I surveyed the whole crowd from where I was standing on the second floor of the La Vida club, a famous brothel frequented by men of high social status who are looking for high-class prostitutes, escorts and the highlight of them all-the virgins.
Nakaumbaw ako, ang isang kamay ay nakahawak sa railings samantalang ang isa ay may hawak na kopitang naglalaman ng Teso La Monja, a famous brand of wine imported from Spain.
Inoobserbahan ko ang paligid. I'm looking for someone among the throng of men seated on the high chairs worthy of herself. I'm searching for someone different other than these men who shamelessly lust at her.
Not that I'm complaining. Kung tutuusin, wala na akong hahanapin pa sa mga lalaking umaaaligid sa akin ngayon. All of them are filthy rich. CEO's, politicians, athletes, name any rich guy and you will definitely find him here.
When it comes to physical appearance, wala kang itatapon. Recently nga ay naging tagahanga ko rin ang isang model from the Middle East who was dubbed as the most handsome in the world. He was deported from his country dahil hindi na makapag-concentrate ang female population doon kapag nakikita siya. He even bid me a million dollars but I turned down his offer only because I did not feel anything for him.
For my current position now, hindi na dapat uso ang feelings but I am Femella Alcantara, the queen of all the "nymphs" as they all call us. Just like how the great Zeus desire these Greek creatures, so does these men below her will do anything, bet anything to get a taste of us na para bang isang produkto kami sa merkado na lantarang inilalako ang sarili.
Kung ang iba ay talino at kasipagan ang binebenta, kami dito ay katawan ang kinakalakal. Some boast their skills in academic fields but here, we go down and show these guys our bed skills. We hold them in the palm of our hands and play at them. Every moan, gasp and cry of pleasures are music to our ears.
I have all the options in the world. Walang makakapilit sa'kin para ibigay ang sarili ko sa lalaki unless I find him worthy. One of the perks of bearing this surname.
"What are you doing here, pretty? The bidding will about to start in an hour from now and yet hindi ka pa nakaayos," sabi ng isang tinig sa likuran ko. Tumabi ang nagmamay-ari ng boses sa akin at kinuha ang wine goblet mula sa kamay ko.
Inagaw ko uli ang kopita sa bading at tinungga ito. My eyes went back to the men below. "Please let me be, Chino. Hindi ka na nasanay sa akin. I always do this every auction."
"Hinahanap mo pa rin ba siya? My, my dear Femella, kailan ka ba titigil diyan sa mga pamahiin mo? You are restricting yourself from tasting all these delicious men with big and equally delectable dicks for what? Para diyan sa mga superstitious beliefs mo? Kaloka ka teh!" Pumilantik ang mahaba at makulay na kuko nito sa ere.
"I know, I know my dear. I know I'm pathetic. You don't have to stress it because I myself is aware of it. But Chino, I can smell it in the air. Malapit na siyang dumating. Naaamoy ko na siya. Konting hintay na lang at makikilala ko na rin ang lalaking deserve ang freshness at tightness ko." Sinabayan ko ng seductive na tawa para mas convincing.
Nakita kong pinaikot nito ang mga mata. "Bahala ka na nga sa buhay mo. Wala na akong pakialam kung matuyo man iyang kipay mo at 'di na mag-produce ng mayonnaise. Sige ka! Ikaw rin ang magsisisi sa huli."
Tuluyan na akong tumawa dahil sa sinabi niya. "'Wag kang mag-alala, girl scout ako. I always bring something in case my rebellious pussy starts to act up. And besides, bakla, resourceful at creative ako, I still have my saliva!"
Sabay kaming naghagalpakan ng tawa ni Chino. Nag-apiran pa kaming dalawa.
"Ay, witty ka Femella! Iba ka talaga. Kung 'di ko lang alam na never been kissed at never been touched ka pa, walang maniniwalang mas fresh ka pa sa bagong huling isda girlalu! Para kang hindi virgin kung magsalita!"
"Ah, stop it! There you go with your double standards again! Kapag ba virgin, automatic nang mahinhin agad? Kailangan ko na bang magsuot ng Maria Clara at mag-abaniko para patunayan sa lahat na virgin pa ako? And what's with that thinking? Iniiisip ba nilang lahat ng virgin ay bobo and demure na hindi marunong mag-Google? Girl, stop saying that please! 'Wag mong ipahiya ang pederasyon natin boklo!" tili ko.
"Eto naman! Reaction paper agad. Oo na. Sorry na. Ikaw na ang modern woman. Ikaw na ang woman of the world," pagsuko nito.
"Uh-uh. May nakalimutan ka."
"Ano?"
"I'm not just a woman of the world. In fact, I call myself a hooker of the world."
"Weh? At bakit?"
Tiningala ko ang grand chandelier sa kisame na kumikislap dahil sa ilaw na nakabukas at sa mga mamahaling batong nakapaligid dito.
"Because life fucks me big time," mahina kong sabi.
