CHAPTER 3

Amelia Sinclair

The bass from the speakers vibrated across the floor as I fully stepped inside the club. Sobrang daming tao sa loob. Binalot ang lugar ng matingkad na ilaw na kulay red at violet. Maamoy sa hangin ang pinagsama-samang amoy ng alak, pabango, at usok ng sigarilyo.

I scanned the whole area until I found Trina.

She was behind the counter, wearing a skin-tight black shirt and short shorts, with a small apron that the bar required all its female servers to wear. Makapal ang suot na make up nito at nakatali ng maayos ang buhok sa likod. Mayroon din siyang suot na maliit na name tag na nakakabit sa taas ng kanyang dibdib.

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang mamukhaan ako. She hurried toward me as soon as she delivered the drinks to a nearby table.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" gulat na tanong niya.

First time kong pumunta sa club na ito, kaya hindi na rin ako nagtaka kung bakit ganoon na lang ang gulat sa mukha niya nang makita niya ako.

I smiled and lifted the brown envelope in my hand, the one containing my resume. Plano ko sanang mag-apply dito sa Velmont Club bilang server, katulad ng trabaho ni Trina.

The Velmont Club was one of the most exclusive private clubs in the city. It's a place where wealthy businessmen, celebrities, and influential families came to drink, entertain clients, and spend money without worrying about the bill. Membership alone was expensive enough to make ordinary people like me feel as though we didn't belong there.

Matagal ko nang kaibigan si Trina. We had known each other for years, long enough for us to see each other through the worst parts of our lives. Katulad ko, hindi rin siya nakapagtapos ng pag-aaral. She had to drop out when her family started struggling financially. And just like me, panganay din siya at breadwinner ng kanilang pamilya.

Matagal na rin siyang nagtatrabaho dito sa club. Naalala kong minsan niyang nabanggit na malaki ang kinikita niya rito. Hindi man regular ang income, the tips alone could sometimes be enough to cover what she needed for her family.

That was one of the reasons I had considered applying here. I needed money. And I needed it fast.

"Don't tell me plano mong mag-apply dito?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Trina, ang mata ay nakatutok na din sa dala-dala ko.

Matipid akong ngumiti bago tumango. Agad namang nangunot ang noo niya.

"Trina, kailangan ko ng trabaho."

She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward a quieter corner near the staff hallway.

"Hindi p'wede, Amelia. Huwag dito."

I frowned. "Bakit naman? Malaki naman ang kinikita mo dito, 'di ba?"

She stared at me as though I had just asked the stupidest question in the world.

"Shunga ka ba, ha?" Trina muttered. Before I could react, she reached over and gently poked my forehead. "Oo, malaki ang kinikita dito. Pero sa tingin mo ba kaya mong tiisin ang pambabastos ng mga lalaki dito?"

I rubbed my forehead and gave her a tired look.

"Anong magagawa ko, 'te? Kailangan magbayad ng utang."

For my family, I would endure anything. I couldn't afford to be picky about where I worked.

"Hindi ko na mabilang sa daliri ko kung ilang beses akong hinipuan ng mga customer dito. Minsan, may bigla na lang humihila ng buhok ko. May humahawak sa baywang. May sumusubok humalik sa akin kahit ginagawa ko lang naman ang trabaho ko."

She paused, her jaw tightening.

"And the worst part? Hindi ka pwedeng magalit sa kanila kahit alam mong mali. Nagtatrabaho ka lang dito. Hindi ka ipagtatanggol ng management dahil mas mahalaga sa kanila ang pera ng mga customer kaysa sa'yo. Halos rinding-rindi na ang tainga ko sa mga catcall nila. Sa sobrang dalas, parang namanhid na lang ako."

She uncrossed her arms and reached for mine, her fingers wrapping around my forearm.

"Tumingin ka nga sa paligid mo..."

Ginawa ko ang sinabi niya. Mabilis na nahanap ng mga mata ko ang isang grupo ng mga lalaking malakas na nagtatawanan habang umiinom malapit sa amin. One of the servers passed by their table. Without warning, one of the men reached out and slapped her on the ass.

She flinched. The men laughed. My stomach tightened. Agad na kumulubot ang mukha ko sa pagkadisgusto.

"See?"

I looked back at Trina when she spoke again. Marahan niyang pinisil ang braso ko.

"Sa bawat segundo at sulok ng club na 'to, nangyayari 'yan. Ang iba ay mas malala pa." Her expression softened, but the worry in her eyes remained. "Ayaw kong maranasan mo 'yan kasi kilala kita. Kahit gaano ka kahirap, you are righteous. Pilit mong ipaglalaban kung ano ang tama. Pero dito, hindi mo pwedeng gawin yun."

"Masasanay din ako..." pagpupumilit ko pa.

"No." She shook her head firmly. "I don't want you to work here.."

"Trina, kaya ko din namang magtiis--"

"I know how desperate you are right now. I do. Pero hindi ito ang paraan."

I tightened my grip on the envelope I was holding. I know I am being desperate. What choice do I have?

"Trina, hindi mo ako naiintindihan. Baka mamaya, hindi lang kami mapalayas sa bahay kapag hindi ako nakapagbayad kahit magkano. Baka saktan na rin kami."

"Ang OA naman," pinag-krus niya ang braso sa dibdib at bahagyang napaatras. "Nakausap mo na ba sila? Baka puwede pang pakiusapan."

I looked away. Plano ko nga din 'yan gawin. Kaso ilang buwan na kaming hindi nakabayad. Imposible namang basta lang kami pagbigyan lalo na kung ganoong klase ng halaga ang pinag-uusapan.

