Playing Both Sides of the Fence-Oh despicable me….

Playing Both Sides of the Fence or (Oh despicable me.)

A lady friend once popped me a question over drinks one time- What’s the one thing women should definitely avoid in a relationship? “Men like me”, I said without blinking. “Men like you?” “Yeah. Selfish, arrogant, immature, moody, always sleeping around, for the lack of a better term, a total a*hole of a jerk”. My friend stared at me with this weird expression on her face. Now what brought on that self destructive remark that may cause the end of my social existence and be exiled among my peers? Because in retrospect,I was brooding over a despicable chapter in my life.. There were two girls I knew way back in college, best friends in fact, Yvette and Joey. Those two were like sugar and spice, Joey is the babe, Yvette the hottie. Joey was smart, quiet, sweet-the type you would take home to meet the parents and talk about wedding plans, Yvette is sexy, savvy, streetwise, all kick ass with attitude, the girl you’d take straight to your bedroom and not come out for the next 24 hours. These two were so close that some idle no-brainers and wagging tongues think that they’re lesbians, sharing the same apartment and all.Then I crashed into their picture perfect existence. Joey and I were classmates for a few subjects. I took an instant liking to her, got her number and called her up as often as I could. It was at their apartment where met Yvette. The sight of her her walking around in cut off jeans and a tank top would make a holy man say to hell with celibacy. To top it off she’s too casual about everything that she didn’t mind being ogled at. Spending weekend afternoons with Joey watching movies at the mall or on videos, playing Monopoly or Nintendo or chatting over pizza. We became an item after a month.It was nearly perfect except for one small detail; she’s hates making out. She’d gently push me away and lighten the mood just when things start to get interesting but later it got irritating and was the cause of more than a spoiled evening that ended with bickering,arguing and of course, Mr.Blueballs. Yvette would try to settle things down,and then drag me to the nearest bar and buy me a beer to chill me out since Joey would just lock herself in her Fortress of Solitude. Here Yvette would entertain me with stories of her experiences in the dating game like the guy who passed out in a motel room when he saw Yvette down to her black lace undies or the time she dated this guy who did nothing but appreciate himself. “He’s more vain than a that French bitch supermodel!” One time Joey and I had this big fight, so bad that she threw a thick Accounting book at me, hit me smack on the right side of the face.We were both so shocked that I walked out while she took the last bus to Batangas ,to her folks’ home. I went back to their apartment later,finding Yvette with an angry expression on her face. She said I really done it this time, hurting her friend like that but I explained my side, saying it’s not entirely my fault. Yvette has nothing to say but to chill out and smoothen out things when cooler heads prevailed. She then noticed a bruise on my cheek,got a beer and an ice pack ,saying this will help the swelling but it’ll be black for a couple of days or so.With her face just a couple of inches away from mine while tending to my battle wound,this is the closest proximity I’ve had to Yvette and I began to take into account small details I never paid attention to like her eyes are deep hazel brown,her lips have a natural pout,her skin is really smooth …until her voice snapped me back to my senses.’How about this, tiger? Feel any better?’ She noticed the way I have been staring at her and of course my mind was going”Oh,shit-Now I’ve done it.”mode when she just leaned over and kissed me. I don’t know whether it’s desire for Yvette or just the simply I needed to get some and she was convenient, but we had it there and then. Sex with Yvette totally blew me away, and we were at it together till the next afternoon. Joey and I spoke a couple of days later and patched things up. I had the sweetest deal going for me. I can be totally romantic with Joey and get it on with Yvette whenever I want. This went on for four months until Yvette started to get emotionally attached to me. At first I thought it was purely physical attraction and I always dismiss it as pillow talk. Then Joey and Yvette began to have these spats over me, raising Joey’s suspicious mind that there is something going on between Yvette and me other than being buddies. And one afternoon, she caught us. We didn’t expect she’d be home early, but I doubt there’s anything more to say when you find your best friend and boyfriend naked in bed together. Joey packed up her things and moved out the apartment that night. Yvette stayed till the end of the month, hoping I’d return the same feelings she really had for me. I tried to get Joey back but she doesn’t want to see, hear or learn anything about me ever again. Yvette left soon afterwards, leaving a note saying although what she felt towards me was real, she can’t just always hope and wait for me to return the same because it was purely sexual from the beginning. I never tried to understand her feelings. She said what we did was the price for what we had lost, Joey’s trust. Yvette finally asked me not to look for either of them, that if fate and time really permits, eventually we will learn to accept and forgive what we have done to each other in the past. I never kept in touch with either of them after college, but as a hind sight I had been taught a real life lesson on friendship, love, trust and commitment. Never take anything at face value, there’s always a deeper meaning to everything, only then will one understand it’s true worth. Till this very day,I wished that Joey, Yvette and I can put everything behind us and start over …as friends.

