Chapter 9

Pinakabagong kabanata

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 11

  Listening to Uncle Mike’s revelations appalled Cheska a lot. One cannot believe it was a narration from a person whom everybody loves in this area. He has the kindest face she had ever seen and somehow, familiar. She went home late that evening, she was engrossed with his story. Deep inside her, she wanted to stay longer but she was also thinking of Uncle Mike’s condition. He easily gets dizzy and tired. “I had this health issue since I fainted that day, haha.” He jokingly tells her. “Uncle I want to take you to a doctor to check your health. That’s not a good sign.” She’s genuinely worried about him. Uncle Mike is like a father to her and despite his turbulent past, he is a good man. He looked at her and smiled, “I wish you’re my daughter.” The whole Sunday Cheska

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 10

  The year 1999 before the millennium hit, the economy was doing well and inflation was no longer felt. Katerina was nine months pregnant at that time but our relationship was on the rocks and what kept us holding on was the unborn child. Matt also talked to us about it and he said that we should try to work out our relationship for the baby’s sake. Matt knew that it will break his mother if I leave her. We’ve been having a relationship for two years already and for two years, I was not happy. For two years, I had been an infidel to her. I’ve had twenty-eight women and counting. I was also a heavy drinker and I spent all my money on smoking, drinking and sometimes, dope. I didn’t have direction. I didn’t think about saving money for our baby, I had no plans. I was always broke. Sometimes Matt and Andy would pick me up from a bar and help me get home. Jennifer who was already twelve year

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 9

  Rosemarie likes to be entered from behind and all fours. She never faces me whenever we make love. She said that looking at your partner seems personal. Rosemarie Guevarra, even at the age of 50, she still got the spunk. She looks like one of the sex sirens in the 80’s Carmi Martin. She’s wild in bed and screams a lot. Every time I am with her I always drink Red Bull for me to have stamina. Once she invited a female friend. She’s a bit younger than her, maybe 45 years old. Her name is Rosanna. She’s as wild as Rosemarie but easily gets tired. That night, they gave me a large amount of money. I declined because Rosemarie is my boss but they insisted. They told me they liked my performance and were satisfied. I thanked them for their generosity. Later that evening I realized they were siblings. Back at work,

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 8

  My mother talked to me about my relationship with Katerina. She told me she never agreed with my relationship with her. “Mike, she doesn’t have a good reputation. Besides, she’s way too old for you. She’s just ten yours younger than me and she used to work in a brothel house. I hope that Oliver’s parents didn’t leave the house so that she and her family can go back to where she belongs. And what about you? What would become of you? Frankly, I don’t want her to be part of our family. I am not against her children. Those three are nice kids but their mother, I don’t like her.” Mike’s mom almost shouted with fury. “ Ma, I am not serious with her. I am a man. How can I make you understand? This, I can assure you. I will never marry her. I don’t love her.” Mike kissed his mom to console her. “Don’t play with fire, you’ll get

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 7

  Katerina was an extraordinary woman. She was seventeen years older than me and has more experience in sex. She was my mentor. She taught me various unimaginable positions, doing it non-stop for hours. She was a wild woman and she drives me crazy. Our relationship was just lust and we do it anywhere in particular. We’ve done it in every corner of her house. We’ve even done it while her daughter was sleeping next to her on her bed. The only things that separate our naked bodies were the pillows that she put in between. Afterward, Jennifer didn’t sleep next to her again. Matt and Andy seemed to have accepted our relationship though Matt didn’t speak to me for quite some time eventually, he accepted it and as long as his mother was happy then he supports us. Andy thought it was cool having me as his older brother and a lover to his mom while Jennifer remained nonchalant about this matter. Maybe

• The 36th of Michael Benedicto   Chapter 6

  SundayThe whole Sunday I was trying to compile everything that I had gathered from my conversation with Mr. Benedicto. I was still at the beginning of the story but I’m already anxious about what comes next. My mind was like a windmill that weekend and I have to drop everything just to think. Michael Benedicto, who are you? What was your effect on women in your time? Looking at him now he seemed to be so mild, pleasant and respectable. Humble yet decent. Everybody in Acacia Street regarded him as a man with dignity and honor. His nieces looked up to him. No one could ever guess his dark side. I go over his story and as I can see it was just Martina. Katerina, we just started and he didn’t tell me everything about her yet. Did Katerina help him? What’s her rol