Sinubukang ibukas ni Vanna ang mga mata nang magising ang diwa pero nanakit ang talukap ng mga mata niya. Nang subukan niyang igalaw ang kamay para kusutin ang mga mata, nakaramdam siya ng pananakit sa braso kaya agad rin niyang ibinaba. Then, the pain shoots around her body. Ilang beses siyang pumikit ng mariin. Sumasakit ang bawat parte ng katawan na sinusubukan niyang igalaw. She got frustrated. Pinakiramdaman niya kung nasa tubig pa siya o kung naanod na sa pampang. Lumakas ang pananalig niya nang maramdamang parang kama naman ang hinihigaan niya.

Mariin ang ginawa niyang pagpikit bago unti-unting binuksan ang mga mata. Her eyes were blurry she had to blink several times.

Bright light met her eyes. She had to adjust for quite a while before she was able to recognize her surroundings.

The room was unfamiliar. The gray drapes covered the walls on her left and right. There are bedside tables with lamps on her left and right. Sa paanan niya naman ay may semi-circle couch na may entertainment set sa harap. There's a dining table on the side. A few meters away is a closed door.

The room's soothing scent filled her nostrils. It relaxed her senses a bit. Ilang beses siyang huminga ng malalim para pakalmahin ang sarili. Pinakiramdaman niya ang ibabang bahagi ng katawan. She felt happy when she couldn't feel any pain on her pelvis. Her instinct as a doctor told her that her baby's okay.

Pumikit siya ng mariin bago muling huminga ng malalim saka dahan-dahang iniangat ang katawan para makaupo. She felt like her bones are breaking as she elevated her back.

"How does it feel lying on my honeymoon bed?"

Napatingin siya sa may pintuan nang marinig ang boses ni Liam. He smirked before he walked towards her direction. May dala-dala itong tray ng pagkain.

Liam is supposed to be having his honeymoon in Japan. Ibig sabihin nasa Japan na siya? How was he able to rescue her at the middle of the pacific ocean? Ilang araw ba siyang nagpalutang-lutang sa karagatan bago siya nito nahanap?

"Paano mo ako nahanap?" tanong niya rito. Her head ached thinking all the possibilities.

"You dialed the emergency numbers I gave you," he told her. Ngumiti ito ng tipid. Inilapag nito ang tray sa side table.

"I thought you'll never used that anymore, my super-strong I-don't-need-anyone's-help twin sister," he said with a sarcastic smile.

"Akala ko rin," sambit niya. She pursed her lips trying to suppress her tears. Naalala niya noong napatakbo siya sa cockpit area.

Kapag pala nasa bingit siya ng kamatayan, ang kakambal niya ang unang taong maiisip para hingan ng tulong. She didn't even think of their parents that time or the possibility of not seeing them or Cloud anymore. Si Liam talaga. Her handsome twin brother.

"Paano mo ako nahanap? Ilang araw na ako dito sa Japan?" she asked teary eyed. Her heart pounds as she realized how connected she was to her brother.

"Wala pa tayo sa Japan, binibilisan ko nga para madala na kita sa ospital" tugon ng kapatid.

Napanganga siya.

"We we're hovering above the pacific ocean when I was interrupted by your emergency signal," he added.

Itinaas nito ang tracking gadget nito sa ahensya dati. Hindi niya pala ito naibalik.

"So tell me, ano'ng ginagawa mo sa gitna ng karagatan?" tanong nito.

Her tears rolled down as she remembered what happened before she jumped off the plane. Kung paanong ipinagpilitan ni Clyde na hayaan na niya ito roon para mailigtas ang sarili at anak.

Liam opened the drawer of the bedside table and handed her a box of tissue paper.

"Nasa kalagitnaan kami ng honeymoon, alam mo ba 'yon?" he said with a chuckle. Napatingin sa pinto nang pumasok ang asawa nito.

"Bakit ganyan ang mga sinasabi mo? Don't you realize how badly she was hurt? That's too insensitive." kunot-noong tanong ng asawa ni Liam. Narinig pala nito ang sinabi ni Liam.

"Honeymoon bed n'yo 'to? Yuck!" biro niya kay Liam para mailihis ang pagsaway ng asawa nito. Nakita niya kasing parang nahiya pa ang kakambal sa kanya.

