Chapter 2: "Escort"

Paige POV

I hid myself under my bed. My stepfather was looking for me. He smells drunk again. He always does this to me whenever he loses his senses because of alcohol. My nerves were shaking in fear of him. In times like this, bitter memories covers me again.

Seven years ago, he began to molest me. I tried to tell it with my mother, but she chose not to believe me at all. Also, my stepfather warned me that if I do something stupid, he would kill my mother and the rest of my siblings. His face gave me horror.

I grew up in Tondo, Manila. My parents were divorced when I was four years old. My dad left us for another woman. It saddened me to my deepest core, but I tried to accept everything wholeheartedly.

I was doing fine until my mother decided to remarry again to her childhood friend. Who am I to stop my mother?

I wish nothing for her but happiness and a long life. From the very start, I really did not like my stepfather. He looked devilish to me, but then, I had to respect him as my father after he married my mother. I really wonder why my mother chose him. He is a total scumbag.

He drinks liquor almost every night. He never goes to work and abuses my mother physically and verbally. I grew up hating him.

One summer when my mother went to the market, my stepfather came into my room all by himself. He was half naked. He sat on my bed and laid down next to me. I was ten years old at that time and had no idea of what was going on. His eyes were full of lustful desire as he looked at me.

He came closer to me and whispered some words that I did not even understand. Good thing one of my siblings went inside the house and call his attention. He immediately got up and went out of my room.

That was just the beginning of my nightmare. One night, when the rain was too heavy, my mother and my siblings were stranded at the market and it was just me and my stepfather that were left in the house. I was seventeen at that time.

The thunder roars so loud that you can hear nothing but its horrible sound. I went upstairs due to fear of thunder and lightning. I covered myself with a thick blanket and hid there.

A few minutes later, I felt somebody's hand touching my legs. I was petrified when I realized who it was. I tried to hold my breath. I can smell the horrible scent of liquor from his mouth. It was my stepfather.

"Do not move or I will reap your body into pieces", he whispered in my left ear. My body froze not in the cold but in fear of my life. I felt a sharp metal on my legs. If I was not mistaken, it was a knife from our kitchen.

I began to panic. I had no idea what to do next. The loud sound of thunder and lightning would make me shout in vain, that was for sure. Nobody will hear me if I scream for help.

I could feel that his hands were moving towards my inner thighs. It made me shiver in fear. His whispers made me fear to death.

"Do not shout, just enjoy the moment", he uttered to me. I forgot how long he had tasted me. All I can remember that day was a painful and horrible memory. I felt his manhood inserted into mine. Blood was scattered everywhere on my thick blanket.

At that moment, the splash of lightning scared me no more. He left me naked after he molested me. I felt dirty after that. I looked at myself in the mirror and I saw nothing but a horrible face.

No amount of tears could wash me at that time. I am completely devastated.

When the rain stopped, I waited for my mother and siblings to come home. A few hours later, it was just my mother who arrived so late. I heard from their conversation with my stepfather that the water level went so high, so she decided to leave my siblings to her sister at the market. We had a small shop at the wet market. My mother sells fish there.

She went into my room and saw my situation. She looked at me as if nothing had happened. I was about to talk to her when she just grabbed my dirty blanket and left me just like that. She never asked me if I was alright. It broke my inner self. How come my sweet and kind mother ended like a living dead with no emotion at all. Tears kept falling from my eyes. I see no hope.

That incident happens most of the time, even until the present. So, here I am now, like a child still afraid of him. I am twenty-four years old now. I am still living with my mother. I cannot leave her alone. My stepfather warned me that if I did so, he would kill my mother and I would come back home to see her dead body.

I wanted to escape, but I love my mother more than I value myself.

I could hear the sound of his footsteps coming into my room.

"Paige, come out now", he called me. He did not change. As for me, he was the same man I was so afraid of. He was my Goliath that I could never kill.

My heart was getting wild. There was silence after that. Did he leave? I carefully listen to any sound and I hear nothing. Soon after, I felt someone dragging my feet. Oh damn, it was him.

"Why are you hiding from me, huh?", he exclaimed.

"I miss you", he added. I was terrified just hearing his voice. He threw me on the top of the bed and began to undress me. As usual, he will manipulate my fears and there I am, doing nothing.

My heart burst when I saw my younger brother standing at the door. He was holding a knife. He was about to stab my stepfather, but unfortunately, he saw it and punched my brothers face. He was a bit small compared to him. My stepfather stood up and was so furious. He was about to kill my brother but then, I grabbed the knife and stabbed him twice because of fear and anger.

Everything happens so fast. Darkness overwhelmed me. I saw blood all over my hands. I was shaking in fear. I did not know what to do. My brother stood up and took me to my comfort room. He washed my hands and sat beside me on my bed.

"Look at me, Paige! I killed my father", he uttered.

I shook my head. Tears kept falling from my eyes. No words were coming out of my mouth.

My brother shook my shoulder, and he kept on convincing me that he had killed our father.

"Paige, it was not your fault. Do you hear me? It was my fault. I killed my father", he uttered.

I looked at my brother's face. He seemed not bothered at all. He was so calm that he even managed to call the police and surrendered himself due to the crime he said he committed. He was just nineteen years old, and there he was, sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole.

After that incident, my mother became sick. There were days when she would just stare at the sky and not eat anything.

I felt guilty. If only, I had been more cautious, these things would not have happened.

A year has passed, I need to find a job to sustain my family's daily needs. My mother became a liquor lover and lost her life even if she was still alive.

