Protecting What's Hers

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Felicity Alvarez

"Lakas ng kita natin ngayon ah?" Aby gave me a wide smile after my performance.

I fish the bundle of money that the customer tucked inside my lingerie at ipinatong ito sa maliit na bag na siyang nilalagyan namin ng kita every performance namin.

Hindi ko maiwasan mapangiti when I saw some of the money fell dahil umaapaw ito sa dami. "Maganda ba?"

"Approve na approve. Bet some of the gentlemen here will try to persuade you again to spend a night." Naiiling na sabi niya.

"And you know what to tell them, Aby. I'm not interested." She waved her hand, blowing me a kiss before I pushed myself out of the counter at dumerecho na ng dressing area.

I entered my passcode at inilagay ang mga gamit ko but a picture fell down at agad ko iyon pinulot. It was a picture of me performing, legs spread and not just one, but a lot of it. Iba ibang performance ko iyon and mas lalong ako kinabahan when I saw the last picture. I know it was just taken recently, no, it was taken kanina lang.

Same lingerie, same set on the stage.

Mabilis na tinulak ko ang sarili palabas ng dressing room at tumungo sa gitna ng dance floor. I roam my eyes on the surroundings, hoping that I'll get a glimpse of something suspicious.

Pero ang tanging naaaninag ko lang ay yung mga tao sumasayaw sa gitna. Muli kong tinitigan ang litrato and analyze the picture taken. Agad na tumaas ang tingin ko sa VIP section sa section floor kung saan doon lang pwedi kunan ang ganitong angle.

Makikita na mataas ang pinangkunan. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko when I saw a person quickly turned around and pushed his self towards the waves of people.

"Wait." I shouted but my voice drowned in the blasting music.

Itinaas nito ang hoodie sa ulo at mabilis na lumabas ng emergency exit kaya't mas pinabilis ko din ang pagsiksik.

I am aware that chasing him would be extremely risky. The only one I thought suspicious was him, and I don't want to conclude.

No, no, that must be him right?

But I'm still too late. The only thing that greeted me when I bust the door open is the deserted street at ang lalagyan ng basura sa gilid. There's no sign of any person.

Halos mapamura ako dahil dito. I knew it was him. Bakit siya tatakas kung hindi siya diba?

Bagsak ang balikat akong naglakad pabalik sa dressing room at dali dali nag bihis ng jacket na siyang pinaresan ko jogger.

"Oh bat parang namumutla ka yata?" I slumped down the chair on the bar counter.

"Nothing, Aby. Sa pagod lang siguro ito." I tried to hide my concern with a smile and I know Aby got the hint that I don't want to talk about what's bothering me.

I know Sid, our boss, already strengthens the security within the area yet still, nakakahanap parin ng paraan ang taong iyon to stalk me.

I cannot resist the chill that runs down my spine at the prospect of someone being obsessed with me. Obsessed with my stripper persona, Kira.

"Hoy, sigurado kang ayos ka lang?"

Immediately, I nod my head and brought the cup's rim to my lips, taking a big gulp to calm my anxiety.

"I' am Aby, don't you worry."

"You should go home and rest, may pasok ka pa bukas." Agad kong niligpit ang mga gamit at isinikbit ang bag sa braso bago nag paalam sa katrabaho.