The Rival Heirs

Chapter 7: "puppy club"

Alex povs

I could not focus throughout the whole day. Every time that passed with me, seated lonely and alone, felt like a knife stabbing through my heart. I had finally crawled out of my hole I had gone to hide into when I heard the bell signaling the start of the new class. But that didn't stop the insults and taunting from continuing. My story must have gone round the whole school by now, with all the side glances and low muttering beside me.

Throughout my life, I have been bullied and insulted for my height and my weak personality. Especially in high school. But the insults increased when news started going around that my father abandoned me and my mother because of my mother's infidelity. It was too much to the extent that my mother was involved with another students parents for calling her a b**ch's on the internet. That was the worst day of my life and one of the things that drove my mother to send me to the camp.

The bell for the end of school for the day rang finally. And like someone bitten by ants, I sprang up and rushed towards the door.

“Why are you running, Alex boy? Come and give me a hug”

“Ohh noo, mummy is waiting for you at home to pep talk you!!”

The jeers faded into a distant echo. I rushed home immediately, not bothering to wait for Linda.

Reaching home, the house was empty as usual. My mother was hardly at home, and recently, she even slept overnight. She has been trying to hide it by sneaking back early in the morning, but I had already found it a long time ago.

I sighed, eating my lunch she had left for me, I hurried to miss Amanda's house. I cleaned her house every time when I was not on shift in the eatery. I work multiple jobs to support my mother, who was all alone after my father's desertion.

“Hey you dumbass, we are here for your tip today” The hard voice of Jasper and his gang reached my ears.

“s**t” I cursed, I had forgotten about the notorious jasper and his gangs' rules, today all because I had been distracted with the happenings of today.

“I don't have anything with me today,” I begged them. They were the notorious boy living at Miss Amanda's Street. Ever since I started working for her, they have always stopped me for money, or else they beat me up. I had thought of quitting working for Miss Amanda several times, but her paycheck was high.

“That's bullshit, Alex boi. Do you know the consequences of lying to us? "Jasper said. By now, they had surrounded me, with no chance of escape.

“Please, please, the next time I come, I will pay double. I don't have the money with me” I pleaded, blaming myself for forgetting something so important as this.

“That's crap. What do you take us as” one of them shouted, kicking me.

“We will teach you a lesson. Next time, you won't forget again” their leader said, tackling me to the ground, and before long punches and kicks, I started connecting with my body. I tried hiding my vital organs while trying to fight them off, but I was outnumbered.

It was a long time before they got tired of beating me and left me with bruises. By the time I got myself, it was already evening.

“Sh*t” i cursed after checking time from my badly broken watch. I managed to get up. And. I will examine myself to see the extent of my injuries. My hand had a scratch, and from the metallic taste in my mouth, i must have broken my teeth in the process. All my body was in pains and I didn’t have the strength again to go to work at Miss Amanda's house. Deciding on that, I limbed home. Luckily for me, my mother was not around to ask me questions. And i didn't want her to see me like this. She has done enough for me, and i didn't want to add anymore to her plate.

I managed to treat my bruises, then applied plaster to the cut I had on my leg. My body screamed for me to lie down and have a good rest, but I couldn't afford that. I couldn’t miss this night for anything. Not after not going to clean miss Amanda's house. That being said, despite my bruises, i got ready for my performance.

The “puppy club”, as it was called, was bubbling by the time I got there. With barely dressed teens trudging up and down, looking for hookups. It was a down to earth secret bar and barely noticeable to common man, but among the under wordly people, it is a paradise. It is a place where your sexuality is not judged. You can come with a male, or a female, whatever that suits you.

I had been contacted by the owner, a funny and easygoing guy, Jeff, after he saw my personal performance on the internet. And for a year now, I have been performing secretly as an entertainer for the club.

“Hey boy, you up for a night” a drunk middle junk came forward, grabbing my hands.

“Noo, leave me alone” I tried to force myself out of his grip.

“Common, I know what you want. I promise to be gentle” he breathed close to my face. I fought hard not to vomit all over him, from the bad stench coming from his mouth.

Hey, leave the kiddo alone. If you don't want to be banned from coming to “puppy bar” a hard voice shouted. Hearing the voice, I breathed a sigh of relief. It was Jeff, the owner of the bar.

“Sorry man, I think he was looking for a master” The junk had the brain to apologise immediately to Jeff before sauntering off, looking for another victim.

Jeff was a muscled man who had tattoos stretched all over his body. At first glance, he was a towering tower like a bouncer, but he was just as easy going as you could imagine.

“Hey kiddo, sorry for that” he said, crossing his hands over my shoulders and leading me to the back entrance.

“It's fine, I am already used to it” I said the truth, in a way, I was already used to people trying to take advantage of me because of my small and weak stature.

“Why are you late today? I wanted to book another person for your place,” he asked.

“I am so sorry, something important came up,” I lied, praying he buys it.

“It's fine, kiddo, you look unwell today, I won't mind if you don't perform” he offered, with a concerned look. I fought the urge not to look away. It was weird for a big hulk like him acting all caring.

“No, I will do it” I said with a look of defiance. I really needed something to channel my frustration and anger on. Today has been a disaster, and a lot has happened that is out of my control. At least the only thing I can control is to perform today.

I welcomed the adrenaline feel pumping through my system, sounds of cheering filled my ears, I couldn’t help smile a sad smile, making my way to the piano on the stage I reached for it like my life depended on it. Pouring out my sorrow and anger into it. I was supposed to play something fast and romantic, but I didn’t care, I just needed to let out elase I would explode from all the chaos rumbling inside me.

There was a moment of silence throughout the whole club. Skimpy dressed young teens were shocked and dumbfounded after my performance. I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the expressions on their faces, especially the face of Jeff, my employer, but the next thing that happened shocked me.

The club erupted in a loud ear, splitting cheering. It was like the sunshine after a heavy rain. It bathed over me, and I wanted to drown inside the noise and the cheering. Afterward, the Dj blasted rap music.

“That was something new, kiddo, you outdid yourself” Jeff said, handing me an envelope containing my money for the night. It was unusually heavy.

I was smiling throughout the night. For once since today, I was smiling just in front of the sheer happiness emanating from the club. But the happiness was not meant to last.

Turning a blind corner, I bumped into the only person I didn’t think I would ever MN puppy's bar.