His Secret Proposal

4

“Ah!”

A woman shouted when they finally reached their orgasm. Hinihingal sila pareho habang nasa loob ng isang cubicle. His hand rested on the woman's shoulder, her body still pressed against his.

Daniel leaned against the restroom’s cool tiled wall, still feeling the rhythmic pulse of the music from the club floor beneath his feet. Habol pa rin nito ang sariling paghinga matapos ng umaatikabong ganap nila ng babae sa loob ng isang cubicle.

The woman was slightly flushed, wiping her lips as she adjusted her dress. “That was... intense,” she said, trying to catch her breath, her voice still shaky.

Daniel only nodded, running his hand through his hair. He barely remembered her name, but that didn’t matter in moments like this. Basta sumasayaw lang siya kanina sa party nang makita niya ang babae. Minutes of talking then they started kissing and ended up making out in the club’s cubicle. Mabuti na lang at walang pumapasok na tao sa cubicle pero kung meron man ay wala rin namang pakialam si Daniel. Baka sadyain pa nga niyang pahiyawin sa sarap ang babae para lamang iparinig sa iba.

Pagod na pagod sila pareho pero parehas na lang natawa. A couple of minutes passed, and they finally stood up, cleaning themselves off as best as they could. The woman made a comment about what happened, but Daniel wasn’t really listening. His attention was elsewhere.

As they stepped outside, the neon lights from the club entrance flickered above them, casting long shadows on the sidewalk. The air was thick with the buzz of people still coming in and out of the club. May mga napansin pa silang mga lasing na lalaki na hindi magkaintindihan kung paano papasok sa men’s room dahil sa sobrang kalasingan.

"Eve?!"

Daniel's voice was a mix of surprise and confusion. Sa madilim na gilid ng pinto ng comfort room ay nakatayo roon si Eve. Her expression is cold as she stared at Daniel’s hand, still resting on the woman's back.

Eve's eyes were narrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line as she raised a brow. "You left your phone," she said, her tone flat and almost mocking.

Daniel felt the tension rising but shrugged it off with a grin. Mabilis niya ring tinanggap ang cellphone at sinuksok sa pocket ng kaniyang pantalon. “Thanks! Do you want a drink?” he offered. Nagawa pa niyang ngumiti sa babae para mabawasan ang tensyon sa paligid.

But Eve didn’t answer. Tiningnan nito ang babaeng kasama ni Daniel mula ulo hanggang papa bago bumaling sa kaniya pero hindi pa rin nagsalita. Instead, she let out a sharp sigh, her eyes rolling in irritation before she turned on her heel and stormed off. Daniel stood there for a moment, napailing nalang siya habang tinatanaw ang papalayong bulto ng babae.

“Okay...” he muttered, a bemused expression crossing his face. Shaking his head, he returned his focus to the woman beside him, his hand finding her waist once again. “Well, that was fun. Let’s get back to the dance floor, shall we?” Kumindat pa siya na akala mo ay walang nakita na kahit sino. Ang babae naman ay binalewala na lang din ang nangyari. Hindi rin ito nagtanong ng kahit ano tungkol kay Eve.

As they moved toward the crowd of bodies writhing to the beat, Daniel glanced over his shoulder, hoping to spot Eve again. But she was nowhere in sight. The woman beside him tugged him back into the music, and for a moment, the chaos of the night took over his senses again.

Sa haba ng gabi, tuluyan niyang nakalimutan si Eve at talagang nag-enjoy sa kasayaw na babae. Umaga na rin siya nakauwi sa kaniyang condominium.

***

Alas tres na ng hapon nang magising si Daniel. The dim light from the window fell across his sleek condo as the sunlight tried to break through the curtains. He was sprawled out on the couch, his body still heavy with the event last night.

Pakiramdam niya ay may pumalo sa ulo niya dahil sa naging pag-inom niya ng alak kagabi. And barely remember how he managed to get home. Baka nga halos gumapang na siya kagabi dahil sa kalasingan..

Then suddenly his phone buzzed loudly on the coffee table, pulling him out of his haze. He groaned, picking it up and squinting at the screen. It was a call from his father.

Pupungas-pungas pa siya nang sagutin ito.

“Dad,” Daniel answered, wiping his eyes and rubbing his temple. “What’s up? Bigla kang napatawag?” Dagdag na tanong ni Daniel bago sipatin ang liwanag na nasa condo. Napahinga siya ng malalim habang nag-iisip sa dahilan ng pagtawag ng ama.

He knows his father so well. Hindi ito tumatawag sa tuwing may problema sa business nila pero kung usapang illegal na trabaho ay ibang usapan iyon. His father never called him unless it has something to do with the organization.

