Crash And Burn

Chapter 1.

Palabas na ako ng dressing room nang bumukas ang pintuan at iniluwa si Maries. She's in her usual attire plus a blue scarf in her neck. I always admire the way she carries herself but it all goes south once she started being a b***h. The moment we laid our eyes in each other two months ago, we both know na hindi namin gusto ang isa't isa.

But we also need each other, so we suck it up.

“Uuwi ka na?” Tiningnan nya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. I don't usually get affected by her judging looks but there's something about her look on me tonight. It felt different.

“What do you want?” I gave her a boring look. I was clutching my bag and my jacket. Simpleng t-shirt at skinny jeans na lang ang suot ko. The fancy dress and the high heels were shoved back to the closet where it was before.

“Someone wants to meet you.” Nakataas ang kilay na sabi nya. Sa tono ng pananalita nya ay parang labag sa loob nya na sabihin iyon , but she needed to so she did.

I narrowed my eyes on her. “You know I don't meet customers after my sets. Nasa kasunduan natin yan.” Mabilis na sagot ko.

Before I got this gig two months ago, I made sure na may kasunduan kami ni Maries, ang manager ng Maximilian club, na off limits ako sa kung ano mang dirty business na nangyayari within the premises or within the club itself. Kakanta lang ako tuwing Biyernes, babayaran, tapos uuwi.

Aware naman ako sa mga indecent proposals pero hindi na nila pinaparating mismo sa akin dahil alam nilang hindi ako interisado. I flaunt my beauty whenever I am at the stage dahil iyon ang bentahe ko bukod sa boses ko. Hindi ako puta. Kumakanta ako sa club na 'to dahil malaki ang kinikita ko more than sa pagka cashier sa isang run down grocery store malapit sa inuupahan ko dati.

“You don't understand, woman. Hindi basta bastang-”

“Kahit sino pa yan, kahit si Obama pa yan, hindi ako makikipagkilala sa kanya. I have to go.” Mabilis akong naglakad at nilagpasan sya.

Hindi pa ako nakakalagpas sa pintuan nang nagsalita sya ulit. “You don't know what you're missing.”

Hindi na ako sumagot at tuloy tuloy na naglakad. Sa backdoor ako lumalabas kapag pauwi na ako dahil baka maharang pa ako ng mga customer. Isa pa, I can't let them see me wearing this. Kailangan ay palaging classy ang image ko na nakatatak sa kanila.

Naglakad ako ng isang block bago ako tumigil para maghanap ng taxi. I got one immediately. Hindi naman ako natatakot umuwi mag isa, bukod sa may pepper spray ako, I grew up in the streets, I know I can definitely protect myself. I told the driver where I was headed.

Hindi na ako nagtaka nang makababa na ako at nakita na bukas pa ang ilaw sa sala. I got my keys and went in. Naabutan ko si Sammy na natutulog sa couch. Kahit na sabihin ko sa kanya ng ilang ulit na 'wag nya na akong hintayin, she would just dismiss me. Hindi lang ilang ulit ko sya naabutan na nakatulog na sa sala kaka hintay.

Mabuti na lang at wala syang pasok kinabukasan.

Sammy's my twelve year old cousin. Third cousin ko na sya kung tutuusin but ever since I adopted her five years ago and became responsible for her, parang kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanya. I was only twenty one when I had her, I was lost, ni wala akong matinong trabaho. Three years prior ay namatay sa sunog ang parents at kapatid ko, leaving me with nothing but the jewelries I have on at that time.

The company that my father built was also burned to the ground. His business partners just vanished. Wala akong malapitan, I don't know any relative because my parents kept us from meeting some of them. Napariwara ako, I lived on the street like a beggar. The jewelries I had, I sold them to kept me afloat for a few months and then I was forced to find random jobs to live.

Hindi lang ako isang beses muntikan na magahasa o magawan ng masama. I survived the first attack when a guard from the nearby establishment happened to see me almost being mauled. Natuto ako pagkatapos no'n. It was hard, but I wanted to live.

Wala akong alam sa gawaing bahay pero kinailangan kong maging dishwasher for a free food and lodging after a few months of wandering the streets. When the old hag owner of the place became too much for me, I wander around until I found another dishwashing gig. Nakaipon ako hanggang sa makakuha na ako ng bed space. My life became better at least. Then someone contacted and found me and told me that I have a cousin.

Si Sammy. She's barely seven years old at that time, malnourished. Anak daw sya ng pinsan ng papa ko. We look alike so much na napaka impossible na itanggi ang relationship namin. I don't know what to do. The people who brought Sammy to me said they got her from an abusive foster home, and when they learned her full name, na trace nila si Papa as a relative, then they traced her back to me.

