KHADIJA'S POV
After meticulously packing my belongings, I made my way to the bathroom to take a warm shower, lathering up with my favorite body wash and shampoo. I took my time, letting the water wash away all the grime and stress of the day. Once I felt refreshed, I dried myself off and headed back to my luggage, excited to put together an outfit that would make me feel confident and elegant.
After much consideration, I settled on a classic white coat that added a touch of sophistication to my look, paired with a sleek black tube top that hugged my curves in all the right places. For my bottoms, I chose a pair of black trouser pants that fit me perfectly, highlighting my figure without being too tight or restricting my movement.
Jannah lounged on the plush cushions of my living room couch, her eyes following my movements as I scurried around in a frenzy, searching for my misplaced shoes.
As I dashed past her, she spoke up in a calm and collected voice, "I don't have anything to say, but I always appreciate your keen eye for fashion. You never fail to choose a great style !" Her words were soft-spoken, yet carried a sense of genuine appreciation. Despite my current disheveled appearance, her compliment made me feel proud and accomplished.
*Unknown Number Calling*
"Good afternoon, how may I assist you?" I answered the phone call.
"Hi, it's Sir Ben speaking. Is everything ready for your flight, Khadija?" he asked with concern. I immediately recognized his voice, as he was the owner of the company I worked for.
"Hello Sir Ben, yes, everything is set. I have packed all my things," I replied confidently.
"Great job, Khadija. You should head to the airport now and try to be there early. We don't want any delays," he said, sounding quite authoritative.
"Okay, sir. I will grab a taxi now and head to the airport," I assured him.
"Before you leave, just make sure you have all your papers and valid IDs with you," he reminded me.
"Absolutely, sir. I have all my necessary documents with me," I confirmed.
"All right, Khadija. Have a safe trip and take care," he said before hanging up the call.
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Jannah stood behind me, helping me carry the other bag as I pulled my suitcase outside my apartment. Her voice was gentle as she asked, "Are you sure you want to go?"
I stopped and looked into her eyes, feeling a pang of sadness in my chest. "Yes, Jannah," I replied, my voice strained with emotion. "I need to go for my family."
As I spoke, tears welled up in my eyes. I tried to hold them back, but it was no use - they spilled down my cheeks, hot and uncontrollable. Jannah noticed and asked, "Why are you teary-eyed, Khad?"
I couldn't help myself from crying in front of her. My heart was heavy, and I suddenly let out a whine. It felt like I was leaving a part of myself behind, and the pain was almost too much to bear. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but it was clear that I was emotional.
I'm not sure why, but I'm suddenly feeling a weight on my shoulders that's hard to bear. I've never been one to take on big responsibilities, even when it comes to dealing with my own problems. I always feel like I need to rely on my mom, dad, and sisters for support. But deep down, I know that I need to take on these challenges to grow and become stronger.
As I was carrying my bags, Jannah suddenly put them down and hugged me tightly. "You're doing great, even if it feels hard right now," she said with a warm smile. "I'm only your best friend, but I'm so proud of you!"
I couldn't help but cry as Jannah wiped away my tears. It felt like such a relief to have someone who understood me and cared about me. "Thank you, Jannah," I said, trying to compose myself. "I really appreciate your support."
"Of course, anytime you need to talk, just give me a call," Jannah said, giving me a small chuckle to lighten the mood.
As the clock hit three in the afternoon, my best friend and I hailed a cab and headed towards Mactan International Airport. We were on our way to the embassy for an interrogation, which was making me feel quite anxious. Sir Ben had advised us to arrive early, and we took his advice seriously.
Upon our arrival, my best friend and I bid each other farewell and I made my way inside the airport.
I was taken aback to find all of the top executives from my company standing there, ready to assist me through the check-in process and the impending interrogation. To my surprise, there were three male bosses present, each representing different departments within the company - the accounting head, the production head, and the owner of the company. As I looked around, I noticed only one female boss among them, whom I had never met before. It was a unique experience to have such high-level support during a time of stress and uncertainty, and their presence made me feel more confident about the situation.
Despite their support, my hands were shaking with nervousness. Just then, my phone rang with a message, adding to my already heightened anxiety.
*One Unread Message*
Ahmed: How are you my lady? I will go back to Philippines, i just have something to arrange of. Love you!
As I read the message from my phone, I hesitated to reply given the situation at hand. I opted to secure my phone in my bag instead.
I then proceeded to greet the big bosses who were present, making sure to sound polite and respectful. "Hi Sir, good afternoon!" I exclaimed.
As I finished my greeting, one of the big bosses - the accounting head of the company - responded with a stern tone. "Good afternoon. Come on now, let's proceed with your interrogation!" he said. I nodded in response, trying to hide my nervousness, and followed them while pulling my strolled luggage.
As we were walking, a female boss introduced herself, "Hi, I'm Tanya. Nice to meet you!" She extended her arm for a handshake.
Being respectful, I replied, "Hi, ma'am. I'm Khadija! Nice to meet you too, ma'am," and accepted her hand for a handshake and give her a sweet smile.
As we walked alongside the three bosses, a friendly woman approached us, chuckling softly. "Oh, don't call me ma'am," she said, "We're on the same level here. Just call me Tanya!"
