For the first time in years, Vanna wasn't sure if her decision was the wisest thing to do. Cloud becoming so distant and the fast beating of her heart whenever Clyde is around make her feel anxious.

Hindi niya sigurado kung itutuloy niya pa ba o hindi na. Maayos naman na ang lahat. Ngayong araw nakatakdang matapos ang pangangalap nila ng ebidensya at pagkatapos noon ay ire-raid na at aarestuhin ang matanda sa bahay nito sa susunod na araw. May mga nakabantay naman sa vicinity para hindi maitakas ang mga nakita niyang high-powered guns at ammunitions.

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata habang sinasamsam ang mga gamit na nasa table. Katatapos lang ng klase niya. Plano na niyang hindi magpunta sa tutorials ng kambal. Gusto niyang tumulong na lang sa mga kasamahan para makuha na nila ang mga kailangan para matapos na ang misyon.

Ang hindi niya lang inaasahan ay ang biglang pagsulpot ni Clyde sa harapan niya pagmulat ng kanyang mga mata. Bahagya pa siyang nagulat.

"Baby, nagugutom ako, kumain muna tayo sa labas bago pumunta sa bahay," anyaya sa kanya ng binata.

She wasn't able to react for a moment. Napalunok siya at ngumiti ng alanganin. The smile on his face and the expectant look in his eyes made her divert from her original plan.

"S-sige," alanganin niyang tugon. Clyde smiled widely. Sumingkit lalo ang mga mata nito.

"Let's go?" he muttered. Kinuha nito ang folders at bag niya sa mesa. Dahan-dahan siyang humakbang. She doesn't know what to feel.

Nahigit niya ang paghinga nang akbayan siya nito habang palabas ng pintuan. Gusto niyang palisin ang braso nitong nakaakbay pero nang tingalain niya ay nakita niya ang saya sa mukha nito. It looks genuine that she wasn't able to earn the courage to brush his hand off her shoulder.

She doesn't have the heart to break his happiness at the moment.

Napansin niya ang pagsulyap ng ilang estudyante sa lalaking nakaakbay sa kanya habang naglalakad sila sa hallway. She didn't know why in her heart of hearts, she felt a little proud of the man. Kapansin-pansin kasi ang kaguwapuhan nito. Lalo na at parte na rin yata ng mga buhay ng mga Filipino ang mga Koreano.

Clyde isn't boring. Palagi itong may baong banat na madalas ay nakakapagpatawa sa kanya. Kahit sa tutorial session ng kambal ay nakigulo ito. Kaya naman naging masaya hindi lang ang araw niya kundi ang dalawang bata.

Kumain ulit sila sa labas pagkatapos ng tutorial at namasyal sa kung saan. She knew she was happy having him around, but not until she was left alone in her apartment when all the guilt emerged.

Her plan was to get intimate with Clyde just so she could peek if he had the same tattoo as the men who attacked her. Iyon lang kasi ang alam niyang paraan para makumpirma na may kuneksyon ang code ng baril nito sa tattoo.

Sobrang coincidence lang kasi na ang code na nakita niya sa baril nito ay saktong-sakto sa tattoo na kapareho ng flag ng North Korea.

Isa pa, napag-alaman niya na ganoon ang code ng narecover na high powered gun sa Syrian war ilang dekada na ang nakaraan.

Ayon sa kanyang research, nasa Syria noon ang US troops para sa rescue operations pero may mga umatake sa mga ito. The entire US troops were wiped out. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi malaman kung saan at sinu-sino ang mga umatake. They left no trace except a single machine gun tossed somewhere.

Parte ng report ang nagsasabing Syrians lang din ang mga iyon na ayaw sa US troops. But now she felt like there is something more to it. This will shed a light to that mystery if her hypothesis is proven true.

Kaya lang habang naaalala niya ang saya ng binata kanina, nag-iiba ang nararamdaman niya at parang ayaw na niyang ituloy ang binabalak.

*****

Kinabukasan ay sinabihan na siya ng mga kasamahan na kumpleto ang ebidensya at sa susunod na araw na ang gagawing raid at pag-aresto sa matanda. For the first time again in years that she felt sad over a mission ending. Dati naman natutuwa siya kapag patapos na ang misyon pero ngayon parang nagingibabaw pa ang lungkot.

Noong paalis na sila ng bahay matapos ang tutorial ay binalak niyang sabihin ang lahat kay Clyde. However, she was reminded that she must not disclose her disguise to anyone, not even to Clyde.

Bakit nga ba niya sasabihin ang lahat kay Clyde? That's crazy.

Masyado ba siyang nag-aalala na baka masaktan ito 'pag nawala na lang siya na parang bula? She heaved a sigh. That thought made her guilt worst.

Napatingin siya sa binata. He's eagerly saying something about the food they were eating. Palagay niya ay nagkukuwento ito ng nakatatawang nangyari rito pero wala siyang naintindihan sa lahat ng sinabi nito. She was too focused with her own thoughts.

Pumapasok pa kasi ang isiping baka hindi na talaga sila magkita ng binata. It's giving her an awful feeling inside her chest.

