The Glimpse of My Past

DISCLAIMER

Any reproduction, distribution, or usage of this work in whole or excerpt form, in any online or offline media, using technology now known or hereafter invented including photocopying, mobile technology, and recording are all forbidden without written and signed permission from the author.

The story is written in English and contains mature scenes not suitable for seventeen years old and below. All characters and events in this book are products of the author's imagination and have no relation to any namesake. All incidents in this body of work are entirely fictional and are in no way related to anyone who is known or unknown to the author.

Plagiarism is a crime and therefore, punishable by law.

Copyright, Nihc Ronoel

All Rights Reserved 2020

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PROLOGUE

I didn't know where these men would take me and what was their sole purpose in abducting me. They just blindfolded my eyes and dragged me inside whatever car they have. As the rope began to hurt my wrists behind my back, fear suddenly crept me out while raising panic about what would be my fate in their hands.

Estimating them to be about five, I couldn't help but cringe when some fingers ran through my arms as if they were caressing every inch of my skin. Their laughter seemed to be the start of my filthy misfortune like hell was just right in the corner ready to attack me. I kept on struggling and screaming until they covered my mouth with a foul-smelling cloth that made me feel dizzy. After a few seconds, I lost consciousness.

I woke up with something on top of my body. Soon enough, I realized that it wasn't actually something... it was someone. Someone's head was resting on my chest, sniffing throughout. I no longer had a blindfold on my eyes, but my mouth was covered with something that prevented me to scream all out loud. I tried my best to squirm, but my hands were also tied to the headboard of the bed, making me feel so restless.

The surroundings were so dark that I couldn't see anything. Even the face of the man who was currently on top of me was so vague that I could not even see him. But there was one thing I was sure of, he was completely out of his mind-a crazy person. I got shocked when his body began to move, removed the cover from my mouth, cupped my face, and kissed my lips without even uttering a single word. The kisses were light at first until he bit me harder.

Even though I was struggling and fighting to be free, I could not stand him. Apart from the fact that my hands were tied, my body seemed to be too exhausted to fight as well. I was shivering in dread and beads of sweat were covering me. Soon after, I realized that this man drank alcohol based on the reeking smell of his breath and the sour taste of his lips.

His violent kisses eventually softened, until it became intricate again. His tongue wanted to open my mouth but I didn't let him do that. He paused for a while until his two hands slid down to grasp my breasts before he effortlessly tore my blouse. After that, he poured kisses on my face, down to my tender neck... until his lips reached my soft cleavage.

"P-Please... d-don't do this. I beg you!" My voice was shaking while pleading for him-silently praying that he would realize some sense not to continue the mortal sin that he was about to do. I could feel nothing but blind terror. I ended up hoping that everything was not actually happening and was only a cruel joke.

He did not speak and just removed the remaining cloth that covered my breasts. It seemed like nothing could stop him from sucking my right peak while his palm was doing its job to ravage the left.

As his sticky tongue licked every part of me, I didn't have any choice but to shed tears and sob. He was full of lust and with my condition now, I could do nothing to fight back. So tonight, it was all the end for me. This stranger would get my most valued treasure... and this nightmare would surely change my life forever.

Diane's P.O.V.

The examination week would start tomorrow. As usual, my brain was empty because it was quite hard for me to study. It was my last year in college. I had to pass the eight exams with the complex pre-board test and two thesis defenses. It was like finding a needle in the haystack, but those would finally complete my course in Accountancy.

It was indeed satisfying to think that in just a little time, I would be able to fulfill my goals one by one, most especially my dreams for my family. They were my inspirations on each passing day. They were the reason why giving up was never an option for me, so I just kept on getting up in life's every battle.

Life was difficult and painful. It was a land of suffering, not to mention that it was indeed unfair. But after all, I chose to be optimistic. Everything would change depending on how you viewed life, and I was not the kind of person that would focus on problems. I focused on the solutions.

Just a little more patience, Diane. You can do it! You will graduate on time.

It was hard to be a college student in the morning and a dancer at night... but we were not born with a silver spoon, so I had to be a working student. Earning money was my topmost priority, and that was the reason why I had to study and work at the same time. Oftentimes, I had almost no sleep at all, but I just lived with it because I had to save money for the future.