The Four Horsemen

The war between Heaven and Hell has come down to a final battle.As Heaven rallies all its army of avatars,the Archangels, against Hell’s soldiers,the Demons,the human race or Mortals are pawns in the oncoming tide of annihilation.

Every mortal casualty in the holy war will add a warrior for either side.A soldier that feels no pity or emotion,only the thirst for battle and the enemy’s destruction.

Christ is now the New Jehovah yet He refused to be involved in His former Apostles now Heaven’s Generals optimal solution of wiping out the human race and restarting Genesis without Hell’s intervention or existence,the Human race rallies its own army to fight for survival.

Unlike the early days of Genesis when fire and lightning is summoned at the command of the Jehovah,this mighty force,the center of Heaven’s Power,is harnessed and drawn from the will,faith and strength of God’s believers and followers,which at present has dwindled to almost none.Same goes for the powers of Hell.

Mortals have finally learned see thru deceit and overcome fear.

All Churches,Temples and Holy Places of Worship were burned down.

All Religion and Pagan Beliefs were forbidden.

Those who still choose to follow any religious branch,cult or sect were exiled,some even executed.

Such harsh measures were enforced to ensure the survival of the Human race.

Weapons of war are now limited to Hellfire,a power wielded by Demons where as a living sheet of flame that can incinerate anything instantly in its path or The White,the Archangels’ power to blanket everything in a bright light will cause everything within the light’s reach to cease existence.

Such power can only be wielded once and individually.No Mortal,Archangel or Demon have survived everytime these powers were unleashed by either side.Both Archangel and Demons have resorted to the use of Mortal weaponry such as guns,blades,explosives.An Archangel or Demon retains the shell of its former Mortal body,only souless,stronger and harder to kill.

A hooded Archangel once appeared before the former Pope and his counterparts in other religions,now Strategic Advisers to the world’s Defense Forces.Calling himself Avatar,the Archangel reveals to them Heaven’s The Genesis Option.He also spoke of the previous Jehovah’s trump card,a weapon that maybe Man’s salvation and restore order.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Unlike what was written in the Book of Revelations,the first Jehovah created the Horsemen not as weapons of destruction,but as Man’s last hope should war break out

between Heaven and Hell.

But since the Horsemen were created before the days of the Bible,their identities and whereabouts are unknown,even to themselves.The only clue was written in an early Samarian text version of the Bible before it was translated into something more humanly

comprehensible.

Seek the one has the power of Life and Death in his hands.

And the other who controls Love and Hate.

One shall wield the elements of Fire,Wind,Water and Earth.

And the Last One holds Faith and Doubt.

The final battle shall take place on the sixth hour of the sixth day of the sixth lunar month.It is written the battle will only last for six days,and then the world shall perish.

Now the Mortals have begun the search.
 
 

It’s never too late to become a Musician

I’ve never seen myself to playing a band.Can’t sing,the only instrument

I barely knew how to play was the guitar and that skill somewhere stuck

between bad and rusty.

