Every Beast Needs A Beauty

Chapter 3

STARE

I couldn't shake the fear I felt earlier when Rage confronted me. I remember his snickering in annoyance because I saw him that night. If I could change what happened, I would choose not to have seen it because aside from the fact that I close my eyes every time I remember it, I still have a secret to hide.

"Hey, Sunny!" Mia called me when she caught me in a daze in the Lounge.

I'm ready for the part time she says. I believe this is not about selling flesh because she showed me some pictures on her cell phone.

"Are you ready? What are you going to bring?" She asked. She just arrived.

It was five o'clock in the afternoon and I was already ready for that part time job. She said that we should leave the group at eight o'clock to go to different bars.

"What to bring? I thought they had clothes?" I said.

I'm just wearing a simple t-shirt and short pants. I expected that they already have clothes there so I didn't think I would bring anything else.

"Pumps? Make Up?" Mia raised an eyebrow.

My jaw dropped. "I don't have any of those.

" "What?"

Mia's mouth is a big O. She was staring at me. Goodbye, one thousand! I can't have you tonight. Maybe I need to go shopping for pumps and make up so by Friday, I already have it.

"Okay, I'll lend you one!" She said and scratched something in her locker. What she said made me feel better.

"It's a waste of a slot if you can't join now."

I stood up and approached her. I can see her gold colored pumps that are a bit outdated. I have to put the pumps on the list as well I have to buy. As long as tonight's result is good I will make sure to buy one like that.

"Oh, Mia, I'm sorry? You don't have to do this, but I really needed the money."

"Don't worry, Sunny. That heel is a bit damaged so just be careful. Just don't jump." She said while putting the pumps on my feet.

I tried it. "Is there still a need to jump into this job?"

She laughed. "No, but you might think about jumping up and dancing when you get to the bar we're going to."

I didn't understand what Mia said. I've never been to a bar. Maybe the closest thing to a 'bar' I've ever been to was those drinking places around the corner at Auntie's muddy place.

I just followed Mia until we reached a building. We entered several doors until I saw the logo of a famous cigarette brand. We went inside and I immediately saw a few women who had put on make-up and were wearing red clothes. It's short, the kind when you bend down a little and your panties can be seen. I'm not sure if I can do it. But every time I think that I'm going to stand up and have a thousand, that motivates me.

"Good evening, ma'am. I have someone with me today." Mia pulled me.

A gay looked up at me. 'Ma'am'. I should call him that too. "Good evening, ma'am." I greeted as he examined me from head to toe.

"How old are you? Have you turned eight teen yet?" the standing gay.

"I'm twenty." I said.

"Ma'am, she's twenty. She's working at Del Fierro. She's with me. She's also a Janitress." Mia said.

"Okay. There are uniforms there, on hangers. Take your measurements and start getting ready. We leave at 7:30. Make sure you eat."

Mia immediately pulled me to the corner where there were red uniforms hanging. It eased my fear that it might be a scam I entered. It's legit! That dress has Marlboro on it!

No care in dressing. The only man there is Ma'am who is gay. Mia quickly took off her clothes. In just a moment, she was wearing only a bra and panties.

"Hurry up, Sunny!"

She scolded me because I was still ashamed to be naked. I looked at the girls there and they weren't watching. They are more concerned with the lipstick and fake eyelashes they put on their eyes.

I still remember how I felt when mom put that on my eyes at prom. I felt that I was beautiful. It's just that, the prom didn't end well because Patricia, my cousin, got into a fight with me.

When I get dressed, I consciously pull down the short skirt and tight clothes. Mia slaps my hand every time I do that.

"Stop that. That's one of the marketing strategies. The shorter it is, the more you can sell." She then applied mascara to my eyes.

"Huh? We're like prostitutes."

Mia frowned as if I had insulted her. "Sunny, it's a noble job you entered! But that's the way it is. That's the truth. Those bars are full of rich men who waste money. They can buy cigarettes from other stores but we'll force them to come to us."

I bowed because I knew that was the truth but I just wasn't comfortable with my thoughts. Maybe I should just think about the money.

