"Anak! Gising na, you'll be late for your interview."

I tried to stretch my body pagkatayo ko but it just felt so fucking sore. Last night was so exhausting! But it still felt good.

Archery.

Nagpuyat ako kagabi para lang maglabas ng galit sa range. I was mad about another stupid reason and I felt like shooting arrows at dawn.

Nagmadali akong naligo and dressed up nicely for an interview. My Mom has been begging me to get a job because I stopped studying in my third year at a college university. Sayang nga iyong scholarship e.

Nawala lahat ng pangarap ko pero wala akong magagawa. I was depressed. Everything felt like shit. But luckily I'm healing... At least I think I am.

Kaya ako ngayon maghahanap ng trabaho para makarating ako sa dream country ko.

Japan.

Actually, it's not a dream country. I just want to see the beautiful cherry blossom trees there. Blossom trees represent my life, that's why I think it would be very peaceful if I see those trees and chill under one of them.

While I was fixing the collar of my polo shirt, inabutan ako ni Mom ng tinapay.

"Anong trabaho ba 'yan, 'nak?" Tanong ni Mom and I sat down to fix my shoes. "Wow, you're wearing heels?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Mom.

I scoffed, "I guess you could say that I'm full of surprises." I said and stood up again to reach for my bag. "I'll be home before lunch. Do you need anything?" I asked in a monotone and Mom shook her head and it was my signal to leave the house.

Habang nakapila ako sa mga taong may interview ngayon, I could feel so people staring at me. Maybe it was because I was just seated there in silence. Not using my phone, just staring darkly at the wall.

A lot of people think I am weird in many ways. But it might be because I don't have many friends or that I don't smile often.

A lot has happened in my life, especially during my college days. That's why I decided to drop. Nilaglag ko sarili ko dahil sa mga pinag-gagawa ng mga blockmates ko. Sinayang ko 'yong consistent dean's lister streak ko every semester pati na nga ang scholarship.

I was a very intelligent person when it comes to academics, pero hindi lang ako roon magaling—I am also street smart kaya may diskarte pa rin ako sa buhay ko para makakita ng pera.

I wasn't always this quiet, introverted looking person back then. Actually, I was popular when I was in highschool. I was known as the girl who's good at everything and knows everyone.

Ngayon hindi ko na 'yon magawa. I can't open up to people again, I don't need the excess baggage.

While I was being interviewed, I already felt that they didn't want me for the job. Call center 'tong kumpanya na ito. Pero mukhang hindi nila ako tatanggapin dahil nag drop ako.

The program that I was taking was business management. I only had a year left and still dropped. But I'm having fun with my time with myself.

I arrived at home and Mom wasn't alone, I heard her laughing and talking to someone. I was curious to see who she was talking to so I took off my shoes and placed them on the rack before walking towards the living room.

I saw an oddly familiar woman talking to my mom and I knew that I saw her somewhere before. Oh! The advertisement for the company that I just went to earlier, I saw her face. I think she was one of the investors there, but what is she doing here at my house?

"Oh, you're home early. How was the interview?"

I shrugged before sitting down on the opposite side of Mom. "The interview sucked. I guess you're going to still see me here in this house often because I know that I am not going to get the job."

Mom gave me a sad look but again smiled when she pointed at the woman next to her. "Okay lang 'yan anak ko. Don't worry, I have here Mrs. Ren. Siya ay isa sa mga stockholders ng kumpanyang pinuntahan mo kanina and lucky for you, we are friends."

I was confused, "Teka, paano mo nalaman ang kumpanyang pinuntahan ko kanina at kung saan ako nag apply?" I asked her but she disregarded my question.

"That's not important anymore, honey. What's important is you're going to get a job! Isn't that exciting? You can save up money for Japan."

Bigla namang sumingit si Mrs. Ren, "Gusto mo pumunta ng Japan, Anathasia? I'm sorry, what should I call you?" She asked.

"Rienne," I answered.

"Rienne, bakit mo gusto pumuntang Japan?"

"I want to see some sakura trees," I answered in a monotone.

"Sakura trees? Bakit naman?"

"My daughter... When she was still a child she already wanted to visit her favorite cherry blossom trees. She said that it reminded her of the good old days of her teenage years."

If only my Mom knew that I didn't have any good days when I was a teenager.

"You said that you dropped out of college, right? What was the program you were taking?" Mrs. Ren asked again. I was still so confused because I didn't see any relevance to her asking me these types of questions. I'm just going to be one of the call-center agents, right?

"Business?" I said in a questioning tone.

"How about you stay in Japan for a month or so? Flight expenses, and the place you're going to stay in would be covered by me. Hindi pa kasama roon ang monthly allowance mo and salary. Are you up for it?"

I shot an eyebrow at her and rested my elbows on my knees. The offer seems too good to be true. Alam kong may iba pa siyang sasabihin o may catch 'tong offer niya.

"What's my job?" Mahirap na, baka maging sex worker ako ng wala sa oras! Hindi ako ganoon ka-desperada magka-trabaho.

"You'll be my eyes in Japan. Kailangan mong obserbahan kung paano minamanage ang mga business ko roon. You'll just report everything to me everyday. Easy, right?"

With what she said, it led me to thinking. It is a great opportunity because I don't have to pay for anything except for my food there.

"What do you think, Rienne? If you don't want to take this offer, I could still give you a position at the company where you went to kanina." She was looking very hopeful, wala ba siyang ibang tao para gawin ang trabahong binibigay niya sa akin? Mayaman naman siya ah?

"Take the offer, anak. Don't miss this opportunity."

After long minutes of thinking over and over again. I finally made a decision.

"Okay, when will I start?"

"I'll fly you there tomorrow agad. I need you to start ASAP. You don't have to work during Saturdays and Sundays. Kinsenas ang sahod mo, okay?" Sambit niya sa akin at tumango naman ako kahit alam kong magiging saglit lang ako roon. This job would atill be temporary and I need to have a back up plan if this doesn't end well.

She handed me a contract and of course I read the terms and conditions first before signing it.

"Saan pala ako magsstay doon sa Japan? May susundo na ba sa akin?"

"You don't have to worry about that anymore. I just need you to get your passport and things ready, okay? Meet me tomorrow at the airport 5 hours before your flight. I'll send you the details via email."

I nodded before shaking hands with her, "Alright."

"Oh and you would be living with my son. May kwarto naman doon kaya hindi kayo magtatabi sa pagtulog. He doesn't want any distraction while studying but I'm sure you won't have any problem being on the same roof with him since you're good at being nonchalant."

Tumigil ako sa pakikinig no'ng sinabi niya na may kasama ako sa isang lugar.

I hate people.

And now I am starting to regret that I even agreed to this.