Liam smiled. Hinila nito ang asawa at hinapit sa baywang.

"Don't worry, we haven't used that bed yet. Hindi pa kami nakarating diyan, sa gilid kami nag-umpisa," he said with a soft chuckling. Pinamulahan pa ang asawa nito. She laughed softly. Gusto niyang makipagbiruan rito kaya lang naalala niya ang apat na kasamahan. Baka nag-aalala na ang mga ito. Did they go on with their plan to rescue Cloud?

"Ilang oras akong walang malay?" tanong niya sa kapatid nang tumahimik ang paligid.

"It's only been an hour since I received your signal. Mabuti malapit ka lang," saad nito. Umupo ito sa tabi ng kama. His wife did the same.

"I rescued you ten minutes after I received the signal. Sinundan ko lang yung signal mo. Good thing my aircraft can be converted to seaplane," kuwento nito. She only nodded imagining how he hovered down towards her direction.

"Now tell me what happened?" he asked again. He held her hand and played with it. She smiled with tears seeing the lovable brother in him.

Ikinuwento niya ang lahat, kasama ng plano nilang tugisin ang mga kumuha kay Cloud. She cried hard when she reached the part where Clyde had to sent her away

"You're pregnant?" kunot-noo nitong tanong. Sa lahat yata ng sinabi niya ay iyon lang ang naintindihan ng kapatid.

"You've gone crazy. You should've just let Uni Verse rescue him." Binitawan nito ang kamay niya. His wife remained silent and only listened.

"Says the man who knew exactly how to run his lovelife," she joked, but Liam stiffened. Saka lang niya naisip na parang insulto ang sinabi niya.

"That was a joke," she told him later. Magagawa ba niyang insultuhin ang kapatid sa kabila ng pagligtas nito sa kanya? No.

Tumango naman ito. They all became silent. Only the sound of their breathing filled the room.

"I will try to communicate with the team to help them find Cloud, basta huwag ka nang sasama para hindi ka mapahamak," hayag ni Liam matapos ang ilang minutong katahimikan.

She looked at Liam trying to absorb everything.

"Magtiwala ka naman sa kakayahan ng iba," dagdag nito. She nodded pursing her lips. With everything that happened, she thinks she needed to rest. Ayaw niyang pati ang baby niya ay mapahamak.

She felt responsible for Clyde's death, too, and it breaks her heart. Ang daming naitulong ng binata sa kanya. Hindi man lang niya nagawang masuklian ito kahit papaano. If only, she could turn back time. Her heart twinge at the thought of him. Clyde deserves to be loved, too.

*********************

Cloud spitted blood after the man kicked him hard on the stomach. He was shirtless. Nakaposas ang mga kamay niya at nakatali sa taas. His feet are also tied down. He's literally at the middle of an empty room because he was hanging. May limang lalaking nakapaligid at salitang sinusuntok at tumatadyak sa kanya.

Whenever they can't get any response from him, they'd tighten the chains upwards and downwards simultaneously. Nabibinat ang buong katawan niya kaya mas lalong sumasakit at sumisirit ang dugo sa sugat-sugat niyang katawan. Literal na mata lang talaga niya ang walang latay.

He endured all the pain. He never talked nor answered any of their querries.

Gusto ng mga ito na kumbinsihin niya ang ina na sumapi sa pagbuwag sa mga malalaking estado sa buong mundo. His father was right. NoKor wants to run the world, and they were able to sway a lot of countries in the world to help them with their plan.

He refused to speak no matter what they do. He's thinking ways how to lure them so he could escape. They were speaking Korean and he understood them.

His heart raced when he heard them talking about showing him a video. Malakas ang kutob niya na si Vanna ang tinutukoy ng mga ito pero pinakalma niya ang sarili.

He looked on the wall when it started blinking.

"Mom," he whispered as blood dripped on his forehead. It was the first time he spoke eversince he was captured.

"Son!" his mom's voice echoed around. His mom sounded stern, but he knew when she's about to break down.

"Mom, ah--I will be okay," he said making his voice sound like he's not in too much pain.

"N-never give them what they want," he added.

He tried not to let out a scream when someone kicked his side. Naramdaman pa niya ang pag-agos ng dugo sa parteng iyon.

