"I'm Tomi. You can call me whatever you like. What's your name? How old are you?" The man was now lying on his side, waiting for Tyana to join him.
"Tyana, 20 years old."
"Never done this before?" Tomi sat up, reaching for the ashtray to tap off his cigarette ash.
Tyana hesitated, swallowing hard out of nervousness. That question was clearly inappropriate for a first meeting, but given where they were, maybe it was a typical one. Still, it made Tyana, who was so inexperienced, uncomfortable. Then again, what else could she expect in a place like this?
"No answer, huh? So that means 'yes.' Alright then..." Tomi chuckled softly, amused by Tyana's shyness.
"Yes, Sir."
"Tyana, after tonight, you'll still be the same Tyana. I won't do anything to you. Come on, sit with me and talk for a bit. My patience is wearing thin, and I'm starting to get bored waiting for you. I promise... whatever you're worried about, it won't happen." Tomi grinned after saying this.
He patted the empty space on the bed beside him. Tyana hesitated, but she was here to be with him. She hoped his promise wasn't just empty words. Finally, she walked over to the other side of the bed, covered in a gray bedspread.
The man did nothing to frighten Tyana. Instead, they ended up talking. Tomi shared how his work had begun to feel tiresome, how he’d lost his creative spark, and how he found himself here looking for some sort of escape. But instead, he met a 20-year-old girl who was so inexperienced that he couldn't help but feel sorry for her.
Tyana listened quietly, acting as a confidante. Even so, she wasn't all that curious about Tomi's personal life; all she really wanted was to disappear from this place.
"How did you end up here, Na?" Tomi asked as he lit his second cigarette.
"I have to pay off a debt. I was forced to work here, or else my sister would get hurt by the madam," Tyana replied, her voice heavy with sadness.
Tomi nodded, his brow furrowing. He probably felt even more pity for Tyana’s situation. "It's such a waste. You’re really pretty, you know? You should be in commercials instead of satisfying sleazy men. I’m not in the mood either, just frustrated because I can’t write any songs."
"Thank goodness I ended up with you tonight. Who knows what might have happened if it was someone else," Tyana admitted.
"I'm not that great a guy, but next time I come here, I’ll request you again, okay? That way, it’s a win-win solution."
Tyana could only manage a small, forced smile. Men were unpredictable; they often said one thing and meant another, so she didn’t want to get her hopes up. After that, Tomi let out a deep sigh, clearly weighed down by his own thoughts. Then, he lay back down and closed his eyes, leaving Tyana feeling uncertain. She should have felt relieved that Tomi came here just to talk.
"Want to hear a funny story?" Tomi opened his eyes again.
"A funny story?"
"Yeah, a while ago, I had a huge snake crawl into my bed. Still gives me chills when I think about it!" He showed her the tiny hairs standing up on his arm.
Tyana couldn’t help but laugh, and Tomi continued his story. It started with him staying up all night trying to write, getting frustrated, and finally deciding to sleep before he made himself sick from exhaustion.
"See? You can laugh too. You've been frowning, Na," Tomi teased.
Tyana touched her cheeks, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It's just... I still don’t completely trust you."
"Oh, I understand. Sometimes talking to a stranger can be more comforting," Tomi said, still lying down.
Tyana fell silent, unsure of how to respond. She had never been in bed with a man before. Tomi got up, looking at Tyana for a long moment before smiling slightly. He stood up and started putting on his sneakers, which made Tyana panic. She was afraid she had somehow made him leave early.
"Sir, where are you going?" Tyana asked.
Tomi let out a small sigh, looking slightly bored as he glanced at her. He shook his head, then pulled out his wallet. "This is for you, Na. Until next time," Tomi said, handing her a few bills.
"What’s this for, Sir?" Tyana asked, confused.
"Don’t worry, it’s not stolen money. Just take it," Tomi reassured her, but when she hesitated, he pressed the money into her hand.
"B-but..."
"No buts. From now on, you’re my friend. I’ll come back to see you."
Tomi walked towards the door, ready to leave. Tyana stood there, still in shock, watching him with utter confusion. Tomi disappeared, true to his word, not laying a hand on her.
Tyana looked at the four hundred thousand rupiah in her hand. She placed it on the bed, staring at it blankly. It was half of what she earned at the laundry. For some people, it seemed, that amount was nothing. The realization surprised her.
***
Three hours had passed since Tyana’s encounter with the man named Tomi. Now, she was in the bathroom, washing an endless pile of towels. After Tomi left, Tyana had been reassigned to the back to clean laundry and dirty towels. Apparently, Tomi had paid to ensure she didn’t have to serve any more customers, so she was moved to cleaning duty.
Suddenly, a wet towel was thrown at her head, nearly making Tyana slip on the slick bathroom floor. Slowly, she picked up the towel and tossed it into the dirty laundry bin. After all, she was the new girl here and often got picked on by the others.
"What did you do to the VIP? To make him pay in full and turn you into Mami's Golden Child? You’re smart, huh? You little slut!" a shrill voice said.
Tyana turned around, feeling fearful. Bunga stood in the doorway, arms crossed. Tyana didn’t know her well, but she knew Bunga was the most popular woman with the customers. Tyana had heard rumors from the other staff. The VIP they were referring to must have been Tomi.
"I just—" Tyana’s words were cut off as Bunga slapped her.
Smack!
"Just what? Acting like a flirty little tramp?" Bunga accused.
Tears welled up in Tyana’s eyes as her cheeks burned from the slap. She bit her lip, trying to hold back her tears. She quickly left the bathroom, unable to bear the humiliation. She ran out of that disgusting place, finally getting into the elevator, hoping to reach the ground floor as soon as possible.
Honestly, she never wanted to be here if it weren’t for Sarah being held hostage. Her sister was the only reason she had agreed to come. Tyana couldn’t go to the police because of the threats, and she didn’t dare tell anyone she knew for fear of making things worse. She didn’t want to drag anyone else into her misery.
Tyana kept running without a destination, bumping into anyone who crossed her path, not caring even when she got cursed at a few times. This was too painful. If only she had a bit of luck, none of this would have happened.
Thud!
Suddenly, someone grabbed her shoulder, stopping her. Tyana tried to break free but it was no use.
"Let go!" Tyana shouted.
Tears streamed down her face as she struggled, but her hands were firmly held. Tyana looked up to see who had stopped her, and her eyes widened in recognition. Tomi!
"Na, what’s wrong?" Tomi asked.
Tyana thought Tomi had left long ago, but here he was, still lingering in the area. The breeze tousled his slightly long hair, revealing the faint stubble on his chin. Tyana’s heart fluttered at the sound of his smooth, gentle voice. It sounded so full of concern for her. When was the last time someone worried about her like this? Or had it never happened?
Before she could answer, Tomi pulled her into his arms. Reassuring words flowed from his lips, making her cry even harder.