Siren of Julio Santayana: A Dark Revenge Romance ENGLISH

Chapter 8

Three weeks and the man hasn't shown up again. For three weeks, Siren was only working in Angel's Night Lab as per Miss Katty's request. And it's not surprising why the local clubhouse was often packed with customers these past weeks. Mostly rich customers from the Playhouse and Kendra’s not liking the idea of her business losing its VIPs, although Miss Katty reassured her this is only for the meantime. 

For two weeks, Don Cartel’s men kept coming back to the Playhouse to look for her. Kendra agreed to not let Siren go for work for the safety of all the customers and the Playhouse itself. She just can’t believe how losing Siren is a slap to her and her years in the entertainment industry. 

Sometimes, she wished she’s the one who found Siren first. But then, she’ll probably be abusive to her and take over her decision. Most of the girls she had taken care of years ago nearly lost themselves on their way to having a supposed good life. Jumping from one man to another, married or not, available or taken for the money. They were one of the certified home wreckers now and believed they were entitled to ruin somebody else’s life when what men wanted for them is nothing but their body and expertise in giving pleasures. 

The goal is to get free from poverty’s chain and not be shackled by worldly things. 

Kendra regretted all the selfish and reckless decisions she made before and ruined most girls’ futures, but Miss Katty always told her not to blame herself. The girls wanted the money as Kendra badly wanted it before. But she’s not that abusive to her. She’s like a devil whispering to them how their life can change over the night. But the girls took the bait because they wanted it, too. 

There are lots of temptations around. It literally makes up the world. It’s the matter of deciphering and analyzing which kind of temptation you should delve into. 

As always, Miss Katty used Siren as a comparison to the old girls of Kendra. Siren’s aware of how she could be a millionaire over the night, but she refused the idea. It’s because of Franco. He will be a millionaire before her, so that’s certainly a no. 

And Miss Katy believed the first reason was how Jocelle grew her. Miss Katty first thought Siren would agree to anything she offered to her because she literally lived in the street. Poverty can make things people act recklessly just to get out of their pitiful situation. But clearly, Jocelle thought of her so well. In what way, neither Kendra and Mis Katty can tell because they only teach class and manners to women to get a good taste of the rich men’s money. 

After destroying most lives of the women working for her, Kendra decided to build her new business and focus on men instead. So the wonderful journey of her gay pub begins. 

“What’s the use of acting demure and all when everyone knows overrated w***e. Overused.”

“Worn-out,” the second girl added and laughed with the first one. “You mean underrated. Reason why some think she’s inexperienced. She’s obviously not entertaining enough.”

“Right.”

Siren rolled her eyes and shut the door beside her. About ten of the working girls in a beeline for the cubicles were startled and jumped. It wasn’t supposed to be surprising since the clubhouse’s noise is booming from inside and out. Comfort room doors closed shut in a thud. Purposely or not. But Siren had closed it with the purpose to let the girls know she’s one standing in line. 

In fact, she’s been there for half an hour now, but they stole her line from her by some girls who stepped in front of her. She hadn’t said a word to them, but it surprised them to see her before they walked out, only realizing it was her. Or remembering she’s working in the Angel’s Night Lab again, and the only reason they’re packed with customers. 

But Siren stayed behind the door, deciding she doesn’t want to go yet. And these two girls in the front line certainly didn’t think she’s here. 

“S-Siren…” the first one stuttered and blinked in surprise. The girl who agreed with her rushed to the occupied cubicle. The girls in line looked away from them. 

She stood upright and stepped away from leaning on the wall. Her arms remained crossed over her shoulders. Her head barely jerked for a nod and the girl swallowed hard. Siren has a bored look on her face and it unnerves the girl. It’s only natural for them to talk ill behind Siren as long as Miss Katty doesn't reach it. Siren is not a talker and she never once tells on the girls. She can make-up a story and Miss Katty will surely believe her, but she’s not doing any of it. 

She’s that bored with the drama in the clubhouse to create another one. 

“I… We thought we saw you get inside the private room,” the girl explained. 

Siren rolled her eyes. She doesn’t remember the girl’s name, but she’s one of the newbies. It’s only months since she started working in the Angel’s with the other girls, but she’s the bolder one. Like she’s practiced to be an entertainer during her childhood days, and officially working in the clubhouse doesn’t terrify her. Unlike Siren when she first entered the house. Unlike the other girls on their first time. 

She remembered Miss Katty telling her she’s been abused when she was ten. Siren’s not interested in the story, but she made sure to recognize the face of the girl so she’ll know once she attacks her from behind. As for what she’s doing now. 

Pitying the broken souls won’t help them heal. Especially if healing is the last thing they want. The girl in the whole clubhouse knows her story. Once again, a defense mechanism. To avoid being attacked, she attacked first. A response Siren learned was natural to humans since we all have a fair share of mischiefs. Though the poor’s mischief is a lot more threatening. 

Without saying a word, Siren walked to the occupied cubicles. When she went out, the two are gone. She’s not sure if the first girl remained in the other cubicle and she’s not interested to know. 

