THE BROKEN MAN'S AFFLICTION

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 10

DINNER WITH REIGO was fun. They talked about everything they could talk about. From college life to work and he even indulged her to talk about jewelry even when he didn't really understand her fascination on gemstones and golds. He tried understanding her words, but always failed.

Hanggang sa matapos silang kumain at makalabas sila ng restaurant ay nag-uusap pa rin sila.

"So you have lots of friends?"

Tumango si Reigo. "Hindi naman kami lahat close. Lampas treinta yata kaming magkakaibigan."

"Wow..." That stunned her. That was a large group of friends.

"Yes. Wow." Reigo chuckled. "But in that circle of friends, there are group of close friends. 'Yong parang, oo kaibigan mo silang lahat pero sila 'yong mas ka-close mo."

Umiling siya. "Hindi ko gets," pag-amin niya. "Wala akong large number of kaibigan."

"It's like this..." Reigo explained further. "There are thirty-five of us... I think. Lahat kami magkakaibigan, pero may sari-sarili kaming grupo ng kaibigan—still in our circle of friends— na mas close namin. Example, me, I'm close with Ream, Andrius, Thorn and more but I'm not really close with the Vitale Twins, the basaguleros I told you about and some even though we're friends."

That was confusing. "Paano kayo nag-stay friends if you're not that close?" tanong niya.

"Respect," simpleng sagot ni Reigo.

Tumaas ang dalawa niyang kilay. "That's it?"

"Yes. We respect each other's individuality. At kung kaya naming sabayan, doon kami nagiging malapit. We have these three rules... silent rules that we know by heart and that's what keeps our friendship intact and strong through the years."

She was amazed. "'Yong mga ikinuwento mo earlier to me, it's amazing and it actually makes me want to have kaibigan like yours."

Reigo chuckled while shaking his head. "Trust me, I have crazy friends. Raine, Tyron Zapanta's wife even call our friendship a gang—once you go in, you can't go out. While Faith, Yilmaz' wife called our friendship a fraternity or some sort. And Ruth, Beckett's wife call our friendship a Lunatic Club."

Mahina siyang natawa. "Even if it's a gang, a fraternity or a club... it's still friendship."

Reigo nodded with a smile. "Respect, no killing, just beating and insulting and the last one is one for all and all for one—problema at laban ng isa, problema at laban naming lahat. That's our three silent rules. But the last one doesn't apply to everyone. May mga kaibigan kasi kaming matitigas ang ulo, ayaw humingi ng tulong at nirerespeto namin 'yon. Pero nakahanda kami, para kapag dumating na siya sa puntong hihingi na siya ng resbak, handa kaming ibigay 'yon sa kanya."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa isang sinabi nitong salita na hindi niya naintindihan. "What's resbak?"

"Fight back, I think."

"Oh." Napatango-tango si Happy. "You know, you have so maraming slangs na words. 'Yong iba, I don't get it."

Natawa si Reigo. "Text or call me if you encounter a word you don't get."

Happy beamed. "I'll keep that in mind."

Pinagbuksan siya ng pinto sasakyan ni Reigo, saka inalalayan siyang makasakay bago ito umikot patungong driver's seat at sumakay.

"I think mayaman ka rin like your parents," sabi niya habang isinusuot ang seat belt. "Your sasakyan is new. 'Di ba Cadillac ang gamit mo kaninang umaga when you came to my hotel to deliver my key chain?"