Naningkit ang mga mata ko nang tumama rito ang sinag ng araw, pag-apak na pag-apak ko sa tapat ng labasan ng eroplano ay nag-iba kaagad ang ihip ng hangin. I don't know if it's because I was sitting for hours during the flight, or because it felt nostalgic being in this country again.

It really feels different.

I smirked. It's been a while, Philippines—Maharlika.

"Please choose to fly with us again, ma'am," the flight attendants said in chorus as they bowed. Even the pilot and co-pilot went outside.

"Thanks for the safe and comfortable flight," ani ko.

The pilot smiled. "My pleasure. It's an honor to fly with you again, I hope this won't be the last time," he answered as if we're long acquaintances.

I smiled as we shake our hands. Walang ibang pasahero sa eroplano. May dalawa akong kasama na pinasadya lang talaga para dalhin ang mga gamit ko. One has my baggage, and another who has a huge body—literally a bodybuilder, is holding my axe.

Paano ako nakapasok sa airport at nakasakay sa eroplano dala-dala ang mga ito?

Connections, babe. Connections.

A merchant without connections is not a merchant at all.

I put on my sunglasses before fully stepping out of the plane. The wind greeted me, blowing my hair that's in a ponytail. Luckily, I'm wearing black pants and a white sleeveless top, walang liliparin sa suot ko. May mga nakaikot sa bewang ko na tela, ang iba ay lalagyanan ko ng mga gamit. I know it's hot here in the Philippines, but it's also hot in Mexico, so I don't mind.

May naghihintay na shuttle sa 'kin sa baba, na ako lang din ang pasahero. Sumalubong lang sa 'kin ang mga tao nang tuluyan na 'kong napunta sa terminal.

As always, I got all of their attentions. Just like what happens when I'm new to the area. Maliban sa kulay ng buhok ko, kapansin-pansin din ang mga tattoo ko sa katawan, pati ang tangkad ko. After all, I'm a big woman, I'm 6'3 ft.

Hindi na 'ko naiilang sa mga tingin nila, mga bibig nilang mga nakanganga. I got a glance of a kid looking at me, with wide eyes and mouth wide open. I gave him a wink when I passed by him.

As I walked into the terminal, my eyes immediately noticed a man waving while holding a sign.

'WELCOME TO THE PHILIPPINES, QUETZALLI!'

Lumapit ako sa kaniya, kasunod ang dalawang may dala-dala ng mga gamit ko. His eyes immediately widened and his expression lightened, seeing me. Nakaangat ang tingin niya sa 'kin dahil tatlo o apat na talampakan ata ang pagitan ng tangkad namin.

"Woah! You're here!" aniya. "Welcome to the Philippines! How's your flight?"

He sounds jolly, he looks friendly too. I read his expression, the look he have on his eyes. It looks like he's sincere, he wants to be here. Agad niyang nilapitan ang dalawang kasama ko para kunin ang mga gamit ko sa kanila.

His jolly expression faltered the moment he carried my axe.

"Woah, be careful," I said as I took my axe from him. "I'll take this."

He's not hiding his expression. His eyes are still wide as he looks at me carrying my axe without any trouble.

"Woah." He looks so amazed.

"You're?" I asked.

Napabitaw siya sa maleta ko at napapunas ng mga kamay sa damit niya.

"I-I'm Bruno, ma'am! I'm from JA Corp., ma'am!" Nilahad niya ang kamay niya sa 'kin.

My eyebrows rose. He got my attention.

JA corp. I know their boss, their head.

Jago. A well-known mafia in the underground market. A man you shouldn't mess with. And a man that I had business with.

My lips curved into a smirk. "I see." Kinamayan ko siya.

Hindi ko pinaalam ang pagbabalik ko rito sa Pilipinas. Other than a friend of mine in the government who took care of my flight, I didn't announce to anyone that I'll be here.

Dahil alam kong magsisilapitan sila sa 'kin na parang linta, magpapakitang gilas.

Jago knew it first. He's showing his worth without getting too much attention. That's why this boy is the only one here.