It's been years since the last time he visited the secret hideout. At itong araw ang bagong pagkakataon na pumunta siya roon kung sakali ngang may kinalaman sa organization ang naging pagtawag ng ama.

“I need you here, Daniel,” his father’s voice barked on the other end.

Tama nga ang hinala niya. Napahinga ng malalim si Daniel, hinihintay ang susunod na sasabihin ni Mr. Wyatt.

“We’ve got a situation. Meet me at the place in an hour.”

Daniel squinted his eyes on the screen to check what time is it. Araw ng lunes ngayon at sigurado siyang mahaba ang traffic sa daan. He thinks that he couldn’t make it on time.

“Dad, I'm not sure if I can make it on time. Is this emergency?” His voice still hoarse but he manage to talk to his father clearly. Gusto naman niyang pumunta talaga pero alam niyang malelate siya.

Mayamaya ay narinig niyang pumalatak ang ama sa kabilang linya kaya napagtanto niyang may problema talaga. At kahit impossible ay kailangan niyang makapunta kaagad doon.

“Dad?” Untag niya sa kausap at malakas ang buntong-hininga na pinakawalan ng kaniyang ama.

“I’ll wait you there. It's just someone’s trying to sell us out, luring us into a trap. Mabuti nalang natunugan ni Laurence bago pa tayo malugi sa susunod na meet up natin sa kliyente. I need you to do the job for me, Dan. Finish that problem as the heir of our organization. I’m counting on you, son!”

Daniel sat up immediately, the weight of the words settling in. His life was never as carefree as it seemed.

“I’m on my way, Dad,” he said, tossing his phone aside and standing up to prepare. Naroon pa rin ang bahagyang pagsikdo ng sakit sa kaniyang ulo. Mabigat ang pakiramdam niya ng tumayo pero pinilit niya pa ring kumilos.

Nang lumapit naman siya sa cabinet ay agad siyang napatigil habang naghahanap ng magsusuot. Tila nag-play sa utak niya ang sinabi ng ama.

“It's just someone’s trying to sell us out, luring us into a trap. Mabuti nalang natunugan ni Laurence…”

Napatiim-bagang si Daniel nang marealize ang huling sinabi ng ama.

He's really not done yet.

Gusto niya matawa dahil sa ginagawa ng lalaki. Napasuntok pa siya ng bahagya sa kabinet dahil sa inis.

He's really good at acting. Pakiramdam niya ay para siyang bomba na anumang oras ay sasabog dahil sa kakaisip sa lalaking iyon.

Dumapo naman ang paningin niya sa isang painting na nasa kwarto niya at lumapit roon. Tila may sariling utak ang mga paa niya na lumapit doon. He feels heavy inside while looking at the painting.

Without any second thought he pressed the forehead of the image on the painting. Nagmistulang button iyon na naging dahilan para biglang gumilid ang painting. Tumambad sa parte ng wall kung nasaan ang painting ang isang safety box na mataas ang seguridad bago mabuksan.

A high tech camera just then scan Daniel’s face. Umilaw ito ng berde bago lumabas ang isang umiilaw na device para lapatan ng kaniyang daliri. Daniel lift his hand and pressed his thumb on the device. Walang ano-ano ay may boses na nangibabaw sa tahimik na kwarto.

“Scan completed!”

Matapos ‘yon ay bumukas ang safety box. May ilaw na asul ang loob nito at may nakalagay roon na mga pera at isang box. Daniel pulled the box and open it. It then reveal a little diary, an old touch screen phone and an old picture of a girl.

Kinuha niya ang touch screen at binuhay ito. Mas lalo lamang siyang nakaramdam ng galit nang makita ang taong nasa wallpaper ng teleponong iyon.

Isang babaeng nakasuot ng kulay dilaw na floral dress. Nakangiti na parang walang problema habang nakaupo sa picnic mat. Hawak pa nito ang isang puting-punting aso na may pink bow ribon na puyod sa ulo. Hindi ito nakatingin sa camera pero kitang-kita ang angking ganda kahit alam mong walang kaalam-alam ito na kinuhanan siya ng litrato.

Ciara…

His mind whispered her name.

Hindi sana siya namatay kung nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na protektahan ang babae. Kung pinili niya sanang manatili sa tabi ng babae kesa mambabae ng araw na ‘yon, baka buhay pa siya.

Without any second thought, Daniel swiped left of the screen. Napalunok siya nang pintudin ang recording app at tumambad sa kaniya ang katakot-takot na record ng mga tawag.

Inuna niya ang nasa pangatlong record na na-save at boses agad ni Ciara ang narinig nito.

