Oh no, trouble ahead!

When was the last time I had time for myself?

When was the last time I relax and didn't think about what to do next?

I don't remember anything.

All I know, from the moment I opened my eyes that day, I need to do something.

I need to get my life back together.

I need to stop being weak and letting fear get the best out of me.

It's like an ideology that was embedded in my mind. I need to think before I do something. I should get up and stand on my own feet.

It's like at first I was a blank piece of paper. But after that fateful day, all I can remember is...

I need to change. I was full of color the minute I open my eyes that there's no more room for another to add on that once a blank piece of paper.

I was in a trance while going to my third job while riding a bus. When I came into the bar, I can hear the voices of different people and the loud music. I go to the back door through the dressing for the employees and even walk past some of my co-workers, busy getting cases of drinks and some ice.

"JL, where have you been?" Janna came into the dressing room while I am unpacking and getting to dress for my shift.

"Sorry, I'm late. I'll be there soon," I said while taking off my shoes. This is the one thing I hate the most, being late. I've never been late, maybe once or twice but I have a reason for it. I don't want this feeling of hurrying and catching my breath to get ready. It's exhausting.

"Sir Chris is waiting for you. Just go straight to him after you finish, okay?"

I just nod and Janna left me in the dressing room. I lock the door and get my uniform in my backpack. In a matter of minutes, I'm ready and I just put on some light makeup. Coral dusky nude lipstick, some orange blush, wearing my yellow collar shirt with a black apron that I tied on my waist and I'm ready to go.

Once I got out of the dressing room, I walk past a lot of people; some are dancing, others having a conversation with a friend, and I can see a lot of people flirting. I try to excuse myself because the bar is jampacked and it's not even 10 pm. And there I saw my boss his two arms resting on the bar looking hot as he can be. I can't help but notice a little of his chest because the two buttons on his navy blue long-sleeve polo shirt are loose. The sleeves on it are folded up to his elbow, black pants that showcase his height and I can see a lot of ladies drooling over him. I shake my head in dismay. If they only knew.

I walk towards the bar counter but stop midway and hide amongst the customers. There's a lot of girls sitting in front of it and I know they are talking about Chris. He is in the center and there are two empty chairs on both his sides. He is allergic to women, that's what he said to me. I can see he's looking here and there, scanning the area. I want to tease him and never let him see me first. There's a lot of tall guys here and because of my height, he cannot spot me. But his radar eyes catch mine, he squints a little trying to see if it is me. I want to run to play games with my boss, but I decided to walk towards him.

When I'm in front of him, he puts both his hands on his waist and looks at me seriously. "Why are you late?" He even tilts his head to the side. Oh no. His voice gave him away. A lot of girls get out of the bar counter because they now knew they will never a chance to be my boss's boyfriend.

"Traffic," I plainly said.

He smiles at me and puts his hands on my shoulders. "I've been waiting for you, bestie! Those girls are trying to flirt with me," His voice is a combination of a child complaining to his mother about the kids who bully him and a teenage boy going through puberty. Imagine the horror. I feel sorry for those girls, I mean I don't. I feel sorry for my heart. When I first met him, I had a crush on him. Because I like his eyes when he smiles, it's getting smaller and his arched eyebrows when he raises one of them is cute or maybe it's just me.

"You can't blame them, Chris. You look handsome," I retort with a smile. I can be straightforward towards him. And he doesn't like me calling him sir Chris, because he said he's not even that old. He is like Rick but way more playful and talkative sometimes or rather most of the time.

"I don't! I look marvelous, don't you think?" He said with a pout on his face. Oh no. I facepalm on my mind. I don't have any issue with homosexuals, honestly, I love them. But you can't blame me for wishing that my boss should have been straight. I just regret it. His line will never continue. I can't help but be disappointed.

"Yeah, yeah you look gorgeous tonight." I wave my hand and roll my eyes after.

He snaps his fingers in front of my face. "Hey! Don't you roll your eyes at me! I'm still your boss you know," I wish he would not have done that. We got a lot of attention after but he doesn't care.

"Did I say you're not?" I cross my arms.

"No. And before I forget, you're late. It will be deducted from your salary." He said earnestly.

"Yeah, yeah, I know... grandpa," I whisper the last word I said.

"What did you say?" he raises an eyebrow.

"I'll handle the VIP lounge, tonight right? I'll go now," I lean towards his face and whisper in his right ear "grandpa."

I saw his wide eyes and can't help but laugh while running towards the 2nd floor. I can hear my boss calling my name, and I laugh at him. "Hey! Jedi- You- Come back here! Jedielle!"