Besides, I had two siblings who were studying too: one in fourth-year high school, and the other one was in grade six. We were young when our father left us-I was only twelve by then. Ever since our father died, Mom had gotten ill, and she would sometimes become bedridden. Somehow, I was still grateful that Dad was a police officer, and he left us with our own house to live in. At least, it had lessened our overall expenses.

Honestly, I did not want to be a club dancer. But that was the only night job that apart from helping me to provide for my siblings to study, was also able to continue Mom's daily medication needs.

She has high blood pressure, and that illness used to attack her almost every week. It was hard to be the eldest, but for their sake, I was willing to sacrifice and do everything. I could get tired, but giving up should never be included in my vocabulary. If I gave up, what about them? My siblings were too young to suffer, and I didn't want that to happen.

A little sway of flaunting curves from my gorgeous body means nothing because the customers would not be able to see my face. They could only watch me while dancing on the stage, but they did not have the authority to touch me. I was wearing a mask here in the club, so they would not be able to know me except for the staff here.

Aunt Lucy, the owner of the club, was my Mom's college buddy, and that was our terms before I signed the contract before I became a dancer here. I should not be also included in the girls who lured themselves on the table, and I would not wear any scantily-clad clothes that would reveal every inch of my skin.

Some people would say that I was very demanding, knowing that I was the one asking for a job, but I was conservative. Not all club dancers were paid to go and fuck with customers. I wasn't counted in those go-all-the-way dancers. I was different and would be forever convicted to my principle-that would be giving my body to the man I loved.

Although many customers liked me to be at their tables, I would not give in to their amends. Even if they were ready to spend millions of tips, I still ignored them. Someone once approached me and offered me a golden pair of necklace and wristwatch for a one-night stand, but I ended up walking out. I was on the verge of smashing his face around.

But above all these, I allowed one avid customer to talk to me, and that was none other than Leandro.

"Clariz, you are next!" I heard Martina shouted at the dressing room door.

I just nodded while taking care of my things and segregating the other dancer's outfits as if it was my responsibility. While some were keepers, other dancers here were such a mess when it came to their dresses and shoes. A variety of glittering clothes, sandals, and boxes of makeup were scattered all over the floor, so it was difficult to look for their specific things, most especially when they needed those.

Here at Lucy's Club, we were not allowed to reveal our real names. It was in favor of me to fully hide my identity. That Martina who called me? Her real name was Maria Bettina, and she was the only one who doesn't like me here. It was because Aunt Lucy always favored me, even though I had so many requests.

Anyway, Clariz was my second name, and I didn't know what was her trip to always call me by my real name-when my nickname here should be Claire. Sometimes, I would just ignore her and laugh at her secretly, but there was one time that I confronted and asked her what her problem was. She said nothing but continued to be a bully. She was so insecure.

Martina had so many issues in life! She never ran out of issues. Even though it was a small issue starting from losing her cheap face powder, she would like to make it a bigger one. Aside from me, she would also bully the new dancers and waitresses in the club. But I guessed I was the one who she loathed the most more than anyone.

The main reason? Because I was sexier and much younger than her. My hair was shiny compared to her dull hair full of bleach, breakage, and split ends. Also, Martina liked Leandro ever since-that no matter how hard I tried to deny and forget about it, I knew for a fact that he liked me.

From the dressing room, I went to the course that would take me to the stage. I seemed to be doing a fashion show ramp while the spotlight and the eyes of the customers were only focused on me.

Of course, perverted guys would look at me like I was a piece of meat, but I always ended up snubbing them since that was what they could just do. After all, they could only look at my body. They could never claim me.

Wearing my black mask, short ripped-denim shorts that fitted my long thighs, four-inch high heels that I got comfortably used to wear while dancing, and a silver cropped-top sleeveless, I positioned myself in the middle of the stage and began to sway in a piece of seductive music. My shoulder-length hair was slightly curled at the bottom and freely loose over my shoulder, which added heat to my already sultry look.

