Lethner's Service

Chapter 05 - Like Everyone Else

Jabes’ POV

“You’re welcome honey. See you next week. I have to hang up the call now, I’m driving. I love you.” after ending the call, I put my mobile phone on the dashboard and focus my attention on the road.

The girl I'm talking with over the phone a while ago was my dear Mary Elizabeth, my one and only little sister in Hawaii. I really miss that bubbly girl big time. Mary Elizabeth was diagnosed with stage two bone marrow cancer about eight months ago. I want to go home right now and give her a hug. How I wish I’m on her bedside, looking after her and singing her favorite lullaby.

She just informed me through the phone that she had just finished her chemo therapy and mom’s with her. She also happily told me that mom bought her some lupine seeds. It’s her little happiness –planting and growing flowers.

I just can’t help but to feel sorry for her. She’s just nine, so young to suffer all of these burdens in life. If only I could exchange places with her, I’ll be more than willing to do so. I don’t want to see her suffer. I’d like to bring back the smile on her face, the smile that reaches her eyes and lightens her sweet pretty face.

If only Dad didn’t leave us, our life wouldn’t be this difficult. Since the day he left, I carried his responsibilities on my shoulders. I really hate him for fooling and cheating mom, for leaving us, for choosing his other family over us. I totally remember that day I asked him all of the whys and he just simply answered.

“I’m just a man with a weakness James. I tried saving everything for our family, for you, and Mary Elizabeth. I really tried, my son. I really tried. I’m sorry but temptation overpowered me.”

What a f*****g f**k he is!

Hatred and grudge consumed my whole system at that time. He should’ve not done that to mom. Being a man overpowered by that f*****g thing people call a mistake isn’t a reason to cheat because if that f*****g cheater really loves mom and if he really is a man, he’ll be a man enough to resist temptations.

Fighting against a stage two cancer and a broken family? I couldn’t even imagine how Mary Elizabeth gets through every day with this kind of situation. I admire how she sees life each day like life is worth a countless chance and that she’s fighting to survive. That’s why I’m working my butt out and I’m doing the best I can to provide and fill the void that my father left us. I’m doing everything to end my sister’s suffering.

Yes.

Everything –even if it’s against my will.

I immediately drive my car to the left side intersection of the road where I have to meet someone inside Bruce’s Brews. My phone vibrates. I grab it from the dashboard and place it between my left ear and shoulder like a sandwich spread.

“I’m listening.”

“James!” with her tiny and sweet voice, I can tell who she is.

“Hyacinth, I’m on my way. I’m actually seeing the café meters from here. I’m driving. I’m sorry, I had an appointment earlier. Where are you?”

“You’re driving? You should’ve not answered the call. I’ll hang up now. I’m here inside, I’ll wait for you.”

So I put my phone back at the top of the dashboard and gas up to reach the café. I don’t like the idea of Hyacinth waiting for me. I just don’t like someone waiting for me. I’d rather wait for someone than the latter.

As soon as I reach the front area of the coffee shop, I park my car at the left side of the space, quickly move out, and enter the café. The red-haired lady near the glass wall immediately catches my attention.

It’s her.

The lady who’s with me last week, moaning her t**s out, almost losing her golden voice, pleading me to f**k her more.

“Hyacinth.” I call out her name upon reaching her table.

Beside her is another table for two and there is an old man reading a news paper article sitting there.

“James, you’re here!” she cheerfully greets upon seeing me.

No! I’m not! Is it obvious? Stupid.

“Have a seat.” she points the chair in front of her, looking so excited.

“Sure.”

I notice that she already ordered something for us. There’s a slice of vanilla cake on her plate with a cold espresso at the side while I have a cup of cappuccino and chocolate cake on my plate with a cherry on top of it. She must’ve probably ordered these foods because it took me so long to arrive. I’m actually from an appointment with Emery –a very important one.

“I’m sorry, I’m late Hy. I had an appointment last night.”

She drinks her cold espresso dismissing whatever I had just said.

