"Manila shaw," the guard nods, waving her through the MRT gate seconds before it clangs shut. "Manila shaw," the habal-habal driver grins, weaving through traffic like a needle through denim.
"Manila shaw," she whispers again. And walks forward, unbothered. manila shaw
She steps off the jeep. The humid air slaps her with love and garbage smoke. Somewhere, a church bell argues with a bus horn. "Manila shaw," the guard nods, waving her through