002: Turn On

Laraki F.S.

It's daytime at kasalukuyan akong nag-aayos bago paman bumukas ang club.

"Ikaw ngayon?" Tanong sa akin ni Julius sa kabilang linya.

"Oo eh, ako na muna ngayon. Ikaw nalang bukas, ayos ba? Ipina-utang ko kasi kay Papa yung huling 15 days ko na sweldo." Naka-ipit ang cellphone ko sa aking taenga't balikat habang nilalagyan ng icecubes ang lagayan nito.

Sigh of Julius can be heard on the another line, and I know what he meant by that response.

Disappointed na naman kay Papa.

"Meron pa ako ditong pera, baka gusto mo na munang utangin." His voice were filled with sadness and concern.

"There's no need. Alam mo namang may trauma ako sa utang-utang na 'yan. Baka sa susunod, buhay ko na ang ibayad ko." I laughed fakely, and he seem not happy about it.

"'Wag kangang magbibiro ng ganyan." Pagsasaway nito sa akin. I laughed at his remark.

Julius, the lifesaver of all time hath never failed to be right there by my side. Sa totoo nga niyan, he recommended me to his boss na dito mag-trabaho sa club, at siya lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nakapasok ako dito kahit underage at wala pa akong experience sa ganitong trabaho.

"Siya nga pala Eira, may nabalitaan akong scholarship pang kolehiyo. Bagong hain daw kasi ng CEO ng malaking kompanya at regalo niya daw sa mga estudyanteng nagsisikap makapagtapos. Tsaka, may internship 'daw rin 'dun." Nabuhayan ang loob ko sa sinabi niya. But the image of my siblings, starving, while I'm studying is torturing my heart.

"Ano, sabak tayo? May allowance daw 'rin dun eh." Napaka-tempting ang opportunity na 'to, pero hindi ko alam kung anong desisyon ang pipiliin ko.

Pangarap ko? O, buhay ng pamilya ko? Sa kanilang dalawa, mas uunahin ko ang pangalawa.

"Saka na Jul, pag may ipon na ako." Napabuntong hininga naman ang lalake.

"Susmaryusep Aica! Sayang yung oportunidad kung papalampasin mo lang, oi!" I didn't respond at his exclaim, dahil maski ako, nasasayangan 'rin.

Parang nasa harap ko na ang ginto, pero may balon naman para marating iyon.

"Basta, sabihin mo kung sabak ka dito. Ipa-pa-apply agad kita kay Tito." I nodded, even if he can't see it.

"Maya na chika, costumer muna." I lift the atmosphere as I state my farewell. Sumagot naman ito bago pinatay ang tawag.

Silence maneuver the place, bago paman ingay ng aking buntong-hininga ang sumagot sa kapayapaan.

Bago paman matapos ko'ng isa ayos ang mga champagne sa gilid ng counter, tumunog ang telepono ko, hudyat ng mensahe galing sa kung sino.

Five more minutes and the club will be open, kaya I have more time to exchange messages kung sino man itong nag-text.

Reaching my phone, namutla ang mata ng mabasa ang text. It was from my Aunt.

"Mga salut talaga kayo! Ano 'bat binugbog 'yang tatay mo ang pamangkin niya dahil lang sa natalo siya sa sugal?! Magkita nalang tayo sa barangay hall, at ipapa blatter ko 'yang tatay mo!"

'Yun ang mensahe'ng natanggap ko. Ain't new to me, bago paman basahin ko ang text ay alam ko ng walang magandang balita ang ihahandong ni Tita Mishel.

But it didn't change the fact that I was hurt with her words, and hurt the infinite trouble, my father hath never failed to give.

Not that long when I receive a text from unknown number.

"Nak, si Papa 'to. Humiram lang muna ako ng selpon sa isang tanod dito. Pwede mo ba akong puntahan nak? Na-ipit kasi si Papa mo, tsaka bastos 'yung anak ng Auntie mo eh! Nandaya pa naman sa sabong kanina. Nak... Punta ka nalang dito ha?"

It was Papa...

I clenched my fist on the bar counter. Nag-iinit ang sulok ng mata ko from frustration and hatred in the world I live in.

Masyadong magulo, to the point I couldn't identify the essence of my existence.

Bagong pera na naman ang magagamit, I muttered a curse and sob.

"J-julius?" I contacted Julius as soon as possible.

Instead of going to the barangay hall, I called Julius instead.

"Aica? 'patawag ka?" Hindi ko mabigilang humikbi, na agad namang napansin ni Julius. "Napano ka? Mukhang hindi ka ayos ah?" Puno ng pag-aalala ang maririnig sa boses nito.

"C-can you... Take the shift today?" After that call, Julius immediately came here. We've exchanged our position at ako na ngayon ang nasa counter habang hinihintay ang order ko.

Simula ng dumating si Julius, nagpapasok na 'rin ng costumers ang boss namin.

"Ngayon lang kita ililibre kasi mukha 'kang pinagsakloban ng langit." Julius deadpanned under his breath. He showed his skill while serving me at hindi ko naman mapigilang ang aking mata. I rolled my eyes.

Sagot niya ang iniinom ko ngayon, gusto kong tumanggi pero siya itong matigas ang ulo. Tsaka, bawas gastos na 'rin to.

Maghahanap lang ako ng dagling kapayapaan sa alak.

Just this one...

But one turns in two, two turns into three, and three turns into nine shots of brandy.

I can barely manage to look at the surroundings straight without feeling dizzy and nausea.

I forgot that I've got low tolerance when it comes to this.

"I-isa pa..." I pushed the champagne near Julius who is busy serving our costumers.