Watching videos of legendary performances by The Beatles,The Rolling Stones,

Led Zeppelin,The Who,Queen, Elvis Presley or New Romantics(New Wave)

artists like The Cure,The Lightning Seeds,U2,Tears For Fears,Echo and The Bunnymen,Siouxsie and the Banshees,The Smiths,The Housemartins or Glam Rock denizens Van Halen,Whitesnake,Warrant,Glass Tiger,Poison,Motley Crue,Guns N Roses,Skid Row,I only wish I can play those killer riffs or orgasmic guitar solos.

My first guitar was a hand made one from Cebu with nylon strings that

I asked my aunt to buy for me.So here I was walking around the school

campus with a guitar although I can only play 3 basic chords.Plus pestering

the other good guitar players to teach me how to play doesn’t quite cut it

at all.Finally,a guy decided to teach me a few basic tips,but not without

a few side comments that I should be better off as a drummer or yet,be

interested in other things aside from music.I was playing folk tunes and

off tempo/offkey pop rock songs.

The discouragement I was getting was no help at all.Then finally some guys

couldn’t take it anymore.They borrowed my guitar and returned it to me in

several pieces.Take a hint,they say.It’s not your cup of tea.

Maybe it’s stubborn and reckless nature,I saved up and bought another guitar.This time it’s a second hand Gibson Steel String.I rarely take this guitar out of the house and thru practice,got a little better.I was even able to play a few rock songs.

One time I brought the Gibson to school because I have 2 vacant consecutive

periods to kill.One of the guys who wasted my first guitar was there and giving
me the evil eye.

Danger…Spider-sense is tingling.After this,I’m taking this guitar home,

I was strumming to an old Doors song.Suddenly,the most feared bully in school

slides up next to me and started singing in a beautiful haunting voice that would have made you think Jim Morrison’s spirit took possession.

”People are Strange,When you’re a stranger,places look ugly,when you’re alone…”.

His gang of four is now all round me like back up singers to their leader,

and surprisingly,they have good rhythm.The guy,lets call him Big Rudy,
says to me”Not bad,what else can you play?”

I begin to play the other two songs I know,and the other guys took turns on

the guitar playing their  songs.At the same time,I was observing their techniques and they tell me objectively about frets,shifting,sliding,tuning,the strings,etc.

That two vacant hours turned to be my first jam session/guitar lesson.And since I got chummy with the tough crowd,the so-called music crowd avoided me like a plague,which suited me and my Gibson just fine.

The Gibson got smashed in 1990 during the big quake.It was hanging on the wall when the aftershocks sent it crashing to the floor.It was not until 1996 after being married for four months that my wife gave me a guitar for my birthday,a burgundy Lumanog Acoustic Guitar.

I was very rusty but I did spend every night playing the guitar and singing to my wife who was pregnant with our son.After giving birth,we moved out of our 4- bedroom flat since there was not enough ventilation for our son,and moved back with my parents for a while.Considering all the stuff we have will not fit in our space which was my old room,I left my guitar with my brother for safekeeping,only to find out their church group has been using it and considered it as a donation.

Fast forward to December 2003.I’m 36 and we now have our own two story

crib in Quezon City .I started hanging out with a crowd composed mostly of musicians,bandmembers,and artists.During the break in one of the gigs,I picked up a guitar and started playing the song “In Between Days” by the Cure.

One of the lead guitarists of the band heard me and told me to pick up the pace,then he took the lead part while I strummed rhythm.Then the bass player and the drummer started jamming.Thru that one song session,I realized how much I missed playing the guitar.Yeah,I played terribly but it felt good.

The next day I bought my first guitar in nine years,an ultralight Suzuki Acoustic Steel String guitar with all the trimmings,bells and whistles that set me back for 6,000 pesos.It was pretty hard the first few months.

Learning everything again from scratch including growing back my callouses and finger strength,reading the chords,studying powerchords which basically is a shortcut to a chord that is pretty hard to follow but getting the same sound.

