Short stories: Life lessons

In Pursuit of Dreams Gone Wrong

From the time I stepped into the room of my high school years, I started to dream big just like any other students who have full of promises to themselves and their family. But for me then, life was just too hard to grasp and that every time school vacation approaches, I immediately look for summer jobs. Most of the time, I ended up as a laborer in construction company. My young body developed into a hardened and stout physique because of hard labor that I was in. I have no regrets working as a construction worker because I know I am a big help to my poor family. My being a son of a poor family helped me understand the true meaning of life.

Right after I finished my education, I never stop working until such time that I am already threading all kinds of jobs available. But it seems that all the hard work that I have is not enough to ease my family’s predicament. Subsequently, I found myself applying for abroad. First, I passed all the tests required for my application but not without paying a huge sum of money borrowed from a neighbor with a 10% interest. There was full of excitement when I set foot in Chiang Kai Sheik International Airport. “At last I am now in Taiwan” thus I uttered with glee.

My job wasn’t easy but it’s worth of a task because I am earning more than what I used to get in my country. And after two years of hard work in Taiwan, I am finally backed home with a few dollars neatly stuffed in my pocket. In all of the salary I earned in Taiwan was remitted to my family in a regular basis. Fate was really not on my side because having worked abroad did not helped turn my family’s fortune. Knowing that I have siblings to support, I tried for another chance to go abroad and what I got was the worst experience ever happened to my life. And the next thing I know was that, I was already preparing to board a vessel somewhere in the central part of the Philippines.

It was 1st of April 2001 in late Sunday afternoon when we left Manila for Subic the former US Military Base and now a Freeport bustling with businesses and other activities that makes the place livelier during the night. And after a few hours of travel, the car came to a halt in front of a cozy restaurant where a group of men are waiting in one of the table. We were told by a man (business agent) who accompanied us from Manila to go inside the restaurant because a short briefing will be conducted by the men who are expecting our presence. One of