The Escort

Chapter Three

            “THIS IS ERIC,” Janet says, pushing a lanky guy towards me. He wears a pair of unevenly rimmed glasses which he occasionally adjusts at the bridge of his nose. I raise a brow and he cowers, as if that simple action has his undies in a twist. “Eric Cheng.” His cheeks redden when Janet pronounces his full name, as if he has a crush on Janet, which is not surprising at all.

            “Hi,” Eric says shyly, his lanky figure slouching. I don’t know if I should pity him, or if I should give him a death stare. He’ll probably look like he saw a ghost or worse, he’ll probably escape the penthouse with his scrawny legs. He looks like he’s about to fall apart at the moment.

            “Hey,” I reply, taking a step forward. His knees obviously shake, and Janet snorts behind him, controlling the urge to laugh out loud. I don’t understand why she finds it appealing to laugh at someone’s uncomfortable expense.

            “Uh, I’d like to apply as your fake boyfriend,” he quivers but he tries to calm his tone by clearing his throat—which echoes in the entire living room. He shies away again, and sooner or later he’ll probably break down and cry like a new-born baby.

            “Let’s have a seat at the dining room?” I suggest, and he nods tentatively, his eyes shifting to Janet who skips out of the room, leaving me and Eric alone. His Adam’s apple bobs, which signifies he’s more nervous than he was when we aren’t alone. I nod for him to follow and he trails behind me to the dining room.

            I offer him a seat and drags a chair, the sound scraping the floor. He cringes, as if it’s a crime to commit even the slightest bit of unattractive sound. I prop my elbow on the table and he almost jumps, planting my jaw on my hand. “So, tell me about yourself.”

            He gulps, and he shakes his head as if he’s debating whether to go on or to just sit and stare at me quietly. The latter probably sounds more appealing for the both of us. “Uh, I just graduated from college,” he starts, adjusting his glasses.

            “Wait,” I interrupt, “how old are you even?”

            “Uh,” he trails off, as if he doesn’t even know his own age. “Twenty-five?”

            “Are you even telling the truth?” His Adam’s apple bobs, which either means he’s lying or extremely nervous.

            “I’m so sorry,” he blabbers, clasping his hands together. “I’m in desperate need of money and I want to help my younger siblings graduate in elementary.” His forehead drips in sweat as he finishes his mini monologue.

            “Do you know the kind of risk you’re getting into?” I ask, a bit harsh but my eyes soften. I understand why he’s doing it because the ad Janet posted has promised a huge sum of money. I don’t know how to even sustain that kind of salary she included on the ad.

            He shakes his head. His eyes look naïve. Part of graduating in college is the naivety from the real world, perhaps. “My parents are going to grill the both of us. They will ask where you’re from, where you graduated, heck they might probably do a background check just to see if you’re not after the money,” I calmly say. Eric sweats more profusely, and his eyes look horrified.

            “I-I’m so sorry,” he stutters, his almond-shaped eyes not meeting mine. “I-I don’t know why I-I even applied for the ad. I was desperate to say the least and my sister wanted to be a doctor. I don’t think I can provide her what she wants unless I take this opportunity.”

            “I’m sorry too,” I say, with much ruefulness in my tone, “but if you’re going to do this, I don’t think you’re the perfect match. You even get nervous just by looking at me. And I don’t think my parents would like it in a man who is not assertive enough of what he wants.”

            He nods, analysing every bit I said. Understanding paints his eyes. “I guess I’ll just have to find another way.”

            “Yes,” I agree. “You probably just turned twenty.”

            “I actually did, uh, last week.” His cheeks turn to crimson. Good heavens, we’re almost a decade apart.

            “I don’t even think it’s appropriate for me to date—even if it’s a fake one—someone who is nine years younger than me. You’re basically a kid.” Eric chuckles for the first time, and when he realises he does he stops, his eyes widening.

            He apologises again but I wave him off, giving him a laugh. He releases the tension burdening his shoulders. Maybe he’s slightly relieved the situation is finally over. I lead him to the door and I offer him a firm handshake, which he clumsily accepts, his palm sweating.

            Janet pops out of nowhere, plunging a spoonful of cookies ‘n cream on her mouth. “How’d it go?” she asks, but she knows all too well what happened.

            “Of course it did not work out,” I reply, massaging my temples. Another freaking migraine. Great. “He just turned twenty Jesus f*****g Christ.”

            “Hey,” Janet reprimands, scrunching her nose in disgust. “Don’t say the Lord’s name in vain.”

            “I don’t even hear you complaining when you scream, ‘Oh God, yes! Oh yes!’,” I retort, mimicking her high-pitched voice once I caught her sleeping with her ex-boyfriend. She blushes a deep hue of crimson and does not comment but only stomps her feet, storming back to the guest room. I laugh, my stomach in pain and my eyes bursting into tears.

            “Tilda!” Janet screams, just as I am about to head back to the kitchen to grab some leftover tortilla and heat it in the microwave. I turn around, raising a brow with a questioning look on my face. She jumps up and down in glee, her eyes glinting in delight. “You got to see this!” she exclaims, handing the iPad to me.

            The screen flashes another applicant on the ad with a résumé attached on the applicant’s details. A picture of the applicant is inside the attached word document, his face clean shaven but he looks more mature than Eric. I wonder if Eric is crying when he exited the penthouse. He has almond-shaped eyes, which obviously looks like he’s of Chinese descent, but he also looks like he is mixed with Spanish blood as well, probably a Spanish-Chinese-Filipino ethnicity. He doesn’t smile on the camera but he looks handsome, his looks faring way better than Robert Go. I can’t even proudly claim he’s my fiancé.

            His name is John Chu.

            I stare at Janet who has an expectant look on her face, waiting for any sort of confirmation from me. John Chu looks polished, based from his résumé alone. He graduated at a prestigious university but it says in his application the reason he needs money is because his job does not alleviate his sore living conditions. He also elaborates that he needs money to help treat his mother’s leukemia, and that he wants to live comfortable life. He lives in an overly priced yet poorly furnished apartment.

            “So, what do you think of him?” Janet verbalizes. She looks like she is more attracted to John than I am, and at any given rate I’d be willing to give him and find another applicant that can catch my interest.

            “He’s alright, I guess,” I reply but my hand scrolls back to his face.

            Janet smirks, waggling her brows at me. “Don’t deny it. He’s attractive.”

            I exhale a sigh and roll my eyes at her. “Fine, he is. And what about him?”

            “Well, we got to contact him then,” she says as if it’s the most obvious thing. She snatches the iPad from my grip but I hold it tighter. She scrunches her nose in confusion. “What are you doing?”

            “I am not interested,” I say. “I don’t think it’s wise to contact him. Let’s contact first those applicants who came first before him.” I loosen my grip on the iPad as she attempts to steal it from me.

            “W-What?!” she shrieks, shooting me an incredulous look on her face. “You’re being ridiculous!” She raises her hands up in the air as if I’m insane. “We both know that he’s the perfect candidate! His credentials are through the roof just by reading his résumé.”

            “Wouldn’t it be better if we assess the applicants who sent their details first? I don’t think if we accept jobs we base it on how good a résumé looks like. Sometimes, that barely scratches the surface.” Janet follows me into the kitchen while I grab two frozen burritos in the freezer. She has been eating too much lately, which is quite an unusual behaviour for her given that she has to maintain a thin figure for modelling.

            “Well…” she trails off, clicking her tongue. “I guess you also make sense. But my gut is still leaning towards John Chu.” We both sit on the chairs surrounding the kitchen table. She folds her legs and plants them on the small space of her chair, munching her burrito hungrily—as if she hasn’t eaten a ton of food a few hours ago.

            “You’re just attracted to him,” I state and she chokes on her food. She coughs violently and I abruptly grab a glass of water. She accepts it like it is the only thing that can keep her from death.

            “I. Am. Not!” she denies, but her cheeks are telling another story. “I mean he’s good-looking, but he’s a better match for you. Besides, he’s not a twenty-year-old pretending to be twenty-five.”

            I grimace. “God, why did you even invite that kid in the first place?”

            “I thought we’re going to consider all applicants,” she retorts, a grin spreading on her mouth. I shoot her daggers but she guffaws, clutching her stomach for air. Her comeback is not even as funny as she thinks. Well, only a little.

            “You had me there,” I say, a smile slowly spreading on my lips. Janet is such a huge bubble of energy that anyone she touches are rubbed off by her contagious aura. I guess that’s why a lot of people like her. It’s not because she feels like she is required to have that personality because she is a public figure (aka model), but it’s just who she is. I wonder if she even gets tired of being bubbly.

            Being with her helps me forget my previous encounter with my parents and Robert Go. Robert is not even that bad, it’s just I’m not ready to get to know someone who I know I’ll be married to a few months from now, maybe. Or a few years from now. I haven’t really discussed with my parents the specific details of this arrangement.

            “But whoever you choose,” Janet says in between munches, “I will totally make you regret why you didn’t choose John.” I thought she’d say she’ll support whatever choice I make but I guess the tough love is somehow necessary.

            “Jesus Christ, Jan,” I curse and she does not reprimand me saying the Lord’s name in vain. “I thought you’d be supportive.” I only laugh. She laughs, too.

“WAKE UP, SIS.”

            My face meets the soft velvety pillow Janet throws my way. “Hey!” I complain, “What the hell was that for?”

            “Gosh, did you forget? Today you’ll be meeting the other four applicants!” she yells. My ears almost bleed at her screechy voice. “The house maid has prepared your bath and I also chose clothes you’ll be wearing today.”

            “What? What do you mean clothes? It’s not like I need to go outside to attend to them?” I can only give her a look of confusion.

            “No, you’re going out for a speed date on these four applicants. Then you’ll be having dinner at this fancy I restaurant I booked with John Chu. You’ll thank me later.” She looks smug when she said it.

            I rub my eyes, the sunlight glaring profusely. “Oh my gosh, you’re really keen on pushing that guy to me? I don’t understand what’s with him in the first place.”

            “You’ll know when you go to dinner with him,” she replies. She forcefully pushes my body out of bed as much as I try to resist her. It’s quite surprising how strong her grip is.

            “Fine,” I surrender. “You won. Happy?” I sit up, tying my curly messy hair. I’m envious of my sister’s straight black hair. Even early in the morning, her hair shines against the sun, looking like she is in a commercial. Well, she’s been doing commercial gigs for products like shampoo and food seasoning.

            “I’m more than happy,” she beams. She pushes me out of the room and the house help assists me to the bathroom where the bath is fully prepared for me. It smells of lavender and jasmine, my favourite scents, which remind me of my younger years.

            I plunge into the bath, my head resting on the ceramic tub as I let the liquid seep into my skin. The smell jolts me back to sleep, the water like a warm blanket wrapping my entire body. Today is going to be a long day, and I don’t know what Janet has up on her sleeve.