Chapter One
A Golden Opportunity
Ju-Won first saw the car from
a distance, snaking its way slowly down the mountain path, the sun reflecting
off the shiny metal. After stopping in the center of her small town, a large, well-dressed
white man stepped out of the vehicle to greet the friendly, curious villagers. He
seemed like a jolly fellow, shaking hands and smiling with
bright American teeth. When it was Ju-Won's turn to say hello to the stranger, he
shook her hand and looked deeply into her eyes.
The elders of the town took
the visitor to their modest Buddhist temple which was the oldest building in
the town. It was the place where Ju-Won's father and generations of her family
would come to sit quietly before the statue of Buddha and pray. The American
declined the offer to take his shoes off and visit the temple. Instead, he
returned to the town square. He spoke in English and Ju-Won translated for her
parents. The man said he worked for a non-profit organization that helped poor
students receive special scholarships to study in the United States. He called
it a work-study program. The students who were chosen would receive a free
education and even have the opportunity to earn money
while attending school. The American only interviewed the prettiest girls in
the town and never gave his name.
Ju-Won was chosen along with
two other girls to receive the scholarships. She couldn't
believe her luck. Ju-Won always fantasized about visiting the United States and
dreamed of going to college, but didn't have the money
to travel and the universities in South Korea were far too expensive for her
parents to afford. Excited for the chance, she immediately signed the contract the
American gave her. The three young women were told they must leave later that
afternoon. Ju-Won's parents were very proud of their
daughter. They bowed to the American, smiled and gave thanks. Ju-Won's head was
spinning as she packed quickly for her trip. Her mother gave her the warmest
coat and the best boots to wear. Ju-Won cried, kissed her family
and promised to send money back home soon.
Before joining the others,
Ju-Won's father took her aside and spoke in Korean in a soft but serious voice.
"Do not crave the things of
this world too much, Ju-Won. Remember, all desire leads to suffering."
His simple advice brought
tears to her eyes. They embraced.
"Appa,
I will miss you."
In a whirlwind of activity,
the girls got into the fancy car. The whole village came out to the square to see
them off and wave goodbye. The car drove back up the winding mountain road.
After driving for several
hours, they arrived in the big city. Passport photos were taken and forms
filled out. The American checked the three girls into a nice hotel in Seoul while
they waited for their travel documents. All the meals were provided and paid
for by the nice American. As they were young attractive women alone in the city
for the first time, their benefactor hired a security guard to keep watch over
them as they took walks through the streets. Ju-Won preferred to stay in the
hotel room studying for the English placement exam she had to pass before
starting university in America. She always considered herself to be a serious
student.
In just a few days the
passports and student visas arrived. Ju-Won thought the process would take much
longer and asked the man how it was possible to get proper documentation so
fast. He told Ju-Won not to worry. Everything was being taken care of by his
company. All expenses were paid.
"A golden opportunity," the American
said.
When the day of their departure
arrived, Ju-Won began to have second thoughts about leaving her village and
family behind to follow this unknown stranger to the United States. Already
homesick, Ju-Won bought an expensive cup in the airport gift shop she really couldn't afford which had pictures of famous Korean Buddhist
temples laminated on the sides. She put the treasure in her purse wrapped in
tissue. After boarding the plane she felt much happier, excited to fly so high in
the sky above the clouds and start her new life. She continued studying for her
exam and several hours into her flight she fell asleep.
Upon arrival Ju-Won was
disoriented. She had no idea what time it was or what city the plane landed in.
After the women went through customs and had their passports stamped, they ate
oily Chinese food in the fancy airport. Then the man took her two friends to
different gates. They boarded their flights alone, going who knows where. Ju-Won
didn't know what was happening and began to feel confused
and afraid. The American escorted her to a gate on the other side of the
airport. When Ju-Won asked where he was taking her, the man was no longer nice.
He just dropped her off at the gate without a reply. She waited in line while
the American made a phone call several feet away. When boarding began, the
American had gone. When she had made it to the front of the line Ju-Won handed
over her boarding pass and followed the rest of the passengers through the
tunnel and onto the plane.
After the short flight, Ju-Won
heard the stewardess welcoming everyone to Portland, Oregon. She followed the crowd
off the plane and through the terminal. An old Asian woman was waiting for her at
the bottom of the escalator.
"Are you Ju-Won?" she asked.
