His Secret Proposal

5

Madilim na nang makarating si Dan sa hide out ng organization. Mula sa isang liblib na lugar ay pumasok siya sa isang lumang tunnel na may secret door sa loob. After few minutes of waiting the left side part of the tunnel open inside, heading the way to underground paveway. Kasya ang kotse niya roon kaya naman mabilis siyang nakalabas ng tunnel. Dinala siya ng daan sa isang lumang gusali sa bundok.

It was a big scientist lab that exploded in 1995. Walang nagtangka na pumunta doon dahil sa mga chemicals na naiwan. But the illegal organization wasn't afraid of anything. Kaya nga ginawa nila itong secret meeting place. Pati ang laboratory para gumawa ng illegal na droga ay nasa gusali ring iyon.

Nang bumaba si Daniel sa kaniyang kotse ay agad siyang sinalubong ng kanilang mga tauhan. They are wearing all blacks, and it'll be advantage for them to hide especially in night.

Nasa labas pa lang ay napatigil si Daniel para tingnan ang buong gusali. Luma at mataas ito, marami ring sira na animo’y anong oras ay guguho. But looks may lured anyone. Dahil magpahanggang-ngayon ay ayos pa rin ang lugar na iyon.

Napabuntong hininga nalang si Daniel sa isiping makakaharap niya ang lalaking kinasusuklaman. Nang humakbang siya papasok ay iginiya pa siya ng dalawang lalaki.

Marami silang pinasukan na hallway hanggang sa makarating sila sa isang kwarto. Inabot agad ng malakas na ungol at sigaw ang tenga niya. Maraming tao na naroon, nakapalibot sa nangyayari.

“Chairman, narito na po si Sir Dan!” Imporma ng lalaking katabi ni Dan at tinapik niya naman ito sa balikat.

The moment Daniel stepped into comusion, his stomach churned. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and sweat. In the middle of the dimly lit space, a man knelt on the floor, battered and bruised. Nanginginig ang katawan ng lalaki dahil sa bugbog na natamo. Ilan ba namang lalaki ang nagtulong-tulong para sipain, suntukin at tadyakan siya. Hindi na nga siya makilala dahil halos mabura ang mukha nito sugat at dugo na nasa mukha. Rinig na rinig din sa kasuluk-sulokan ng kwartong iyon ang mabigat na paghinga ng kawawang lalaki.

Parang kahit anong oras ay papanawan na ng hininga ang lalaki dahil hindi pa rin siya tinatantanan ng mga lalaki. Some mens are still taking turns landing vicious blows while others watched, their expressions cold and indifferent.

Ang ama naman ni Daniel ay nakatayo lang sa gilid ng kwarto at agad na hinarap siya.

His father's presence alone was enough to command the room to stillness. He walked toward Daniel with slow, deliberate steps, his boots clicking against the floor.

“This man,” his father began, his voice sharp, “was caught because of Lawrence.” He nodded toward the beaten man without looking at him, as if the sight wasn’t worth his attention. “Muntik na tayong malugi sa isang transaction natin dahil dito. Nag-tip siya sa mga pulis. Good thing nalaman ni Lawrence at sinabihan niya ako bago ang deal natin sa mga Japanese clients.”

Daniel’s gaze flicked to the far corner, where Lawrence leaned against the wall, arms crossed and face unreadable. Nagtama ang mata nila pareho at napaismid nalang si Daniel sa lalaki. Agad din siyang bumaling sa ama.

“May sinabi pa ba siyang iba , Dad?” Daniel asked, his voice low but steady.

“Nothing,” his father replied flatly. “Sobrang tigas ng isang ‘to. But no worry no one stays silent forever o kung gano'n nga pwede naman siyang patahimikin sa ilalim ng lupa.” With that, he raised a hand, signaling the men to step back. The sudden absence of movement made the room eerily quiet.

The Chairman reached into his coat and pulled out a handgun, the polished metal glinting faintly under the dim light. He extended it toward Daniel.

