Chapter 16

Two hours before the said time they fetch me up on the location they told me to not bring anyone with me because that would screw up everything and I also don't want to ruin my plan. If I want them to trust me, I had to obey the given orders and so shall it happen to the way it's supposed to be. I can't let myself in harm again in the impulsive decisions that lead to troublesome mistakes, I couldn't let it happen this time because I've grown up from my mistakes.

I may still be dwelling it now but I'm so over by it.

As before I leave the premises told me something about going further into my plan.

"How sure are that this plan of yours would succeed?"

"I really don't know if it works Gio but I'm sure that I can make this work with all the things I know."

"Does this just put you more in hell? Just like you said, GCS is already hell for you but putting your other feet on that line, what do you think would happen after that? The strings afterward the plan was made and the actions been taken cared of."

"I just hope they're not the same as GCS, Gio."

"That's why they're not here anymore, Danny. They were ruthless."

"I don't know with that Gio but don't you worry about me anymore, I'm not that kid you took inside the hell of yours. I don't belong here, I didn't deserve this."

"Do what you have to do, Dan. Once you made it, you're done."

"That's why I'm working hard enough for it."

He patted my shoulder, "I know you do, brother."

It wasn't a heartfelt conversation with my brother because we never really had that kind of relationship since he brought me here, all the things I've looked up to him changes when I know the dark he's been hiding to us all the time. It's like I didn't know my brother, I'm just getting by with him as it feels like we're blood-related but not really family. It's complicated but what I know now clearly changes a lot of points of view.

Gio told me where my car was impounded, pagkatapos pala nilang kuhanin iyon sa akin agad nilang dinala sa impounding area para walang makahalata, gaya ng sabi nila, I should play safe but without my car, I can't roam around. Sabihin na natin, it could trace me easily but I can manage to do my job without being caught.

Tumungo naman ako sa tinutukoy niyang impounding area, pagkarating ko roon ay naka-lock ang gate at mukhang may bantay ang lugar na ito. Mabilis naman akong nag-isip ng paraan upang makuha ang sasakyan ko. Binuksan ko ang flashlight ng phone ko at naghanap ng posibilidad na entering sa gate. Hindi sa kalayuan ay may nakita akong butas sa upang makapasok sa loob, sinigurado ko munang ligtas at maayos akong makakapasok sa loob ng walang makakahuli sa akin. Madilim at tahimik ang paligid, if anyone was around I easily could hear anything. I just don't need to be seen.

When I entered the premises safely, I immediately went to find my car. It's hard when there's no sufficient light to see around and all the cars do look the same to me now, I couldn't distinguish the color and such but it's not that bad to find it, it's somewhere. I just need patience and eyes like an owl.

I roam around and search for my car, it's hard to find it amongst the similarity of the vehicles. But I stopped when someone just called my attention.

"Hoy! Anong ginagawa mo dito?!"

I didn't even turn to look for the person as I instantly run for my life and find somewhere else. I wouldn't leave until I haven't found my car yet. Nagtago ako sa pagitan ng mga sasakyan at nanatiling tahimik upang hindi malaman kung nasaan ako. I heard him calling my name, even threatening that he'll call the cops for trespassing. Hindi naman ako nagpatinag, hindi ako aalis hanggat hindi ko nakikita ang sasakyan ko.

But as soon as I leave, I notice the car beside me with a significant things that was on my car. Sinilip ko naman ang loob ng sasakyan at nakumpirma ko namang iyon nga ang sasakyan ko. I don't even have to find it, my car finds me. Kinuha ko ang susi sa bulsa ko at nang binuksan ko ang alarm ng sasakyan ko ay tiyak nahuli na rin ako ng tagabantay kung nasaan ako. Mabilis naman akong pumasok sa loob ng sasakyan at pinaandar ang makina.

"Shit, why does it have to happen now?!" I groaned as the car won't start and the worker of the impound shows in front of me, "shit!" I hissed.

"Get out of the car!"

"This is my car!" Sigaw ko.

"I'll still call the cops, you're trespassing to private property!"

"I'm just getting my car back, just let me go!"

"I can't do that!" aniya, nakikipagmatigasan pa sa akin.

"Then I'll do what I have to do," when luckily my car starts and the lights blinded him. I immediately drive it off and I almost hit him but he's lucky I didn't. I headed straight to the locked gate and shifted the gear on full speed, I came to prepare myself for an impact as when I crashed through the gate, my heart's pounding so deep that it's like getting off of my chest.

I'm proud to myself when I did that when I passed that guy but surely they will come looking for me but I'm sure they won't. But for now, I need to do my business and it's the thing I need to worry about.

Agad ko rin namang tinungo ang lugar na tinutukoy nila upang makipagkita sa akin. Hindi ako pamilyar sa lokasyon kaya hindi ko alam kung magiging ligtas ba ako nito o anumang sitwasyon ang mangyari. Kinakabahan ako dahil wala naman akong ideya kung anong gagawin nila sa akin o kung anong intensyon nila pero ang nananig lang sa isipan ko ay masunod ang plano ko.

