The Exotica

Chapter 2

Paglabas niya ng backstage ay nakatalakbong pa ang kurtina at hindi pa siya nakikita ng madla. Naghaharumentado ang kanyang puso sa kaba at excitement. This thing isn't new to her but because she knew someone is out there who is looking for a damsel in distress to save, kinakabahan siya at naeexcite and she is wishing that it is her that he is going to choose by the end of the night.
The musical starts to play and Samantha is readying herself para sa pagkanta niya. The blinds are slowly being lifted by the pulley pero paa pa lang niya ang kita. She knows that the blinds should exactly be the height of her bago siya magsimulang kumanta.
   She is already feeling the music reach her veins, making her stand in her most confident and seductive posture. Left leg slanted and the right standing as straight as possible, making her hips look wider. Her right hand holds the microphone and her left is at her waist. Everyone would surely be enchanted of her beauty once the blinds expose her.
   "Sweet love, sweet love. Trapped in your love." Panimula ni Samantha. Ang napili niyang kanta sa gabing iyon ay Bound To You ni Christina Aguilera sa movie niyang Burlesque. It's not a secret to all the patriots of the club that Samantha could surely hit Christina Aguilera's growling. Samantha may look like a sweet kitten but her voice could be as powerful as a tiger's growl.
   Today wasn't like any of the previous days. Sa halip na mag sigawan at magpalakpak at maging wild ang mga audience ay nakatingin lang sila kay Samantha. Her voice could really give you the feels. Samantha is now showing different feeling while singing the song but loneliness overpowered every thing, for she is truly lonely.
   At the far end of the club sits a man who you know could be a good catch. He has the looks, height, the oh-so-glorious-body even if he's wearing a three piece suit, and not to mention he's a very young billionaire bachelor. His attention was now in the stage where he now saw a very sexy yet sophisticated and talented woman. She knows how to attract a crowd. He notices how her eyes connect to the people, like it was giving them messages. She is a natural performer. He knows that the woman in front isn't just a singer in The Exotica. He had her investigated when he found out that there is this woman that the guys had been crazy about for a long time. It doesn't matter for him, Anthos Montecillo, if the girl is a stripper or not. She had already caught his interest in the first place and he'll make sure that by the end of the night, they'll be closer than just friends. He don't care if guys had seen her body, all of her. Seloso siya, oo at nagseselos siya at marami ng nakakita sa magandang babae ngunit ano ang magagawa niya? That is who she is and who she would have been once she's his. Ang kay Anthos ay kay Anthos lamang. He is possessive of what is his but he'll be understanding habang wala pa sa kanya. He knows that no woman would willingly be in this club, well unless adik at talagang may topak sa ulo. He knows that girls are in this club for a reason, pero kalimitan ay financial.
   Sa mata niya ay si Samantha na ang pinaka magandang nilalang na nadaanan ng kanyang mata. He couldn't stop looking at her especially now that she is performing in front. Nananayo ang mga balahibo ni Athos because of how powerful Samantha's voice is.
   "Thank you." Huling pahayag ni Samantha bago tuluyang bumaba ang blinds sa stage. Dahil doon ay napatayo si Athos sa kanyang upuan. He's go backstage to talk to Samantha. Alam ni Athos na every after Samantha's performance ay umuuwi na ito. He couldn't risk that kahit alam naman niya kung saan nakatira ang dalaga. He needs to talk to her now. Hindi na kayang ipagpalipas pa. He had been waiting to confront her for weeks pero dahil sa schedule niya ay ngayon pa lamang niya malalapitan ang dalaga. He'll be offering her something he knows she couldn't decline.