“Tapusin mo na.” Malamig na utos ng ama ni Daniel sa kaniya at inilahad ang baril sa kaniyang harapan.

Daniel’s throat tightened as he stared at the gun. His fingers itched, hesitant to take it, but his father’s gaze bore into him like a command he couldn’t refuse. He reached out and grasped the weapon, the cold weight settling into his palm like a chain around his neck.

Oo, alam niya ang kasamaan ng ama pero hindi siya lumaki na pumapatay ng tao. He's okay with selling illegal drugs but not use to kill someone. Oo, may napatay na siya pero noong panahon lang na may deal sila at kailangan niya ipaglaban ang sarili laban sa mga traydor na client.

Napahinga si Daniel, pilit na sinisiksik sa utak ang bagay na alam niya. This man is on Lawrence’s side. At kapag may koneksyon sa lalaki ay alam niyang kamumuhian niya.

At hindi nga siya nagkamali dahil nabuhay ang galit sa loob niya.

The man on the floor stirred weakly, his bloodied face lifting just enough to find Lawrence in the crowd. His voice, hoarse and barely audible, clawed its way out. “Sir Lawrence…tulungan mo ako! Ayoko pa mamatay…”

Daniel froze. That name, spoken in desperation, cut through him like a blade. His grip on the gun tightened as he turned his glare to Lawrence, his jaw clenched.

“Wow, I wonder what’s his connection to yo? Bakit sa'yo pa ‘to hihingi ng tulong.” Daniel demanded, his voice simmering with fury. Tinutok niya ang baril sa kawawang lalaki habang naghihintay ng sagot.

But Lawrence pushed off the wall, his expression neutral as he stepped closer to the trembling man. He crouched slightly, looking down at him like one would inspect a broken object. Without a word, Lawrence placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and shoved him back to the ground.

“He’s nothing to me,” Lawrence said flatly, brushing his hands off as if ridding himself of the man’s filth.

Natawa nalang sa nasaksihan si Daniel. Mas lalo namang naging desperado ang kawawang lalaki. Gumapang ito patungo sa binti ni Lawrence at nagmamakaawang tulungan niya.

“Sir, please…nagmamakaawa ako! Ayoko pa mamatay! Sir…” Umiiyak at nanginginig na pakiusap ng lalaki. Nagustuhan naman ni Daniel ang nakikita. Habang desperado ang lalaki ay panay naman ang atras ni Lawrence. Pilit tinutulak ang lalaki palayo sa kaniyang binti hanggang sa yumakap na ito.

Daniel’s father turned away, his hand resting briefly on Daniel’s shoulder. “You know what to do,” he said before walking out of the room.

The silence that followed was suffocating. All eyes were on Daniel now, waiting. The man on the floor whimpered, his broken voice pleading, though not to Daniel. His bloodshot eyes were still locked on Lawrence.

Daniel’s knuckles whitened around the gun. His chest heaved as anger surged through him, not just at the man but at Lawrence’s cold indifference. The weight of the moment pressed on him, demanding action.

He raised the gun, his movements slow but steady. The man flinched, a garbled sound escaping him as his body tensed. Daniel didn’t hesitate. He pulled the trigger.

The sound of the gunshot was deafening in the enclosed space. Umilangawngaw ito sa hangin kasunod ng pagbagsak ng katawan ng lalaki sa sahig. Daniel throw a glace the the dead body but immediately look at Lawrence direction. Tila natigilan ito sa nangyari habang nakatitig sa bangkay.

Daniel then lowered the gun, his chest rising and falling heavily. Without a word, he tossed the weapon onto a nearby table and strode toward the exit.

As he passed Lawrence, their eyes met briefly. Lawrence’s expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way his gaze lingered—a quiet message, a challenge, or perhaps a warning. Nag-iwan lamang naman si Daniel ng munting ngiti. Yes, he's not afraid of him. He's not a killer but he's willing to kill anyone connected to Lawrence.

