Iniwan ni Vanna ang dalawang bata na nagsasagot ng assignment. She needs to find something suspicious inside the house as part of her investigation.

Paglabas niya ng library ay kunwaring nag-inat siya. She raised both her hands. As soon as she opened her palms, she flawlessly hit a pin on the CCTV wire that would cause it to be static. Pumasok siya uli sa loob ng library para magmukhang walang tao sa hallway. She counted three before going out. That's how her device works.

Ang makikita sa CCTV monitor ay walang tao kahit na palakad-lakad lang siya roon. That would only last for about five minutes so she needs to hurry up.

She must start looking for Clyde's room. Baka sakaling makakita siya ng kahit na anong makakapagpatunay kung ito nga ay inosente o may kinalaman sa pagkamatay ng sariling kapatid.

There are five other doors on the second floor. Eliminated na ang dalawa dahil kuwarto iyon ng mga bata. She opened the other three but it was all guestrooms.

She suspected his room must be on the third floor. Kaya hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip na tunguhin ang hagdan. She hit the CCTV on the stairs with another pin bago umakyat. She did the same to the third floor hallway CCTV bago inisa-isa ang mga pintuan. Mabuti na lang nasa baba lahat ng gwardiya kaya malaya siyang gumalaw.

There are six doors. She has a specialized pin that is used expertly to unlock any door that uses key.

The first two facing doors were guest rooms. Ang sumunod naman ay halatang kwarto ng matanda. Wala namang siyang nakitang kahit na anong kahina-hinala sa loob ng silid kaya't lumabas siya agad at binuksan ang kaharap na pintuan.

Ang kuwarto naman ay sa mag-asawang namatay. She can't help but stare at the woman on the wedding portrait. Her eyes are really brown. Pero di hamak naman na mas maganda siya. Hehe.

She shook her head at her own thoughts. Nabaling ang atensyon niya sa lalaki. The man looks like Clyde. Twins nga ang mga ito, hindi maitatanggi, pero halata pa rin ang pagkakaiba.

She dismissed herself from staring at the portrait. Hindi siya dapat babagal-bagal. She only have few minutes. Baka hanapin din siya ng mga bata at bumaba pa sa living room kung saan naiwan ang dalawang guwardiya kanina. Okay lang kung sa ahensya nila galing ang mga iyon pero paano kung sa third party agency galing ang mga ito? She'll be dead.

She hasten her movements. Yung sumunod na kuwartong binuksan ang sigurado niyang kay Clyde. Amoy na amoy niya kasi ang samyo ng pabango nito. Nakita rin niya ang coat nito kagabi na nakapatong sa couch.

She started rummaging his things.

There is nothing much inside the room. Ni walang kahit na anong dokumento o pictures syang nakita. She went on opening the drawers and cabinets fastly. Pati ang closet ay hindi niya pinalampas. Sinilip pa niya ang ilalim ng kama at iniangat ang kutson. Her heart thrembled when she saw two pistols and magazine bullets. Agad na umakyat ang hinala sa utak niya.

She shook her head to stabilize her heartbeats.

There is nothing suspicious about him owning guns. Natural lang naman sa estado nito ang humawak ng ganoong baril. But just to make sure, she took pictures of the guns' serial numbers and sent them to the agency for verification.

Nang matapos ay maingat siyang lumabas ng kwarto. She felt relieved when no one is there. Hindi na sana niya bubuksan ang katapat na pintuan nang magbago ang isip niya. Naintriga kasi siya.

Her curiosity grew stronger when she wasn't able to open it at first attempt. Inikot niya uli ang pin. Her forehead creased when it still didn't open. That started her suspicion.

She could even open a vault using the pin but why can't she open this simple door?

What could be possibly be inside the room?

Sinubukan niya ulit ng ilang beses. Patingin-tingin siya sa relo dahil nauubos na ang limang minuto niya. Pinagpawisan siya ng malagkit nang hindi pa rin mabuksan ang pinto. Kahit na anong ikot niya ng pin ay hindi talaga nagbubukas na kagaya ng ibang pintuan ng bahay.