She tabled with the last customer she met in the Playhouse before entering the kitchen for cold water. She’s glad that the dancers on the poles entertained the customers well and she can disappear from the scene if she needs to. But only after she outsmarted the customers asking for her. She doesn’t want to take all the tips to herself. 

In the kitchen, there’s also a backdoor. But it has an awful smell because of the clubhouse’s garbage. Miss Katty made sure they met the cleanliness of the house using Kendra’s standard in Playhouse in the Angel’s Night Lab. But unlike in the Playhouse, they don’t have proper waste management in the Angel’s.

“Eileen didn’t go for work,” one girl in the kitchen said. The rest are all indistinct to her as she stepped out of the backdoor. She has no idea why, but her instinct told her she has to step foot outside the establishment. It’s an alley, but a wide space. And from there, she could see the nearby clubhouses and their customers. There are several nipa huts around for two to four people with only a single light in the middle. It’s where the girls take their VIP customers for a private talk― and anything ‘private’ since there are no private rooms inside, unlike in the Playhouse. 

Miss Katty strictly disallows the girls from taking customers inside the rooms for stay-ins workers.

And true enough, she caught a man striding away from the door. She was right when he noticed his silhouette peeking in the ajar’s door. 

“Who are you?” She remained close to the closed door in case it’s a dangerous person. Anyone is welcome in the clubhouse, even when they’re intoxicated with drugs and alcohol. Once again different from the Playhouse where the guards have to make sure anyone who enters is sober enough.

The man looks well-dressed with pants, and black long sleeves folded to his elbow. Her heart pounded with the thought of ‘that’ man being here. 

Their first and second are nothing to her, no matter how odd it is. But the last one made her sleepless. He caught her curiosity. But she won’t be entertaining it. 

She shrugged when the man continued on walking, but lifted one of her eyebrows when he stopped and hesitantly turned to her. 

The man has no plan to come here and see her. But it’s been years. He hated her for what she did to him, but also thankful for it. No matter how that incident between them almost left him an invalid. But it’s not the point now. He’s here because…

He stepped closer to Siren so she’ll get to clearly see his face, but the woman’s expression doesn’t change one bit. Just like how he knows her before. He’s such a fool to mistake that blank expression as women’s normal reaction to feigning their interest. He thought she was trying hard to get. But she’s not trying. She’s indeed not easy to get. Her mere attention is priceless. He learned it the hard way. 

Her reaction tells her how she doesn’t recognize him. If he’s here to get to her, he’d be disappointed. But he’s not here to create another misfortune to himself.

“I shouldn’t have shown up here,” he started. His hands started shaking, so he pocketed them. “I came here to reminisce how you change my life.”

Siren shifted on her feet and pressed her crossed arms against her chest. She got the reaction she expected. The man’s eyes darted to her bosom but moved back to her eyes almost as instantly. She tilted her head to closely watch him. He’s here for her, but not for her entertainment. She wondered what his reason for, if not to give her cold cash and ordering her to leave her work. 

“You don’t really remember me?” the man couldn’t help but ask. His voice was coated with amazement. He absentmindedly caressed his nape, refusing to look away as her eyes lingered to him. That’s one of the reasons men mistakenly think she’s interested. She kept her eyes to something, to someone that catches her attention. Intently watching and not caring if someone noticed her staring. 

Siren said nothing and was about to go back inside when the man took a step forward. 

“I’m Niccolo,” he introduced himself. He held out his hand, used to only saying his name for formal meetings. He quickly put it down and wiped his sweating palm against his pants. “I’m the…,” he cleared his throat. “My dad’s is the former governor.”

“Are you looking for him, then?” she asked in confusion and curiosity. “I didn’t know the governor’s here.” She’ll be informed if someone in a higher rank visits Walk Street and the Angel’s. But with the location of their local clubhouse, Siren doubts a public official will dare visit the place and let the people know their connection to this kind of entertainment. 

“Former governor,” he corrected. “Governor…” he trailed off and decided not to mention their family name after that scandal he brought to their family. His dad is working in the senate now, anyway. “I don’t know if you do it with lots of men, but… I’m one of them. That… what you did to me three years ago was a nightmare, but it helped me as a person now.”

An amused smile appeared on the corner of her smile. Bitterly. Mockingly. “I think you’re mistaken for someone else. I don’t have any advocacies, and certainly not up to helping anyone to become a better person.”

She has to work hard in helping herself before ridiculously trying to help others. What a fool would she be. And how senseless of this man to think someone working in a club will have a part-time job of leading anyone to this life’s right path. As if she can find that path in her customers’ lusted gazes. 

“I’m one of the perverts you’ve broken the balls,” he admitted in a rush, worrying that she’ll head to the door and leave him. He doesn’t want to go back inside that clubhouse anymore. His ears heated at the confession. “I have to take an operation abroad.”

“Oh!” Siren exclaimed in a barely audible voice. “There’s only one. So it’s you?” She looked him up and down. Her eyes lingered for seconds in between his legs. But it’s not like she can tell by just looking if the operation is successful or not. “How’s the operation?” she voiced out the question. 