"Those rich people, you just have to be a little sweeter to them and then, they will buy it. 'Sir, do you smoke'?" She said in a soft voice.

I smiled at what she said.

"Want some cigars?" She winked at me.

"That's it, Sunny. And voila! Someone bought it right away. When someone buys one, more people will buy from you, so you should be the first to sell."

After she did my make up. She constantly lectured me about how to sell cigarettes in bars. She also told me that she gets a tip when the buyer likes you. That means, the money will be double.

"Those rich people are just wasting money, so the extra is yours." Mia laughed when she finished.

I nodded and put all her advice to me in my brain.

Ma'am clapped and we immediately lined up in front of her. Mia is right and her pumps are a bit broken so I can't move too suddenly.

"Same instructions, same rules! Go!" ma'am said and about ten girls came out including Mia and me.

I don't know what the instructions and rules are because ma'am said it briefly. I had to ask Mia and she said that there was nothing I didn't know.

"When will you give me the money, Mia?" I asked as we crowded into the van.

"It's here in the van. We're gonna work in different clubs until two o'clock, Sunny. After two o'clock, we'll come back here and the money will be given and we can go home."

I nodded and put on that bag with only cigarettes. I'm thinking about where to put the money in the bag.

"Okay, girls. We're only here for thirty minutes." ma'am said who was in the front seat when the van stopped in front of a square where there were many people and the music was loud. "The party hasn't peaked yet because it's still early so thirty minutes, come back here right away."

We were like birds released from a cage when we got out of the van. My companions quickly went to the left side of the square. Mia pulled me to the right.

"Mia, don't you-"

"Sir, will you buy a cigar?" Mia smiled tenderly at an old smoker.

I swallowed hard and realized I had to copy her. I just stood there, watching Mia like a statue.

"Hi miss, do you sell cigarettes?" A man approached me.

He's a little chinito and has a friend who is also chinito. We seem to be the same age and he smells expensive. I immediately nodded and showed him the cigarettes.

"One tens." Chinito smiled at me.

I immediately nodded and gave it to him. I made sure he paid. I was about to give the change but he shook his head.

"Keep the change." He said crisply.

My eyes widened. My first tip!

The male companions also followed in buying cigarettes. I have sold a lot on the banner and two people tipped me. This job is not that bad. Maybe I'm just thinking too much that it's dangerous because of the drunken and rude men.

I had a big smile when I got into the van thirty minutes later. The other girls were silent as if they didn't know each other. I wondered if they knew each other.

"Mia, don't you have friends among them?" I asked when it was past seven and we had already had a few bars.

Mia shook her head. "Crab mentality." She explained. "They don't want friends. Sometimes." She pointed at the most mestiza and the tallest among us. "There's Alona. She was friend. She and I were classmates in high school. Then we became friends. We were always together but just one night, I sold more than her and she immediately got mad at me."

I nodded while looking at Alona who was retouching. Alona is beautiful. Mia is beautiful but Alona is more naturally beautiful. She caught me staring at her so she immediately stared back at me. I smiled but she just sneered at me. I turned to Mia who was still talking.

"I don't know why she's angry, it's just the same. Even if you only sold five all night, ma'am will still give you a thousand. Alona has a big crazy brain ." She shook her head.

She looked outside and her eyes lit up when we got to the bigger square where there were so many bars. I can see the artificial coconut trees in every gutter as decoration in the whole square. Retouch immediately what they did. So is Mia. Because I don't have make up I just stare outside.

"This is one of the most expensive bars in the whole area. Ma'am often brings us here at ten o'clock or eleven o'clock because at those times people are not that drunk and can still buy properly." Mia explained while licking her lips again.

I nodded and she also put lipstick on me and patted the other cheek.

"I'm sure you have a lot of tips here. New and good." She winked at me and pulled me out of the van.

After we got out, I immediately proved that Mia was right. There are rich people here. A few actors entered a bar together with us. An artist bought from me and my tip increased immediately.

"Sunny, you there, I'm here. It's only an hour. Then after 5 minutes, I'll see you here again. Let's move to the other bar."

I nodded and went to the other side of the bar.

"Sir, do you smoke?" I said.

"Yup. One tens."

