CHAPTER 1: Prologue

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"I don't have a job, bess!" I howled at my good friend Purity. "What will I do? If my brother will know about this, he will force me to go back living with him again in Virginia. I am really enjoying myself living an independent life here." My heart is so heavy that I'm about to cry nonstop in front of my best friend.

I keep on pacing back and forth just to express my anxiety and annoyance of my situation to Purity. I mumble a lot if I am pique of myself due to my own apprehension. Purity is busy eating her dinner and she is just watching me making a fool of myself due to my own angst. I glare at her and shriek at her. "Purification!!!! Are you listening to me?"

"Pwede ba Honesta, magsalita ka nga sa Tagalog? Tayong dalawa lang dito sa apartment noh! At parehas tayo Pinay.", she said to me with her mouth full of food she's chewing. "Walang magagawa yang kakatalak mo diyan at iyak!", she continued talking. "What happened ba at natanggal ka sa trabaho?", she eyed me with a questioning look.

"Hay naku bes, ako ang umalis dun at ayoko nang bumalik pa. Nakakairita ang head namin at lagi na lang akong pinagiinitan nun eh. Ewan ko ba, insecure ata ang loka sa beauty ko." I've said this while walking towards the dinner table. I've taken the other chair opposite her. Then, I started eating the pasta that she had made and put a lot of pepper and cheese. I grabbed a large bread too. I filled my mouth with a large portion of pasta followed by the bread.

I started eating while tears flowed down my cheeks. "I need to find a new job. Kahit ano papasukin ko basta kumita lang. Nakakahiya sau bes kasi ikaw lang ang may work ngaun." I looked at Purity with my puppy eyes. "Anu ka ba Honestia, parang hindi tayo magkaibigan eh. Ikaw ang tumulong sa akin para makapunta dito sa Amerika. Kaya malaki ang utang na loob ko sau. At kaibigan kita at dadamayan sa hirap at ginhawa." Purity uttered those words to me full of sincerity. "Pwede ba kasi itigil mo iyan kakaiyak mo. Idaan mo sa kain para mahimasmasan ka bes. Basta naniniwala ako na "Everything happens for a reason." kaya nangyari ito sau. Of course, hindi natin sasabihin sa kapatid mo na nawalan ka ng trabaho dito." Purity stood up from her seat and approached me. She placed her hands on my shoulders and looked into my puffy eyes. "We will help each other on this. Magtiwala ka lang bes. Makakasurvive ka din. Kagaya ko nung unang dating ko dito db. At andun ka para gabayan ako." She hugged me tightly and patted my back. "Everything will be alright, beshie."

After hugging me, Purity looked into my face and started taking off my tears. She held my cheeks and suddenly pinched them. "Tahan na ok? Cge ka, papangit ka niyan."

"Thank you Purification ah. Pangit naman ako tlga eh." I pouted to her. I continued eating my food. "Tama ka, idaan ko na muna sa kain then worry tomorrow."

"Hay naku bes, ayan ka na naman. Oh siya, imemeet ko na muna yung katrabaho ko sa bar ngaun. Gusto mo ba sumama? Para naman malibang ka kesa magEMO ka dito sa apartment." Purity stood up and went inside her room to get her purse and coat. When she got back, she's ready to leave but waited for my answer on her invitation. "Si Stephanie ba ang kasama mo?" I asked Purity. "OO siya nga. Kinakamusta ka nga niya eh. Hirap magkaroon ng friend na Amerikana beshie. Nakakadugo ng ilong. hahahaha" Purity roared with laughter. "So, are you coming with me?"

"Dito na lang ako bes. Pagkatapos ko kumain ay magpapahinga na lang muna ako. Go ahead, enjoy the night with Stephanie. Regards sa kanya ah." I moved my hands to Purity and forced her to leave already. I don't want to spoil her night with Steph. "I will be alright here." I assured Purity.

"OK, lock the door ok? I will bring my spare key with me." Purity kissed me on the cheeks and went outside the door. I closed it and started crying again.

I told myself that I would do everything I can to get a new job. Kahit ano basta trabaho. Bawal ang choosy dito sa Amerika kasi mamamatay ka sa gutom. Besides, I want to establish myself here and show to my family that I can be on my own.

I suddenly saw a newspaper and started scanning it. My eyes caught an advertisement in the classified ads section. WANTED: HOUSEKEEPER.....

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This is unedited people so please bear with me for the errors. This is also a combination of English and Tagalog because of the two main characters who are both Pinays.

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May FOREVER ba sa NEW YORK?Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon