Save Me, Mister

*JAMIN*

       “Have you seen Caesar lately?”

  My co-worker, Frank asked as we both lifted bottles crates from a truck and into the warehouse.

        “No.”

Then again, I really haven’t seen him in months. Caesar used to work some part time gigs with Frank and I.

        “I had found it suspicious that he left the group chat two months ago but…”

I frowned. “He did?” I asked, surprised.

     “Fuck! Jam, is work and school the only thing on your mind?”

Yeah, I was always too busy to notice anything else.

    Frank dropped his crate. “I ran into him yesterday but before that, I had across his i*******m page.” He announced, signaling me to drop my crate and come over.

I sighed, do we really have the time to gossip like this?

      But as he turned his screen to my face, I immediately dropped my crate and grabbed the phone.

        “This…this is Caesar?!”

         “Yep.”

Fuck!

He was dressed in flashy clothes, taking pictures in expensive looking cars. Some of the pictures showed he was on vacation.

How…Caesar was like one of us. Always broke with no support system.

I had met him when I got into college and since then I’ve always seen him working his ass off just like I do.

I think he said he was an orphan or something.

         “How…did this…did his father come for him? You know…like this movies, when your long lost super rich dad suddenly comes back?” I asked, confused.

Frank laughed. “More like sugar daddy.”

            “What do you mean?”

           “Like I said, I ran into him yesterday at a bar I was working at. He was with this older looking guy and you know, I could not hide my curiosity. I approached him when he went to the restroom and asked him straight up about what he’s been up to. And surprisingly, he didn’t hide anything from me. He even advised me to join his new line of work, that fucker!”

              “So what’s he doing now?”

             “Apparently, there’s this app called SM.” Frank moved closer and whispered. “He said the app is filled with rich men who are willing to pay any amount for a boy toy.”

I gasped. “What?!”

           “Shocking, right? So Caesar shamelessly sold himself.”

I knew I shouldn’t ask this but I had to.

        “So how much is he being paid?”

         “10k dollars per session according to him.”

         “Is that like per month or what?”

         “No. Anytime his master calls him, per night, per day. So if he goes sees the master four times in a month, that’s like 40k.”

My jaw dropped.

   Frank scoffed. “Sounds too good to be true, right? He even said there are other benefits, like getting to ride in expensive cars, eat good food and sometimes, his master takes him on trips.”

Yeah, sounds too fucking good to be true.

          “There’s no way…”

           “I thought so too but my curiosity got me checking the app out. It really exists, man. I almost got tempted to try it out but I’m straight as fuck. And the thought of selling myself doesn’t really sit well with me.”

10k per session?

           “What are you punks doing over there? Get back to work!” And that was the manager’s thunderous voice.

  We quickly grabbed our crates and continued working.

************

    As I walked home that night, the only thing on my mind was.

“10k per session”

      With my numerous part time jobs, I barely make quarter of that in a month.

And it wasn’t even 10k per month!

It could be more, depending on how many times you meet the person.

Damn.

Was I seriously considering selling myself right now?

I would be doing things with a man.

Was I even gay?

I don’t know.

I’ve watched a few BL stuff, I’ve also watched straight stuff, what does that make me?

I still didn’t know.

You see, when you’re deep in debts, you have literally no time to explore your sexuality.

Yeah, I was a fucking virgin.

I’ve just been trying since as long as I can remember, to stay alive, pay up as much as I can, finish school, get a good job and maybe I could finally finish paying off those debts.

But how much would it be by then?

I don’t even know how much I owe at this point.

When they first came to me, they said I owe a million dollars.

    Sometime ago, it had become four million.

Anytime they catch me, it somehow climbs higher and higher.

What sort of interest was that?!

Was this a chance, maybe?

Paying back more than 10k a month would surely lessen my debts and maybe lessen the beating as well.

No!

I shouldn’t.

I can’t just sell myself. It wasn’t right.

      “Hello, pretty boy.” Someone called from behind me.

All the hairs on my body stood up as I recognized that voice.

It was Hawk. The leader of the loan sharks!

      Without a second thought, I broke into a run.

      “You…wait right there!” They thundered as I heard their footsteps behind me.

No shit.

        “I get paid next week. I’ll send you the money!” I yelled as I continued to run.

That doesn’t even stop them from beating me up though.

          “We’re tired of your peanuts! Stop fucking running!”

And get beat up?

No thanks.

