Date: Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:30:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Michaels <mmanlookin@yahoo.com>
Subject: FILIPINO LOVE - Chapter 24

			       FILIPINO LOVE
				    BY
				    JM

Email:  mmanlookin@yahoo.com

Disclaimers and other info:  see chapter one


			    CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR


     I awoke the next morning felling completely rested.  Ronni was still
pretty much in the same position, his leg draped over mine just below my
balls, his arm across my chest and his morning wood pressed into my thigh.
There was a little puddle of drool on my chest that had escaped from his
slightly opened mouth, his soft breaths caressing my skin.  Dear God!!  How
I loved him!!  I had such a tremendous swell of love fill me to the point
that tears started running down my face.  I'm stunned and overwhelmed that
this beautiful creature in my arms loves me so much that he all but
demanded I take him in the most primal way, claiming him as my own once and
for all.  Through that intense sexual act, he not only got the validation
he craved, but he also showed me just how deeply and totally he loved me
and that I was also his.  I was so caught up in my emotions that I gave him
an involuntary squeeze, causing him to grunt in his sleep and smack his
lips.  I certainly didn't want to wake him up.  The poor little guy had a
day from Hell, riding an emotional roller coaster that would bring grown
men to their knees, followed by his tender body being pounded in the most
animalistic manner while at the same time, pouring his very heart and soul
into the act.  He was exhausted and needed this sleep to rejuvenate his
emotional batteries.  I knew that if I stayed there with him, my love for
him would cause me to stroke his body and hug him tightly, most likely
waking him up.  Touching him, holding him, caressing him had become an
almost automatic response, and my baby really needed his rest.  With great
care, I extricated myself, placing my pillow where my torso had been.  It
had my scent on it and would hopefully give him the sense of security he
needed while he slept.  I guess I was right, because he wrapped his arm
around the pillow and snuggled his head into it, still deeply asleep.
Grabbing my clothes, I crept into the cr to relieve my night-filled
bladder, washed my face and hands, brushed my teeth, got dressed and went
into the living room, partially shutting the bedroom door.  I wanted him to
wake naturally but not panic when he saw I wasn't there.  I turned on the
TV very low, but just loud enough for him to know that I was here.

     I really needed some coffee to help clear the last of the cobwebs out
of my mind.  I was hoping to be able to have some time before Ronni woke up
to try and get an agenda together so that we could efficiently get the
business stuff out of the way and maximize our personal time.  I only had
eight days left to accomplish what I needed to do, but I was damned if I'd
let anything get in the way of our time together.  He would be by my side
in every step of the process.  I will not be apart from for any reason!
Well, maybe the cr.  This was going through my mind as I was getting my
coffee ready.  The cottage came with one of those individual brewing units,
and I quickly had a steaming cup ready.  I went into the living room and
sat down on the sofa, the TV murmuring in the background.  I began to think
of what I needed to accomplish when it struck me that transportation might
be a problem.

     So far, we'd been able to walk to the Martinez' home, had a
bone-shaking ride in a pedicab and had gotten rides from Josie.  I knew
that we'd need to travel around looking at possible building sites, and
there would definitely be other times when we'd need to get somewhere that
walking wouldn't be an option.  Josie had been more than kind in getting us
around, but I can't rely on her to be available every time we had to go
somewhere.  She had a business to run and a life of her own to live, and it
just wasn't fair to keep turning to her.  With a heavy sigh, I realized
that I'd need to rent a car and drive us myself.  My guts churned at the
thought of attempting to join the crazy throng on the highways, but I just
couldn't see any other way.  I knew that I'm allowed a 30-day temporary
license, but I'd have to go to the LTO (Land Transportation Office), the
equivalent of the DMV in the states, and get an official form.  I'll be
sure to ask Josie about this when she gets here.  A glance at the kitchen
clock showed that it was almost 9:00, so she should be here in about an
hour.

     I then went over everything that had happened last night at Ronni's
parents' house.  A deep sadness swept over me as I remembered Ronni's
reaction to the vicious things his aunt had said to and about him.  How
anyone could harbor such hatred toward a child as sweet and loving as Ronni
boggles the mind!  The woman clearly MUST be insane.  My mood lifted,
however, as I also remembered how his entire family rallied round him,
pouring their love into him through that circle of love, all with their
arms embracing him.  I hope and pray that Ronni will be able to put the
past behind him, but I'm afraid it may not be an easy thing for him to do.
Being a teacher, I've been around kids long enough to know just how fragile
they really are in spite of their outward shows of bravado.  I hope that
Ronni is now comfortable enough in our relationship that he won't shut down
on me when he's feeling bad.  I'll have to continually reinforce my total
love and commitment to him, but that won't be hard for me to do.  I can't
help but show him my love every minute of every day, and I will do
everything in my power to help him grow into his full potential while at
the same time, keep him safe to the very best of my abilities from the Tita
Sara's of the world.

