Lose Control (R18+)

Chapter 1

Ilang beses kong ni-refresh ang page ng Sensual Station dahil hindi ako makapaniwala sa numero na nakikita ko sa screen ng laptop ko. Thirteen thousand reads in just a week?! I mean... What the hell, right?

Every refresh ko ng website ay nadadagdagan iyon ng lima or sampung bilang ng reads.

Bago mag lunch ay tinawagan ako ng boss ko. They wanted me to write the next updates faster habang pumapatok ang bagong series na sinulat ko. Dadagdagan raw nila ang bayad sa akin per chapter kapag natapos ko this month ang series at kung pwede raw na maghanda na ako sa susunod na ipopost kong story.

Nag-inat ako at nagpatuloy magsulat.

I’m a part time writer in an adult-oriented online magazine website called Sensual Station. Two months ago, ay pinasa ko ang ten-chapter short story na isinulat ko. Sexy romance ang genre ng story na tamang tama para sa website nila. They posted it in the site and okay ang reception ng readers. They commissioned me to do another series na exclusive sa Sensual Station ang pag post.

One week ago ko ipinost ang first three chapter and overall, ay may thirteen thousand reads na iyon. Positive rin ang mga comments ng readers! Kinikilig ako.

Bago dumilim ay nakapag sulat ako ng dalawa pang chapters. Hindi ko muna iyon ipapasa. Ayokong isipin nila na mabilis lang ako mag-sulat at baka mag demand sila ng kung anu-ano. Nagkataon lang na medyo may gana ako ngayon. And I don’t have anything to do.

After four years of being lost, pakiramdam ko ay nasa tamang daan na ako, alam ko na kung ano ang gusto kong gawin. After kong tumigil mag-aral when I was just second year college sa course kong Education, nag decide akong maghanap ng trabaho. Wala akong choice kung hindi magbanat ng buto o magugutom ako.

Because of the people I met along the way, I discovered a dark world that woke up something dark within me.

My friends were high class prostitutes. Isinasama nila ako whenever their clients want to party or to go somewhere out of town. Sometimes, even out of the country. Kinailangan kong kumuha ng visa at passport para makakasama ako sa kanila. I became curious. Something inside me awakened.

But no, I didn’t end up being like them. I did something better.

I didn’t know I had it in me.

I became a bit in demand in the business. My friends referred me to the people they know na interisado sa serbisyo na kaya kong ibigay. Money poured in. For two years na iyon ang ginagawa ko ay naliligo ako sa pera. My clients were very rich. In one week, mababa na ang singkwenta mil sa kita ko.

I was wise enough to put up a savings account.

Hindi naman ako nagsawa, but I felt that I wanted to do something different. Something far more interesting. Naiinggit ako sa ibang tao na may mga hobby na gusto nilang gawin that kept them entertained tapos trabaho na rin nila. I tried a few things pero kakaiba ang thrill na ibinibigay ng dati kong trabaho. I went back, pero one client a week na lang ang tinatanggap ko. Most days ay nasa bahay lang ako at nanunuod ng kung anu-ano.

I like having a slow day.

Anyway, I started to read erotic novels and became interested in writing one. I joined online seminars in writing para matutuo ako. Kumuha ako ng ilang details from my previous work kaya nakatapos ako ng isang story. Tapos nadiscover ko nga ang Sensual Station and the rest is history.

Nakahiga na ako at nanunuod na lang sa Netflix nang mag ring ang cellphone ko.

Nangunot ang noo ko nang makita ang pangalan ng tumatawag sa screen ng cellphone ko. I didn’t even know na naka save pa ang number nya sa cellphone ko. I thought tuluyan ko nang pinutol ang ugnayan naming dalawa. But here she is.

Artemis.

It seems like forever since the last time I heard or even thought of her name.

Tumitig ako sa screen. Hindi ko kasi alam kung sasagutin ko o hindi. Kung sasagutin ko man, ano ang sasabihin ko?

But she’s the one that’s calling!

I cleared my throat then answered the call.

“What?” Linamigan ko ang boses ko.

I heard her chuckle. “You still know my number,”

I rolled my eyeballs. “What do you want? I know you need something.”

