Chapter 7

"Uh, just ignore those two. Go ahead, put your things in that room, then let's eat," Jessie said, evading my questioning look. I just followed her instructions and stepped out again to join them for dinner.

"Hey girl, how old are you? You know, you’d be perfect for the place where we work," Misha said.

"Stupid! Leave Lyrica out of it; she’s pure!" Jessie quickly interjected as she sat at the dining table.

"Come on, it’s so hard to find jobs here in Manila. She’ll probably end up working there, too. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her. Don’t act like you didn’t start the same way," Misha teased Jessie.

Jessie let out a resigned sigh.

"Uh, so Lyrica, the truth is, I don’t actually work in an office. I couldn’t get hired by any company here in Manila back then," Jessie began.

"So I ended up working in a high-end bar, along with these two. No one back in the province knows, so please don’t mention it to Mildred. She’s so nosy," she said, shaking her head.

"Oh, of course not," I replied with a smile.

"Thank you," she said, smiling back.

"But what exactly do you do there?" I asked innocently, as I didn’t have any idea.

Misha suddenly choked on her drink, and Shiela froze. Jessie stared at me in disbelief, while I awkwardly smiled at their reaction. Misha burst into loud laughter, like she was in an argument with someone far away. Shiela sighed and shook her head.

"Uhm," Jessie cleared her throat before responding, "In bars, there are dancers. You know, the ones who perform on stage? What’s the term they use in the province? I’ve forgotten." She scratched her cheek, looking awkward.

I finally understood what she meant.

"Don’t worry. At the place where I work, I only dance. These two have other 'businesses' there," Jessie clarified with a shake of her head.

"Hello? Customers approach us, Jessie. The pay’s even better," Misha retorted.

"I know, duh!" Jessie rolled her eyes.

I didn’t expect this to be her job here.

"Are you okay? Were you shocked?" Shiela asked. I could tell she would be the hardest to get along with.

"Yeah, I’m fine. I was just surprised, but it’s not a problem. I’m here to look for a job, not to judge what jobs you have," I said with a smile.

"Tsk, good to hear," Shiela replied as she continued eating. I joined them, engaging in lively conversation.

After dinner, I volunteered to clean up.

"Are you sure you’re okay handling that?" Jessie asked, lighting a cigarette at the table.

"Yes, I know you’re probably exhausted from your night shifts. Thanks again for picking me up at the terminal earlier, even though you were tired," I said.

"It’s nothing. I was the same way when I first moved to Manila," she replied.

Noticing my gaze, she asked, "Do you smoke?"

"Uh, yes, but not often," I answered.

"Nice. Here," she offered me a cigarette.

After drying my hands, I accepted it and joined her at the table.

"Thanks," I said as I lit the cigarette.

"So, you have vices too," she teased.

"Yeah, and I drink occasionally, but only with Mildred," I admitted.

"That’s good. Better to drink with people you trust," Jessie agreed.

"By the way, I have a friend working at a company. They’re hiring, and you might want to apply. It’s tough navigating Manila, especially if you’re new. Are you good with directions?" Jessie asked.

"Yes, luckily, I don’t get lost easily. I’ll start looking for work tomorrow," I replied.

"I have a laptop in my room. You can use it. It’ll be easier to search for job openings," she offered.

"Thank you so much. I only brought a keypad phone," I said sheepishly.

"Tsk, good thing I didn’t have a keypad phone when I moved here. My aunt gifted me a smartphone when I graduated college, saying I was the family’s hope. They knew I planned to work in Manila, so they supported me. But I thought it would be easier to find a job since I had a degree," she explained, shaking her head.

"You know, all the companies I applied to wanted experience. I was applying to gain experience! I was job hunting for almost two months with no luck. I even tried call centers but didn’t get in. That’s where I met Misha, who invited me to apply at the bar. It’s a high-end bar where wealthy businessmen go. I needed to find a job quickly because my allowance was running out. Did you know I owed Misha so much back then because I was sending money to the province?" she added.

"Is it really that hard to find a job here?" I asked, determined not to lose hope.

"Sort of. Many people have connections, so they get hired faster. Don’t worry, I’ll help you," Jessie reassured me.

"Thank you so much, Jessie. You barely know me, yet you’re helping me," I said sincerely.

"What do you mean? Mildred talks about you all the time. Did you think I didn’t know Marco has a crush on you? He’s crazy about you," Jessie teased with a laugh.

"He’s just a friend," I said, smiling, not wanting anything to ruin our friendship.

"If you say so," she said with a chuckle.

"Oh, I need to rest. We’ll share a room. There’s a bunk bed, and I’ve already fixed your space. I have work tonight," Jessie said as she cleaned up.

"Okay. I’ll stay here in the living room for now. Oh, Jessie, is it okay if I use your laptop now?"

"Of course. It’s connected to Wi-Fi, so it’ll be easier for you."

"Thanks again," I said.

Once I got her laptop, I started looking for job openings. I sent my resume to places near us and was grateful for Jessie’s kindness.

When I finally checked my bag, I remembered the envelope Nanay Lucing gave me. I was shocked to find ₱5,000 inside, along with a wallet-sized photo of a man who looked foreign—and oddly resembled me. I placed it carefully in my wallet, feeling both curious and grateful.

Tomorrow, my job hunt begins.