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?"

Bahagyang natigilan si Reigo bago binuhay ang makina ng sasakyan. "My car earlier was crashed."

She frowned. "Crashed? How?"

"Anger and jealousy," sabi ni Reigo habang minamaniobra ang kotse paalis sa parking lot. "That's what destroyed my car. Nag-taxi ako pauwi."

"Sana sinabi mo sa akin para naipahatid kita kanina," sabi niya na may pag-aalala.

"Nah, that's okay." Reigo smiled at her.

"Do you know kung sino ang may gawa?" tanong niya nang nasa daan na sila.

Reigo nodded. "Don't worry about it. Sasakyan lang naman 'yon, 'buti nga hindi ako ang sinagasaan, eh."

"Reigo!"

Tumawa lang ang lalaki. "I'm serious, ayos lang. Sa ugali ng gumawa n'on sa sasakyan ko, pasalamat talaga ako na hindi ako sinagasaan. I didn't know that he would be that mad. Anyway, ihahatid na kita sa hotel, okay lang ba? Kailangan kong magpakita sa mga kaibigan ko bago nila ako hunting-in dahil palagi akong busy at MIA."

Agad siyang tumango. "Sure. Thank you."

Tahimik ang buong sasakyan ng ilang minuto bago iyon binasag ng pag-iingay ng cell phone ni Reigo.

"Do you mind if I answer the call in a loudspeaker mode? Wala akong dalang earphones, eh," tanong sa kanya ni Reigo na agad naman niyang pinayagan.

It was his car. Sino siya para humindi?

Tumingin lang si Happy sa labas ng bintana ng sasakyan habang naglalakbay ang isip niya sa mga araw na kasama niya si Blaze at masaya lang siya.

Pero naputol 'yon nang marinig niya ang boses ni Ream na siyang tumawag pala kay Reigo. At dahil naka-loudspeaker, dinig niya ang usapan ng dalawa.

"What is it?" Reigo asked.

"Huwag kang pumunta rito sa BV," sabi ni Ream—kung tama ang pandinig niya sa pamilyar nitong boses.

"Why?" Reigo asked, frowning.

"He's drunk, Vasquez," sabi pa rin ni Ream na parang may takot na bahid ang boses. "He slammed his car into mine this afternoon and destroyed it. He nearly ran me over if Sanford was't there to pull me away. He's a mess, Vasquez. Binibiro ko lang naman siya pero bigla na lang siyang nagwala. Alam kong nakakatakot si Blaze magalit pero hindi ganito. I'm not expecting this monstrous attitude of him—"

"Did you say Blaze?" hindi niya napigilan ang sumabad sa usapan.

Natahimik ang nasa kabilang linya bago nagsalita. "Happy?"

"Yes, it's me Ream." She was worried. "Tell me about Blaze. What's happening?"

"It's nothing," sabi ni Ream, saka pinatay ang tawag.

Nang mawala si Ream sa kabilang linya, tumingin siya kay Reigo. "Let's go to Blaze. Please?"

Tumango ang lalaki at agad na pinaharurot ang sasakyan. Halos lumipad na 'yon sa bilis ng takbo kaya hindi natagalan ang biyahe nila. Nakarating sila agad sa Bachelor's Village, pero hindi sila pumasok.

Ipinarada ni Reigo ang sasakyan sa gilid ng kainan at barbecue-han na nasa harap ng BV. And she couldn't believe what she was seeing in front of them.

It was Blaze and he was fighting—no, more like beating up his friends who were trying to restrain him but miserably failing.

Blaze was fighting against four men, and she had met those men.

Phoenix Martinez, Titus Morgan, Shun Kim and Khairro Sanford. They were all fighting against Blaze whose face was dark, with sharp eyes, deadly stance and a dangerous aura surrounding him.

"Jesus Christ..." nanginginig ang mga labing bulong niya habang pinagmamasdan ang apat na kalalakihan na inaatake si Blaze.

Pero si Blaze... madali lang na nasasalag at nalalabanan ang apat na parang wala lang ang mga ito.

"Fuck," mahinang sambit ni Reigo bago ito nagmamadaling lumabas ng kotse. "Stay here!" bilin nito sa kanya.

