Ilang beses na tumatawag si Clyde sa phone niya kinaumagahan. Sa katunayan, pagkabukas pa lang niya, sunod-sunod na ang mensahe nito pero hindi niya binuksan ang mga ito.

Inisip na lang niya na ang nangyari ay paraan ng tadhana para magkaroon siya ng rason na umiwas sa binata.

Her mom took her to a stylist after lunch. Sinadya niyang iwan ang phone na tinatawagan ng binata para hindi maistorbo. After that, her mom went to her dad's office. Siya naman ay nagpasyang umuwi na lang.

She was on her way home when she spotted two familiar women going out of a restaurant. Her forehead creased when they rode into a limousine.

A year ago, they sent the two women in jail for swindling large amount of money from middle class persons and small businessmen. Mga taong alam ilang milyon lang ang laman ng bank accounts na nangahas makipagbusiness deal sa mga ito sa pag-asang lalago ang kanilang ipon.

Alam na alam niya ang tungkol sa kaso ng mga ito dahil sila mismo ni Cristina ang tumugis at nagdala sa mga ito sa pulisya. She thought the two are already rotting in jail.

Paanong nakalabas ang mga ito?

She immediately called Cristina.

"Mars, do you remember that Japanese Misu and Ratatouille?" tanong niya sa kaibigan.

"Yung haponesang hilaw at yung daga?" balik-tanong ng kaibigan.

"Yeah," she answered curtly. They named the two girls with those. Nagpapanggap kasing haponesa ang isa at iyong isa nama'y kapangalan ng daga ang ginagamit na pangalan para makapanloko ng kapwa.

"The last time, I heard they were sentenced to lifetime imprisonment," Mars stated. Napakunot-noo siya. If they are out in the open, it means they eluded their case or they are that influential to appear to have been in jail.

"I saw them. They are at large. Susundan ko sila. Bring some of my disguise," agad niyang sambit rito bago ibinaba ang tawag. She opened her tracking device so that Cristina would know where to follow.

Hindi niya itinuloy ang akmang pagliko sa kalsada nang makitang may mga sasakyang humarang sa limousine na kinalululanan ng dalawa. Tumingin siya sa paligid, wala ni isang taong nagdaraan.

Her forehead creased when she saw Emma walking out of another car. Tinutukan nito ng baril ang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan. She dragged the man outside as she opened the car door and occupied the driver's seat.

Hindi na siya nagtaka, Emma is an agent in the US. Minsan nang nagsalubong ang landas nila, but the woman didn't know what agency she was working for.

Her forehead creased realizing that.

Clyde, Emma, the tattoo, North Korea, the codes, the mystery in that Syrian war, US.

Bakit nga ba hindi niya agad naisip 'yon? She was so submerged with her personal feelings that she lost track of her abilities to decipher.

Pasimple niyang sinundan ang convoy ng sasakyan. May mga kasamahan ang dalaga na nakasunod sa limousine. Unti-unting nabubuo ang isang sapantaha sa isip niya pero iwinaglit muna niya. She must focused why US agents were after the two swindlers.

Pumasok ang mga ito sa basement ng isang high end hotel.

She on the other hand went to the hotel lobby and immediately booked for a room.

Pagtapak na pagtapak niya sa loob ng room ay inihanda niya ang mga gadgets. She went out to find a connection with the CCTV cameras. Nang bumalik siya sa room saka niya isa-isang ni-hack ang system gamit ang gadgets niya para makita kung saang floor dinala ang dalawang babae.

There were men trailing behind Emma. Sobrang poise lang nito maglakad. She's wearing skinny jeans, fitted top and high-heeled boots. Parang kandidata ng beauty pageant.

She smirked. Well if she'd wear that way, she will surely look better than her. She shook her head realizing what she was thinking. Ang siste parang nakikipagkumpitensya siya.

Was it because of Clyde?

Napailing ulit siya. That man didn't even introduce her as girlfriend. Gago siya. Sa ganda niya kahit si Lacy pa siya hindi naman siya kahiya-hiyang iharap. Tse.

She scolded herself. She thought she's becoming unlikely her usual self.

She went to the door when Mars sent her a message that she's already outside.

Mars handed her a knapsack when they went in. They both wore their disguise fastly. She particularly wear a mask Emma would recognize. Buti na lang nadala ito ng kasamahan.

Nagbihis na sila pareho at nagmakeup bago nagpunta sa suite kung saan dinala ang dalawang babae.

