I hurriedly entered the bar where I'll be working tonight, still catching my breath as I stood at the entrance. The uniform I'm wearing is also wrinkled. As I inhale, I run my hand over the wrinkled part of my clothes to smooth out the wrinkles.
The alarm clock betrayed me earlier because I didn't even hear it ring. It's my fault too for sleeping in, knowing I still had work to do.Carlo spotted me from behind the bar, flashing a warm smile. He beckoned me over, "Isabella, it's alright. Don't worry about being late. Just catch your breath and start your shift when you're ready.""Thank you. I got stuck in traffic, and my alarm clock didn't go off," I explained as I caught my breath. As I approached, I could feel my heart gradually returning to its normal pace."These things happen. Take your time," Carlo added before leaving the bar. Perhaps he has other things to do because every time I enter the bar, he goes out and doesn't come back.Carlo is my neighbor in the area where Mama and I live. He's significantly older, maybe around three years, and because their family has been wealthy for a long time, he took over the bar when his sibling, the original owner, passed away. He didn't want to entrust it to anyone else. He hired me when we first met during my first year, and he wanted to help me."Hello, my amega!" I smiled at Francine when I saw her. She was at the bar counter, wiping it down. There were customers drinking and dancing."Are you a server tonight, girl, or do you want to be a bartender?" I grinned at her comment. "Just take Popoy's place for now; I want him with me!" She teased. I just turned away because of her flirtatious nature."Deal with it yourself; you replaced me even though I don't know how to mix drinks. It's better if you do it since you have an advantage over Po--" I didn't finish my sentence because she pulled my hair. "Ouch! That hurts." I complained while she continued to playfully taunt me."You're so weak. Is it overreacting?" she said.I slapped her with my bag, annoyed by her flamboyance. "What's your problem? Are you insecure about my hair that you always target it?""Yes!" He jokingly declared, pointing at me like an idiot. "And as long as I'm alive, I won't allow you not to be my ally!"I playfully pulled his hair too. "Damn it, you're not even funny." He pretended to flip his hair."Let's stop this, don't be a demon now because I'm in a bad mood." I fixed my hair and walked into the kitchen where I saw Popoy coming out. When he saw me, he smiled widely and even gave a wave."Hi, Isabella! You look beautiful.""How long have you been on break?""Why? Are we going on a date?""Fool, you're not my type."He clutched his chest and playfully acted like he was having a heart attack. "Ouch, you really hurt with your words. You've rejected me a hundred times already. It's getting painful." I just laughed at his theatrics and tapped his arm."Come on, it looks like the gay guy is about to kill us. You might get raped again, haha." He shivered at what I said."I'd rather accept it if you were the one--" I gave him a stern look. "If you were the one to be with, that's what I meant! What were you thinking? You, seriously." He quickly corrected himself. I just swatted him and walked into the kitchen."It's your problem now. You talk too much."After dressing in my uniform, I went straight outside."Bella, table 10. A customer just arrived." I nodded in response and grabbed my small list and pen. There were three men hanging around there."Welcome to Ember and Echo bar. Ready to order?" I smiled as I spoke.One of them turned to me and smiled back, while the other two didn't even look at me. "Right, do you have malt whiskey for my friend here, beers, and nachos, please." I glanced at his friend who had been looking at his phone since earlier. When he felt my gaze, he raised his eyebrows, looking straight at me.I avoided eye contact and took down their order. "Got it, anything else?""No, that's it for now." I smiled and turned away."That girl, she's beautiful.""Whoa, is she your type? Do you want me to get her name?" The voice of the guy I talked to earlier responded."I'm not shy, Hyung. Not like others-- Ouch, why did you hit me?!"I just shook my head and walked to the counter. "Kuya, malt whiskey, beers, and nachos for table 10. I'll get the ice."Kuya Railey nodded and smiled. "Got it, thank you, Isabella.""Girl, the ones in the VIP area are all handsome!" Francine screamed as soon as she reached the counter. Kuya just shook his head because the flamboyant guy had a new target again."I'm not interested, Francine. Go over there, don't disturb me." The call back sounded, and the guy left without saying anything. Kuya and I exchanged glances because the guy is always surrounded by men.After my shift at work, I decided to meet up with my best friend, Shane, who had been waiting for my shift to end. I noticed Shane sitting at a table with a group of people I didn't recognize. As I approached, Shane quickly saw me and waved from my seat."Isabella, come join us!" She stood up and approached me. She hooked her arm around mine, accompanying me.She seemed to have a lot of people at the table, all laughing and having fun. "Shane, who are all these people? I don't