Kabanata 4: Escort

Yumayakap ang malamig na simoy ng hangin sa aking balat. I closed my eyes as I feel the coldness touches my skin. I breathed in and out deeply. Inilagay ko ang aking dalawang kamay sa mainit na tasa na nasa aking harapan. Sumimsim ako nang kaunti sa aking mainit na kape.

Whenever I can't sleep, I just get myself a coffee and feel the cold breeze in the middle of the night. Tumingin ako sa langit na punong-puno ng mga butuin.

This is the life I wanted and dreamt for. A peaceful life.

But I know that when the morning comes, everything will be back to normal. A stressful life and noisy people. Sometimes I wonder, if everyone was given the privelege to choose the kind of life and family that they live with, would evereyone be at right hands and right path?

But if I was given a chance? I think...I will never choose another family to live with...because the family I have in this lifetime, is beyond astonishing and amazing. I might feel unfortunate sometimes but I would always tell myself that it is okay in a family.

I smiled at my thoughts.

I was trying to call my mother on the phone but she's not answering. I bet they're already sleeping. It's been a week since the party happened. Nakapagpadala na rin ako ng pera sa mga magulang ko. Nakapagbayad na rin ako ng mga pending fees ko sa TSU hanggang sa huling taon ko roon and my fridge is now full of vegetables, meat, and other foods.

The money I got from my job is enough to survive. May sobra pa nga.

Nang maubos ko ang aking kape ay umakyat na ako upang ituloy ang aking naudlot na pagtulog.

The sound of my ringing phone woke me up in the morning.

Hindi pa nga ako nakakatulog nang maayos may gugulo na naman?

Itinakip ko sa aking tenga ang isa sa mga unan ko.

Ngunit tila ata walang balak ang tumatawag na patulugin ako ngayon.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko at sinagot ang tumatawag. Handa na akong magalit sa kung sino man ang gumugulo sa aking pagtulog nang maunahan ako nang nasa kabilang linya.

"Ano ba Ash?! Kanina pa ako tawag nang tawag ah? Ano? Nakuha mo lang yung pera hindi ka na naman sasagot sa mga tawag ko? Aba Ash! Kung ganyan lang din naman pala na saka ka lang tatawag sa akin kung may kailangan ka ay sabihin mo! Para alam ko kung bibigyan pa rin ba kita ng mga pagkakakitaan mo o hindi na!" Mahabang litanya ni Mama Nicole.

Napakamot ako sa aking noo dahil sa mga sinabi niya. Hindi naman yun totoo? Hindi ko lang nasagot ang tawag niya ganun na agad ang mga litanya niya sa akin?

Huminga ako nang malalim at umupo sa aking pagkakahiga.

"Mama ano ba? Ang aga aga niyo naman po kasi-" she cut me off.

"My god Ash! It's already 1 in the afternoon for god's sake!"

I widened my eyes and looked for a clock because of what she said. And damn, she is right!

"Ma, I'm sorry kung hindi ko nasagot ang tawag niyo. I just couldn't sleep last night that's why," Paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"And it's my fault?" Masungit na ani niya.

"Hindi naman po. I know that it's my fault that's why I'm saying sorry right?" marahan kong sagot sa kanya.

"Ah basta kung ayaw mo nang tumuloy sa line of escorts ko ay sabihin mo! Para makapaghanap na rin ako nang kapalit mo. Hindi ka naman madaling palitan."

"I'm sorry again, Ma." I said sincerely.

I checked my phone when silence enveloped in the other line. I thought she already ended the call but she didn't. It's still on-going.

Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang bumalot sa aking pandinig.

"Hmm I have something to offer you. Come to the Bar later. Alam mo na kung saan, Ash ah? No buts and no excuses." She then ended the call.

Napahinga ako nang malalim dahil sa sinabi niya. Alam niyang tatanggi ako kaya naman inunahan na niya ako.

