The Ark

Author's note: These chapters are NOT stand-alones...The story starts here.

Birthday thoughts...18

Bim is with me alone tonight. It’s the first time we have been alone at night since Cincer joined us.

Tell me, do you regret your advice to me? All this now, these five other females are assembled here because of your initial advice. Was it a mistake? Do you regret it?

She just looks at me. There are some tears forming, maybe, but not flowing. She cocks her head to one side, and in the most quiet of voices asks, Ira, would I be here if I didn’t? I really not think I be here. Maybe it be Cincer. Maybe Nelia. Yes, I think Nelia. Not Lorie. I don’t think you take her. Not Ann or Reyna; they too young. I not think this a mistake. You love me. I know this. You respect me. I know you do this. I am with you as wife. This is true. And now you bring my daughter here. I not have this without you.

Promise me something.

What that?

Niana will be fourteen in eight years. The same age as Reyna is now. Promise me that no one will try to put her in my bed.

You think…?

Lorie and Lillian. I know Lorie is older than Reyna, but Reyna’s sister was here last night and she had no complaints, right? Niana will be here, as your daughter and not mine. I don’t want her in my bed, ever. Do we have an agreement on this?

Yes. That is good. I am happy you say this.

Tell me. Do you really like the girl-girl sex?

Yes, it fun. I not love them, not like that. It not about love. I love you. They love you. So no one think it love. It just feel good.

Tomorrow, Bim will be away from me for the very first time. Will the separation be the basis of a reevaluation of what has transpired? There’s a possibility, I guess that once she is back in Manila, I may never see her again. But tonight we will connect; hopefully, just as completely as we did in the beginning.

This is not a seduction. We know each other intimately. We both need showers and tonight there’s no need for, and no physical way for, an ambush in this shower. The primary reason is that this shower is not the luxurious one we had at the Heritage Hotel. It works as a basic, one-person affair, but just barely, and nothing else. And…it doesn’t matter. Bim isn’t needing to prove anything or seal any deal. She and I are happy with each other.

I may need to call her Bim, but she is a princess. She was graceful during a difficult beginning. Her wisdom and forbearance are the prime reasons all is well now.

For those reasons and many, many more, I hold her close to me. We nibble at each other’s lips. My fingers entwine in her hair. Our legs rubbing against legs, bellies touching, and breath mingling. Smiles and sighs are the quiet punctuation of a rich sense of loving.

Bim’s fingers are exceedingly gentle on my skin, almost not there, but there just enough to make that sensual connection that I feel throughout my body.

We are incredibly quiet in a quiet room. The air conditioner is on but the fan is on a low setting. The sound is barely audible. I slide completely on top of Bim, center my cock and push in. It’s not a violent action. Though firm, it’s no more than what one does when walking into a familiar room.

I’ve been here before. I’m expected.

Bim welcomes my presence. I’m enjoying my return to where it all began. That being back to where it all began, is the critical truth to all of it. If it were not for the beginning there would be no now. If it were not for Princess then, there would be no Bim now. I belong inside this gal. It’s where I need to be, now and many times in the future.

We both know it, as my cock drives in, and out and in again, repeatedly, over many minutes. As we fuck, we look at each other, we kiss, we smile, we groan, and we gasp.

The heat and juicy connection is all I could ever want. As much as I’m fully connected with others here, nothing will ever come between me and this gal.

Right now, there’s nothing between us at all. And I look down at her once again. This is the mother of one child. Maybe it’s time for another.

The thought heightens my urgency and the immediacy of my desire. I start slamming into her. I have her attention now! She seems to understand. I start hearing, yes, yes, yes.

The culmination is hardly immediate, but it does occur. Cum enters Bim and, in that moment, I sincerely hope it has the impact I desire.

I’ve taken Reyna to school and then Bim to the airport. My appearance at the school was noted more today than it was yesterday.

Yesterday it was just a few kids. Today, it is what I gather is a teacher and a guard. I’m greeted formally by the teacher, and asked if I’ll be taking Reyna to school often. I feel pretty defensive and uncomfortable. Reyna does not, as she leans in, kisses me on my temple, smiles and says, See you tonight, Ira. Before taking off.

I smile at the two adults and say, Well, I guess you have your answer.

Where do you live, Sir Ira?

Right next door to Reyna’s sister.

What is your full name, Sir Ira?

So I give it to her. Is my goose cooked?

Sir Ira, may we have a contact number for you? It’s good to have in case there is an emergency.

OK, so that is a bit weird, but I give them my cellphone number.

Sir Ira, may we know the name of your wife?