know some of them." I asked her. The music near them wasn't too loud, so I knew they didn't hear what I said."Mike, my cousin, and his boyfriend. The others I just bumped into, so I dragged them here." I slapped her because of what she said."Silly, did you just pull them because they're handsome?""Fool, didn't you understand the joke? I know all of them!" They stopped laughing and all looked at me. "Guys, meet my beautiful bestie!""Is she Isabella? The one you always talk about?" The gay guy happily nodded and proudly said."Of course! Isn't she beautiful? She's accepting suitors now, maybe there's a single guy here?" They all nodded happily, and Shane was beaming."Study first, she says. She's too picky. But don't bother because she's too selective.""Hahaha, that's still a thing nowadays? You can actually do both." The guy in the leather jacket said. He's handsome, with a cross earring on his left ear. He winked at me when our eyes met. I just smiled and looked away."Hey, Dio. Do you want me to poke your eyes out?! Stop winking at her. She doesn't even like you!""Whoa, chill, babe. You're so jealous, haha." Shena covered Dio with her beer coaster, and he laughed."Idiot! Your face!" Shena pulled me to an empty seat, making me sit next to her. She introduced everyone one by one, and they wanted me to drink, but I declined since I just finished work. I didn't feel like drinking right now."So, Isabella, what course are you taking? Your best friend always mentions you to me. I feel like I already know you by heart."They all laughed at Shena's cousin's cheeky comment, blushing with pride. "Shut up, guys! I'm just proud of my best friend. I want to adopt her, but she refuses.""So, Isabella, what course are you taking? So I can shift to your course," Michael, Shena's cousin's friend, jokingly asked. He had some earrings, and you could tell he was charming."I'm taking a degree in Bachelor of Law, and I'm in my third year," I replied. I couldn't help but notice their amazed eyes."Wow, good course. If I ever get in trouble, you'll be the first one I call." He jokingly added, and I smiled."Sure, but if I don't get a call from you, I might have to arrange your spot in prison myself," I added, making the group laugh.I caught sight of the three guys at table 10 earlier. One of them seemed a bit tipsy now, while the other two were still chill. They were talking to some girls, but the quiet guy from earlier seemed uninterested, sipping his drink. I was surprised when he turned and looked in my direction. I awkwardly averted my gaze, focusing on what my companions were saying.As the evening continued, I realized how late it had gotten. We were already outside the bar, and I waited for Shena's companions to arrange their transportation before heading home. Due to the enjoyable conversation, I lost track of time."Isabella, it's getting really late. Why don't you come over to my place tonight? It's closer, and you won't have to worry about traveling home at this hour."I hesitated, feeling thankful for the offer but also a bit uncertain. Shena's condo is within walking distance, so we could walk there. Since I didn't have work in the morning, I wanted to sleep the day away before looking for another job, as my bar job is only on weekends."Are you sure? I don't want to intrude," I said, but she brushed it off."Nonsense! You're practically family. Come on, it'll be like a sleepover! And besides, it's not your first time sleeping there. Why are you shy now?"I chuckled nervously. "I still feel a bit embarrassed. Just wait for me here. I'll say goodbye to my friends first."I bid farewell to my coworkers in the bar and headed to Shena's condo, just a short walk away. Once inside, we changed into comfortable clothes and reminisced about old times.Shane leaped onto the bed next to where I was sitting. "Remember our high school sleepovers? It's like we're reliving those days." She said while hugging her giant pillows without looking at me."Yeah. So much has happened in my life, but you're still here. Thank you," I sincerely said as I prepared to lie on the bed."It's what friends do, bella. Speaking of friends, our old friend met someone on a dating app. It seems she's enjoying the money from her sugar daddy."I became interested in what she said. I recently learned about people finding sugar daddies, thinking it was just a trend or for entertainment. However, it seems like many are actually doing it. But I never considered doing it because it feels like selling my body. It's impossible that they won't ask for something in return, and I don't want to tarnish my pride. I still have some dignity left, and I don't want to feel dirty."Don't even try those things. You might end up feeling insecure again," I warned, as it seemed like she was about to engage in some mischief, given her recent sharing.She just smiled sweetly at me. "Of course not! What do you think of me, a gold digger? Excuse me? I'm rich," she replied, rolling her eyes, and I knew she had something not-so-nice in mind when she's like this.I sighed deeply and turned sideways. "I will sleep now; let's catch up tomorrow. It's already three in the morning.""Okay, bes. Goodnight!" I closed my eyes, and within a minute, I was asleep.