Where's Iay?
Gina texts me a smiley face and a message that she has regained her position in the Principal's home. Later she comes over to the house and tells me, she has spoken with the wife and told her that, she, little Gina, might be able to find more female participants, if they really want that, but they should ask Gina to make sure the girls are right. Wifey is both a little surprised and fascinated by the possibility. The Principal can't contain himself. When he heard of the offer, he just about came on Gina before he got his dick close to her lips. When she told him that she was ready for her first ever fuck, he blew his load in the air. Gina thinks that's a hoot. She quiets the guys saying, that it's OK because now he will stay hard a long time before he comes again. An hour later, he is hard again and gives Gina the ride she was hoping for.
Now that the Principal has taken her virginity, Little Gina tells the wife that she is now the forever official Mistress to her husband and expects to get her own room in the house, allowance for clothing and personal needs, and a formal place in their lives. She tells them that she will live with them full time now and will inform her mother and father about the development. Lastly she tells the wife, to invite her parents over as a celebration of her new status. Wifey disagrees to the last, until Gina calls her mother on the phone says a few words and hands the phone to Wifey. In short order, the wife and Gina's mom establish cordial relations and an invitation is proffered. Gina has her guy.
I warn Gina that adding more girls is dangerous. I remind her of the problems we have had here. She tells me to relax, she knows all that. Her man and his wife will be happy with a girl without the mother. She tells me that it is the mothers who cause the problem. Gina has a plan. I don't agree, but this one is out of my hands entirely.
Then Gina asks for one more thing and here I do have some control. She wants me to invite her new family over for supper. I say, No. It's a bad idea.
§ § §
My Ann has been gone for almost nine months now. Lyla evidently conceived six months ago. Little Ann is eight months old. Angeli is four months along! She only had four months between pregnancies. I am way so unhappy about that, I don't even want to talk about it. Maricris relented and we have Laarni on birth control at least for the next four years. There are no other pregnancies. Thank God.
Joy2x continues to be in a funk. She is stressing out Analyn.
As a result Analyn has been talking to her mother, seeking advice about what to do with her 'wife.' Maricris has not a clue and comes to me. Would I speak with Analyn? I ask Maricris, what she expects I can do or say that she hasn't done or said already. Her response is that I am a smart man and she is just a simple Filipina. What a fucking cop-out! I say as much to her and get told that I am being difficult. Further, I get told that these girls are my responsibility. Do I not remember what I said about that, when they first entered this house. Damn straight I do and unfortunately, Maricris is right and I am in the wrong, once more!
Maricris tells Analyn to come see me. As Analyn knows I have made no demands on her, she seems to be willing to approach me on the matter.
Analyn, how may I help you, child?
Ate Joy2x, she want me to be with you at night, but I tell her I no want that. You OK I no want to do that, Po?
Yes, Analyn, I am OK with it. I do not want to force you to do anything. If you want to stop being with Joy2x, too, that is OK. We have another bedroom you can move into.
No! No, Po! I not want to leave Joy2x. But why you say you don't force me. You force me when we come here!
Ah, I didn't force you. I tell your mother that your family cannot stay here unless some things happen. I tell her it is the choice of all you to do what I ask, or not be with us. I was told you all agreed. Did you not agree?
Oo. I guess yes, I agree, so we could stay here.
I see, so you agree but do not want to agree. Was that it?
Opo.
Humm. Well, that is sad, because maybe your family should not have come to stay with us.
Oh, no! No! I mistake. Yes, Po. I wanted it. Truly!
Analyn, do not lie to me, child. Lying makes things far worse.
Sorry, Po.
Maybe you and Joy2x can move out of here and into your own home.
No! No! Joy2x will hate me! She say she belong to you. She say she can never leave you.
So what do we do, Analyn? I have no need to have sex with you, you do not want to have sex with me. We are in agreement on that, correct?
Opo.
But you say I forced you before. That was a mistake. It should never have happened. So you should not be here.
I wrong, I sorry.
I am not sure what you are saying is wrong. But it does seem like you need to not live here.
Sir, maybe I just too young to understand then. It really was not forced. Truly. Please, I sorry for saying you force me.
OK, maybe you were too young. We will accept that. So what do we do now? Are you still too young?
No, Po.
What is it you don't want to do?
I don't want to love you.
I don't expect you to love me. You are Joy2x's.
But she wants me to love you.
No, Analyn, she wants you to have sex with me, not love me.
Po, what is the difference?
