transported through time."

Lila's eyes widened in disbelief. "Time travel? But that's impossible!" She shook her head, her mind reeling. "This has to be some kind of dream, or maybe I'm going crazy..."

"I understand your confusion," Maro said calmly. "But I assure you, this is no dream. You are truly here, in the past." He gestured around the shop. "This is my family's humble store, where we sell goods and wares to the people of Maynila."

Lila's gaze followed his hand, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds. The once-vibrant colors of the flowers had dulled, and the air carried a different scent, one tinged with the aroma of spices and smoke. Outside the windows, she could see people in traditional Filipino garb going about their business in the bustling streets.

"How is this possible?" Lila whispered, more to herself than to Maro. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to make sense of it all.

Maro stepped closer, his expression filled with empathy. "I know this must be overwhelming. But I promise, I will do everything I can to help you understand what has happened and how you came to be here."

Lila let out a shaky breath, some of the tension leaving her body at his reassuring tone. "Lila Flores. I... I don't know how I got here. This place, it's not my shop anymore."

Maro nodded slowly. "You are in Maynila, in the year 1564." He paused, studying her closely. "I believe you have been transported through time."

Lila's eyes widened in disbelief. "Time travel? But that's impossible!" She shook her head, her mind reeling. "This has to be some kind of dream, or maybe I'm going crazy..."

"I understand your confusion," Maro said calmly. "But I assure you, this is no dream. You are truly here, in the past." He gestured around the shop. "This is my family's humble store, where we sell goods and wares to the people of Maynila."

Lila's gaze followed his hand, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds. The once-vibrant colors of the flowers had dulled, and the air carried a different scent, one tinged with the aroma of spices and smoke. Outside the windows, she could see people in traditional Filipino garb going about their business in the bustling streets.

"How is this possible?" Lila whispered, more to herself than to Maro. She pressed a hand to her forehead, trying to make sense of it all.

Maro stepped closer, his expression filled with empathy. "I know this must be overwhelming. But I promise, I will do everything I can to help you understand what has happened and how you came to be here."

Lila met his gaze, finding comfort in the sincerity she saw there. "Thank you," she murmured. "I... I don't know what to do."

"For now, the best thing is to remain calm," Maro said reassuringly. "Come, let us sit and you can tell me more about yourself. Perhaps together, we can unravel the mystery of your arrival in Maynila."

Lila nodded shakily, allowing Maro to guide her to a small wooden bench at the back of the shop. As she sat down, she couldn't help but wonder what other surprises this strange new world had in store for her.

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