Just because there are fewer customers doesn’t mean there are fewer things to do. But I can’t let the burden show on my face. I have to look around and be considerate.
A new customer—a heavy-set, greasy-looking guy—ducked in out of the rain, pulling his attendant with him. He did seem to frequent brothels, though. When I showed a girl to his table, he casually dropped an unsavory joke. He wore nice clothes. I figured he had money—and lots of it.
I greeted him on Madam’s behalf and served him a drink. He didn’t seem very interested when he eyed my modest chest, which was actually a relief. There were lots of girls with big breasts around today.
About the time he started appraising the girls as they ate and drank, I said hello again. And I told him something for his ears only.
“Our number-one girl’s room is currently available.” I introduced Kizuha by explaining that she had important government officials and high-ranking military officers among her patrons. Lots of men judged girls not by their looks, but by who else liked them—especially guys who seemed to have money and status. Of course, I added that she had a large chest.
“Ooh.”
I save the price for last. Some people don’t even let me say it. If they frequent brothels they already have an idea what the going rate is, and the shop is also a place for men to socialize. They are probably already thinking about the next time they’ll come.
“What do you think?”
“Okay, I’ll go.”
This one didn’t ask the price. He would be a good customer for sure. Next time he came, I would have the girls line up to greet him.
Great. I can leave the rest to Kizuha. She can satisfy anyone. She really does a great job. And she hasn’t had anyone in two days, so she’ll probably be happy, too.
I was so relieved I let my guard down, but the customer came clomping right back down the stairs.
“Hey, what the fuck? What’s with that girl?” He pointed at me and glared with a bright red face.
I had no idea what was going on, so I panicked. “Uh, what’s wrong?”
“I’m asking you what’s with that girl! She’s the best you’ve got?! I’ve never been so insulted in my life. Who does that little whore think I am?”
“Umm, I’m sorry, I can take you to another girl’s room right away.”
“You mean your second or third best? You think I’m gonna sleep with any of the women in this shop? What kind of chump do you take me for? I’m out of here!”
I really didn’t understand. After bowing repeatedly to see the customer off, I rushed up to the second floor.
There was the blue door at the end of the hallway. It was this shop’s biggest room. I knocked, a bit nervous. No answer. Fine. I’ll just open it, then.
“Kizuha?”
The fragrance of flowers wafted out, and I felt a dull pain in my eyes, like all the colors of the loudly painted walls and the stacks of rugs spread across the floor were pressing in on them.
Clothes, accessories, hats—all from men. They were all gorgeous but arranged so neatly they looked as if they had never been worn. There were so many colors, I felt uneasy. I worried I would drown in them.
She was in her bed. Her legs hung sloppily open, and she was sipping a cup of blood. There was a big hand print on her face. The customer had slapped her.
“Kizuha, you can’t do that. We can’t have you getting marks on your face.”
She was our poster girl, number one above all of us. She was a spoiled handful, but the one supporting the shop was her.
Smirking with the other half of her lips, she traced her cheek with a finger and said, “Oh, this’ll be gone by tomorrow. It’s no problem.”
It is a problem. What are you going to do for the rest of tonight? You told me to find you customers, and this is what I get?
“...What did you do to that customer?”
“Nothing. I just said what he looked like. And I told him I would hate to have a guy like him fuck me.”
“What the heck? Did you really say that?”
Her job was the one thing she took seriously. Or more like, sex work was all she did.
She could handle any guy. She fucked them like she meant it. Even the guys that creeped the rest of us out a bit, she would really fall for in bed. I heard she even cried when they left. That was how she bewitched customer after customer—with her looks and love. She could make any man her captive. Madam said that she had been a prostitute since she was born.
“Why would you do that...?”
“I wasn’t in the mood. Should I not have?”
Kizuha looked at my upset face and laughed. She seemed to actually find it funny. She was drunk on blood. Plastered. So even I got irritated.
I think she made the customer angry on purpose to mess with me.
“What’s the matter, Lupe? Are you mad?”
I bit my lip and endured. If I blew up at her, I would be out of luck.
“Please just do your job. There aren’t many customers tonight. Want me to do your makeup?”
I wasn’t sure if I could find another customer for her or if someone good would even come to the shop, all things including the weather considered, but I had to make sure she earned some money tonight. Otherwise I’d really be in trouble.
The past few days had been horrible. If this is what happens when Madam leaves, I’ll never—
“No! I said I’m not in the mood, didn’t I? I’m taking some time off. You go ahead and work hard at your own job.” When I went to touch her, she swatted my hand away and turned with a pout.
I can’t get mad. She’s only teasing me. If I get mad, I’ll be doing exactly what she wants. But I’m sick of this.
“Then get out of here. This shop doesn’t need girls who won’t sleep with customers. You can’t do anything but sex work either, so don’t act so spoiled.”
Kizuha looked up at me in surprise and furrowed her brow.
I was a little shaken up myself, the way my mouth went off like that, but I pursed my lips and stood up to her.
“Huh? Who do you think you’re talking to, Lupe?”
“To you. You’re being a real brat. I even brought you a customer today. How could you chase him off like that? I did my best and you—”
“Oh, who cares about that? You said you don’t need me. What’s that supposed to mean? Are you serious?”
That pissed me off. You don’t get to decide who cares about what! Don’t look down on us all like you’re the only one in the world with any value! Who do you think set it up so you can hole up in a special room like this?
“A prostitute who won’t sleep with a man is worthless. That goes for you, too.”
I was saying horrible things. In trying to hurt Kizuha, I flung words that came back and hurt me, too. My chest tightened, and tears spilled. Even if I wanted to apologize, my mouth wouldn’t form the words.
Kizuha shoved my shoulder, pushing me into the wall. I covered my face and cried.
“Are you stupid? If I leave, what’ll be worthless is this shop!”
There was nothing I could say to that; I just sobbed.
I am stupid. I’m inadequate. Somehow I managed to wring out an, “I’m sorry.”
Kizuha sighed and struck the wall behind me. “Smile,” she threatened in a low voice. I was so scared my shoulders shook. Kizuha glared at me like a wild animal. “I said, smile! That’s what the mama’s role is—to smile and gloss things over! Like always!”
I heard someone cracking up downstairs. Even if there weren’t many customers, the girls were doing their best to make the atmosphere fun.
I had to smile, too. But my throat kept spasming, and the tears wouldn’t stop.
Kizuha clicked her tongue. “Never mind. You can go. Just remember that I’m not sleeping with any customers for a while—I mean it.”
She pulled me away from the wall and kicked my butt. I trudged back to the noisy pub.
The next day, Chiba was sitting out in front of the shop. He was facing away from the door humming a song I’d never heard. I kneed his back.
“Ow!” He turned around in surprise and then immediately grinned. “Morning!”
When he stood up, I kneed the back of his leg.
“What, what? What are you doing?” He thought I was joking around.
I’m furious.
But because he smiled at me, I was able to smile for the first time that day, so I forgave him.
“Holy crap. Sometimes cake tastes really fucking good. There are lots of guys who hate sweets, but I like ’em. I guess because I’m the type that understands how women feel. Yum.”