Trieja: Jake And Josh [Under Revision]

Chapter 26

Nagising ako sa sinag ng araw na tumatama sa mga mata ko. And it's funny because, for the past few days, I have never had any bad dreams and such. Hindi na rin ako umiinom ng sleeping pills.

Maybe because Jake's been sleeping beside me all those nights I've cried myself to sleep. Tumagilid ako para matitigan ang napakagwapo niyang mukha. Ang kapal ng kilay niya, pinalilitaw ang hazel brown niyang mga mata.

His long eyelashes had me going envious of him. That small and straight nose of his emphasized his red, thin lips. I want to touch them, but I can't. We're not the same anymore.

Inayos ko ang kumot sa katawan niya bago bumangon. Dumiretso ako sa banyo at sinimulan ang pagligo. It's been days since that fateful night with Sir Adriano. Turns out, one day lang pala talaga ang training naming mga Escorts.

As I scrub my body, the memory of me, Chloe, and her friends talking in a cafe flashed in my head.

"Well, us Escorts label our work with different levels."

"Levels?", I repeated as Chloe sipped on her tea.

"Yes. Si Madeline ang pinakamatanda sa atin pagdating sa trabaho, she's been working as an Escort since she was 18 years old the same as Trixie here. The only difference is, Madeline is years older than her, so it's understandable why she knows a lot of things." Angel said.

"I was born in the year 1993." Madeline informed me.

Tumango-tango ako. 1989? So ibig sabihin...

"She's 6 years older than us," Chloe spoke the words in my head.

"And I am 23, 1998 ako pinanganak." Si Angel.

"Anyway, tumatanda ako sa usapang ito," the four of us giggled. "Going back to the topic, Frivolous Escorts will let you accept clients that's close to your age for three years. After that, pwede ka ng tumanggap ng mga kliyenteng mas matanda pa sayo."

Napalunok ako at di napigilang ngumiwi. Madeline laughed at my reaction.

"Don't be disgusted, Alessandra. Katunayan nga ay mas experienced pa ang mga kliyenteng nasa 38 pataas ang edad." She added.

"Though, I prefer clients who's age is in their early 60s. Hindi kasi nila need makipagkiskisan ng katawan, they only want your company and a person to talk to for months." Angel said.

"True," Trixie agreed. "Mas madami ang kliyenteng tinanggap ko sa ganoon na edad dahil, mostly, nagpapasama lang sila while they are on their business trip of in vacation. Pero mag-ingat ka nga lang kapag nakita ka nilang naka-lingerie..."

All of giggled knowingly while I timidly chuckled. Naiintindihan ko ang sinabi ni Trixie, sadyang nakaka-out of place lang kapag nagkakatitigan silang tatlo na sila lang dapat ang makaalam.

"Kahit na matanda na sila, malakas pa rin ang stamina," Madeline said while sniggering.

"Naalala ko nung first time kong magkaroon ng matandang kliyente, it was so wild!", Angel said.

"You were then 17!"

Namilog ang mata ko kay Trixie. "What? 17?"

Angel smirked. "Oh, don't worry about it. Isang araw na lang nun ay 18 na ako nang matanggap ako. FE didn't have any interest in accepting a minor like me because they thought my Mother is forcing me to be an Escort but in truth, kagustuhan ko naman talaga."

"I could never forget your Mother's face when she went to the building," bahagyang nawala ang ngisi ni Trixie. "She never wanted you to be a part of this organization, you know."

Angel rolled her eyes playfully. "I know, pero wala na si Mama nagawa nung matanggap na ako. Tanda ko pa ang oras kung kailan ako pumirma ng kontrata, 11:58pm."

"Just two minutes before your birthday, huh?", I whispered. Mabuti na lang talaga at wala masyadong tao rito. "What made you decide to be an Escort, Angel? If it's okay to ask you..."

"Yung ex ko ang nagtulak sa akin maging ganito. Don't get me wrong, hindi niya ako pinilit or what. Mayaman kasi siya, mahirap lang ako. He was the one who took my virginity, and then paid me hundred thousands of pesos when we're done."

Marahan kong hinawakan ang kamay niya nung mabilis na dumaan ang sakit sa mga mata niya. The other two went quiet and just listened to Angel.

"Alam na ito nina Ate Madeline and Ate Trixie. Ang tagal na rin nangyari 'yon but why does it feel like it's still fresh like the clear waters?" Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. "Oh my God, I should not cry!"

Umiling-iling si Angel bago huminga ng malalim para siguro pigilan ang sariling mapaiyak. "Minahal ko siya ng totoo, but I guess he just thought of me as some gold-digger like his exes. Alam ko kung ano ang nasa isip ninyo, na dapat ay pinagbutihan ko na lang ang pag-aaral at pinilit na makapagtapos..." She bit her lower lip.

"But you needed money for your Mother's medication, right?" Napalingon ako kay Ate Madeline.

"At nawala ang scholarship mo because of that one night with your ex." Chloe added.

"Oo. And because of that, nagkaroon ako ng scandal, and it turns out na planado ng gagong yun ang lahat. Matalino rin kasi ang ex kong yun kaya aside from his looks, katalinuhan niya ang isa pang hinangaan ko sa kanya. We were competing with each other for the Valedictorian position kaya siguro nagawa niya yun, and at that time ay nalaman niyang ako ang nakakuha ng posisyong iyon."

"Wait," I spoke. "Since nagkaroon ka ng scandal, hindi ka na Valedictorian?"

"Obviously," malungkot niyang sabi. "Isa pa, natanggal din ang scholarship ko at kailangan kong ulitin ang 4th year high school dahil lang sa scandal. And since natanggal din ako sa trabaho dahil ilang araw akong 'di nakapasok, wala akong mapagkuhanan ng pera para sa gamot ni Mama. So that's why I ended up being here."

Natahimik ako at saglit na napatitig sa kanya. Angel playfully slapped my arm as she giggled.

"Anong tingin 'yan, 'teh?"

"Nakakagulat lang kasi dahil sobrang open mo given the fact that I am still a stranger."

Her nose wrinkled. "Ayos lang yun ano, ganito talaga ako. Nagmana kay Mama, hindi natitikom ang bibig kapag buhay na ang napaguusapan."

Malungkot akong napangiti as I closed my eyes, the memory started fading. It's been a few days since that talk. Nangyari iyon after fateful night with Sir Adriano. Sobrang nag-worry kasi si Chloe sa akin kaya nakipagkasundo akong makipagkita sa kanya.

The pity I've been feeling for the past few days for Angel never left me because somehow, I can see the resemblance of her story to mine. In some parts that is...

Tinapos ko na ang pagligo bago lumabas ng banyo ng naka-roba. I got startled by Jake's presence in front of me. Bagong gising siya at kahit sabog ang buhok, ang gwapo pa rin niya.

"Good morning..." I said in a low voice before averting my eyes and walked passed him.

"You should wear nice for today, may pupuntahan tayo."

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa tali ng roba. I've been his Escort for the past few days, but it seems like I will never be able to get used to this new situation of mine. Huminga ako ng malalim at hinawakan ang doorknob ng walk-in closet.

"Okay." I said before walking inside the room.

Wala siyang specifications tungkol sa damit na dapat kong suotin. So I just wore a simple floral dress with its length just above my knees, and partnered it with a flat shoes. Binili niya ito sa akin as soon as we arrived in the Northern part of Jomalig Island. I hope this suits the place where we'll be going.