"Malay ko ba kung anong klaseng tao sila?" I murmured. "Malay mo may ties pala sila sa mga sindikato. Hindi ko alam kung paano si Papa nagkaroon ng ganoong kalaking utang sa kanila."

Trina's expression became serious.

"Amelia..."

"Iba na ang panahon ngayon," I continued, licking my lower lip. "Okay lang sana kung kunin nila ang bahay at lupa. Kung iyon lang ang kapalit ng utang, sige. Pero alam kong hindi iyon sapat."

Naramdaman ko ang mata ni Trina na nanatiling nakatingin sa akin. I knew I sounded paranoid.

"What if they don't stop there? Paano kung saktan nila kami?"

The thought alone made my skin crawl. Trina's face paled.

I forced myself to continue.

"What if they decide we're worth more alive than dead?"

"Hoy, Amelia. 'Wag mo namang sabihin 'yan!"

"What if they sell our organs?"

"Amelia!"

She grabbed my hand.

"Itigil mo 'yan."

I finally looked at her. Her eyes were filled with worry.

I gave her a small, apologetic smile.

"Sorry."

Muli akong napayuko. I wasn't sure whether I believed my own words. Maybe I was being dramatic. Maybe my fear had gotten the better of me.

I glanced at the resume again.

"I can handle it."

"No, you can't."

"I can."

"Sinasabi mo lang 'yan dahil kailangan mo ng pera."

Tumango ako. "Kailangan ko nga ng pera."

"Kung kailangan mo ng pera, papahiramin na lang kita. Magkano ba?"

Muli kong pinalibot ang tingin sa club upang iwasan ang mainit na tingin ni Trina. Alam ni Trina kung gaano ko kaayaw ang mangutang. Nakakainis pero alam kong sinabi niya lang iyon upang tulungan ako.

Isa pa, malabo din namang mapahiram niya ako kung tatanggapin ko ang tulong niya. Sobrang laking halaga na kailangan ko. May sariling pamilya din siya na kailangan suportahan.

Humugot ng malalim na buntong-hininga si Trina. Akmang ibubuka na niya ang bibig upang may sabihin nang may tumawag sa pangalan niya.

"Trina!"

She glanced over her shoulder.

"Ano? Oras ng trabaho nakatambay ka d'yan?" masungit na sita ng katrabaho niya. Nang dumapo sa akin ang mata ay inirapan ako.

"Hinahanap ka ni Madam. May iuutos ata sa'yo."

Napakamot naman si Trina sa ulo at magalang na ngumiti.

"Opo, pasensya na po. Susunod na po ako."

Trina looked back at me.

"Stay here. Kakausapin ko mangaer namin mamaya. Maybe I can find you something else."

"I already checked online. Ito lang yung position na available."

"Then we'll find another."

"Trina—"

"Promise me."

I hesitated. She gave me a pleading look. Sumulyap siya sa katrabaho na hanggang ngayon ay nag-iintay sa kanya.

I sighed. "Sige, pag-iisipan ko."

"That's not a promise."

"It's the best you're getting."

She rolled her eyes.

"Tigas ng ulo."

She squeezed my shoulder before returning to work. I watched her disappear behind the bar. For a moment, I remained where I was, clutching my resume against my chest.

Alam ko kung anong klaseng lugar ito. I knew what kind of men came here. And I knew what Trina was trying to protect me from.

If working here meant enduring a few unwanted touches, dirty jokes, and disgusting comments, then maybe I could swallow it. Maybe I could endure being uncomfortable. I could endure being stared at. I could endure men thinking they had the right to make comments about my body. As long as I got paid. Iyon lang naman ang mahalaga.

Nang mangalay ako kakakatayo, lumapit ako sa bar counter at umupo sa isang bakanteng stool. At least, from there, madali akong makikita ni Trina sakaling hanapin niya ako.

The bartender glanced at me as soon as I settled onto the seat.

"What can I get you?"

I shook my head.

"Wala. I'm fine."

Hindi naman ako pumunta rito para uminom. Wala na nga akong pera tapos gagastos pa. Every peso mattered to me right now.

The bartender gave me a brief look before moving on to serve another customer. I rested my elbows on the counter and absentmindedly played with the corner of my brown envelope. Dapat bang intayin kong balikan ako ni Trina o kusa na akong mag-apply?

Ilang sandali lang ang lumipas nang mapako ang tingin ko sa maliit na grupo ng mga lalaking kakapasok pa lamang.

They were dressed really well. Wala sa itsura nila na pumunta sila rito para maglasing o mambabae. Their suits were expensive-looking, their shoes polished, and even the way they carried themselves seemed different. Although, I suppose, wala rin naman sa mukha at damit ang pagiging sira ulo.

The group walked deeper into the club, drawing a few curious glances from the people around them. Then I saw him.

The man walking in the middle.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that seemed to fit him like a second skin.

He didn't have the loud confidence of the men who usually tried to get everyone's attention. He didn't need it. Sapat na ang presensya niya.

His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes sweeping across the room with a coldness that made the lively noise around him seem strangely inappropriate.

He looked... intimidating.

Not because he was doing anything threatening. He simply looked like the kind of man people instinctively made room for.

I didn't know who he was. All I knew was that the moment his eyes met mine, something in my chest tightened.

I froze when his gaze met mine.

Nakatingin ba talaga siya sa akin? Baka assuming lang ako?

I swallowed and shifted slightly on my seat, suddenly conscious of the way I was sitting. Maybe he was just looking around and his eyes simply happened to land on me.

I quickly looked away. My heart was beating a little too fast.

I glanced at the glass sitting in front of me, which was also taken by the person standing next to me. Nanatiling nakasunod doon ang tingin ko ng ilang saglit.

Maybe I do need a drink.