I grabbed the pole and started to bend, dance, and spin around it. Pole dancing was my mastery, and my delicate skin seemed to be always harmonizing with it. This was one of the main reasons why most customers liked me. Pole dancing was new in their eyes, and because I was the only one doing pole dancing here, they could never get enough of me.

But as much as everyone here dared to woo me and win my heart, I did not even fall into one of them. Not even Leandro, because I only considered him as a friend.

Leandro James Evangelista was a twenty-five-year-old young businessman of this generation. At his age, he was undeniably a very successful one while managing his own business.

Handsome. Hardworking. Wealthy. Those were the perfect words to describe him. You would never be ashamed to introduce Leandro to your family and friends. He was the type of guy who was unquestionably good-looking-someone who seemed to be the boy-next-door type and a matinée heartthrob. As in, I could say that Leandro was indeed a boyfriend material.

But despite everything, I didn't like him. I just couldn't like him.

You can't force your heart to like someone just because they like you, right?

I didn't know the reason why. Perhaps, it was because my radar could sense a bit of his arrogance-most especially when he opened his mouth to boast about the things he already achieved in life. What I didn't like the most was conceited. He might just treat me like a trophy that he won in a contest when he introduced me to his family and friends.

Some other girls might like Leandro right away. But for me? I didn't feel a little bit about him every time we were together, aside from being a friend. There was no such thing as an incredible spark and a strange leap over the chest. There were no butterflies in the stomach, and I could not feel that I was on cloud nine whenever I see him. I didn't feel that way about him. Just casual. It was just right.

I knew that I was looking for something else, and I had not seen it yet. It was something people say that you would automatically feel when you laid eyes on that special someone. Maybe, it was an eccentric heartbeat that would make everything around you completely stop.

Minutes went by in a blur, I did not realize that my dance number was finally over. I guessed my position above the pole took a little while longer. I carefully slid down, conditioned myself to stand straight, smiled, and bowed to the audience. Loud applause soon followed.

Going backstage and about to get straight to the dressing room, someone suddenly grabbed my right wrist and quickly pulled me into the darker side that was less visible to anyone passing by from that corner. I got scared, making my heart lurch.

Diane's P.O.V.

"Claire, can we talk?" A familiar voice asked.

"Oh! It's just you, Leandro. You've startled me." I smiled... half-anxious, and half-surprised. Even Leandro did not know my real name, and I had no intention of revealing that to him.

Although I didn't like him, I still tried to be nice to him as much as possible. For me, he was still a friend that I had to properly deal with. After all, we had been friends for two years. But I couldn't deny the fact that it was awkward for him to just grab me without a word and pulled me into this dark corner.

"When will you give your 'yes' to me?" He asked me straight to the point and as if his eyes were glued at me.

My forehead creased into a furrow. Wait, what?

That made me avert my gaze because I did not know how to look at him. In the first place, I never allowed him to court me. Right from the start, I already made it clear that all I wanted to do with him was entirely friendship-nothing more and nothing less.

But why would he bother to ask such a question when he already knew the answer?

Leandro was only making it hard for me because he was very enthusiastic and persistent in pursuing me as if giving up would never be an option. That alone made me feel sick about him.

Suddenly, my head hurt so I closed my eyes and heaved a deep sigh. This was one of his qualities I truly disliked about him. He always had this manipulative attitude that was not easy to get along with. He was undoubtedly possessive, and there was no question to that.

He was almost perfect, but what made him a major turn-off was his obsession and controlling attitude that suffocated me whenever I was with him. He was choking me, and if it was already the worst part, how much more if he already became my boyfriend? He might lock me up in the house.

And the way how he was grasping me right now? He looked like someone who would never accept any defeat. He seemed to be owning me when I didn't want to be owned by anybody. For Leandro, everything he liked was something he could surely own, and no one could ever take that away from him. I wasn't a thing he could possess anytime he wanted.

"Wait, Leandro..." I appealed.

As I gently removed my hand from him because it quite hurts due to the intensity of his grip, I sweated with fear. He would like to hold me again, but I backed away from him.

"Right from the start, haven't I declared that you don't have to expect anything from me? I don't want to be rude, but what I could only give you was entirely friendship. I'm sorry, " I apologetically told him.

