"We should probably do something about your hair, Young Master." Jun muttered.
"Mm?"
"Oh, that's right. You are famous for your unruly and wild hair, Young Master." Rika looked aside for a moment. "Though it does suit you!"
'Saving it by making it a compliment, huh?' The Young Master grabbed a strand of his hair and stared. 'Unruly and wild... It sure is.'
He let go of the strand.
"Have anything in mind?"
"We could tie it?"
"That works."
Jun took off her hair tie, allowing her silky hair to fall in an amber cascade.
"Please let me, Young Master."
"Sure." Lei turned around.
She walked closer to his back.
"A ponytail? Or a bun? Which would you like, Young Master?"
"Whichever is fine."
"Definitely a bun! Many Young Masters tie their hair in ponytail after all. Actually... Most do."
"That's coming from someone who has never crossed the bridge?" The Young Master teased, and Rika slouched.
He was taller, but Jun managed.
"All done, Young Master."
"Let's go in then."
***
"You open the door." The Young Master ordered.
"Huh? Why meeee-"
Rika was suddenly pushed forward by both the Young Master and Jun.
She let out a sigh, before taking a deep breath in.
"Why do I feel so much pressure? I feel so embarrassed..." Rika whispered. "This is a place where they service women, so I should go in proudly and confidently. Why do I feel so ashamed and embarrassed? Tsk... I'm starting to relate to all the men who came to see me, embarrassed, clumsy, and shy... Need to focus. Need to focus. They're there to service women. I wonder what kind of women I will find inside. What if they're having relations in the open. What if I find them right upon opening-"
"So this is what happens when someone never crosses the bridge. Oh, poor thing."
"Pardon her ignorance, Young Master." Jun whispered.
Both stared with a hand covering their smiles. They whispered behind Rika.
"Go, go. Try to have them service you."
"That would be a bit too embarrassing, Young Master."
"Her innocence is touching. They might be moved by her and just straighten up."
"I somehow doubt that, Young Master. But it would make for a moving scene."
"People really should move around more."
"She is too pure for this world, Young Master... Not that the other side is impure. I just-"
"Don't explain yourself. Let's just watch."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Stop making fun of me!" Rika took a deep breath in. "Alright, I'm going in."
She took hold of the doorhandle and,
"Ha?"
Surprise. Shock. Confusion.
"Pffft!" Jun covered her mouth so as not to laugh out loud.
"That face was worth it." The Young Master chuckled.
Rika slowly turned around.
"It's all... It's all..."
The two nodded.
"It's all men!" Rika shouted suddenly, which made the customers inside turn towards her with furrowed brows. "Sorry..."
"Oh no... I can't contain it... I'm going to laugh out loud."
"Take deep breaths. Deep breaths. No need to laugh at her innocence." The Young Master argued, even though he was having just as much trouble containing his laughter.
***
"Please make yourselves comfortable." The server said with a polite smile, before walking away to bring them drinks.
They were seated on a large and spacious couch. The Young Master was in the middle, Rika to his right, and Jun to his left.
"That was too embarrassing..." Rika whispered.
"It was funny though."
"Very, Young Master." Jun nodded.
'I can't believe you would take his side over mine. The betrayal!'
The server came back seconds later, with one drink for each of them.
Rika held her glass with two hands, and stared at her reflection.
'It was embarrassing but...'
Her innocence is touching-
She is too pure for this world-
'It felt nice being called those things... Even though I am neither.'
Rika was a whore after all.
A lowly, dirty, vile, vulgar, and repulsive whore. At least, that is how her parents referred to her anytime they saw her. Indeed, she was a disappointment for her family. For her parents.
Even though they depended on her to live, she was a disappointment. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say that they would have starved to death, had she not helped them over and over again.
It was just as Jun said earlier. Rika's parents hated her. They hated her because she was a prostitute. Or did she become a prostitute because they hated her? Rika didn't think about it often. But from time to time, she would lose herself in thought. Her parents couldn't find work. They couldn't feed themselves, much less their kid. She wanted to help. She wanted to help them. She wanted them to love her. Instead, they spit in her face over and over again. Young Rika thought that her parent's hatred would fade once she started working. Once she started buying them food. Once she could afford to pay for their... They hated her long before she became what she is.
'A clear mind is necessary. I need to act perfectly. Seductively. I need to smile just the right smile. Say just the right things. React just the right way. Can't offend, can't make them feel bad. Even if unintentionally, can't do that... That's why a clear mind is necessary. Plus there are more clients afterwards. Can't get shitfaced when the next client is waiting...' Rika's grip over her glass tightened. 'But I'm with the Young Master now. There's no client afterwards. And we're drinking on his coin! Therefore...'
"Look at her go."
"Gotta wash away the embarrassment, I suppose." Jun chuckled.
"Ahhh!" Rika lowered her glass against the table with a Bam! "I'm getting drunk today!" She proclaimed, having drank the glass in its entirety and in one gulp.
"Refill pleaase!" The Young Master shouted.
"Coming right up!"
The server walked away and,
"Isn't their makeup a bit too much?" Rika asked after drinking the glass she had just been handed. Once again, in one gulp.
"You wouldn't have said that if it was a woman." Jun criticized as she took a sip.
"They're Flamboyant alright." The Young Master muttered.
"Mm... I can't get comfortable for some reason."
"Anything you haven't told me about Feng?"
"This again, Young Master?" Rika chuckled. "Can't recall anything else." She turned away. "Another glass please!"
"That's right. Let's drink. We're partying today." The Young Master's hand reached into his robe and, "Thirty Silver Coins! Let's party!!"
"Partyyy-" Rika cheered before realizing. "Ah? Thirty Silver Coins?"
"Yes." The Young Master nodded.
Her gaze moved to Jun, who was seated just beyond the Young Master.
'Five for me... Five for her... Thirty... Forty total... Twenty Silver Coins each! So we are getting paid!' Just when Rika was about to cheer, 'WAIT! We're drinking with OUR money? What? No!! But I can't ask for it, can I? This is...'