Ju-Won nodded. The woman welcomed
her to America with a warm hug. She introduced herself as Mamasan
and they went over to baggage claim. While retrieving her suitcase, Ju-Won told
her about the mysterious man who brought her and her two friends to America on
a special scholarship, but then disappeared at the last airport. When she began
asking more questions, Mamasan explained in a quiet
voice that Ju-Won has been brought to America to work as a professional masseuse.
"What? No, there must be
some mistake," Ju-Won said. "I was told I received a scholarship to -"
"Yes, yes. You get a
scholarship," Mamasan said, interrupting her. "But before
your studies begin you must first learn a trade to make money for your family.
You rub back and skin with oil. Give healthy massage. Make clients feel happy."
Ju-Won couldn't
believe what she was hearing.
"The man didn't tell me about
this."
"Which man?"
"The American."
"You signed a contract, no?"
Ju-Won remembered she was so
excited about getting the scholarship that she didn't
read the papers.
"Yes, but I didn't realize
what I was signing. I left my family behind to come here."
"You will make new family
here. All the girls are very nice at Lucky Flower."
"I don't know anything about
massage."
"Oh, it's easy," Mamasan said, smiling. "You're a smart girl. I will train
you. You make good money to send home. Your family needs money, no?"
Ju-Won nodded.
"You'll be happy here, you'll
see. I treat you just like my own daughter. Come along, Ju-Won."
The old lady started walking
away. Standing in the airport with her suitcase in hand, Ju-Won fully comprehended
the severity of her situation. She was stranded in a foreign country with no
money to buy a ticket back home and nowhere to stay. When Ju-Won was not
following, Mamasan spoke sharply to her.
"Ju-Won, come!"
Ju-Won had no choice but to follow
Mamasan outside into the pouring rain. They left the airport
in Mamasan's car. Driving down the highway, many
thoughts drifted through her mind. She told herself everything would be ok and
tried to cheer herself up by making plans. She thought if she worked hard
enough at massage, she could send some of the money home and save up the rest
for her flight home. But she also felt sad and angry for allowing herself to be
tricked by the American. She regretted accepting the offer. Looking out of the
window, Ju-Won had never seen so much rain. It rained and rained on the way
from the airport to wherever they were going, like the sky was weeping for her.
She shut her eyes and tried to picture the white blossoms of the cherry trees
in her village. The warm coat her mother gave her had gotten wet and Ju-Won
felt cold down to her bones. The rain pelted the top of the car with a harsh
metallic sound and the sky was dark and grey.
"It's cold in Portland,"
Ju-Won said.
"It is the rainy season," Mamasan replied.
Mamasan drove the rest of the way in
silence.
The sun never shines here,
Ju-Won thought.
Chapter Two
Lucky Flower
Mamasan parked her car in front of a
strip of businesses between a dry cleaner and a liquor store, located on a busy
intersection. The door was painted with a white sign which read: Lucky Flower
Healing Massage. Ju-Won couldn't see inside the front windows.
They were painted black.
It was very
late when they arrived. Mamasan put down her
purse at a counter near the front. A few scantily-dressed women were still
awake, sitting on small couches in what looked to Ju-Won like a waiting room
area. Mamasan didn't
introduce the ladies to her. The women were staring blankly up at the TV bolted
to the wall. It was strange to Ju-Won to see their breasts and nipples completely
exposed through their sheer, revealing clothes. Despite how they looked Ju-Won
bowed out of respect, but they didn't acknowledge her
greeting. Mamasan ushered Ju-Won to a small upstairs room
and Ju-Won set down her suitcase in the corner.
"There is a clean towel on
your dresser and a shower down the hall. Get some rest, Ju-Won. Tomorrow is
your first day."
Mamasan left. Ju-Won parted the blinds
and looked out the window at the traffic below. She laid down on the bed and
fell asleep to the sound of traffic without unpacking, exhausted from her long
trip.
The next morning after her
shower, Ju-Won had tea with a few of the other employees of the massage parlor,
all dressed in lingerie. The women seemed rather unfriendly. The TV droned on. No
one spoke. After tea, Mamasan took Ju-Won to her room
and gave her the same kind of see-through underclothes the other women were wearing: white lingerie that barely covered her body, small,
pencil-thin G-String panties, nude stockings that only went up to her thighs
and heels only an indecent woman would wear. She was ashamed that the customers
would be able to see her exposed breasts, nipples and ass through the sheer material
and she asked Mamasan why she must wear such clothes.