“It’s okay. I actually like the ambiance of this place. It’s my first time here.”

“Good to know.”

I don’t know what to say. I need to get what I want right now and just leave this lady. I know it’s kind of rude but she’s just so boring for a conversation –a total opposite when she’s on bed.

I admit it, Hyacinth is pretty. Her red straight hair just perfectly fits her aura. Natural red lips, pointed nose, tiny freckles on her pale skin, long curly lashes coated with mascara, and eyebrows perfectly shaped by a brown eyebrow pencil. She has big booty and round firm globes and her cleavage really is an eye catcher. With the perfect curves on her body, I bet every p*****t guy will definitely have a hard b***r just by having a glance on it.

But she’s not just my type and I don’t have plans to enter a serious relationship right now. It’s not my priority.

“James, aren’t you going to eat your cake? How about your cappuccino? I’ll pay for it. Don’t worry.” she says those words like she wants to tell me that I’m on a tight budget right now and I admit, I really am.

I had just finished sending money to Mom for Mary Elizabeth’s bills and I have to have more for her medicines.

“I’ll eat it later Hy. Don’t worry.”

Something just caught my attention. My peripheral view is trying to tell me that someone is staring at us from outside. I’m about to look at the figure of that someone outside when Hyacinth grabs her pouch from her side, takes out her wallet, pulls out some cash, and gives it to me.

“This is too much.” I exclaim after counting the cash she gave me.

“No. It’s okay. You did well last week. You deserve a tip.” she then winks at me like a kitten who wants to flirt with her fellow feline.

I really need this money in my hand so I decided to keep the cash inside my wallet.

Forgive me Mary Elizabeth but I’m just doing this for you.

A minute passed and Hyacinth finishes the last drop of her espresso. She then stares at me with her sparkling eyeballs.

“You don’t feel like eating the foods I ordered for you.” she voices out with a little bit of disappointment written on her face. “Is someone bothering your mind?” she asks.

“What? None. I just don’t like to eat right now. I’m sorry, Hy.”

“Okay.” she raises both of her arms like she’s a criminal surrendering to a warrant of arrest. “I’ll leave now James. I’ll just call you when I’ll need your service one of these days.”

“Are you sure you want to leave?” I ask her pretending like I don’t really want her to leave this soon.

“I just called to give my payment. I’m leaving. And by the way, I think it’s your girl waiting outside. Look how she stares at us.”

So Hyacinth also noticed what I saw a while ago. This time, I turn my head to the left side to see that someone outside who looks like an FBI agent observing every move Hyacinth and I make.

But to my surprise, that someone outside isn’t just someone. I know who she is. My right hand automatically waves to her but she’s just like a statue standing there.

“She’s your girlfriend?” she asks me.

“Y-yeah.” I lied,

I need to send her out of this place. I don’t have any plans to prolong this conversation. I already got what I want, so I don’t think there’s much for us to talk.

“So I guess I’m leaving. It’s starting to rain and I need to head home now. Your girl’s actually not staring. She is glaring and warning me to leave you alone because if I don’t, this espresso would be my last drink. I don’t want to make a scene here.” she giggles a bit while fixing herself.

I didn't say a word. Instead, I take a look outside to check for her. The rain’s filling the portholes outside and the woman who’s staring at us a while ago isn’t there anymore.

Where is she?

“If you’re looking for your girlfriend, she’s actually inside the café now. There.” Hyacinth pouts her lips at my back where the café glass door is located.

I instantly turn my head to that direction and found myself smiling when I saw her.

Briella Quinn Wilder

The hotel receptionist I bumped at the park. This is the third time our paths have crossed. If this isn’t some kind of little destiny games, then I don’t know what to call it.

She takes out her handkerchief from her bag and wipes the tiny droplets of rain from her body.

She’s on her neat bun and simple beige heels. She wears her red and white uniform and I can’t help but to stare on her long and flawless legs. Her curvaceous butt’s really emphasized by her tight skirt and her blouse seems like it's really made just for her curves. Her body has the likeness of an hour glass.

