John
He used to come to class in really short shorts, cropped jeans I recall. And a trench coat over it. He drove a red fiera jeep, always with this guy, 'ungga' he was called. He would sit in class with nothing in his hands, except I guess a pen. His chin propped on his hand, he looked at me while teaching with this air of confidence as if saying,'yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that already, let's get it done and over with'. At the end of each day, he and his buddy would take me home to our apartment near the school, did not allow me to hold my books home (but instead of him helping me, he would signal to his buddy to carry the books for me, what a gentleman). At the apartment, he would say hello to Papa and Mama. Linger for a while, make it a point to be charming to my mother, and polite to my father. He did that almost everyday, until Papa started to have interesting conversations with him. Politics, of course. Then they started having beer together. Ultimately, when he was not around, my folks missed him.
He always teased my sisters. He said he had this crush on Maevic, and she was his date on one Valentine's Day. We actually went on a double date, haha. Me, with a suitor. He showed up at our door to fetch my sister that night in a full, blue, shining suit and tie, flowers in hand. Maevic was in a Madonna-punk-rock outfit. Throughout that evening, all we did was laugh. Kriska, the other sister, I would bring to school when she was five years old. He would make her cry, told her he would take me to somewhere far, far away and would not take me home.
He was naughty like that. Well he is, until now, although more subdued.
Even at that time, our younger years, one could see he was different from the rest. He was no regular guy. He was to become a public servant, he got married to a gorgeous woman, he has beautiful kids. Of course my favorite is Nina, she is the one a lot like him. Though I am pretty sure the rest of his kids are delightful as well. The first time I was welcomed in his home, I could not help but feel pride for what he has become. He and his wife love to cook, and I have had the privilege of partaking some of their masterpieces on the few occassions we celebrate in their families.
Ours is a relationship linked mostly by facebook, and a few times bumping into each other at the shops in town. After a peck on the cheek, and small talk, we would go on our ways. The last serious conversation we had was a few years back, over dinner with Maevic, which did not go very well but he breezed through it with so deep an understanding with what was happening at that time. I profusely apologized, I told him politics must never be an issue among us. He just hugged both his knees up his chair and said, 'that's life, we just ride with it'. And we ate. That simple to him.
When you first meet him, you get the impression that he is arrogant and smug. He is mestizo, so one easily assume he is 'conio' (I can't spell it in the correct way). He talks a lot so one can be intimidated by him. And he walks in this swagger one can be annoyed about. But once you get to know him, you will be surprised by his humility, kindness and generosity. His resolve to build a family, a home, is so strong, I cannot help but smile at the thought of him in his trench coat over shorts in his college days. Through the years, he is one of the few I have in my life who remain 'true'. In crisis, I know that he is there to help in easing the burdens there are in my family. No explanations needed.
Thank you, John, for being in my life. You have a good heart. I will take you up on that offer of cooking gambas for me, as it is your specialty, you said. I believe you, because one time I mentioned in passing that Kriska liked your 'balut a la pobre', and you dashed into your kitchen and cooked it in less than ten minutes, for me to bring home to her. Little things like those say a lot about who you are. Aside from being a good cook, it says, you are family, and always will be.
He always teased my sisters. He said he had this crush on Maevic, and she was his date on one Valentine's Day. We actually went on a double date, haha. Me, with a suitor. He showed up at our door to fetch my sister that night in a full, blue, shining suit and tie, flowers in hand. Maevic was in a Madonna-punk-rock outfit. Throughout that evening, all we did was laugh. Kriska, the other sister, I would bring to school when she was five years old. He would make her cry, told her he would take me to somewhere far, far away and would not take me home.
He was naughty like that. Well he is, until now, although more subdued.
Even at that time, our younger years, one could see he was different from the rest. He was no regular guy. He was to become a public servant, he got married to a gorgeous woman, he has beautiful kids. Of course my favorite is Nina, she is the one a lot like him. Though I am pretty sure the rest of his kids are delightful as well. The first time I was welcomed in his home, I could not help but feel pride for what he has become. He and his wife love to cook, and I have had the privilege of partaking some of their masterpieces on the few occassions we celebrate in their families.
Ours is a relationship linked mostly by facebook, and a few times bumping into each other at the shops in town. After a peck on the cheek, and small talk, we would go on our ways. The last serious conversation we had was a few years back, over dinner with Maevic, which did not go very well but he breezed through it with so deep an understanding with what was happening at that time. I profusely apologized, I told him politics must never be an issue among us. He just hugged both his knees up his chair and said, 'that's life, we just ride with it'. And we ate. That simple to him.
When you first meet him, you get the impression that he is arrogant and smug. He is mestizo, so one easily assume he is 'conio' (I can't spell it in the correct way). He talks a lot so one can be intimidated by him. And he walks in this swagger one can be annoyed about. But once you get to know him, you will be surprised by his humility, kindness and generosity. His resolve to build a family, a home, is so strong, I cannot help but smile at the thought of him in his trench coat over shorts in his college days. Through the years, he is one of the few I have in my life who remain 'true'. In crisis, I know that he is there to help in easing the burdens there are in my family. No explanations needed.
Thank you, John, for being in my life. You have a good heart. I will take you up on that offer of cooking gambas for me, as it is your specialty, you said. I believe you, because one time I mentioned in passing that Kriska liked your 'balut a la pobre', and you dashed into your kitchen and cooked it in less than ten minutes, for me to bring home to her. Little things like those say a lot about who you are. Aside from being a good cook, it says, you are family, and always will be.
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