I fell in love with the man I used to hate the most. Before, whenever I saw him, I felt nothing but dislike — yet I could not avoid him, because he was the close friend of my sister’s husband. Whenever we had family gatherings, he was always there. One day, during my sister’s birthday, our whole family gathered together, and of course, he was there too. Everyone took their turn sharing their thoughts and well-wishes. But when it became my turn to speak, I suddenly fell quiet; no words would come out. I held back because I was afraid he would just laugh at me. But then, he broke the silence. He looked at me and said, “I know you are working now, and you even got promoted. Don’t be shy to tell everyone about it.” At that moment, my heart felt something I had never felt before. He was standing up for me, protecting me in front of others — and that changed everything. After the gathering, it was time for everyone to go home. He approached me and asked gently, “Can I drop you home?” Since it was already late and my house was quite far away, I nodded and said, “Yes.” As we walked or drove together, he started talking to me honestly. “Why do I always feel like you are avoiding me?” he asked. “Am I someone who scares you?” I answered plainly, “No. I just… I really don’t feel like talking much.” He accepted my answer simply. “Oh, okay. But can I get your number? You know… I would really like to know you better.”

My world fell apart when my father passed away and my heart was broken all at once. With no one left to support my family or pay for my siblings’ schooling, I knew I had to step up. I left the Philippines and traveled to Dubai on March 3, 2016, hoping to build a better life for the people I love most. Living with my kind Aunt Cathy gave me a start, but the road ahead was far from easy—struggling with a new environment, getting sick, traveling to Oman for visa issues, and feeling scared every step of the way. Yet in the middle of uncertainty, I found friends who stood by me. I finally found work as a cashier, but soon faced the greatest challenge of all: a strict, cold manager who tested my patience, my strength, and my will to keep going. This is the story of my fight—for my job, for my dignity, and for the family I promised to protect.