Bingo! That's the issue. It is the same thing that Noime could not sort out when I started with her. For her, they were one and the same. It is a sweet concept, but causes great confusion. I tell you what, Analyn, I want you to ask Noime that question and see if she can help you with that. If she can't, then come back to me and I will help you understand the difference. OK?
Yes! Thank you, Po. Thank you.
I quickly find Noime and explain the issue that Analyn will bring to her. Noime looks at me, kisses me on the cheek, tells me not to worry about this, she'll take care of it. I explain to Maricris what has transpired. She doesn't say much, but at least doesn't complain that I have ducked out of dealing with the problem.
For the moment, I am feeling like we may have a solution.
§ § §
The very next day I get a request, relayed through Maricris, that I bed Joy2x and that Analyn will be with her but not involved. I smell a rat.
Maricris, what's going on?
Noime spoke with Analyn yesterday. Today Joy2x asks for this. That's all I know.
Then the request is denied. I want to hear from Analyn first.
Thank you, Lewis. I pass on message, I not want to happen, because I must. Thank you. I want to say, no.
Maricris, as of yesterday, there was no way Analyn wanted to be anywhere near my bed. I have my doubts that things change this quickly, so, no. Not now. I can't promise you that this is for never, but not now.
Yes. I understand. I agree with your answer. I wish she want men, not girls. She do not. She my child. I want her be happy, even if with no man.
I have just left Maricris and am at my desk when Joy2x comes storming in. She is angry and making sure I know it. I would make a sarcastic remark that the floor might crack if she stomps any harder, but Filipinas just don't seem to get sarcasm. I don't know why, but I can assure you they don't. Instead I wait for the first verbal volley.
Why you do this?
You mean, why have I said, no, to Analyn in my bed?
Yes!
Because, when I spoke to her yesterday, she made it very clear to me that she does not want to be in my bed. I respect her feelings and so I said, no, to the request.
She wants it.
Joy2x, I am not buying that for a second. You want her to want it. She does not. Joy2x, you are welcome to come to my bed. Analyn is not. It's been a long time and I will enjoy being with you again. Don't force Analyn on me.
But she...
Joy2x, no. I love you and you know that. I respect that you love Analyn. But the part where you try to connect me to Analyn, well girl, that's a problem. I understand your logic, but Analyn is not you and your logic is based on your personal needs and not anything else.
What if she want to? What if she really wants to be with us together?
Based on what she told me yesterday, that will never happen. You will end up losing her if you keep on pushing her Joy2x.
What?
You heard me. Your pushing her is causing a problem for the two of you. Now stop it.
OK, OK, I sorry.
I know that I have not solved a damned thing. How long before it all breaks open? I am sitting, just thinking about how unstable things might become if things blow up between Analyn and Joy2x. Bowing to Joy2x's desires, is not an option based on Analyn's feelings. My cellphone chimes. It's a text from Scotty.
Lewis, got a question.
Long time Scotty. What do you need?
Did you have anything to do with Belen?
Huh? What are you talking about?
About Belen and some damned dogs.
Scotty, I haven't seen Belen for a year. Why do you ask?
OK, so you haven't seen her. Did you have anything to do with the dogs?
Scotty! What dogs? What the fuck are you talking about?
You sure?
I repeat Scotty. What dogs? What the fuck are you talking about?
Never mind.
I never lied to Scotty. I just didn't answer him. He didn't have the balls, or doesn't know enough himself, to go any further with the line of questioning. I find it interesting that Scotty and his wife are still in contact with Belen. It wouldn't take a great leap of logic to connect me with the dogs, but unless Sunshine fesses up, no one will tie me back to it.
So now I am thinking about my Ann and the damned double dealing Belen who is probably responsible for my wife leaving for so long. If Ann had not been gone, would we have caught the cancer sooner? Might she still be alive? My dislike and animus for Belen, is rekindled and maybe more intense now than it was even before. I miss my Ann more that I can express. whatever happened to Belen, well, she deserves it and far more.
My mind is anything but peaceful and becalmed when a new text arrives. It's from Frank.
Hey Lewis. What did you do to get Scotty so all riled up?
I have no idea. He texts me, asking about Belen and dogs. Do you have any idea?
Not sure. I heard some screwy story about some dog fucking her in the city park and a gang rape. He says, they're going to her funeral on Friday.
Belen's dead?
Yeh man, that's what Scotty said.
And Iay? Where's Iay?