Jamming weekly with a group of musicians,plus with the help of an American friend who plays bass for a band back in New Jersey,my guitar playing got better than ever.A few months later, I purchased another guitar,this time a Peavey Raptor electric guitar.Add a KORG digital guitar multi effect console,I slowly expanded my guitar skills.

I’d practice on the acoustic and play it out on the electric.My wife doesn’t quite approve of what I do on my offtime ,but can’t do anything about it either.

She even asked “Don’t you think you’re too old to start playing in a band?That’s the stuff kids only do!” I told her that one of my clients,a sixty something guy,still plays lead guitar with his band weekly.Mick Jagger,Paul McCartney,Brian May,Carlos Santana,Steve Tyler-these guys are in their fifties and sixties and they still rock.Besides most of the bands we played with are just about our age too.

Recently I got invited to play in my first gig,it was supposed to be four songs but just only did two because my schedule was pretty much fucked up so I only had a chance to practice a day before the gig.And it turned out pretty well considering I broke a string during soundcheck and can’t replace it on time.

Like my bandmate said”Guitar playing is 25% skill,25% confidence,50% attitude.”Guess I overdid the attitude part.I got invited to do another gig.I promised to take time to prepare and rehearse.

Its really never too late to be a musician.

I just hope I can do the opening guitar solo of Guns N Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine.”.

The Learning Experience of Relationships-She’s not that into me…

It’s hard being alone, you tend to think about stuff that’s either silly, serious, strange and insignificant. In my case it’s about the women in my past that for some unknown reason, you can’t seem to let go. Maybe at some point I’d like to forget but the truth is, I can’t. They all have left an impression on me, good and bad. In the end I am glad that they have added a little spice and color to my otherwise bland existence.

Most of the times I have dwelled on the what- ifs and considered the consequences that would have occurred should things had turned out differently.Yeah,right.Definitely bollocks.

I never had a serious relationship until my freshman year in college. In those days I always considered if a girl gets chummy with you, she’s wants you to make the moves and be her boyfriend. That’s the geek thinking. Everything is black and white, yes or no, no gray areas for you. Rejections, I had more of my share. Alienation, most of the time. There was even a certain period women wouldn’t like touch me with a ten foot pole because I was obnoxious, crass, so full of myself. The others that do had a deeper agenda other than having me as their Significant Other.

The first one was called Margie. She was older than me and I thought we had a connection. She was single, unattached and honestly enough still looking for the right guy. I thought we have something good going until it turned out she just tolerating me so she can get close to a classmate of mine. School jock, own condo, two cars, a cruiser bike and a trust fund. Do the math. My classmate ditched her after a few months, told me Margie was living off him, in complete freeloader fashion. Bummer.

Ida came into my life unexpectedly. She was my first girlfriend, she broke up with my best bud who had his eyes on one of our friend’s fifteen year old sister. To get her off his back,my friends back then conspired to get us together because A.)They’re dating her gal pals and if Ida gets depressed,they blame our buddy,take sides and voila,nobody’s gonna get any. B.) My buddy is Ida’s first real relationship and well,she was still hoping the guy would come back and he wanted me to run interference,get him off her radar.C.)We were both convenientlly unattached. I blew this one away too.Why?Because I let my hormones get the better of my emotions. Getting some was all that mattered at the time.She dropped me and I never saw her again.

Antonette was Ida’s best friend, Ida mentioned one time Tonette can’t seem to run out of questions about me. Alas, all is not lost. Here I was at my most despicable, in my way to spite Ida, I started dating and hooked up with Tonette. After a few months, I found the flimsiest excuse to break up with her. The truth is, Tonette was getting so attached that it became scary at the time. I just simply walked out, making myself a walking target for Ida and her friends.

Lani is the living epitome of spontaneous. Dropped out of NYU to seek her true calling. She moved into an apartment, of all places-Tondo. Took up sociology and political courses at UP. Loved to watch political satires, joined every march and rally weekly. We kissed and became an item in the middle of People Power at the gates of Malacanang beside a PSG armored personnel carrier. After the revolution, she changed courses from politics to theater and dance. Went back to the US, studied at Berkley and last I heard, was a road manager for Fleetwood Mac. Short lived as it is, being with Lani was the roller coaster ride.

