Chapter 2 (SIDELINE)

CRIMSON

I went home early that day. Mrs. Li said that I could rest for the whole afternoon with pay since she had an urgent thing to do. I feel that it was because of what I reported to her that the man where I delivered the flowers said that he wanted to talk to her. 

Actually, it seems weird. When I told Mrs. Li about what the man told me, I saw her eyes widen. She looked like she was not at ease anymore and for the whole morning, she had a peculiar look on her face. She looked like she was in a daze and seems like she was nervous. 

But why? Why did she look like she was afraid of something? What is her problem with Mr. Adamos that made her look like she was waiting for a trial?

And since Mrs. Li sent me home early, then I get my phone and made a call to my friend Daisy. I am going to ask her if there is any work that she could give me later. Daisy is working in a club and hoping that one of her co-workers there won’t make it tonight so I could substitute. 

I usually substitute as a waitress, but sometimes I dance too. Pole dancing. I don’t like it though, but I need to. No matter how much I hate the fact that I dance for men watching me, it would be better than selling my body. 

“Hey, Crim…” she said instantly when she answered my call. 

“Dey,” I started, “do you have any coworker there that needs a substitute for tonight?” I asked her in Tagalog. We always converse in the Filipino language.

“Yep, Michelle couldn’t make it. You can do some simple dancing, right?” she asked me. 

I gulped. Michelle is one of the dancers in the club. She is known for her pole dancing skills. I can do some movements in pole dancing, but I can’t be like Michelle. She’s a pro, a diva at pole dancing. 

“Want to or not want to?” Daisy asked me and she sounded like she was in a rush. 

“I want to,” I said without thinking too much. Thinking makes opportunities left. As long as it is not prostitution*, then I will grab it. Money matters to me as it is the key to all of my dreams to come true. 

“Come here at 8 P.M.,” Daisy said and ended our call. “Sharp!”

Gosh! I was not thinking and just agreeing for the sake of money and this happens to me most of the time. I know pole dancing is not prostitution*, but I could be categorized as that sooner or later because some of the dancers in the club go out with their customers most often. 

I am not into that way of life. I am only working hard because I am saving money so I could go back to schooling as I want to finish college. I am now twenty-one but still hope that one day I can go to college. I just need to save first. As I said, money is all I need to do everything I wanna do to make my dreams come true.

I wanted to finish college and look for some decent regular job after that, then I could adopt a dog that would be my best friend and companion. I am planning to adopt at least two dogs. A German Shepherd and a Siberian Husky, probably, if I have money someday for their maintenance. Or better, I will go back to England because the climate there suits some dogs with wooly fur. 

While thinking about how I love dogs, I remember again the man I met in the morning. The bi-eyed man kinda looks so good. If I compare him to dogs, then he is a husky because of his eyes. Wolves aren’t bi-eyed, so he couldn’t be like a wolf, but his aura looked like a wolf. I smiled at my thoughts. 

“Do you know the story of the bloody werewolf rogue that was killed by his alpha? Do you know about that rogue that was hated by all of his pack and all the other packs that no one wanted him at all? Are you familiar with the story, child?”

I blinked. Why am I thinking again about what granny said? It looks like after I talked to her, she became part of my thoughts. Is it because I felt guilty about not seeing her again or because I seemed like a bad kid when she was happily telling me a story and I didn’t listen well? But the truth is… all I could remember is only about the bloody werewolf rogue that did so much wrongdoing and broke the rules of his kind. 

Well, if I were a wolf, then probably I could be like that rogue wolf too, for I am living my life alone and don't care anymore about any rules. The most important thing for me is to survive alone, and that is why I need companions, dog companions... because they are more loyal than humans. 

How I want to have dogs… How I wish I could have one someday… 

I sighed. End of imagining. 

I should focus now on what I can do to earn money tonight. 

I then checked the time. I rose instantly from lying on my single bed when I saw it was already six in the evening. I need to go to the club before seven because I need to hear the music first which Michelle is supposed to dance to tonight. I need to be familiar with the music and I need to practice some moves while waiting for the time of her pole dance performance. 

I immediately took a bath and when I was done, I went outside the one-room apartment I have been staying in for almost a year. It is better than staying at the boarding house where I rented a room before. Thanks to Mrs. Li, the apartment is small but it is decent rather than boarding rooms or houses.

I rode to the first jeep that I saw on the road, it was a public vehicle that the route will be heading to the club’s area.

Minutes later I was already in the club and as I entered, I look immediately for Daisy.

“Daisy!” I called my friend's name as I found her and she smiled widely when she saw me. 

Daisy pulled me to go to the dressing room and showed me the skintight outfit that Michelle was supposed to wear tonight. She told me the music and I just raised a brow when I realized what the song was about. It was a sexy song, the slow version of Crazy In Love by Beyonce that was used in a very famous movie years ago. I love that movie anyway. 

“This type of outfit won’t leave any imagination away from the audience,” I said with a smirk. 

I could wear that. The sexy outfit doesn't scare me because I was allowed by the management to wear a mask while substituting for Michelle or the other dancers whenever they needed me. 

“You only have one audience tonight,” Daisy said, which made my mouth open in awe.  

“But…” I felt nervous. Usually, one customer means the dancer will go out afterward. I am not into that. I could dance but I could not sleep with any random guys. Men are not part of my priorities. And as I said, I am not into that kind of work.

“No buts,” Daisy said. “The customer wants to be entertained alone. You know that the management does not allow prostitution* for girls, right? If he wants you, then you are the one he will talk to and not the management. It is you who will decide if you will accept his offer or not. If... if ever he offers you… which I doubt.” 

“Oh, no… Daisy,” I am moving my head sidewards. I am not feeling good thinking about what might happen to me if I accept the job. “I’m sorry but I think I can’t do this dance,” I said to her. I don’t know but I felt there would be something wrong.

“The customer is paying the dancer fifty thousand pesos as long as he likes the dance,” Daisy tried to convince me, and I admit that I became tempted. I was looking into her eyes while she was giving me the look of someone not willing to wait for my decision if it would take more time.

“What now, Crim? Take it or leave it? Decide now so I could offer it with the other dancers here if you don't like to,” she was eyeing me while saying that. “The boss said that the customer is a big shot. He is the one who gave the boss this business. The boss owes him so much and that is why he is giving Michelle to do the work, but that stupid girl is now in the hospital and that is why she didn’t make it tonight.” 

“I—I'll do it,” I said in an instant. 

Fifty thousand pesos. Who would have second thoughts about that? A dance that if the customer likes, then he is willing to give fifty thousand pesos. Gee! I ain’t stupid at all. I need that money! And it is just a dance… just a dance, no more, no less. 

“Then make yourself pretty now,” Daisy commanded me. Sometimes I feel that she is not treating me as a friend, but since she is the only one I know that is always helping me to get a part-time job, then her attitude won’t matter at all. I need her. 

“Where is the mask?” I asked her about the mask I always wear when I do the substitution. 

“No mask for tonight, Crim… the customer wants to see how pretty the one that will entertain him. The boss said that the man was so handsome that he didn’t need to offer money to a woman to get laid. Be careful. You might be tempted.”