THE SIDE PIECE (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER 3

TAMARA

"So... what exactly happened during your job interview, Tam? Laurel Construction is a huge company. You'd be really lucky if you got hired."

Nyx had been pestering me ever since we left the company, but I deliberately avoided answering her.

I was still annoyed with the man who interviewed me.

Did he seriously think I'd beg to work for his company just because everyone said it was a great place to work?

Well, he was wrong!

I didn't care if they never hired me!

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it, Nyx. My future boss is a complete jerk, so it's fine if I don't get the job," I said with a pout.

The security guard simply nodded as we walked back into the house.

I raised an eyebrow.

For someone who always complained whenever I asked for help, Nyx somehow managed to pull off everything she promised.

"How is he a jerk? What did he do to you?" she asked again.

I ignored her and headed straight for the kitchen. I needed something cold to drink.

Even now, I can still clearly remember the interviewer's face.

Yes, he was incredibly handsome...

But thanks to him, my very first job interview turned into a disaster!

"He's so annoying, Nyx..." I muttered after grabbing a bottle of juice from the fridge.

"What exactly did that jerk do? Tell me already! I can't even gossip properly if you don't give me the full story!"

She poured herself a glass of juice while glaring at me dramatically.

I sighed and finally sat down.

Earlier, I had been too upset to talk about it.

But after a few sips of cold juice, my anger had eased enough for me to tell the story.

"I applied to be his secretary, and then my future boss wanted me to... blow something for him."

I frowned.

"Seriously, who wouldn't get mad? Why would he ask his secretary to blow things down for him? Doesn't he have his own mouth?"

I took another sip of juice, still unable to believe how my first interview had ended.

"Wait, Tam," Nyx interrupted. "I think my remaining brain cells are struggling here. What exactly did he ask you to blow?"

I sighed.

"I don't know. I didn't even ask."

I crossed my arms.

"He just said... blow job."

I frowned thoughtfully.

"When did blowing become a profession, Nyx? Do you even need a college degree for that? And what do they call people who do it? Blowers? Laurel Construction has ridiculously high standards."

Nyx suddenly choked.

She coughed so hard that juice almost came out of her nose.

"Sh!t! It went up my nose!"

I quickly handed her a tissue.

"Slow down. Are you that thirsty?"

She wiped her nose before looking at me.

"Wait... what did you say?" she asked.

"Blow job."

She stared at me for a while.

"I didn't answer one of his questions because it was too personal," I explained. "Maybe that made him angry, so instead of offering me the secretary position, he wanted me to do... that blow job instead."

I shook my head.

"How insulting!"

"What did you tell him?" She asked.

"Of course, I refused!"

I straightened proudly.

"I didn't spend four years in college just to become someone's professional blower."

Nyx burst into laughter.

"So don't get married, Tam," she said between laughs.

"I'm telling you right now. Whoever marries you is going to lose his mind."

I frowned.

"Why are we suddenly talking about marriage? I already have enough problems. Marriage is the last thing on my mind." I pouted.

"What a waste."

She clicked her tongue dramatically.

"I should've brought my résumé. If all he needed was a blow job, I would've nailed the interview."

I winced.

Maybe Nyx hadn't finished college, so she didn't mind becoming... whatever a "blower" was.

"Was the guy handsome?" she asked.

The interviewer's face immediately flashed through my mind.

"...Yeah."

"Tall?"

"Very."

She grinned.

"Even better."

I shook my head.

"Forget about the guy who interviewed me. You should focus on Attorney Revamonte instead."

I had noticed the date earlier.

He'd probably visit Mom again before the end of the month.

"Oh, don't worry."

Nyx flashed a smug smile.

"Little Nyx is already shaved and prepared."

She winked.

"Attorney Revamonte can stick every single one of his fingers in if he wants."

I frowned again.

Once again...

I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about.

A few days after my interview at Laurel Construction, another company called me in.

Unfortunately...

I didn't get the job.

They preferred someone with work experience, so the applicant who interviewed with me got hired instead.

"So finding a job is really this hard..." I sighed.

Apparently, graduating from college wasn't enough.

You also need experience.

But how were fresh graduates supposed to gain experience if nobody was willing to hire them? Hmp!

We were on our way home when Nyx's phone rang.

I quietly listened while we waited for the bus.

"A side gig?" she asked into the phone.

"Where?"

She listened for a moment.

"It's legal, right? You're not making me strip and dance naked or anything?"

I frowned.

Someone was offering Nyx a job.

I was actually excited for her.

"A brand ambassador?"

She paused again.

"What do I have to do?"

Another pause.

"Just assist guests at a car show?"

A car show?

I wondered what that was.

"What time tomorrow?"

I glanced at her.

She didn't even need an interview.

Lucky.

"Seven to ten in the evening?"

"Okay. I'll call you later and let you know if I can make it."

She hung up just as our bus arrived.

After we found our seats, I couldn't help asking about it.

"Oh, that?"

She shrugged.

"It's just a side job."

She leaned back casually.

"I'm worried your mom won't be able to keep paying me. Looks like your family is running out of money."

My eyes widened.

I hadn't even thought about that.

Dad had stopped supporting us.

That meant Mom might start laying off the household staff.

And since she believed Nyx was the least useful person in the house...

She'd probably be the first to go.

"Are you leaving if Mom stops paying you?" I asked quietly.

I already felt like crying before she even answered.

She raised an eyebrow.

"Do you want me to leave?"

