"Good job today girl, you can go home now." Said my boss, a woman in her 30's dressed in tight corporate clothing. Short skirt, black high heels, fitted long sleeves, and a whopping amount of makeup plastered on her face.

I'm currently taking out the trash in the ground floor area of a mall. Although I'm working overtime as a janitress, I do want to go home and rest now. I still have miwmiw to feed- my cat.

As I was about to go to the locker room to get my things and head home, "oh, and one more thing,"

I turned around to look at my boss for the last time before entering the room, "don't forget to trim the bushes in front of the mall tomorrow." She said as she looked at her gel polished nails.

"Is it the one outside the mall doors, ma'am?" I asked.

"No dumbo, the mall's new maze garden." She said as she rolled her eyes.

Ugh. Act like your wage Karen.

"My bad. Will do first thing in the morning." I said as I entered the room and got my things. As I walked past a mirror, I saw my reflection. I'm messy, out of shape, and I stink of sweat. I guess this is what you get when you haven't been working for half a month.

It was hard to find a job for me since I didn't study in school. I never entered school because my aunt thought it was too much of a hassle to send me off to school and made me do all the house chores and errands at home. They only adopted me because my mom's brother is uncle. Uncle on the other hand has been nice to me because I'm his direct relative. But no matter how nice he is, auntie still has the upper hand in their relationship, so whatever she says, goes.

Uncle taught me how to read and write at least. I learn faster so I was always envied by Frida, my cousin. Frida's anger towards me got even worse when she found out that the neighbor's kid, Keith, next door had a crush on me when we were teenagers. Turns out Frida liked him first before he saw me reading in the afternoon by my bedroom's window which is clearly seen outside in front of their house.

My parents died in an accident when I was 2 years old... or so as uncle told me. I still find it weird because if it really was an accident, they should at least have a grave somewhere, or at least their bodies should have been found.

So I decided to live independently at the age of 18 and find myself an apartment or room space to live in and get myself a job. 2 years later I quit my job as a saleslady at a retail store. I was going to be promoted as a cashier in the store and my co-workers didn't like it. So, they either ganged up on me or threatened me most of the time. It's not like I'm scared of them, I was just sick of getting treated like this when I never did anything wrong to anyone. I'd rather have my peace of mind rather than exhaust myself with anger for nothing.

Was it my fault my parents died and left me to my relatives? No.

Was it my fault that our neighbor's kid got a crush on me? No.

Was it my fault to be hardworking, does overtime most of the time, and still gets loads of work regardless of the pay? No.

But that's just life and although I've always read in books that life isn't a fairytale, Disney made me somewhat believe otherwise.

While I was walking down the alley to a jeepney stop, I felt something following me. I slowly looked around and held my apartment's keys and pointed a key in between my left fist while getting my foldable umbrella in my other hand. When I stopped at my destination, I quickly took a glance behind me, ready to attack.

"Dear, may I ask where the pharmacy is?" an old lady asked. Thank goodness I didn't hit her.

"Let me walk you to the other side of the road, granny. The pharmacy is on the other block across the road. I'll walk with you if you want." I said. The old lady smiled and nodded.

"I worked too much in my shop and got a lot of small cuts on my hands. I was out of medical supplies in my first aid kit, so I had to stop by the pharmacy." She explained even though I didn't ask why. This is why I like old people, no pretenses, you don't have to think about being careful with anything and just say what's on your mind, just like what an innocent child would do. I kept my things inside my backpack.

"Don't you have a boyfriend to come to pick you up, dear?" and then that's the stab in the chest of a question. "No granny, this girl's a strong independent woman." I said. It's actually half a joke and half-truth.

"That's weird. You look really pretty, dear. I should set you up with my grandson!" she said back at me smiling ear to ear. Oh boy, her grandson might be way too young for me. and I'm not looking for any relationship anyway.

I walked her to the pharmacy and when I was about to ride a jeepney, "be careful on your way home." granny said.

On the ride home, I can't help but feel like there's something following me. It does kind of scare me now since I've been feeling like this since I ended my shift. As I got off the jeep, I quickly walked to a tricycle to go directly to the apartment. I usually walk but today's an exception.

When I got on the trike and went on the road, I saw a shadow of a man. Shivers went down my spine. I quickly blinked and the shadow was gone. But I suddenly heard music. It's unfamiliar yet I like how it sounds. Did I use my phone today while cleaning? I don't remember playing a song earlier.

I got off the tricycle and gave the driver my payment. I was about to open the gate of the apartment when I hear the music getting louder. It's like a lullaby kind of song. It reminds me of classic Filipino folk songs. I followed my instinct and looked around; I froze when I saw a pair of eyes look at me. I screamed and opened the gate quickly and went inside. Some of my neighbors peeped out of their windows and looked at me.

"Are you okay?" said Mrs. Nena, the landlady of the apartment. She looks like she's in her 60s. She opened her door and gave a frightened expression. Her place and office are on the first floor of the apartment building. "I-I'm sorry for being loud." I held my chest while panting frantically and felt my heart pound while dripping with cold sweat.

