PROLOGUE

The smell of alcohol lingers inside the bar while the smell of smoke is almost suffocating. A woman named Fatima is wearing a black top and short skirt and is serving drinks to different tables inside the 1st section of the bar. Very uncomfortable clothing was given to her so customers will feel ‘satisfied’. She hated the fact that she is being sexualized but this is the only way she can provide for her three younger siblings. 

“Hey hottie,” an old man whispered behind her as she tried to ignore him. She gulped while serving alcohol at the table in front of her. 

“I said hi, miss.” She proceeded to ignore him and walked away while pulling her skirt so her bottom cannot be seen. Chills went down her spine when someone grabbed her arm. She turned around and came face to face with the old man hitting on her. “Sir, please, I’m working.” She ran behind the counter and almost hit her co-worker, William. 

“Woah, Fatima. Slow down,” he chuckled and she awkwardly smiled at him. 

“Uhm... where are the other drinks?” William pointed at the drinks on the counter and Fatima grabbed them. She looked around and didn’t find the old man so she took a sigh of relief. 

While walking past drunk people, the old man found her again. He grabbed her on the arm and she paused. “Why don’t we go to the VIP room?” The old man chuckled and she stared at him in disgust. 

“I’m a server here, I don’t go with customers. I’m sorry,” she apologized but the man didn’t let go. She forced a smile and tried prying his handoff. “I’ll give you 200 dollars.” The offer was insulting and she pulled herself away. 

“You’re disgusting,” she whispered as she walked away from him faster. She was starting to feel on edge, afraid of what the man could do to her. 

As she thought he left her alone, he grabbed her again but she forcefully pushed him away. “You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.” 

“No!” Fatima tripped over a wire on the floor as she tried to get away. She almost fell but she hit another person’s chest. The alcohol spilled both on her and the person she hit. “Ah, shit.” She pushed herself up and looked behind her. The old man is still after her. 

“Please help me.” She whispered and stood beside the tall man. She breathed heavily as the old man reached them. 

“Come with me. I’ll talk to your manager, I’m sure he’ll be fine with it. 2000 dollars to have you.” The old man was about to grab her again but the tall gentleman interfered. He stood in front of Fatima and crossed his arms. 

“Leave my girlfriend alone,” the gentleman said with a deep voice. Fatima looked up at the back of his head. The voice sounded familiar but she can’t remember who it sounds like. 

“Girlfriend? Hah! She doesn’t have a partner, no way!” The old man laughed like a maniac. The gentleman seemed unamused. 

“Leave us alone before I call the cops.” Fatima furrowed her eyebrows. That voice is too familiar to her yet she doesn’t remember who it is from. The old man scoffed and tried punching the man but he caught his fist and twisted his arm. “AHHHH!” The screams of the old man catch the attention of other people. They all stared at Fatima, the gentleman, and the old man. 

“Who are you, huh, kid?” 

“Someone you shouldn’t mess with.” The gentleman smiled and the old man scoffed. He was about to punch again but they were interrupted by another man. 

“Yo? Christopher, what’s wrong?” The guy asked the tall fella. Fatima suddenly remembers who the man sounds like. (It can’t be..) she thought to herself. 

“Ah, Grian. Just in time. Why don’t you tell him who I am while I help Fatima.” She froze in the spot as she realized the men who are helping her are... 

The tall man, Christopher, turned around and smiled at her. “Hello again, sweetheart.” 

As Grian is dealing with the old man, Christopher dragged Fatima outside the bar where she reluctantly agreed. Memories with Christopher came running through her head again. When she thought she had completely forgotten about the past, it hit her in the present. 

[Flashback Start]

Fatima walked down the road when she came across the man trying to pursue her. She rolled her eyes jokingly and approached him. “Here to charm me again, Chris?” she asked and he chuckled charmingly. He revealed what he was hiding behind his back and handed her the flowers. 

“O-oh, thanks?” She grabbed the flowers and cautiously held them. Chris’ eyebrows furrowed as he watched her. 

“You okay?” She nodded profusely before smiling. She scratched her hand before clearing her throat. 

“Come on, I prepared a surprise.” He opened the door of his car and gestured for her to come inside. She eyed him before jokingly saying, “You’re not going to kidnap me, are you?” He rolled his eyes before smiling. 

“I don’t need to. With my handsome face and charming gestures, you’ll come on your own.” Fatima shook her head at how corny he sounded. Nonetheless, she hopped in his car while trying to bear the itchiness of her hands going up to her arm. 

After a few minutes of driving, they arrived at their destination. Christopher looked over at Fatima and saw her hands up to her shoulders are turning red for some reason. “What’s happening to your arms? Are you sure you’re okay? Do you need help?” He grabbed her arm and examined it. Fatima laughed nervously. 

“I’m fine...” she whispered. 

“Fuck. Are you allergic to flowers?” He quickly took the flower from her hands and placed it on the backseat. She smiled and scratched her itching neck. 

“Shit, Fatima! You should’ve told me,” he exclaimed. 

“Sorry, I didn’t want to refuse the flowers..” 

