Give Me One More Day

Chapter 7:

"You'll get a 12-hour jetlag once you go down the plane and be careful of certain kinds of people there. They'll squeeze the money out of you if they can," my Mother said.

"I don't think they will," my father interjected, "they probably think he's just from a well to do family. Just soften your voice, they tend to think you're 'mayabang' (arrogant) once you speak with an American accent."

"I'll be okay," I said, "I'm old enough, and did my assignment well."

"Gosh! Mom and pop! He looks like a star there! They'll recognize him from his Instagram and Facebook account. He has 2 million followers already!"

"I'll drive you to the JFK…"

"Dad! I'll drive the old car, and maybe stay there with some of my friends for a few hours then go to the airport. I'll have the car parked for a week. If things go well, anyone from my friends would be willing to drive it back."

"Okay," my father said, a little disappointed then said, "have a safe trip then."

***

The trip from Syracuse to New York City took me approximately five hours. I just had to pass by some of my favorite gas-station and took time for me to choose a better hotel. PBN said they just had to reimburse me later and all I have to do is keep the receipts, which I did. It's not every day one gets to choose a decent looking hotel, especially in New York.

I booked myself at the cheapest hotel "near" the JFK airport namely Hilton Garden Inn. That is just a quarter of a mile from the JFK airport and I still have around 4 hours, having arrived at 12 noon.

While at the hotel, some friends already in New York City called me and told me they'll accompany me to the Airport. I said, that would be okay but I don't want to feel like a child. However, Ali, Neph and Viki did visit me later in the afternoon, just before riding the JFK Airtrain, a relatively new system for travelling to the JFK. Since my parents told me not to bring too much clothes, just the one I'll use in the hotel and what I am currently wearing because they said Manila is very cheap. It's so cheap there especially clothes so, I had a rather easy ride going to the Airport later.

But before that, Vicky Hister, Nephthali Brown and Ali Messeh came to the hotel and had photoshoots with me, and of course interviewed me a lot to satisfy their curiosity as to what is this all-expenses paid trip I have?

I told them I made a viral photo in the Instagram. But they all know that already. What they don't know is the hustle that happened between the two Filipino networks in an effort to entice me to work in the Philippines as an actor and model. Each network gave me good offer but I have to favor PBN's effort to be more personal in their reach to me to the point that their Vice-President talked to me on the phone. MH-TBN just corresponded me with messages and formal e-mails.

Ali said I got enticed with the money or potential fame? I said, both but I can always go back here since my father's business and some of my friends wished me back. Fame here is more of my wish as many people know that it won't last that much if it does happen.

The three wanted to stay longer but I told them I can call them anytime so after a few more photoshoots by the window overlooking the Queens and there's nothing much to see there except the small buildings on the foreground with the skyscrapers from afar.

Each however used my phone for making their own selfie. I should have booked near the Ground Zero but I decided not to, wishing I could spend more time to travel around the Big Apple. But I bet on the wiser side.

It felt lonely after they left, so I decided to buy something. I need to take a meal at the hotel's restaurant, which to my dismay offered a lot of Garden Salad (it's a Garden Inn, Oh, yes I get it). It did offer some burger and fries but not on a bun and some hard, brown cookies (ugh). I decided to take coffee since those cookies and some of on-the-plate burgers and fries aren't as good as they claim. After eating, I spent a lot of my time watching shows on the TV in my room.

Just before went up back to my room, I bumped into a rather burly white guy who said he was a janitor and was tasked to clean the rooms. I didn't see him again later until I decided to check out much later in the afternoon.

Since I just have a single suitcase with me, I left the room and the same janitor happen to be on the same corridor when I left my room and he smiled as he offered to clean the room just as I leave, which I said, "okay."

The service of the hotel for the JFK airport was good but not excellent. Maybe it's the neighborhood?

Anyway, just as I arrived and went through the typical check in the Airport, Mom and Dad called. It's spot-on. I am about to enter the Departure Area and it will be a long 20-hour flight. The voices of Mom and Dad are soothing if not repetitive at times.

Now, here I go.