Roxanne was my first Chinese girlfriend. Everything went so fast that I never got a chance to think things thru. For me, it’s another feather on my cap. Until I was always being asked for the wedding date. I got freaked so much that after six months, my usual duration, I busted out of Alcatraz.

Megan was another reason why Ida and I got together. The buds I hang out with always have nasty rumors about Megan that they hooked me up with Heidi. That Megan is a player, changes her boy-toys like underwear, etc. But she’s the original Miss MIDGAF(short for Man,I Don’t Give A F#*k!),all spunk and attitude, never wasted her breath trying refute those stories, they won’t believe her anyway. Every time I broke up with someone, she’s always there to lend an ear, even to the extent of telling her boyfriend to piss off so she can just hear me drop my emotional baggage. Until that particular out of town incident.A supposedly romantic quiet weekend that ended with up with two separate bus trips.

Joey and Yvette, two girls, best friends since childhood that have me to thank for ending their 15 years of friendship. I went outwith Joey and I slept with Yvette.For details go to the third story in this chapter.

Marianne. The Girl. ExclusiveCatholicGirlsSchool. New Wave Radio Jock. Sportswear Model. First Dan Black BeltKarateka. Four years of fire and rain.

I went all out for this one, despite the existence a boyfriend and the meanest competition ever.Guys with their flashy rides,five figure salaries and three letter job titles.But for some quirk of fate, I was the last man standing. She helped me get my act together. Our relationship was yin and yang. Both platonic and romantic. Spiritual and sensual.But it wasn’t without your more that usual kinks and bumps. She cheated on me and dumped me for another guy and then she cheated on that guy and dumped him for me. She got me so wrapped around her fingers,to borrow a line from a Police song,that I was begging for second chances to faults I’d never done,just not to lose her .My life was functioning around her, so afraid to lose the one holding my once chaotic life together. Until one time, I’ve decided that I had enough, walked out on her and never looked back. A few years ago, we started talking again, and became good friends.

From these women,a few life lessons were learned.

With Marge-There are always two sides to a coin.Things are not always what they seem.

Ida-Never mess up a good thing.Sometimes there are no second chances.

Antonette—Hard to admit yet we are all capable of doing very bad things.

Lani- Life is like a road trip,it’s not the distance,it’s the ride.

Roxanne-Be careful what you wish for, you may be over your head on this one.

Megan- There can only be so much that friends can share and even less that lovers could.

Joey and Yvette- Can’t have your cake and eat it too.

Annie-The dream ends when reality sinks in.

I have thought of what would happen if I ended up with any of the girls other than my wife,Gwen. None of them looked really promising. It’s a crappy life, but it’s my crappy life which I live whatever I see fit. And that suits me just fine.

The Science of Hanging Out

I never had much friends when I was a student. I was pretty much a loner or for lack of

a better term, a ghost.There were some people whom I graduated in the same batch who don’t seem to recall who the hell I was. Eventually I did manage to grow my own crowd although my parents keep comparing my crowd to my brother’s friends.I have my crowd of Chinoy friends, my crowd of Pinoy friends and a group of friends who border on weird,eccentric,unusual or well…strange.Somehow I manage to blend with each group without acting like I’m with the others.

My Chinoy crowd is basically the guys I grew up with,stood at each other’s weddings,

godfathers to the kids,etc.Now this is the group I tend to see less these days.You see for a group of seven,its hard to imagine that there are separate factions in our group.The guys with the most cash and toys mingle among themselves,the rest are left at the scrap heap.All that was talked about was cars,scooters,bikes,off roaders and if you can’t relate,you’re on your own.But when the chips are down,you can always count on these guys to be at your side,short of a biohazard containment.

