I am who I am because of you

So I’m going through the bargain books at the 31st manila international book fair. Once again I ogled myself on books for only a dollar or less which were originally $14 or more. One of the books I found was Kockroach. It caught my attention not because of its cover but because of its title. And as I read through the brief description of the book by the back cover, I found it interesting since it did say that a cockroach woke up as a human on one of the low class hotel at time square. For a person who hates and fears cucarachas this book should be something I should not pick up, but the words gangs, violence, politics, money and sex is something that I am always drawn into.

Now, here's the icky part. I though the book is like a metaphor. You know the word cockroach is often used to describe a human being. To may horror, the book is literary about a cockroach (the icky insect that it is) waking up as a human. So I found myself reading through the first chapters about how a cockroach think, their traits and eeeewwww.. how they have sex. I have learned a few trivia about these icky things... If you cut their head off they will still be alive for 3 days. If there's a nuclear blast annihilating the earth they will still live. Now after this book I have learned that European cockroach likes long foreplay in sex while American cockroaches just like to hump the female right away. >.< But here's the interesting part, as I read through the pages of the book, I have come to admire the Kockroach now named, Jerry Blatta. He has become rich and famous among the streets of New York because of his buddy Mite who found him on the streets. Mite has taught him the ways of men and as a cockroach that easily adopt change and their greed and hunger for food and for sex (coz it was said male cockroach has only two things in mind... he is always hungry and always want to mate). So not long did Kockroach and Mite rise up into the greek gangstars. Unfortunately, Mite is a treacherous bastard. With Kockroach’s ambition to be the top boss and Mite's jealousy on Kockroach who was mating his girl, he betrayed him. Thus ended their life as top gangsters. Now eight years has passed and Mite has come back to New York only to find out that his former friend and boss is now almost own the whole businesses in NY. From being a gangster boss, Kockroach has risen as a businessman the likes of Trump and Bronson. Even though he knew Mite betrayed him he still took him under his wing. Although Mite promised that he won't betray him again, Kockroach told him "Don't bother, we are what we are." Now this is one of the many lines I like about the book. But Kockroach still isn't satisfied about being a rich businessman. Towards the end of the book it shows that he is running for the U.S Senate which I believe he has successfully achieved and maybe if the author wrote further U.S might have a cockroach turn to human as their President. I have come to like the book, even though it’s giving me the icky details of the life and times of a cucaracha. But there is a story to be told. We are what we are, as Kockroach said to Mite. Nobody ever change, somehow your true self will always peek into the world we build in and will tumble it down. No matter how we work hard and finally thinking we have it all, something will always come down and take it all away from us living us to start all over again. There is also a sense of brotherhood. I see that Kockroach is a true example of a real friend. Even though he knew that Mite betrayed him constantly he still considers him as a friend, his palsy, his brother. A lot my say his stupid by not killing him, even Mite thought Kockroach will kill him. But Kockroach accepted him as who he is and since Mite was the one who actually taught him about human society. When Mite asked him why.. Kockroach simply answered him... "I am who I am because of you."

#cockroaches #Kockroach #tylerknox #manilainternationalbookfair #MIBF #NationalBookstore