In a few minutes my plane will be landing to the Country that gave me a lot of opportunities. This place that will always be special, this place where I finds love and have received so much love back….I look at the photo in my hands…it was our old picture… my eyes starts to be watery, but I remains to be blissful. I’m near already my love, the distance that separated us will be gone and I assure that I will make up for my years absence…Finally our wait will be over.
* * ** *
Hi! I’m Rika Mhae Watanabe, a talent/entertainer in Japan and have been here for almost 4 years. Going back and forth, since the club(omise) I have been working with, always request my boss(Sacho) at the agency to send me back. I guess, having a mestiza look and a sweet singing voice, have seduced my loyal and big-time patrons or clients.
I’m also flattered when people mistaken me as a relative to Ms. Marian Rivera (Filipina actress which previous holds the title #1 FHM sexies woman). Just turned 22 and considered as veteran in the industry, I’m fully acquainted with the norms of Japanese men, which add up to my appeal and allure to even Yakusa’s top men. Thus, I’m not surprise, being number 1 income-drawer of the club.
Even other Filipina co-workers were usually the favorites of Japanese men. Our charms as a race were unequaled by other race who also work in this industry. If there’s one who I consider who is at par with my charisma (sometimes I think she could even surpass me), she will be Kikay. She is also a singer at my workplace and with her enchanting voice, she was able to captivates many patrons as well at the club.
Kikay is my roommate, though I do prefer to be alone, I agreed to share my living space to her. Since our dwelling is provided by the club, it was my boss who commanded for us to cohabitate. Looking at things, I’m still lucky, because my room is not as pack as my other workmates.
As time passes by, I find that we have a lot of commons and similarities. We both like to keep our place tidy and given that we are both singers we enjoy our own seclusion from the rest. Our bond got stronger, with our small chit-chats and our conversation about life. Even the topic of sex is no longers a taboo between us.
Besides having similarities between me and Kikay, one of the reason I agreed to share the room with her because I felt at easy with her. I don’t know why I have such sentiments…I presume maybe because I saw in her what I used to be when I was starting at this industry.
I have met Kikay before we became workmate…I still remember the first time I saw her at the agency. I was renewing may contract while for her it will be the 1st time. Her face exudes innocence while her hands and body conveys nervousness. Her reaction was quite normal; this is a new and different world. Often times, our countrymen sensational horror or tragic stories, involved in our kind of work. Instead of people praising our sacrifice, we are being bash and a stigma hounds us.
I sat beside her, since it’s the only chair that was vacant. Being friendly and veteran in such job, I tried to strike a conversation with her.
“Hi, I have observed you for a while it seems that this is your first time right?”
“Yes” (She show a restricted smile )”
“By the way, I’m Mhae and you?”
“I’m Kikay”
“Wow your hands were cold…nervous?”
“You guess it right”
“Well I can understand what you feel right now, since I was like that during my audition for the singer post.”
“Ok..Girls ! Mag-ready na kayo. Magsisimula na.” Mami myra
Then one of the staff of agency walk-in and announce that the audition will start anytime from now. Thus most of the applicant started to retouch their face make-up. After few hours, they have announced who are going to proceed to the next level. Most of the applicants failed to get the nod of the judges. After 5 applicants it was Kikay’s turn. I stayed for a while, was just to listen to her and I know by listening to her she will be in. Since I was only for renewal, I did not stay long at the agency and gone ahead first
It was quite an angelic voice and with her such virginal looks, men will fall for her. When result came in, she is the one of her batch able to make it. After few weeks, I received a notice that my Japan visa was approved. Soon after that, the agency also called us to inform us that our tickets were already arranged and ready for pick-up. (It also includes our assigned club and flight schedules.)
* * ** *
At the day of our flight I saw Kikay and other talents of the agency at the Airport terminal. I’m acquainted with most of the talents since they were like me who had their contract renewed. It’s normal phenomena, that their love ones accompany them and some even cries. As for Kikay, I notice that she was with an attractive guy or I should say a man who was oozing with sex appeal. His body has definition and his eyes were very seductive. His smile show a little bit of naughtiness inside him. My guess was either he is Kikay’s boyfriend or husband.
The couple notice that I’m observing them, thus I wave and smile. They start to walk to my location…
“Hi Mhae!!! I have make it.”
“I’m not surprise, cause I hear you sing that day before I left.”
“By the way, I like to introduce to you my live-in partner, Jake…Ah Jake baby, she is Candy, one of my coworker in Japan.
“Hi, Jake nga pala.. ( Palihim na kumindat ) nice to meet you and please take care of my Kikay babe for me while in Japan.
“Jake!!! (embarrass but yet giggling)”
“Sure!!! (saying it with a smile)” Agad kong hinila ang kamay ko sa matagal na pagkakahawak ni Jake
“Tshhh…. Napaghahalataan” Sa isip isip ko nalang
We continue our chat until we have to separate since we need to check in at the Airport terminal.
While waiting for our boarding time, Kikay and I continued our chat. She has a ton of questions, about work and everything about Japan. It’s not an odd thing, cause it’s her first time going to Japan and more so, it’s her first time going out of the country. I patiently answer all her questions and even gave some tips on…