"What shall you do, Alex? We are right here for you," Leo's voice was soothing in the silence of the room. Alex's eyes, glazed with a mixture of fatigue and determination, suddenly sparked with resolve. "I will run away. I don't have a visa anyway. I need to find Serenity," he declared, the words emerging as a desperate plea from the confines of his current life. Mel, with a furrowed brow, voiced the unspoken question that lingered in the room. "But where will you stay?" Her concern wrapped around him. "I'll find a new job in another city," Alex replied, his voice firm. Mel chimed in, "Well, we will come with you. We will run away together." Leo seconded the motion with a determined nod, his loyalty unwavering. "If you come with me, you'll never get your salary," he warned, fully aware of the sacrifices they were willing to make. A moment of contemplative silence passed between them before Leo proposed a solution, "What if you go first, and once we get our salary, we will follow you?" The idea hung in the air. Mel, with a determined glint in his eyes, added, "That's a good idea, but we have to keep in touch." And so, with a plan in place, Alex felt a flicker of hope amidst the shadows of his doubts. "I will go out to call my mom," Alex said. Stepping out into the bustling street, he navigated his way to the familiar phone booth that held memories of countless conversations. As he dialed the numbers that connected him to home, a wave of nostalgia washed over him. "Hello, Mom," his voice held a mix of longing and uncertainty. Zen, his mother, greeted him with curiosity lacing her words, "Oh, Alex, why are you calling at this hour?" "I'm just missing you. Where are my brothers?" Alex's words carried a tinge of homesickness. Zen's voice turned tender as she spoke of Brian, who was still awake, preparing for an exam the following day. The sound of Brian's voice on the line brought a pang of homesickness to Alex, a reminder of the family he had left behind. "Hello, big brother. When will you come home?" Brian's innocent question tugged at Alex's heartstrings, the ache of separation growing more pronounced with each passing moment. "I don't know yet, but definitely, I will come home. Just wait for me," Alex assured him. As Zen took the phone back, the conversation shifted to more serious matters. "My son, when will you send the money? I want to move on your brother's vacation so they can transfer schools," Zen's words held a weight of responsibility that Alex felt keenly. "Mom, I have a little problem here. They fired me, and they don't want to give me my salary. But don't worry, I will find another job," Alex confessed, the burden of failure heavy on his shoulders. Zen, ever the pillar of strength, offered a lifeline. "You may come back here, my son. We will figure things out together." But Alex, fueled by a determination to carve his own path. "No, Mom. Not now. Just take care. I will call again," he said as he hung up the phone. The city lights flickered around him, casting long shadows on the pavement as he turned to face the uncertain future that lay ahead.
Tokyo Street
The memories of home echoed in his heart, a bittersweet reminder of the life he had left behind to chase his dreams in the bustling city. His footsteps echoed against the pavement, as he walked, lost in his thoughts, a familiar car pulled up alongside an Almond coffee shop on the corner. It was Tencho's car, a sight that sent a shiver down Alex's spine. He instinctively ducked behind a nearby lamppost, curiosity and fear mingling in his heart as he peered cautiously at the scene unfolding before him. And there, he saw Lavinia hurriedly coming in and rushing as she rode in the car, he even saw Lavinia and Tencho kissing each other. Inside the car, "what happened to Serenity?" she asked. Tencho's reply cut through the silence. "She's in the custody of immigration now. They'll be sending her back to the Philippines soon, "Lavinia still not so satisfied with worry. "What if she calls Alex?" Lavinia asked worriedly. "The immigration will not allow her to call anyone, that's the rule, she may not also bring anything," Tencho said. "Really? She can't bring all her things that she left in our apartment?" Lavinia asked interestedly. "Yes, but you may send it to her in the Philippines," Tencho explained. Lavinia's response was a mere whisper, her words laden with a weight of their own. "No way, she deserves it. She broke the rules."
"Next is Alex," Tencho said with a tinge of jealousy in his voice. "What about us? Your wife know that you have a mistress?" A twisted chuckle escaped Tencho's lips. "Don't worry, my wife thinks Serenity is my mistress. She is gone now." Lavinia smirks and then asks a final question. "But you're always coming home late. Does your wife not suspect anything?" "My wife thinks I'm working overtime. She doesn't question it." Tencho said as he started his car heading to a nearby hotel for a short time hotel. As Alex watched from the shadows, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place with a sickening clarity. The web of lies, deceit, betrayal—it all painted a picture of a world steeped in darkness, where loyalty was a rare commodity and trust was a fragile thread holding together a fragile facade. Alex went back to his apartment and he told his friends that he saw Lavinia and Tencho together.
"I told you, Lavinia seduced Tencho to be her boyfriend so she can easily put down Serenity," Leo said as he shook his head. "Lavinia's envy for Serenity went dark," Mel said. "So, the two of you be careful with Lavinia when I'm gone, Tencho is following all Lavinia's orders," Alex said.
