Chapter 9 - Dinah' Decision

When our car arrived at Dinah's house, Jeannie was the one who welcomed us at the gate. There was an obvious feeling of concern on her face as she opened the gate for us.

"anong nangyayari, Jeannie?" i quickly asked as i walked out of the car, Brent in tow.

"Something happened to the catering business of Di's family. I'll-i'll let her tell you herself..." sabi ni Jeannie as she tugged me to Dinah's room upstairs.

as we slowly opened the door of the bedroom, we saw Di sitting on the bed with her face to her hands. she was sobbing quietly as we slowly walked over to her. i reached out a hand and touched her shoulder.

"Gail!" she cried as she stood up and hugged me suddenly.

Sobrang iyak niya as i comforted her by patting her back. i knew Di for a long time. i never saw her like this... this way. this emotion. this weak.

"Di, anong nangyari?" tanong ko as she slowly let go fo her hug on me and sat down on the bed again.

"My family is bankrupt... the whole business is wrecked... dinemanda kami..." Di said in between sobs.

"Gosh... w-what really happened..." i stuttered as i listened to this very unbelievable story.

"This is how it happened..." simula ni Jeannie as she came closer to me.

"Di's parents told me awhile ago... story said was... they had this big function yesterday in one of the biggest hotels at Alabang... a very fancy function... no expense was too big for them... a debut for one of the rich socialites only daughter.. of course, alam mo na... they had the works! so Di's family catered for them. the food on the menu was very very pricey... there was even some truffles on some of the meat served..." Jeannie narrated as i listened carefully.

"E-everything w-was perfect..." banggit ni Dinah.

"The function was going well when a guest found a... a rat's head in the cream soup. And that created a big scene!" Jeannie exclaimed ng may paglaki ng mga mata.

"It was all Mang Gorio's fault!" Di shouted stamping her fists to the bed.

Who is this Mang Gorio, anyway? And why did he do this to Dinah's family? What made him do it to such a nice family?

"Just for being fired from our catering business. Th-thats so bad of him!" Di continued full of pain as tears continued falling from her eyes.

"I heard that the guy had money issues with some syndicate. gambling problems. and that the money he could have gotten from Di's business would be a way to pay it off. but Di's father found out he was swindling money from the business. so instead of being sent to jail, he was just fired" Jeannie whisphered to me when Dinah reacted.

"So he got pissed and found a way to bring down my family's business. i hope he gets his just deserves for doing that!" Dinah shouted beforen Jeannie and i ran to hug and comfort her.

"I-I... hope... he pays... for what he did... to my family..." Dinah said in between sobs.

Knock! Knock!

We turned to see who knocked. then saw Brent who was by the door, his hand still on it. he had the look that called towards him. So i stood and slowly walked over to him.

"The man... they found him already..." he whispered to me holding onto my shoulder.

"Good! so he can finally pay for what he did!" I exclaimed as i rushed to Di.

"They found Mang Gorio! Nakita na nila siya!" I said almost jumping for joy.

Dinah's face partly lit up as she turned her head to face me. Jeannie was still holding onto Di's shoulder as she listened and smiled. All three of us jumped for joy when Brent spoke again.

"But girls... he can't pay for what he did anymore... he's dead already... it was said that he was trying to run from that last incident he caused... he got ran over by a speeding car... he's now dead." Brent said to our total shock.

"H-how?" Dinah asked as she stood up.

"He crossed the freeway trying to flee from the scene. He avoided some the other vehicles but was hit by a car from another lane. The driver could not stop in time. He was thrown meters from where he was hit by the car. He died instantly." Brent finished.

"So drastic!" Jeannie said.

"... Karma... got her sacrifice..." Dinah said plainly.

I was just caught off guard by the story. So tragic. So disgusting. So shocking. anyone who did bad things need toget punished. But...  But things happen to different people. Just goes to show... life can be such a mystery to understand.

"But Mang Gorio's death will not return the reputation of our family's business again... we're still ruined..." Dinah said as she sat back down contemplating her family's situation.

Then we stayed there quiet for sometime, thinking of what to do to help. Then Brent slowly walked towards Dinah then bent to his knees so his face almost was eye-level with Di.

"I have an idea. I know who can help. But it will need some sacrifices from you and your family..." Brent started before he discussed his plans with Dinah.

Brent explained that he knows someone who can help Dinah's family. But it would be essential that they need to leave the country. A company in New York would be eager to absorb the business, provided that the business is there in NY as well.

"So you're going to leave us ha, Di?" Jeannie asked with tears welling in her eyes as she was walking to the door.

"F-for my family... I-I will do anything..." Di said in defeat as she stood and walked to where Jeannie was.

"i'll just need to call someone, excuse me a moment" Brent said ng kunin niya ang phone mula sa pocket nya.

"But this doesn't mean F.O. right? tanong ko sa kanila.

Tumingin lang sila sa akin. All quizzical.  They had those stares for like a minute or so when i answered.

"Friendship Over?" sabi ko with a smile.

Ngumiti silang dalawa and ran to me. Three of us where enveloped in a warm group hug full of laughter. Remembering all the fun we had. Then Brent came back to the room.

"So... everythings ok, I understand?" he said ng may pailing iling habang nakatingin.

"So what now?" I asked moving towards him.

"Here's the deal, Dinah... kailangan you have to start packing... you're going to be needed in New York in 1 week." Brent confessed as she looked to Dinah.

"What?!" sigaw naming tatlo ng sabay sabay.

Tumango lang si Brent as he looked at us with a "yup" look on his face. Grabe! 1 week lang? Ang bilis! But if its going to be for Dinah and her family, maybe its a good thing.

"I have to tell my family about this."Dinah said with Brent in tow to the sala for the explaining.

Naiwan kami ni Jeannie sa kwarto ni Dinah. We  went around and savored the memories almost written on the walls of this room. The stories. The laughter. The tears. The kwentuhan. The slumber parties. All those years. Tagal na rin pala namin magkakasama. Tapos...

"So this may be goodbye to Dinah..." I said sadly talking a photo frame from the dresser, a picture of us three going out to party at a bar when I got my first paycheck.

"Well.. why don't we have a despedida party... a private one for us three only? I got a great plan! Strippers!!!" sigaw ni Jeannie that almost made me drop the photo frame.

"Ha?!?"

Yun lang ang nasabi ko ng tingnan ko si Jeannie na halos bouncing around tsa room. Sang part ng brain na naman niya nakuha yun?

"Sis... just say yes... I will handle everything... we can have it at my condo!" Jeannie said as she tugged onto my arm like a small kid.

"O... OK... Ikaw bahala ha..." I said in defeat.

"We'll just tell Di in the days to come... I have to finalize it first." my friend said flipping her hair with a smile on her face.

A few days after, I was at work doing some usual paperwork when my cel rang. Not usually checking who is the one calling i answered it my usual business way.

"Good afternoon, advertising department, this is..."

"GAIL!" Jeannie cut me off as she shouted on the phone making me almost throw the cel to the other side of the room.

"Jeannie... lakas nun ha..." I said covering my mouth so not to attract other glances from my colleagues.

"Oh sorry sis... excited lang kasi ako... Ok na yung party. And we have stripperrrrrssss..." she said in a very excited way exaggerating and elongating the word "strippers".

"So did you tell Di already?" i answered feeling a bit excited as well.

"The party, yes... the strippers... no" Jeannie laughed on the other line.

"So its a 'GO' then." I answered.

This would be fun.