“Okay, relax. This is more likely a business proposal, rather than a favor.” Gusto kong mainis kasi sobrang kalmado lang nya na parang friends forever pa rin kami. Dapat nga mainis ako sa ginawa nya sa akin. Actually, nagalit ako.

Bumangon ako at naupo. “What is it?”

“I have a client. I think he needs your service,” Business-like ang tono ng boses nya.

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot. I knew Artemis put up a business. From being a high-class prostitute, she now handles a number of them and she connects them with the clients. She’s the madam now.

Pero alam ko na hindi lang iyon ang ginagawa nya. According to Tanya na mutual friend naming dalawa pero isa sa mga under ni Artemis, may ‘Fantasy Fulfillment’ service daw si Artemis. Ito raw ang edge nya sa ibang business in the industry at kaya mas malaki ang rate nya sa mga clients.

I don’t really understand what it meant at hindi rin ako interisado when Tanya told me that.

“Don’t tell me you’re out of the game? C’mon. This is an easy one hundred thousand for one night.”

“I am not one of your girls, Artemis.” I said under my breathe, trying to keep my cool.

Tumawa sya ulit. “I know. And I won’t ask you to be. Look, this client is big time. He wanted something thrilling that can make him come, pero walang penetration. Sounds familiar? Ikaw agad ang naisip ko. This will just be a onetime thing,” Ramdam ko ang excitement sa boses nya. I don’t know if it’s for me or for the client.

Napapikit ako. “Is that safe?” Ang tanging naitanong ko. I may hate Artemis but this is still work. I just want to know a little more since kung sakali, this will be the first time na may bago akong makikilala na client. Puro repeat clients na lang ang mayroon ako ngayon.

“Very. He’s also very private. You’ll have to sign a contract first.”

“What are the terms?” I asked coldly. Pumayag man ako, I still want her to think na business lang ito. Nothing else.

“Can you come to my office tomorrow? The client wants to do it this weekend. We only have three days.” May urgency sa boses nya. This must be a really important client.

I cleared my throat. “Send me the address of your office,”

I heard her murmur ‘Yes!’ bago sya magsalita. “Okay, I’ll text you. I’m at the office from four in the afternoon until twelve midnight.”

“Okay,” I said, waiting for her to cut the line.

“Okay,”

Tiningnan ko ang screen ng cellphone ko at hindi pa rin putol ang linya.

“Bye, Artemis.”

“Bye, Olivia. See you soon.”

Ako na ang nagputol ng linya.

I went back to watching on my laptop. I don’t want that call to bother me for the night.

Kinabukasan, pagkagising na pagka gising ko pa lang ay naghilamos lang ako, nag banyo at uminom ng tubig tapos nag sulat na ako ulit. Tama naman ang boss ko sa Sensual Station. Strike whilst the iron is hot. Kung patok ito sa mga readers ngayon, dapat ay hindi sila masyadong mabitin. Tamang patakam lang dapat.

Naka gawa ako ng three more chapters. Plano ko na medyo habaan ito ng kaunti, around fifteen chapters. Tapos mula doon ay may kukunin akong character na gagawan ko rin ng story. Ayon sa workshop na sinalihan ko before, if I want my readers to stay with me, mas madali raw na kilala na nila ang character ng susunod na gagawin kong story. They will feel a certain connection since nakilala na nila ang character before sa naunang story na nagustuhan nila.

Umidlip ako saglit at naligo ng pasado alas dos ng hapon. Nasa Makati ang opisina ni Artemis. Wala namang traffic kaya I took my time. Sa Ortigas lang ako manggagaling. I booked a car and five minutes after four ay nasa tapat na ako ng building kung nasaan ang opisina ni Artemis.

Ibinilin nya na sa akin sa text na mahigpit ang security sa lobby. I needed to bring an I.D tapos kailangan ko sabihin kung saang company ako pupunta.

“Hi. Saan po sila?” Nakangiti na tanong ng babae sa front desk.

“Love Cake,” Sabi ko sabay abot ng I.D ko.

She got my I.D and then she checked something on her monitor bago nya iyon ibinalik sa akin ulit.

