“Who Was That?”- When an OFW Hears an Unfamiliar Voice During a Video Call

OFW Life

The OFW calls after a long shift abroad. “Hello, love. What are you doing?” “Nothing. Just resting.” Then suddenly, a voice is heard in the background. Quiet. Brief. Unrecognizable. Perhaps it says, “Where is it?” Perhaps it says, “Come here.” Perhaps it says absolutely nothing understandable. But the OFW hears enough. The face changes. The eyebrows rise.Long-distance relationships depend heavily on sound. A ringtone can bring excitement. A missed call can bring anxiety. And one unfamiliar voice in the background can bring an entire relationship to the edge of international conflict. It usually begins peacefully.