I shook my head immediately.

"Of course not."

My voice grew softer.

"I'll be lonely if you leave, Nyx."

I looked down.

"You're the only one who's ever on my side."

She laughed.

"You're so dramatic."

Then her smile softened.

"I'm not leaving your house."

She bumped my shoulder lightly.

"I won't leave you there alone."

"If I ever leave someday..."

She looked out the window.

"I'll make sure you're okay first."

Something tightened painfully inside my chest.

So… She really would leave someday.

I knew she had her own life.

She couldn't stay with me forever.

But somehow...

Just imagining that day made my heart ache.

"Hey."

She nudged me.

"What's with the sad face now?"

I forced a smile.

"I can't stop you if you decide to leave."

I fiddled with my fingers.

"I don't even have a job. I couldn't pay your salary anyway."

She clicked her tongue.

"I'm not asking you for money."

She rolled her eyes.

"That's exactly why I'm taking side gigs. So I'll still have income even if your mom stops paying me."

I blinked.

"So... you'll stay even if she doesn't pay you anymore?"

She nodded.

I stared.

"You'll work for free?!" I couldn’t believe it.

She nodded again.

She scratched her cheek.

"Wait... I actually work at your house?"

She laughed.

"I always thought I was just freeloading."

Despite myself...

I smiled.

Then she suddenly elbowed me.

"Want to come with me tomorrow?"

My eyes widened.

"Can I really come?"

"Of course."

She grinned.

"My friend said they're still looking for five more people."

I nodded enthusiastically.

"Then I'm coming!"

She gave me a thumbs-up.

Even though I had no idea what kind of work we'd be doing...

I agreed without hesitation.

I'd never worked a day in my life.

Everything about it was completely new to me.

"We're going to be brand ambassadors at a car show," Nyx explained while we waited in our room for Mom to leave.

Lately, she'd practically been living at the casino, so sneaking out had become much easier.

"What exactly does a brand ambassador do?" I asked.

"My friend said we'll just stand beside the cars and entertain the guests."

She shrugged.

"They'll teach us what to say before the event starts."

I nodded excitedly.

"Oh..."

She glanced at me.

"We'll have to wear something sexy."

I blinked.

"Sexy?"

"A short skirt."

"And a low-cut top."

She waved it off.

"We'll be fine."

She grinned.

"One thousand five hundred pesos just for having a pretty face and a nice body."

"And that's not even including tips."

I didn't understand everything she said...

But since I'd be with Nyx, I didn't think much about it.

After Mom finally left, we changed into our clothes and headed to the venue.

The moment we arrived...

I was amazed.

The venue looked luxurious.

Just seeing it made me think the guests would all be rich.

"Brand ambassadors?" the security guard asked.

Nyx nodded.

After checking our names, he handed us temporary IDs.

"Wow, Nyx," I whispered as we walked inside.

"This event looks really fancy."

She smirked.

"Of course."

"Do you think I'd settle for some cheap side gig?"

She winked.

"Besides making money..."

"I'm also here to hunt for a rich, handsome man."

I sighed.

Men again.

Sometimes I wondered if Nyx's obsession with handsome men was the reason she'd ended up in an asylum in the first place.

A few minutes later, we were led into a dressing room.

It was even colder inside than outside.

I rubbed my arms.

"Are you two the brand ambassadors?" One of the staff members asked.

Nyx nodded.

After a brief conversation, she pulled me toward a group of women who were busy fixing their hair and makeup.

"Holy s**t, Nyx!"

One of them playfully tugged Nyx's hair.

"You scared me! I thought you weren't coming!"

"As if I'd miss this."

Nyx grinned.

"There are probably tons of rich sugar daddies here."

The woman laughed.

"The guy I introduced you to last time keeps asking about you."

"He said you didn't even let him touch you."

Nyx shrugged.

"What?"

"Did he actually think I'd sleep with him?"

She rolled her eyes.

"He's rich, sure! But he doesn't meet my standards."

"You know, I only want someone with good genes."

"You know..."

She grinned shamelessly.

"In case I ever get pregnant."

I stared at her in horror.

I hadn't even imagined having a boyfriend yet.

Meanwhile...

Nyx was already planning for children.

"I have someone to show you later!" her friend squealed.

"I'm totally crushing on him."

"Handsome and rich?" Nyx asked.

"Stockbroker."

Her friend sighed dreamily.

"Rich and handsome."

"But all we can do is admire him from afar."

"He'd never date gold diggers like us—especially while we're wearing BA uniforms."

Nyx smirked.

"So... a snob?"

"I don't think so."

"He just belongs to a completely different world."

Her friend finally looked at me.

"And who's this?"

"This is Tam."

Nyx laughed.

"She's innocent."

"Be careful not to corrupt her mind."

The woman raised an eyebrow.

"No matter how innocent you are..."

She grinned mischievously.

"If you fall in love someday, you'll end up on your knees giving your boyfriend a blow job."

I frowned.

"A blow job?"

I tilted my head.

"Is that your job?"

Nyx buried her face in her hands.

"Oh, no..."

The woman blinked at me.

"Huh?"

"So... when you have a boyfriend, you work as a blower?"

I asked curiously.

She stared at me, completely speechless.

Before she could answer...

A staff member walked over carrying our uniforms.

"Go get changed," she instructed.

"We'll give you a quick orientation afterward."

Nyx grabbed my wrist.

"Come on."

And together...

We headed to the changing room.