"S***a, malalagas pera ko sa pinaggagawa mo Aica!" Pumikit ako't mukhang baliw na tumawa. Napapakamot naman ng ulo ang lalake.

"Julius pot pot pot... Abantot!" I kept on laughing, and Julius seem to be embarrassed about it. He gave an apologitic look to the costumers who look dirty at me.

"Aica naman, malalagot tayo pag malaman nilang itong ginagawa mo!" Pagpukaw niya sa akin atensyon kahit nadodoling ako sa lapit ng mukha niya.

Imbis na makinig, natawa ako sa mukha nito. "May... may nganga ka, Jul..." At pagkatapos nito, tumawa ako ng tumawa na nakapagpanakaw ng atensyon ng nakararami.

Napasampal ng noo si Julius dahil dito.

"Eira, makinig ka sakin!" He whispered desperately. "Pumunta ka ngayon sa 2nd VIP room, walang tao doon. Magpahinga ka nalang muna at ako na ang bahala dito. Siguraduhin mo lang na hindi mo maiistorbo ang tao sa first room. Kaibigan 'yun ni boss, at baka makagalitan ka." Pag-utos nito sa akin.

Hindi ko maproseso ang sinasabi nito. Pero ang naintindihan ko'y pinapapunta niya ako sa second room para makapagpahinga. 'Yun lang ang aking naintindihan...

"Osike!" I salute at him while feeling sleepy. Julius replied me with a shook of his head. Pero bago paman ako makaalis sa bar counter, nakita ko ang isang shot ng brandy ng mistisang costumer.

At may kalokuhang isip ang pumasok sa kokote ko.

Kinuha ko ito at nilagok, bago paman mapansin ng babae. Pero ng malaman niya ito, ay tinawag niya ako't minura.

"Fuck you! Lunatic, come here!" Sigaw nito, pero hindi niya na ako nahabol ng sumiksik sa ako sa silid, one the rooms here.

Mukhang ito ang sinasabi ni Julius, pero ang gara sa mata.

Wala akong kamalay-malay sa nangyayare sa loob ng silid, dahil nasa couch nakatoun ang atensyon ko bago paman isiniksik ko ang katawan dito.

Primo Z.D.

I received a one big slap from the slut I just fuck.

"Fuck you!" Sigaw nito.

"You did fuck me." Pang-iinis ko naman dito. I smirked and licked my lips.

"Did it hurt that I said a fact?" I crossed my while sitting on the couch. "You, taste like monggo instead of macchiato?" Her ears became red so as her face.

She was fuming in anger and hands clenching.

"You're a demon Primo! Kaya nabaliw ang asawa mo dahil sa mga kawalang-hiya ang ginagawa mo! Manluluko't sinungaling. Fucking each girl he like kahit may asawa na." It burned my ear, but I masked that feeling. Using my crazy wife over this fight, huh?

"I fucked girls, if they want to. You beg for it, and I give you what you've ask for. Now taking the blame on me?" I remain emotionless and neutralize the cool tone.

"Such a bimbo." I shook my head.

I reach the remote and open the tv, on the wall. Showing an underage video, a pornography in other words.

"You've watch this earlier, making you feel lust. You asked me to rock your ass down my dick, and now complaining? Ungrateful brat." Namumula na ang mga mata nito.

Hudyat na may iyak na paparating.

She turbo her tears and cursed me, before leaving the room. "Fuck you!" I laughed as soon as she left.

My eyes were on the tv, man and woman making noises and battling with their lust.

I'm a dick. I knew that. A chunk of shit that live life full of misery.

My eyes narrowed on the stranger who came inside the VIP room. I raised my eyes.

Didn't I tell Guarem not to disturb me?

Just when I was about to have complain on the intercall, my eyes familiarize the woman who just walk in.

Isn't she the bartender here?

She laid on the couch not disturbed with her surrounding.

I was glued on her.

Her every move.

She was facing me, from the opposite couch. At kitang-kita ko kung gaano ka perpekto ang mukha nito.

The way her curves screams sensuality, even under that ordinary attire.

I licked my lips. Not hiding the fact that I am fantasizing her in this place, without any clothes.

The arousal went wilder with the noise from the tv. The moan of the girl, and how the man rocking her.

My dick couldn't make it 'til the end, standing strong and courageous.

It turned on even more when the bartender starts to unbutton her uniform. Feeling hot.

I was uneasy with my seat, and close my eyes as I remove the sweat on my neck.

She was still wearing the attire, but this time revealing her bra and healthy cleavages.

"Fuck." Napasinghap ako. My hands wants to massage those stress balls.

I shut the tv off, cause I don't want to rape someone I just met once.

I need to prevent from tearing her clothes. Aagapan ko pa kahit hindi ko mapigilan ang nararamdaman.

I swallow the lump in my throat, before picking my phone, contacting Guarem, pero napamura ako ng marinig na umungol ang babae.

"Ahh... ang init..." She unbutton her pants as well. And she smiled, relief with the comfort.

If she was relieved, I am not.

This is making me turn on.

I texted Guarem to move this woman outside. And two minutes of torture, wala paring reply.

"Damnit. Damnit." 'Yun lang ang tanging nasasabi ko bago tumayo at lumapit sa babae.

Fine, I'll move her to the other room.

I carry her, she was a bit heavy but it didn't change the fact that he made my toy stand.

But before we could finally depart from the room, she pulled my collar making me lost my balance and the movement was rapid; we've exchanged positions and she is now on top of me.

If she's awake, then she can probably feel the hard cock of mine.

And here I am, feeling aroused by how her breast met my chest. Her face were buried on my neck.

And I was cursing repeatedly. "Tang'na."

I couldn't take it.

The manhood is calling for her sanity.

Damn this bartender, why do you have to make me like this?