The kiss lingered. She would have wanted it longer if they haven't heard multiple gunshots.

She swallowed hard when they saw bullet marks at the back part. Bullet proof ang sasakyan kaya hindi tumagos ang bala.

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba!" Cloud immediately grabbed the steering wheel and drove fastly in zigzag direction. Pero patuloy pa rin ang paghabol sa kanila at pagpapaulan ng bala.

He brought out his gun and glanced at her. Sinabihan siya nitong kunin ang baril sa compartment nang makitang wala siyang hawak.

She immediately obliged. Bubuksan sana niya ang bintana para makipagpalitan ng baril pero pinigilan siya ni Cloud.

"Ikaw ang mag-drive," utos nito. He pushed some buttons before asking her to move to the driver's side. He gave her space as they exchange places in a snap.

Nang makaupo siya ay binuksan nito ang compartment at inassemble ang isang machine gun. It only took him a minute. He pushed a button and a portion of the car's roofing opened. Tumayo ito at mabilis na inasinta ang sasakyang sumusunod sa kanila. In less than 3 seconds, she saw the car from the side mirror exploding.

Sumunod na namang sumabog ang sasakyang umiwas sa nauna nang umaapoy sa daan.

He moved down and closed the roof after. Nakita niyang may sumusunod pang sasakyan mula sa side mirror.

"Sina Fire 'yan," saad nito nang sumulyap siya. She just nodded and continued driving.

"Wala na. Akala ko mahuhuli na namin sila," hayag nito matapos ang ilang minuto. He heaved a deep sigh. Hindi siya nagsalita. She doesn't know how to react on that.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo doon ng mag-isa? You could've have been dead," sambit nito nang nanatili siyang tahimik.

She inhaled deeply and swallowed hard before answering.

"I wasn't alone. I was with Clyde," pag-amin niya. She glanced at Cloud. She saw how his jaw clenched.

"P-paanong nangyari 'yon? Did you tell him about us?" he asked almost immediately.

She slowly nodded.

"For fuck's sake, Vanna, why?" Cloud's voice raised.

"Alam naman kasi niya ang tungkol sa IF," depensa niya.

"I'm doing everything to get you out of this. Tapos sinabi mo sa kanya? He may be spying on us," pahayag nito. Natahimik siya. She knew he had a point.

"We're keeping IF away from NoKor's eyes. They want to rage world war. Gusto nilang kunin ang buong Asya bilang kakampi," paliwanag ni Cloud. Huminahon na ang boses nito. She remained silent and concentrated on driving.

"I have already talked to my father. Nagpapanggap lang silang kakampi ng NoKor. He wants IF to help capture the NoKor and let them face the international tribunal for working underground from country to country."

Nakinig lang siya sa sinasabi nito.

Cloud inhaled deepy.

"And because you were almost caught there, everything we've been working the past weeks went to waste," he added.

"Sana sinabi mo sa akin 'di ba?" may halong pagtatampo niyang balik. Hindi naman kasi niya alam ang mga plano nito. Kung alam niya at hindi siya nito iniwan sa kawalan nang walang alam, hindi siya susugod doon.

"We never know if our lines are monitored." He rested on his seat.

"Bakit hindi mo ako pinuntahan nandito ka lang pala sa malapit," aniya. Cloud only inhaled deeply.

He pushed a button on the car and dialed on the built-in phone. It was Fire who answered on the line. Tinanong lang ni Cloud kung nakalabas ang apat anng buhay. Nag-chorus naman ang mga ito at sumagot, "Yes, sir!"

Hinarap siya ni Cloud matapos ang tawag. She could feel his eyes staring at her while she's concentrating on the road.

"I didn't want to risk you over this. I want you safe," he told her.

"I'll have to drop you off somewhere. Kailangan mong humiwalay sa amin," dagdag nito bago pa siya makasagot.

"Sasama ako," suhestiyon niya. Though she knew it was futile, once Cloud decides on something, he meant it.

"No, sweetheart," he answered as expected.

Napakunot ang noo niya nang gumewang ang takbo ng sasakyan nina Fire na nakasunod sa kanila.

Then she saw more cars approaching. Napansin rin agad ni Cloud kaya tumingin ito sa likod.

"Shit!" Cloud muttered as he readied the gun.

Nakita niya kung paano hinarangan ang sasakyan ng apat.

She sped up. The road they were taking seem to lead nowhere. Napapaligiran sila ng mga puno sa magkabilang kalsada at paliko-liko pa ang daan. Hindi sila doon dumaan ni Clyde noong papunta sa lugar.

Nakipagpalitan si Cloud ng putok at panaka-nakang tumatayo. Binuksan ulit nito ang roofing ng sasakyan. Hindi nito maasinta ng maayos ang kalaban dahil paliko-liko ang daan.

Malapit nang mabasag ang salamin ng sasakyan sa likod dahil sa dami ng tumatamang baril. Bumalik sa upuan ang binata.

"You need to escape, sweetheart," he told her.

"Bumaba ka na lang at magtago, pahahabulin ko sila," he suggested. Hindi siya nagsalita at nag-isip rin ng escape plan.