She pushed and twist it in frustration. Kulang na lang ay sipain niya ito.

"What are you doing?"

Her heart raced when she heard Clyde's soft but menacing voice.

Sh!t. Akala niya hindi uuwi ang mga ito. Iyon sinabi nito kanina nang ihatid siya sa unibersidad.

Dahan-dahan siyang bumitaw sa pintuan. Hindi na naman niya naramdaman ang paglapit nito kanina. Napaka-imposible talaga.

"Ahm, I was looking for the CR," she answered trying hard to stay calm. Kaswal siyang humarap sa binata pero pinagpawisan pa rin siya ng tuluyan. She expertly slid the pin inside her longsleeves to hide it.

Kinabahan siya ng tumawa ito ng mahina. He sounded mocking. She's nervous he might've not bought her alibi.

Ganoon pa man, hinintay niya itong magsalita ulit.

"Taeng-tae ka na ba? Pinagpapawisan ka," natatawa nitong saad. That gave her relief. Wala pa sa sariling napatango siya. Akala niya ay maghihinala na ito sa ginagawa niya.

"You can use the CR in my room, this way," nakangisi nitong sambit nang di siya nagsalita.

He guided her to his room. Nagpatianod na lamang siya at mabilis tinungo ang bathroom para kapani-paniwalang natatae siya.

"There are tissue rolls in the hanging cabinet," Clyde yelled out laughing before she closed the door.

Napasandal pa siya sa likod ng pintuan at napapikit ng mariin. Muntik na siya roon.

She stayed at the bathroom for ten minutes before going out.

"Ang baho. Naghugas ka ba ng mabuti?" Clyde teased when she went out of the bathroom. Nakaabang pala ito sa may pintuan.

Hindi niya sigurado kung nanunudyo lang talaga ito o baka hinuhuli lang siya. Pero mas gusto niya ang unang naisip.

She shook her head and walked towards the door.

Natatawa naman itong sumunod sa kanya.

"Ano ba kasing kinain mo?" tudyo pa rin nito pagkalabas nila ng kuwarto. It would have been embarrassing if it was true but since it was just an alibi she was so thankful about it.

"Kumain ako kaya ako natae. Stop embarrassing me," sambit na lamang niya para matigil ito. Saglit naman itong natigilan. Hindi na ito muling umimik pa nang pababa na sila.

There are a lot of things running on her mind.

Una, iniisip niya kung ano ang mayroon sa kuwartong iyon at mas mahirap pa itong buksan kaysa sa vault.

Pangalawa, hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit na-guilty na naman siya na gumana rito ang sinabi niyang naghahanap siya ng CR. He seem to buy all her crap reasons. Dapat magpasalamat nga siya sa halip na ma-guilty. She's doing her job well.

Panghuli, may parte sa utak niya ang ayaw maniwala na hindi ito naghihinala sa kanya.

Bago siya pumasok sa library ay natatawa pa siya nitong inabutan ng hand sanitizer na hindi niya alam kung saan nito nahablot. She thought he's done teasing. May pahabol pa pala.

The moment she went inside the room, she texted Cloud to interfere with the surveillance camera inside the house using the signals from the pins. She gave them series of codes. Alam na ng mga IT nila na pagtagniin ang footage para magtugma ang paglabas niya bigla sa kuwarto ni Clyde.

She was preoccupied during the rest of the tutorials. Mabuti na lang walang Clyde na nagpakita sa loob. May sa pusa yata ang lalaki. Bigla na lang susulpot nang hindi niya nararamdaman.

Bumalik ang kanina'y kaba nang makita niya itong nakaupo sa sala.

"Hey honey, dito ka na magdinner." Clyde stood up when he noticed her moving down the stairs.