“It failed.”

His admission shocked her. She blinked, and for a moment didn’t realize she gave her worry away. The man harassed her before. He insinuated the incident. He should have expected her to protect herself from his advances. She was lucky he was totally drunk that time because until now, she’s surprised at his vigorous men’s muscles whenever they flexed them. 

Women shouldn’t be sorry for protecting themselves from men’s harassment. Even if it left them invalid. 

“You don’t have to feel sorry about it,” Niccolo quickly said and absentmindedly raised his hands to make himself clear. He grabbed his hand together so as not to touch Siren. He’s not worried that she might hurt him again. He was more worried she would mistake his intention for going here to something else. 

“I’m not sorry.” She lifted her chin, squinting her eyes to let the man know she’s telling the truth. The silence stretched between them. 

Niccolo nodded. “I came here to apologize. After years, I’m apologizing to you now, and I hope it’s not too late.”

“You’re not here to throw tantrums on me?” She was sarcastic, but also astonished. In fact, she’s been waiting for his revenge for a year despite the agreement between Miss Katty and his family. Until she gets tired of waiting and forgets about him. Now she feels terrible the operation failed. To what extent, she doesn’t want to know. But she’s not really sorry for anything. 

“I’m…,” he cleared his throat. “I’m a homosexual.... I’ve been keeping it from my family since when I first accepted what I really am in high school. My dad is a governor, our family name’s prominent so you can think of the challenge I have to face keeping my identity to myself and some closest friends… I don’t… I’m not interested in you, but that night, I have to prove myself to a group from school. I have to do something.”

“Anything but declaring the truth?” she supplied and tilted her head on the side. She heard lots of stores from men, but this one is new. She doesn’t know what to feel, so she kept her reaction neutral. 

“My dad was a governor.”

“So?”

“I don’t want to taint his name. I witnessed how he worked hard to be in that position. I saw his genuine way to help the people and his sacrifices to gain their trust. I would destroy him.”

“By being you? I doubt it. You destroyed him with that scandal.” She’s not expecting him to nod, but he did. 

“I know. I shouldn’t have let my fear get to me. I shouldn’t let their threats dictate who I truly am.”

Siren nonchalantly looked around. She’s not used to this kind of conversation, and she hates to break it to the guy. Or whatever he wants, he is. Like Kendra? But she’s still with the men’s clothes and hairstyles. Maybe like the men she met in the gay pub. 

“I accept the apology. You may go.”

“I also want to thank you.” 

She raised her brow at him. “Enlighten me because I don’t know what else I did. I have no idea ‘how’ your operation fails.”

“I’ll never be able to have my own child,” he answered after hearing the familiar boredom in her tone. “What happened between us was a grand turning point in my life. When my dad found out what I did, he was mad and told me how he’s a product of women’s harassment. I didn’t know that. I feel so bad when he blames himself. It devastated my grandmother when she heard what I did to you.”

“You never get past kissing me,” he reminded her. She remembered he tried to force her and grabbed her, but it didn’t go far. 

“I forced you. I harassed you. I disrespect you. I was wrong… When my dad learned I’m incapable, he showed me I’m enough. He showed me the beauty of adoption.”

“I don’t know why you’re telling me this.”

“I told them what I really am. I remembered what you told me, and it gave me the courage to tell them the truth.”

She frowned. “I don’t remember what I told you.”

“How cruel,” he said and nodded reassuringly. “You said that when I pushed you against the wall. I never see the fear in your eyes, but you’re not willing either. You stared right through my eyes like… like you pity me. When I started attacking you to give the group who’s watching a show, you kicked me hard my vision darkened. You pushed and let me fall limply on the ground. Immovable with the excruciating pain. But you shrugged and left with an apologetic smile.”

“I don’t know what changes your mind to tell your family the truth.” 

“But you did. How cruel, right? One way or another, you’ll be pushed hard against the wall. You’ll be cornered. But what’s the sense of being afraid? Of fearing anything when everything is cruel to you? When I saw the pity in your eyes, I pitied myself more. A poor girl working in this… prostitution pitied me. The governor’s son. I’m rich. I’m educated. I can buy this establishment. I can get all that I want. Anything but being me… You pity me because you can be you, while I can’t. This world is cruel to everyone, but I’m pitiful because it terrified me to face that cruelty… That was what’s going on in my head during the operation. You made it easy for me to tell my parents the truth. When they accepted me, I never asked for anyone’s validation to be who I really am anymore. I accepted who can accept me and ignore those who can’t. Because this world is cruel to everyone, right?” 

She pursed her lips together. I embedded indifference in her expression. Niccolo at least expected her to nod, or show a little sympathy. But Siren only shrugged. 

“That’s… good for you, then? That’s a good start for your advocacy.” Her voice was cold. She waved her hand at him and opened the door. Niccolo could only nod and smile to her as she closed the door after her, leaving him alone outside. 

He’s changed a lot. She did. And it’s right. Everyone doesn’t have to change. Only those who need it the most.