Quenito the Bastard (On going)

Chapter Three Puberty

Aldredo has been keeping him, chained in the basement for years. Unlike before were he could roam the basement, his papa would only free him if he is needed. Since he was no longer a kid Aldredo gave him things to do; he would prepare and cook the food, clean the house and he can go outside granted that his papa allowed him to wash the car and trim the plants and the grass in the yard. Aldredo always beat him if he does not like the cut he made on the plants, Quenito swallowed the pain as he likes being outside rather than being alone in the darkness of the basement but sometimes if his papa became too suspicious of him like if he beats him before he went outside, he would tape his mouth for his silence or he would watch over him to avoid being near the gates. If he was left alone and finished his chores early he would rest on the yard, basking on the sun light and often staring at his left ankle where the chain has left its mark; the skin has darkened and a white stuff like the one that he saw in the television that grows from the ground or from stale bread has live on his skin for years now. Before when he was still getting used to the chain Quenito would have high fever his papa would leave him in the basement to rest then he would visit him a couple of times a day to give him some food and medications        

Quenito has grown a bit bigger and the clothes got shorter and tighter, sometimes a gentle move would rip his clothes apart, if not, his belly would be exposed. The bastard had made a t-shirt with his clothes using the bread strap that he found a lot in the kitchen drawer. What he did is that he poke his old clothes with the strap to piece it together and presto he has a new clothes but he only wear it when he is going to sleep because he was afraid of his papa ripping it if he ever saw it. Aldredo has also notice that the bastard was out sizing his worn down clothes. So he throws his old clothes in the basement, it was dirty with rat droppings and cockroach eggs and the smell of mothball that Quenito thought to be a cabinet candy. He sorted the clothes, some has holes and rat bites but he was happy that his papa gave him something to wear.   

In one of Aldredo’s breakfast Quenito confronted his papa, asking him if he could wash the clothes that he gave, he agreed but he can only wash it in his bath time. The bastard nodded and in his wash time he scrub it with his bare hands and only using soap that he also used on himself. Aldredo would knock on the door to tell him to hasten it, he does not want to waste precious Maynilad water. The washing of the clothes was easy, only the cleaning of his dented skin on his ankle takes time, it was hard to clean, when he wash it with water it would sting then if he tries to gently remove the scab it bleeds again. After his bath Aldredo would send him back to the basement. There he placed the wet clothes on the wooden handle of the staircase to let it dry then Aldredo would chain him back. Alone again Quenito would listen on the droplet of water hitting the floor and his mind transend him to the bathroom where he frequently hears droplet of water hitting the tile and a better room to be lock on. When the clothes dries the next day he sorted it and chose the best one to wear, the other ones was placed in the box to be a temporary mattress where he sleep on. Quenito managed to take care of the boxes that Aldredo gave, he had not pee on it but he has to fold his legs in order to fit inside. After placing the cleaned ones he placed inside his old clothes then he went inside to check its comfortability. It is not soft like the one upstairs but it lessen the hardness of the concrete floor. The bastard could not sleep without the box, the feeling of being incase gives him comfort and a little bit of happiness when he is sad and a protective enclave when he has to get rid of his papa in is mind.

In one of his early morning cleaning, there was a surge of itchyness between his legs. He could not stop scratching it and the itch does not want to go away. He drop the dust pond and the broomstick to check his crotch. And there it was, a few curls of pubic hair has spurted above his genitals. He did not know the coming changes to his body and he was afraid that it will engulf him’ what should he do? Cut it? It might grow fast like the grass that he trim weekly. His eyes were fixated on the house whose occupant knows what his body is going through but he went back and forth for days if he will going to discuss it with his papa. When he gather enough courage to speak there was Julia in the kitchen as he prepare for their dinner.  

Quenito would not be joining them on the dinner table, Aldredo forbids him and no one talks to him. He was just there standing beside Aldredo waiting to be called and assist his papa and Julia on their needs. When one of them would empty their glass of juice Quenito would pick up the pitcher of orange juice and would fill the glass up to the brim but the bastard would not have any of it much less a thanks for his service. They would chatter from the achievement of Julia in school to the latest gadget on sale in SM but Quenito does not know anything that comes from their mouth, only the laughter and the  flow of discussion make him want to join the talks and eat with them.

He gulped and Quenito breaks his stuttering voice. He was afraid that he would disrupt their conversation.