Without the baby, there's that honey again. May lalaki ba talagang ganon kalandi? She pursed her lips as she remembered her brothers. Paano kaya kung ang isa sa mga kapatid niya ang ganon kalandi? Baka mahampas niya ng M16 riffle.

She remembered her twin brother Liam putting a hat on her friend one time. Ang corny tingnan. She spent the entire vacation teasing him about it until he got pissed off.

She inhaled deeply at the memory. Those were the days. Ayaw na niyang balikan.

"Is that a yes?"

Nabaling ang atensyon niya kay Clyde nang muli itong magsalita. Ngumiti siya ng tipid.

"Sorry may pupuntahan pa kasi ako pagkatapos dito. Maybe next time," tugon niya rito.

Clyde nodded and stared at her. Nawala ang kanina'y kaba niya pero naasiwa naman siya sa mga titig nito.

"Ah, I'll go ahead," sambit niya. She scolded herself mutely for almost stammering at the words as she walked towards the door.

"May date ka?" tanong naman nito. Nakasunod pala agad sa kanya ang binata.

"Sort of," she answered slickly. She's supposed to meet Cloud in 30 minutes at the agency. Doon kasi nito sasabihin ang report ng intel nila sa Korea at ilalatag ang kabuuang plano ng misyon niya at kung hanggang kailan siya magpapanggap na tutor ng mga bata.

"That guy in the restaurant?" Clyde inquired as he walked beside her. Napatigil siya saglit at bumaling rito. There is something in his eyes that she cannot name but she doesn't have the luxury to linger and identify it.

"Yes, that guy in the restaurant," tugon na lamang niya para tigilan siya nito. Pero sa halip na tumigil ay humarang pa ito sa daraanan niya nang maglalakad na uli siya.

"Do you really know who that guy is?" Clyde asked as he eyed her doubtfully. Hindi siya agad nakasagot. His question sounded like a warning.

"Like his line of work or where he lives?" sambit nito nang nakatingin pa rin sa mga mata niya. She tried hard not to swallow at his inquiry.

"Bakit kilala mo ba siya? May alam k aba tungkol sa kanya" balik-tanong niya rito nang makahuma. Clyde stared at her for a moment.

"No," he answered shaking his head.

"But if you're going out with a guy, you should know those things. Mahirap magtiwala sa panahon ngayon," sambit nito. She almost chuckled at his remark. Hindi naman din ito nagsalita pa. He stepped aside and let her walk.

Yeah right. She muttered to herself as she walked towards the gate. There is a slightly higher pavement on the side for walking. May ilang guwardiya ang nakamasid sa kanila.

"Thank you for the concern," saad na lamang nang makitang nakasunod pa rin ito sa kanya.

"Hatid na lang kita," saad ng binata matapos ang ilang saglit na katahimikan. That made her glance at him with a creased forehead. Saglit din itong natigilan sa reaksyon niya bago nailing at napahawak sa batok.

"Yeah, I figured...makikipagdate ka nga pala sa ibang lalaki, hindi maganda kung ihahatid kita," saad nito.

Instead of commenting further, she only nodded and continued walking.

Bakit parang ang layo ng gate? She feels awkward minute after minute walking with Clyde.

"But you know what, honey? Mas okay talaga kung ihahatid kita," sambit ulit nito.

That made her totally stop and stared at him.

"Ano ba talagang gusto mong sabihin? Bakit mo ako kinukulit?" diretso niyang tanong rito. He also stared at her.

Clyde's smiling face turned serious. He glanced at the guards around before staring at her again.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit biglang umakyat ang kaba sa dibdib niya sa ginawa nito.

"Never attempt to open that door again in the third floor," he told her in his utterly familiar soft but menacing voice. Her heart jumped hearing his remark.

What does he mean by that?

He leaned his face closer to hers.

"Kung gusto mong tumae, may CR sa first floor hindi mo na kailangang umakyat sa taas," he added chuckling.

It took few seconds before she was able to grasp his joke. She almost rolled her eyes. Nabitin pa sa ere ang kaba sa dibdib niya.