When in Time Square

Prologue

Prologue

"Hindi ka pwedeng tumira dito!!" He yelled at me!

"And why not? Pinagsamantalahan mo ang kabaitan ko! You stole my things!! I was scammed! Sa train station ako natulog because I don't have anywhere to go to!!! You owe me a place to stay for selling my things!!!!" Sagot ko sa kanya.

"Aba't — hoy babae how sure you are na ako nga yung driver na nasakyan mo? Ang daming Pinoy na cab driver dito no!!!" Nagpapalusot pa talaga sya. As soon as I saw the cab plate number na nakapark sa harapan ng isang Store mabilis kong hinanap ang lalaking to.

"I have the cab plate number. Ikaw yun!! Wala kang puso!! Masama kang tao!! How could you do that sa kapwa mo Pinoy!!!" I folded my arms over my chest at humarang sa pintuan ng tinitirhan nya.

"Umuwi ka na!!!" Hinawakan nya ang ulo ko at itinulak palayo.

"I can't!!! Naubos na yung pera ko pantaxi dahil sinundan kita dito!! Hindi ako aalis!!!" Bumalik ulit ako sa pagharang sa pintuan ng apartment nya.

"Wala akong pakialam! Umalis ka na nga!!" He pulled me away then pushed me on the floor.

"Wala ka talagang puso!!! Irereklamo kita!!!" I picked myself up habang tumatawa sya. "What's funny?"

"Di ka nga makahingi ng tulong sa embassy, Paano mo pa ako irereklamo? Ang lapit ng embassy dito. Samahan kita gusto mo?" Then it hit me. Alam nya na I can't go home like this. Malaki ang utang namin sa pinas. Ayokong madisappoint ang family ko.

"Troy!!! Stop bringing strippers in my building or else I'll have to kick you out for good! You couldn't even pay the rent on time, yet you have the nerve to bring another hooker here!!" An old blonde woman yelled at him before she disappear.

I was going to say something but everything went blurry. My vision was spinning. I saw his mouth moving like cursing me for sure but I couldn't hear anything — and couldn't remember what happened next.

ONE WEEK EARLIER...

We all have our dreams for ourselves and our family. Most of the time, our family serves as our inspiration in achieving them. In my case, they're the only reason I'm willing to do everything for. As soon as I turned 18 years old I started applying for overseas jobs. I don't have anything against my country, but there is no money for me here in the Philippines as much as I hate to say it.

After months of job hunting, finally I found the perfect job for me, a receptionist in a hotel in Time Square, New York. I know, it's an amazing state. It's actually one of the places I wanted to check off of my bucket list. The agency was very accommodating. They processed all my papers for me, we just have to pay them. It's not cheap by the way, I am not surprised. Hey it's United States of America, it takes a lot just to get there. I was going to settle in China or Taiwan, so it's closer to my country, but I took the opportunity to work in the US, for a price of course. My family sold some of our properties and even went to a loan shark. We're very positive we're going to pay everything back.

I already have so much plans ahead of me, for myself, but mostly for my family. When I thought my dream is already within my reach, is when the worst comes unexpectedly. How am I going to face my life in New York alone? Will I ever be able to survive? Or will I never sleep just like the city that never sleeps?