I was lost when I had her. Bedspace lang ang kaya kong upahan that time. Kumayod ako ng doble, nagka direksyon ang buhay ko knowing I have another mouth to feed. Pinag aral ko si Sammy sa isang Public School. I became her parent.

Until two months ago, I stumbled upon a friend way back. Si Mayi. Naging kaklase ko sya sa dalawang subject sa college before I dropped out after that fire. When she learned I need a more high paying job, she asked me if kumakanta pa rin ako. We're also former members of an artists club in college. We sing and dance and the likes. She then referred me to Maries na kahit ayaw sa akin ay nakitang may ibubuga ang boses ko.

I never thought of my voice as a career. Until now.

Doble ng kinikita ko sa pagka cashier for a month ang kinikita ko sa isang gabi sa Maximilian. The next day after ang unang gabi ko ay naghanap na ako ng mauupahan na bahay. And I know, our life was just getting better.

Hindi ko na ginising si Sammy, nilagyan ko na lang sya ng kumot at nagbihis na ako. I usually take a shower before I go to bed but I was so tired that the moment my body hit the bed, I was asleep.

I woke up with a noise coming for the television. Kinapa ko ang cellphone ko at nakita na pasado alas otso na. Malamang gising na si Sammy. I got up para magluto. I don't mind getting up kahit inaantok ako, I had to cook for Sammy. But when I saw her on the living room, kumakain na sya ng cereal sa mangkok.

“Bakit yan na naman kinakain mo? Magluluto ako ng pagkain. What do you want?” Kunot noo na kinuha ko sa kanya ang mangkok.

“Dapat di ka muna nagising. Matulog ka pa ulit.” Nakasimangot na sabi nya.

Tumawa ako. She's very caring. “It's okay, nagpa alarm talaga ako para magluto. Tatawagin na lang kita okay?” Nag thumbs up ako sa kanya.

Tumango na lang sya at nag thumbs up din.

Kadugtong ng maliit na kusina ang sala, sa maliit na hallway papunta sa maliit na kwarto ang dining table na para lang sa dalawa. Paunti unti ang pagbili ko ng mga gamit at appliances dahil inuuna ko na magkaroon ng pera para sa pag aaral ni Sammy.

Nagaayos na ako ng mesa para sa agahan namin when my phone rang.

It was Maries. It was the first time na tinawagan nya ako. We have our numbers for emergencies.

“What do you want?” Matigas na tanong ko. I continued putting plates and glasses.

“Slot for tonight is open. Gusto mo ba?” Malamig din ang boses na tanong nya.

Nangunot ang noo ko. “Ha?”

“You heard it.”

“Bakit? Where's Carmina?” Tukoy ko sa supposedly pinaka star singer ng Maximilian. Sa kanya ang Saturday slot dahil bukod sa madami syang parokyano, dalawang taon na sya sa club.

“She called in sick. Ano, gusto mo ba o hindi?” Parang iritado na tanong nya pa.

I bit my lower lip. Liningon ko si Sammy na engrossed na engrossed pa rin sa panunuod sa TV. Mas malaki ang kita tuwing Sabado plus the tips. Pero natatakot ako na hanapin nila si Carmina kapag ako na ang naka salang.

“Aniya! Yes or no!” Lumakas ang boses ni Maries sa kabilang linya.

Napapitlag ako. “Y-yes. Fine, okay.”

“Good.” Iyon lang at pinutol nya na ang linya.

Napatitig na lang ako sa cellphone ko. It was very unlikely for Carmina to be sick. I met the woman, she's a beauty queen material. She was working there by choice. Actually, most of them were. Hindi basta basta ang mga babae na nagtatrabaho sa Maximilian. I was an exception though. Ako lang yata ang hindi nakapag tapos ng college doon.

Natulog ako ulit a few minutes after we ate. Hinayaan ko na makipag laro sa kapitbahay si Sammy by inviting some of her new friends in the house. Dikit dikit man ang mga bahay doon ay masaya naman ang mga tao.

I woke up past lunch time. Kumain naman na si Sammy ng tanghalian since ibinilin ko sa kanya na natatakpan ang pagkain sa mesa.

Pinakiiwan ko si Sammy sa kabilang bahay. Naisip ko na mas delikado na mag isa sya sa bahay lalo na at gabi. Nagbigay na lang ako ng dalawang daan kay Aling Ayen. She's kinda loud for a neighbor pero kita ko naman kung gaano nya alagaan ang mga anak nya.