My Pinoy crowd is composed of people I met from the E-groups,from parties and gigs.

These are the what you see is what you get type of crowds.They let you know what

ticks them off,what makes them happy or sappy.If they’re pissed,they’re pissed and

don’t make a habit of hiding it.Real people.This crowd I always spend time with whenever I get the chance.Over the years some dropped out of circulation,some new ones took their places but I always hang out with the original remaining core of the the cadre.

And then there’s the eccentrics.A mix of Pinoys,Chinoys,Mestizos who are unique in their own rights.Musicians,poets,writers,painters,performance artists.The guy who sings John Lennon songs..in Elvish.The lady who writes gothic poetry and recites them like a beatnik from the ‘60s.The deconstructive painter who’s also famous for his bartending skills and original cocktails (The Voodoo Catholic Abortion which is a mix of tequila,vodka and absinthe ).The Chinoy chef / punk rocker who dreams on challenging the Iron Chefs.The theater actor who still walks,lives and breathes the 1980s,dresses like it was still the Eighties too.One day he’s dressed like Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice,next day he’s Michael Jackson-Thriller era.Recently I bumped into him in Billy Idol glory.The Ilongga rock chick-who could have easily been Pamela Anderson’s or Courtney Love’s mentor.

Of course,one of my favorite crowds.The geeks.I ‘m proud to be called such for me its a badge of honor.This is more or less,my weekly chillout crowd.Via Astris-The Philippine Star Trek Club,SG1 Philippines-Stargate Command’s SE Asian Regiment,Action Heroes Manila-there is never a quiet moment.The crew of adventurers-the Captain’s a former party animal who is slowly settling into domestic bliss,the animal loving chief of insecurity who actually wanted to be branded a Klingon when he joins the Ultimate Reality Combat Championship,the chief science officer who is actually a cynical and hilarious cartoonist with a Vulcan sense of humor,the infamous OSG women(go figure),our Catholic Kai,the chief engineer who has all the right gadgets but never the right tools ,our helm officer who never gets lost because she only manuevers in one direction-hers.And most importantly-Vic Fontaine.

Bottomline-it’s not the people that we enjoy hang out with,its the company of fun we have whenever everyone’s together.

Ricci

Her name is Ricci. We met fifteen years ago at a summer theatre workshop. She’s a third year college student born with a silver spoon, taking up media arts inone of the posh exclusive girls school. I’m just an average third year marketing major who commutes to his classes, earning my daily allowance by working at the family food store in the morning.

I have always wanted to try out stage acting so when one of the theatre groups decide to hold a summer workshop, I took the cash I was saving for a new guitar and signed up. And this is where fate took its course.

Ricci does not have the air of a rich brat around her, in fact she’s like one of the girls I hang out with in school, but she’s no airhead. That’s why we hit it off, Ricci has several hobbies including an interest in archaeology and paleontology. So did I, while waiting for her ride, we’d argue about who’s the best predator who ever stalked the earth-the Tyrannosaurus Rex or the Allosaurus, whether The Shroud of Turin is real or hoax, did Atlantis really exist? Did Cleopatra really commit suicide because of her grief over Mark Anthony’s death? The usual bet was a can of Pringles sour cream and onion for her or Planters Cheez Curls for me. She loves Janis Joplin, I like James Taylor. We take our cigarette breaks together, confiding each other’s dreams, future plans and problems.

Ricci just ended her 5 year relationship with her boyfriend two months ago, my last relationship was a year ago and most of the time I was just playing the field. Everyday we’d enter and leave the studio together.I feel very much alive whenever we were together and we’d spend hours talking almost about anything.

When my birthday came up, she did the unexpected, she kissed me.The kiss bordered between platonic and romantic. Yeah, we arrived to the point that we asked ourselves what’s the next step. Would we still enjoy each other’s company or would this put a monkeywrench in the works? Do I love her? Damn right I do but am I good enough for her. No, I don’t think so. We spent the rest of the day strolling around, watched The Breakfast Club on video and talking.