"It is the uniform all girls
wear," Mamasan said. "Don't be shy."
Mamasan handed her some make-up, a hair brush and lipstick.
"Clients like you to look
pretty when you give massage. Give bigger tip to you. More money to send home. There
is a mirror in the hallway bathroom. And brush your hair, Ju-Won. It's a mess."
Ju-Won held her lingerie and
makeup in a state of disbelief. Mamasan clapped her
hands twice.
"We open in five minutes.
Hurry."
Ju-Won went into the
bathroom and applied the makeup. The lipstick was a deep red and the eyeshadow
a light blue. After she changed into the lingerie, she stared at herself in the
mirror.
I look like a whore.
Mamasan unlocked the front doors and
Lucky Flower was open for business. Ju-Won was told to stand next to her at the
counter near the entrance and wait for customers to arrive. The other women were
sitting on the couches and chairs in the waiting room, reading old magazines or
watching TV. Everyone looked bored. No one spoke. Ju-Won waited. Later in the
morning, a hard-looking man in a tight jacket showed up.
"Hello. Welcome to Lucky
Flower," Mamasan said in a sing-song voice, smiling.
The man nodded, completely
ignoring Mamasan and looking at Ju-Won with the eyes
of a hungry beast. He stared at her breasts which made Ju-Won cast her eyes
downward in shame.
"You ever been here? I never
see you before," Mamasan said, suddenly suspicious.
"First time here," the man
said.
"Are you a cop?"
"Hell, no. Do I look like a
cop?"
"How'd you find Lucky
Flower?"
"I saw the ad on Backpage."
Mamasan nodded. The listing was bringing
in new clients.
"You ever had massage?"
"Not here."
"Where?"
"Back in LA..."
"OK," Mamasan
said, after a pause. "Only massage here. No funny business."
"Sure. No funny business."
"You want 30 minute or 1-hour
massage?"
"One hour," he said.
"$60 dollar. Cash only. Table
shower included."
"That's what the ad said."
"Tip separate."
The man paid Mamasan and told him to pick the woman he wanted. He nodded
to Ju-Won.
"I want her. What's your name, darling?"
"Maybe next time," Mamasan said. "It's her first day. Pick another girl."
The man nodded and walked
over to the waiting room, ogling the women. He picked out a pretty masseuse
with a hard face and cold eyes. The woman put down her magazine, stood up
without a word and joined the man. Mamasan whispered
in Ju-Won's ear to follow along to watch. When the man saw Ju-Won approaching, he
turned to Mamasan.
"I'm not paying for two
girls," he said.
"No," Mamasan
said. "She's in training. She just watch."
The man gave Ju-Won a
crooked smile.
"OK, then let's give you
something to watch, honey," the man said.
He put his hand on the woman's
ass and she escorted him to one of the small private rooms in the back of the
parlor, followed by Ju-Won. There was a massage table, a chair and a small table
with some creams, oils and towels on top of it. The
woman asked the man if he was a cop and he said no again. Ju-Won had no idea
why they kept asking such a question. The woman handed the man a towel and he started
to remove his clothes in front of them. Shocked by his sudden nakedness, Ju-Won's
heart started pounding and she immediately stepped out of the room to give the
man privacy. When Ju-Won returned, the man was naked except for a towel wrapped
loosely around his waist. The woman asked the man if he wanted a table shower
and he said yes.
Ju-Won followed them down a
side hallway to the shower area. The woman casually removed the towel and the
man laid down on the table, as naked as a new born
baby. Ju-Won looked away, disturbed by the sight of the man's body. Beads of
sweat formed on her forehead from the steam of the shower. Suddenly, Ju-Won felt
very light-headed. She watched as the woman sprayed the man with water and rubbed
soap on his back, arms, legs and feet, even upon his
ass. He laid there while the soap was washed off and then he turned over on his
back. The man's penis now was now in full view. Ju-Won had never seen a man's
private part before and was the only one in the room that seemed embarrassed. Though
she had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, it was hard for her not to
look at it, hard, wet and quivering in the woman's
hands. Before casting her eyes downward, Ju-Won caught a last glimpse of the
woman washing the man's private area, sliding her hands up and down his penis
and under his scrotum area as if it were nothing but a child's toy, his shaft
growing longer and firmer in her hands as she washed the soap away. When Ju-Won
found the courage to look back, the man was standing and the woman was patting
him dry. After wrapping the towel around his waist, the woman escorted the man
out of the shower. Ju-Won followed behind, with a growing feeling of anxiety.