Nang makita ni Blaze si Reigo, bigla nitong inatake si Reigo pero napigilan ito ng isang lalaki—si Knight Velasquez, ang lalaking kumausap sa kanya at nagsabing may kapatid siya. Ihinarang nito ang katawan sa pagitan nina Blaze at Reigo.

Knight Velasquez said something, darkening Blaze's face even more before he launched at Knight who expertly blocked Blaze's attacks and fought back

It was now five versus one.

Blaze!

Namilog ang mga mata ni Happy nang hindi masalag ni Blaze ang suntok ni Knight Velasquez at tamama iyon sa tiyan nito pero hindi iyon naging dahilan para matumba si Blaze.

Blaze's face became angrier and his aura deadlier. He was brutally throwing punches and kicking his friends like a mad man. He was attacking his friends like a savager, uncaring, like they were not friends at all.

It was like Blaze was in a trance... a very deep and dangerous trance.

Hindi niya pinakinggan ang bilin ni Reigo na huwag lumabas. Lumabas siya ng kotse at lumapit sa kaguluhan.

"Blaze!" sigaw niya sa pangalan ng lalaki pero para itong binging nakikipaglaban.

She was about go near when Reigo stopped her. "Happy, don't! He'll hurt you! He's not himself! He's drunk!"

Inalis niya ang kamay ni Reigo sa braso. "I'll be fine."

"We already called Blake," sabi ni Ream. "Let's just wait for him. Blaze will hurt you—"

"Emotionally, yes, but physically? I don't believe that," sabi niya, saka walang pag-aalinlangan na lumapit kay Blaze.

Ang suntok nito na para kay Phoenix ay siya ang sumalag. Mabilis siyang tumingkayad at inilapat ang mga labi niya sa mga labi nito.

It was a soft short kiss. Hoping that it would be enough to pull Blaze out from the trance.

Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang dahan-dahang bumaba ang nakakuyom na kamay ni Blaze. Napakurap-kurap ito nang binigyang distansiya niya ang mga mukha nila at nakita siya nito.

"H-Happy..." he whispered.

She smiled. "Are you back?"

He blinked before looking around him. "I, ahm, guess...

Sa sinabing 'yon ni Blaze, parang lahat ng naroon ay nakahinga nang maluwag, lalo na ang limang nakipaglaban kay Blaze kanina.

"Fuck you, man," sabi ni Phoenix habang sapo ang tiyan. "Pumunta ako rito para sa barbecue, hindi para bugbugin mo."

"Fuck." Titus Morgan was clutching his dislocated elbow. "You really know where to hit hard, you animal—fuck! I hate doctors."

Si Khairro naman ay nahiga sa semento na may iniinda ring sakit, habang si Shun Kim ay tinutulungan ni Knight na ibalik ang na-dislocate nitong buto sa balikat.

"Good thing he didn't break your bones," sabi ni Knight kay Shun. "He just dislocated it." He grinned. "Even in a savage mode, Blaze still considers you—us— his friend—"

"Fuck you!" sabay-sabay na sigaw nina Phoenix, Titus, Khairro at Shun.

But Blaze didn't seem to mind them, his eyes and attention were trained on her.

"You're here..." sabi nito na parang hindi makapaniwala. "Akala ko busy ka." Umangat ang kamay nito, saka masuyong sinapo ang mukha niya na para bang pinatotohanan sa sarili na nasa harap nga siya nito. "You're really here... you're here..."

Hinawakan niya ang kamay nitong sapo ang pisngi niya, saka nginitian ito. "Let's get you home, Blaze. You're drunk. Dapat you're resting."

Para itong maamong tupa na tumango at nagpagiya sa kanya patungo sa nakaparada nitong sasakyan.

Happy opened the passenger's door for Blaze and helped him get in, and when she closed the door, she faced Blaze's friends who were all looking at her.

"You're gonna be okay with him?" tanong ni Knight sa kanya. "Baka maging savage na naman 'yan."

Tumango siya, saka ngumiti. "I doubt that. He's a big baby when he's with me."

Lahat ng naroon ay halatang hindi naniniwala sa sinabi niya pero hindi niya pinansin ang mga ito.