"Kleeinnn!" his mom screamed.

"Mom, war is nonsense," he said in between breaths. Kita ang pagrehistro ng sakit sa mukha ng ina.

"I shall die fighting for peace!" he voiced out before the live feed stopped and turned black. Kasabay no'n ay ang pagsirit ng dugo sa mukha niya.

One of the men is gripping a karambit. Saka lang niya naramdaman ang pananakit ng pisngi. He knew the cut wasn't deep. Agad kasi itong inawat ng isa pang lalaki.

"If you and your mother won't cooperate with us, we will start killing everyone close to you," saad ng lalaking may hawak ng kutsilyo. His eyes were menacing and his jaw is tensing in anger.

"We will start with this woman!" he said sternly. His voice echoed around as a woman's face flashed on the wall.

He felt like his heart is ripping apart as he saw Vanna's face sleeping inside an airplane.

Nilapitan si Cloud ng lalaking may hawak ng kutsilyo at iniumang sa mukha niya. He slid it in his bleeding wound. Cloud winced in pain. The man smirked. Tiningnan siya nito sa mga mata.

"We will make sure, she'll die with the baby inside her womb!" he said slowly making sure he'll understand every word.

Tumingin siya sa screen, nawala na ang imahe ng dalaga. Hindi niya sigurado kung real time footage iyon basta ang tumimo sa utak niya ay alam ng mga ito na buntis ang nobya niya. He is more than sure, they knew he fathers the child. He felt anxious.

"No. Not Vanna. Not my star," he helplessly voiced out. He tried hard not to tear out.

"Now you are showing weakness," the man smirked.

"Are you and your mom going to cooperate or we will kill them?" The man's voice sounded horrible.

He closed his eyes and nodded.

"Put me down. I am going to talk to my mom. Just don't touch my girlfriend," he said submissively. The man smiled triumphantly.

Alam niyang ililigtas siya ng ina at ang mga kasamahan pero hindi niya puwedeng isugal ang buhay ng mag-ina niya.

Hindi siya agad kinalagan ng lalaki pero may kinausap ito sa cellphone. Ang apat namang kasama nito ay nagbabantay lang.

Ilang minuto itong nakipag-usap bago ibinaba ang tawag.

"Your mother already agreed to cooperate with us," he said with a devious smile.

"Did she really think you'll get out of here alive?" The man smirked.

Cloud gritted his teeth at the man's remark. Makababa lang siya sa pagkakatali sisiguraduhin niyang ito ang una niyang babarilin.

Cloud's cheek is still bleeding. Naririnig pa niya ang pagpatak ng dugo sa tiles na sahig.

Napatingin sila sa pintuan nang bumukas iyon. May lalaking pumasok sa loob. He whispered something to the man who was talking a while back. Sumulyap ang lalaki sa kanya bago muling lumabas ng pintuan.

Napansin niya ang pag-arko ng hinliliit nito bago hinila ang pintuan pasara. That sign is being used by IF agents to let each other knew they are not enemies when in missions.

Inutusan ng lalaki ang apat na ibaba siya. May pinindot naman ang isa para bumaba ang tali. Napahiga pa siya sa sahig nang tuluyang lumaylay ang kadenang nakakabit sa posas niya.

Naginhawaan ang kamay niya nang tuluyang matanggal ang posas pero doon naman niya naramdaman ang pananakit ng katawan nang tuluyang dumaiti ang nagdurugo niyang balat sa malamig na sahig. The pain shoots everywhere and his wounds were bleeding. Pinunas niya ang pisngi gamit ang kamay. His hand got wet with his own blood.

Tutulungan sana siyang makatayo ng dalawang lalaki pero mabilis niyang binunot ang baril ng isa sa tagiliran nito. In a split second, he shoot the five men inside the room.

Umalingaw ang putok ng mga baril pero wala siyang pakialam. They would kill him anyway. Kahit gaano pa sila karami, lalaban siya kahit pakiramdam niya ay mawawalan siya ng malay ano mang oras dahil sa pagdurugo ng katawan.

