This conversation is getting nowhere. Obviously, there's a misunderstanding.

"I'm not agreeing with him because he's with me, but yes. Huitzilopochtli wouldn't curse your family just for that," pagsang-ayon ko kay Jairo.

If they really offended the god of war, they shouldn't worry about a curse—he would make their lives in hell.

"It's a misunderstanding," dagdag ko.

Atzi didn't know what to say. Now, she can't look straight at Jairo for what she's said and done. Well, I mean, she just shot him in the head.

"A-Ah, I-I'm-"

"Forget it," Jairo stopped her. "Nothing bad happened anyway. And you didn't know anything."

His words made Atzi get more teary. At the same time, making me have a smug look. Nice, good chico.

Kaagad niya 'tong napansin at nandidiri akong tinignan. Alam niya kung ano ang iniisip ko.

"Then, let's proceed with the investigation. Unless your cries would help us know what really happened," pagsali sa 'min ni Izel. He's looking at us with his fake smile, not even trying to comfort the crying kid in front of him.

I sighed in response, glancing back at the crying kid. "Where are your parents, niña?" tanong ko na nakakuha ng atensyon niya.

A cursed body shouldn't be buried. That's the belief. They should be cleansed for 100 days, covered in a temple with someone praying for them 24/7. Atzi gave me a dejected look before slowly nodding.

With a weak voice, she answered, "Let me take you to the temple."

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Ang lugar na tinitignan namin nang malayuan nang pagdating namin, malaki na kahit sa malayo, ang templo ng nakatagong bayan na 'to ay nasa gitna nakaposisyon. Tama ang hinala ko kaya wala akong nakitang ibang tao pagdating. Nagdadasal sila.

We didn't show ourselves or make any sound to disturb them. We know that if they knew we're here, at least a number of them will entertain us, for being demigods of the Aztecs. And we didn't want that. We followed Atzi silently.

The temple is made of bricks, filled with carvings of Aztec Gods and their symbols. There are some ancient languages, and the walls are filled with torches as lights. Walking through different chambers, we stopped after a couple of minutes in a dim one, wherein there are two people on their knees, mumbling words, skins full of ink, wearing little clothes.

In the middle is a dead cow, blood dripping on the floor. In front is an Aztec God statue, Mictlantecuhtli. Lying down are five bodies, covered by colored cloth with Aztec symbols. Food, pieces of jewelry, and weapons surrounded them, to guide them to Mictlan, the underworld.

Naningkit ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko pa nalalapitan at kahit ilang talampakan ang layo namin, naamoy ko na ang kakaibang masangsang na amoy na kumakapit sa ilong ko.

Hindi 'yon amoy ng patay. Amoy ng sinumpa.

Kahit may nakatakip sa kanila na tela, kita na kakaunting laman lang ang natatakpan, parang mga buto lang ang natira. 

Napasulyap ako sa humakbang papalapit, kagat-kagat ang ibabang labi at pinipigilan ang pag-iyak. Atzi couldn't prevent herself from being emotional as she looks at her family's corpses. They couldn't go to Mictlan yet, for they haven't been buried.

And they can't be buried. . . if they still smell like a curse.

"I heard there's a survivor," I said, trying to get her attention. Napakurap-kurap si Atzi at inayos ang sarili. Malalim siyang napalunok at kita ko ang pagpigil niya sa pagpatak ng mga luha niya. Humarap siya sa 'kin.

"Y-Yeah. My other older sister. S-She's just next to this chamber. I'll lead you the way."

She didn't wait for an answer and proceeded to move. We all followed her, eyes are still roaming. Nasa pasilyo pa lang kami, rinig ko na ang maraming bulungan, pagdadasal.

When we reached the chamber where her sister is, we saw where the voices were coming from. Unlike her family's bodies where there are only 2 prayers, over a dozen devotees are praying. Surrounding a body covered with cloth, full of meats and fresh, with blood that I assume was from a human, Atzi perhaps.

Ngayon, hindi na napigilan ni Atzi ang maluha.

"Poor girl . . . she's still suffering," bulong ni Celi.

I looked at the girl lying down in the middle. She's good as dead. I don't know why they're still letting her suffer.

"N-No hospital could help her . . ." Atzi mumbled. "A-Awa na lang mula sa mga diyos ang pag-asa namin." She sobbed.

No, the gods won't pity her. They can't help now. The only thing they could do is to guide her in Mictlan.

"Kung may awa sila," nakangiting sagot ni Izel. Kaswal lang ang pagsabi.