*****The loud sound of my alarm clock abruptly woke me up. Groggily, I extended my hand to turn it off, then stretched my limbs to shake off the sleep-induced stiffness. I stood up and ran my fingers through my messy hair.I glanced at my still-sleeping friend, probably not sleeping immediately, and I didn't want to wake her up as she's still in deep sleep. I wondered why my phone was outside my bag, so I grabbed it and opened it.The name of an app greeted me. Matchmaker: Dating with a twist. My eyebrows raised because I didn't recall downloading any dating apps on my phone, and I'm not even a fan of these things.I clicked on the application and began to explore. There was no profile picture, and it seemed like a newly created account, but when I checked the message area, there was a message.phantompurse sent you a message'"Hi! I saw your profile. It captivates my attention. This is my first time to try this application. It's quite good. Are you there?"What profile? There's no profile information here, so why did he mention a profile picture for this account?A new message arrived, so I went back to the message area and saw that the mysterious person chatting on the account I didn't recognize was online.phantompurse sent you a message'"Hey, You're online but you didn't even reply me to my last messages. Are you ghosting me?Do I look like a ghost? Damn this guy.[Me]"Hello. Sorry but this is my first time to use this app. It happened to d******d on my phone. I'm not really sure how to use this though."I quickly pressed the send button and anxiously bit my nails. He quickly read it, and I saw the typing sign. Is he not doing anything? He's quick to read my message!phantompurse sent you a message'"Oh, are you trying to explain yourself so I'll conveniently forget what you did? You've practically flooded my messages with your nonsense."Uh-oh, is this guy crazy?Instead of letting it go, my blood boiled. Damn this lunatic. Angrily, I replied.[Me]"Oh, congratulations on your selective memory! Must be quite the talent to conveniently forget your own actions. My messages were starting to feel a bit too empty anyway."phantompurse sent you a message"You're being sarcastic now? Wow. If you weren't disturbing my peaceful life, I wouldn't waste time on you."[Me]"You know what? Fuck you, whoever you are. I hope your food isn't delicious. Asshole!"I quickly exited the app because my mood was about to turn sour. I'll delete this app later and provide feedback. Only weirdos use this app.I decided to head to the bathroom to wash my face. I'll be going back to the apartment since I have things to do before looking for a job again.IMMERSED in the depths of my studies, I dedicate my time to preparing for upcoming exams. Days away from the crucial tests, I diligently delve into my books, notes, and online resources within the walls of my apartment. I simultaneously search for a job through local hiring agencies in the area.I massage my temples due to fatigue. Two days have passed since I lost my job, and it feels like I've been stuck in the apartment for months.I check the round clock on the wall near my study area. It's already five in the afternoon, so I decide to take a break and buy dinner from the nearby eatery.My gaze lands on the mailbox in front of our gate. Perhaps there's another letter for Nanay Nelya. She's been receiving unknown letters, and she doesn't know where they're coming from. Since Nanay has no children and is alone in life, she assumes these letters are from friends or siblings.When I'm in front of it, I notice it's slightly open, tempting my curiosity. I didn't plan to touch it, but I c
I quickly noticed what was going on around me earlier. There were some guys and gals chatting, and from what I heard, they seemed to be new acquaintances. What stood out to me was that most of them were older and wealthy.I can count the younger ones on my fingers.Is it possible that some women here come across as aggressive when introducing themselves? They tend to approach the men they like, and at first, I didn't know what their intentions were for doing so.By the way, if I'm not mistaken, I've heard about this event from my classmates, and they even mentioned a website for it.I didn't pay much attention to it because I don't really care about that kind of stuff.My thoughts were interrupted when I saw an older man approaching in the direction where I was standing. He had a short height, a chubby figure, and a beard.Just from his posture, I could say that he seemed somewhat arrogant."Ah, my dear, you possess a rare charm," the man said, his eyes assessing me with a predatory gle
"I heard Sir calling my name, 'Ms. Heyes?'" I noticed that he glanced around as he entered the room."Sir?" I stopped in front of him, expecting that he had something to tell or show me. Time was running out, and only a few of us remained in the room after the exam."The dean asks your presence. Please go straight to his office now," our professor said. I couldn't help but feel nervous upon hearing his words. I knew why I was being summoned.I still had a significant balance to settle due to my inability to pay it off promptly when my mother fell ill last year. I've been gradually paying it off, but it wasn't enough to cover everything at once. The tuition for the course I chose was expensive, and I wanted to avoid taking it, but my mother insisted that I pursue my dream course because she didn't want me to regret it in the end.In the dean's office, I nervously shifted in my seat, my heart pounding. I cleared my throat as
