Tempting Kisses (ENGLISH)

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The number of things going on in your life is often typical. And you won’t be aware of whether anything will change because you are too focused on something else. Each day you wake up and know what your normal routine is. With this repeated action, you have your world that you don’t see anything else except yourself. 

I left home early because I was dropping by at the studio to practice. Ishie was busy with her assignments when I left. She is used to our lives like this, and because of that, she also matures earlier than other kids. That’s in my favor because she’s learning to adjust, but she’s also starting to ask questions about her father, which bothers me a lot. 

“Hi, girls!” I greeted them when I entered the studio where we are practicing our dance. 

“I brought breakfast for everyone,” Eury shouted as she entered.

When we turned around, we saw her carrying a lunch bag and some paper bags. It looks like our chef cooked again, so the girls will now be dying full now. Eury is a dancer by night and an aspiring chef by day. Who would have thought that girls like us can dream, right? 

Vika, Eury, Sia, Roux, Zep, and I are the private dancers of Paladizzo. 

We can do everything we want, but as Argus said, we are all tied to Paladizzo. We are his secrets that the world can’t see. We never dance or perform without any cover on our face, same on Vika, Argus’s wife. He respects our privacy and our rights as women, but that was after he fell in love with Vika. Before this, he was also just an asshole walking around the club like his filthy rich friends. 

“How’s Ishie? We haven’t seen her since Delaney’s birthday,” Roux said when I sat beside her. 

“Has it been that long?”

“Yes. Vika and Delaney are her frequent companions, and we miss that little girl too,” Sia added while spinning on the pole.

By then, I was used to being alone until I met them. And the naughty Ishie came into my life. I still thought that not everyone would accept her because I admit that I did not find it difficult to get my situation. How often have I questioned myself as to why that thing happened to me and why I am the luckiest one in the countless people in the world? I am the luckiest one. 

But these people accept Ishie and me without any question and second thought. They love and take care of us like their own family, and I’m always thankful for that. 

I collapsed on the studio floor after we practiced. I called Ishie earlier, and it looks like she was busy with the new activity her teacher gave them. I didn’t talk to her much. Before I left, I cooked food for the two of them. I don’t know what time I can get home because it’s the weekend. And everyone will definitely get tired later. 

“You still have no one?”  Zep asked as she looked back at me.

“No one?” my brows furrowed on them. 

“Still, no one is courting you?” Roux replied.

Of course, they are always curious about my life. They want to be constantly updated as if I am part of their daily lives. After all, they’ve been teasing me for a long time about having a boyfriend. A boyfriend that I’m not interested in. It’s not like you would buy some candy in the store, and anything would be fine. I have a dark past that I don’t want them involved in, plus I have Ishie with me. She’s more than enough reason for me to go on with my life and feel content. 

“Hey, don’t force Yesia about it. Being in a relationship if you have a child is not easy and on this job? It just happens that Vika is lucky to found Argus but admit it, the right one is hard to find,” Eury pointed out, making us stop a bit and think. 

After what Eury said, the aura around us became heavy. Fortunately, Sia and Roux were noisy, so it was a bit relieved, and everyone’s attention shifted to other things. Because what Eury said was true, and we were all struck by those words. Every word is like a sharp knife passed in front of us that leaves a minor wound, but you’ll feel the excruciating pain.

Upon entering Paladizzo, Argus immediately appeared before us and greeted his wife. We were shaking our heads when they both kissed in front of us. These two have never really changed. They don’t have the slightest bit of embarrassment. We walked out from there one by one and made our way inside the Club. I just nodded when I saw Bart, our Bouncer, at the entrance. Argus has many bouncers because he said that his women could not be abused by these filthy rich and asshole members. So even though everyone looks down on my work, I can’t leave because Argus doesn’t let us down. He said we are not a hooker or something. We are just one of the people who comfort the patrons of this place, so we should not be ashamed because we are even cleaner than all the female members of this club.

“Mule?” Kevin asked me when I sat in front of him. 

“Bloody Mary, Kevs. I want to think.” 

He chuckled. “I didn’t know drinking is required if you’re thinking,” he commented, shaking his head. 

