Nakatanggap si Vanna ng direktiba mula sa global head nila na huwag nang pupunta sa agency dahil ginagawa na ang demolition. They had to relocate their office for safety. Wala ni isang dapat makaalam kung saan sila ililipat hangga't hindi pa ready ang lahat.

Mahigit isang linggo na rin niyang tinatawagan si Cloud pero hindi niya ma-contact ang binata. All her gadgets were reset that it didn't have any connection to any of the agents. Si agent Mars lang tuloy ang natawagan niya dahil ito lang ang katangi-tanging may personal number sa kanya.

Cristina said she received the same instruction. Pati rin daw si Fire at ang iba pa nilang kakilalang agents ay naka-receive ng ganoon. However, Cristina suspects that the boys are working on something. Madalas daw kasing lumabas si Fire at hindi sinasabi kung saan nagpupunta, basta ang paalam ay may inaasikaso ito para sa ahensya. Mars understood that it may be confidential. That's why she didn't pry.

Napatingin siya sa lalaking palapit sa gazebo na may dalang tray ng snacks. It was Clyde. Araw-araw itong nagpupunta sa bahay nila kahit ilang beses niyang sabihin na hindi na nito kailangang magbantay. Lagi lang naman nitong idinadahilan na wala naman itong gagawin.

"You seriously don't have to do this Clyde," she stated as soon as he put the tray down on the round table. She felt the urge to tell him that she's in a relationship with Cloud but she controlled herself. It's not that she doubts his intention. Gusto lang niyang maging maingat.

"I know." Clyde inhaled deeply as he sat in front of her.

"But I want to," he added.

She stared at him trying to gauge his sincerity. She later resigned to her seat when she found no trace of dishonesty.

Kung hindi lang niya iniisip na wala na itong natitirang pamilya, sinungitan na niya. But seeing his sad eyes everytime she stares at him melts her heart. Hindi kasi ganoon ang mga mata nito. Napakagaang noon ang mukha nito. Now, he looks like he's carrying the world on his shoulder.

She didn't eat the carrot cake. She only drank the orange juice. Tahimik lang sila pareho sa mga sumunod na minuto. Kahit ayaw niyang binabantayan siya ng binata, naappreciate naman niya na hindi ito nangungulit. He'd only sit quietly. Kaya hindi rin niya ito magawang pagdudahan ng tuluyan.

"I'm going inside." Agad siyang tumayo nang maramdamang nag-vibrate ang cellphone sa bulsa niya.

Hindi pa nakakasagot ang binata nakailang hakbang na siya paalis ng gazebo. She went inside their house as she received Klein's call.

"Sweetheart, I missed you. Tell me exactly what's happening, please," she immediately said when the line went on. She heard him inhaling deeply.

"Ano'ng ginagawa ng lalaking 'yan sa bahay ninyo?" tanong nito sa halip na sagutin siya.

Her forehead creased before it registered that he was referring to Clyde.

"Ayaw niya kasing umalis," she said nonchalantly.

"And you even let him sleep inside your house? Saan siya natulog? Sa kuwarto mo?" Cloud's voice sounds irritated.

"Wait! Are you accus---Did you really ask that question?" salubong ang kilay niyang tanong. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa itinakbo ng utak nito.

"You didn't call for a week. Nag-alala ako sa 'yo. Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin kung saan ka nagpunta. Then, you'd call accusing me of nonsense," she said sarcastically. Umakyat ang inis sa dibdib niya.

Cloud was silent for a moment.

"I am sorry. Alam mo namang nagsiselos ako sa lalaking 'yan. Get rid of him, sweetheart, please," he uttered. His voice softened.

Huminga siya ng malalim at hindi nagsalita.

"Alright. I am fixing things about my father. He really wanted to take IF on his side for a nonsense war over some countries," he explained. Pinakalma niya ang sarili at pinilit intindihin ang sinasabi ng binata.

"I have designated some people to watch over you. Alam kong kapag nalaman niyang ikaw ang kahinaan ko baka gamitin ka niya laban sa akin," dagdag nito.

"Have you forgotten? I am also an IF agent. I can help you," she stated.

"No, sweetheart. I can fix this. I can't risk you over this. Mas panatag ako kung safe ka lang diyan,"

She nodded even if he can't see her, but something is lurking in her head. She can't let him solve this problem alone. Ayaw niyang mapahamak ang binata nang wala siyang nagagawa.

"Please get rid of that man. Huwag mo na siyang papasukin diyan sa bahay ninyo," sambit nito. She inhaled deeply.

"You better tell that to Dad. Sa kanya ang bahay na 'to," tugon niya. Rinig niya ang paghinga nito ng malalim. Pareho silang natahimik ng ilang saglit.