Nang makalabas si Daniel ay narinig pa niya ang huling sinabi ni Lawrence.

“Get rid of the body,” Lawrence said, his voice calm and steady. The guards immediately moved, dragging the lifeless body out of the room as Daniel disappeared into the shadows.

The cold night air hit Daniel's face as he stepped out of the building, the distant hum of crickets and the rustling of leaves the only sounds in the quiet mountainside. His father stood near the edge of the gravel path, a cigarette glowing between his fingers. Kapagkuwan ay napahinga nalang ng malalim si Daniel bago lumapit sa kaniyang ama.

The Chairman turned as Daniel approached, a faint smile curling his lips. "Good work," he said, his voice carrying an edge of pride. “Maaasahan ka talaga. This kind of business is a risk. Lahat pwede mong maging kalaban, swertehan sa kakampi. Mabuti nalang anak at kasama kita."

Before Daniel could respond, footsteps echoed from the doorway behind him. Mula sa dilim ay lumabas si Lawrence. Kalmado ang itsura nito at hindi mo mababasa kung anong nasa isip. Pareho silang napatingin ng ama sa lalaking palapit.

Lawrence then stopped a few steps behind Daniel, his presence a silent acknowledgment of the scene before him.

The Chairman glanced at Lawrence briefly before turning back to Daniel. "One day, soon, all of this will be yours to manage," he said, gesturing toward the old building. Napatikhim naman si Daniel at hindi alam kung ikatutuwa ba na maging ulo ng sindikato. Oo nga at kasama siya ng ama sa illegal na gawain pero hindi niya lubos maisip na pwede siyang maging pinuno ng organization balang araw.

"Dan, all the men, the operations, the power—it will all fall on your shoulders." His gaze hardened, the weight of his words pressing down like a verdict. "Kailangan handa ka, anak. You’ll need to surpass me. And trust no one. Tandaan mo ‘yan."

With that, the Chairman flicked his cigarette to the ground, grinding it under his heel before walking away. Sumakay ito sa kaniyang sasakyan at nilisan lugar kasama ang ilang body guard.

For a moment, silence hung between Daniel and Lawrence, the cool night air wrapping around them.

"Sobrang laking responsibility nun kung gano'n ," Lawrence said finally, his tone casual yet edged with something unspoken. "Leading an organization like this isn’t just about power. It’s a responsibility that comes with risks."

Daniel chuckled, the sound dry and sharp. He turned slightly, a smirk playing on his lips. "Responsibility? Risks?" He shook his head, his voice laced with confidence. "I’ve been handling this life since I could walk, Lawrence. I can do everything. There’s nothing I can’t handle."

Lawrence’s gaze lingered on him, kalmado pa rin ang itsura nito pero alam ni Daniel na nagpapanggap lamang ang lalaki. Hindi niya kayang tagalan ang pakikipagplastikan sa inaanak ng ama kaya naman naglakad na siya palayo.

Just as he reached the door of his car, he paused, turning his head slightly to glance at Lawrence.

"Mag-iingat ka rin, Lawrence," Daniel said, his voice low but heavy with meaning. "You’re getting too close to my father. And in a place like this, that kind of closeness can put a target on your back. Someone in the organization might decide it’s time to get rid of you."

The words hung in the air like a blade poised to strike. Lawrence didn’t respond, his expression as still as ever, but Daniel caught the subtle tightening of his jaw.

Without waiting for a reply, Daniel slid into the driver’s seat of his car, the engine roaring to life as he started it. He didn’t look back as he drove down the gravel path, the red glow of his taillights disappearing into the dark.

Behind him, Lawrence stood silently, his hands in his pockets, watching the car fade into the distance. Nang mawala ang kinakapatid ay doon lamang lumabas ang ekspresyon na gustong makita ni Daniel sa kaniya.

He smirks but not a smirk that tells something good but a smirk with a warning sign.