“You may proceed to the silver elevator on the left, Ma’am. Love Cake is on the fifteenth floor.”

“Thanks,” Nginitian ko ang babae tapos pumunta na ako sa itinuro nyang elevator.

May tatlong elevator na nandoon. May isang puti ang kulay ng pinto, may gold tapos may silver. Since the girl specifically told me to use the silver, I did. Nang makapasok na ako ay tsaka ko nakita na ang numero ng buttons na nandoon ay from tenth floor up to fortieth floor lang.

Tumambad agad sa akin ang sign na Love Cake Enterprise nang bumukas ang elevator. May babae na nasa front desk. Lumapit ako at nagpakilala.

Pinindot nya ang intercom at sinabi na nandoon na ako. I heard Artemis said na papasukin na ako.

“You may come inside, Ma’am. Walk straight past the receiving area then turn left. You can come in on the only door.”

“Thanks,”

Pagpasok ko ay namangha ako. Damn, this doesn’t look like an office for a company that conducts s****l services. It’s very classy. Black, pink and white ang motif ng mga furniture. Puno ng mga bulaklak sa paligid.

Agad kong nakita ang office ni Artemis.

When I opened the door, nandoon na si Artemis na nakatayo at parang hinihintay ako. May malapad na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. She’s wearing a white tight fit bodycon dress. Sobrang slim ng katawan nya. I envied her naturally slim body a few times. Mabilis metabolism nya kaya kahit anong kain nya ay payat sya talaga.

And I know kung gaano sya kaalaga sa katawan nya. She’s very particular when it comes to taking care of her body and look.

“Hi,”

Tumango lang ako sa kanya. I don’t want her to be too comfortable with me.

“Have a seat,” Itinuro nya ang couch na nasa gitna ng napakaluwag nyang office.

Walang salitang umupo ako. Umupo naman sya sa upuan na nasa harap ko. Her office smells like roses. May mga kandila sa paligid.

“I want to know the terms,” Direct to the point na sabi ko.

“Nagmamadali ka ba? Can we talk like normal people just like before?” Hindi ko alam kung sarcasm iyon or sincere sya, eh.

“I came here for the job, nothing else.” I maintained my poker face.

I saw her eyes looked at me from my head to my toe, then back to my face. “Still the same style, I see.” Again, hindi ko alam kung insult iyon or natural na opinion nya lang.

I sighed as a response.

Pilit syang ngumiti. “Okay. First of all, I want you to know na VVIP client ko ang seserbisyuhan mo. I won’t tell you how to handle clients like him because you already know how to. You’ll have to sign an NDA form as well as the contract. Now, hindi ko na alam kung paano mo gagawin. The previous girls I sent him were also very satisfied, and I mean, satisfied. Iba naman ang gagawin mo but let’s just hope na ganoon rin ang mangyayari.”

“Where should I do it?”

“He wants it in his penthouse. Malapit lang dito. I’ll send you all the details in the email. He’s very particular with time. On or before ten pm, dapat nandoon ka na.”

Tumango ako.

“In case you want to be involved with him out of this contract, since you’re not under contract on Love Cake, you are free to do so.”

Nangunot ang noo ko. “Why would I want to be involved with him? You know I’m a pro.” Chin up na sabi ko. It’s one of the many things I am proud about myself. I have never been involved with a client. Never rin ako pumayag makipagkita sa kanila outside our schedules.

Artemis laughed. “I know, Oli. You just might be tempted once you see him.” Then she winked at me.

Ngumiwi ako. “Whatever. This is just a onetime thing anyway. One hundred thousand, yes? That’s aside the fees for you?”

Tumano si Artemis. “Yes, and yes,”

“Okay, let me sign.”

Tumayo si Artemis at kinuha ang folder na nakalagay sa office table nya. Of course, binasa ko ang terms. Wala naman akong nakikitang mali. In fairness to Artemis, the contract is mostly about keeping her girls safe and making sure of the client’s privacy.

I signed it.

“I’ll send you my bank account details.” Sabi ko nang paalis na ako. Idedeposit raw agad ang payment the next day.

Easy one hundred thousand.