"Iwasan mo na lang siya hangga't maaari," saad nito matapos ang katahimikan.

"Let me help you, then. Isama mo ako para maiwasan ko siya," suhestiyon niya. She'd like it more if they are together instead of just lingering around their house.

"Vanna please don't be stubborn this time, alam kong iniisip mo na kung paano ako tulungan ngayon," he said with a heavy sigh. He was right.

"Give me two weeks to finish this mess," he told her. Huminga siya ng malalim. She wanted to protest but later agreed.

Nang umoo siya, nagpaalam na ito. Ayaw pa sana niyang ibaba ang tawag pero nawala na ito sa linya.

*****

Sinubukan niyang iwasan si Clyde. Tinakasan pa niya ito at nagtungo sa Puerto Galera para dalawin ang isang kaibigan. Isang linggo siya roon. Hindi niya sinagot ang mga tawag nito. Hinayaan niya lang na mag-ring kapag tumatawag ito. Ayaw naman niyang patayin ang telepono. She was hoping Cloud will call.

Noong bumalik siya ng Manila ay dumiretso pa siya kay agent Mars at doon nag-stay ng ilang araw. Fire never showed up during the time she was there. Kaya duda niya ay kasama ito ni Cloud at iba pang agents.

Noong bumalik siya sa bahay, nadatnan pa niya si Clyde. Nagtaka na talaga siya kung bakit ito pinapayagan ng ama niyang makapasok sa bahay nila pero hindi siya nagtanong. Her father always knew what he was doing.

She was expecting Cloud to show up after two weeks as he promised but she never saw his shadow. Ni hindi niya ito matawagan. Pumunta pa siya sa bahay nito pero wala siyang nakitang palataandaan na naroon ito ng nagdaang linggo.

The two weeks he promised became a month. During that time, Clyde was always there. Kahit paalisin niya ito ay hindi natitinag. She eventually gave up pushing him away and just let him linger around. Hindi naman ito nangungulit sa kanya kapag naramdamang ayaw niyang makipag-usap.

She was restless for days and was planning how to trace Cloud's whereabouts when her phone rang.

Umakyat ang inis sa dibdib niya nang makita ang initials ng boyfriend sa screen ng cellphone. Naalala niya kasing hindi ito tumawag ng mahigit isang buwan.

"Buti naalala mong may girlfriend ka pa," she uttered right away upon answering the call.

She heard him inhaling deeply before speaking.

"I'm sorry sweetheart. I underestimated them," he explained.

She smirked at his remark.

"I am not just another ordinary girlfriend, Klein Rich. Baka nakakalimutan mo nang marami na tayong napagsamahang misyon. I CAN HELP," she said stressing the last three words.

Hindi ito nagsalita sa kabilang linya. Tanging paghinga lang nito ang naririnig.

She was about to speak when she heard gunshots over the line.

"Cloud, what's happening?" she asked panicking. Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya.

"Sweetheart, I'll call you back," he said instead of answering.

"Take care of yourself. I love you," he added before the line went dead. Part of her being wanted to rush outside and go to where he is but she doesn't know his location.

Mabilis niyang binuksan ang tracking gadgets at sinubukang i-trace ang lokasyon nito base sa ginawa nitong pagtawag pero hindi niya makuha ang lokasyon.

She suspected he was halfway across the globe. She called up agent Mars but her phone was out of reach. Mabilis siyang lumabas ng kuwarto at bumaba sa garahe.

She was about to ride on her car when Clyde appeared out of nowhere.

"Lalabas ka? Samahan na kita," saad nito.

"Clyde, not now please. I need to do this alone. May importante akong lalakarin," she said dismissing him. Sumakay siya sa kotse at agad na ibinuwelta ang sasakyan.

She was driving towards the gate when she saw Clyde on the side mirror. Nakatayo ito, nakapamulsa ang kamay at nakatunghay lang sa papalabas niyang sasakyan.

She inhaled deeply. Three times to be exact. She even swallowed hard before opening the window.

Inilabas niya ang ulo mula sa bintana. She called out his name and asked him to come over. Hindi pa ito agad na nakagalaw mula sa kinatatayuan. Kailangan pa niyang ulitin ang pag-anyaya bago ito naglakad at sumakay sa passenger's side.

He was silent as she drove off. Hindi niya rin alam kung ano ang sasabihin sa binata at kung bakit nga ba niya ito pinasakay. Para kasing nakakaawa ang itsura nito kanina habang sinusundan ng tingin ang sasakyan niya. He did nothing the past weeks but to be with her and guard her for whatever reason.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tinunton ang bahay ni agent Mars. 

