The bus rolled into Manila long after the sun had set.Abbie pressed her forehead against the glass as the terminal came into view, a blur of neon lights and swarming bodies. Car horns blared from every direction. Jeepneys crawled along the road like armored beetles, their sides pulsing with colored lights, drivers shouting destinations into the chaos. Vendors waved skewers of barbecued meat at passing travelers, their shouts blending with the rumble of engines. The air was thick, a choking mix of smoke, grease, and sweat.
The moment she stepped off the bus, the smell hit her harder. This wasn’t like the warm, salty nights of Bicol. This air was sour and heavy, pressing against her skin. People brushed past her shoulders without apology, each face etched with exhaustion.
She wrinkled her
