The Black Cinderella

Chapter III: The Proposal

"Where the hell are we?!" nayayamot na tanong ni Black kay Tito Carlos.

"Silencio! You'll know when we get there." mariing sabi naman ni Tito.

On the other hand, kalmado lang ako. Despite the fact na we were forcefully shook from our sleep at 3 a.m and hindi na kami binigyan ng pagkakataong magbihis. Moreover, we were blindfolded bago isakay sa isang van. And now, only the devil knows where we are being transported to.

Ilang oras pa ay tumigil ang sasakyan at isa-isang kaming inalalayan pababa. Naglakad ako kasama ng aking guide sa tila isang pasilyo. Narinig ko ang pagpihit ng pinto at pumasok kami duon. He led me to a chair. After that, it was totally silent until I heard the door lock clicked. Tinanggal ko agad ang aking blindfold.

'W-where----'

'Where the hell am I?!' sigaw ng utak ko. 'And why am I alone?!'

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Nasa tila library ako--a big library---it was dimly lighted, almost dark and the only things I could see were a presidential table, a sofa and the rest, book shelves.

"Finally, nagkita na rin tayo," a voice came from somewhere.

"Kyaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

'What the---monstruo!!!!!!!!!! T-tito Carlos! B-black!!!!!!! ' sigaw ng utak ko.

Tumakbo ako sa pinto. Pinihit ko ang doorknob pero it was locked from the outside.

"P-palabasin niyo ko!!!!!!!!!!!!" sigaw ko.

Ayaw talaga! Ayaw mabuksan!! Paano na to?!!

'Ave Maria, Ilena eres de gracia......."

Hindi ko namalayang nag.p.pray na pala ako. I slowly turned around. May matandang lalaki sa likod ng table. I swear, he wasn't there when I came in. Hindi ko gaanong nakikita ang mukha niya, at dahil duon mas lalo akong kinabahan.

"S-sino ka?!"

"That is not important." he smiled. Well, I think he smiled (?) or did he. "Ang importante ay ang pag-uusapan natin." He gestured towards the sofa. " Maupo ka, Seniorita Cordova."

"P-paano mo ako nakilala?"

Napailing si tanda. "Let me finish first. Now, be still or else."

*gulp* (>______<) *gulp*

"You don't know me pero kaibigan ako ng papa mo. I was his underling noong namumuno pa siya sa Mexican Mafia. I saved his life when we were ambushed. Binigay niya sa akin ang 'La Rosa Sagrada' as a reward. Hell, that was thirty years ago." mahabang paliwanag ni tanda. Tumingin siya sa akin.

Wala akong reaction. Tinitigan ko lang siya na para ng naiinip. I am still. Like he told me to.

He sighed. "Anyways, I am here to strike a deal."

"A deal?' tanong ko.

Huminga muna siya ng malalim,before he spoke. He was dead serious. "We--will support you."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko. Kulang na lang magpang-abot ang dalawa at bumuo ng bridge.

"Eh? So, you actually think na paniniwalaan ko agad ang mga pinagsasabi mo?" Lumapit ako sa sofa at umupo, crossing my legs and my arms. Tinitigan ko si tanda bago nagpatuloy. "Anong kapalit?"

I was holding my breath while waiting for his reply. What followed was something I never expected.

||End