The cold dusk

Latifa’s pov

It's not all about who cares now, because they don’t care, and I don’t care either. I just have to seal every business with them, giving them my time and body, moaning for hours on different beds, as usual, I’m never minding how ‘they are all the same cock and bull stories, or how they try to criticize me off guard. I fucking got some dollars to pay.

I hurried out of my little house, speeding as I struggled to put on my other heels, I slammed the door behind me and locked it.

“Hey, taxi! let's go, I'm late for the club” as I continued to fix my earrings, lip gloss, and eyeliner

“OK, location?”

“Just drive straight, down the street” I directed him, I began searching for my phone inside my portable bag to call the other girls I had been working with. My little family. One is my senior and the other, is my age mate. We've got each other’s back, anything, any day. But at the end of the day, it comes down to being just business partners. I've got privacy to conserve too.

I got to the entrance and called them again.

“Hello? Where are you girls? I'm at the club entrance, where?” ...oh, okay, I’ll see you inside” I complied, putting down my phone,

“Drop me here, taxi.” I reminded the taxi driver. “How much? A dollar I guess?”

“No Mamacita...” the driver replied, staring down at my hot, exposed lap as he swiped his tongue between his lips with those dirty black eyes staring.

“...Well, just three dollars” he continued

“That’s not true... I'm paying 2 dollars for the ride” I try convincing, throwing in the cash as I took to my heels, leaving him with what I wanted to pay him for the short ride. on getting to the club, I walked majestically into the party where my friends had stood, waiting for me. just that remarkable little speech that explained that birds of the same feathers flock together, that's what we are.

Wendy and Betty have been the family I never had since I left my town, they were the first girls I had encountered with. Wendy was once married but she had her kids through the sex working business, a mom-premiership, I call it. A son and a girl with different unknown fathers. She's never too careful.

“Wow, girl! you look hoooot! damn,” Betty expressed, smacking my ass as she smirked, and making a soundless lap with her hands.

“Whoop that shit girl” I encourage the wild feeling, as we both laughed out

“You can say that again, Betty, look, you have captivated every man here, they are already watching, eyii,” Wendy says as she nose-points in the other direction close to the drinking booth. Some dark uniform guys were standing at different angles close to a man, who was in a sparkling suit with his hair lowered and carved but I couldn't get a clearer view of his facial, he glanced just right where I was with my friends, I assumed him to be staring at my friend, Betty because she has got very perfect shapes and curves, and light-skinned, I looked away as I placed an order for a couple of drinks.

“Who will be the lucky man tonight?” Betty said as she forced a beaker of alcoholic drinks down her throat. “...Woah! I'm loving this, girls” she giggles

Wendy gave me a nasty wink as we both burst out laughing again and again.

“Hahaha. Betty, you need to take it easy because It's going to be a long night” I mumbled and continued with the gist.

“But, ...Woah!” she screamed in excitement.

“We are all catching them tonight cheer!” Wendy replied, as we raised glasses of booze and drank up to her positivity.

“You know girls, just one big approach can change my life right now, I need a miracle,” I said, rubbing my ankle as I sipped from my glass, I was already feeling tipsy but not to the core.

“Haha, I've been in this haggling for 20 years now, I still haven't found a miracle, no one can save us, Latifa, stop dreaming. Heh, see that nigga over there,” indicating with her eye again “...he got a good sight, I'm going to shoot my shot..., don't dim the sun when it's so bright, ladies, this is just your 2nd year” Wendy spoke in dismay as she left to begin struggling for the night.

Those were Wendy's words. These words ripped off the mindset I've always had, that it's going to be better someday, cause mehn! I see my seniors every day on some street shits striving to make it all home.

Well, it happens. This dirty work had kept me alive, even on days, no one showed up for me. I guess she's right.

“Hmm, I still wonder why she isn't a teacher.” I acknowledged and looked at Betty, we both chuckled. Unboxing Betty’s brown power pack and a pair of brushes to retouch my contour and lip line “I’m good to go! How do I look, Betty?”

