Winning Ticket

M COUNTRY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The crazy crowd made me want to turn around, board another plane back to my country, and lock myself inside my bedroom, hiding under my quilt. It was crazy, but whose idea was this?

I am here in a country I am unfamiliar with, the same as the rest of the world. If it weren't for my crazy best friends, I would not have packed my bag, gotten in my car, and driven to the airport. However, everything is too late.

Of course, that was only my crazy thoughts, making excuses every minute to prove to everyone that I was perfectly comfortable living my daily life around my ranch. I inherited the small place from my father, which he inherited from his father, and so on—everything was written in family history.

Since I am here already, why will I not grab this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

'Gosh! When are they going to finish?'

The Immigration Officer is in front of me, checking my documents.

'Is everything alright?'

I was so nervous that I wanted to go to the restroom and relieve myself.

I panicked, but I forced myself to calm down. Biting my lower lip, I smiled at the lady before me.

'You have nothing to worry about, Krishna.' I comforted myself. I'm still nervous, but I should not show even a bit of anxiety when I come here for a vacation, and if I did, they would accuse me of committing a crime.

Why would I think this, anyway? Is this somewhat like a suspense and mystery movie where I am a kind of secret agent looking for someone, perhaps an assassin, so I must take a low-key profile?

Well... Unfortunately, I was not but an ordinary girl from a small town somewhere in the Mediterranean Sea... Besides, I'm not fond of those thriller-themed movies. It was boring for me to watch the serial killing stories.

"Are you okay, Miss Palermo?"

"Hah? Ah, yes! I need to go to the toilet." The IO queried me, and thank goodness I was able to answer immediately. But I added a lame excuse. I hoped she would not suspect me of something.

That scared me when my bubble burst all of a sudden after the lady called me out.

Thankfully, I didn't stutter out of nervousness, and after a little while, the Immigrant Officer smiled. Hence, I assumed everything was fine.

"Alright. Here's your passport. I guess you know the way to the Ladies' Room?" the lady asked me, and I nodded.

"Yes, I do," I replied confidently, even though I didn't know where the toilet was. But it's a piece of cake to be concerned about.

I could not wait to reach the exit door. I forgot I needed to use the restroom and was already outside when I remembered that.

"Well, never mind," I mumbled.

Importantly, I passed the immigration inspection and can now leave the airport. I wanted to do that as soon as possible, so I quickened my pace and exited the door of this grand and vast airport.

A mixture of cool air and an ocean breeze met me outside. The airport was near the ocean, which added to its perfect location. In front of me is a sky bridge that connects this island and the mainland.

I looked around so that I would be familiar with the island. At the same time, I could recount these memories after I returned to my closet and hid from the world again.

Having this thought tightened my chest. I honestly don't want to accept this vacation for some reason. However, it was strange that it's been just half an hour since I entered this country—this city seemed to have taken a part of me already, and I didn't like it.

I had my reality, and this one was just a vivid dream.

"Huh?"

I was in a trance when my eyes caught an exquisite placard design with my name written on it. Upon realizing something, my jaw dropped in surprise.

'What's going on?' Dumbfounded, I was gaping at the man wearing a maroon suit. I could assume that he was a hotel staffer.

"Miss Palermo!"

The man called me out excitedly, waving the placard in his hands, and I wished for the ground to eat me up. I don't know whether to cry or laugh from embarrassment at what he did.

Why would he need to shout? I am approaching him already. He doesn't need to make so many noises. But before I could get near him, I noticed a photographer and a cameraman taking a picture and filming me.

I was stunned after I realized they had indeed recorded my arrival. I've already noticed these two men at the Immigration Area. So it wasn't just a coincidence that they were filming at the airport.

It looked like they held me in immigration for a little longer exposure. There was no mistake in that. So the moment my plane landed, they started filming me, and everything that happened in the Immigration was all-scripted.

"Is it necessary for this?" I queried, and just looking at these people triggered my anxiety. They were filming me without my permission. Indeed, I was complaining to the person who picked me up. Why would I not?

I believe there's no need for a grand welcome, and my appearance isn't important in this city. Instead, they made me uncomfortable.

I'm glad the valet, or whatever he is called, noticed the changes in my face. He gestured to his co-worker to cut the recording, and the two men nodded and flashed a friendly smile. Before I knew it, they had disappeared already.

"What was that about?" I queried.

"I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable, Miss Palermo. They were the crew that the hotel sent. Their purpose is to record the arrival of our lucky winners in our Anniversary Treats."

"Oh…" I have no words to say, so I let the guy continue.

"Once again, I apologize if we didn't warn you, Miss Palermo. Our hotel will release a short film on our official website and on every social media platform. Whereas the winners are the major highlights."

"Huh? Do you mean people are going to see me?" Panic struck me all of a sudden. Good thing the guy was quick to enlighten me.

"Don't worry, Miss. You have the right to tell the hotel management that you don't want to be exposed to the promotion. Then we can blur your face throughout the short film."

"Oh, would you do that?" I was relieved when the guy nodded. Finally, I can smile now. So I introduced myself, even though I knew the guy had some information about me. I stretched my hand and enunciated, "Krishna Palermo."

The guy smiled and accepted my hand. "Hello, Miss Palermo. My name is Jerry. They assigned me as your chauffeur during your stay."

It surprised me to hear this, and before I could answer my question, Jerry walked toward the white car two meters from us.

"Welcome to Mainland City, Miss Palermo!"

Jerry welcomed me delightedly while he was holding the car door, which—

'A limousine!?' I was screaming in my head. I could not stop my mouth from opening wide after I realized what kind of ride it was. As I have yet to recover, I blurt out my thoughts.

"Is it too much?"