Pasado alas nueve ng makarating ako roon, maaga sa nasabing usapan pero dibale nang mauna sa nasabing oras kaysa naman sa mahuli at pagsisihan ko pa ang mga nangyari. Nandito na ako sa punto na kailangan kong gawin ang bagay na ito para sa ikaluluwag ng buhay ko. Kung umatras ako ay parang sinuko ko na rin ang kinabukasan ko. Hindi ako papatinag sa kung ano mang bigat at hirap na dumating sa akin.

I'm Danford and I'm not a coward of my own mistakes.

While I'm waiting for them, I got a call that I instantly answered the phone in which I thought they were the one who's calling me.

"Danny!" bungad ni Brent sa kabilang linya.

"Hey, what's up?"

"We haven't seen you for weeks Danny, nasaan ka ba? Come join us, birthday ni Coraleen. The boys are coming and it's getting you in contact, what's happening?"

"Oh shoot, Brent. Is it Cora's birthday?"

"Yup, and your presence needed here."

I sighed, "I really wanted—"

"Oh, don't continue your words 'cause I know what will it be. You are not going."

Muli naman akong napabuntong hininga, "I will not be there, I'm sorry, Brent. I can make up it to anyone soon but not just right now. I'm dealing with something."

"Tell me, maybe we can help."

"No, it's okay. I don't wanna bother you guys. This is my business to take and y'all should enjoy Cora's birthday and please send my greetings to her. I'm sure she'll understand."

"I hope so though she invited Prentice... and she's coming."

"Uh... what?"

"I know you heard me, Prentice is coming."

"You know things aren't good between us, Brent."

"Then why don't you start making up things?"

"Things are complicated now, Brent."

"Okay, Dan, Whatever you're dealing with right now, I hope you'll get through it. But do remember that we all got your back, 'wag mong sabihin na kaya mo nang mag-isa, we all need each other. So, see you soon, Dan."

"Right, see you soon."

As soon as I hang up the call, I took a deep breath meeting with the thought about Prentice. When she gets on the line, I thought that everything was worth to fight for. If she's the end I'm reaching to achieve, then I'll whatever it takes to handle and grip with the pain, mistakes and all the life has it to give.

Dumaan ang oras, muling may tumawag sa isa kong cellphone na siyang hudyat na oras na para maging alerto sa susunod na mangyayari. Nang sinagot ko ang tawag, hindi ko kilala ng boses na nagsalita kundi mabilis akong inutusan nitong lumabas ng sasakyan na agad-agad ko namang ginawa. Tiningnan ko ang bawat paligid, madilim at walang katao-tao. Tanging ilaw na lamang ng sirang poste ang nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid.

"Nasaan na kayo?" pagtatanong ko pero walang sagot sa kabilang linya.

Mayamaya lamang ay biglang may humarurot papalapit sa aking sasakyan, dali-dali pa man din akong binuksan ang pinto ng kotse ko pero hindi ko na nagawa nang huminto sa harapan ko ang itim na suburban at bumaba ang ilang kalalakihan na may hawak na baril.

"Pasok, dali!" utos nito na siyang hindi ko pinagdalawanang isip. "H'wag kang mag-alala ka, ibabalik ka namin sa sasakyan mo matapos mong makipag-usap sa boss namin." Aniya na siyang nakapagpalubag loob sa akin. Kakakuha ko pa lamang ng sasakyan, mawawaa na 'to kagad.

May ilang binigay na rules sila sa kailangan kong sundin kundi ay hindi ko makakausap ng personal ang tinatawag nilang boss. I shouldn't have gun or any weapon, must behave, shouldn't betray them or else they will return for a payment and I shall not kill or threaten their boss or it will be my end. Iyon lamang ang sinabi nila sa akin, madaling sundin—sa tingin ko at wala rin naman akong dalang baril o kahit na anong armas. Ang dala ko lamang ay ang sarili at ang plano na makipagtulungan sa kanila.

It's a stupid idea but who knows it would be my key to escape hell.

"Put this on him," may hinagis ang isang lalaki sa isa pang lalaki na itim na tela na agad naman nitong pinasok sa ulo ko. Hindi naman ako nakapalag dahil baka kung ano pang gawin nila sa akin. "Of course, you shouldn't know where our HQ located, so you can't bust us to the police."

I didn't even make a response but little did they know, my phone location is turn on... so...

It didn't take long when we reach the location, they aren't still taking off the cloth on my head and enforce to pushed me outside of the car, hawak-hawak nila ang magkabilang braso ko papasok sa kung saan man. Tinanggal lamang nila ang nakatakip sa ulo ko nang makapasok kami sa loob ng kanilang hide-out.

Malayo ito sa hitsura ng GCS pero parehong-pareho ang hangin, hindi naiiba sa kung saan ako nanggaling.

"Maghintay ka muna at tatawagin ka ng boss namin," aniya.

Tumango na lamang ako habang nagmamasid sa paligid. Walang kailangan pagkaabahalan sa paligid gaya ng kung anong meron sa GCS, maybe they just used this place as their place to hide. To not be part of what they've been on GCS.

While waiting, I've been receiving messages from MD but I couldn't send her a response as of the moment so I just turn my phone off and at the moment, someone came to me that their boss is ready to meet me and hear my proposal.

I took a deep breath and follow them towards his office, it's now or never, Dan.

This is life and death situation and I must win it.