Chapter 10

When she rolled her hands down to my eyes, I was expecting a different kind of punishment which I don't like to happen but just to go with it, I need to obey. But then, she withdrew her hands and put me steady on the chair. She laughed and goes back to her desk and cracked her fingers. I was really unsure of what's happening or what she intends to do here but I felt a relief when she didn't do anything but pushing me to stay on sit.

"Aren't you gonna punish me?" I asked her.

"No," she immediately answered.

"That's not my intention to brought you here through a taste of punishment would be good for you."

"Then whatever it is, give it to me if I deserve it."

She looked at me straight, "well it's not some kind of hard punishment but all of the money you'll get tonight wouldn't go straight to you. You failed up on that stage and you have to owe that mistake. Now that's the punishment."

"I would take it," I said.

She raises her brow, "that's easy."

"I can earn money and it's just my first day."

"But some don't take it well. They need the money even if it's their first day." She's nodding her head, something in her mind came up and I don't have any idea what's in it. "There's something on you... you might be special or not. But oh well, if you still can work on your remaining hours, get your customers."

"Should I leave now?"

"Yes you may," she said.

Nang tumayo naman ako at tinalikuran siya. Before I get to the door and leave the room, she called my attention.

"Just a reminder Dicky, don't do anything behind my back or else things could backfire to you."

I nodded to her even if things running in my head were putting her down. With assurances of that contact, I wanted her to believe that she could trust me and in this line of work, I'm gonna put all of my efforts and hard work just so she could see that I'm after the money and is not some kind of matter. Though the reason I was here wasn't the money.

It's my freedom and I keep chasing it.

When I leave her office, all the customers are handled by some of the workers and I don't know if I should do the same. There's only one person I'm interested in entertaining to and that's Prentice, I took a deep breath thinking I how messed our relationship. And I don't know if I get out of this mess, there are no pieces I could pick up to bring back our relationship. She wanted me back, but I pushed her away.

"Dicky!" I was stopped when someone calls me and I saw MD walking closer towards me, "what happened over there? What did she tell you?"

I shrugged off my shoulder, "nothing, she just cut me off tonight."

He sighs after knowing it, "she does that to some workers but I thought she'll just give you a warning. But oh well, if you still can find a client, go for it and for the next few nights. You'll have to work on it, okay?"

"Sure, I won't fail you MD."

"That's my boy!" MD hugged me and patted my shoulder, "I'll leave you for now and checked the others if you can help to assist the waiters, try to do it okay?"

"I will."

"Awesome, see 'ya around." MD continue looking for others and checking their status.

When I walk to get out of the attention, I was about to sit on the corner when someone calls my attention. Mabilis naman akong napatingin sa direksyong iyon at nakita ko ang pamilyar na babae. If I'm not mistaken, she's the girl from the bathroom. She uses her finger to make me come to her and because it's my job to pursue the customers, I come to her.

She's sitting alone in her table and it seems like Lilac did something to the boys she was with.

"Are you alone?"

She nodded, "yeah, the lady worker hooked up all my man. What about you? Does your boss done taking you for granted?"

Napangisi naman ako sa sinabi niya, "no, nothing happened."

"Oh," she gasped, it's like she was a little surprised comes with a judgment of it. "I thought this place comes to take advantage of whoever they see."

"Not all people I guess," sagot ko sa kanya. "She just cut me off tonight, but I don't think I can pursue any customer here anymore, everyone's occupied."

"I'm a customer and I'm not occupied." She said.

"You don't like me remember," I told her.

She chuckles, "I know I said that but things kinda interesting."

"Oh tell me something about it," I smirked.

"Then entertain me," she demanded. "You know that we have something we partly left of,"

I chuckles when I told her the same earlier, "you got that huh, but how would you like to be entertained? Do you want to be touch or kiss? Anything?"

She busted in laughed when I said those to her, "those are funny."

"But those are the things I could do to entertain you, remember we're in a club that shows that kind of environment."

"I know that but not those kind of things, just entertain me, don't make me bored."

"Sure..." I wasn't sure though, "but I still don't know how..."

"Tell me some funny things, about your life or anything hilarious while I'm waiting for my boys. It's your job to do that, you're working and I'm a customer. Do your job and I can pay you secretly if you do that, just don't let anyone know."