"I'll serve as your personal tourist here! I'll take care of everything, ma'am ket- quwet- ketz-"

"Zalli," I said. The poor guy is having trouble pronouncing my name. "You can call me Zalli."

His smile widened as he nods. "Yes, Ma'am Zalli! You don't have to worry while staying here! JA Corp. already covered it all! The resort where you'll be staying—first class, your foods—made by our top exclusive chefs, your pocket money—no maximum, your personal ride—available 24/7, everything!"

Hmm, you're really trying too hard, huh Jago?

But these are . . . all basic.

"Good, shall we go now?" ani ko.

Hindi nawawala ang ngiti ni Bruno. Nakangiti niyang nilahad ang kamay niya para paunahin ako sa paglalakad.

"Certainly, Ma'am Zalli!"

And with that, we left the terminal. Two cars are waiting for us outside, with drivers like what Bruno said.

Continental . . . Bentley Continental GT.

I tilted my head while looking at it, at the same time, Bruno put my baggage in the second car.

Should I take this? It's not brand new though . . . but I can make it look like brand new, I can sell it for . . . hmm, 20 mil?

Pinagbuksan ako ni Bruno ng pinto sa likod. "I can take-"

Deretso akong pumasok. "I want the car, no, the cars. Tell Jago to give it to me."

The way his face became pale, maybe because I casually asked for the car, or maybe because of how casually I mentioned Jago's name.

"O-Of course, makararating sa kaniya," sagot niya bago isara ang pinto.

Napatikhim si Bruno nang pumasok siya sa sasakyan at umupo sa passenger seat.

"Well then, shall we go to the resort so you can take a rest, Ma'am Zalli?"

Sinandal ko ang siko ko sa bintana at sumalumbaba. Tumingin ako sa bintana.

"Hmm, I need to go somewhere first."

I got his attention, I gave him a side glance.

"Oh, where are we heading? We can take you anywhere!"

"Just drop me off at the city, it's business."

"No worries! It's our duty to-"

"Boy." Lumalim ang boses ko, nagkrus ang binti ko at dumeretso ang tingin ko sa harap.

Nagtama ang tingin namin nang sumilip siya sa rear view mirror. Agad siyang napaiwas ng tingin.

"I know that your duty is to watch over me. Bantayan ang bawat kilos ko. To make sure that I'm not having business with your rivals." He can't look at me, nor the driver who's obviously panicking.

"But hey, I'm sure that Jago also mentioned a thing or two about me, right? I'm a merchant, I'll do business with anyone who's willing to give me what I want. If you're scared that I'll do business with your rivals, make sure that you'll have the best offer to secure our relationship."

"And I'm not someone you can intimidate or threaten. You can't make me obey with guns." It's not like you can do anything with a gun anyway.

Hindi siya nakasagot kaagad. Kita ko ang paglunok nang malalim ni Bruno.

"I-I apologize, Ma'am Zalli. P-Please, 'wag pong sumama ang tingin niyo sa boss namin. I'm doing it on my will, our boss didn't order me to do that. Gusto ko lang pong magpakitang gilas . . . " Sa unang pagkakataon, naglaho nang tuluyan ang ngiti niya.

And here I thought that he was sincere. I'm still not good at reading people.

"Please forgive him, ma'am, he's new," ang driver ang nagsalita. Nalipat ang tingin ko sa kaniya na nakatingin na rin sa 'kin sa salamin. "Bago pa lang siya rito, at ito ang unang beses na malalaman niya ang tungkol sa inyo. Sana ay palagpasin niyo muna 'to. Our boss only ordered us to serve you, give you everything you want and need. There's nothing else."

Hindi ako kumibo. Bumalik sa labas ang tingin ko.

"It's fine, it's not like I'm angry anyway." It's just the tone of my voice that I practiced. "You don't have to worry, JA Corp. is the best partner I have here in the Philippines."

"And this is outside of my job, it's my personal business . . ." Tila nakuha ko ang mga atensyon nila, unti-unting kumurba ang labi ko sa isang ngisi. "I'm not here as a merchant."