"Wait, why are you here?" So that's why the voice sounded familiar earlier. It was him? I facepalmed myself. Damn, I wanted to see him again, but the timing was just so off.He offered me an ice cream cone with chocolate flavor, so I took it, thinking that maybe he had bought it for me. How embarrassing. He was the one trying to calm me down, and I was being picky.And the ice cream he bought was from a vendor in front of the university, a few meters away from the parking area."T- thanks," I said, still feeling embarrassed. I didn't look at him, but I quickly licked the ice cream to prevent it from melting. It would be a shame to waste it.I felt him sit down beside me, but because he had a broad and muscular build, there was only a few inches of space between us. One nudge and our skin would touch.We sat in silence for a moment. I continued to enjoy the ice cream, the cool sweetness providing a much-needed distraction from my swirling thoughts."I hope everything's okay," Alex final
"BESTIE!" she exclaimed as she swung the door open, enveloping me in a tight hug as if we hadn't seen each other in ages.Before I could utter a word, she eagerly pulled me inside, and we settled down in the living room."Bestie! We crossed paths last night!" she squealed, sounding like a worm sprinkled with salt. I knew exactly who she was referring to – her long-time crush, an actor I wasn't particularly fond of due to his playboy reputation."But," she pouted, "we did meet, and he was entertaining another girl! He even rescued her! Ugh, we were in the middle of a conversation!"I grinned. "Don't be too affected; he just talked to you. It's not like you two are an item."She gave me a sideways glance, leaning back on the couch with crossed arms. "You're so bitter! Can't you just be supportive?""I'll support you if you choose the green flag. You're just colorblind, so even if it's already too red, you're still a go," I teased."Ugh! It's not obsession! I'm just a fan, okay? It's norm
A scream made both of us turn towards the door."Sir Carlooo - oh, damn, he's handsome!" We both looked at the entrance of Carlo's office. I saw my gay co-worker, who looks more like a girl than I do, welcoming us and gazing at Alex."Francine, Sir Carlo isn't here," I tried to divert her attention from Alex, who was already starting to be quite uncomfortable. Francine was her nickname, but in real life, her name was Franco. Despite her effeminate appearance, her actual name was very masculine. She didn't even remove her gaze from Alex, getting closer to me before taking my arm and squeezing it." ~Hey, I'm not seeing someone like you, my handsome friend, hehe~" She said in a flirtatious tone, giggling bashfully. I just smiled at her and rolled my eyes."Alex, she's my co-worker - Ouch!" She pinched me, making me grab my messy hair before giving her a quick glare."FRANCINE! My name is Francine! This crazy girl," she flipped her invisible hair. She did look like a girl, but her haircut
I'm looking at some clothes as we pass by these boutiques. The clothes are beautiful, but it seems like I can't afford them because the prices are staggering. We stopped at a fancy boutique, and my eyes widened when I realized the brand displayed."A-Alex, are you going in? I'll wait for you outside," I said, feeling nervous. I usually only see these brands on social media, and even just their bags are so expensive."Why? You don't like the Gucci brand? Do you prefer Chanel or Versace? We can go there after this," Doesn't he hear himself? He just mentioned it like a normal boutique! The value of the items here is more than my tuition fees!"No, I mean... It's too expensive, Alex. I'm not used to expensive brands," I can only afford thrift store items, and I can only admire these luxury boutiques from a distance. I feel inadequate, to be honest."Get used to it. I'll spoil you as per our contract. It's my duty to fulfill your de
I stared at my reflection in the mirror and let out a sigh. I was having second thoughts about whether I made the right choice, but in reality, I didn't have much of a choice from the beginning. What I couldn't understand was why Alex wanted to get to know me.He's known for dating younger women, and now I'm one of them. Based on what I've heard, if the person they were referring to was indeed Alex, his ex-wife wanted him back. Maybe he wanted to make his wife jealous or vice versa?I sighed again. I didn't really care about all of that drama; I just wanted this to be over. If his ex-wife was crazy, that's not my problem. All I cared about was fulfilling the contract without any complications.I left the comfort room and headed to the parking area. It was only now that I noticed it was getting dark. We had been inside with Alex for hours, and it seemed like the mall was about to close.When I reached the parking area, I spotted Alex's car with its lights still on. I smiled, thinking he