Repose

by Bart

The first time always hurt, they say.

But Nena couldn’t believe that it could hurt this bad, as the man above her mercilessly pounded away in her young body.

She bit her lip and forced the tears brimming in her eyes to stop.

This will end soon. This will end soon. She thought as the man’s hands roam around her breasts and his cigarette-stained lips brutally kiss hers.

She tried to concentrate on the pretty dancing lights in the wall and “Yakap sa Dilim” playing in the room.

For a price of 2,000 pesos, she had sold her body to this mysterious young man who wanted..maybe some fun time for his hormonal urges and she just became the sole target of his libido.

For her, it was merely an obligation. This was the only thing that was giving life to her siblings and mother. God knows how long her father has to stay in prison after being accused as a thief, which much to their chagrin, was absolutely false. They just didn’t have any money to fight those “higher” ones because filing a complaint would be very expensive.

And so, she became a prostitute or a “comforter” as she says. She knew that even if a lot of people say that it was such a dirty and immoral job for a woman, it will ease men’s burden which they have been carrying since medieval times. To be always the strong ones, they should never show their emotions like women. She will be there to understand them.

For him, this sex was the only thing he could think of to release all his pent-up frustration against his family for being abusive of their powers. Sure, he was the heir to their booming businesses but all the expectations, all the cruelty he had witnessed… he couldn’t bear it all. One incidence that left a mark on his mind was the imprisonment of an innocent man because he founded out that his father was exporting drugs.

He remembered the pleading of the old man not to be locked up because this job was the sole sustenance of his family. He was purely disgusted with the angry sneer of his father, as he watched them argue. Yet, he couldn’t do anything. He was a pathetic son, and worse, a pathetic human being.

Nena could feel hot tears streaming dropping down her face. She glanced up and saw the man crying.

“Shh.. everything will be okay.” She whispered as she planted a kiss on his forehead.

For her, it was a moment that she will forever remember. This seemingly cold young man who broke down, letting her take a peek in his humane side.

For him, it was a moment that will never happen again. Him, breaking down, above this innocent girl who he has ruined. But he relinquished in her arms and marveled at solace she emanated.

Breaths and gasps slowing down, goosebumps trailing in her arms, and their heartbeats matching for the first time.

For them, it was fleeting love at the most strangest times in this harsh world.