I'm just a simple guy on vacation in the Philippines—just wanting to escape the stress of work for a while and relax. I don't have much planned, but I thought, maybe I can find someone to talk to online, even if it's just for a short-term thrill while I'm abroad.
Like everyone else, I downloaded a dating app. It was easy to find people to chat with, but one person immediately stood out to me. She was beautiful, fair, and seemed sweet. She always greeted me, always with a “Good morning” and “Be careful.” I liked the attention—I admit it. So when she asked to meet up, I didn't hesitate.
The night of the meeting arrived. I was a little nervous, but also excited. When I saw her, I was a little surprised. She looked different in person—it was pretty obvious that she wasn't a real woman. But I didn't want to be rude. I told myself, “I'm here too, just talk.”
We sat in a quiet place. We ate, talked, laughed. In fairness, it was fun anyway. But when it was a little late in the evening, he suddenly changed his tone. He became serious. Then he said something I didn't expect:
“You know this isn't free, right? Pay.”
I was surprised.
That wasn't discussed. I thought it was just a simple meeting, no payment, no strings attached. So I said, “Sorry, I don't plan on paying.”
That's when he got angry. Suddenly he raised his voice. He yelled at me in front of other people. He called me names. He tried to drag me. When I tried to leave, he suddenly kicked me. To my surprise, I couldn't retaliate. Everyone was watching. No one helped. I felt, ashamed, scared, and like I had no dignity left.
I ran away. I had nothing with me but my wallet and phone. I was soaked from the rain, and I had many bruises. To this day, I will never forget that night.
So now, this is my message: Be careful.
Not everything you see online is true. Not everything that looks good in a photo is good in person. Especially if there is an intention to cheat or ask for money.
There are ladyboys who use that method to make money. I'm not criticizing everyone, but some people do it—if you don't give them what they want, they can hurt you.
Me, I'm just a victim of my own stupidity. Now, what I've learned:
“Not all thrills have a happy ending. Sometimes, the reward is a blow.”
I hope you learn something from my story. Not to pity, but to avoid making the same mistakes.