"Susmariyosep child, you could give me a heart attack with your screech." She exasperated and gave a little laugh.

"Well, okay. If you need anything, I'll be just right here." Then she closed her door. My place is on the 2nd floor of the building.

"Meow" I hear miwmiw as I felt her head butt on my leg. No one cares for the cat. I just call this cat my own since I practically take care of it. "Hi miwmiw!" I call out to her in a high-pitched cutesy tone and bent down to pet her. I opened my backpack and gave her my left-over lunch. I always do this whenever I can't eat as much or if I'm not in the mood to eat. Unfortunately for me, this happens to me every day.

--

When I entered my apartment, I took off my shoes, opened the lights, and changed into something comfy before heading to the table to get something to eat. I opened the TV as soon as I got my dinner and watched the news.

"This is probably the biggest storm to have ever entered the country. Thousands of people are already evacuating the said places that the storm will pass through-" I changed the channel as I thought about miwmiw who doesn't have a home. I'll ask Mrs. Nena if I can bring the cat home. Guess I need to cook, I have to bribe her with her favorite food. I mean, who doesn't love being bribed by your favorite food?

--

I woke up by the noise outside my place, "Aricia!" I think I know that voice. I guess that would be auntie Fritch. But why on earth would she be here? I moved out 2 years ago, how did she find me?

I looked at my wristwatch and saw that I had 2 hours before I had to go to work. I opened the door still half asleep, early in the morning. It's freaking 5 a.m. and I have to prepare things before going to work. "Auntie? How did you find me?"

"That's not important right now. I need you to get me money for your cousin's project." Ugh here we go again.

"Auntie, the reason why I left my job before wasn't just the work environment, but because I had to earn for myself and not just give everything I have to y-" I didn't finish my sentence because I felt a stunning slap on my face.

"You ungrateful child! After all me and my family did to you through the years. You're just like your mother. Always the right one, always the successful one, the one who doesn't know when to shut up and just give me what I ask!"

"Uncle told me before I moved out how you took money from my parents even before I was born. You kept saying to mom how her business looks like trash and still has the audacity to take money from her. And now that I'm earning with what little I have, you keep asking me for money because of your extravagant spending! No wonder uncle looks miserable that he loved someone who can't even take accountability for the things she did wrong." I was about to get slapped when I grabbed her wrist and gripped it tight.

I felt anger. It's early in the morning and I already feel like I'm tired for the day. It pisses me off how relatives like her are even real. I gripped her wrist and I felt heat. I don't know if it was my hand, if it was my entire body, or was it just because it's already summer? But I do know that I'm angry right now, and I don't want any more of this drama.

"It hurts!" she screamed. I let go and saw that her wrist was red. Not because of my tight grip, but because it looked like it got burned. How is that even possible? I'm not even that physically strong enough to do that.

"Enough! This is the last time I'll ever hear from you." I slammed the door, got my wallet, and threw the money I had for the week. "that's all I have. If only you weren't my uncle's wife, I will never have had any obligation to talk to you. You will never have my respect." I slammed the door again and went to bed, took my pillow, and buried my face. I screamed in frustration. When I calmed down a bit, I called Mrs. Nena and explained my situation.

Looks like I have to bribe her twice as much with her favorite food.

--

"You're late." Said my Karen of a boss. "The tools are in the basement, clean the maze before lunchtime and finish with your original tasks inside the mall before you go home." She said and chewed her gum before entering the mall to her workspace.

Exhausted enough already, I still go down to the basement to get the things I need for trimming and cleaning the maze garden. The garden looks huge enough to get lost in.

And I suck at directions. Great.

I start trimming the bushes in front of the maze garden and while advancing further, I get my tools with me. it's already 10 in the morning and I'm not even finished half of the maze yet.

Then there's that feeling again. Someone's following me.

I clearly put a don't-enter-under-maintenance sign outside the maze, plus it's freaking hot outside. I'd rather be inside the mall right now than collapse due to heatstroke.

I remember the dilemma I had to go earlier. I still wonder how I burnt that woman's wrist.

I stopped trimming the bushes and took a leaf. I looked at it while holding it and it didn't turn into ashes.

I think I must be dreaming when I talked with auntie. Maybe I was just seeing things. It's not like I have powers or anything.

I looked at the leaf that I'm holding again and remembered auntie and her demands. She never once looked at me as her own daughter, I was only a nuisance to her. I was never part of the family.

*tsss*

My fingers holding the leaf started igniting a flame that burnt it to ashes. I couldn't believe my eyes. I let go of the huge scissors on my other hand, frightened by what I saw and scared that I might burn it too. Maybe the heat's just getting to me. I need to cool down.

Then I saw a cold bottle of water on my right shoulder. "Drink this."

"Thanks." I said then screamed.

"Who are you?" I said facing the guy who gave me the water bottle.

"I'm a messenger from the god Bathala."

"What?" what is he saying? Is he insane?

"I'm Darius. Blessed child of the avian god, Muhen. And I am here on a mission: to unlock your powers before Sitan could destroy the world."