“Perfect for a rich man, sweetheart,” she said, blowing up kisses thereby giving me higher hopes than before. 

“Thanks, boo” grasping through the air to reciprocate. We separated.

 I walked through the booth with my short, red sequence body hug gown reflecting at every light ray that passed through it, exposing my half-clothed breast and my tight clear skin, with my lengthy legs, quite tempting as I walked majestically to the bartender space as I order another glass of drink. He began mixing as we became interactive, and still looking out for customers, I glanced through where Betty was seated and she was gone. Just like I thought, she had gotten busy already.

“Can I have you for the night?” a dim voice interrupted my thoughts.

Just as my ugly ex would murmur behind my ears. But if not him, I was hoping to see someone acceptable, but I turned to see my father's age mate with such a dark voice, there was no leakage of resemblance between him and an ugly owl. He is ugly and weak. Stunt and chocolate with his cheap Cologne oozing out.  

The main turn-off was the smell that oozed out of his mouth just when I wanted to reply to his words. It stinks.

 “Are you drunk or...something?” I sincerely asked

“Hehe, don't speak to me like that,” the drunkard said as he dangled over a spot where he stood, ...do you have my time I ask again?” grabbing my hands like a bunch of brooms. He sniffs through my blonde hair. I felt so horrible and dirty instantly, I tried pulling myself out of this dirty-to-behold scene but he had held me tightly.

“Stop it” I commended, struggling to let go of his hands on my wrist.

“I can rip you off your clothes right now” his weak voice threatened me.

It's never a big deal to be ripped off my clothes or make out in public but,

“Sir, with all due respect” did I just say? when I can give him a resetting slap for messing with me, come on Latifa! 

“Shut...up and name yo..ur price whore” still staggering at his spot

 “Am not interested, please” I got scared instantly, I didn't want my night ruined by an old man. What if he decides to vomit his stinking-smelling alcohol intoxicants on me? I will be doomed.

“Come here” he drags me forcefully once more, claiming to be capable of handling someone like me, dragging me like cheap rice that's been taken round the market to be bought.

“Touch her one more time and will destroy the weak little man between your ugly laps” a man with a husky voice whispered.

“Ouch! Oh, I am so scared right now” the old man played pathetic as he staggered again and continued “...and who are you! You know? Whatever! Go for her, you both fit each other,” the old man said displeased as he released his hands and took off to the door...

“Sorry mam, hope you aren't hurt?”

I lifted my head to see this very man who just rescued me from being a total subject of ridicule, he looked just like a mafia boss in his suit, with broad shoulders exposed, and a telecom Bottega Veneta air-pod attached to his left ear. He smells good.

“Thank you,” I said, smiling as I picked up my fallen purse to stand restfully. I remain thankful to him.

“I take orders from my boss sitting over there” as he directed his fingers in his boss's direction.

 Then what are you then? I murmured. Because you too dressed

“Oh, extend my gratitude then” I gasped out, adjusting my red gown below some level, looking at my pale wrist due to the mini attack.

“Alright, I will” he bows and leaves.

I left and sat on the other side of the booth and stared at this boss of his for a long time, till the eye switching began, and still I wasn't able to get a better view of the man who sent help when I needed one, “Ouch! I'm doing too much” I murmured and forcefully pushed a glass of alcohol down my esophagus. 6 glasses of shots were taken already.

“Woah, what a strong alcohol, just the way I love it” I praised the liquor as I whispered again to myself, with my fingers browsing through my hair, I smiled so hard but inside of me, I felt so wrong and regretful about why I didn't give the old weak man that approached, a chance, it would have been better than nothing, the night is not young anymore, and my friends, on the other hand, were all doing great, yeah, I have sat here for about four hours and no one is coming for me, not even a half cripple. Maybe others saw what happened, or should I step on the dance floor?