"Pasensiya na sa pag-beat up ni Blaze sa inyo," sabi niya, saka tumingin kay Reigo. "See you around, Reigo," sabi niya bago umikot patungong driver's seat at sumakay roon.

The car key was still on the ignition, making it easier for her to start the engine.

Pero bago niya pinausad ang sasakyan, isinuot muna niya ang seat belt kay Blaze na hindi niya alam kung natutulog o nakapikit lang ang mga mata.

But he's unmoving.

Nonetheless, she didn't want to disturb him. Hinayaan niya itong magpahinga at tinawagan na lang ang kapatid.

"Ate—"

"Blaze is with me," agad niyang sabi. "Pakisabi sa fiancé mo na he's okay na. I'm taking him home."

Lucky let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God! Baka mabinat si Blake kapag pumunta riyan. Wait... do you know the way home?"

"That's why I called." Napangiwi siya. "I need the complete address. I'll try to take him home using my phone's GPS."

"Ahm..." Lucky sounded reluctant. "Remember when you got lost? You also used GPS at the time, but you still got lost, Ate."

Napakagat siya sa pang-ibabang labi. "I'll try harder this time."

"Sige." Pumayag din sa wakas ang kapatid. Ise-send ko sa iyo."

"Thanks, Lucky," sabi niya, saka pinatay ang tawag at hinintay na i-send ni Lucky ang hinihingi niya.

And when Lucky did, Happy immediately used her map on the phone to navigate and find the right way.

After a lot of mishap, a lot of wrong turns, she finally pulled over in front of Blaze's house.

"Whew..." She breathed out. "Success." She felt happy even though she messed up a little.

Lumabas siya ng sasakyan at nagmamadaling lumapit sa pinto ng bahay at kumatok.

When Blaze's mother opened the door, Happy immediately smiled.

"Good evening, Tita Beth." Nilingon niya ang sasakyan ni Blaze bago ibinalik ang tingin sa mommy nito. "It's Blaze. He's drunk."

Agad na bumukas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ng ginang. "Is he okay?"

Tumango siya. "Yes po. Small bruises but mabubuhay po siya."

Napalitan ng mahinang tawa ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Tita Beth. "Halika, tulungan mo ako," sabi nito.

Agad naman siyang sumunod kay Tita Beth pabalik ng sasakyan at nagtulong silang dalawa na ilabas si Blaze at alalayan ito papasok sa bahay.

He really had too much to drink because he passed out! Nahirapan silang dalawa ni Tita Beth na buhatin si Blaze, tumulong pa nga sa kanila si Bailey. Ito ang nagbukas at nagsara ng pinto ng bahay at ito rin ang nagbukas ng pinto sa kuwarto ni Blaze.

Nang maihiga nila si Blaze sa kama, pareho silang pawis na pawis at hinihingal ni Tita Beth.

"D-dito ka lang." Habol pa rin nito ang hininga nang magsalita habang tinutuyo ang pawis sa noo. "Kukuha ako ng tubig at pamunas."

Tumango si Happy, saka agad namang hinubad ang suot na T-shirt ni Blaze. Ilang segundo rin niyang tinitigan ang katawan ng lalaki bago niya nagawang iiwas ang mga mata. Sunod naman niyang hinubad ay ang sapatos at medyas nitong suot.

She was sweating as she rummaged his closet. Pinakialaman na niya ang mga damit ni Blaze.

Kumuha siya ng muscle shirt at boxer shorts sa mga damit nito at nagmamadaling lumabas ng walk-in closet nang marinig na nakabalik na si Tita Beth.

Naabutan niya itong pinupunasan ang katawan ni Blaze. At dahil may isa pang pamunas na nasa palangganitang may tubig, tinulungan niya ang ginang.

Pinunasan niya ang pisngi ni Blaze, pababa sa leeg, patungong dibdib, 'tapos lumipat siya sa pagpunas sa braso nito, pababa sa pupulsuhan at kamay. Natigil lang siya sa ginagawa nang mapansing nakatitig sa kanya si Tita Beth.

"Po?" tanong niya.

