Ipinatong ni Vanna ang box at tatlong stem ng malalaking pink na bulaklak sa center table bago naupo sa mahabang couch. Nakita niya ang mga iyon sa tapat ng pinto niya gaya ng sinabi ni Clyde sa kanya nang tumawag kanina.

She took off her shoes and leaned as she stared at the flowers. Hindi siya pamilyar sa mga bulaklak. Bukod sa roses at puting lilies, hindi na niya kilala ang karamihan sa mga ito.

She could name all types of guns and deadly weapons but not flowers. Wala siyang hilig sa mga ganoong bagay. Anything girly does not interest her. Kung hindi nga lang dahil sa pagdi-disguise niya, ayaw niyang matutunan ang pagmi-make up pero parte kasi iyon ng training nila. Kahit ang mga lalaking agents ay tinuturuan no'n nang sa gayon hindi na kailangan ng mga itong magpunta sa salon kapag kailangang magpanggap na babae sa mga undercover missions.

She inhaled deeply as she got up. Itinapon niya ang mga bulaklak sa vase na malapit ng matuyot at saka inilagay ang mga nasa lamesa. She find them so beautiful.

Her forehead creased when she realized how they look like. Nabitin pa sa ere ang ngiti niya. Agad niyang inilabas ang phone at tinipa ang star at flowers sa search engine.

She swallowed when the exact image of the flowers appeared.

"Star gazer?" she muttered. Her eyebrows furrowed. Napatingin siya sa box na kasama ng mga bulaklak.

Agad niyang tinanggal ang ribbon ng box. May pinisil siya sa ilalim ng suot na singsing bago itinapat sa box. Her silver ring would beep if there's a bomb or anything metallic inside the box.

Nang hindi tumunog ang metal detector ng singsing niya ay saka niya inangat ang takip ng box. Lumakas ang kabog sa dibdib niya nang makita ang laman.

It's a chocolate cake sprinkled with gold stars in different sizes.

She swallowed hard thinking that Clyde might already knew who she is and what she does.

Of all things, bakit mga bituin pa ang design? Does he know her codename?

Napapikit siya ng mariin. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang unang iisipin. She remembered what happened in the restaurant, the unarmed men who attacked, the man who helped him out. Sumabay pang pumasok sa isip niya ang pagkausap sa kanya ni Clyde pagkagaling nila sa restaurant kanina.

She bit her lower lip. Pinanghihinaan siyang napaupo sa couch.

She was contemplating on what to do when her eyes was caught by the small envelope. Nakadikit iyon sa gilid ng box.

She immediately detached it and opened. It was hand written. Hindi niya alam kung bakit unti-unting napalis ang kaba niya pagkabasa pa lang sa salutation.

My Lacy,

That's how he addressed her. Iyon pa lang nawala na yata ang agam-agam niya sa sitwasyon.

I only had few memories of my parents. Well, I already told you what happened to them, it's a history I would hate remembering for all eternity.

Those lines already had her. She's not sure why but she felt his emotion and sincerity. Marahil ay dahil na rin sulat-kamay ito at hindi printed note.

However, I only had a few memories which I love remembering about them. My parents were so busy that we only meet them at night.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago binasa ang mga sumunod na pangungusap.

When it's new moon and the weather is fine, they'd always take us out at our lawn. Imagine, gabi kami nagpipicnic?

Our bonding was always star gazing. We spent few hours staring at the skies naming all the visible constellations.

Napangiti siya sa nabasa. She even imagined the scene. May nakalatag na mat, may picnic basket kaya nga lang ay madilim ang paligid.

She inhaled deeply as she read through.

I am telling you this because of two things.

First, I saw that tomorrow night will be a good time for star gazing and I want to rekindle my family's happy memories. Will you be kind enough to accompany me? Para naman hindi ako magmukhang tanga.

I'd want to take the kids with us, too.

AND I'd love to tell the second reason tomorrow night if you'd heed my invitation.

Star Gazer,

Clyde

She folded the paper. Akala niya alam na nito ang tungkol sa trabaho niya. Gusto lang pala nitong yayain siyang mag-star gazing.

Her stare went back to the flowers. Napangiti siya. They are really shaped like stars and she thinks they suit her well.