I knew it. He will still react the same way. I used to call him a lot of family names or even nicknames. And if I call him grandpa, he knows that I'm telling him he's old. I just like to tease him now and then. His reactions are a must-show for me.

Before I can even reach the second floor, I even walk past some guys and girls flirting on the stairs that I have to excuse myself so I can reach the lounge. Chris's bar is in demand that a lot of our customers are VIP. The privacy and security of this place is the reason for our customers to go back to.

I've seen a lot of faces that are respected in our society today that come here now and then. Even if I don't have much information on the showbiz industry, I need to study the faces of the different kinds of people I meet. Unfortunately, only that Zander is the exception that I didn't know.

One time way back when I was still new in my job here, I have a glimpse of the news and saw a politician that was in the bar the other night. He was giving a speech at an event that he was invited to. And no one knows that he had gotten in a fight with another politician. They almost punch each other but their security and our own here stop them before they can even start. I hear some of the remarks and words that came out of that politician. And I hate it. I thought that he's smart but when the booze kick in, he's not himself. He can't handle his alcohol. Their much-heated fight didn't appear in the news.

If someone saw how arrogant and foul his mouth is, no one will want to listen to him. When I saw him, his smile was captivating and his kind gesture to the people who greeted him made me realize that no one knows the real him. I never want to do anything with politics anyway. And I don't care about anyone's life except my own and family. Not one piece of information goes out when a VIP comes here to drink. If something happens, it will stay just inside this establishment. If one of our customers leaks a piece of information, our boss Chris handles it all the time. And I don't know how he does it. I wish I knew because he is so awesome.

All of the dimly lighted lounges are full. The long couches can't even accommodate all of the customers because most of them are making out and with the armrest on each side there's a girl seating there. I shake my head in disbelief. This is going to be a long night. I walk past some of my co-workers that handing out drinks and some food to the VIP. I can even hear laughing, constant talking, and girls giving flirting remarks. That's what I call the code name for sex.

I decided to go to the far-end lounge because some of my co-workers signaled me to go there. We have hand signals that we use when there's a difficult customer that one of my colleagues doesn't want to handle. And this time, it's my turn.

I reach the VIP lounge with customers making out, constant talking but most girls are on top of a guy. I want to look away but I need to get their orders.

I clear my throat to get all their attention. "Ehem! Good evening Ma'am, Good evening Sir, what are your orders?" I even give them a faint smile even if I am a bit uncomfortable with what I am seeing.

But they didn't look at me and continue what they are doing. One guy stands up and looks at me. "Hey miss, what's your name?" He held out his hand but I left him hanging. I can see that he is tipsy and I don't want to deal with him.

I walk back a little and ask again. "What are your orders?"

The guy is persistent and walks a little bit closer to me. "Miss, can I order you?"

When I look at him, he has nice features and I can't get his skin color because of the different lights inside the bar. But when he opens his mouth, that's a big turn-off.

I hear him clearly but I don't want to waste my time with him. "Are you guys going to order or not? Because if you don't, I'll just come back when you're ready to order." It’s not that easy for me to show this side of me, frank. But having a job here made me realize that to handle these kinds of customers, I need to be brave and strong enough to face him or them.

Again, no one responded. I look at the man beside me and his smile is creepy. "Let them have their fun. If they don't want to order, I'll just order you."

He's quite tall and if I'm not dealing with a more intimidating aura like my elder brother Kuya Vince, I'll be scared of him. I think I'll thank him for being who he is because now, I can stand up to this guy.

I cross my arms and used my penetrating gaze that says 'I don't like you,' and 'Get out of my face.'

"This bar is decent and I don't know how did you get inside. Back off, jerk. The way you behave is making this place look cheap." I used a condescending tone because his rudeness made me want to let my straightforwardness come out.

I saw how his reaction change to cool, arrogant, and now to smirking. Oh no. I think I know where this is going.

"I like feisty girls. Come with me," he is trying to flirt with me but it will never work. I didn't expect what happened next. He held my left arm with his right hand, and I can't get out of it. He's quite strong. I use my right arm for him to let go but he squeezes my left arm hard.

"Let me go! This bar doesn't have any prostitutes," I am wincing through the pain because his grip is so tight. "I don't even know you and I don't want to know!" I am shouting at him because I want to get the attention of anyone. He is dragging me away from the lounge. I walk past a lot of people but they are still doing their own thing. No one wants to help me. They are still flirting and making out. I think the most effective way for him to stop.

I gather my courage and took a deep breath and did the unthinkable.

SLAP!