6. Boots.

"Thank you for visiting. I hope we can serve you again." The last sound was Jose's as he ushered a client out of Racher Art, a client who had successfully spent Jose's three-hour period inking a tummy tattoo to cover up post–surgery stretch marks.

Three hours, sitting for so long that the man's loins rattle as he twists left and right. "Tiring, really tiring." No matter how much he grumbles, Jose is devoted to his job.

The man grabbed a soft drink can from the table in the main room, sat down, and gulped down the contents to quench his thirst, while the boss was utterly carefree as he lifted a pair of legs that rested against the wall while playing with his cell phone and enjoying a lollipop.

"I'm hungry. What should we eat this afternoon?" Jose leaned back, a pair of legs also straight on the table surface. "What to order? Is it pizza again? I heard a new flavor has been launched."

"NO!"

Jose was stunned when Denis spoke up. "What, no? I thought you had no intention of talking. What do you want to eat?"

"Anything but pizza."

"Why?" Jose smiled wryly, remembering something. "Are you upset that the pizza delivery girl won't share her number with you? You're being too dismissive, and I'm getting curious–how did the little guy turn you down."

Denis reluctantly replied; he remained focused on the phone as if he didn't hear Jose's voice. The annoying part was skipped because it was best for Denis to keep his emotions in check. If the man's mood was affected again, he could be reluctant to work and cancel all his client appointments without consideration.

Indeed no one knew how Marra made fun of him that night, and Denis chose to keep quiet and torture his mind. It was better than others did not know so as not to embarrass himself further. Denis Arthur Racher was rejected? He would remember the day, date, and hour that this crazy thing took place. Now Denis was nourishing his anger towards Marra Acosta.

"You're quiet? Fine, I'll order a pizza." Jose chattered again, hoping his threat would make Denis open up.

Denis moved on and said, "Your salary can be reduced at any time, and there is no monthly bonus."

***

By nine o'clock, 24Night was already crowded. However, Marra had not yet started the action, and the girl had just come out of one of the toilet cubicles and intended to go straight out. It was just that the choke on her left wrist made Marra's steps stop. She stared at the woman who had been with Denis. Whoever her name was, Marra had no reason to memorize them.

Some sexy women were also busy tidying up their appearance in front of the sink mirror, flattering each other and gossiping.

"Can I help you?" asked Marra. The woman beside her didn't speak up and was just busy looking Marra up and down, scrutinizing something as if looking for the most exciting thing there-though Marra was sure no one would find it.

"Nothing." She released her grip. "I was just wondering, did you reject Denis?"

"Denis?" The woman in front of the sink shifted immediately upon hearing the name as if it had its magnetism and was interesting to discuss. "What's wrong with Denis?" They surrounded Marra.

"What's going on, Selena?"

Selena leaned in, rolling her eyes. "Not that it matters, but this DJ girl managed to get Denis to leave me last night, the one thing he never does to his dates."

"Really? It must have been a pretty messy situation."

"Sure, Selena's right. I've been on a date with Denis, and he won't forget his promise." Another woman commented.

Marra paused, both confused and feeling besieged by those Denis-obsessed women-perhaps.

"So, what does Denis have to do with this DJ?" A different woman spoke up, just like Selena earlier. She was also watching Marra quite closely. It was not enjoyable if the jeans were compared to the tight dresses or hot pants those people wore.

Marra's costume was not revealing, and she began to think–the men shouldn't be interested in that either. Why tease a cute little girl like Marra who only knew how to work without intending to satisfy the opposite sex? "This is weird. I don't mind if Denis dates Bianca, Selena, or Kathryn, but what about this girl?" She looked at her friends, obviously looking down on Marra, trivializing the girl in front of everyone. "Did Denis approach you? Tell me what you did."

"Jia, it's not like that," Selena said, "there's no way Denis would be interested in her for a date. What could she possibly have to offer Denis?"

It didn't sound charming, but Marra chose to remain silent and let herself be teased.

"Do you know what? I heard that this girl refused to give her number to the guys at 24Night, either because she wasn't interested or she was being innocent, but Jamie was interested in making a bet. Then, Denis is also interested. A game like this should be easy, right?" Selena cringed again when she remembered the night Denis had left.

"So what?" another friend asked.

"Jamie got rejected, so Denis stepped up. Hell, I guess if she was reluctant to share her number with Denis too, he got annoyed and left."

"Hey, isn't that an insult to him?"

"How could you reject Denis?"

"Don't you know who Denis is?"

Marra continued to be bullied, and they considered her rejecting Denis a big mistake, and she clutched her jacket before making a sound. "I don't know why you're holding me like this. Who Denis is and his relationship with him, I don't care, I don't need to know him, and I have no business with you. Can we end this?" He had gathered all his courage to say that.