With what she said, I already know what she is about to offer me. Another job means another man to pleasure and entertain. It also means another money.

Tumayo na ako sa pagkaka-upo at nagtungo sa banyo upang makaligo na. I planned to clean my house today since it's Saturday but I know I have no time left. Kaya naman inayos ko na lang muna ang loob ng aking kwarto. Bukas na lang ang sa buong bahay.

After what happened at the party, Jake never contacted me again. Our last interaction was at the School. Sometimes, we see each other in the hallway but never did he strike a conversation with me. Ganun din sa loob ng klase.

Akala ko nga ay hindi na siya ang magiging Prof. namin last week but it turns out that our real Professor is still sick.

Pumara ako ng tricycle papunta sa Bar na pagmamay-ari ni Mama Nicole. Balak ko pa sanang hintayin ng driver na mapuno ang tricycle ngunit sinabi kong 'wag na at handa naman akong magbayad.

I just don't want Mama Nicole to be mad at me again because I'm late. Alam kong mainit ang ulo niya sa akin kaya naman hindi na ako gagawa pa ng ibang dahilan para mas lumala ang init ng ulo niya.

Ibinagay ko ang bayad sa driver nang makarating kami sa tapat ng Bar. I just say thank you to him then lead my way up to the hallway of the Bar.

Malalakas na musika, mga taong nagsasayawan, at mga taong gumagawa ng milagro ang bumalot sa aking pandinig at paningin. Tinahak ko ang daan papunta sa opisina ni mama at kumatok ng tatlong beses.

"Pasok!"

Mama Nicole is sitting on her chair habang may kausap sa telepono. "Yes yes, Albert. Okay. I'll just call you again later. Bye." she then dropped her phone on her table.

She looked at me and pointed the visitor chair in the front of her table. Agaran naman akong umupo sa itinuro niyang upuan.

Looking at mama's face, you can easily identify her beauty. She's 47 already but her body shape and face is still so young and sexy and hot as fuck. Hindi mo maikakaila ang kagandahang taglay niya.

"Alam mo na siguro kung bakit kita pinapunta ngayon dito," panimula niya.

I just nodded my head at her. She's right. There's only one reason on why she called me to come up in her office.

"There is an offer to you, exclusively. Andrei Carlson wants you to be her date for a week."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. I already have an idea about what this meeting is, but... I can't understand her. She knows that I still have my contract on Jake and...she accepted another project again?

"Mama, don't you think it will complicate my schedule with Jake? I still have a contract with him and that's a month! One week has already passed but there is still 3 weeks! I cannot cut myself into two and pleasure two men at a ti-" pakikipagtalo ko na agad niyang pinutol dahil sa isang tawa.

"Ash, do you think I'm dumb? Sa tingin mo ba hindi ko naisip 'yan? Of course, I've thought about those things too! God!"

"Then why are you offering it to me, mama? Can't you give it to other models, mama?"

"I am offering this to you because the client wants you exclusively! Hindi ka ba nakikinig? Ikaw ang gusto ni Andrei hindi ang ibang escort! I am offering this to you because your contract with Andrei will start when your contract with Jake ends! At anong models ang sinasabi mo? Napakataas naman ng tingin mo sa sarili niyo! Mga escort kayo hindi mga models, estupida!" mahaba niyang litanya.

Halata na ang iritasyon sa kanyang mukha. Huminga siya nang malalim upang pakalmahin ang sarili bago itinuon ulit ang atensiyon sa akin.

"Okay, now I want you to know the contract you have with Andrei. It is far different from Jake. Jake applied for a perfect combo while Andrei just wants you to be his date. Parang alalay. No touching. No kissing. No sex. Understand?"

"Mama, can't you give it to your other girls-"

"Oh God, Ash! The client wants you, exclusively! Meaning he only wants you! Damn you are so stupid! Get the contract and leave my office. Now!" nangangalaiti niyang saad.

"Yes, ma." I only said then leave her office.