Something That Glitters

Prologue

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I often ask myself, as a beautiful young adult, how will I survive life?

The voice inside my head was quiet. Argh! Why am I not answering myself? To conquer life, we're gonna have to team up, self!

Okay, okay. But I thought, life should be just easy, right?

It's hard enough to live life in Manila, but I'm already getting by. I've mastered the art of just winging stuff. So I thought again, where's the fun in that?

That's why I moved!

To New frickin' York, baby!

Dito na ako hahanap ng jowa—the very reason I was here, I admit. My girl cousins were already with their partners—bleurgh!—at ako na lang ang wala!

"Are you sure you don't want me to contact my friends to help you?" asked Saige, her brows curled down. Magka-video call kami.

Oh my gosh, parang awang-awa sa 'kin ang pinsan ko, ha!

"Saige!" suway ko. "I have friends din kaya here! I just want to be alone, you know. Roam free in the city that never sleeps!"

Also, hahanap ng jowa. Don't forget, hashtag priorities.

"I will live the infamous Find Myself pitch, I'll shop till I drop—oh, wait. I don't have money pala. I mean, I won't spend my money here." I sighed. "Gusto ko kasing magsimula from scratch, that's why I don't need help."

"How much is your rent?"

"It's twenty-five hundred dollars." I shrugged, she face-palmed. "What? Nasa New York ako, baby! Everything comes with a hefty price. Also, discounted na 'yan because I work for the landlady."

"How much is the pay, then?"

It's... it's no big deal, right? Psh! As long as masaya ako rito, 'di ba? That's all that matters?

I did a static sound, which by the way was executed oh so perfectly, so that my cousin would think our communication was breaking.

Yup, a static sound in a digital world.

"Hala, Saige, sksksksks, I'm breaking—" Nag-stop motion ako para dagdag effect. "You're sksksksk breaking! Okay, I'm hanging up now. It's a shame. But nice talk, bye!"

So, back to work...

I left my job in one of our hotels in Manila to start anew. Sa ganito kasing paraan nagkakaroon ng lovelife iyong sa movies, so I'm winging it like that.

Yes, I am a young adult na ang problema ay lovelife at kung paano tatabuyin ang mga bubuyog na dumadapo sa mga nakadisplay na bulaklak sa labas ng flower shop.

"Come on, New York bees, rent your own place! Bee like me. Get it?" I snickered to myself. "Of course you won't get it, you're bees."

May suot akong gloves habang pinapaypayan ang mga bulaklak. And while I elegantly shove the bees away, I'm smiling at the passersby in front of the Daily Bloom.

I didn't want to say it this early, but okay, I'm still gonna say it—may crush na ako rito. And the fun part was he's a Filipino!

He goes to the shop everyday because I don't know, siguro gusto lang niya akong makita. No other reason but that. I mean c'mon, I am majestic!

Pero habang wala pa siya, let me tell you what's New York like through my eyes.

Cue in that jazz music with trumpets, sax, and piano. Don't forget the drums and double bass. Are you hearing it now? Are you in the zone, yes? Alright, good! Here it goes.