"Sino 'yong kumuha sa kanila?" mahinang tanong ni agent Mars habang naglalakad sila sa hallway.

"A US agent. I helped her once in an operation, but she doesn't know I work at IF," tugon niya sa kaibigan. Tumango lang naman ito. Nagtatagis ang bagang nito. She knew why Cristina's mad at the swindlers.

Lalaki ang nagbukas ng suite nang mag-doorbell sila.

"I am here for agent Gabrielle," she told the man with confidence. Kumunot ang noo ng lalaki pero lumitaw sa likuran nito ang babaeng hinahanap niya.

Was her real name really Emma? She doubted. Basta ang alam niya agent Gabrielle ang pangalan nito.

"It's okay, I know her," sambit ni Gabrielle o Emma o kung sino pa man.

"I saw you dragging the two women minutes ago. Those are swindlers. They were actually sentenced to life," diretso niyang saad. The woman gave her an ironic smile.

"Sorry darling, I know I owe you something but we caught them first. I am not going to turn them over to you." she answered raising an eyebrow. Niluwagan nito ang bukas ng pintuan para papasukin sila.

Iginala niya ang paningin.

Nakatali ang katawan at mga paa ng dalawang babae sa upuan. Ang mga kamay ay nakatape sa mesa. Pati ang bibig ng mga ito ay nakatape rin. May dalawang lalaki sa harapan ng mga ito

Mars stepped towards the women. Alam niyang galit ito sa dalawang babae. Sumunod din sila ni agent Gabrielle.

"Why did you capture them? Did they also swindle some people in the US?" tanong niya kay agent Gabrielle. The woman nodded.

"Yes, and after they eluded from prison here in your country, they continued doing their old tricks. These two must be dead," she answered gritting her teeth. Nakita niyang nagtagis din ang bagang ni Cristina sa narinig.

"Alam n'yo bang pinaghirapan ng mama ko ng maraming taon 'yong perang nakuha n'yo sa kanya?" singhal nito sa dalawang babae. She took out a knife from her pocket. Mabilis siyang lumapit para pigilan ito pero nahuli siya ng isang segundo.

Blood spurted from the women's faces. Mars sliced the knife on their faces, right across theirs cheek and noses. Mabilis ang galaw nito kaya hindi na niya napigilan.

Hinawakan niya ang pulsuhan ng kaibigan nang akmang uulitin nito ang ginawa.

"Wow, I like her," agent Gabrielle muttered. Ang mga lalaki ay napangisi lang sa ginawa ni Cristina.

"Mapapatawad ko pa kung nagsisi na sila sa nangyari eh pero nagawa pa nilang tumakas at magpakasaya, punyeta!" nanggigigil na saad ng kaibigan.

"Why were you able to evade your sentence, who's your protector?" mariing tanong ni Gabrielle nang lumapit. Mabilis nitong tinanggal ang duck tape sa bibig ni Japanese Misu.

"You'll hear nothing from me!" matapang na tugon ng babae. Kahit nasa panganib ay nagawa pang magmatapang ng babae na parang walang kasalanan. Kahit siya ay nainis.

Gabrielle smirked at the woman's reaction. Agad nitong inagaw ang kutsilyo kay Mars at pinadaan sa daliri ng haponesa na nakapatong sa mesa.

"Shit," Vanna muttered as the woman shriek in pain. Tumalsik ang dugo at ang naputol na mga daliri nito ay gumulong sa mesa.

Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ng babae.

"Tara na," hinawakan niya sa braso si agent Mars.

What Gabrielle did must be illegal. However, she's also aware that desperate measures must be done sometimes for the sake of majority.

Malaki siguro talaga ang kasalanan ng mga babae kaya binigyan si Gabrielle ng go signal na saktan ang mga ito hangga't hindi umaamin.

Even their agency sometimes asks them to wipe out a certain group. Lalo na kung ilang beses nang nahuhuli at hindi nagtatanda.

Cristina seemed to haved calmed down after seeing what agent Gabrielle did.

"Gabrielle, we're going," she told the woman after Cristina nodded. Napanatag na rin siguro ang loob nito na hindi hahayaan ng grupo na makatakas pa ang dalawa kaya okay lang na umalis na sila.

"I hope this won't go out in the open," Gabrielle answered.

"Of course," she nodded.

"Tara na," hinila niya ang kaibigan nang hindi pa rin ito gumagalaw mula sa kinatatayuan.

"Yung kutsilyo ko. Favorite ko 'yon," sambit nito. Lumapit ito kay Gabrielle at kinuha ang kutsilyo.

