THE DARKNESS WITHIN

THE PHRASE everything that happens for a reason is sometimes fucked up. Why not it happened because I did it? Why not, it happened because I wanted it to happen? Isn't that easier to believe than to say that everything that happens around us has its reason? Because what's the reason, right?

While growing up, I was aware that this world has its dark side. My mom is a lawyer while my dad was the chief of police. Not until he died raiding a big syndicate's territory. I can still remember that my parents were always in the news because they were always linked to the bad guys in town. Now that my mom is a known lawyer in town, she has more and bigger opponents than usual.

I'm just lucky enough that they didn't know that I am their child. When my father was still alive, he would always eat death threats for breakfast. The same goes for my mom who, until now, is in hiding because of death threats. Well, she decided to move out of our house for a while because she was afraid that I would be affected.

"How's Auntie Risa going?" Asked Sally who was munching on her burger. "Well, the last time we talked, she said that the case is soon to end so she might be home before October ends." Sally nodded as a response, still munching her burger. I reached for the fries in the center of the table and put them in my mouth. "Have you heard of the news?" Brix asked. "What kind of news?" I asked curiously. I don't watch the news this past few days because of my busy schedule. "Oh no, I mean, it's a rumor. There's a rumor that a new syndicate was in town." He said.

"Well, what's new? There's always a new syndicate here whenever the syndicates that are in hiding are caught." Sally said making an air quotation when she said new syndicate. I laughed at her remark. "Well, I have nothing to say to disprove that."

I shifted my attention to Brix. "Is there any other info about that syndicate?" He acted like he was thinking deeply. "I heard that they are targeting minors. But the thing is, I don't know what are they doing with them." Brix looked like he was in deep thought. "Well, it might be true or not. I better ask mom about it." After that talk, we peacefully ate our merienda.

AFTER HAVING our merienda, we made our way to the school gate. We didn't bother going back to the gymnasium because we're already tired. We've been practicing since July started and it's already the first of September. "Oh shit! There's the guard." Said Brix. I looked at the guardhouse to see if the guard on duty is the one who always let us through. It's not yet our dismissal time.

The guard blocked our way. "Where are you going?" He asked. I looked at his name tag and my brows furrowed. "Mr. Domingo," I uttered and nodded my head. I returned my gaze to his face, trying to hide my confusion. I glanced at Sally and Brix to see if they noticed something wrong. Brix was also looking at his nametag and looked down at the guard's hand. There is a big scar. While Sally was now looking intently at the guardhouse. "Hey, Sunday!" Sunday, that's the English term for Domingo, also the nickname we gave to the guard we're close to. "We were advised to go home because we were injured from training. You'll let us through, right?" I said. I tried to look for a reaction and I am successful. He looks confused.

"Something's wrong." Sally said then looked at the fake 'Mr. Domingo' in front of us. "Can I use the bathroom inside the guardhouse, Kuya Sunday? I suddenly had an emergency." Sally added. His eyes went wide, he suddenly looked nervous. "No! I mean, you can go home now." And just like that, he let us through.

The three of us are silent for some minute until Brix spoke. "He was hiding something." Sally nodded. "Yeah, that's for sure. I saw a blood splatter at the doorstep. I'm afraid, that blood came from Kuya Sunday."

"I really hope not," I muttered. "Don't tell it to anyone, okay? Keep it a secret." They both nodded. No one spoke after that. We were silently walking on the streets of Tagaytay until we reached Sally's house. "Take care, you two," Sally said. We're now in front of their house, Brix's house was adjacent to Sally's house but he always accompanies me on my way home. I was one block away from them.

"You seemed bothered," Brix stated. "It's obvious." I heaved a deep sigh, licked my lower lip, and then tilted my head. "I don---" I was about to say something when I felt like someone is looking at us. Brix is just looking at me, confused. "Stalker," I mouthed. He immediately got what I was trying to say.

In no time, we reached my house. "Stay safe," I said. He nodded and then tapped my shoulder. He went home right after I closed the gate of our house.

I went inside my house and was greeted by my husky dog, Twilight. "Hello there, boy. Were you a good boy while I was at school? Hmm?" I matched his height. He was wagging his tail as I scratched his back and head. He licked my head then howl. "That's good to know. You know what? Something not right happened while we were on our way home."

I don't want to think that Kuya Sunday was inside that guardhouse, dead. And I don't want to think that that fake guard is into something. "Must I tell it to mama?"

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