“What?” Halatang irritable na ang babae kung papakinggan ang boses nito pero mahinhin pa rin.

“Please naman, Ciara! I'm begging you, let's talk!” Nagmamakaawang sagot ng lalaki at napakuyom naman ang kamao ni Daniel nang marinig iyon. Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali sa boses na naririnig.

“Wala na tayong dapat pag-usapan, Rence. I told you, we're just friends. Tigilan mo na ako, please!” Desperadong pagmamakaawa na ni Ciara at nagtangis naman ang ngipin sa galit ni Daniel. Hindi niya na tinuloy ang pakikinig pero tinitigan niya ang cellphone.

May crack ito sa gilid at balak na sana itong ibalik ni Daniel sa box ng may naalala. Isang bagay ang tila pumitik sa ulo niya at nagbigay daan sa isang ideya.

Agad niyang tiningnan ang phone at ang basag nito sa gilid.

No, this can't be— What the hell!

Hindi siya pwedeng magkamali. The last time they saw each other, maayos pa ang cellphone ni Ciara. At kilala niya si Ciara, she doesn't like things that looks old. Ayaw niya sa mga sirang bagay o luma. Kahit ang munting gasgas sa mga bagay na meron siya ay ayaw ng babae. Kaya nga pinagsasabihan niya ito noon na maghinay-hinay sa pagbili ng mga branded shoes, bags at gadgets. Kasi ang ugali na ayaw niya lang talaga kay Ciara ay ang masyadong pagiging concern nito sa mga materyal na bagay. Isang munting gasgas o dumi lang kasi na hindi kayang alisin sa mga gamit niya ay dahilan na nito para bumili ng bago.

Daniel stared at the cracked phone in his hand, his knuckles white as his grip tightened. Napatitig nalang siya sa kawalan at inalala ang sinabi ng imbestigador na nagbigay sa kaniya ng cellphone.

“Sir Dan, nakuha po namin ito sa bahay mismo ni Ma'am Ciara. Nasa kwarto niya po ito. At nung araw po na dinala siya sa hospital ay hindi niya po ito dala.”

What? That's impossible.

A shiver ran down his spine. How could her phone be there if she never went back to their house? Why didn’t anyone notice? Why didn’t he notice?

Hindi niya iniiwan ang cellphone niya especially if she's visiting beautiful places. Ciara died in a park because of her heart condition. That's what the doctor and police said.

What's this?

Walang ano-ano'y tila may nagtulak sa kaniya para tingnan ang gallery sa cellphone ni Ciara. What he sees are pictures of her in different places but one photo made him stunned.

No! This can't be!

Inalala niya ang araw na nakuha ni Ciara ang litrato na iyon. And yes, iyon ay noong panahon na nagkikita pa sila.

Daniel's gaze shifted back to the photo of Ciara still on the screen, her carefree smile staring back at him like a ghost haunting his thoughts.

In the corner of the image, barely visible, was a shadow. A silhouette of someone standing just out of frame. His heart stopped. He zoomed in, the distorted pixels barely forming an outline, but it was unmistakable.

Ciara, paano ka naging ganito? Laurence, what did you do?! Bakit kasama mo siya?! Anong ginawa niyo sa kaniya?!

Laurence!

Daniel’s blood ran cold. He remembered that day—the day Ciara took that photo. It was supposed to be their moment, their memory. Laurence wasn’t supposed to be there.

Nasabunutan ni Daniel ang sarili. Hindi niya alam ang gagawin ngayon. Kailangan niyang malaman ang lahat ng plano ni Laurence at kung paano nawala si Ciara.

Bakit kasama niya si Cian? Anong kinalaman ni Ciandrie rito?

Kailangan niyang makamit ang hustisya para sa babae. Hindi pwedeng magtagumpay ang lalaking iyon.

“Laurence…” Daniel’s voice was a growl, his jaw tightening as fury surged through him. His mind raced with possibilities, questions that only led to more anger and confusion.

“Magbabayad ka, hindi kita papatakasin. Kung anong ginawa mo kay Ciara, doble ang ibabalik ko sa'yo!”

Mariin siyang pumikit para pigilan ang galit na nararamdaman. Mas lalo siyang nagkaroon ng rason para burahin sa mundo si Laurence. He doesn't deserve jail. Sementeryo ang nararapat sa demonyong tulad niya.

Iyon ang nasa utak ni Daniel.

He stumbled back, his breathing shallow as the truth settled in his chest like a heavy stone. He wasn’t chasing after justice anymore.

He was chasing a killer and this time he's not only chasing Laurence but Ciara's step brother too.

Ciandrie Maxwell Ferrer.