Oh, shit, this may end up very bad.

I’m not married.

You have a girlfriend? Yes?

I’ve many girlfriends.

Sir!

Ma’am?

Miss!

I just have to laugh at that! Ok, Miss?

Why you say you have many girlfriends?

Would you prefer I lie?

Why you say that?

I told you I’ve many girlfriends, because I do. To say otherwise would be a lie!

If they find out about the others, you will be in big trouble! If Reyna tell them what you are doing, and a sweet child such as our Reyna will want to protect the hearts of other Filipinas, it will be dangerous for you!

Are you trying to threaten me? I don’t understand. What is your point?

I am just advising you, for your own safety! Pick one!

If I do that, they will all be very angry and then I’ll be in trouble! Reyna knows all about my girlfriends and they all know Reyna. Miss, respectfully, you are very wrong. And at that moment, I notice the guard is having a hard time not chuckling out loud.

I look at him and just shrug as the teacher seems to be turning shades of red. It OK, Sir, maybe she not understand. It not a problem, I think. You can afford. I sure they happy.

The teacher says, Guard! How you say that?

Miss, Sir is correct. I think you maybe not understand correctly. Maybe your nanay tell you things that are not true. I not know. But Sir, he is telling truth. Better to be careful with your words. He not say anything disrespectful. You make threats, Miss. Miss Reyna, I sure she knows all too. Best to leave alone.

The teacher is hardly mollified but she has been warned, and not by me. I shake the guard’s hand, thank him and am on my way to pick up Bim and take her to the airport.

At home I seem to have taken on the image of a great man, for the simple reason that I’m not only allowing Bim’s daughter to stay here, but that I’m paying for the process of bringing the kid.

Nelia has another reason to thank Jesus. Cincer feels like her judgment of me has been rewarded. Lorie is thinking about her mother and it’ll do her no damned good. That one is dead in the water. Ann seems simply to be happy she has a good guy, I guess.

I’m not sure how to explain Ann. In her own way, she’s an operator. She left home, on her own. She came to the city on her own. She found work and lodging. She made contacts, negotiated deals and, in each case, it seems, she has bettered her position. And now she has attached herself to me, possibly permanently, but maybe not. Might Ann seek to better her position again? Yes. Do I care so long as I don’t get hurt? No.

For some reason, I don’t think I’m simply another stop along the way, but that’s just a guess.

I putter around the house today. Tomorrow, I’ll go to Immigration and get my visa extended. The gals are busy with various tasks and I’m pleasantly ignored. I get a chance to finish the audible book I’ve been listening to. I’ve other books, but leave them for now, as it’s time to pick up Reyna from school.

When I get there, I find Reyna waiting for me with the teacher by her side. I don’t figure this is a good omen. Being on a bike instead of a car has its benefits. Rather than driving up and parking, I just wheel up to Reyna, who is more than ready to climb on to get going.

The teacher has other ideas. Sir Ira!

Yes, Miss?

Reyna say she love you. You know this?

Miss, if you have any questions about Reyna, I sincerely suggest you take them up with her guardian, her sister.

Sir, Reyna say her sister know and is happy that this is true.

Miss, has Reyna or anyone asked for your help?

No! Why you say that?

Are you thinking that someone is hurting Reyna?

No!

So what is your point?

She is too young for you!

Oh. OK, I agree.

You what?

I agree. Her sister doesn’t agree, our other neighbors don’t agree, and Reyna doesn’t agree. But I do. She is years too young.

Oh. You tell her that?

Oh hell, I told everyone who would listen exactly that. They all told me, I don’t understand their culture. So, Miss, do you understand their culture? Because it seems to me that we are the only ones who feel like you say.

The teacher is a bit confused. She looks at Reyna and asks something in their language. Reyna looks back at the teacher and tells the gal, It rude to speak so Sir Ira not know! Sir, Teacher ask, are you liar? Miss, Sir tells the truth. He tell everyone I too young. We all disagree, all. I love Sir. We all love Sir. Why you this way. No one hurt. Sir good to all! He even pay to allow family to stay together. He good to us.

I don’t understand, Sir. What is our Reyna talking about?

One of my girlfriends has a daughter who has been living with my girlfriend’s parents. I didn’t like that. I’ve sent the gal to go get her daughter. We have room. A daughter should be with her mother.

Oh! Where in Samar the grandparents live?

They live on Luzon. I put the mother on a plane this morning to go there. She will return here on Thursday.

Will the child be enrolled here?

No. I’m told she is in first grade. So, not this school.

You pay for the airfare?

Yes. Of course.

