Edrian
"These are the number of people who opposes Adrian's appointment as the leader of the organization. As you know, Wang Fei Wei and Sumaske are against him including these companies and corporations that are not into Adrian's way of handling the business ventures he has for the past 9 years." paliwanag ko kay Seya sa file na hawak niya ngayon at binabasa. Nasa loob kami ng opisina ni Adrian sa Mining Site at napagdugtong dugtong ko na ang dahilan kung bakit kami binantaan ng isang grupo ng kalalakihan ilang araw na ang nakakaraan.
Isa-isa niyang binuklat ang pages ng file folder at napapailing nalang siya na may halong galit sa mukha niya.
"These bastards.. They were never on Adrian's side since he joined the organization. They were stepped on their pride because they can persuade those people that wants to do underground activities because of Adrian's tight grip on the flow of the organization. They are plotting something. I didn't see this coming. I need to let Adrian know about the situation."
Pinigilan ko si Seya nang bunutin niya ang phone niya sa kanyang bulsa.
"No.. I think we should handle this without him knowing. He is under stress right now. I have to prove to him my worth even just this once. I want to help him too. He has gone through a lot of suffering and sacrifices just to reach this far. I will make sure it will end before he even knew this happened."
Hindi naman agad nakapagsalita si Seya. Tiningnan niya lang ako na para bang natatakot siya sa binabalak kong gawin. Alam kong sa kakayahan, kulang pa ang nalalaman ko kumpara sa mga nagawa na ni Adrian. But I have to do this.
"Weeding them out of the organization is harder than you think. What do you possibly plan for outwitting them? They might be two or three steps ahead of us. Maybe they even got all the favors of the majority. And you think you can handle that?"
Tumango ako at may inabot sa kanyang isa pang file.
"The organization founded by Rafael De Muñoz back in April 24, 1935 which is now the organization being controlled by four major conglomerate including Adrian is known for its handling businesses and growing together. The flow of the business is legal and no one dared to slip in illegal transactions as it will nullify the membership of one entity or company. The ethical value this organization uphelds is far greater than anything else."
Agad kong binuksan ang aking computer at kinonekta sa projector ang cable at pinatay ang ilaw ng opisina.
Isa-isang lumabas ang mga larawan ni Wei Fei at Sumaske na palihim na nagkikita at may mga kasamang kalaban na organization members sa isang tavern sa Seoul, South Korea. Ang mga cargo ships nila na nagpupuslit ng illegal na droga sa loob ng bansang mahigpit na pinagbabawal ang kahit na anong droga. At ang lihim na pagnanakaw ng mga ito sa charter funds ng organization na hindi nachecheck ng auditor ng maayos.
Hindi makapaniwala si Seya na nahagalip ko lahat ng ito ng wala siyang kaalam alam. Kita ko ang pagkamangha niya sa aking ginawa na kinatuwa ko naman.
"How did you even get through those secured files? And how many people did you hired to watch over these assholes?"
"You underestimated me I guess.. But lets not go to details anymore. The most important thing is, we can show these secretly among the three other conglomerate. I can show them to Yslav. And you can go visit the two others. Secretly."
Tumango si Seya at nagkatitigan kami bago niya ako binigyan ng ngiti.
"I think I underestimated you, Edrian. Now I know why your brother entrusted everything to you."
Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya at nagpaalam na siya sa akin upang simulan ang trabaho naming dalawa. Ang linisin ang kalat sa loob ng organisasyon.
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I wore the best looking suit I could find in a fashion mall in Taipei. I was aiming for something that I've never done before. Alam kong marami pa akong dapat patunayan pero ito na siguro ang simula nun. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang kahihinatnan ng lahat, pero kailangan kong ihanda ang sarili ko.
Sakay ako sa Lambo ni Seya habang siya ay nagmamaneho patungo sa headquarters ng organization. Nagpatawag ang apat na conglomerate ng isang emergency meeting na hindi inaasahan ng mga members. Marami ang nagsesend sa akin ng messages sa kung tungkol saan ang magiging meeting.
"This is the first time you will be speaking in front of the circle. Are you sure you can do it? I can do it for you if you want."
Umiling lang ako sa sinabi ni Seya. Hindi ito ang panahon para maging duwag. Dapat ko lang patunayan kay Adrian na kaya kong protektahan ang pangalan niya at ang kanyang status na pinagkatiwala niya sa akin.
"Adrian is not a coward. He fights his battles without hesitation. So I should do the same. I'm tired being an boring ass. I know I could be someone just as good as my brother."
Kita ko naman sa peripheral vision ko ang ngiti ni Seya na mas lalong nakadagdag sa confidence na kailangan ko.
"Then its showtime, Adrian Aragon." sambit pa niya bago kami pumarada sa harapan ng organization tower sa sentro ng Taipei.
Napakaraming sasakyan ang nagsisidatingan at kasabay doon ang pagbaba ni Yslav sa kanyang Mustang. Napangiti siya nang magkatagpo ang aming mga tingin.
"I can't wait for those traitors to be out of this organization. I never thought that I will be witnessing this today. Someone finally raised the alarm of fear. Adrian was never this bold. I can see now how different you are from him." nakangiting saad ni Yslav habang nakaakbay siya sa akin habang pumapasok kami sa loob ng tower.
Kita ko naman ang pagbabago ng aura ni Seya na nauna nang maglakad sa aming dalawa.
"I'm only doing this for the sake of my brother and the organization he owes a lot for his success."