I smiled. He stared at my face and returned my smile. "What's your name?"

"Sunny." I smiled again.

He nodded. "Thank you, Sunny. Is this really how you work?" He said even though I had a hard time hearing him because of the loud music.

He raised an eyebrow and I could see the tattoos on his arm.

"This is my first time." I explain.

He nodded. "That's why. Girls who approach me are often more aggressive." He smiled.

After five minutes Mia and I moved to the other bar which was more crowded and seemed more social. The time limit is said to be fifteen minutes.r

I became more aggressive to sell more and get more tips. I'm headbanging to the loud music of the whole bar and the noise of the people on the dancefloor. I even got elbowed when I passed by the side so I chose to pass by the tables and sofas.

At a table, I saw someone smoking, so I approached him immediately.

"Excuse me sir. Wanna buy a stick?" I imitated what a friend of mine said earlier.

My eyes widened when I saw it whose table I went to. There were four boys and three girls. Brandon ran his fingers through his long hair and looked at me.

"Sunny?" Brandon's eyes widened.

"Good evening, Brandon." I smiled at him.

He looked at Logan and Rage. Logan was looking at me while touching his lips, examining me.

"You work at night? Marlboro?" Brandon asked.

"Yes, Part time. Do you smoke?"

"Tens, gold." Brandon said while handing me more than the cost of cigarettes.

My cheeks warmed up. It's okay to receive a tip from someone else, but receiving a tip from an acquaintance is not something I can handle. I got the correct change and gave it to Brandon. He immediately dismissed it.

"Introduce me to him, Brandon. Co model?" A man on the other sofa raised an eyebrow, the fourth of the three.

"Um, no. She works for Rage." Brandon explained.

The gaping man looked at Rage. I looked at Rage who was now looking away and talking to a famous model. I bit my lip and wondered if that could be his office mate? I can't look at them. I'm going to have flashbacks of what happened that night thought when I saw the two of them.

"Janitress, Kid." Logan said while his hand was busy caressing the thighs of the woman next to him.

"Oh?" The man grimaced. "Too hot for a janitress. What's your name? There's no introduction. Well, you can't expect Rage to introduce his employees."

"It's sunny." I smiled.

"Cute name. Gold, tens, please?" He smiled.

"I'm Kid." Kid held out his hand and with the money he was going to buy cigarettes.

I nodded and accepted his hand. He didn't give up right away. He stared and caressed my hand carefully.

"Kid." The mestiza woman next to him said gruffly.

"Sorry, Yna." Kid laughed and returned to his seat, still not looking at me. I also did the same with Kid, but he did not accept it. I want to leave here but I don't want to be rude.

"You, Logan?"

"Pass." He said while the woman next to him was tasting the lemon. I nodded and turned to Rage.

"You?" I bit my lip. He took a breath and took money from his wallet without looking at me.

"Tens, black." His jaw tightened.

So... he smokes.

I quickly took what he wanted. I glanced at the brunette girl with me. I really know it. Model. Very often on TV and on billboards. I'm sure of it. Her wavy hair was curling because of constantly playing with it with her fingers and her red lips were pouting as if she was impatient because Rage was talking to someone else even if it was just for a moment.

Rage handed over his money and I saw it was yellow, different from the violet color I usually accept. I immediately looked for change. I'm sure it's not "keep the change"!

I gave the change in front of him.

"Keep the change." He said coldly.

Someone was telling me that it was wrong for me to accept the tip from him, but it would be weird if I didn't so quietly put it in my bag.

"Thank you." I said.

He looked at me. My heart pounded at his gaze. s**t! It's very fast! I feel like he can hear that I'm nervous in his eyes.

"I'm leaving." I told them all but I couldn't take my eyes off Rage. He raised an eyebrow when I looked at him.

"Rage..." his woman called. The girl even touched Rage's cheek just to make Rage face her again. Rage responded to that so I walked away.

But I couldn't help but look back at their table. My heart pounded when I saw Rage slowly turning towards me, his beautiful eyebrows furrowed.

I immediately looked away and closed my eyes tightly. What am I doing? I slowly looked at him again and saw that he still didn't let go of his gaze.