Back in the massage room, the
man casually handed the towel to the woman. Ju-Won cast her eyes downward again
to avoid seeing his erect penis. The man seemed amused by this. He took a step
toward Ju-Won and lifted her chin with his finger, forcing her to look into his
eyes.
"You're very pretty, honey.
Next time I'm in Portland I'll be sure to choose you," he said, placing his other
hand on the thin material barely covering her ass and giving it a squeeze.
Feeling the tip of his penis
brush against the bare skin of her upper thigh, Ju-Won took a step away from
the man to avoid further contact.
"You're a shy one, aren't
you?" he said.
"She's new," the woman replied.
"What's her name? Does she speak
English?"
"Do you want to talk or do you
want a massage?"
"Massage..."
The man laid face down on the
table and the woman placed the towel over his backside. Squeezing a generous
amount of almond-scented massage oil out of a small plastic bottle into her
palms, she began the massage. She rubbed his shoulders and neck and down his
arms and back, kneading the muscles with slippery fingers. Her hands slid under
the towel and moved it aside. Paying close attention to his ass, she rubbed the
sides of his cheeks and hips and slid her thumb through the crease of his flesh.
When the man turned over onto his back, Ju-Won could plainly see he was much
more aroused than before. His penis was fully erect, standing stiffly over his
belly. Ju-Won's trainer continued her massage, rubbing up and down the front of
his body, his arms, torso and legs, occasionally brushing
up against the large rod of hard flesh. To Ju-Won, it looked like some kind of alien creature, attached to his body but somehow
living apart from it, with thick bluish-green veins running up the sides, engorged
with blood. Ju-Won was both fascinated and repulsed by it.
"You like?" the masseuse asked.
"Shit yeah," the man replied.
"How much for a happy ending?"
"How much you want to spend?"
The man reached over to the side
table, took a 20 dollar bill out of his wallet and laid it down on a side table.
"Extra service just $40
more," she said.
The man shook his head no.
"That's all I got," he said.
The man laid back down on
the table and shut his eyes. The trainer squeezed more lotion into the palm of
her hand and began pulling and tugging on the man's penis, slow and soft at
first and then hard and fast. Although she knew it was indecent to stare at
such a thing, Ju-Won could not look away. After vigorously rubbing up and down
on the man's flesh, it was over rather quickly. The man moaned and shot his semen
out from the tip of his penis like a fountain, in several bursts. The masseuse
used the towel to catch the fluid as it spurted out so it did not make a mess
in the room or stain the sheets.
Ju-Won could hardly breathe after
it was over. Her parents had never talked to her about sex. She had only read
about the male sexual response in her health education classes in school but
had never seen it happen, especially from just a few feet away. Afterwards, her
trainer went about her business, casually wiping the man's semen from her hands
and throwing the soiled towel in the laundry bin. The intimate act between them
was forgotten the moment after it occurred. Ju-Won left the room with her
trainer while the man dressed.
Ju-Won wondered about the
masseuse and wanted to know how long she'd been at
Lucky Flower and whether she'd been tricked into working there like her, but was
too afraid to ask the young woman such personal questions. Ju-Won thought her
trainer was very pretty, but seemed hardened by life with lines beginning to be
etched into her face.
If I stay here, I'll be just like her.
On the way back to the lobby,
the trainer finally spoke to Ju-Won.
"What's your name, honey?"
"Ju-Won."
"You ever work in a massage
parlor?"
Ju-Won shook her head no.
"Mamasan
charge $60 an hour for room, $40 for half hour. Other parlors charge more, but Mamasan wants customers, so she charges less. If client is cheap,
he gives $20 for rub and tug, but $40 is fair price. $80 is for sucking, but
only with condom. Ask for $80, they usually give $60. They want you to swallow without
a condom for $80, do not let them. Always use condom, never swallow. You should
charge at least $100 for full service, but ask for $150, then bargain down
price."
"What is full service?" Ju-Won
asked.
"Sucking and fucking. Remember most important thing. Protect yourself. Always
use condom with full service, no matter what they pay. Most times they just
want hand-job for $20. They
all cheap in this town," she says. "Never take less than $20 and don't ever let
them kiss you."
Ju-Won nodded, shocked by
her harsh words.
"Don't worry. You're new. You will learn."