Agad siyang pinagbuksan ng guwardiya na pamilyar na rin sa kanya. Nasa likod lang naman niya si Clyde.

The guard told her that Cristina had been out for days.

"Si kumpare?" she asked referring to Fire. Sinabi nitong hindi pa rin ito umuuwi doon. Tumango na lamang siya.

She felt a little betrayed thinking that Mars may be on a mission with the boys while she was left out. Mabuti pa ang mga kasamahan, isinasama ni Cloud sa misyon. Samantalang siya ay naiwan sa ere.

She was about to leave when someone yelled "Ninang!" Nakangiti niyang sinalubong ang sampung taong gulang na batang lalaki na palabas ng bahay. He looked taller than his age.

"Si mommy po?" agad nitong tanong nang yumakap sa kanya. Napalingon pa siya kay Clyde na nagkibit-balikat lang.

"Hindi ba niya sinabi sa 'yo?" balik-tanong niya sa bata at ginulo ang buhok nito.

"May conference raw po sa HongKong," sambit ng bata. Nginitian naman niya ito. She knew it was an alibi. Gano'n naman lagi ang paliwanag nito sa anak kapag umaalis ng matagal.

"She's working for you. So, be good while she's away, okay?" she told the kid. Tumango naman ito.

She bade goodbye a minute later.

"Is your friend Ina, the mother of the child?" Napatingin siya kay Clyde nang magtanong ito. They were already inside the car. Saglit na nagbuffer ang utak niya bago naalalang naipakilala na nga pala niya ang kaibigan noon sa binata.

"Yep," she answered curtly and nodded.

"I figured. Kamukha niya kasi," napapatango nitong komento.

"Siya lang daw kasi ang nag-enjoy," she joked out of the blue. Napatanga naman sa kanya ang lalaking kausap.

"I was kidding," she chuckled softly. Napatango lang din ang binata bago tumawa ng mahina. At least the atmosphere became lighter.

"You have a sharp memory, naalala mo pa ang mukha niya, minsan lang naman kayong nagkita," sambit niya. Sinulyapan niya ito. The latter only nodded. She's not sure if he took it as a compliment or he's thinking other things. The car became silent again as she drove off.

Sumunod niyang pinuntahan ang mga hideout nila, but the old buildings used as facades were already demolished.

Naiiling niyang pinalo ang steering wheel nang puntahan ang pang-lima nilang hideout na na-demolish na rin. She feels frustrated thinking that she cannot even do anything to help Cloud.

"What's wrong?" Clyde asked. Saka lang niya naalalang may kasama pala siya sa loob ng kotse. She stared at him for a moment before she continued driving.

"Ano'ng problema? Why are you visiting demolished areas?" tanong nito. Hindi siya nagsalita. Her jaw is tensing. Pakiramdam niya ay iniwan siya sa ere ng IF at hindi alam kung ano ang dapat gawin. She was left wondering what is happening. She resented Cloud for letting her out of IF's radar. Sana lang walang mangyari ritong masama, na kanina pa niya pilit na iwinawaglit sa isipan.

Nagpatuloy siya sa pagda-drive. The road led her to their agency but the building is also being renovated and the workers did not allow her to get near. Baka raw kasi mabagsakan siya ng kung ano.

Clyde patiently followed her towards her car without any word.

"You look exhausted. Do you want me to drive?" tanong nito. Tiningnan niya ang binata.

"Sabihin mo na lang sa akin kung saan mo gustong pumunta," he said trying to convince her. Huminga siya ng malalim bago tinungo ang passenger's side at sumakay. Clyde occupied the driver's seat.

Nakusensiya pa siya dahil nakasunod lang ito sa kanya na parang alalay.

"Where will you go next?" he asked. She stared at the man before settling her eyes on the road. Inabutan na sila ng takip-silim.

Huminga siya ng malalim. She couldn't believe, they've been on the road for almost four hours.

"A restaurant of your choice. Gutom na ako. I am sure ikaw din," tugon niya rito matapos ang ilang minutong katahimikan.

Clyde only glanced at her before concentrating on the road.

He led her to an oriental restaurant and took the liberty to order food for them, which she appreciated. Parang wala na kasi siyang enerhiyang isipin kung ano ang gusto niyang kainin.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" tanong nito nang makaalis ang waiter.

"I know there is something wrong, Vanna," he added scrutinizing her face.

Yumuko siya. She didn't know why a tear escaped her eye.

"I miss Klein Rich. I feel like he's shutting me out from his radar," she bursted in tears. Naghalo-halo na ang emosyong nararamdaman niya.