“You're here.” Nakangisi na bati ni Maries sa akin when I entered the dressing room.

Hindi ko sya pinansin. I put my bag in the locker and started looking for a new long gown to wear. I still have an hour bago ako isalang. Usually ay alas nueve ang unang set.

Lumabas ako sa build in closet na suot na ang gown na napili ko. Hindi ko pinansin si Maries na naka tambay lang sa couch. I started putting on a light make up and arrange my hair. I cleared my voice and took a glance once more in the mirror before I decided I'll be fine.

Palabas na ako nang harangin ako ni Maries.

“I want to show you something. Follow me first.”

Hindi na ako nagsalita at kahit nagtataka ay sinundan ko sya. I froze when I saw her stopped in front of the elevator.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” Bigla ay nakaramdam ako ng kaba.

LIningon nya ako ng naka ngisi. “Relax, Aniya.”

“Punyeta. Hindi ako nakikipag biruan sayo, Maries.” I spat at her.

Humarap sya sa akin, she's still keeping her cool pero halatang umiba rin ang timpla nya. “You really have to do something about your temper, dear.” Taas ang kilay na sabi nya.

“Kung hindi mo sasabihin kung saan tayo pupunta, pwes, hindi ako sasama sayo.” Hinamon ko sya ng titigan. I can be a b***h at times.

I learned it the hard way. The streets isn't for softies and I learned it young.

The elevator door opened. It was empty.

“The boss wants to meet you, Aniya. He's willing to give you the Saturday spot.” Chin up pa rin na sabi ni Maries. “Now, if you don't want to be smart, walk away and even the Friday spot won't be yours.”

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi nya. I'm still confused. Nauna syang pumasok sa elevator at pinigilan na magsara ang pintuan. She was just looking at me.

“I know you need the extra money, Aniya. We don't like each other but the club certainly needs you. Be smart.” She said with a smug in her face.

Without thinking, I stepped into the elevator and let it take us to the penthouse.

Wala kaming imikan. I was just looking at the door, poker face. I really need the extra money. I wanted to give myself and Sammy a nice place to stay. Gusto ko maibigay kay Sammy ang lahat ng kailangan nya. I grew up with what everything I want, I have. Until the fateful day I had to struggle to live. I don't want that for Sammy.

And while thinking about those things, lalong bumilis ang kaba sa dibdib ko.

It's my first time to see or meet the 'boss' because honestly, I am not interested. Hindi naman ako tanga para malaman na may mga illegal na nangyayari inside the establishment, all I needed was the money. The building was twenty floors plus the penthouse. Maximilian club sa baba at may ilang palapag na casino. That's all I know.

The door opened at mas lalong bumilis ang kaba ko. Agad kong nakita ang dalawang malalaking lalaki na naka tayo sa magkabilang gilid ng pintuan papasok sa penthouse. Nilingon ko si Maries na nakatingin na sa akin.

“Be smart, Aniya.” She said before she went back inside the elevator,

“Where the hell are you going?” Agad kong tanong. Akmang papaso ulit ako sa elevator but she pushed me back hanggang sa sumara na ang pinto.

I froze for a few seconds bago ko ma realize na hinatid lang ako ni Maries dito.

“What the fuck.” Mahina pero mariin na mura ko, still facing the cold doors of the elevator.

Dahan dahan akong lumingon, the two guys in black were looking at me, pero wala silang reaction. Huminga ako ng malalim. One of them opened the door and signed me to go in. I took a peek of the place inside and slowly walked towards it. Agad kong naramdaman ang lamig. Napakislot pa ako when I heard the door clicked when it closed.

I just stood there marveling at the beautiful and elegant view in front of me. High ceilings with glass walls, big chandelier at the top of the ceiling, white couches, and the dim lights that made the place cozy. Hindi ako gumagalaw, pakiramdam ko ay makakabasag ako kapag umalis ako sa kinatatayuan ko.

I was used to this kind of luxury before. Pero matagal ko nang tanggap na hindi na ako ulit makaka ranas ng ganito kung hindi ako kikilos.

“Are you just gonna stand there or would you be nice enough to join me?”

Automatic na lumingon ako at nag landing ang tingin ko lalaking naka sandal sa maliit na bar sa ilalim ng staircase. He was holding a glass of what looks like a whiskey. Napaawang ang labi ko nang mag landing ang tingin ko sa kabuuan nya. He was fully clothed pero parang naiimagine ko na rin kung gaano kaganda ang katawan nya beneath the fancy suit.

Dreamy eyes, on point jaw, nose and sleek jet black hair.

Who the hell is this guy?