"Alam niyo ba yung mama ko nagpapakapagod mag-encode sa office para ipunin ang perang kinuha niyo sa kanya? Dapat sa inyo maputulan ng dila para di na makapanloko," galit na baling ni Cristina sa dalawang babae. Sumisirit pa rin ang dugo sa kamay ng isa. Akala niya kumalma na ang kaibigan, hindi pa pala.

Cristina pulled off the duck tape from the other woman's mouth. Iyong pinangalanan nitong daga naman ang naharap nito. Mars grabbed the woman's hair. Isinubsob niya ito sa mesa.

"Ilabas mo 'yang dila mo kung ayaw mong isaksak ko 'tong kutsilyo sa bumbunan mo!" utos nito sa babae. Ipagduldulan nito ang ulo ng babae sa mesa. The woman wasn't able to speak. Takot na takot nitong inilabas ang dila.

"Halika na. Sila na ang bahala diyan," nilapitan niya ito para hilahin.

Naintindihan naman niya ang galit ng kaibigan. Ilang taong pinaghirapan ng mama nito ang perang napunta sa dalawa at walang bumalik ni singkong duling.

Natigilan si Cristina sa paghawak niya sa braso nito pero kasabay no'n ay agad na inagaw ni Gabrielle ang kutsilyo at mabilis na pinadaan sa nakalabas na dila ng babae. Natapyas ang dulo ng dila nito. Blood oozed from her tongue.

She cursed again. Kahit sanay siya sa mga ganoong bagay, napapamura pa rin siya minsan.

Cristina let go of the woman's hair.

"We should be friends," natatawang saad ni Gabrielle kay Cristina. Kumuha ito ng tissue saka pinunasan ang kutsilyo bago ibinalik kay Cristina.

Her friend only smirked before they went out of the suite.

Wala silang imik ni Cristina nang palabas na ng hotel. Para ngang walang nangyaring kakaiba paglabas nila.

Dumiretso si Vanna sa bahay nila. When she was at her room, she opened the spare phone she left. May ilang mensahe na namang nadagdag.

Pumasok na naman sa isip niya ang ideyang iwinaglit niya kanina. Her phone started ringing again.

"I'm sorry about last night, baby," bungad ni Clyde pagkatanggap pa lang niya sa tawag.

Huminga lang siya ng malalim at hindi nagsalita.

"I know I didn't have to deny you. Natuliro lang ako," he reasoned out.

"Natuliro saan? Is it because I am the kids' tutor? Ikinahiya mo ako?" hindi niya napigilang itanong. That thought gave her a heavy feeling. Hindi naalis ang langkap ng panibugho sa boses niya.

Naawa siya kay Lacy. Then it dawned to her, that yes, she's Lacy herself. Clothe differently but she still is Lacy.

"I'm sorry," Clyde apologized again.

She smirked at what he said. That hurts. Kung isampal kaya niya rito ang kayamanan nila?

She mentally scolded herself for thinking that way.

"Please let me make it up to you?" pakiusap nito. The sound of his voice was melancholic. She had to close her eyes so as not to pity him.

Hindi naman din niya masisisi ito kung nagdalawang-isip itong ipakilala siya sa mga kaibigan. People in their stature had the tendency to look at other's financial status before building relationships. That's a fact.

Iba lang siguro ang pagpapalaki sa kanila ng mga magulang kaya wala silang pakialam na magkakapatid sa financial status ng ibang tao. She must not expect the same upbringing with Clyde.

"Are you still in-love with Emma?" she asked diverting the issue. Huminga naman ng malalim ang kausap.

"Nope. I already told you. Ikaw na ang mahal ko," tugon nito. She doesn't why she believed him. Siguro dahil sinsero naman ang pagkakasabi nito.

"Why did you two break up?" sunod niyang tanong. Clyde inhaled deeply again.

"Can we meet? I want to tell you personally," saad nito. She momentarily closed her eyes.

"Say it now," aniya. Narinig niya ulit ang paghinga nito ng malalim. Nanahimik ito ng panadalian bago muling nagsalita.

"She lied about herself," he started.

"Her name isn't Emma and she's up for something," saad nito. That made her forehead creased.

"Something?" pag-uulit niya. Mas lalong napagtibay ang sapantaha niya.

"Nasaan ka ngayon? Susunduin kita. I'd want to tell it personally," saad nito sa halip na sagutin ang tanong niya. He sounds sincere. Parang gusto talaga nitong mag-open up sa kanya.

