"Are you still a virgin?" Tomi asked suddenly.
Tyana’s hands froze mid-massage, her fingers stiffening on the man’s back. For nearly a month now, she had only been massaging one man—Tomi, the one who had saved her from the hands of sleazy customers. But lately, Tyana had started to wonder if Tomi had a different motive, though she was grateful to have stayed safe so far at the hotel spa.
She was 20 years old, without a high school diploma, and unable to retrieve it because she couldn’t afford the building and administration fees. If anyone asked, "Isn’t public school supposed to be free?" Well, not quite. When Tyana was in school, she still had to pay tuition fees and other miscellaneous charges, along with purchasing textbooks and supplementary learning materials.
Tyana carried the heavy burden of paying off her family’s debts after her parents had run away from home. Left to fend for herself and her little sister, she ended up being exploited by a neighbor who pretended to help pay off her parents’ debts, trapping her in a never-ending cycle of debt and obligation. She had been sold—or rather, forced to work—at a massage parlor disguised as a hotel spa, receiving a pittance of a salary under the guise of repaying debt and interest. Tyana couldn’t leave because her sister was being held as leverage, threatened with harm if Tyana didn’t comply. So, could she trust anyone to be truly kind? Tyana wasn’t sure the world had any kindness left for her. Yet, a small part of her wanted to believe Tomi wasn’t dangerous.
“Why so quiet, Na? Was my question too rude? Are you mad at me?” Tomi turned to face her.
He was shirtless, unbothered by their close proximity despite not knowing each other well. His neck-length hair was tied back, and his tanned skin had a rugged masculinity to it. Tyana had gotten used to touching his upper body over the past month, even though her massages were basic and untrained. But she knew that a place like this didn’t require much skill or seriousness.
Tomi suddenly turned around and leaned back on the massage chair, smiling as he looked at Tyana, who was clearly flustered by his unexpected question. Usually, Tomi just joked around, chatted about light topics, or vented about his work.
“Why do you ask? I only see you when you come here. The rest of the time, I’m just cleaning in the back,” Tyana replied, her voice tinged with sadness as she met his gaze.
Did he see her as cheap just because she worked in a place like this? Tyana didn’t want to be here and would run away if she could. Her eyes glistened with tears, her frustration growing as she considered how uncomfortable her uniform was. If it weren’t for Tomi, she would have already been devoured by the predatory men who frequented this place.
Tomi gently stroked Tyana’s head. “I was just asking, Na. Don’t be mad. I just want to make sure you’re safe. Remember how we first met? I didn’t do anything inappropriate, did I? In fact, I liked you right away and wanted to keep coming back just to see you. I’m sorry I can’t do more for you right now, but if I had more money, I’d help you get out of here,” Tomi said softly.
Was the reason he kept coming here because he’d fallen for her at first sight? No way! He must just feel sorry for her. But then again, aren’t all men the same? They’re good with words and love to sweet-talk women for their own gain.
“Thank you.”
Tomi nodded slightly. “It’s such a shame that a beautiful girl like you is stuck in a place like this. I don’t know the details of your situation, but after looking into your eyes for so long… I’ve started writing songs more easily. I’m serious,” Tomi admitted.
His hand moved slowly to her cheek, caressing her face and gently brushing her forehead. Then, without warning, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Was this allowed? They had known each other for a few months now and had grown somewhat close. Tyana knew she shouldn’t expect more because of the many differences between them, but she couldn’t deny that she secretly felt happy whenever Tomi showed up.
The kiss lingered, drawing Tyana in until her eyes fluttered shut, lost in the moment. His lips were cool and soft against her skin, and his stubble tickled her, adding to the sweetness of the kiss that lasted a few moments longer. When Tyana finally opened her eyes, she was relieved to realize they had some privacy, thanks to the partitions between the massage areas.
“Sorry.” Tomi cleared his throat, taking a sip of water from the glass on the table.
Tyana couldn’t bring herself to look Tomi in the eye. She felt awkward and unsure, even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. Tomi had acted on his own, leaving her embarrassed and curious about whether he had deeper feelings for her.
“I like your smile, Na. Didn’t I tell you? You’re my inspiration for writing songs. Do you know how frustrated I was before I met you? The deadlines kept getting closer, and I couldn’t force myself to work without peace of mind,” Tomi confessed.
Tyana blinked in surprise at his words. Tomi sounded sincere, and she didn’t know how to respond. Her heart pounded harder than usual because no man had ever said something like that to her before. She felt valued, a stark contrast to how she had been treated as an object in the past.
“Could we be more than this? I need you,” Tomi said, reaching for her hand.
“But, I—I…” Tyana stammered, her mind racing.
“Be my girlfriend. I’ll get you out of here as soon as possible. Please, Na,” Tomi pleaded.
Since Tyana didn’t respond, Tomi took the opportunity to hold her hand and gently kiss it. Tonight, Tyana’s heart was under siege. She didn’t dare imagine what the future might hold, but she had to admit she liked Tomi.
“Be my muse. It’s been so long since I’ve fallen in love,” Tomi said, kissing the back of her hand.
“Sir,” Tyana called out hesitantly.
“Yes?”
“It’s more complicated than you think.”
“Trust me, I can help you. I promise,” Tomi replied without hesitation.
Then, Tomi pulled Tyana into his embrace, holding her tightly. He kissed the top of her head lovingly. Tyana began to cry softly, overwhelmed by the burdens she carried. If this relationship turned out to be a mistake, she didn’t care anymore. She, too, wanted to be loved as a woman.
 
~ The End ~