His Secret Desires

Prologue

"Tay, 'wag! Ang bata pa ni Kopkop! Bitawan mo siya!"

Seven years old Axel flinched as his father's firm grip squeezed his slender arms, causing an uncomfortable pressure against his skin.

Napangiwi siya sa sobrang sakit pero hindi siya nito binitawan.

"Manahimik ka, Angela!" Tinulak ng ama niya ang nakakatandang kapatid niyang babae nang sinubukan siya nitong kunin.

"Ate!" Axel tried running towards her, but his father didn't let him. "Binatawan mo ako, Tay!" Nanlaban siya sa hawak ng ama pero natigilan siya ng dumapo ang kamay nito sa pisnge niya.

"Huwag ka ng pumalag, Kop! Gagawin mo 'to para sa lola mong may sakit! Para mapakinabangan ka naman!" Sigaw ng ama niya sa kanya at kinaladkad siya palabas ng bahay nila.

"Tay! Tay, naman! Huwag niyong gawin kay Kopkop 'yan, Tay! Parang awa mo na!" Hinabol sila ng ate niya at napaluhod ito sa lupa sabay akap sa paa ng ama nila. Nag-umpisa itong humagulhol ng malakas. "Anak niyo si Kopkop, Tay! Parang awa mo na! Hindi ito ang paraan. Bitawan mo siya, binatawa mo si Kop—"

"Angela, tama na! Akala mo ba madali lang para sa'kin 'to?! Wala ng ibang paraan! Pagkakataon na ang nag presenta!" Their father suddenly kicked his sister, who was frantically pleading on her knees, begging for him to release his arm.

Pinagsisipa niya ito ng paulit-ulit.

Axel was sobbing, his young mind confused and frightened by the situation. He pitied his sister, who was being physically abused by their own father, and felt powerless to intervene.

"Tay, a-ano p-po ba ang g-gagawin niyo sa'kin?" Humihikbi niyang tanong sa ama.

His father kneeled down to level their faces, his grip on Axel's arms still tight. "Kop, makinig ka. Kailangan na ng lola mo maisugod sa ospital, kung hindi, hindi na siya mabubuhay. Hindi niya na kaya. Wala tayong pera, Kop." Panimula ng ama niya, "Pero may mga taong naghahanap ng mga batang pwedeng bilhin..."

Mas lalong lumakas ang iyak ng batang Axel. Parang alam na nito ang nais ipaabot ng ama sa kanya.

"Tay..."

"Kop, para sa lola mo, Kop. Isipin mo nalang na gagawin mo to para may silbi ka sa pamilyang 'to. Ha?"

Axel trembled as his father's words pierced his heart like sharp needles. His father's voice was cold and devoid of any concern or emotions, as if his well-being meant nothing to him.

"Tay, ayoko! A-ayaw ko po! Ayaw kong s-sumama! Ate! A-Ate, tulungan mo ako! Ate! Tay, ayaw ko!" Axel desperately tried to break free from his father's grip, wriggling and struggling with the little strength he had.

Naiinis siyang hinila ng pwersahan ng ama niya at dinala sa kung saan.

Axel glanced back at his sister, who was desperately crawling after them, her hand stretched out, trying to reach his. He extended his own hand toward her, his fingers grasping for hers, but they were just out of each other's reach.

"Kop! Kopkop, m-mahal kita, Kop! Kop! Tay! Tay, binatawan mo siya, Tay!" His sister's desperate screams echoed through the air as she called out to him.

"A-Ate! Ate! Ayaw kong sumama, Ate!"

Axel's father took him to a group of men with large, muscular builds and with big guns attached to their bodies. Without any warning, he shoved Axel roughly, causing him to fall face-first onto the ground.

"Anak ko si Kopkop. Pitong taon, masipag na bata 'yan. Susunod sa lahat ng gusto niyo 'yan." Sabi ng ama niya.

Tinapunan siya ng tingin ng mga lalaki kaya nakaramdam ng matinding kaba si Axel sa puso niya. Nagmadali itong tumayo at tumakbo patago sa likod ng ama niya.

"Tay, natatakot ako. Ayaw ko po."

"Huwag na matigas ang ulo, Kop!" Hinila ulit siya ng ama at tinulak pabalik sa mga lalaki.

"Sampung libo." Ani ng isa sa kanila at inabot nito ang pera sa tatay niya. "Siguradohin mong amin na 'to. Huwag niyo na siyang hahanapin. Ayaw namin ng problema. Maliwanag?"

Tumango ang ama niya at kaagad nitong binulsa ang pera. "Maliwanag."

One of the men grabbed Axel's arm and pulled him towards the waiting Jeep. Axel screamed and struggled to break free, but when he felt a cold barrel of a hidden gun pressed against his back, he froze in fear and stopped resisting.

Todo pa rin ang iyak nito, pero sinusubukan niyang umiyak ng walang tunog kasi natatakot siyang mabaril.

Umandar ang Jeep at nagtungo sa kung saan. During the entire car ride, Axel's young mind was filled with fear, and he couldn't stop shivering. He had no idea who these intimidating men were, and their presence filled him with anxiety.

His thoughts relentlessly returned to his sister, who had been left behind, sobbing on the ground, and to his grandmother, who was presumably unaware of the situation because of her frail condition.

Tumigil ang sasakyan at hinila nila palabas si Axel. As he scanned the surroundings, Axel's wide, innocent eyes took in the sight of a makeshift camp filled with men armed with weapons. He also noticed there were other kids, roughly around his age or older, scattered throughout the area.

Nilapitan siya ng isang lalaki at tumabi ng tayo sa kanya, "Pangalan."

Hindi si Axel nakasagot sa sobrang takot.

"Tinatanong kita." Ulit nito, medyo mabigat ang pananalita.

"A-Axel Cooper Carson po."

"Axel, ito na ngayon ang magiging buhay mo." The man crossed his arms and gazed upon the scenario in front of them. "Simula ngayon, kailangan mong lumaban para mabuhay. Ang mahina, talo. Patay. Kaya ikaw, kung gusto mong mabuhay, 'wag kang magpapatalo. Lumaban ka. 'Wag kang maging mahina."

Axel, as a young boy, couldn't fully grasp the situation. He was too young to comprehend that he had been sold to men who does illegal shits for a living with no regard to ethics and laws, the mercenaries. He didn't understand that he had to fight for his survival.

But as days passed in the camp, Axel was mercilessly forced to realize that his life is a fucking mess now.