Almost a week ago was the last time I saw Clark here at the entertainment club. After that, he never showed up again. For those weeks, I couldn't believe myself to be getting excited. I was looking forward to the night. Just in case he came back.
I sighed as I watched the reflection of my face in front of the vanity mirror.
"Angela!" Our manager called. I looked in his direction.
"Someone bought you today! Your sales are really great!" he exclaimed excitedly and caressed my hair. I smiled at him a little.
"Go to the VIP. Enjoy..." There was an obscenity in his tone at the last word.
I just shook my head before I excitedly went to the VIP room.
Is that him? I hope so...
I almost stumbled while heading to the said place. I wouldn't mind the height of my heels and the possibility of tripping over. I was excited to see him again.
When I was at the front door, I immediately opened it and took a step forward. After a few minutes of scanning the place, the smile I wore on my face was slowly fading like a melting candle. The hopes that had been formed were shattered once again because the client for today was not him, but an old man who you would notice is rich because of the expensive kind of clothing he was wearing. Add the lit cigar stuck between his fingers. His hair was also a bit fuzzy.
"Come here slut. F*ck my dick and give me a happy time," he said and a devilish smile crept on his lips.
At what I saw, I secretly swallowed.
Tonight, my miserable life in the entertainment club would begin again.
****
Clark's POV
"How many times do I have to tell you, mom? I can't marry Natasha," I get frustrated talking to my mom in front of the screen of my laptop. We were talking through video calls and the topic for today was stressful.
My mom and dad were in America while I was here in the Philippines, alone.
"But sweetie, you need to. It's for the sake of our company," mom said softly.
I buried my face in my palm out of frustration and let out a deep sigh.
"Company, company, for the sake of the company. That's absurd! I can run the company without their help!" I couldn't help but let go of the feeling I had been wanting to release.
"Hey, Clark! Watch your mouth!" mom said angrily to me. I tiredly put my two elbows on the table and buried my face in my palm once again.
"But, mom! I jus—"
"Don't shout at me! I'm your mother!" I was stopped from what I am going to say after I heard it.
"I'm sorry," I apologized and sat down properly on the chair. I calmed myself down to avoid having a bad conversation with my mom again. Even if she was a dictator, she was still my mom. I should respect her.
I heard her sigh to the other line.
"Look sweetie, we need the family Sy for our businesses there and also here abroad," she explained. I shut my eyes tightly and looked up at the ceiling.
"Sweetie? Sweetie?" she called. I shifted my gaze once again to the screen.
"I'm sorry, mom. I can't. I can run the car company without their help."
Pure determination was visible in my voice.
"What's wrong? What's wrong with Natasha? Why couldn't you love her? Why can't you marry her? She's a beautiful woman and—"
"Mom, enough. Yeah, yeah I know she's beautiful indeed but... but..." suddenly, the image of Angela flashed in my mind. She was smiling sweetly at me while wearing our school uniform before. The only beautiful angel I had ever met seven years ago.
"...but I can't. I just can't. Please, mom, do understand me. I do not love her. Please..." I pleaded.
"Tell me. Is it all because of the girl, huh?" she asked. She was pertaining to Angela. I kept silent in my seat and didn't answer her back.
"My goodness, Clark! It's already seven years! Just move on, okay? Just forget about her. The Philippines is big enough to search for a small little kitten that keeps on hiding," she frustratedly said.
"I can't marry Natasha. That's final. Goodbye, mom," I said softly and dropped the video call. I leaned back in my seat and tried to calm myself down.
A lot of stress from the company's problem and also mom insisting on marriage.
I closed my eyes first and took a deep breath.
Inhale... Exhale...
I was startled and my eyes widened due to the image suddenly popping out in my head.
The woman in the entertainment club.
"What the…" I held the ballpen and then tapped it on the table repeatedly while thinking.
What was happening to me? I couldn’t erase her in my head. Why did I suddenly behave like that when I was in the club?
I was trying to think of the reason but there was still no clear answer.
Arg! Why I couldn't forget that woman?! Was that because she has a vibe of my childhood friend, Angela?
And the mask, especially her mask. I was intrigued by what was behind her mask.
I couldn't understand why I felt sorry when I needed to leave the entertainment club at that time.
I stopped from my deep thoughts when the sudden knock on my office door heard.
"Come in," I said and sat down properly.
"Good afternoon, Sir Clark," John greeted with a bow. He was a private investigator. I was looking for someone that I look forward to seeing again.
"Did you already find her?" I immediately asked. I didn't waste any more greetings or anything else to spice up the conversation. All I wanted was to hear if he has found her.
John handed me a brown envelope which I immediately accepted.
"All the information about her was written on that paper. Every single detail about her."
"Good," I shortly replied.
"So..." I put my hands down on the table and intertwined them.
"Did you already find her?" I asked while staring straight into his eyes.
"Sir, I apologize—"
"Damn!" I couldn't help but shout in disappointment.
The same result last week and today. Was he really good?!
"Are you doing your job well, huh?" there was a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
"Yes, sir. I always do my best. All the information about her on that paper was all true. I figured out that she was living in Tondo, in the squatters area. I sent a man to her house to confirm if she was living there but they responded 'negative'." John explained.
"Are you sure about this information?" I asked and waved the paper on his face.
"Y-yes, sir. I'm one hundred percent sure. I am not convinced by the girl who said that your childhood friend was not living in the said house. I know, it's her house. I'm sure about it," he explained in front of me. I sighed at what I heard and crossed my arms.
"Okay. Get out."
He politely obeyed my cold command. I immediately picked up the pages of paper and scanned them.
Didn't he make a mistake? Is this the address?
"If that's the case, I'll be the one who'll go to this address," I decided. I turned my gaze to the drawer and pulled it out.
After about a few minutes of searching, I found it. It was Angela's photo. It looked old but the image was still clear.
Before I left the country, she handed me this photo. She gave it to me so that I would never forget about her. As for me, I handed her a ring.
Kept on thinking about the past makes me smile.
"I'm back, Angela. Just wait for me. I'm willing to search the whole damn zoo just to see you again," I whispered as I got up from my seat and immediately took my car key and left the company.