PROLOGUE 2 "INSIDE THE BOX"

TWO DAYS LATER...

“PAPA?” Lara couldn’t comprehend the sudden rush of intense fear that flooded her as she opened their front door and found her stepfather Rodolfo looking distressed.

“Sweetheart, go hide; they might take you!” Rodolfo urgently pushed her into the house and drew her into her room.

Lara’s fear deepened at his words. “W-What do you mean? W-Who will take me?” she stammered, her chest heavy with a mix of emotions.

“Don’t ask too many questions, just listen to Papa, hurry up!”

She had no choice but to obey. She concealed herself in her bedroom, seeking refuge behind an antique wardrobe. Despite her anxiety, she could still hear heated arguments and harsh words being exchanged, directed at her father.

“Are you going to pay, or should I just kill you?” a man’s furious voice echoed.

With trembling steps, Lara left her hiding spot and cautiously made her way towards the closed door, careful to avoid making any noise on the creaking wooden floor.

Peeking through the small gap in the door, she witnessed three men surrounding her stepfather. The leader of the group held a gun, his angry gaze fixed on Rodolfo.

“Answer me! Will you pay, or should I just kill you?” the man yelled angrily at her father once more.

Whatever debts her father owed, Lara couldn’t fathom how that could justify turning his life into a matter of life and death. But her horror deepened when she heard the click of the trigger.

Driven by adrenaline and panic, Lara burst out of her room, her voice choked with tears.

“Stop! Don’t kill my Papa!” she cried out, tears streaming down her face as she ran and threw herself into Rodolfo’s arms, who looked shocked by her sudden appearance.

“Lara! What did you do? Didn’t I tell you to hide?” Rodolfo’s anger was evident, but she paid him no mind.

“No matter how much my father owes you, I’m willing to pay. If you want, take me with you! Just promise me you won’t hurt him anymore,” she implored, her voice quivering as she held onto her father tightly, her face stained with tears.

“Lara!” her father called out.

“That’s an interesting proposition,” the man with the gun smirked. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that you have a beautiful daughter who could fetch a good price, Ompong?” He grinned with a sinister edge, gripping Lara’s face tightly in his hand.

“Boss, that’s a possibility,” another man chimed in.

“Yes, we can get a substantial sum for her,” the third man added.

Lara’s focus shifted from the unfolding dialogue as the man with the gun started to drag her away from their house. Her father’s cries and pleas faded as they moved farther from him.

“Papa, take care of yourself. I promise I’ll come back for you,” she whispered, her voice breaking, just before the car’s window was shut, isolating her from the world she once knew.

THREE DAYS LATER...

Lara’s hand trembled as she held a red lipstick, trying to apply it to her lips. She never thought it would come to this. She never imagined that her desperate attempt to save her father from certain death would lead her down this path of prostitution.

After the three men took her, they sold her to a woman named Nati for a hundred thousand pesos. Although her father owed less than ten thousand pesos to the trio who abducted her, they managed to fetch a hefty price for her innocence.

Nati informed her that a significant portion of her earnings would go directly to the woman as her “manager.” Tears welled up in her eyes.

If only those men had given her a chance to explain, she could have found a way to settle her father’s debt without resorting to this.

But there was no turning back.

Lara was a woman of honor. Her mother had been a waitress, but she had always advised Lara against following in her footsteps. She encouraged her to aim for a better life, and that’s exactly what Lara had been striving for.

Sometimes, however, no matter how much one avoids wrongdoing, no matter how hard one tries to resist temptation, circumstances force you to make difficult choices.

“Hurry up, Venus! Your clients are waiting. Make me proud, and don’t embarrass me!” Nati’s voice echoed outside the dressing room.

When Lara didn’t reply, Nati continued, her tone a mix of excitement and cynicism.

“Guess what? You’re in luck. Your first client is incredibly wealthy. And not to mention, he’s quite the looker, so I can assure you that your innocence won’t be in vain – it’ll be worth it,” Nati laughed loudly, her words laden with mockery.

Lara gazed at herself in the mirror, her eyes heavy with sorrow. As angry as she felt, she realized there was nothing she could do. She chose to remain silent.

“They paid a hefty sum for you. You’ll get a generous cut. And if he’s pleased with your performance, he might even give you a handsome tip. Who knows? He might become a regular customer.”

The way Nati spoke, it was clear she was well-acquainted with the mechanics of this profession.

But all Lara felt was a simmering rage.

Nati had even given her a new name, a standard practice in their line of work. Lara’s real name was her own choice when it came to future clients.

Swallowing hard, Lara left the dressing room through the back door, her eyes landing on a large box that Nati claimed was a prop. She let out a soft, bitter laugh. She never thought this would become her reality.

She had only seen women emerge from boxes on television before, masked and dancing. Now, she would be one of them. The pain and resentment tore at her heart.

It wasn’t anger she felt toward her father; she was more furious with the three men who had bartered her as payment for his debt. Nati’s role in this, too, fueled her anger – exploiting others for her personal gain, regardless of the consequences to families.

As Lara exited the club, her hands gripping a red lipstick, she knew her life had changed forever. Her heart is heavy with indignation, she couldn’t help but lament her situation. Despite her resolve to lead an honorable life, she found herself ensnared in a world of darkness and desperation.