I did not finish college, so I find it hard to land a job. As I was walking along the street, I saw a paper posted on a glass door.

"Wanted Saleslady! Come and inquire inside".

I immediately, entered the building and I looked for the manager who posted the job vacancy. From a distance, I saw a blond gay coming towards me.

"What is your name?", he asked. He looked at me from head to foot, as if he was scrutinizing me.

I was completely surprised.

"Paige, my name is Paige Rivera. I saw a poster outside, and I am here to apply for that job",

"Perfect, one of our models back out. She really has an attitude problem, so you are in", he exclaimed.

I did not expect to hear those words. I went to apply as a sales lady.

"I am sorry, I guess, there is a mistake here", I replied, then I turned around and was ready to leave.

"Ten thousand pesos just for today, take it or leave it", he uttered.

It made me stock when I heard the offer. He was about to leave when I call his attention.

"Wait, I think. I think I am good", I said.

Oh my God, I really do not know why I said those words, maybe because of desperation?

He just smirked at me. Then he pointed a direction.

"Come this way",

I followed him. I found myself in a room full of mirrors and beautiful dresses, I noticed some cameras as well. There were a few stunning women standing in front of me. They all have long legs and blond hair. They were all gorgeous.

They all looked at me like I was an alien.

"Phil, who is she?", asked the woman in a blue skirt.

"Oh yeah! Please introduce yourself", said the gay person who brought me there. I think he was the manager.

"Ah yes!, My name is Paige, and I am twenty four years old", I uttered. I do not know, but I am extremely nervous.

After my short introduction, we proceeded to the next hall. It was full of fancy chairs. Also, what caught my attention was the long narrow stage.

"Okay ladies, fall in line, do not forget your high heels", shouted Phil.

My heart was pounding so fast. I have no clue on what to do. Are they expecting that I am a runaway model already?

"Alright, in a count of one, two and three", said Phil.

Then there was a soft sound that echoed all over the hall.

"Amazing", I uttered in wonder. I only saw this on television.

I was so lost in admiration that I did not notice that it was my turn.

"Dummy, you move", shouted Phil. Oh God, he sounded so furious.

I gathered my strength and began to walk.

"Oh God, get you high heels, dummy", he screamed again.

I was too pressured.

"Here, use this", I looked at who it was. There was a beautiful woman next to me.

"Oh God, thank you!", I smiled at her.

I had never tried to walk in heels before, but I found it enjoyable. Without a doubt, I really like it.

"Hey, thank you", I said to one of the ladies who helped me after practice. She smiles at me.

"You're welcome, my pleasure to work with you. You are good", she complimented.

I giggled when I heard that. No one said that to me before, not even my mother.

"Really, you are so good as well and you are very pretty", I replied. She has big round eyes. Her skin was as white as snow.

"Shanaya, my name is Shanaya", she gave me her hand.

"Nice to meet you Shanaya, I am Paige", I replied.

"By the way, I was about to go out and hang out at the bar, want to join me?", she asked.

I smiled and shook my head.

"I wish I could, but my younger siblings need to eat some dinner. They are waiting for me",

"Wow, let me guess, bread winner?", she giggled.

I just smiled at her as my response.

"Well, see you tomorrow then, Paige, bye!", After that, she left.

As for me, I went to the market and bought some good food for my mother and siblings who were waiting for me to come home. I was happy. Ten thousand pesos was more than enough for a day. It was unbelievable.

"Ate, what is that? Is that food?", asked Kim, the youngest.

"Yes, not just food but super yummy food", I uttered in excitement.

"Have you found a job,ate?", asked my younger brother, Ven.

"Thank God, yes", I replied.

It was a wonderful night for all of us. Eating good food was enough to have a good night sleep.

I forgot how time flies. I enjoyed being a runaway model. It was six months ago and here I am enjoying the fruit of my labor. I was able to visit beautiful places because of the shows I participated in. It pays me as well. I was able to send my brother to school again. I was doing fine.

My phone rang, I picked it up and swiped the green button.

"Hello, it's me Paige. What can I do for you?",

"Oh yes, yes sir, I will come", I said in a jolly voice.

My heart was racing with great joy when I heard the good news. I was invited to work in Canada as a full-time runaway model.

This is it! I believe it is the prize of all my hardships in life.

I packed my things and prepared all my papers. I will be flying next week. I also visited my brother, Carlo, in prison. My heart broke when I saw my thin brother. My tears were about to fall.

"Hey, do not cry. It will make you ugly. What are you doing here?", he asked. He was trying his best to smile.

I took a deep breath and smiled at him.

"I am going abroad, Canada to be specific. Surely, I can save money and get you out of here", I replied.

He smiled back at me. No words came out of his mouth. He just held my hand tightly.

"Keep safe, ate", he mumbled.

I decided not to stay for a long time in jail or else I would die weeping there.

***

I was a bit nervous when I arrived at the airport. It was my first time going abroad. It was scary to be honest. After an hour of waiting, I saw a man wearing a black suit, holding a piece of paper with my name written on it.

I waved my hand for them to see me. I'm glad they did. I went inside the black van. Well, I enjoyed the view. Everything looked big and shiny to me. I love Canada just at first sight.

The black van dropped me in a two-story building. It looked fancy from the outside.

Someone escorted me towards my room. They said, that I only had one hour to rest. Which is fine for me. I cannot wait to work.

While I was fixing myself, I noticed a red card on my table.                                       

"Welcome to the world of escorts".

I immediately grabbed my phone and checked what it was. My world just collapsed after I learned what it is.