He immediately grabbed the remote on the man's hand and freed his feet from the cuff. Halos gumapang siya bago nakatayo ng tuwid. He immediately went out. Kasabay ng pagbaril niya sa isang lalaking paliko ng pasilyo ang pagtunog ng alarm. He walked fast. Hindi niya alam kung saan papunta ang pasilyo pero tinunton niya pa rin iyon.

The alarm went on. Pagliko niya sa pasilyo tumambad sa kanya ang malawak na bulwagan na katulad ng hideout ng mga Koreanong pinasok nila sa Pilipinas. There are couches and tables around.

Nang lumabas ang mga lalaki sa kung saan ay agad siyang nagtago sa isang couch. Nakipagpalitan siya ng putok nang agad na barilin ang kinaroroonan niya.

He crawled fastly towards the side behind the bar counter. Mas mainam kasi iyong pagtaguan niya kaysa sa couch na tinatablan ng bala.

Kahit na sobrang sakit na ng katawan ay hindi niya ininda. He held his arm dripping with blood. Nadaplisan siya ng bala. He pressed it with his palm.

He could feel the men were already walking towards his direction. Huminga siya ng malalim bago mabilis na iniumang ang baril sa counter at binaril ang mga ito sa kabila ng pananakit ng braso.

Nahihiwagaan siyang umupo nang mapansing anim ang tumumbang lalaki kahit na tatlo lang naman ang pinaputukan niya.

Nakarinig siya ng ilang putok ng bala pero hindi papunta sa direksyon niya. He smiled when he realized its implication. He was right. The man who went out of the room a while back may be an IF agent.

Nang tumigil ang putukan saka siya lumabas sa pinatataguan. The man was standing at the balcony area of the wide hall. Sinenyasan siya nitong maglakad na paabante. He figured the exit door is on that part so he walked towards the direction. Nakarinig siya ng putok sa taas. Pagtingala niya, wala na ang lalaki kanina.

Nakapaglakad pa siya ng ilang metro bago naramdamang nagdurugo pa rin pala ang pisngi at katawan. Lalong-lalo na ang braso. He needs to stop the bleeding or he'll pass out for blood loss later on.

Nilapitan niya ang bangkay ng lalaking nabaril at kinuha ang kutsilyo nito na nakakabit sa combat shoes. Hinila niya ang table cloth sa mesa sa gilid. Nabasag pa ang mga bote at basong nalaglag sa sahig.

His movements was slowing down as he cut the cloth and wrapped it around his arm. He also wrapped his wounded waist. May tama kasi iyon ng kutsilyo. He also pressed some cloth on his cheek still dripping with blood.

Gamit ang isang kamay, kinuha niya ang extrang baril ng lalaki at isinukbit sa tagiliran. Kumuna pa siya ng isang baril bago muling naglakad.

He went out on another hallway. His pace was slowing down as he walked through the corridor. Kapag may nakasasalubong siya ay inuunahan niyang barilin. When he passes a door, he makes sure there were no enemies.

Naririnig niya ang palitan ng putok sa iba't ibang direksyon habang naglalakad siya. He was about to peep at the next door when it suddenly opened. Inunahan niyang barilin ang lalaki.

He got nervous when he heard a lot of footsteps coming from the inside. Pero pinatibay niya ang loob. Kahit masakit ang braso, binunot niya ang isa pang baril kaya dalawa ang ginamit niya para paputukan ang mga nanggagaling sa loob.

He got up when nobody attempted to walk out or shoot again.

Dahan-dahan siyang sumilip pero kasabay non ay ang bigla niyang pag-atras. Nabingi siya sa putok ng baril na nanggaling sa loob.

He was thinking how to attack them but he change his mind instead. He silenced for a moment before he swiftly moved to the other side saka siya muling naglakad at lumiko sa pasilyo. There was a stair on right the side. Tinungo niya iyon.

Pinilit niyang makaakyat sa hagdan sa kabila ng panghihina. Parang nanlalabo na rin ang mga mata niya.

He was halfway up. Paliko na siya papunta sa susunod na floor nang makarinig ng yabag. Hinahabol na siya marahil ng mga lalaki kanina sa kuwartong nilagpasan niya.

Nagtago siya sa palikong parte at nakiramdam. Nang may nagtangkang umakyat, binaril niya agad.

