“Atensyón, mga pasahero. The caravan from Malaya ng Luzokapital ‘Autónoma has arrived in Mutyang Hilaga at Lungsod ng Laguna Sagar ‘Basad. Thank you for riding the Cortez Line.”

The desert conflicted with the architecture of the inland town; The clay buildings stood tall and scattered across the shoreline of a massive lake. The Laguna Sagar’s glint from the moonlight extended for göröms wide, and everyone could see it from the borders of the town.

Hojun stepped out of the jeepney, the cool wind lightly brushing across her face and hair. Suruj followed suit, jumping off the vehicle staring at the azure moon in the sky.

“My, the sight here is much like a painting on a canvas.” Hojun commented, walking up to him.

“Don’t get too mesmerized. This place is still Buhanggilog.”

Once they got past the station, the two of them began to walk into the winding streets. The narrow roads could fit no more than one buggy, and walkways led to endless amounts of stairs. Rows of sahar lamps illuminated the streets.

After a while, they approached a door on the second floor. Hojun and Suruj stopped in front of it, as he lifted his hand to the metal door knocker. “This should be the address. Can you check one more time?”

Hojun lifted her hand and revealed a slip of papyrus in her palm.

"There's a balikbayan box that was sent from my pinsan in Azutami. It's in Lungsod ng Laguna Sagar, so take Jorge and give him the package.”

Right when Alejandro shook her hand, he transferred the papyrus slip into her palm. It came with the complete address in Lungsod ng Laguna, and even the names of the current residents. Hojun nodded, returning the slip into her coat. “Yes, it is. I apologize that it’s out of the way, but if anything bad comes from it I shall take full responsibility.”

With a sigh Suruj knocked on the door. The sound of barking dogs escaped from it, while a voice called out their names to hush them.

The door finally opened slowly to reveal a woman. “Odnan, back, back, sit!... Um… Kumusta po kayo? Do we know you?”

“Alejandro Alcazar told me you have a ‘balikbayan box’.” Hojun stepped forward, but the woman flinched backwards. While Hojun struggled to process why, Suruj quickly took the lead.

“Miss Tala. We received a word from Alejandro, na meron kayong isang balikbayan box mula sa Mahelyon Ciudad daw.”

The resident then opened the door wider, letting the dogs sniff Hojun and Suruj’s legs. “Oh… Come in then.”

Inside, the living room could barely fit a congregation of no more than five; A basic couch and tables arranged neatly all under a large carpet. Portraits of a family aged on the porcelain walls, and a dead radio stood in the corner.

Hojun could hear an interjection as the local dialect entered her ears, quite different from the language spoken in the Luzokapital.

“Kinsa sila?” An elderly woman walked out from the kitchen. They brushed passed her.

Tala closed the door behind and locked it. “They’re here for the box.”

She signaled for Hojun and Suruj to follow down the hallway. When they took a turn and entered into another room, there laid a box on the floor. Sure enough, it matched Suruj’s description of a balikbayan box. The LOHATI logo etched over the sides, and the duct tape that glued it sturdy.

“So someone actually came to pick it up, huh.” The elder limped up behind them. “Ya lads had the nerve to be comin’ here without doing one simple thing.”

Hojun tilted her head in confusion.

Tala’s shoulders perked up as her face became animated. “Lola, now’s not the time for that!...”

“It is the time! Toto, ya know what I mean.”

Hojun didn’t understand as Suruj approached the grandma. The lola raised her hand outwards, as he took it and brought the back of her hand to his forehead. One he released the elder’s hand, he turned towards Hojun.

“Mano. Come and bring her hand to your forehead.”

“I see…”

She copied Suruj to the best of her ability. In shock, it was the first time she had ever seen such a practice. She couldn’t get rid of the look on her face. Since the lola became satisfied after repeating Suruj’s gesture, Hojun decided not to think of it.

Tala quickly coughed. “A- Anyways… This box is probably what you’re after. We don’t dare to look inside it, so it is yours to take. It’s a heavy one, so how will you carry it?”

“Dihu Xuanfu.” Hojun focused her hand on the box. Saharic particles surrounded it in a white hue and lifted it into the air.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“We thank you.” Suruj began to exit the room. “Now we’ll be on our way.”

“Wait. Since you two are acquainted with Alejandro, you can stay the night here.” Tala suggested, pressing the bifocals on her face. “The drive-inns and apartelles are full due to the Piyesta de Kadayawan.”

“She’s right, Bakal are rampant at night with their letseng activities.” The lola also chimed in. “We have a guest room, although it’s only one bed.”

No matter how much they declined the offer, Tala and her grandmother persisted with their invitation. Holding the box with her spell, Hojun took a step forward. Her knee buckled and she collapsed.

The ceiling fan’s dim light only illuminated the living room. The blinds kept the windows out of view, and the kitchen sink’s tap water echoed throughout. Suruj and Tala helped Hojun onto the couch, while the lola brought out a small cardboard box.

“Ya been workin’ hard lately, ate?” The elder gestured for Hojun to roll up her pants, to which she followed.

“I guess you can say that…” Hojun remembered she banged her knee against the tram when she jumped onto the tram window in Metro Liusung.