Tumango lang si Yslav at mas hinigpitan pa ang pagakbay sa akin na hindi ko nalang kinontra. Pero ang iniisip ko pa rin ay ang reaksiyon ni Seya kanina.
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"The graph shows that the organization's charter funds has been receding since the first quarter of last year. Mr. James has failed to submit the exact audit of all the neccessary figures needed. And the bribery was taking place in a private tavern in Seoul, which is very unusual for a big member of the organization to be making any transactions. The exact reason why Mr. Wei Fei and Mr. Sumaske are in South Korea, because of this one."
At pinalabas sa projector and mga cargo ships na pagmamay-ari ng Wang Group at STT Corporation na pag-aari ni Sumaske.
Nagkatinginan ang lahat ng members at napatayo naman si Wang Wei Fei na galit na galit.
"These are baseless accusations you are showing to the organization, Mr. Aragon. Aren't you aware the election is coming near? You are the top contender for the position and yet you are doing this to taint our name? You are shameless!".
Mabilis na nagplay ang isang video recording kung saan naroon si Wei Fei at isang kilalang drug lord sa South Korea na magkausap sa isang fancy restaurant. Kilala si Bong Mi Young sa pagiging notorious na drug lord na hindi naman magalaw ng Ministry of Defense ng So. Korea dahil sa maraming promoprotekta ditong capitalist.
"Tell me, Mr. Wang. Isn't it quiet amusing how you end up meeting with Bong Mi Young with your visits in South Korea? Or are you two in some kind of relationship?"
Kita ko ang pagkagalit niya at sabay noon ang pagkakagulo ng buong meeting hall ng headquarters. Tumayo naman si Yslav at ang dalawa pang conglomerate at pinatigil nila ang lahat.
"We are not an organization that deals with illegal and black market transactions. We made you members of our organization so that we can thrive and grow together and help each other grow our companies and dominate the business world. But I am so disappointed with you, Wang Fei Wei. And as for you, Sumaske.. you dare break the laws of our organization and join Wei Fei in making this disgraceful act?"
Lahat ay nakinig kay Yslav habang nagsasalita ito ng English na russian parin ang accent.
"Your companies will be dissolved and be sold without question. And as for the two of you, you will be in jail for ruining our organization's morale."
Iyon ang naging hatol sa kanilang dalawa na pinaboran ng lahat ng miyembro ng organization. Masaya ako sa aking nagawa. Napatunayan ko na rin sa wakas ang aking sarili. Kita ko ang pagpuri sa akin ng mga miyembro sa aking ginawa.
"You are in no doubt, the next leader of our organization. We are backing you up, Adrian." pagbati sa akin ni Friedrich, isang French na member ng organization na malapit din kay Adrian.
Matapos ang meeting at ang tuluyang pagkakatanggal ng mga traydor sa organization, naiwan kami ni Yslav sa meeting hall. May gusto daw siyang sabihin sa akin.
"While you were standing in front of the members, I can see nothing but your determination to prove something. To show people that you can be just as good as your brother. I was just staring at you the whole time. And I don't know why I feel so different. I never had this kind of feelings for Adrian. Not even had an idea it will come to this."
"Yslav.. If you want to confess your feelings towards me, I can't accept it. I know you are a great person and you helped my brother in so many ways. But I don't want to give you false hopes. I like somebody else. And I want to win his love."
Nakita ko ang pagkalungkot sa kanyang mukha pero ngumiti din naman siya agad.
"I never got rejected in my whole life and this is the first time someone rejected my confession. He must be so special. And don't worry.. I play fair. I will not force something that will not work anyway."
Tinapik niya ang balikat ko at umalis na siya sa loob ng meeting hall. Hindi ko mapigilang malungkot dahil wala din naman akong idea na may gusto pala si Yslav sa akin. Wala akong ibang iniisip kundi maging maayos lang ang relasyon namin bilang kapatid ako ng kaibigan niya.
Nang makalabas ako ng meeting hall ay naabutan ko si Seya sa lobby at alam kong kanina pa niya ako hinihintay.
"Hey? Shall we head back home now? Its getting late." nakangiti kong aya sa kanya na tinanguan niya lang. Nagtatampo ba siya sa akin?
Habang nasa sasakyan kami ay hindi niya ako kinikibo at kinakausap manlang. Ewan ko ba kung bakit pakiramdam ko may nararamdaman na rin si Seya para sa akin.
"What did you and Yslav talked about?" tanong niya bigla sa akin na kinabaling ko sa kanya.
Straight lang ang tingin niya sa kalsada habang nagmamaneho. Linuwagan ko ang aking necktie at umiling.
"Its nothing important.. And I think we resolved it immediately. So there should be nothing to say about it really."
"Tell me, do you like him? He is handsome, tall and really buffy. I think he is your type."
Ramdam ko ang pagtigas ng tono niya nang idescribe na niya si Yslav sa akin. Hindi ko mapigilang matawa sa inaasal niya ngayon sa akin.
"I have no specific type of guy. Yeah, he is handsome, got big muscles and a very intellegent person. But I don't feel anything towards him. He is more of a friend to me."
Tumingin siya sa akin at tinigil niya sa gilid ng daan ang kotse. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako sa mga titig niya.
"You know.. I don't know when it all started. But--- I think.. I think I really like you, Edrian."
Tumigil saglit ang aking paghinga nang marinig ko ang mga sinabi niya sa akin. Totoo ba ang narinig ko? Gusto na niya ako? Hindi ba nabibingi lang ako?
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