The next week Ricci started missing out our theatre sessions due to health reasons. I called her up but she was not allowed to answer the phone. Then one of her friends dropped by, gave us news that Ricci is sick with a life threatening throat ailment and requires surgery and treatment. She’s to have surgery in Singapore and stay there for a year or so. She sent word that she’ll drop by and see the group the day before she leaves.

I never showed up that day, because I can’t bring myself to see her hurting and I don’t want to add anything to her pain.

The next day, my classmates told me Ricci waited for me till late evening, realizing I won’t be coming, she left a small package. A can of Planters and a handwritten note with one word: KISMET.

It wasn’t until another ten years that I ran into Ricci again. She’s an associate TV producer for a children’s show, I was working for a trading firm. We chatted for a short while. I introduced my girlfriend, she introduced her fiancé. We said goodbye but I mouthed the same word that came with the can of Planters.

She understood ,nodded, and mouthed the words…Another life, another time.

The Everyday Existence of Julian Sim

Julian Sim couldn’t believe he was late, again for work. Although he lives less than 10 minutes away, Julian always has hard time getting things in gear. At 40, some people think Julian has got it made.

A beautiful and loving wife, two wonderful kids, a modest townhouse ,an SUV and a few luxury comforts oflife.

‘If they can only see my life through my eyes’ says Julian to himself as he drives his Nissan SUV to work.

The house was paid for with a five year loan from his father-in-law, who waived the interest and eventually the loan itself after 2 years. His SUV was a car loan from the company but Julian’s mother took over the payments, apparently to appease Julian since his mother just gave a brand new Honda to his younger brother eight months earlier. His eldest son was diagnosed with ADD, and his wife Gwen pays more attention to the needs of their kids, her parents and family, Julian’s mom and finally if she can manage or depends on her mood, Julian.

Julian works for a commodities trading company formerly ran owned by his uncle, his mom’s brother in law. His uncle became Julian’s mentor and when the old man lost the battle with the Big C, Julian took it on to himself that everything he has learned from his uncle, he must pass on to his cousins, ten years his junior but now his bosses. In his point of view,it’s the least he can do.

And then there’s Gwen. Even for someone who more street smart than book smart,she has this manic paranoia that the whole world is trying to pull a fast one over her.Probably because she came from one of the most dysfunctional families Julian has ever encountered.But he still loves her anyway.

A doting father,Julian makes sure his kids gets everything they will need in life,something he never got from his own father.He made a promise his children will never go through the same hellish upbringing Julian experienced with his old man.

That’s why he barely acknowledges his father’s existence..it’s his way of getting back

at everything he put his mother through.

Julian eventually reaches the office and looks around. Same old morning chaos. A memo from administration regarding his tardiness, his second in 14 years.’Damn. Has it been that long? ’Julian thought. He remembers the goofy kid whose life revolved around his first job, the challenges and tasks up ahead, the extreme athlete before extreme sports was even a term. He remembered Marianne, his girlfriend then before Gwen.

He also thought of how things were dictated to him. How he was compared to the children of his parent’s friends, saying my son’s salary is this, my daughter is the

right hand of Mr.Taipan this and Multinational Company is sending our son to Amsterdam to learn more about their production. More than one occasion they try to make him look like a loser in front of his mother’s face. But they didn’t count on was Julian’s cynically dry wit and razor tongue, which left a few of his mother’s friends blustered and egg faced.

Julian hated doing things to appease the whims of others. He believed in three things.

Your life does not revolve around your friends. Your life does not revolve around your girlfriend or your wife. Your life revolves only around you and for you to take charge and control your destiny.

As Julian’s day settles in, he lives it a step at a time. Takes in what life dishes out to him and back. Someday he’ll leave all this and carve his dreams into reality. He may succeed or fail. But he knows then all decisions will be made by him and him alone, because for Julian, his individuality as a person is where he draws his strength.

The Worst Gig of My Life