He shook his head when he realized he only had two bullets left. Nanlalabo na rin ang paningin niya at alam niyang ano mang oras ay mawawalan na talaga siya ng malay pero pinatatag niya ang sarili. He can't die. He must not die. For Vanna Lei and their baby.

Nilabanan niya ang pagpikit ng mata. When he felt their presence on the stairs, he gambled to shoot them using the bullets left. His heart raced when he saw that there were four men, pero nagulat siya nang makitang tumumba ang mga ito sa dalawang putok na pinakawalan niya.

The man who helped him was standing two stairs away up. Inakay siya nito paakyat nang makitang nahirapan siyang humakbang pataas.

The man helped him up. The next floor was an empty casino area. Kumuha ang lalaki ng baril sa koreanong nakabulagta at iniabot sa kanya nang maupo siya sa gilid ng casino table.

Cloud wasn't able to talk to him because he rolled to the other side when a bullet targeted them.

Mabilis itong nakipagpalitan ng putok. Siya rin ay gumulong sa kabila at nakipagbarilan nang dumami ang mga lalaki na sumulpot sa kung saan. Hindi na niya namalayan kung saan sumuot ang lalaking tumulong sa kanya. Basta siya ay umabante at nagpalipat-lipat sa ilalim ng mga tables.

Napansin niyang dumami ang tumutulong sa kanyang makipagbarilan dahil paisa-isa lang naman ang natatamaan niya pero pabawas nang pabawas ang mga bumabaril sa kanya at sa ibang direksyon na rin ang puntirya ng iba. Mas lalo siyang nagkaroon ng lakas ng loob at pag-asang makalalabas ng buhay.

It was only a matter of five minutes before all the shooting stopped. Pinakiramdaman niya ang paligid.

Dahan-dahan siyang tumayo nang maramdamang wala nang kalaban. Iniumang niya ang baril nang may tumayo sa bandang dulo pero napangiti siya nang sumenyas ito. He knew it was agent Fire.

A man also emerged unmasking himself. Napakunot-noo siya nang makitang si Von Liam iyon. Did mother Uni Verse contact him to go back to IF?

"Hello, boss Cloud." Napangiti siya nang makilala ang boses ni agent Mars na lumitaw rin mula sa pinagtataguan. She's wearing a Marilyn Monroe disguise almost the same as the wax replica of the actress in a museum.

Liam was talking on the phone when the agents walked towards Cloud. Napahawak siya sa table para hindi matumba.

Nawala ang lahat ng sakit ng katawan niya nang makita ang babaeng papalapit sa direksyon nila matapos ibaba ni Liam ang atawag. Kahit paika-ika ay sinalubong niya ito.

"Klein," Vanna muttered in tears as they hugged each other. Ramdam niya ang init ng yakap nito. Naiipit ang sugat niya pero mas mahalaga sa kanya ang mayakap ito. How he missed her and how he got nervous thinking he'd never go home alive anymore.

He cupped Vanna's face and stared at her. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Pinunas niya iyon gamit ang hintuturo.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. I am alive," he told her. Sunod-sunod naman ang ginawa nitong pagtango. He was glad, she didn't notice the gunshot on his arm.

He was about to kiss her when the man who helped him a while ago emerged from nowhere. Nakatayo ito sa dulong bahagi ng casino area.

Nagtatakang napatingin si Vanna sa direksyon ng mata niya. Tiningnan din nito ang lalaking nakatayo.

The man held his chin. Then, he slowly unmasked himself. Napanganga siya nang makita ang mukha nito.

"Clyde?" Vanna exclaimed. Her voice reverberated. Mabilis itong kumalas sa yakap niya. Before he knew it, she was running towards Clyde.

Kitang-kita niya kung paano yumakap ng mahigpit ang nobya sa binata.

Did Vanna just walked out on him to hug another man?

He didn't know why Vanna's facial expression when she saw Clyde's face on the folder for the first time flashed on his mind. He saw how her eyes admired what she was seeing back then. He shook his head to shrug the image off.

Napatingin siya kina Fire at Cristina. Their expressions were blank. He looked at Liam. The latter shook his head and averted his gaze.

Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Vanna na nakayakap pa rin ng mahigpit kay Clyde.

His heart felt a twinge. He shuddered as his knees weaken. There was nothing else he could feel but pain seeing Vanna Lei hugging the man tightly.