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, but his ego was screaming more. Besides, it would be better for me to slap him with the truth than for him to expect a lie. I didn't want him to rely on something that would never happen. I didn't want him to assume that what we have was mutual understanding because it wasn't.

"I'll go ahead. I have to time out early, " I bade him goodbye.

I turned around and started to step away from him, but I felt that he still followed me until he grabbed my left arm-causing me to face him again. It was a bit tighter compared to the previous one, and with my rosy-white skin, I was sure that my arm would turn red from his grip. It made me bite my lower lip.

"Leandro!" I fidgeted. He was almost crushing my bones.

"Why don't you like me, Claire? What is it that you dislike about me, and I will soon change it? I just don't get it. You know what? There are so many girls out there who are prettier and more professional than you, but I only want you. I could date lawyers and even the highest-paid celebrities, but I still keep on thinking about you. It was still you."

He seemed to swallow a lump on his throat as his Adam's apple went up and down before he continued, "Please, Claire... please! Allow me to be your boyfriend, and I will take you out of this club right now. I will support you financially to the point that you no longer need to work your ass just to earn money. I will pay for your siblings' tuition fees and even for your Mom's medication needs. I promise to do anything, Claire. I will love you until the end, just say yes!" He pleaded with frowns all over his forehead.

But the way he said those words was telling me that he commands more than he pleases.

I shook my head out of frustration. "It's not that easy, Leandro... and I especially do not have to depend on anyone for me to put food on the table. I don't need someone who will pay for my family's needs because it was indeed my responsibility. So please, just let me go." I tried to be at ease as much as possible.

Trying to pull my arm away from him, he did not even want to loosen his clutch on it. My legs were wobbly with fear about what he was doing to me, but I couldn't show him my fragility.

So, I used that as an opportunity to continue what I wanted to tell him even though it might break him in the end. "What you are doing to me right now makes me want to hate you, Leandro. For the umpteenth time, I'll tell you this-I only liked you as a friend."

"And just like what you have said, you're right! Many girls outside this club are way much prettier, sexier, more educated, and some were even rich like you. So why me, Leandro? Why bother to waste your time with a dancer like me when you can have a lawyer girlfriend in just a snap of your fingers? You can even choose between an actress and an elite businesswoman-the kind of girlfriend that you can be proud of in front of everyone! So please, let me go... you're hurting me, " I said the last three words meekly.

As I begged for him, he finally let go of my arm. I worriedly looked at it because I was sure that it became reddish, even though I could not see it clearly due to the darkness lurking around this place.

Leandro fixed his necktie first, then looked at me straight in the eyes. "I will try to kill my feelings for you, Claire... but I can't promise not to follow you ever again. I have eyes and ears everywhere. That way, I'm going to protect you whether you like it or not!" Those were his last words before he turned around and finally left.

What is he talking about? So, he follows me wherever I go?

Dread crept me up as my heart hammered inside my chest. I could not help but become nervous about the last words he declared. Leandro had been my friend for two years that I had been working here at Lucy's Club, and I didn't want that friendship to go to waste just because of his one-sided feelings.

Treating him as a friend, I let him see my face underneath the mask and also shared with him some personal matter about me. It includes how I was working damn real hard in order to provide for my family's needs. He was nice and understanding at first, but he was a lot different now. I couldn't imagine how his selfish love, or should I say, his obsession made him such a monster. He had his own definition of love and affection, which was far from the true meaning of those words.

Ever since he realized that he doesn't only think of me as a friend, the realization also hit me that I was no longer comfortable every time I was with him. It would sometimes make me think about what he was capable of doing, especially when we were just the two of us together.

Well, I quite didn't know the meaning of his last words, and I didn't want to give a big deal out of his actions, but his words just gave me the creeps. I just closed my eyes trying to dismiss everything that he confessed to me.

Not in the mood to take away the mask on my face, I still removed it. I was on my way to the corridor where the dressing room could be found when suddenly, my attention was caught by the mysterious shadow of a man who seemed to be looking in my direction.

I narrowed my eyes trying to figure out who that man was.

"Leandro?"