Chapter 2
1265 Words
"You will be spending a night with my employer. After you give birth, she will take the child from you. You won't be at a loss because she will pay you a significant amount," she explained.
I couldn't determine whether the arrival of the elderly stranger in front of me could be considered a blessing.
I've been praying for a miracle to happen, but I don't know if this can be considered a miracle.
I'm desperately in need of money, but can I handle what she's offering?
What if the offer brings me harm?
I don't know how many minutes I've been in a daze because of what she said. She cleared her throat and spoke gently.
"What can you say, dear? Are you going to accept it?" she asked.
Whether I'll accept or not, that's the only choice for her question, but I couldn't think straight.
The old lady smiled and gently held my hand.
"I won't rush you to answer. I'll give you a day to think. Tomorrow, after lunch, I'll come back to know your decision." I remained silent. I was confused.
"Think carefully, my dear. I chose to approach you first because I knew you needed it," she said before standing up.
"You're lucky because I offered this to you first."
She patted my shoulder and bid farewell.
One million. That's a huge amount. With that money, I can get Amanda treated, and we'll even have capital for a small business.
But can I give myself to a stranger? Not only that, I also need to get pregnant.
"Hey! I've been looking for you since earlier!"
"I was startled by Lily's sudden appearance beside me.
"Oh. What happened to you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I shook my head slowly.
"Go to sleep. You seem to be spacing out again. I'll take care of your sister."
When she still couldn't get an answer from me, she slapped my arm.
"Ouch!" I rubbed my arm.
"You've been lost in thought for a while now. I told you to fight on and not give up, or else you'll really go crazy."
People were looking at us. My friend's mouth is really embarrassing.
I pulled her out of the canteen and out of the hospital.
I took her to the benches under the acacia tree.
"Why did you bring me here?" my friend asked, puzzled.
I carefully looked around first, just to make sure there was no one else who might hear what I was about to say.
"I have something to tell you," I said, and I pulled her to sit beside me.
"What is it?" she asked, looking at me curiously. "
"You know someone who works at a bar, right?" I asked her with her eyes wide open.
"Why?" she asked hysterically.
"I'm asking you, and your response is also a question," I replied irritably.
"Oh, I have one. And what are you planning to do, huh?" She gave me a sharp look.
"I'm desperate, Lily." My eyes welled up with tears again, and her face immediately softened. She hugged me.
"Help me out. Ask around your contacts if anyone can pay a lot for me in exchange for one night. Tell them I'm still a virgin."
My friend fell silent for a few seconds.
"Please, Lily," I pleaded with her.
"Alright. I'll ask, but if it's not worth the trouble, don't bother continuing. What possessed you to think of that?"
"Don't be surprised, okay?"
She nodded. "Someone approached me earlier and offered me to spend the night—"
"Oh my! How much?!" she interrupted me. I hit her on the arm again because of how loud she was.
"One million," I almost whispered in response.
"One million? And you think that's too little? You'd rather work at a bar and become a prostitute?" I rolled my eyes at what she said.
"Please let me finish my story," I replied irritably.
"One million in exchange, then I'll engage in intercourse and get pregnant."
Just like my reaction earlier, she also fell silent. After a moment, she looked at me and seemed to think for a while.
"But no one can pay a million for one night in exchange for your virginity, girl!"
"I know that; it doesn't have to be a million. Just enough money for Amanda's operation. Something I don't have to get pregnant for."
She sighed, and when she understood my point, she nodded and took out her cellphone.
"I'll just ask first, then we'll see how much the offer is."
I'm already nervous right now. I'm nervous about whatever the outcome of what I'm going to do will be.
For my sibling, I'll do anything.
"What if they can only offer a low amount? Lily asked after sending a message to her acquaintance.
I sadly turned to her.
"I will accept your initial offer. I need an immediate response from your contact, as the old man only gave me until tomorrow noon."
I'm saddened that, due to the hardships in our lives, I've come to this point. But I guess I'm still fortunate because I can still do something for my sister's surgery rather than watch them suffer due to illness. I can't bear to lose a loved one again. She's the only family I have left.
"Lily replied," she said with a furrowed brow as she read the message from her acquaintance, who works at the club.
"He said he needs to see you first to determine if he can sell you for a high price."
I sighed and nodded slowly. Our appointment with Lily's acquaintance was set for six in the evening. She would accompany me to the bar, so I would ask her sister to look after Amanda while we were gone.
"I was very nervous while putting on the dress we borrowed from Lily's neighbor.
I knew what I was planning to do was wrong, so I asked God for forgiveness in advance and prayed that everything would go smoothly so that Amanda could be operated on soon."
"I just kept quiet while a fifty-year-old woman was scrutinizing me with her gaze. Her curly hair was red, and she had thick makeup on. Her nails were also red, and her fingers were adorned with sparkling rings.
I winced every time she took a drag of her cigarette."
"Are you sure you're still a virgin?" She asked with a persistent tone. She had asked this several times, even though I had previously told her I was still a virgin. Never been kissed or touched.
"Okay, just wait here, alright? When my big-time customer comes, I'll offer you to him," she instructed while scrutinizing me closely, from head to toe and even my back and both sides.
When the old woman that they were calling "mamang" left the dressing room, Lily, who had been restless beside me, finally spoke. It seemed like she was even more nervous than I was.
"Are you really sure you can handle this?"
"Don't be nervous over there; I'm getting even more nervous because of you."
"What if the person Mamang is talking about is old?"
Her words made me think, so I quickly prayed that the person wouldn't be old.
"What if he's ugly, bald, or has a big belly?"
I gave her a stern look because her words were no longer helping.
"Could you stomach that? You might throw up just by touching him."
"Stop it, Lily. I'm already nervous as it is."
She sighed and raised her hand, signaling that she would stop bothering me.
- Writer
