One Road, Six Ways

One Road, Six Ways - Part 24

By the Municipal Office of Antwerp, the Filipinas just stayed seated and it was Pieter who arranged everything. They saw Pieter talked to a man, then later Pieter handed to the man the papers the girls signed and also their passports, then Pieter came and also sat down near them. 

After a while, the man came to Pieter, they talked and then handed to Pieter back the papers and the passports of the girls.

Herman who was waiting in the square or the plaza in front of the Municipal building saw them coming out. Pieter came to Herman and they talked, then they walked toward where the car was parked. The three girls just followed. There's no talking.

Pieter was brought to his house. When he stepped out the car of Herman, he said to the girls. "There's no problem anymore about visa, and working permit. Herman will brought you to your apartment. You have one week free before starting to work, Herman will explain the rest!"

The apartment was small and simple. It was furnished with most needed appliances, a refrigerator, washing machine, gas range and a TV.  It had two bedroom. For the three girls the apartment was more than comfortable for them.

"Girls I have serious things to explain about your work and situation here!" Herman requested the girls to sit down.

"Your work is to be an entertainer, right?" Herman asked the girls and they nodded. "Every night you have to dance your cultural dances, and then the rest of the time until the closing time of       4 o'clock in the morning  you entertain customers, means if a customer ask you to sit down by their table, you have to do it, you cannot refuse! Orders as many ladies drinks you can order, because you can earned extra with the drinks by commissions. Some customers want to pay for sexual pleasure, now it's up to you if you do it or not. No one can force you to prostitutes yourself. But if you do that, it's only allowed inside the club. Theirs a room upstairs! Going out with customers during working hours is strictly prohibited! After working hours you can do what you like, but remember you are then not protected!" 

The three Filipinas understood very well what Herman was saying. It's the same story as what had happened in Nicosia and Lanarca. Now, they thought that there in Cyprus, no one forced them to prostitute themselves but they did it. Why? Okay, nobody did forced them, but there's suggestion, coercion, and manipulation filled sphere. The story about the six Filipinas murdered in Lanarca maybe was just used to imposed fear, maybe it was not true, maybe it did not happened. They tried to forgot Cyprus but now seemed it will happen again. And the way Herman said it, implied the truth that they were prostitutes. It hurts!

After he explained to the girls about their work, Herman waited for their comments but no one of the three girls reacted.

"No comments, no question?" Herman asked them. He saw on the face of the girls that they were worried. "I explained only the works you have to do, I am only the messenger so if I said things that you did not like, I am sorry."

"We understand!" Luisa with no emotion answered Herman.

S I L E N C E

"I have a suggestion or take it as an advice." Herman after a while said. The three girls looked at him. "But please don't tell this to anybody, even to Pieter and Maria."

"What suggestion?" it was Carla who responded.

"Tried to find a man that will marry you, and will pay the syndicate an amount for your freedom!" Herman said.

"Buy our freedom? We are not slave?" it was Thelma who reacted to what Herman said. She was shocked.

"I don't meant that, sorry, maybe I just cannot express myself well in English. What I mean is that you have a year contract, that year contract is to work in a nightclub. Maybe you like to work in the club or maybe not. What I mean is be practical. Use your head. Find a man you like that will marry you and will free you from your contract!"