Damn!

Without asking any permission from Hyacinth, I leave her alone on the table while she’s busy putting some make up on her cheeks. She’s now left with her empty plate and cup plus the chocolate cake and cappuccino that I didn’t even dare to touch. I go my way to that lady who has a unique tattoo on her neck –the Gaelic O' Quin written in Greek fonts.

“Hey Quinn!” I call out her name.

She brings her hanky back to her bag and unlike her reaction when she’s outside which was curious, this time, with full nonchalance, she turns to face me.

“Oh, Hi.” she says like she’s not even surprised to see me.

“I’m really right, it’s really you.” my voice seems to be so happy seeing her and I don’t even know why.

“Yeah?” unsure of her answer, I think she’s intimidated by the way I look at her.

She can’t even make an eye contact with me. Is something wrong with my face? The last time I checked, I’m still good looking.

My mom and Mary Elizabeth always remind that to me.

“Do you mind joining me?” I ask her referring to that table where I had just a conversation with Hy.

Hyacinth is sitting there who had just finished putting her make up. She smiles at Quinn like she wants to make friends with her. I hope she’ll not notice that I’m lying about what I’ve said a while ago –that Quinn’s my girlfriend. I just want her to leave.

“No. It’s okay. I’m fine here. I’ll just wait for the rain to stop.” Quinn rejects my offer.

She’s having an eye contact with Hyacinth and I think she’s probably shy to join me on that table because Hy is there.

“Don’t worry, she’s actually leaving.”

Hy grabs her pouch and smiles at me relaying a message of I’ll-call-you-when-I-need-you-honey. She quickly moves her way outside. Quinn followed her with her eyes. As soon as Hy’s car disappeared from Quinn’s sight, she faces me and gives me a questioning look.

“She doesn’t have to leave. I mean...why?” bothered by Hy leaving us, she asks.

“We’re done discussing some business and she’s actually planning to leave earlier.” I pull out a chair from the table.

She looks like she had no choice but to sit on the chair I offered her, so she did.

“But it’s raining hard outside. Isn’t it rude for you to let your girlfriend leave?” she asks another question.

I lightly chuckle while waving my hand to a waiter. She really is interested with me and Hyacinth.

“What do you want?” I ask her dismissing her questions.

“A hot frap and a slice of blueberry cheesecake please.”

“Got that. Just a moment.” the waiter leaves us and heads the counter area.

“I’ll be paying for it.” she quickly utters.

Do I really look like someone who can’t afford to pay a cup of frap and a slice of blue berry cheese cake for a woman?

“My treat Quinn.” I insist.

I'd like to pay the bill for her. It’s to somehow compensate for what I’ve done to her in the park. She didn’t answer. She gives me an “okay” look with nonchalance to the highest level. She then stares outside as if something is bugging her mind.

As I am staring at her, I could describe this woman as someone who isn’t beautiful in the classical way. No piercing eyes of blue, no golden blonde curls, no ivory skin.

She was shorter than average and certainly not like a Victoria Secret model but in her ordinariness, she’s unbelievably stunning. Looking at every detail of her face, it feels like something radiates from within her that rendered her irresistible to my attention.

Her eyes like the sea were calm. Her nose is proud and her lips were naturally thin and pinkish. Her neatly bunned, ebony-like black hair gives her a prim and proper aura. She’s like someone who’s as if she was born for every guy’s eyes to admire.

She’s just sitting on her chair, in front of me looking outside the glass wall as if she’s patiently counting each raindrop. There’s an evident curiosity on her face like something is really bugging her mind.

“Are you trying to count the raindrops, Quinn?” I try to shoot a question hoping to bring back her probably lost senses but my question falls into deaf ears.

“Earth to Quinn!” raising my voice a little bit, I flick my fingers in front of her and finally got her attention.

“What is it?” she stupidly asks.

“Are you okay?” I softly smile at her. Her cheeks begin to turn into rosy pink.