I had barely recovered from the last one. I ran as if my life depended on it because frankly, it did.

    I led them far away from my neighborhood, I had pretty gotten used to running away from them.

Sometimes, I get caught. Sometimes, I get lucky.

      I ran through different corners and alleys, bursting into a busy street.

   I briefly looked back, there was no sign of them. I think I lost them but I couldn’t let my guard down now. I continued running, using other shortcuts I knew to get to my house.

    As I got closer to my house, I stood beside a wall and took a peek around, making sure I wasn’t followed. Then I hurried up the stairs and into the small rooftop room I could barely afford.

  Getting in, I quickly locked my door. I really hoped they didn’t follow me. It had been hard to get the room three months ago, I literally had to sleep anywhere I could find.

  If they render me homeless again, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself. I grabbed the duvet and spread it on the floor then laid on it to catch my breath.

      My stomach grumbled.

Damn it! I ate this afternoon, I wasn’t supposed to feel hungry by nighttime.

Fuck those loan sharks!

  Running away from them had exhausted the energy I was saving until tomorrow.

   Sighing, I sat up. I should distract myself as well as my stomach by doing some assignments.

   I dragged myself to my desk and sat down, grabbed my bag and brought out my notes.

        “10k per session.” Those words ran through my head again.

My teeth clenched.

It was only a matter of time before those men find out where I live, only a matter of time before I get roughened up and thrown into the streets again.

Perhaps if I start paying them in huge amounts, they might stop stalking me to my house.

I might have a little bit of peace.

Still, it was wrong to sell myself, wasn’t it?

But should I be concerned about what was right or wrong right now?

My dignity?

  I really can’t use the dignity card right now.

What has my dignity ever done for me?

Nothing.

Hmm.

    Sadistic masters, huh.

I brought out my cellphone and did a quick research on what being a sadist was all about.

    They love to inflict pain on others?

That means I could be getting all sorts of pain and humiliation in exchange for money?

But I hate getting beat up.

  Then again, I’ve been getting beaten for so long and for free. If I get beat up for cash this time, wouldn’t that be worth it?

I knew I wasn’t thinking straight right now but I was already on my way to d******d the app.

   I downloaded it and tried to log in.

But I gotta pay?!

First month-50 dollars. Subsequent month-100 dollars.

Seriously? Why wasn’t it free?!

What if I don’t find anyone? What if I change my mind?

Then my 50 dollars would be gone!

I only have 79 dollars to my name right now.

Ugh!

I have to do this. Good things don’t come easily and this 50 dollars might be worth it.

  And then I ruefully inputted my payment details and watched devastatingly as 50 dollars was removed from my account.

  After recovering from that, I successfully logged into the app.

What greeted my eyes were profiles of so many people.

Damn!

A lot of people were really into this shit.

Some of the sadist’s profiles had their faces, some had pictures of other things and some had explicit photos.

I came across some with six to eight-pack abs.

Wow.

Look at those packs…this men are…

I paused realizing I was gushing.

Okay, I might be gay.

     The profiles also contained the prices they were offering to pay.

Some even pay as low as 500$?

Why would I accept that to get beaten?

Well, I do get beaten for free by those loan sharks though.

But this…this was different.

The price ranged from as low as 500 to 10,000.

   I have to get someone offering 10k.

Yeah, I had become so greedy in a few hours.

  I came across a profile, it was just a black picture.

I read the brief description.

Name: Mister.

Amount: 10k per session.

I frowned. That was it?

Some descriptions went into details about themselves and what they liked to do.

But then one thing I noticed on the app was that 10k was hard to come by. So I have to try my luck with this one.

I sent some messages.

Me:[Hello]

[I’m Jamin Reid, I’d like to become your pet]

Fuck! I can’t believe I’m typing this.

Do I really want to be someone’s pet?

No!

I shouldn’t think deeply about it.

I already paid 50 dollars.

    No reply came.

What if this person already has a pet?

Maybe I should try messaging other people?

   I laid back on my duvet and continued scrolling through the app but finding another “10k” was difficult.

I was seeing more of below 5k.

The way Frank explained it, I thought everyone on here would be offering 10k.

    My phone beeped.

I quickly sat up.

The “10k” replied.

Weird to call someone that.

The mister replied.

I quickly tapped on the message.

Mister: [How old are you?]

[I prefer my pets, 25 and above]

My eyes dilated.

25 and above?!

I’m freaking twenty-two!.