1: Anime Guy

ZAB

I gently slapped my face with the makeup sponge and traced my lips with the bloody red lipstick.

I smiled at my reflection and pursed my lips.

Perfect.

Agad kong hinubad ang suot na dilaw na damit, leaving my body in two piece tiny garments in golden glitters. I tapped my breasts, making sure it’s properly tucked under the flimsy fabric. Bumaba ang paningin ko sa panty, down to the garter set.

Not bad.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Wow. The groom will be aroused seeing me. Baka nga magbago ang isip niyang pakasalan ang kanyang bride. Tumalikod ako at tiningnan ang likod. Whoops, not being vain but I really love my wriggly ass.

Okay, few more minutes and I have to do my job.

The door opened at pumasok si Yna. Nagtatrabaho siya sa restobar kung saan ako madalas. Siya ang nagpasok sa akin sa trabahong ito.

“Ready, Zab?” tanong niya.

“Where’s the box?” Kaagad naman niyang kinuha ang malaking box na nakapatong sa isang platform truck. It’s a giant gift box that the groom-to-be is supposed to open. I giggled and glanced again at my reflection on the mirror.

It’s sexy dancing time!

***

Mula sa loob ng box ay rinig ko ang boses ng mga nasa stag party. I waited for the groom to open the box before I could start entertaining him. Well, not really strip dancing since I’m not going to strip. Maybe go-go dancing.

Una sa lahat, hindi naman ako maghuhubad. I just need to dance provokingly on the groom’s lap. Hindi ito ang unang raket ko na ganito. In fact, this is the third. This is just a few hours job na ang sweldo ay pang-isang buwan na ng mga empleyado. Provocative dancing is a fast-money job.

The dance lasted for a while at halos mabingi ako sa sigawan ng mga nasa stag party. Mahiyain ang groom at kahit alam kong nagagandahan siya sa akin, malabo yatang hindi matuloy ang kasal. He’s too smitten with his soon-to-be wife na kahit sa stag party niya ay puro ito ang bukambibig niya.

The party ended at past 1:30 AM for me. The boys were too drunk so I made my exit at tiyak kong hanggang umaga pa sila roon. I yawned as I counted the money I got for dancing.

Finally! Mabibili ko na ang damit na gustong-gusto ko. Last week, I was eyeing a pretty dress but hindi pasok sa budget so kailangan kong pag-ipunan.

Habang nasa taxi pauwi sa apartment, hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti sa sarili. This is the life that I want—free and exciting. Life as Elizabeth Alexis Cruiz is tough. My adoptive parents who picked me at the orphanage when I was eight were tight and too boring.

I grew up in wealthy, uptight and strict Cruiz household. Pinag-aral ako sa Christian school tapos may tutor pa sa bakasyon. No time to play. High school was no fun since my adoptive parents became more uptight as I hit adolescence.

At college, I was forced to take up a business course so I did. Nang grumaduate ako, I asked for freedom. So here I am, living in my apartment alone. I’m thankful for their kindness to me but I really wanted to be free.

I have an online job to support my living. I write articles on some sites. It was an easy job, not to mention na mabilis lamang kumita. Minsan ay rumaraket ako ng kahit ano—including stripteasing—for fun and excitement.

Hindi ko pa nagagamit ang pinag-aralan ko at wala akong balak na magtrabaho sa mga kompanya ng 8 hours sa isang araw. No fucking way. I need time for myself. I’ll work according to my own preference and I spend my own money.

Maybe not now. Saka na kung gipit na gipit na talaga at wala nang ibang paraan. I am earning high and I invested in public trading. So far, it’s doing good.

This is what freedom means to me. No required prim and proper behavior. No standard skirt length. Just free.

I yawned as I leaned my head on the cab’s window.

I was free when I turned 20—with my diploma and Summa Cum Laude degree. It made my adoptive parents proud and my freedom is the gift that I asked for. Nang umpisa ay tila ayaw nila. They said life is tough. Of course, I know that. I’m from an orphanage and the first challenge I faced in my life there is to handle mean orphans. I was mean in some way, too... but some are too mean.

Pasado alas dos na nang makarating ako sa bahay. I’m too sleepy that I have no strength to change my yellow dress above my lingerie and garter set. Kahit tanggalin ang make up ko ay hindi ko magawa. I tossed my bag on the bed and let myself fall but two knocks on the door disturbed my trip to dreamland.

Damn.

Sino sa mga kapitbahay ko ang kumatok?! I stood up, much to my annoyance, and opened the door.

"Geez, it's 2 in the morning and I'm sleepy as hell. Whoever you are, make sure it's urgent! What can I do for you?" A man in a black hooded robe came to my view. Red hairs were sticking out. My eyes traveled down to his pale hand holding a hook black umbrella. Oh, is it raining? “Man, what’s with the black hooded robe? Are you emo? And is that a hook black umbrella? What are you, Kingsman? Try folded one, mister. It’s easier to carry.”

He’s tall with pale skin and striking features. What the hell? He looks like an anime guy with his red hair. Saang anime ba siya galing?

"Elizabeth Alexis Cruz, 23 years old. Born on December 7, 1995. Died at 2:13 AM. Cause of death: heart attack. Your time is up and you can't say no to that." His voice was deep, and sexy in some way.

But what did he say? Is he on drugs? I sniffed and he doesn’t smell like alcohol. I am so familiar with alcohol so even if someone under alcohol stands a meter away from me, I can still smell it. He doesn’t seem drunk so maybe he’s on drugs. But how did he know my name?

Not the last name though and some other details.

I’m Cruiz, not Cruz.

And December 17, not 7.

Heart attack. What the hell?

Hmm... Is he so thin that’s why he’s wearing a robe? I pretended to hit his shoulder. Oh, not thin... I guess he’s muscular enough.

"Mister, what prank are you pulling? Sorry but my name is Elizabeth Alexis Cruiz, 23 years old. Born on December 17, 1995. With no heart complication and still strong as a carabao. I think you mixed me up with someone. Next time, you should be careful with spelling and typos. Have a good day, mister."

I’m too sleepy right now but it’s not everyday that a guy who looks like he leaped out of an anime film knocks on your door. Okay, that was a chance I don’t want to miss. I immediately opened my drawer, at inilabas ang NSO at driver’s license ko. I jotted down my cellphone number on a sticky note before opening the door.

The anime guy looks like he’s about to knock again.

I shoved my NSO and ID on his face. I did it with an intention of pulling his hoodie down so I can have a better view but I failed. Whoops, better luck next time.

"Proofs. Make sure you slip them back under the door after you check them, mister,” I smiled and handed him the sticky note. “And oh, here's my number. "I do hookups depending on the face and I think you passed. Call me anytime. Just make sure you don't have any sexually transmitted disease. For now, just let me sleep." I winked but anime guy didn’t even react.

Hmm... If I’m not sleepy, I would have already pulled him inside and moments later, we’ll both be naked. Too bad, sleep is everything to me more than sex and food.

When I said freedom, I tried everything that was deprived to me when I was still Elizabeth Alexis Cruiz—and that includes sex and alcohol. The lucky guy was my college crush. He’s the hottest guy in the campus so losing my first to him isn’t regretful. I was 21 and exploring my freedom. It happened once and few months after, we met again. Basically, he’s my first and second.

Last year, I met a guy at the restobar. We had sex and it was fun while it lasted. He’s boring so it never happened again.

I don’t have other sex experience aside from those two but I kissed countless guys. And none of them seems worthy to be let inside my panties. But anime guy outside could be my third guy and fourth sex.

That if he’ll call or knock again.

For now, I really need to sleep.