𓆚𓆚𓆚

"Uhm . . . is it here, Ma'am Zalli?" Bruno asked.

Huminto ang sasakyan na sinasakyan namin. Rather than a city, a village, nor a resort, we stopped in a . . . cornfield.

Kahit saan ilibot ang mga tingin namin ay palayan ng mais lang ang makikita. Nakangiti akong tumango at binuksan ang pinto, dala-dala ang palakol ko.

"Yeah, just here," ani ko habang palabas.

Sinilip ko sila sa bintana nang makalabas ako ng sasakyan. "I'll be going now, I'll meet you at the resort."

"B-But you haven't been there yet. Sunduin po ba namin-"

"No. I'll know where you at and I'll be there." I winked. "And if I haven't appeared in weeks or a month, don't worry, I'll still be there."

I went inside the field and left with Bruno's jaw open.

I chuckled, casually walking in the cornfield. Winasiwas ko ang kamay ko habang naglalakad. 

"Adios," paalam ko bago maglakad papalayo.

Rinig ang bawat pagtapak ko dahil sa natatapakan kong mga dahon-dahon. Bumagal ako sa paglalakad para hawakan ang mais na hindi pa bumubunga.

"Bloom, my father's gift to mankind," I murmured to the wind.

The corn slowly grew, its golden seeds appeared in front of me and I smiled. Walang pag-aalinlangan ko itong pinitas at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad.

"There are hundreds of entrances, but I still chose here because of you," ani ko sa mais habang kinakagat ito.

Mataas pa ang sikat ng araw na biglang natakpan sa harapan ko dahil sa anino ng mataas na bagay na nakatayo.

Umangat nang kaunti ang tingin ko rito, kahit nakataas ito ay hindi gaano kalaki ang pagitan namin. A scarecrow.

This place is one of the entrances, covered by the mist.

"How long are you going to make me wait, scarecrow?" I said.

I was answered by silence.

"If you won't answer, I'll take this whole field-"

"Argh! Nandito ka na naman!"

Ang gawa sa palay na nilagyan lamang ng damit na nagsisilbing panakot sa mga uwak ay naiinis na nagsalita. His face is made of stitches, that makes him look terryfying, but honestly, he just looks like a rug doll.

"What are you doing here again?! You stole one of my corns!!!" garagal ang boses niyang nagsalita.

"Come on, it was my father who discovered these corns. Officially, they're all mine, but I'm not asking you to pay up," I scoffed.

"Your father discovered them, Daughter of Quetzalcoalt! Not you! Not you!"

I pouted. "It's the same thing." I brushed the strands of my hair with my fingers. "Ang sama mo sa 'kin lagi. I haven't done anything wrong."

He gasped, surprised with my question. "Are you serious? Are you really serious right now? Gusto mong isa-isahin ko sa 'yo ang mga problema sa 'yo?" mariing sagot niya.

"You're arrogant! You lack compassion for people! You care about money the most! You trick everybody! You're a sociopath! You're the worst demigod I've ever met!"

Napahikab ako. "Well, I can't please everybody." I shrugged my shoulders.

He winced, followed by a defeated look.

"You just proved half of the things I've said . . . argh! Just walk through and leave! 'Wag ka ng dadaan dito sa susunod! Ayoko na kitang makita!"

My expression lightened, and my eyes smiled together with my lips. "Thanks!" I said, as if nothing happened as I walked passed by him.

Huling pag-apak ko pagdaan sa kaniya ay pinagkumpulan ako ng mga uwak. Not just a group nor a dozen, literally hundreds of them. They appeared out of nowhere, covering everything in sight.

And just like that, with one step again, they all flew away.

But the cornfield is nowhere to be found.

Instead, it felt like I was transported to a whole new place. Instead of a field filled with corn, I was greeted by an unending tropical forest. It's full of rock formations, mostly human-like with temples.

In the middle is the biggest temple of it all.

"I'm here again, main branch." Inayos ko ang pagkakasabit ng palakol ko sa balikat ko.

"It's been a while, Mythos."

𓆚𓆚𓆚