This is very unusual.

Miss, I find much of my life these days ‘very unusual.’ This is hardly the most unusual part.

Promise me that no one will hurt our Reyna.

I can’t.

Excuse?

I can promise you that I’ll not intentionally hurt her. I can promise that I’ll not knowingly allow another to hurt her. But I can’t live Reyna’s life for her. Each of us gets hurt at times. Surely, you know that this is true. Reyna will get hurt. How and why, the three of us do not know. But it’ll happen. If you live, you will experience hurt.

Yes, OK. I understand. Do I have permission to visit Reyna?

Do you normally visit the homes of your students?

No, but this is unusual. I think it is best if I visit.

Allow me to behave like the foreigner that I am. In my world, it seems to me that you are asking two separate questions. First, may you visit my home? The second is, may you visit Reyna outside of your duties as a teacher? The first requires my permission. The second requires Reyna’s guardian’s permission and that means her sister. … I’ve no reason to invite you to my home unless you come as a friend, and I sincerely, don’t think that is your reason. As to the second, ask her sister.

I see. I not have experience with foreigners before. I understand what you say, but it is not our way.

You may well be right. I’ve been told over and over that I don’t understand your ways. So, give me a contact number and one of my girlfriends will contact you. Then you can avoid dealing with a foreigner’s logic.

The phone number is provided, following which I can finally leave with Reyna.

It may be only twelve kilometers from school to house, but feels like it takes forever this afternoon. I so want to have Cincer deal with this and hopefully resolve it. I’m far from OK right now.

While we are on the bike, Reyna says nothing. When we arrive, she only seeks to kiss me and tell me her teacher is a pain. That much I already know.

The bottom line appears, to my uneducated brain, that there are multiple understandings of Filipino culture. What some Filipinos view as normal and OK, others do not. If I’m right, then shit may well hit the fan.

I’m not sure exactly how to deal with this, but I ask Cincer and Ann to sit with Reyna and me while I, with Reyna’s help, explain what has happened so far. Ann and Reyna speak the same language and so, between them, we might be able to get it into an English that I can understand and either agree with or at least put my spin on.

As Reyna has information I don’t have, it takes a good half an hour to put it all together.

I’m about to ask Cincer to call the teacher, but she already knows that it’s she who needs to do this.

Ira, what is her number?

I give it to her and she makes the call. The conversation is in Tagalog. Teachers all know the national language and, as Cincer is most comfortable in it, it only makes sense. However, Ann doesn’t know Tagalog at all, and Reyna knows the basics, but not the language in depth.

The call is taking a long time. I guess I can walk away, but I wait. It’s fair to say I’m a little scared. After about fifteen minutes, the call ends. Cincer is smiling. Why?

Ha! Ira, she a foolish one. She say first that you not respect our culture. I tell her she the one who not respect it. She say why I say that? I tell her there are many things. First, Ira correct. The sister is the guardian. You want to visit the girl at home, you ask the guardian. Why she not respect Filipino culture? Why she think that not the way it is? … Then I tell her that she has no business with me and the other girlfriends of Ira. It is none of her business how we live. Why she think it culture to interfere? Ha! She not have any answer.

OK, what about the rest of it?

I say to her. What you think you accuse my Ira of doing? … She say ‘Reyna say she love Sir Ira. That is wrong!’ I say why that? My Ira good to all. Fair to all. Respectful to all. Why not love such a man? She say, you mean he not do anything wrong? I say to her, who accuse this? You tell me. They will have trouble from all of us! She not want to say. … Ira, I say to her, she not respect the culture of the Filipino to protect their own. She is an evil gossiper; a bad person. She say she only want to protect a child. Ha! I say, who ask for this protection? Does Reyna ask? Who ask? Name the person! She admit, no one ask.

CiCi, I get that you got angry with her, but that does not mean it’s over. I think she thinks she is better than you all are.

Yes, she say that! She say, we not educated and she educated! I say where you get your degree? She tell me, she go to Eastern Visayas State University. I tell her my BS degree in business administration and accounting come from the University of Santo Tomas, Manila! Why she think she so smart. She say she sorry, she make a wrong assumption. I tell her she makes many wrong assumptions. All she do, it cause trouble where there no trouble. … Ira, then she ask, why my Tagalog so good? She a fool. I tell her it my native tongue. Now she know, yes she know, she not do right to threaten. We not be scared of this little fool.

She may still feel that she needs to make trouble. I understand that you told her she isn’t as smart as she thinks she is, but why do you think this is the end of it?

Cincer really doesn’t have an answer.

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Birthday thoughts...19