This is just a work of fiction. Wag seryosohin!

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The vibrating pulse of my sex toy filled me in.

My moans and his groans filled the silence of the hotel room.

''Yan, sige pa, pakita mo sakin gano ka kalibog para sakin'' his voice aired from my phone's speaker.

Yes, eto ako, nakikipag-SOP sa isang kaibigan ko with benefits on the side…

..while stuck here for the 4thday of quarantine.

Kagagaling ko lang sa swabbing area ng hotel, it was 2 in the morning. I was planning to go back to sleep when his message pinged my phone.

'Tapos na ang swab?'

Jules and I have been friends for quite some time. We were planning to see each other sa pag uwi ko. Yet here we are, virtually fucking each other, not able to wait for the day that I get to be released from isolation.

''Malapit na ako, love…'' daing ko sa kanya.

''Ako din, sabay tayo''

And we indeed came at the same time… at naka tulog na ako, excited for the next day, the day of release from isolation.

Unfortunately, life doesn't go your way all the time.

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'Greetings, Kabayan! This is to inform you that your RT-PCR test results indicate that you are POSITIVE for COVID-19. Please remain calm...'

Calm? Anong calm?! Lintek talaga o, kung kelan uwing uwi na ako after 2 years of not going home due to this pandemic, ngayon pa talaga ako mag po-positive? After lahat ng precautions na ginawa ko? Halos halikan ko na nga mga COVID-19 pasyente ko sa ibang bansa and never ako nag positive, tapos dito pa talaga ako sa quarantine nag positive?!

Pag tinamaan ka nga naman ng swerte.

'You will be required to finish your mandatory isolation period for 7 days in a government isolation facility…'

My gosh. I was already stuck here for 5 days. Imagine being extended for 7 more days? I was counting my lucky stars that I was designated sa isang 4-star hotel along Ortigas. Mabait pa yung OWWA officer, and mas lalo na yung PCG and hotel staff.

Tapos eto yung ultimate pambawi.

I was ultimately transferred, along with other ''positive'' OFWs, to a government isolation facility, which was previously a resort in Nasugbu, Batangas. Di ko alam ganun pala kalayo yung travel from NCR to Batangas. Buti na lang, may nahanap ako na ka-chikahan sa bus ride all the way to the resort.

Upon disembarkation, we were ushered to the make-shift triage of the BOQ Batangas sa hotel lobby. We were asked to fill out forms, and upon finishing, the medical team arrived, did their introductions, and gave their orientation and policies.

By that time, it was already 3 in the afternoon. Gutom, pagod sa byahe, plus the fact na I was trapped for 5 days in the hotel room did not do my mood any good. I did not have any symptoms naman, aside from the body malaise and naiinitan lang sa weather sa Pilipinas. I expected it naman, as I just weathered the winter season sa Europa for 4 months, tapos bigla bigla binilad sa 32 degrees Celscius.

Kaya lang gutom na gutom na ako and I just want to sleep.

''Hello mga ma'am, and sir, magandang hapon.'' one of the medical team members approached our group. I was seated in a table along with 4 other OFWs. ''My name is Michael, and my team and I are just going to go through your forms, and then check na kami ng vital signs nyo''

He went to me first. ''Hello Ma'am Shenea,'' and checked my papers. ''Uy, nurse ka din pala Ma'am. Welcome back to Philippines! Timing naman ng uwi mo''

''Onga sir eh, sinwerte,'' I chuckled. ''So nurses kayo lahat Sir?''

''Hindi ka yata nakinig sa orientation namin maam,'' He grinned. ''Si Doc Ram, sya yung onsite doctor namin'' tinuro yung guy with a clean shaven head na naka glasses na may nakasabit na stethoscope sa leeg. ''Sya yung team leader namin, tapos ako along with 5 others - kami ang nurses na bumubuo ng team. Kaya pag pasensyahan nyo na if kind of slow ang process kasi kami-kami lang ang naghahandle sa inyo along with 100 other people onsite this facility''

''So meaning marami pala talagang nagpositive na OFW Sir?'' Sambit ng kasama ko sa table. Si Kuya Shokoy. Seaman, 40 years old. May asawa at anak sa Pampanga. Alam ko kasi sya nakausap ko while we were waiting for the team to arrive. Down to earth si kuya, naka simpleng blue shirt at shorts lang. Umuwi daw sya para sa birthday ng anak tapos timing na trap sa quarantine.

''Unfortunately, yes sir,'' reply ni Sir Michael while he was checking my forms. ''Sakto talaga timing mo, Maam ah, wala naman ba symptoms? Need ko pa ba isa isahin?''

''Pagod sa byahe at gutom lang talaga, Sir'' pa-cute kong sinabi, just to get everything done already.

He chuckled. ''Tapusin ko lang kayo 4 dito sa table then puwede...