The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

069. Eight

Nang makarating si Daniel sa opisina ni Benjamin, magkahalong kaba at pag-aalala ang nararamdaman niya dahil sa posibleng dahilan ng pagpapatawag sa kanya.

Once he was standing outside the office's door, he took a deep breath before entering. The moment he went inside, Benjamin responded with a wide smile.

"Oh, you're finally here, Daniel... Halika rito." Binigyan niya ng makahulugang mga tingin sina Lara at Janus, "You may now leave. I need to talk to Daniel in private."

Tumango ang dalawa, bago tuluyang lumabas ng opisina ng school director. Nang makaalis ang mga ito, lumapit si Daniel sa mesa ng school director at tumayo sa harap niya.

"May kailangan daw po kayo sa akin, Sir Benjamin?"

Benjamin nodded as he smiled and looked at the chair in front of his table. "Take a seat, Daniel. I want to talk to you about something..."

Nang maupo si Daniel, tumayo naman si Benjamin para ipaghanda silang dalawa ng tsaa. Ang isa sa mga tasa ay inilapag sa harap niya, at pagkatapos ay pinanood niya si Benjamin na naupo sa office chair nito habang sinasamyo ang mabangong amoy ng tsaa bago uminom mula sa tasa.

"Meron akong nasagap na impormasyon, Daniel..."

"Ano po 'yun, Sir?"

Benjamin chuckled softly, before smelling the tea in his cup. "I heard that someone is doing something behind my back and is planning to betray me..."

Napalunok si Daniel sa narinig, "At nalaman niyo na po ba kung sino?"

Saglit na tumigil ang school director, bago ito umiling-iling at bahagyang tumawa. "You know what, forget it... Didiretsuhin na lang kita." He then heaved a deep breath, and his smile became ominous, "You don't have to feign innocence, Daniel. I already know your plans through that glass that you left in that conference room where you and Gwen were talking."

"P-pero..." Nagkuyom ang mga kamao at bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Daniel dahil sa narinig, "Paano?"

"Metahumans with clairvoyance aren't that rare, Daniel. I have one under me at the Paramount Laboratories. You see, I thought that you and Gwen are quite suspicious, especially since your student obviously lied about the manifestation of her abilities. Pinalampas ko man iyon, pero doon na ako nagsimulang magduda sa kanya. At nang makita kong kaduda-duda ang mga pag-uusap ninyo, doon na nagsimulang magbago ang tingin ko sa'yo." Benjamin then smirked, "You aren't very careful, Daniel..."

Napalunok si Daniel habang nakapako pa rin sa school director ang mga mata niya. "Ano ngayon ang gagawin mo sa 'kin? Papatayin mo rin ako gaya ng ginawa mo kay Helga?"

Saglit na napatigil si Benjamin para pagmasdan siya, bago ito biglang umiling at ngumiti.

"No. I'm not going to kill you. I still have use for you, so that I can get Jacob to my side."

"Hindi kita tutulungan... Hindi ko hahayaan magamit mo si Jacob." Daniel responded angrily, "Why don't you just kill me now?"

"Because there's no fun in killing you, Daniel," Benjamin responded, smirking, "Alam mo, kung ako sa'yo... Tulungan mo na lang ako."

"At bakit naman kita tutulungan?"

"Dahil mamamatay ang pamilya ng mga estudyante mo kapag tumanggi ka. At ikaw ang sisisihin nila kapag nangyari 'yun. Sisiguraduhin ko na ganun ang mangyayari."

Daniel slammed his fist on the table. "Don't try and hurt anyone from their families –"

"I won't... Unless you follow everything I say." Benjamin said in a calm voice, "But if you won't... Their blood will be on your hands. Do you understand me?"