"Call for rescue," iniabot nito sa bulsa ng jacket niya ang telepono at tracking gadget, the one he's using being the head of IF. If she will use that, all nearby agents will gather for land and air assault to rescue them.

She wanted to protest. Ayaw niyang humiwalay sa boyfriend pero iyon din ang naisip niyang pinakamagandang gawin.

"Please be safe, Klein," she said teary-eyed. She glanced at him looking at her. Panay pa rin ang tama ng bala sasakyan. Mabuti at hindi natatamaan ang gulong.

"Our child needs a father," she added almost choking with a tear escaping her eye. Natigilan pa ang binata. Then, he smiled widely.

"Ang galing ng timing mo magbalita," biro nito. Napailing na lang siya. He reached for her tummy and caressed. She smiled, but they don't have so much time for drama. She accelerated to gain more distance from the culprits. Noong lumiko ang sasakyan saka siya nagpreno para hindi makita ng mga kalaban ang pagbaba niya. She ran to the side as Cloud drove fastly out of the place.

Nagtago siya sa likod ng mga puno. Rinig niya ang mga nag-uunahang sasakyan na lumagpas sa kinaroroonan niya.

She called for rescue. Wala pang sampung minuto. May helicopter nang umiikot sa lugar sa gitna ng gabi.

A moment later cars stopped on the road side. Galing iyon sa direksyong tinahak ni Cloud kanina. Nakilala niya ang badges ng mga lalaking umibis mula sa sasakyan kaya siya lumabas sa kakahuyan. Her eyes roamed to search for Klein Rich.

"Hinahabol si Cloud, nakasalubong n'yo ba?" tanong niya nang makita si Agent Moon.

"Sasakyan lang ang nakita namin sa gilid ng daan, wala si sir," sagot nito. Her heart raced. Kinabahan siya pero pinilit niyang isipin na magaling ang boyfriend at makakayanan nitong takasan ang mga humahabol.

"'Yong mga sasakyang humahabol sa kanya. Apat 'yon, nakita n'yo ba?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.

Kumunot ang noo nito at umiling. Parang gusto niyang maluha nang maisip na maaaring tinangay ng mga kalaban si Cloud pero kinontrol niya ang sarili.

She calmed herself. She needs to keep her rationale in tact.

They were about to leave when they heard a car's engine approaching. Agad silang nagtago sa gilid ng mga sasakyan at inihanda ang kani-kaniyang baril.

Tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat nila. It was Clyde who went out from the driver's seat. Halos magkakasabay namang lumabas ang mga sakay nito. Isa doon si agent Mars at ang tatlong nasa silid kanina na kasamahan nila.

She stood up from her place.

"Clyde helped us get away," Fire announced unmasking himself. The other two unmasked themselves. They were Wind and Sky.

"Si Ulap?" agad na tanong ni Wind.

Nagkatinginan naman sila ni Moon. The latter shook his head.

"Si boss talaga ang kailangan ng mga Koreanong 'yon," komento nito na agad pinatahimik ng magkasintahang Fire at Mars.

"Why did he allow himself inside the camp? Papatayin siya kapag hindi nila nakuha ang gusto nila sa grupo ninyo," Clyde commented.

Nagkatinginan silang magkakasama. Wala ni isang nagsalita. Ang iba ay nagkibi-balikat. Kinabahan siya pero pinilit niyang kumalma. There was an utterly long silence before Mars faked a cough.

"Iuwi muna natin si Vanna," sambit nito.

"Mabuti pa. Hindi rin naman tayo makagagalaw hangga't hindi tayo tinatawagan ni boss," tugon ni agent Moon. Fire and Wind nodded.

"J1," agent Moon said handing Mars the car controller. Pati ang mga get away vehicles nila ay may mga sariling codes.

"Ako na ang maghahatid sa kanya," suhestiyon ni Clyde. Napatingin siya rito. She politely declined Clyde's offer when Cristina held her arm. Nalungkot pa ito.

"Maki-convoy ka na lang," suhestiyon ni Cristina. Tumango naman ito.

"Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit kasama mo 'yong Clyde na 'yon," Cristina immediately said when they were inside the car. She sat on the passenger's side while Cristina drove.

Alam ng dalaga ang lahat ng tungkol kay Clyde.

"He volunteered to help me," she answered.

"Sigurado ka bang tinutulungan ka lang niya?" tanong nito. Her forehead creased.

"Hindi ba kakaligtas niya lang sa inyo? His loyalty is no longer with his old colleagues," paliwanag niya. Nagkibit-balikat naman ang isa at mukhang hindi kumbinsido.

"And he's doing it for you? Or to make sure Cloud is dead at your very eyes?" balik-tanong nito. The questions caught her off guard. Hindi siya nakapagsalita.

She brushed off Cristina's second question. That's absurd. Ayaw niyang isipin na kaya iyong gawin ni Clyde. Alam nito ang pakiramdam ng mawalan ng mahal sa buhay. Pero mahal ba talaga siya ni Clyde para maging ganoon ka-concern sa kanya? She shook her head. That's no longer important. Kailangan niya munang isipin kung paano mahahanap si Cloud.

****Chapter 51B coming up! Hinati ko lang po.