[Flashback End]

The old man screamed from a distance, “You’re ugly, anyways. Bitch!” She turned around and saw him getting dragged by security. Her eyes widened but turned to look at Christopher again. 

“I’m sorry but I don’t know you..” she lied and he eyed her. 

“Wait- aren’t you Fatima?” He then doubted his memory and she cleared her throat. She shook her head and pointed at her pin with the name ‘Glen’ written. His eyebrows furrowed and he scratched his neck. Fatima stared at him while biting her lips, hoping he’ll buy her a lie. 

Grian approached the pair and patted Christopher on his shoulder. “Taken care of.” He turned to look at Fatima and smiled. 

“Damn, it’s been so long Fa-“ he got cut off. 

“Her name is Glen.” Grian confusedly looked at him before looking back at Fatima. 

“H-hi?” she uttered. 

“Uhm.. are you okay? Was the old man bothering you for a while now?” He changed the topic and she nodded. 

“I get a lot of those, it’s hard to avoid when you work in a bar. You know?” Grian nodded while Christopher was just staring at her. She felt a bit awkward seeing her ex again. Who knew they’d meet once again? 

“Right, I’ll go back inside now.” (My boss is going to kill me for causing a scene) she thought to herself. 

“Wait,” Chris uttered and she stopped walking. She looked back at them and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll take you home, someone might-“ 

“No! No... I can go home on my own..” she refused. She can’t let him see how her life is now. She’s embarrassed!

“Glen! Glen- there you are! What the hell are you doing outside?! I told you to work, do you want to lose your salary you fucking bitch?” Her jaw tensed once she heard her boss yelling and walking towards her. 

“I’m sorry, sir. This won’t happen again-“ 

“Get back inside before I get even madder.” She bowed and was about to leave but Christopher grabbed her arm. 

“Let her take the night off.” Her eyes widened because of his request. She looked back at her boss who looked pissed. “What?! Who the fuck are you to boss me around?” He grabbed her on the arm and started dragging her inside but Chris stopped them. 

He handed a business card to her boss and he eyed it. “Get out of my way.” Without any choice, Fatima followed her boss inside the bar again. His grip tightened and pushed her against the counter. 

“I look away for one second and you find a way to create a problem?! The VIP is pissed he got kicked out! Are you stupid? You should’ve come with him!” He scolded. 

“Sir, with all due respect, I’m a server here not a stripper,” she fought back. 

“You fucki-“ He raised his hand to hit her and she closed her eyes but someone caught his hand. 

The man twisted his hand before dragging him outside. Her boss screamed in agony as he was getting dragged. “Chris!” she shouted. 

“What’s going on?” William, the bartender, asked her. 

“Just.. I don’t know.” This feels like a dream to her. Seeing him again. 

“Slap me,” she commanded and William’s eyes widened. “What? Are you insane?” he questioned. 

“I’m dreaming, right?” She leaned towards him and started pinching his cheeks before she slapped herself. “Oh my god, what the hell?” William questioned in confusion and he raised both his hands to avoid her. 

A man cleared their throat and when she turned around, she came face to face with her boss. She immediately bowed and stood like an obedient student. “Take tonight and tomorrow off,” he stated before walking past her and William. 

“But- I- sir…?” 

“Go before I change my mind.” William and she looked at each other. 

“You should go. I’ll visit your house tomorrow,” William whispered. He has always been a good friend to her ever since they met each other. 

William handed her money so she could take a cab home and she reluctantly left the bar. She looked around but found that Christopher and Grian were gone. She breathed heavily before sighing. She entered a cab so she could get home for the night. 

OUTSIDE THE BAR was Christopher and Grian watching Fatima while they’re inside their car. “What’d you say to her manager?” Grian asked. 

“I gave him 2000 dollars to let her leave.” Grian’s eyebrows raised as he listened to Christopher. 

“Do you really believe she’s not Fatima?” he asked further. 

“Of course not. Her face can never be forgotten. Investigate what happened to her in the past years.” He started the engine as his mind is only focused on one thing, Fatima Mendez. 

(Why would you lie to me, Fatima?) he thought to himself.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Grian called Christopher to tell him what happened to Fatima after she vanished without saying goodbye to anybody. “Her father died in an accident, Chris. Everything went downhill from there.” 

[Flashback Start]

“DAD! DAD! P-PLEASE!” she screamed in agony as she lightly shook her father’s body. The thunder and rain accompany her pain and desperation. 

“Help us!” She opened the car door and crawled outside with her broken legs. The rain poured down on her and the people around the road rushed towards her. 

“Please h-help my.. father…” She felt numb, as if her body couldn’t register the pain she’s experiencing. 

When the ambulance came, they took away Fatima. “No! Let me be with my father! He needs help, not me! PLEASE!” She desperately fought the medical professionals. Her eyes wandered to some of the medical team putting her father in a body bag. “STOP PLEASE, he’s still alive!” 

“Miss Mendez, you need to calm down. We need to take you to the hospital now,” one of the people said. The rain poured down harder and she saw the man they got in an accident to be taken to the ambulance. Due to the man being carried, she couldn’t see his face. 

[Flashback End]