Umiling ito, saka masuyong napangiti. "Mukhang sanay na sanay ka sa ginagawa mo."

Happy smiled. "My dad... he's not really lasenggo but may times na lasenggo siya, that's why alam ko how to do this. Ako ang nagte-take care sa kanya all the time."

Napatango-tango ang ina ni Blaze. "So ayos lang kung iiwan na kita rito at ikaw na lang ang mag-asikaso kay Blaze? Nagluluto kasi ako ng hapunan."

"Sure po." She smiled to assure Tita Beth that she would take care of Blaze. "Ako na po ang magte-take care kay Blaze."

"Salamat, Happy," pasasalamat nito sa kanya sa masuyong boses. "Pasensiya ka na talaga at naabala ka ng anak ko. I know you're busy with your life that's why I'm thankful that you're here. Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin 'to pero inaalagaan mo pa rin siya."

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "Pakiramdam ko kasi I'll be very sad if may mangyaring bad sa kanya. I know that I'm not the one he needs, and it angers me sometimes. But looking at him now, I don't have the strength para iwan siya. Hanggang pag-iwas lang ang kaya ko, but leaving him, I don't know why the thought makes my heart tighten and ache."

"Happy..." Inabot nito ang kamay niyang walang hawak na pamunas, saka pinisil 'yon. "My son... he's still trap in his past. Alam niyang magkaibang tao kayo ni Cassie at sinusubukan niyang makaahon pero nahihirapan siya."

"I know po." Nagbaba siya ng tingin. "My dad raised me to respect myself. I know what I want and I'm a strong and independent woman... kaya nga hindi ko alam why I can't leave him? Why can't I forget about him? Why is he stuck in my head? Why is my mind and my heart in chaos over him?"

"Happy..." Hinuli ng ginang ang mailap niyang mga mata. "If you don't have the strength to leave him, do you have the strength to stay with him?"

Napipilan siya sa tanong na iyon. Wala siyang maisagot.

Tita Beth spoke again. "Kasi kung hindi mo siya kayang iwan, kung hindi ka aalis, masasaktan ka at mahihirapan. At bilang isang babae, ayokong maranasan mo 'yon."

"I'll be fine po, Tita." Nginitian niya ang ginang. "I know myself, I know my worth as a woman. I know what I want in life. I don't want to be needed just because I remind him of her. I don't want a half-baked need or attention." Mahina siyang natawa at napailing. "It's not even half-baked because he only needs me because of her. Hindi ko kaya 'yon, Tita. Hindi ko kayang i-forget ang sarili ko at i-accept na hindi ako deserve na magustuhan as me."

Tumango ito, saka dumukwang para halikan siya sa noo. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you."

"Thank you po."

Tita Beth smiled at her again before pushing herself up and leaving the room.

Nang siya na lang, ipinagpatuloy niya ang pagpupunas sa katawan ni Blaze. Pero napatigil nang matitigan ang tattoo nito sa dibdib, sa ibaba lang ng collarbone nito at parang ginawa iyong kuwintas.

"If you want peace, prepare for war," basa niya sa tattoo nito, saka napangiti. "Make sense."

Her eyes wandered around Blaze's body. He really had lots of tattoos. Tribal and celtic combined and then there were words too inked on his skin.

"Fear no evil," basa niya sa tattoo na nasa kanang braso nito. "Too wild to live, too rare to die," basa naman niya sa tattoo nitong nasa puson. "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal." Nasa kaliwang braso nito iyon.

Then her eyes settled on Blaze's left wrist. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang makitang may espasyo pa roon na walang tattoo.

Napakagat-labi si Happy nang may maisip.

Inabot niya ang ball pen na nasa bedside table ng kama, saka sinulatan niya ang walang tattoo na parte ng kaliwang pupulsuhan ni Blaze. Pagkatapos ay tinapos niya ang pagpupunas sa katawan ng lalaki at binihisan na ito.

Nang hinubad niya ang pantalon nito, inayos muna ang kumot bago kinapa sa ilalim ng kumot ang waistband ng pantalon nito, saka hinubad iyon.

And to her shock, he was commando!