Is it just because of her light blush on or is she really blushing?

“No. I’m just enjoying the views of the portholes outside.”

“Huh?” my forehead wrinkles upon hearing her answer.

What’s with the portholes outside?

“I mean...I like how the waters shimmer by the yellow lights from the street lamps.”

I nod my head like I also appreciate the portholes, the waters, the light, and everything weird that she notices outside. I’m about to say something when the waiter returns to us and puts a tray with Quinn’s order on the table.

The blueberry cheese cake looks so salivating and enticing at the same time plus the sweet smell of Quinn’s frappucino that penetrates the insides of my nostrils, I now feel like eating the chocolate cake that Hy had ordered for me. I think Quinn’s presence brought back my lost appetite.

“By the way, why are you standing outside a while ago? Correct me if my deductions are wrong but based on my peripheral view, I feel like you’re staring at us. It’s been more than a minute that you’re just standing there like a statue.”

She sips on her cup of frap before answering.

“I just love how the lights of this café flicker from outside. They got my attention. The lights reflect on the glass wall like a prism and I find it amazing.”

Portholes and now lights like prism? How weird of her. She’s just too observant with everything that surrounds her.

“Really? I thought you’re following me.” I laugh like what I had just said is something hilarious.

“And why would I waste my time stalking someone I obviously don’t have any interest with?" she nonchalantly asks me.

“I’m kidding.” I just grab the fork from the table, take a thin slice from my chocolate cake and bring it into my mouth.

I felt an icing on my lower lip so I lick it with my tongue. Even though I’m not looking at her, I’m sure she’s staring at me, observing every single move I make. I dismiss that thing inside my mind and give my full attention to picking out the red cherry from my slice of chocolate cake and put it aside. I’m planning to eat it after I finish the cake.

“You obviously don’t like cherries.” she notices.

I stop eating the cake, glance at her, and give her a curve on my lips. Something is running into my mind right now –about the cherry.

“This cherry?” I pick the red cherry and show it to her.

While eating her slice of blueberry cheese cake, she nods her head for a response. Without further ado, I intentionally bring the cherry inside my mouth and happily eat it like I’m someone who really loves to eat cherries.

“I prefer eating the slice first before the cherry. So your deductions are wrong because I eat cherries Quinn.”

Her lips parted like she just couldn’t believe that I eat cherries.

Is she reading what’s running in my mind right now?

She looks so innocent a while ago so I bet she didn’t get what I’m trying to say about the cherry –you know I’m referring to a lady clam. The cherry is the sensitive pearl and the slice is...I know that you know what I mean. I shouldn’t be explaining this actually.

“Wow.” she utters like she had nothing to say.

“Where are you going by the way?” I change the topic to also change the aura around us since that cherry made her look so uncomfortable.

“I’m heading home.”

“By walking alone this late night?”

“Is there something wrong with strolling around the city at night? I’d like to enjoy the views of the city, the lights from the lamps and cars, everything. I find it a pleasure to look at.”

She really is a lover of everything. From the portholes, to the waters, to the street lamps, and everything her eyes could see.

“You obviously like lights. You’ve been saying about lights since you had a seat here. Well, nothing wrong about seeing the views at night but strolling alone?” I emphasize the last word. “I don’t think it’s safe for a woman to be alone especially this hour. The world outside is perilous Quinn, you better be careful.”

“Thanks for being concern if that’s what you’d like me to feel but I’m twenty four Jabes. I can manage. I have a pepper spray with me and my father taught me martial arts. I can break your arm right now if you’d like me to.”

I softly laugh at her. This woman here is obviously someone who doesn’t know how dangerous the world is right now. She didn’t even realize that having a cup of coffee with someone like me is actually a risk she willingly took.

“Knowing martial arts and being alone at night are two different things Quinn. Evils lurk in humans. You’re old enough to understand what I mean.”

“So what do you call a guy that lets his girlfriend leave all by herself despite of the heavy rain pouring? I mean...what do you call yourself?”