"The most important thing is to get your salary and leave!" Alex said. That moment on, Alex packs his things. "You will go now?" Mel asked with concern. "Yes, there's no way for me to be here anymore, it's not time for me to go back to the Philippines with nothing," Alex said. After packing he sets to go out the door. "How can we find you Alex, we all don't have cellular phones?" Leo asked feeling sad. "I will call you in the club," Alex gently replied with somber eyes. They hugged each other. "Take care always," With a heavy heart, Alex bids goodbye, his heart hardening with each passing moment. The city lights flickered around him, a path unknown stretching out before him. He looked around, hoping to see Serenity walking everywhere, but she was nowhere to be found. Leo and Mel stepped into Paradise club with loneliness on their faces, their spirits weighed down by sadness and uncertainty. Leo let out a sigh, his usual excitement for work replaced by a sense of resignation. "I'm not excited to work anymore," he admitted to Mel as they made their way through the club. But Mel, ever the optimist, offered some words of reassurance. "Be patient, as Alex said, he will call us, and no matter what, we will be together again," he said, his voice tinged with a hopeful tone. As they stood there, lost in their thoughts, the club began to fill up with the vibrant energy of the night. Soon, all the girls arrived, their eyes scanning the room in search of Alex. "I don't know, maybe he is just late," Mel told them, trying to conceal their plans. Meanwhile, Lavinia also noticed Alex's absence and felt a wave of worry wash over her. Unable to contain her anxiety, she approached Leo, her voice laced with urgency. "Where is Alex?" she demanded to know. Leo was annoyed when he saw her. "Can I also ask the same question, where is Serenity?" he replied, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice. Mel, sensing trouble, quickly tapped him, silently warning him not to engage further with Lavinia as they discreetly moved away from her. Feeling the tension in the air, Lavinia stormed off, her steps heavy as she headed towards the dressing room. Inside, she found Candy, applying makeup with a group of girls. Candy looked up and couldn't help but notice the storm brewing behind Lavinia's eyes. "Oh, you look so upset; the club was just about to start?" Candy tried to lighten the mood. Lavinia's voice was tinged with bitterness as she vented her frustrations. "I'm so annoyed with Leo and Mel, I hope they'll be gone too," she muttered. "Why isn't Alex here yet?" she wondered aloud, her curiosity getting deeper. Candy, always quick with a retort, didn't hold back. "Why are you so concerned? He's not your boyfriend," she stated bluntly, her words hitting a nerve. Lavinia's resolve hardened as she locked eyes with Candy.
"For now, but I will do everything to make him mine!" she declared. Candy just simply laughs, "I hope you can do that, but you will have a hard time to get him you know," Candy replied. Lavinia even felt offended by her remarks. "You mean, Serenity is more beautiful than me, because Alex likes her?" She annoyingly said. Candy suddenly changes her voice. "I didn't say that, I know you will get Alex too," she said just to calm her down.
In the hall of Paradise club as usual was coming to life, the thrum of music and laughter filling the air as the customers streamed in. Tencho, called Leo and Mel to the counter, his expression grave as he broached the subject of Alex's absence. "He said that he would come, we are also waiting for him," Mel explained, sheepishly. The night passed in a blur of activity, the club bustling with energy as Leo and Mel threw themselves into their work. "Back to your duties now!" Tencho's voice cut through the din as he directed them back to their tasks. Leo and Mel shared a sense of discomfort at the sight of Lavinia. She exuded an air of arrogance that irked them, a blatant display of self-importance that grated on their nerves. As the music swirled around, the light dimmed, it is a sign the star of the club will emerge the stage to dance exotic. Lavinia began her solo dance. She moved with a fluidity that seemed to defy gravity, her every move garnering admiration and generous tips from the onlookers. Buoyed by the adulation, Lavinia's demeanor grew even more haughty, her confidence soaring to new heights. After her performance, she sauntered back to the VIP room, where Octopus Tiger were in. Lavinia suddenly called Mel. "Give me a drink!" Lavinia demanded imperiously, her tone brooking no argument. Mel, hastened to fulfill her request, but as he placed the drink before her, she flung its contents in his face with a disdainful flick of her wrist. "This is not what I ordered!" she snapped, her voice laced with contempt. Mel stood frozen in shock, his eyes meeting Octopus Tiger's gaze, which simmered with simmering fury. "You, stop chasing my girl or else I will cut your balls," Octopus Tiger growled. Mel stammered an explanation, but Lavinia's icy glare silenced him, she dismissed him immediately. Leo, witnessing the scene unfold, felt a pang of sympathy for Mel as he retreated to the kitchen, seeking solace in the mundane task of washing plates. It was there that he found Mel, his face still wet from the humiliation he had endured. "I saw what happened, that woman is crazy!" Leo said, his concern evident. Mel's voice trembled with indignation as he recounted the incident. "I don't want to see the face of that woman anymore, she is a witch!" he lamented, his pride wounded by Lavinia's callousness. "Lavinia, yes she's a witch!" Leo exclaimed, his sympathy for Mel turning to pity. "I think she's spreading lies about me chasing her, that's why Octopus Tiger is so angry," Mel fumed. It was clear that Lavinia's vindictiveness knew no bounds. After the club closed for the night, Tencho and the other staff made their way to the apartment to check on Alex.
"So, as I expected, Alex had packed his things, so he's truly gone, he won't return," Tencho murmured, he was very disappointed. Leo and Mel stood in silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Tencho contemplated to fire them, but in the end, he decided to keep them for now, knowing that he needed all the help he could get, but unbeknownst to them, he has a plan not to give their salary, for Alex penalty, but he will not tell them, because they will sure run away when he tells that. With disappointment, he left them to their thoughts and departed, leaving Mel to close the door behind him.
Alone in the dimly lit apartment, Mel turned to Leo, his eyes reflecting his uncertainty. "What are we going to do now?" he asked, his voice trembling with emotion. Leo summoned a flicker of determination as he spoke, his tone resolute. "Just as we planned, once we receive our salaries, we will go to Alex," he reassured him, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. Mel couldn't shake his worry. "Has he called yet?" he inquired, his concern evident in his voice. Leo shook his head. "Not yet, but when he finds a job, he will reach out," he offered, trying to ease his fears. "With his skills and good looks, he will find a job easily," he added, trying to inject some optimism into the bleak situation. "We don't have to worry, just wait for his call, alright?" Leo's gentle smile belied the turmoil within as they stood there, facing an uncertain future with nothing but hope to guide them forward.