     As I was pondering all this, I heard the bedroom door open and the
love of my life came shuffling out, his hair sticking out wildly from his
sleep and still clutching the pillow to his chest.  He looked so precious
and vulnerable as he stumbled his way to where I was sitting and crawled
into my lap, setting the pillow aside.  He snuggled in as closely as he
could, wrapped his arms around my neck and laid his head on my shoulder.

     "Why you not wake me," he said with a yawn.  "I got scared when you
not there, then I heard TV."

     "You really needed your sleep, Sweetheart," I replied, kissing the
side of his head.  "And it looks like you could still sleep some more."

     "Unh unh," he said.  "I can't sleep if you not there."

     "Ok, Love.  We'll just stay like this until you wake up a little more.
I like holding you like this or any other time.  I love you," I said as I
kissed him again.  He planted a soft kiss on the side of my neck and
settled in.  We sat like that for about 15 minutes, Ronni periodically
hugging me tighter and kissing my neck while I gently rubbed up and down
from his neck and to the top of the swell of his butt.  Nothing existed for
us at that moment except each other and our love.  This was a moment that I
wish would never end.  But just then as my caressed the top of his butt, it
occurred to me that the poor kid must still be in pain.

     "Ronni, I asked softly, "How does your backside feel today?  Are you
still pretty sore?"

     "It hurt some.  More than last time it hurt. Maybe you put on more of
that cream. That helps a lot."

     "Ok, sweetheart.  When you're ready to get dressed, I'll do that for
you."  For that, I got a nice hug and kiss on the cheek before he again
laid his head on my shoulder. Why can't all moments be as peaceful and
loving as this?  I'd be so content to never have to move from this
position.

     Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.  A quick glance at the clock
showed that it was about 9:30.  Surely it couldn't be Josie?  She's always
been punctual, not early, and she always calls before arriving.  There was
another knock at the door, and I realized that I had a naked 14-year old
boy in my lap!

     "Ronni," I said urgently, "you need to get into the bedroom quick and
shut the door and get dressed.  I have to see who this is."  Realizing the
situation, he hopped up, grabbed the pillow and ran into the bedroom,
slamming the door behind him.  Getting up, I went to the door and opened it
to find Ronni's dad standing there.

     "Mr. Martinez," I said, clearly surprised.  "It's nice to see you.
Won't you please come in," I continued, indicating with my hand for him to
enter, not really knowing how much, if any, English he understood.  I hope
Ronni is as quick getting into his clothes as he was getting out of them
last night.  It looks like I'll be needing a translator.

     "Thank you, Mr. James." He said very clearly.  "I hope I'm not
imposing on you by showing up like this."  While spoken slowly but clearly,
this man clearly knew his English, and I was left with my mouth hanging
open.

     He came into the house, and as I shut the door couldn't stop myself
from saying, "I'm very impressed with your English.  I had no idea until
now that you spoke it at all."

     "For that, I apologize most sincerely," he replied.  "Until the
unfortunate events of last evening, I still had many doubts about you.  I
thought I was being clever be keeping, as they say, an `ace up my sleeve'.
I was clearly very wrong in my concerns about you."

     "I think I can understand your reasons," I said.  "Excuse my manners.
Let's go into the seating area where we can talk more comfortably.  Would
you like something to drink?  I was about to have a cup of coffee. Or we
have other drinks too."  I noticed his right eyebrow rise slightly and a
small smile quickly played over his lips and was instantly gone when he
heard me say `WE have'.  It's simply how I thought of everything now.  It
wasn't `I' and `me'; it was `we' and `us'.  Ronni was now an integral part
of every aspect of my life, and we share everything equally.

     "If it's not too much trouble, I'll also have coffee.  My wife thinks
she's keeping me healthy by only allowing me one cup at home, and it
usually takes 2 or 3 to get me functioning properly," he said with a
chuckle.

      "If you'll have a seat, I'll have the coffee ready in just a minute.
How do you like yours?"

     "Just black, please," he responded.  "It's one of my few guilty
pleasures, and I don't like anything taking away from the taste."

     "I agree with you," I said.  "I like mine that way also for the same
reasons."  Where the hell is Ronni?  I need him here now!  These thoughts
were going through my head as I got our coffee ready.  Mr. Martinez was
standing by one of the chairs and slowly surveying the room, nodding his
head and giving soft grunts of what I hoped was approval of what he was
seeing.

     As the coffee was brewing, I asked, "Mr. Martinez, if you don't mind
my asking, how is it that you speak such good English?"