"Ay! Fafa ko! Femella! Dumating na ang araw-araw na nagpapalaglag ng Victoria's Secret na panty ko! Girl, tingnan mo dali!" ani ni Chino na hindi na pinansin ang sinabi ko.
Animoy maghahahyper-ventilate na si Chino sa kakasigaw. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang tinuturo nito. Napaismid ako.
Here comes the most difficult and arrogant guy I ever know-none other than the great Maverick Fuentebella, the infamous business tycoon and a hotel magnate.
"Girl! Mahihiya ang mga artista dito sa Pinas sa kaguwapuhan ni Fafa Maverick ko! Panis iyang mga models and hunk actors na naglipana kahit saan. Ewan ko ba sa iyo at nakakaya mo pang tanggihan ang mukha at katawang iyan! And don't forget to look at the thing between his legs! Girl, sobra ka pa sa panalo kapag natikman mo siya!"
"Can you please stop sexualizing every man you see, Chino?"
At the back of my mind, I can't help but notice all he's pointing out about the virile man who is just meters from us. He's gracefully walking through groups of people wearing that certain air of confidence on his shoulders. Damn, the man got undeniable charms.
He's wearing a casual jeans and black shirts underneath the black leather jacket paired with Versace sneakers. Nakita kong tinanggal nito ang suot na jacket at isinampay sa sandalan ng high chair leaving me a view of his muscular arms. Those strong arms would surely make a perfect heat pack during cold seasons. He's hot. Period.
When I first met Maverick during an auction, I thought he earned those muscles from going to the gym and working out just like most of the men here. I only get to know the truth when Chino told me about Maverick's way of things. Mr. Fuentebella is a daredevil. He does dangerous stuff for entertainment. He likes rock climbing, drag racing, off-road activities and the likes. I also heard he's into military trainings these days. No wonder he looks so fit and oh so yummy.
"O, punasan mo'ng laway mo. Tumutulo na," buska sa akin ni Chino.
"Sira. I'm just admiring his physique, that's all," defensive kong sagot.
"Gaga ka kasi. Bakit mo pa kasi pinakawalan ang pagkakataong makaisa kay fafa! Girl, dadalhin ka na nga sa langit, babayaran ka pa ng milyones."
"Kagaya rin siya ng ibang mga lalaking nag-alok sa akin ng kaparehong bagay. In fact, mas mataas pa nga ang bid sa'kin ni Senator Velasco kompara sa kaniya. So why should I pick him over those men? Tell me Chino. Ano ba ang pinagkaiba niya sa ibang lalaki? He's just like all of them."
"Isn't that what you came here for, Femella girl? You are here to sell yourself so bakit ka nagrereklamo? Alam mo na ang pinasok mo the moment na pumirma ka sa kontrata. You better swallow hard because there's no turning back, pretty girl," paalala ni Chino.
Nagkibit'balikat ako. "You think I don't know that? Of course alam ko ang pinasok ko. As I've said earlier, naghihintay lang ako ng tamang panahon, ng tamang lalaki na pagbibigyan ko ng lahat. Come to think of it, hindi ako kailanman pinilit ng boss natin na pumili na ng lalaki gaya ng ibang virgins dito. You know why? Kasi I have become an attraction in this big precious club.
Mientras na tumatanggi ako ay mas tumataas pa ang value ko bilang nymph. Men continue to flock this venue to take a look at me, entice me with their money and then try to lure me in their beds. It has become more of like a challenge, a kind of thrill these men are very willing to take head on at alam lahat niyan ni boss. She's a businessman for a reason, Chino and as far as I'm seeing, she's loving every second of it."
Makahulugan akong tumingin sa bar area ng club kung saan nakaupo ang boss namin at may kausap na bouncer. She's signalling the start of the program.
"Minsan Femella no, naiisip kong hindi ka nababagay dito. You're too intelligent for this industry. Para kang diamond in the rough. Bakit 'di ka pa umalis dito para maghanap ng ibang hanapbuhay? I'm sure makakahanap ka ng iba pang industriya other than this."
"Why? What's wrong with being in the sex industry? Why would I leave when I know I'm good at this? Seducing billionaire men is quite of a job, Chino."
"Oo nga no. Sabagay, mas malaki pa ang kinikita mo rito kaysa sa mga propesyunal na nagpapakahirap sa kaniya-kaniyang trabaho," sang-ayon nito.
"Nah, no need for comparison. I salute all of them. May kaniya-kaniya tayong role na ginagampanan sa sistemang ito."
Bumalik ang tingin ko sa ibaba. Hindi ko namalayang parang may magnet na humihila sa mga mata ko pabalik sa direksiyon ni Maverick. Pumitlag ang puso ko nang makitang nakatingin din ito sa akin. He grinned and winked at me.
Itinaas ko nang bahagya ang kopita bilang pagbati.
"But be honest with me, pretty. You are attracted to him the first time he approached you. Naturn-off ka lang doon sa way of proposal niya."
"Hmmmm." I shrugged my shoulders and turned my back.
"Come Chino. Help me get dressed. The queen's about to claim her throne again."
"Ay bongga!"