She wasn't able to answer right away. Then she saw her door blinking, signaling that somebody outside wants to enter. It must be her mom.

"Tawagan kita mamaya," paalam na lang niya sa binata bago ibinaba ang tawag. She checked the phone making sure her location is untraceable by the phonecall.

Her mom was smiling when she opened the door. May maid sa likod nito na nakahawak ng isang mahabang kahon. She suspected it was the gown they went to see at the stylist's shop.

"We'll have an early dinner first bago ka mag-ayos para sa gala," saad ng Mommy niya. Ipinapasok nito ang gown sa kuwarto niya bago sila magkasabay na bumaba. She tried to shrug off Clyde on her mind.

*****

Nakagayak na siya nang pumasok ang mga magulang sa kuwarto niya.

"The Filan Empress is so lovely," her father commented as he stepped towards her. Nasa harap siya ng dresser at isinusuot ang earrings na kapartner ng yellow gown niya.

Her fair skin glowed with the color of her gown. She didn't want to wear black or red. Her mom who came to her side is wearing a blue gown.

"Thank you for giving in to your dad's whim," natatawang sambit ng mommy niya. Iniayos nito ang buhok niya. Ipinusod niya iyon kanina. She let a few strand cascade on her bare shoulders.

Her gown is off-shoulder and fits up to her rear. Simple lang ang cut at wala ring accent pero eleganteng tingnan.

"Vanna Lei Filan." Her dad smiled looking at her reflection on the mirror.

"Someday soon you will be changing your surename into W-"

"Dad!" agad niyang saway sa ama nang marealize ang gusto nitong sabihin. Her mom laughed softly.

"I was just kidding," her dad chuckled.

"Papayagan lang kitang mag-asawa kapag kaedad mo na ang mommy mo no'ng nagpakasal kami," dagdag nito.

Napatawa siya sa biro ng ama.

"You mean two years from now?" tanong niya sa ama. She knew her mom was thirty when they got married.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Vaughn.

"I meant when we got married in church," he corrected. Agad pa siyang napaharap sa ama.

"Dad, mom was thirty seven, then. Di na ako magkakaanak no'n," natatawa niyang protesta. Tumawa pa ang ina sa sinabi niya. Her dad's face turned serious.

"You're a doctor, you know there are a lot ways to get pregnant, like in vitro fertilization," sambit nito. Nailing na lamang siya.

Her mother cleared her throat. Napatingala siya sa ina na nakatayo lang sa tabi ng kinauupuan niya.

"How's Klein Rich?" tanong ng ina.

Napalunok siya ng bahagya pagkaalala kay Cloud. Her parents knew Klein Rich since her college days. Lagi kasi itong nag-aattend sa mga parties ng pamilya nila. Plus Klein made sure, he always had a minute or two with her parents on those occasions before merging with their other classmates.

"I haven't seen him for days, mom. May inaasikaso kasi ako," tugon niya sa ina.

Her mom smiled as she stared at her.

"Halata sa mukha mong nami-miss mo na siya," natatawa nitong saad. That made her entire face flush.

"Mom?" she protested but her mother only laughed. She bent to hug her from the back

"My daughter is blushing," she muttered as she embraced her. Muli itong tumawa. As much as she wants to get mad, she can't. Hindi na lamang niya pinansin ang sinabi nito at humawak na lang sa braso ng ina. She feels good at her mom's embrace.

"I think he went on vacation with his mother. Nakita ko si Kaye sa airport last week. She said she was about to fetch him," pahayag ng ama.

His dad knew Uni Verse Kaye. She was introduced to them once. Noong graduation nila sa IFA. Pero hindi alam ng mga magulang niya na ang ina ni Klein ang gobal head ng IF.

She inhaled deeply. Kaya pala nawala ang binata at hindi sinasagot ang mga tawag niya.

"Mama's boy talaga 'yon, parang si Liam" natatawa niyang sambit. Lagi niyang tinutukso si Klein ng Mama's boy hanggang sa nababadtrip ito sa kanya. She smiled remembering some of those times.

Her parents laugh.

"Sabihin mo na-miss mo lang," natatawang tudyo ng ina niya. Napatigil siya sa pagtawa.

"Halata sa mukha mo," natatawang dagdag ng ina. Kinurot pa siya nito sa tagiliran.

"Tigilan niyo na 'yan, nagseselos na ako," sambit naman ni Vaughn na ikinatawa nilang mag-ina. Nakiyakap din ito sa kanila.

Halata ba talaga sa mukha niya?

Does her mom knew her better than herself?