Chapter 3 Surprised Friend

"I don't believe you, Peter," Tom said, still standing in front of Peter.

Peter smiled, seeing the look of disbelief on Tom's face.

"It's okay if you don't believe me, but it's the truth, Tom. I didn't sleep with any woman for money," Peter said.

Tom crossed his arms, staring at Peter in awe as night fell.

"The truth is, I saw this beautiful young lady today, struggling with a shopping bag. I offered to help, but she refused, saying I stank. And guess what?" Peter looked at Tom, who stood speechless in front of the closed shops.

"She opened her red purse and threw a hundred-dollar bill at me, just like that. She said I should buy new clothes because I stink," Peter said, shaking his head at the memory.

"What? Just like that?" Tom asked, finally sitting beside Peter on the bench.

However, Peter shifted away again, surprising Tom, who laughed. "Wait, Peter. Just because you bought new clothes, you're avoiding me now? Really?"

Tom wasn't annoyed, and Peter laughed, standing up and looking back at Tom, who remained seated.

Peter said, "What did you expect, Tom? That I'd sit with you and let you soak me with sweat?"

Tom frowned, seeing Peter was serious.

Peter said, "I was just telling you I was insulted by this pretty young lady, and you thought it was a joke that she just gave me money. It's not."

Peter looked away, not sitting back down, and Tom said, "It's okay, Peter. I believe you now."

Tom knew Peter was handsome, fair-skinned, and attractive, and that many women both young and old shamelessly approached him for a relationship, wanting him as their boyfriend, but Peter always refused.

Tom had even seen women offering Peter money to sleep with them, but Peter rejected it, saying he couldn't sleep with a woman for money, which Tom couldn't understand.

They were poor and couldn't afford rent. Tom knew Peter was a graduate from a federal university, but because Peter couldn't find a good job, his former friends, who were fraudsters, had rejected him. Furthermore, Peter didn't want to return to his village empty-handed.

Tom knew that if he were the one getting offers from different women for a one-night stand, he would accept. He was suffering daily and wasn't a graduate like Peter, because the city was hard.

Tom sat and stared at Peter, then shook his head. "You're a lucky man, Peter. But most men in your shoes would be using these women who are offering their services freely. They'd sleep with them, take their money, and dump them. It's not like the women are asking you to marry them. You're really missing out, man. Honestly, if I were you, and getting these proposals, I would've left this slum long ago," Tom said.

"Hmm," Peter sighed, walking back to the bench and sitting beside Tom. He stared at the busy road and the exotic cars.

"Well, that's you, Tom, not me. I can't sleep with a woman for money. Before I left the village, my mom advised me not to fall for any woman offering to be my sugar mama. Mom always said I'd lose my respect as a man if I let a woman work and feed me while I relax. No matter what I do, I'll never progress if I'm being tossed around by a woman."

"Shut up, Peter! How about now that you're not with a woman? Aren't you being tossed around every day already? Imagine a lady just gave you a hundred dollars without you doing anything. Why would she give you that much money if she didn't admire you? Look, no woman just gives money to a man like that, never!" Tom exclaimed, and Peter sighed.

"It's alright, Tom. I saw in her eyes that she admired me at first, but when she sensed I stank, she threw the cash at me. So maybe you're right. If I was ugly, she wouldn't have helped me," Peter agreed sadly.

"That's what I'm saying, Peter. Explore these ladies now that you have the chance. Before you die of poverty. Chai! If you see another lady disturbing you or asking you for a night, please link me to her, Peter, and let me become her puppet," Tom begged.

"No," Peter said, shaking his head.

"Seriously, Peter, if you don't help me with this, we're no longer friends," Tom glared at Peter, who stared back in shock.

"You can't be serious, Tom. So you want me to be duping the ladies and becoming a prostitute? What's the difference between you and my former friends who were fraudsters?" Peter questioned, but Tom shook his head. "This isn't fraud, Peter. The ladies have agreed to help you and move you out of poverty. You'll be warming her bed, too. It's different from fraud, where you didn't offer any services, but only scammed her. In this, you're being paid for the service you render," Tom emphasized, but Peter still shook his head. "No. I can't do that."

"Oh, Peter! I can't believe I'm advising an English graduate on something so simple," Tom said frustratedly, standing up.

Peter said, "I can't become a male prostitute, Tom. Never! This conversation is over. If you want to cut me off, fine! I don't care, and I'll never be a woman's puppet. If I see another woman looking for a male prostitute, I'll recommend you, bye, but count me out."

Peter stood up and started walking away, leaving Tom speechless.

"Okay, Peter. That's fine. I'll be expecting my first contract job of sleeping with a woman!" Tom shouted after Peter.

Peter shook his head and paused.

"Are you serious about becoming a male prostitute?" Peter asked, walking back to Tom.

"What do you expect, man? I'm not a graduate like you, and I'm from a poor family. This year, I'll be thirty, and yet no wife, no car, no house, and you're getting proposals from pretty women."

"Just note that if you see any woman who proposes to you, tell her you have a handsome, dark-skinned friend with a big dick who will service her however she wants, and you can contract me. I'm ready to start immediately," Tom said.

"What!" Peter exclaimed, laughing in shock.

"You can't be serious?" Peter said, but Tom ignored him and climbed onto the pavement.

Tom still wanted to run errands, even though it was night, carrying people's loads to their cars.

"I'm serious, Peter. Just one night with a rich woman will change my life forever. That's what some young ladies do here, servicing a rich man for money. Life isn't fair, Peter, and we must strive to survive. So I'll be expecting the contract. I have to run now, before it gets too late. Let me see if I can get some extra cash," Tom said, and Peter replied, "Okay."