Jairo gave him a sharp look, even though I knew that he knew himself Izel was right. He then looked at me.

"Ts. Yeah, right. They can't help right now, but I know who can."

Napaangat ang kilay ko. Napatingin ang lahat sa kaniya dahil sa sinabi niya, na nalipat sa 'kin dahil sa 'kin siya nakatingin.

"You can do something about that rotting body, right? Daughter of Quetzacoatl?"

Atzi was taken aback and Celi was stunned. Izel and Jairo just looked at me. I tilted my head and looked at my side. "Hmmmm."

"Yeah, I can," I answered casually.

Atzi's emotions took a huge turn. Eyes full light, she rushed towards me and held my hands. 

"Y-You can save my sister?!"

I smirked. "Well, I can't take away her curse, but I can do something about her suffering . . . not by killing her, of course."

Her face lightened more. She looks very different from the first time I saw her. Her face softened.

"P-Please! Please, save her!" She pleaded, and the others were waiting for my answer.

I showed her a smile, making hers widen more. "Sure!" I patted her head, before handing my hand to her.

"I think 5 mil is enough? I'm giving you a discount since you're a devotee. I can take a downpayment."

There was a sudden silence. Everyone stared at me, I stared back with a smile. Great deal, right?

Napaawang ang bibig ng kaharap ko, tila muling nandilim ang ekspresyon. 

I don't understand. She should be happy that I can save her sister, right?

"I-I . . . don't have that amount of money . . ." She bit her lower lip. For some reason, I think she's about to cry.

"Oh, don't worry. Gold perhaps? Jewelry? I can take anything with the same value."

She didn't answer. Napayuko lang siya. Ramdam ko ang maiinit na tingin sa 'kin na nanggagaling sa posisyon ni Jairo.

"I-I . . ."

I was surprised when she didn't finish her words and rushed outside. Celi who had a sad and disappointed look, glanced at me before following her. I watched them, confused.

"Eh?-"

"You bitch." Inambahan ako ni Jairo, napaatras ako.

"¿qué? (what?)" tanong ko. "Hindi ba siya masayang maliligtas ang kapatid niya?"

Jairo looked at me as if he couldn't believe what I was saying. Izel just stared.

"You know what? I won't argue with you." Jairo looked so done. "This is why. Why I never liked you, Zalli."

It's the same look he has always given me. But for some reason, his look this time was way worse. He didn't look back and also left. It was just me and Izel.

Narinig ko siyang napasipol. "Wow, what a scene," he commented. "Honestly, I knew it from my research, but I didn't know it was at this level."

Tinignan ko siya, sinulyapan niya 'ko. "Really, wow. You're really the best merchant. You wouldn't let anyone pass, even a survivor who just lost her whole family." He smiled, his usual one, before leaving too.

I was left alone, confused as hell. I think they're mad.

Why? It's right for me to ask for payment, right? It's not part of our job.

Napahinga ako nang malalim. "Hays, Zalli," I mumbled to myself as I moved too. "You're still not good at reading people."

I followed them, and assumed they went outside which I was right. Naabutan ko si Celi na nagpapatahan ng umiiyak na babae. Agad akong napansin ni Jairo na masama kaagad ang tingin sa 'kin.

"Now is not the-"

I raised my hand, stopping Jairo. I continued walking until I was in front of the crying Atzi. Nag-alangan pa si Celi na humiwalay sa kaniya, pero ginawa niya pa rin para makalapit ako.

Sobbing, Atzi tried to talk. "I-I-"

"I apologize." Inunahan ko siyang magsalita. "I deeply apologize."

"Huh? What a half-ass apology," giit ni Jairo.

Knowing that he's joking, I laughed. Which made him more furious.

"Come on, it's real you know." Ngumiti ako, marahang hinawakan ang tuktok ng ulo ng kaharap ko. Para talaga siyang bata lang.

"Truly, I sincerely apologize. I apologize for my actions, and I also apologize for a bland apology."

Atzi, still sobbing and eyes puffy, looked up at me.

"I'm never good at this thing, you know?" It's not like I'm insensitive, nor numb.

"It's just like, I'm still learning . . . on how to communicate with people." I got their attention.

"W-What?" Atzi looked at me, confused.

I was still smiling. There's no reason for me to not say it, it's not like I'm hiding it. I think it's best they know about it.

"I can't do anything about my personality, it's already fixed." I smirked. "Let me tell you about my first trade."

"The day I made a contract with a god."

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