After talking for a minute, a flock of people came in, so he got busy again. I just watched him work because I was amazed every time I watched them make different drinks. I feel like I watched a show with every movement of their hand and a sly smile because of the amazement of those people watching them. Me? All I knew was to pour a drink into my glass and drink it. 

 I stopped in contemplation as a man stopped in front of me and smiled as if we were close. 

“Hi!” he said. Then I turn my back at him and focus my attention on my drinks. “Hey, I was talking to you,” he said and halted my arms. 

“Let go,” I hissed as I tried to pull my arms from his hands. 

“Don’t struggle anymore. We’ll just invite you to have a drink!” The man whispered when he slouched in front of me. 

I was overwhelmed when he pulled me closer to him. But he also quickly got up from where he was standing and flew away from me. When I looked up, I saw Bart looking seriously at the man who had harassed me. Kevin was holding a bottle sitting at the counter and any moment, ready to smash it on the head of this man. 

“Are you okay, Yesia?” Vika asked me worriedly, as the other girls were already here.

“I know the women you see in my club are beautiful. But remember the face of these women because of all the things I own inside the Paladizzo. They are the ones you can’t look at, touch, or even desire in your mind! They are the most forbidden guests that you can’t even meet. So spare me with all your f*****g bullshits in life and stay here at peace.” I almost jumped in shock as Argus’s voice echoed throughout the Club when he shouts. 

The girls helped me get back to my dressing room because my knees suddenly weakened with fear. Even my hands still can’t stop trembling. I feel like what happened a few years ago is coming back to me.

“Can you still dance?” Vika asked me.

“Yes. I’ll just go out for a walk.”

They disagree with what I’ve said because they thought something terrible might happen to me. But Eury and Vika quickly agreed with me when they saw the relentless trembling of my hand. I tried to hide it, but what happens terrified me that I can’t even remain seated. 

This place is my haven. But four years ago it was destroyed by alcohol, and a man suddenly appeared in front of me. So the safest place for me now is a dreadful place. 

I walked out of the Club while hugging myself. I don’t have an exact destination. All I want is to get away from this place and forget what happened, even for a moment. I feel like this place is suffocating me, and if I stay a little more, I’ll be anxious the whole time. 

I picked up my phone and called Ishie. “Mum, I’m done painting,” she chirped.

I smiled to hear her little laugh. “I’m glad to know that, sweetie. Mummy will look at your work when I get home. Okay? I miss you!”

“Of course. I miss you too, Mum.” 

I bit my lower lip to suppress my sob. I don’t want Ishie to know I was crying cause she won’t stop asking me about what happened. Hurting my daughter is the last thing I don’t want to happen. So as long as I can keep it all to myself until it stops, I will. It was enough for me to hear Ishie’s voice lighten my chest a little.

“Want some?” I was shocked and recoiled at the sudden appearance of it in front of me. “Sorry, did I scare you? Having this can lessen the heavy feelings. Don’t worry, and it’s safe. I didn’t put anything on it if that was your thinking,” he added when I stared at it for a second and put down a cup of smoothies. 

I just shook my head when I took the drink he handed me. He didn’t say anything. He just sat next to me as if he was there to accompany me. And unbeknownst to me, I had already finished the smoothie, and I was feeling relieved as well, like what he said. 

“So, are you okay?”

I nodded. “Yes. Thanks for the smoothie,” I said when I turned to him. 

“It’s nothing. I’ve paid my debt so that I can leave now,” the man beside me smiled back.

I frowned because I didn’t understand what he was saying. “Yesia …” I don’t know what came into me to say my name. It’s not my thing to introduce myself to a stranger like him. I always distance myself from people, mostly men. 

He smiled. “Eli, nice to meet you, Yesia. Hopefully, the next time we meet, you won’t be crying anymore, Miss Virgin,” he shouted before running away.

I just frowned as I watched him disappear from my sight while thinking about what he was saying. But I immediately stopped walking when suddenly something entered my mind, and a man was there. My lips parted with menacing eyes and covered my mouth in horror. 

He was the man who f*****g kissed me in Central Park.