There she goes bringing the topic back like there is really a need for her to know what my connection with Hyacinth is.

“She’s not my girlfriend and I don’t have one.” I honestly answer her.

“Seriously?” her voice echoes all over the place that she even caught the attention of everyone. I smile when I see her mouthing them “sorry” with a peace sign on her left hand. I find her so cute with that gesture.

She turns to me and asks again.

“Are you serious? You don’t have one? So why are you with someone a while ago? You seemed to be like a sweet couple having cups of drinks. How about my hotel manager? You’re with her last night inside a room with a single bed and this morning, Enid told me that you had breakfast with her like you’re a real couple and –”

She pauses from attacking me a lot of questions when she realizes how interrogative she is.

“I’m sorry.” she then looks down with blushed cheeks, feeling ashamed of what she had just asked. “I’m just curious about you and that woman and Emery.” she adds.

Wait?

I heard someone’s name.

Did I just hear her name?

How did she know about Emery and I.

I imagine my subconscious suddenly having an arm and it’s slapping my forehead right now. I remember that Quinn was the one who assisted me to that hotel where I had an appointment with Emery.

“Do you really want to know everything?” I ask her with a serious tone which rendered her silent.

I move my chair closer and touch her left hand on the table, her body then flinches a little. She looks at my hand holding hers.

"I find you so interesting. I feel like we’ve known each other for a couple of years even if I’ve only seen you twice and I'd like you to know me but I’m a hundred and one percent sure that you’ll just be like everybody when you get to know who I am Quinn.”

She fakes a laugh and moves her slightly shaking hand away from my touch.

“I...don’t understand you.” her voice cracks, unsure of what she had just said.

“Hyacinth. She’s just a friend.” I inform her.

“Hyacinth?”

“The woman with me a while ago.” I reply.

“Oh? Her? What about her?”

“Hyacinth and Emery aren’t my girlfriends. I don’t date women at a time. I don’t do cheating if that's what you’re thinking. They’re my customers.”

With eyes questioning, she looks at me.

“Customers? What customers? Are you selling something illegal? Like drugs?”

Forgive me Quinn but what you had just cracked didn’t sound so funny to me. I’m not someone who’s into drugs and it isn’t a good joke.

“I’m selling something for a living.”

“You’re selling something for a living? What do you mean?”

She takes another quick glance outside like she's really avoiding to make an eye contact with me.

“You’ll be surprised if I tell you.”

“You know what? I really don’t get your point.” she shakes her head and places her hands on both sides of the table, readying herself to leave but I decided to spill everything out about me that I bet will surely shock the life out of her.

“I’m an escort.”

“You’re an...escort? You mean escort like someone who goes with a woman in a special event?”

“I know that you know what I mean Quinn. I’m an escort. A call boy.” with my most serious face and tone, I repeat.

Stunned by my confession, her mouth opens. An evident shock was plastered on her face like she just heard a highly confidential leaked information.

An estimated fifteen seconds of silence roamed around the spaces between us before she finally says a word.

"C-callboy?" she asks in utter disbelief, "You’re a...callboy?” she repeats with a stuttering voice.

I look at her without any plans of breaking our eye contact. And without holding back, I undoubtly answer her.

“Yes. I’m a call boy. A male prostitute.”

And right at the very moment when her ears heard my confession, her jaw drops with an evident shock on her face. She wasn’t able to move.

“But I’m –”

I was not able to finish what I’m planning to explain when she quickly grabs her bag, stands up from her chair, and leaves me alone like she just knew that I have a dreadful disease. I didn’t really plan to confess that thing to her.

It was not my intention to shock her. It just came out from my mouth all of a sudden. I’m not planning to offer my service. I’m not planning to make her as one of my customers. I just want her to know just...because.

I thought she’s different but then I was wrong.

She’s just like most of them, harshly judging and stereotyping us, s*x workers as filthy individuals who carry sexually transmitted diseases and are not worthy to breathe the same air with them.

And just like everyone else, she left.