"C-Clar—" I didn't finish what I wanted to say when he suddenly pulled me to the sofa. He sat there and pulled me in his direction to make me sit on his lap.
"You're alluring lately," he said while smiling.
"By the way, what's your name, miss?" he asked after sipping wine. He didn’t take his eyes off me while gulping an expensive kind of drink.
Does he not know me? Does he not know me anymore? Does he not recognize my face?
I asked myself in the back of my head.
Suddenly, something I had never done before sank into my mind.
My mask...
I immediately touched my face to make sure. And, I was right. My mask was still on my face. I forgot to take it off after I danced on stage.
"Hey?" he gently calls me. I shifted my gaze to him again.
There was only one thing I could say now. He was so handsome. He looked more gorgeous than the last time I saw him way back seven years ago.
Wait! What was this man doing here? How did he end up in such a filthy place? Was he look like the other men who were willing to pay just to devour a body of a prostitute like me?
Why are you here, Clark?
"Hey... Are you okay, huh? Is there something wrong?" There was a hint of concern drawn on his masculine face. He withdrew me from his lap and let me sit nicely next to him.
"Tell me, miss. Are you okay?" he asked once again.
I absentmindedly nodded to him. Up until now, I still couldn't believe what I was seeing.
"Are you sure? I can give you medicine if you want." he offered and stood up from the sofa. I immediately held his broad arm to stop him.
"I'm okay!" I said a little bit louder. I immediately released my grip on his arm and bow shyly.
"I'm fine, don't you worry," I humbly said. Giving him assurance about what I feel.
"O-okay." His response seemed unconvincing.
"So, where are we? May I know your name, miss?" he asked one more time and held my waist using his right arm. He pulled me closer to him which earned me a gasp in shock.
"Ah— M-Magda," I stuttered. I felt nervous and excited at the same time. He slowly moved his face onto mine and then suddenly, he laughed softly.
"It's your name here in the entertainment club, right? I bet it's not your real name," he said and drank the wine again. I nodded shyly as if I agreed with what he had said.
He stared at me for a moment and sighed. He lowered the goblet containing an expensive wine that could be equivalent to one month's supply of our food at home.
"It's okay if you want to keep your identity. Your name here is Magda? It's cool anyway." he complimented.
"You know what, Magda, you have the vibe of a person I've been searching for for so long." he shared. I gulped after hearing it.
Is he talking about the person he's been searching for for so long is... me?
I stopped thinking when he stared at me for too long and here we go again. He was little by little approaching me. His broad arms snaked around my waist and became even tighter and my heart was beating too fast. My breathing became unsteady.
Sh*t, Clark...
I uttered at the back of my head because of nervousness and an exciting feeling that ate my entire system.
He began to caress my arms and slowly traveled to my shoulder.
I bit my lips hard at the strange sensation I was feeling.
Is that you, Clark?
No! Maybe, you just look like him.
My mind was battling while staring at his ocean eyes. Still think if the person in front of me was Clark, my childhood friend way back seven years ago. His face kept getting closer and closer to mine. I shut my eyes tightly and waited for his lips to take over my world but—suddenly his phone rang.
He released me gently and looked at his phone on the top of the glass table. He immediately picked it up and answered the call.
"Hello..."
"What?!" he suddenly shouted which startled me. I stared at him in surprise.
Who is he talking to?
I curiously asked myself.
"Why couldn't you find her?! Are you pretty sure that you're doing your job?!" he asked. His voice was filled with disappointment. He stood up from his seat and used his right hand to comb his hair because of the extreme frustration and disappointment he felt.
"If you couldn't find her, it's much better to hire a new competent private investigator than you!" he shouted at the phone and hung up the call. He let out a deep breath before glancing at me.
My attention was shifted to the door of the VIP room when someone entered.
"Sir Clark, Mr. Sy moved your meeting recently. You have thirty minutes to prepare." The man in a suit said. I think he was a bodyguard.
Wait! What?! Did he call this gorgeous man Clark?
"What the? Tonight?! Meeting?" he asked incredulously. The bodyguard nodded in response.
Clark turned his gaze back to me.
"I gotta go..." he said briefly and immediately kissed me on my cheek. He left the VIP room right after he kissed me. I was left dumbfounded in my seat. I felt like a fool holding my cheek.
Me? Did he kiss me on my cheek?
I felt my face heat up. I bet it was red like ripe tomatoes. I covered my face with both of my hands and screamed that time to release the joy and happiness I had felt.
* * * *
“WHAT?! You finally met him?! What–ouch! Angela!"
Bel tasted my sadistic hand once again. She had already said that line a few more times. I thought I was the only one who was overreacting to the situation after I met Clark but Bel was more overreacting than me. She could finally win the Oscars for being the best actress. Felt like Bel was the one who waited for Clark for a long time.
"Tone down your voice, Bel. The kids are asleep," I reminded and pinpoint the direction where my siblings were sleeping on the mat. She immediately covered her mouth.
"Sorry," she naughtily apologized. I did nothing but shake my head.
What a naughty Bel.
"But Angela, what happened after you met him? Did the two of you talk? Did he miss you, huh? Did he?" she asked with a shudder. She clapped her hands out of excitement.
"No. He didn't recognize me," I said and sighed deeply.
Bel's eyes widened and exaggeratedly shouted 'WHAT?' without a voice.
I had been dreaming of kicking this woman out of our house. She was more affected by what was happening than I was.
"I wore a mask. I forgot to remove it."
"Oh..." There was a melody of regret in her voice.
"You idiot, Ange—" She no longer completed what she wanted to say when I glared at her. She immediately shut her mouth.
"I better go home. Just give me an update if there's progress in your love story. Clarky Clarky!" She teased and laughed as she hugged me.
After a minute, she finally left the house.
"Take care!" I said as I watched her walking away. She nodded and waved her hand back at me as if she was saying goodbye.