I was carrying multiple bags and struggling to keep up with the group, but Tanya offered to help. "Let me help you with the other bags," she said kindly, taking one of the bags from me.
"Thank you so much, Miss Tanya!" I said, feeling grateful for her assistance. As we continued to walk, Tanya introduced herself as our guide for the rest of the way.
"That's great!" I replied, feeling relieved to have such a helpful and friendly workmate.
As we arrived at the interrogation counter, I felt a wave of nervousness wash over me. There were a lot of papers that needed to be submitted, and my turn was not until the other person had finished. As I waited, I tried to calm my nerves and prepare myself for the interview.
Finally, it was my turn, and I stepped forward to answer the barrage of questions that were thrown my way. Thankfully, the questions were not too difficult to answer, and I managed to get through them without any major issues. It was Dubai, after all, and I knew what was expected of me.
After three and a half long hours of being interrogated, I finally passed, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Miss Tanya and I were then ready to check in, and as we approached the counter, the three big bosses handed me an envelope containing cash and other necessary papers.
They all shook my hand and wished me luck, and I felt a sense of gratitude for their confidence in me.
"Good luck and thank you for being part of our ventures, Miss Khadija!" Sir Ben, the owner, said as he extended his arms for a handshake. I shook his hand firmly, feeling a sense of pride at being part of such a prestigious organization.
"Good luck and have a safe journey, Miss!" said the Accounting Head, while maintaining a professional smile. I smiled back, feeling grateful for their support and encouragement.Both of them were in their 50s, with a strict aura and a professional demeanor, which only added to my sense of respect and admiration for them.
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As I took my seat on the plane next to Miss Tanya, she started to brief me about our upcoming work in Dubai. She mentioned that we were on our way to represent our company, which made me feel a sense of responsibility towards the task ahead.
Miss Tanya went on to explain that our primary responsibility would be to provide assistance and support to Filipino OFWs. As the representative of our company, we would have to ensure that we fulfill our duties to the best of our abilities.
I listened intently to her every word, absorbing all the details of the job. She also mentioned that our assignment would be in the Dubai Industry, which would require us to be professional and efficient in our approach.
"Khad," she said thoughtfully, "As part of the embassy, I believe it's important that we show respect for their culture by embracing their traditional women's wear!"
Her words made me raise my eyebrows in surprise, and I couldn't help but give her a questioning look. "What do you mean?" I asked her, feeling a bit confused.
"I mean we should wear hijabs and long dresses," she explained, a sad expression on her face. "It's important that we demonstrate our appreciation for their customs and way of life, even if it means stepping outside of our own comfort zones."
I didn't expect we'd have to do that. I only brought dresses and pants, but luckily they're not too short for the occasion.
I'm just chilling on the plane, waiting for it to take off in a minute. We'll have two stops in Taipei and San Francisco, which means we'll be traveling for a total of 16 hours, including the layover time.
The whole flight feels pretty heavy. I can't stop thinking about my family. It's really sad that I won't be seeing them in just a minute! It feels like a huge weight on my heart.
A sense of joy and contentment washes over me as I contemplate how this work will benefit my family, and more specifically, my precious little boy, Khayden. The thought of providing them with a better life makes me feel grateful for the opportunity to work hard and earn a living. However, I can't help but feel disappointment towards my extended family who, instead of supporting us, choose to belittle us.
I sit on the plane, feeling drowsy and drained. As I close my eyes for a brief moment, I am startled awake by the announcement that we are minutes away from our destination. Tanya, my soon to be workmate, notices my exhaustion and points out, "You almost slept the whole flight, Khad!" Her laughter echoes through the cabin as she munches on her crackers.
My stomach grumbles as I realize how famished I am. I long for a hearty meal to fill me up. "I'm starving!" I exclaimed.
Tanya handed me the packed lunch and said, "Here's your free meal, it's still hot!" The food smelled amazing, and I couldn't wait to dig in.
As I chowed down, I spotted someone I recognized walking by. I couldn't tell if it was Lucian Max or if I was just seeing things because I was starving.
After I finished my meal, I started talking to Tanya to learn more about our actual work. She was really friendly and answered all of my questions and even gave me some tips.
I was itching to ask Miss Tanya a few more questions, so I interrupted her snack time to get her attention.
"Miss Tanya, can I ask you something?" I said, trying to sound casual and friendly.
She looked up, munching on something, and gave me the go-ahead with a nod. I took that as a sign to proceed.
"I'm a bit confused, do you think our job is going to be difficult?" I asked, feeling uncertain if I had expressed myself clearly enough.
"Don't worry, Khad. Our job is quite straightforward. We'll be handling some paperwork, but nothing too challenging. However, what's really exciting is that we're about to meet a VIP Arab!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement.
"Wow, that does sound exciting. Who exactly are we going to meet?" I inquired, eager to know more details.
"Well, we don't have all the specifics yet, but we're likely to meet some royalty. It could be a prince or princess, or even a high-ranking official from the Arab world. Either way, it's going to be an incredible opportunity for us," she replied, her tone still buzzing with excitement.