She smiled as she realized Clyde's closing note. Star Gazer. She thinks it suits Clyde, too.

She remained static for a brief moment.

Napailing siya nang marealize kung ano ang implikasyon ng iniisip niya. This is work. She's not supposed to be distracted by anything.

*****

Vanna Lei inhaled deeply as she glanced at the three happily watching the stars. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nga ba siya sumama sa mga ito. Puwede naman siyang tumanggi pero na-curious siya kung ano nga ba ang magiging itsura ni Clyde habang nakatingin sa mga tala sa langit.

Tala. She shook her head as she remembered Cloud addressing her by that name. He'll probably be mad once he finds out that she went out on a date like this instead of investigating.

Date? Is this even a date?

Mas lalo siyang napailing sa naisip.

This isn't a date for Pete's sake.

Ano ba 'tong mga naiisip niya?

She focused her attention to the constellation that Clyde is pointing on the skies. Alam na niya iyon, kabisadong-kabisado niya. Alam na alam nga niya kung anong month nakikita sa Pilipinas ang iba't-ibang constellations.

Aside from her work, she's also fascinated with science. In fact, she already finished her M.D. and now she's specializing in pediatrics through distance learning. Wala kasi siyang oras na mag-regular schooling kaya modular ang kinuha niya.

Speaking of that, she's supposed to finish her clinical study but here she is lying on a mat staring at the stars above the horizon while listening to the chuckles of young twins and their uncle whom they call daddy.

She closed her eyes.

What is happening to her?

She mentally scolded herself as she projected a timeline of activities on her mind. Kailangan na niyang mapasok ang kuwartong iyon sa bahay ng mga Lee bukas. Then, she'll gather evidences against the old man so they could held him liable if he really is the culprit.

She automatically opened her eyes when somebody touched her nose.

Her heart beats faster than the usual when she saw Clyde smiling. Nakaupo na pala ito at nakatunghay sa mukha niya.

Then she heard the kids' giggles. Nakaupo na rin pala ang dalawang bata.

"Bagay po kayo ni daddy," Cherine giggled. She saw how Clyde smiled. His eyes didn't leave her. She sat down to shake her sudden feeling of awkwardness.

"If you are a star gazer, daddy. Then, Cher Lacy is a star. Kanina pa po kayo nakatingin, eh." Devine said teasing Clyde. Napatawa naman si Clyde. His laugh sounded genuine.

Bakit bigla na naman yatang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya?

"Puwede," nakangiting tugon ng binata. He nodded with a wide smile. Naiiling na lang niyang iginala ang paningin sa paligid bago pa siya makaramdam ng kung ano. They are in an open grassy football field. Napapalibutan ang filed ng bleachers. May mga ilang body guards na palakad-lakad sa paligid.

"Star, bituin, tala, which name would you like to be called?" Clyde asked. Ibinalik niya ang tingin rito. He was grinning ear to ear. Dapat naiinis na siya sa inaakto nito pero wala siyang makapag inis. Dapat pa nga yata magduda siya dahil sobrang coincidental na tinatawag siya nitong star pero hindi doon nakafocus ang damdamin niya.

"Lacy," she muttered. Clyde chuckled softly at her answer.

"That's not even on the choices, baby," he teased. She almost rolled her eyes hearing the endearment again.

"Baby na naman," wala sa loob niyang sambit.

"Bakit po yung baby?" singit ni Cherine.

"Daddy, tawagin nyo na lang po si 'Cher Lacy ng mommy kung ayaw niya ng baby," Devine chuckled. Nagtawanan ang mga ito na parang matandang nagkaintindihan samantalang siya ay nagsalubong ang kilay.

"That sounds better than star," sambit naman ni Clyde at nakipag-high five pa ito sa bata. Nanahimik na lamang siya.

He returned his stare at her.

"Choose Lacy, I'll call you mommy or star?" he asked chuckling.

"Crazy," she muttered as she got up. Wala siyang panahon sa mga kalokohan nito. She's not even supposed to be at the place.

Naglakad na lamang siya paalis sa kinauupuan nila hanggang sa marinig niya ang tawanan ng tatlo na nakasunod sa kanya.