Don't know. They didn't say.
Shit.
Yeh, no shit. So why is he saying, you're to blame?
I have no idea, except for the fact that Belen was the cause of Ann leaving and a blow up with Angeli. She was a liar and trouble maker. We discovered that, at the same time that she, assuming that we were figuring it out, left the house with Iay, without a word said. She was not welcome here and she knew it. What happened to her after the very very voluntary departure from this house, I have no clue.
Well, I guess that could be it, but he was saying you are connected to the dog.
How?
Don't know. It made no sense.
I sure have no idea, Frank.
I take it that you won't be going to the funeral.
Can't imagine why I would.
We might. Scotty asked us too and we had no problems with Belen. The others might too. But I will tell my wife what you said about Belen and Ann. I don't think she knows.
Understood.
I find Maricris and Angeli to fill them in on what I have just heard, asking them to find out what has actually happened and see if they can discover anything about Iay. I am not worried about the dog issue. But I am worried about Iay. We need to find her.
Within the next few hours, my entire household has been brought up to date. The search for Iay has begun in earnest.
I text Gina.
Child, I hear Belen is dead. Say not a word to anyone about our connection. That means you are not to tell Noime or the Principle, either. Do you understand?
Oo, uncle. I know nothing. :-)
I text Sunshine.
If anyone asks if you know anything about some dogs with another girl, you know nothing. Understand?
Opo.
I am thinking about all the potential problems and consequences related to Iay as a free agent and at large. My mind is as far away from the Analyn matter as it can possibly be, when Noime comes to sit on my lap this evening, a few minutes before supper. Uncle, I need you to do something for me.
And what would that be, my love?
I want to be with you tonight, without Maricris.
You have spoken to Maricris about this?
Yes, she say OK.
Then it is OK with me.
Good. One more thing, Uncle.
Yes?
I bring Analyn with me.
What?
Analyn. She come with me.
Why? She does not want to be in my bed.
No uncle! That not it! She not want to be your mistress. She think, if she in your bed, she your mistress or girlfriend.
And you think that she will not be my mistress, if she is in my bed?
Of course not! She belongs to Joy2x.
Ah! Noime, yes, she is Joy2x's, but if she comes to my bed then she is also my mistress or girlfriend. She is right, and you are wrong.
Oh! I not understand! Oh no!
Exactly. So no, you may not bring her. Go and explain that to Analyn.
Yes, Uncle.
The supper table is a subdued affair. The word on Belen's death is now known to all but no one here knows of my involvement in it. None of us wants to go to the funeral, but Noime points out that if we are looking for Iay, we need to have someone there. Rez points out that she and Iay were friends and she should be the one to go. Everyone agrees. Rez will attend the funeral, five days from now. The discussion drifts in and out of the sketchy details we have of Belen's death. I see Maricris holding on tightly to Angeli's hand and Angeli crying. I don't remember saying anything, but Maricris explains, Lewis, she cries because Belen is the reason she almost lose you. Angeli love you. Truly Lewis, she do. If Belen succeed, Angeli not have little Ann now. She not be pregnant again! Angeli know how close to losing you, she was. That why she cry. We sad for Belen, but Belen a bad person. She say she think Belen never forgive her for getting to you before Belen can. She think all was revenge for that.
They do not think of Ann, and yet maybe they do. They think of how Belen affected them. I guess that makes sense. Belen affected all our lives here, and yes, I remember Angeli telling me from the very first that she had a fight with Belen, before either of them had been with me, other than the large introduction meeting. I have not put it together like that before, but it makes sense. It all now falls into place, but could it have been over something so petty?
I am chewing that over and am distracted, deep in thought, when, Lewis!
What?
You do not answer! What you thinking about?
What did you ask Maricris?
Who you will be with tonight. Before Noime ask me and now she say, no she not needing that. So what you want, Lewis? We do what we do normal?
Ah, maybe not. Angeli, would you consider joining Maricris and me tonight?
Yes, of course. Thank you. I happy to do that!
Angeli had chosen two females to join this house, Belen and Maricris. The first one was a disaster. The second one has been an angel. It was Maricris, who acted to protect her when things were really ugly. Now while I have not allowed them to function as a true team, they do collaborate a great deal. If Angeli was not pregnant again, I would relent on that matter. But with one infant and one on the way, I am not changing course.
Still something in my heart is changing, softening.
I think it is time to go looking for rings. One unique one and seven identical ones of various sizes.
§ § §