The elder then opened the small box and took out a fabric patch. “You oughta remember to keep your body in good condition while you’re young. You be a fair lady, no doubt,” she continued, “Here. Salonpas’ll do the trick.”

She placed the patch over Hojun’s knee, to which Hojun felt the pain gradually disappear. For the first time, she had been treated at someone’s place.

“Thank you for treating me, and sorry for the inconvenience.” She couldn’t help but stare down at the floor.

“It’s okay, ate. Hospitality is the Buhang’s most important value. But the younger generation, however.” The lola scoffed as she closed and put the box down, “They forget to mano, and they always wish to leave Buhanggilog and forget their culture. Now that’s left here in Lungsod ng Laguna is Bakal and traditional families that settled here long ago.”

Hojun slowly turned her head and looked at her. “Ma’-”

“Lola!”

“Lola… What if Buhanggilog had a better leader? Or if the Buhang people had a reliable government?”

The lola’s ancient face soon warmed into a sunny smile. “Then the corruption, yung mga tong, mga tongpats should disappear, and whip this country into shape. It will be like the Golden Age again.”

Hojun never replied. She knew that she asked not only for Buhanggilog, but for the old kingdom of Silla itself.

Since they never packed any luggage, it took no time at all to settle down. Hojun, with her hair down, walked into the cramped bathroom. Suruj soon walked in as well. While she brushed her teeth, he asked for something. But Hojun didn’t understand what word he was using until he pointed to the object itself.

“Chiyag?”

“Yes, ‘chiyag’. The Galag word for toothpaste is ‘kolgeyt’. Kol, geyt.” Suruj corrected her, as she handed over the kolgeyt. He failed to grab it as it fell to the floor. Hojun thought about how clumsy he was, until she saw his hand. He had three fingers on his left hand.

They lay staring at the ceiling in the dark. In the guest bedroom they only had one bed to share. It was the first time Hojun stayed at a place that Mister Gyeong had not reserved beforehand. She clutched the blanket. Hojun wondered how Jorge was doing, now that Alejandro…

“You’re strong.” Suruj’s words echoed across the silence.

“Hm?”

“You said that this was the first time you saw someone die, yet with one breath you calm yourself in an instant.”

“Oh… I wouldn’t call that strong.” She turned her head away, digging her head into the pillow. “It’s a skill I’ve developed. But you seemed to be unfazed.”

Suruj took a deep breath. “Miss, when you’ve seen enough killing, your mind and face will be too tired to grieve.”

“Hojun al-Qarakh, that’s my name. Soon I hope you’ll find the right place of mind to weep.”

“Al-Qarakh…” He murmured her family name. Then quietness flooded the room.

“Suruj? Something wrong?”

“No… Tomorrow we should search the town for any Oksidentano or Bakalito. Either of them have ties to Al-Wa, so we should be able to get a lead by catching one of them.”

He turned away from Hojun, so that they faced the opposite directions while in bed. They couldn’t forget their mission. To track down and find Al-Wa through the gangs, and eventually find Tayang.

Morning. The sun peaked through the blinds, and the birds outside chirped their first tune. Like clockwork, Hojun and Suruj did their necessities. As Hojun sat down on the couch, Tala and her lola offered her breakfast.

“Something wrong?” Suruj walked into the living room, as Hojun brushed her hair.

“A low lock of my hair is usually in a cornrow, but I actually don’t know how to braid one…”

“Huh? Who does your hair before then?” Tala shouted from the kitchen. Hojun knew that Mister Gyeong always fixes her hair in the morning.

“Um… A worker at my house.”

Suruj sighed, and offered his hand. “I’ll do your hair. As soon as I’m done we’re heading out.”

“Sosyal naman! He probably has a jowa!” The lola snickered with the flick of a pan. Hojun thanked him, as he gently grabbed her hair.

“No. I had a friend once, who braided her hair.” Suruj replied, ignoring her comment.

After the plates emptied and cleaned up their mess, Hojun once again carried the box with a spell. Suruj stood by the door, as they bowed their goodbyes. Even it was a short time, Hojun wanted to experience this kind of slow life once again. Tala and her lola returned the gesture, unaware of what happened to Alejandro.

The Laguna Sagar enveloped the entire skyline. A bright blue sea, or lake simmered in the sun. Behind Hojun, the balikbayan box floated. Suruj asked whether she really wanted to carry it the entire time, but Hojun never gave an answer. The revolving streets saw only a few people, as Hojun and Suruj continued to walk. For a while they wandered.

A black buggy moved across the intersection and stopped. The door opened, and a man stepped out of it while the vehicle drove off. Suruj signaled Hojun, and they halted.

“A black buggy. Why was a Bakalito in a datu car?” Suruj questioned while keeping an eye on the man.

Hojun leaned against a building wall. “How do you know he’s from Bakal?”

“A Kamao wears a green bandana. An Oksidentano wears a red bandana and a vaquero hat. A Bakalito, wears a blue bandana.”

Sure enough, the man wore a blue bandana around his neck. He went into an adjacent alley, and the two pursued him. A datu car… Hojun remembered the ancient caste system of Buhanggilog.

The two buildings seemed to tower over while sauntering through the old kahelyon. The man took a right, then a left, and finally a conjunction. Whilst he began to reach for his pocket, the cock of a revolver sounded.