"You–"

"MARRA." Everyone compactly turned to someone who had just come out of a booth, and it turned out that Celine approached Marra and embraced her. "It's a coincidence to meet you here, and I want to talk about something. Come with me." Without caring about the people around her, she still pulled Marra out of the toilet because she had heard many things since she was still in the cubicle.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" asked Marra after they moved away from the restroom.

"Nothing important. I just wanted to take you away from there, and they do like to meddle in other people's problems. In the future, keep your distance, and you're not fit to befriend those women."

Marra nodded. "Of course."

"But, I have something for you. Let's go to Matthew's study."

Without knocking on the door, Celine opened it, not expecting Denis to be inside - chatting with Matthew by the window. For a moment, the man exchanged glances with Marra until one of them broke the contact.

"Matt, I brought your little girl." The mocking words came from Celine's lips, and she smiled amusedly as her lover sighed. Marra was confused because Celine dared to say something that could make other people misunderstand, but instead, it was directed at her lover. "Sit there, Marra."

Letting Celine grab the tote bag from Matthew's desk, Marra sat down on the sofa. Without even having to look at her many times, the girl realized that Denis was looking at her even while talking.

"Have you eaten yet? I'm sure you haven't. My mom made noodles today, and you should try them, Marra. These noodles always make me miss home." Celine sat by Marra's side, and she took out a lunch box from her totte bag.

"Isn't that for Matthew?"

"No, I brought two. He already received his share. Now, this is for you." Celine handed over the fork after opening the lid of the box. "Try it."

"Thank you." Celine's good deeds often made Marra reluctant, but Matthew's girlfriend stayed close without feeling that they had much difference.

"What do you think, Marra?"

"It's delicious."

"It is." Celine smiled happily. "As I said before, the taste of these noodles never changes because my mother mastered the recipe, although other people's hands would be different."

"I'm very jealous, but Marra is a woman, and it makes me start to get frustrated," Matthew spoke up, and he smiled.

"Jealous? I already think of Marra as my sister." Celine put her arm around Marra. "She's beautiful, cute, hardworking. Worthy of being a little sister, and you will continue to be jealous, Matt?"

"What do you think?" Matthew asked Denis. "Is that option right?"

Marra and Denis' gazes met again. The chewing on the girl's lips weakened, and Denis' expression was unreadable. "I think... right, Celine needs a sister."

"You heard that, Matt. Denis even supports me. Marra is very suitable for me, she often comes to this place, but it's not easy to find a friend like Marra. So, I have to take care of her."

"Right, take care of her. Don't let your sister get hurt by someone, and I'm sure because she refuses too much, either one or two humans must be eyeing her for revenge."

Marra coughed to hear that sentence uttered by Denis as if implying something. Now the man walked out after saying goodbye to Matthew and Celine.

***

After midnight after Marra finished her work, she walked down the deserted streets alone without realizing she had been followed since she left 24Night. Not content with listening to the thumping music she played on 24Night, she put on a headset while humming softly to the singer's voice through the earplugs.

"Kahit pa hindi sabihin ay dama nang puso, na ay aw ako, wasasna pag ibig ay di mangka–" Marra's voice was interrupted by a hand smothering her mouth from behind. She gaped belatedly, realizing she was in danger when her body was forcibly pulled into a narrow alleyway with minimal lighting. The lamp attached to the wall was dim enough to make it difficult for Marra to recognize the perpetrator's face.

"What do you want!" Marra was pushed down onto the ground and a lot of gravel, injuring her left arm. "Who are you!"

"Who am I? Huh!" The man was busy taking off his belt, and he also threw a cigarette butt on the ground. "Let's play, damn girl!"

"What." Marra tried to get up, but the alcohol–scented man kept pushing her, pinning her down and holding both hands above her head. "Let me go. Who are you to act like this."

"There's no introductory session. I've wanted you since you entered the club."

"Who are you, Denis?"

"ASSHOLE." A different voice appeared, clearly the man in front of Marra suddenly collapsed and fell into her arms. Marra hurriedly pushed the body away from her.

When Marra looked up, someone was already standing while holding an iron pipe, and I didn't know what the face of the human who had hit Marra'would–bebe rapist looked like.

Not wanting to stay there, Marra moved quickly and ran past the towering figure who remained motionless even as Marra reacted. For a moment, Marra stopped to look closely at the human, who did not even turn his head to look at her. "Whoever you are, thank you very much. I will return the favor next time."

Marra ran away. While black boots stomped on thwould–bebe rapist's back, a voice rang out again. "You will not be able to destroy him before me."

***