CHAPTER 2 — FIRST NIGHT

The late afternoon sun slipped through the tiny gaps of my cramped boarding room—

a room so full of stacked belongings, it felt as suffocating as my life.

Mbak Yarni sat before her small mirror, dipping her brush again and again into her worn-out makeup palette, trying her best to make me look presentable for tonight.

She was going to take me to meet her boss.

I stood awkwardly, looking at myself in the borrowed black dress—

a beautiful, elegant gown that felt far too luxurious for someone like me.

The fabric was soft, smooth, and strangely foreign against my skin.

When the makeup was done, I froze.

The girl in the mirror wasn’t me.

A beautiful stranger with a black dress and high heels stared back.

I tried walking in Yarni’s heels—stumbling like a child learning to walk.

We both burst into laughter.

---

As evening settled, we got off the public minibus and walked toward Club Scorpion.

The building towered arrogantly, as if looking down on the entire city of Jakarta.

We hurried across the parking lot filled with expensive cars—

such a sharp contrast to our bitter lives.

The moment I stepped inside, my eyes widened.

The hall was vast and dim, filled with swirling colored lights.

A podium stood at the center for performances,

surrounded by low-partitioned cubicles—each with a round table and plush sofas where guests could drink while watching the stage.

Yarni pulled me into a room we passed earlier—large, dimly lit, and undeniably luxurious.

Glass-lined walls, a big black sofa in the center,

and an elegant wooden table that looked far too expensive.

Mami Marni sat there, smoking a cigar.

She examined me from head to toe—

like someone checking an animal before buying it.

“Beautiful…” she murmured, gently tugging my hair.

Though it was a compliment, fear crept up my spine.

Not long after, an elderly man entered.

Sharp suit, perfect posture—

the kind of man whose wealth spoke before he did.

“Ehm, so this is Santi? The girl you told me about, Marni?”

He chuckled lightly.

“Good. A dental student, huh? Such a pity… hmm. Can you manage your time?”

“I’ll try, Sir. If possible… I prefer only Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

If it clashes with school, I’d like to ask for permission.”

My voice trembled.

This was a world far beyond my imagination.

“Since you’re a dental student, I’ll allow it. I respect your effort,”

he said.

Later I learned his name was Mr. Jay.

“Have you chosen a work name?” Mami asked, smiling like a villain from an old fairy tale.

A work name?

I didn’t even know I needed one.

“This is Erika,” Mami said, wrapping her arm around Yarni.

“I almost forgot her real name.”

Yarni grinned.

“How about… Clarissa?” Mr. Jay suggested.

And just like that, my name changed.

Santi for the daylight world.

Clarissa for the night.

---

After leaving the room, Yarni brought me to the host waiting area—

a lounge where girls in glamorous dresses waited for clients.

The moment I walked in, my chest tightened.

Cigarette smoke, the sting of alcohol,

the pounding music and flashing lights—

everything felt overwhelming.

“New girl,” Yarni introduced me.

Some laughed.

Some sneered.

Some simply didn’t care.

A woman with overly flashy makeup approached.

Her presence felt sharp, her smile almost sinister.

She blew out a cloud of smoke and I immediately coughed.

She laughed loudly.

“Well, well… who’s this creature?”

“This is Clarissa. She’s a dental student,” Yarni said proudly.

Every head snapped toward me.

“A dental student? Here?”

“How is that even possible?”

The room buzzed in disbelief.

---

Soon after, Mami Marni brought me to my first client.

“Mr. Yandi, this is Clarissa. She’ll accompany you tonight.”

He smiled kindly.

An elderly man, around sixty, polite and calm.

I quietly exhaled in relief—

my first client could have been much worse.

Mami stayed beside us for safety.

“Mr. Yandi, Clarissa is a dental student,”

she said, full of pride.

“Oh? Really?”

He looked surprised, then smiled warmly.

“Wow, the hosts here are getting more impressive,” he joked,

swaying a little to the music as smoke drifted between his lips.

“Of course!” Mami giggled playfully.

Before long, two of Mr. Yandi’s friends arrived—

men around the same age, cheerful and respectful.

They didn’t drink much;

they ordered food instead, which meant extra commission for me.

And so, my first night passed.

My first night

in a world I never imagined entering—

a world that made me wonder:

Was this truly a choice…

or the beginning of my rebellion?

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