Agad niyang isinuot ang boxer nito, saka pinakatitigan ang lalaki. Kapagkuwan ay umupo siya sa gilid ng kama habang titig na titig sa guwapo nitong mukha.

"I like you, Blaze," bulong niya sa mahimbing na natutulog na lalaki. "I like you a lot."

Blaze remained asleep.

Happy smiled before leaning in to kiss him on the forehead. Pagkatapos ay pinulot niya ang palangganita at pamunas bago lumabas ng kuwarto at maingat na isinara ang pinto.

Nang makababa siya, sinalubong siya ni Tita Beth.

"Dito ka na kumain," sabi nito habang kinukuha ang dala niya.

"Nag-eat na po ako, Tita Beth," nakangiting tugon niya, saka sinubukan kung papayagan siya ng ginang sa balak niyang gawin. "Ahm, like ko po sanang gawan ng chicken soup si Blaze for his hangover. Is it okay lang po ba?"

"Of course," agad na payag ni Tita Beth. "The kitchen is yours."

She beamed at her. "Thank you, Tita."

Magaan ang pakiramdam na tinungo niya ang kusina at ipinagluto si Blaze ng chicken soup na tulad ng niluluto niya para sa ama. Pagkatapos ay sumalo siya sa hapunan nina Tita Beth at Bailey dahil makulit ang ginang at hindi siya tinigilan.

That was her second dinner tonight, and she was very full.

"Me na po," sabi niya kay Tita Beth nang akmang ito ang magliligpit ng mga pinagkainan.

"Salamat, Happy," sabi ng ginang, saka malambing na niyakap si Bailey at hinalikan sa pisngi. "Go... mag-half bath ka na."

"Yes, Mommy." Then Bailey smiled at her. "Thank you po, Ate Happy."

Nakangiting tinanguan niya ito, saka nag-umpisa na siyang magligpit.

"How did a rich girl like you knows how to cook and wash the dishes?" tanong ni Tita Beth habang pinupunasan nito ang hapagkainan.

"I taught myself," sagot niya habang nag-uumpisa nang maghugas. "Gusto ko kasing maging hands-on kay Dad. He suffered a lot because of me, because na-coma ako. Gusto kong i-return 'yong ginawa niya for me... 'yong care at love... Like kong iparamdam 'yon kay Dad through my cooking and by taking care of him."

"Ang suwerte ng daddy mo."

Umiling siya. "Ako ang lucky dahil he's my dad. Because of him, because he didn't give up on me, I'm still alive."

They exchanged smiles before Happy continued washing the dishes. Si Tita Beth naman ay lumabas ng kusina dahil pupuntahan daw si Bailey.

Nang matapos siyang maghugas, sa sala siya tumambay at nanood ng TV para magpalipas ng oras. Pero hindi niya namalayang nakatulog pala siya sa sofa.

Nang magising siya, umaga na at wala na siya sa sofa. Nakahiga na siya sa kama ni Blaze at katabi ito.

Her lips just parted while her mind asked how did she get her? Siguradong sa sofa siya nakatulog kagabi!

Pero bago pa masagot ng isip niya ang mga sariling katanungan, gumalaw si Blaze sa tabi niya at kumubabaw ang kalahati ng katawan nito sa kanya dahilan para magkabuhol-buhol ang paghinga niya.

And when Blaze buried his face on her neck, her heart pounded so loud, she wouldn't even be shocked if he could hear her heart beating.

"Good morning, Happy," he grumbled then groaned... and he sounded so sexy as hell!

"G-good morning." Napalunok siya. "Why am I in your bed?"

Sa halip na sagutin siya, iba ang sinabi nito. "I'm sorry, Happy... please... don't be mad at me anymore. Please..."

Itinulak niya si Blaze paalis sa pagkakakubabaw sa kanya. Mabilis siyang bumangon at inayos ang nagusot na damit, saka itinali ang buhok. "Get up, freshen up, have a breakfast, then we'll talk, okay?" sabi niya.

Blaze nodded. "Okay."

Tipid niya itong nginitian, saka naglakad palabas ng kuwarto nito.

She looked calm and collected on the outside... but on the inside... there was an earthquake happening and she was shaking.

CECELIB | C.C.