"You don't need to do that," I said. "And you're right, you're a customer and it's my job to entertain you. How about this," I immediately think of some joke and I don't know how it will turn out. "Have you watched the movie constipated?"

She shakes her head, trying to guess it.

"Right because it hasn't come out yet." I cracked a joke but her face was hard as a rock. She didn't give any reactions. "That was funny, you're not just laughing."

"Yeah 'cause it was horrendous."

"I bet it is," I laughed. "Humor is not in my bones that's why I can't make up any good jokes because my life has been a drama as hell,"

"Now that's a good topic to converse to, would you like to share your story?"

"Not to you," I said. "I don't know you but what I'm doing right now is something would make my life easier—"

"Yeah, yeah, selling your body would make your life easier. Where's the good about that huh? I don't judge your job but you can find something better. I know you're better than this but why do you put yourself in this kind of situation."

"It's because I have no choice," I told her straightforward and even if I said it, she wouldn't know the reason why. "Then let me ask the same, why are you doing in this place in the middle of the night with your boys who enjoying their night and here you're alone waiting for them."

She smirks, "the thing is, I'm just here for fun and nothing else. I have been here for the few times and seeing you were new to me. I don't play with anyone here, I'm just here to watch and be entertained."

"So like what I'm doing?"

She raises her brow and a smirk, "sure..."

"What's your name again?"

But before she could say her name, her friends show up and I saw Lilac glowing at the back heading to the backstage. Napailing na lamang ako dahil ayokong isipin kung anong nangyari. It is their job, they do it for money.

"I guess I need to go," she said and stood up.

"Am I gonna be seeing you tomorrow night?"

She gets closer to me and her face to me as she whispers to my ear, "we'll see..." and then I felt something on my underwear that after, she walks away followed by her boys. Nang kinapa ko naman ang nilagay niya sa akin ay nakita ko na lamang ang perang inipit niya sa akin. Mabilis ko rin naman iyong tinago at dali-dali na rin namang bumalik sa backstage.

Nakita ko naman si Lilac nag-aayos nang kanyang sarili, nang mapansin naman niya ako ay tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Well, you got a client there, huh." Ngisi pa nito sa akin. "But I heard Madame called you in her office,"

I nodded to her, "yeah."

"What did she say?"

"She just cut me off for tonight."

"Nothing else?"

"Why are all people expecting me to say something?"

She smirks, "Because this is a place where you can you do something whatever you want. But I guess, you're not her type."

"I don't care," I said. "But I guess you do enjoy your night."

"No," she said with a little disappointment in her face. "It was normal, just like anybody else. They are so boring but they tip me more and I'm happy about that. I hope you'll do good tomorrow night 'cause it's the take me home event."

Naningkit naman ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya, "what's the meaning of that?"

She giggles, "I guess you'll find out tomorrow night."

"Oh, I can't wait." The sarcastic tone was present.

"You should be, it is where our price becomes triple."

"That's interesting,"

"I know." Lilac said, "I'm going back to the bathroom and clean myself."

"Sure, go for it."

Minutes and hours passed when the others came back and prepare to leave. I'm still having a problem because I have nowhere to go to. I can't go back home to our house where my parents forbid me to and my friend's house aren't available to crash into. I'm homeless!

As we are leaving, Lilac came to me.

"Where do you live?"

I scratched my head, "that's the problem, I have no house to go to now."

"So you're basically homeless."

I nodded at her. "Do you know anyone who I could crash into?"

"Hm..." she hummed, thinking. "I don't think so but could you spare money to rent in an apartment?"

"I think so,"

"Great, I know a cheap apartment you could stay in. I'll give you the address and when you're there, look for the landlord and tell them that Gina referred you."

"Who's Gina?" I asked but she didn't answer when I guessed who that was, "was that your real name?"

"Shut the fuck up," Lilac said. "Just go to this address and you can stay there for as long as you want."

"Thanks," I said when she type the address on my phone. "I'll be going now,"

When I jumped into my car and headed to the address she's talking to, if this place will gonna be my sanctuary for a few days then I will take it. Just as long as I keep doing this for the freedom I asked, I will. Then when I'm done, it's all go down to one thing. Payback.