"Hey baby star, pikunin ka pala," Natatawa itong umakbay sa kanya. Cherine held her hand. Si Devine naman ay nakahawak sa kamay nito. Sumabay ang mga ito sa paglalakad niya kaya't napatigil siya.

"Get your hands off," she told him but instead of pulling away, ngumiti lang ito at pinisil pa ang balikat niya saka kumindat ng nakakaloko. She felt uneasy.

"I'm good at martial arts, Clyde. Tanggalin mo 'yang kamay mo o ako ang magtatanggal? Hindi mo magugustuhan ang huli," banta niya rito. Sinalubong niya ang mga titig nito.

"I know right," he smirked. Umangat ang sulok ng labi nito habang tikom ang bibig. She didn't know why his lips look yummy.

Sh!t. She mentally scolded herself for thinking that way. Kailan pa siya natuto ng mga ganoong terminology?

"Ang alin? Na magaling ako sa martial arts?" sambit na lamang niya bago pa dumako kung saan ang utak niya.

Clyde smiled.

"Na hindi ko magugustuhan kapag tinanggal mo 'tong kamay ko," natatawa nitong saad pero mas lalo siya nitong kinabig palapit. She almost had goosebumps when he kissed her hair.

Mariin siyang napapikit. Hindi na siya makatanggi pa nang hilahin siya ng mga ito at igiya palabas ng field.

"Daddy mag-ice cream pa po tayo nila mommy," Cherine requested gleefully as she looked up at them.

Mommy? Napatingin pa siya kay Clyde na ngumiti lang ng nakakaloko.

"It's late. Hindi na puwedeng mag-ice cream sa gabi," kontra niya nang makitang tatango ang binata.

Napasimangot naman ang bata. Feeling close na talaga ang mga ito sa kanya.

Feeling close? Where did that language come from?

"Makinig kay mommy," Clyde seconded. He was laughing when she looked at him. Nanunudyo pa ang mga tingin nito.

The next thing she knew, they are already inside a café each enjoying a bowl of ice cream with their desired flavor.

Clyde winked at her when she unconsconsciously glanced at him. Naiiling na lamang niyang itinuloy ang kinakain na banana-strawberry ice cream chocolate.

Ramdam niya ang mga titig ng binata at naaasiwa siya kaya sa mga bata na lang niya itinuon ang pansin. They've been calling her mommy since they went out of the football field. Kahit sawayin niya ay tinatawag pa rin siya ng mga ito kaya pinabayaan na lamang niya. Besides, they are not the only kids who call her mommy.

"Mommy you wanna taste this?" offer sa kanya ni Cherine sa bowl ng ice cream nito. Natatawa na lamang siyang umiling.

"So, mommy ka na nila?" Nanunudyong bulong ni Clyde sa kanya nang hindi siya nito maringgan ng pagprotesta sa sinabi ng bata.

Magkatapat na pandalawahang upuan ang inokupa nila at nasa harap nila ang dalawang bata.

"Tumigil ka nga," sambit niya saka niya ito siniko ng mahina. Eksaherado naman itong umaray bago natawa ng mahina. Pinagtawanan pa ito ng dalawang bata. Nailing na lamang siya at 'di na pinansin ang drama nito.

She momentarily held breath. She doesn't know why instead of feeling angry, she feels comfortable with his teases.

She averted her gaze and concentrated on eating her ice cream. She felt like her heart is having unauthorized movements. Puwede ba niyang idemanda ang sariling puso?

Wtf is that? Crazy Vanna.

She was almost done with her ice cream when her eyes landed on a long-haired man seated next to their table. Naka-bun pa ang buhok nito.

Ilang segundo niya itong tiningnan nang lumingon ito sa kinaroroonan niya. His face is unfamiliar but his body built looks utterly familiar.

Sumikdo ang puso niya nang tumitig ito ng matalim sa kanya. For a fraction of second, their eyes met before the man stood up and headed towards the door. Kahit naka-disguise ito, kilalang-kilala niya ang mga mata nito.

Agad niyang inilabas ang cellphone nang maramdamang nag-vibrate ito.

A message appeared

From: KRDFW

Stop flirting. Move away from that man, VLFW.

Napalunok siya at pasimpleng umusog sa pagkakaupo.