     "I don't mind you asking at all.  I'm sure that you're quite
surprised," he said.  "I'm senior supervisor at a call center.  Since most
of our clients are English-speaking, all the operators must know how to
speak properly.  Being in charge, I have to be especially proficient to be
able to handle any language problems that arise.  I always speak Tagalog
outside my work, and while my wife children know I speak SOME English, even
they don't know to what extent.  I'm afraid it's another of my guilty,
little secrets.

     He was still standing as I took the now-ready brews into the living
room.  "Please, have a seat. Ronni should be out shortly," I said.

     "Ah, Mr James..."  he began before I interrupted him.

     "Please, sir," I said, "call my Phil or, Phillip, if you prefer.  I'd
be more comfortable with that."

     "Very well, Phil," he emphasized, "and you may please call me Marcus.
Or, maybe, Papa?" He had a definite twinkle in his eye as he said this, and
a small smile graced his mouth.  I had just taken a sip of my coffee and
found myself sputtering and choking.  I was definitely not expecting
something like that!  Marcus/Papa started roaring with laughter, clearly
enjoying the results of the broadside he'd just delivered.  This brought
Ronni, fully dressed, out of the bedroom to see what all the fuss was
about.

     "Papa," he shouted, as he ran and jumped into his father's lap and
immediately wrapping him in a hug.  Marcus returned the hug with gentle
pats on Ronni's back, and then I noticed him tighten his hold on his son as
tears started falling down his cheeks.  Ronni, sensing that something might
be wrong, lifted his head from his papa's shoulder and notice the tears.

     "Papa, what's wrong," he asked, greatly concerned for the state his
father was in.  Marcus began speaking in Tagalog and quickly stopped,
switching to English, most likely for my benefit.

     " Oh, my dear, sweet son," he began with great emotion making his
voice shake, "I'm so very, very sorry.  What you had to go through last
night was not right.  NO child should ever have to hear the terrible, evil
things my sister said to you.  I knew that she didn't have the same good
feelings for you that she has for the twins, but I swear to you that I had
no idea how she truly felt until then.  If I had only known!  If I had only
known!'  and he began crying openly.  This put Ronni over the edge as he
threw himself against his father's shoulder and began sobbing.

     "No, Papa, no!"  he managed to get out between sobs.  "It is NOT your
fault.  Only one's fault is Tita!"

     At first, feeling like an outsider and truly helpless, I suddenly
remembered what the family had done for Ronni and me.  Getting up, I walked
over and managed to get my arms around both of them, trying to help ease
their pain.  Marcus reached up with one hand and pulled me tighter into the
embrace.  I just couldn't help it as tears started to flow down my cheeks
too.  What this family had been through had not only strengthened their
bond of love for one another, but they had also freely accepted me to share
that bond as well.  All this they gave to me, and their eldest son as well.
They were fully aware that Ronni and I were in a fully connubial
relationship with all that implies.  With Sanie's gentle and loving
guidance over the four years since Ronni's first dream, she had prepared
them for this moment.  Like any good parent, I'm sure they were hoping that
maybe things would have been different.  But now that I was a real presence
in their son's life, and seeing the obvious deep love we had for each
other, they have fully accepted our relationship and possibly even blessed
it, if Marcus' remark about calling him `Papa" is any indication.

     Everyone finally calmed down, and with a gentle touch to each of their
shoulders, I turned to go back to my seat.  I was just about to plant
cheeks to seat, when the phone rang.  I asked Ronni if he wanted to answer
it, but he shook his head `no', and said that I should get it.  He was
clearly enjoying the time in his father's arms.  It was Josie, calling to
say that she was on her way and would be here in about 10 minutes.
Thanking her for calling, I said we'd see her soon and ended the call.  In
case there was any doubt, I turned to father and son, telling that we'd
soon have some more company.  I asked Ronni if he'd take his father into
the cr to freshen up, washing the tear stains off their faces.  I told them
I'd do the same at the kitchen sink so we'd all be ready for Josie's
arrival.

     When she arrived right on time, we were all looking like our normal
selves once again.  Marcus had made noises that he should leave and let me
get on with whatever business I had with Josie, but I asked him to please
stay; that I might need his advice about some things.  Since he'd already
taken the day off from work to come see us, he readily agreed.  He said
that Venus had to work today, and the little ones were staying with the
neighbors, so he didn't have to rush home.  I decided that we'd have more
room to spread out any papers Josie had if we sat at the dining table.  I
told Ronni that he should have a bowl of cereal or at least some fruit for
breakfast, and while he scurried off to do that, the rest of us sat down at
the table, Ronni soon joining us with his cereal.  This time, he sat beside
me across from his father and began to eat as the adults got down to the
business of our future, all the while keeping a very watchful eye on his
papa.


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