Nakitawa siya nang tumawa ito.

He looks so handsome when he laughs that way. She couldn't see any strand of ruthlessness in him. Parang imposible talaga ang naisip niyang may kinalaman ito sa mga lalaking umatake sa kanila ni Cloud o ang sapanta niyang parte ito ng isang grupo na lumalaban pailalim kontra US.

She tried to concentrate on him but as soon as she looked at him, she felt another strain of heaviness inside. Parang nalulungkot din siya sa isipin na hindi niya ito makikita pang muli.

She inhaled deeply and stared at him. He really looks happy with her. Kaya naman napagpasyahan niya na kahit ngayong gabi lang, magiging si Lacy siya, ang totoong girlfriend ni Clyde.

She listened to his anecdotes and surprisingly she felt lighter second after second. Hanggang sa nakikitawa na rin siya at nagkukuwento. But she was careful in choosing what story to tell.

They enjoyed the food until the last bite of their dessert.

"Have you ever been inside a bar?" tanong nito nang nasa daan na sila. She was at the passenger's seat.

"Oo pero matagal na," tipid niyang tugon. She tried to brush off the memory of the last time she went inside a bar few days ago with Cristina.

"Ako rin, gusto mong mag-unwind saglit sa loob ng bar?" tanong nito. She only nodded. She thinks she needs some drink, too.

Clyde chose a table at the corner. Semi-circle na pandalawahan ang upuan at nakaharap sa dancefloor. The bar isn't too crowded at mukhang disente naman ang mga tao sa loob. Hindi kasi maharot ang galaw ng mga ito. Some are drinking on their tables laughing and chatting, a few were dancing. May DJ na nagpapatugtog sa may platform pero hindi masyadong malakas. People could still talk amidst the music.

Clyde pulled her closer when they sat. He was smiling when she looked up. Hindi na lamang siya nagreklamo. Ngayong gabi lang naman siya magpapaka-girlfriend.

Umorder ito ng isang bottle ng alak. She knew it was a mild but expensive liquor. Aside from guns, she could also name different wines and liquors including their price range.

She wanted to drink everything from her glass all at once but she controlled herself. She had to act a little refined.

Refined? She smirked at the back of her mind. How does letting a man pull her to an embrace became refined in any sense?

Ipinikit niya ang mga mata. Inisip niyang bayad na lang ito para sa lahat ng kabutihan ng lalaki sa kanya. Pero kailan pa naging pambayad ang yakap? Ano siya pokpok? That thought made her insides laughed.

She tried to shrug everything that's making her overthink and focused on Clyde.

For the next hours, they were already laughing and exchanging stories and ideas. Clyde is surprisingly well-rounded, lahat yata ng topic may nasasabi ito.

He'd laugh and squeeze her closer once in a while as they spoke. Hindi naman siya nababastusan. It actually felt warm and comfortable.

When they finished another bottle saka ito tumayo at pinipilit siyang yayain sa dancefloor. She remained seated and only laughed. Ito naman ay nakatayo at handa nang maglakad papunta sa mga taong nagsasayawan.

She was laughing while motioning him to go alone when five men approached him. Her forehead creased. The men are good looking, three of them look Korean and the other two look Western.

Natigilan pa ang binata pero sa huli ay binati niya rin ang mga ito. Though Clyde seemed to know the guys, she felt uneasy. Lalo na nang tumingin ang isa sa mga ito sa kanya tapos nagsunod-sunod nang bumaling ang apat.

"Your girlfriend?" one of the men asked. He looked teasing but it didn't sound that way to her. Their eyes raked her.

She doesn't like when men stare at her like that. Baka hindi niya matantiya ang mga ito kahit kaibigan pa ni Clyde. Napatuwid siya ng upo.

She was thinking how to stop the men from staring at her and let Clyde knew she wasn't comfortable when Clyde cleared his throat.

"S-she's not my girlfriend. Tutor siya ng mga pamangkin ko. I happen to see her here," saad nito. It was loud enough to hear. Pakiramdam niya ay nagpanting pa ang tainga niya. Kasabay no'n ang paglapit isang babaeng naka-red cocktail dress.

She didn't take a second look for her to realize it was Emma, Clyde's ex girlfriend, the brown-eyed girl. Agad itong lumapit sa binata at bumeso. Bumati rin ito sa mga lalaki na hatalang matagal na nitong kilala.

In a split second, they were already talking about how long ago they last met. Boyfriend pa raw nito si Clyde noon. Ang binata naman ay nakipagkuwentuhan na parang wala siya roon.

She didn't know why she felt a sting inside. Hindi siya dapat maapektuhan nagpapanggap lang din naman siya pero bakit ganoon ang nararamdaman niya? When Clyde smiled as he talked to Emma, she took that as a cue to exit. Magpakasaya na lang ang binata sa ex nito.

May pasabi-sabi pa itong naka-move on na. Isang beso lang babae, nakalimutan na siya. She could only imagine how it would hurt more kung totoo ngang si Lacy siya at girlfriend siya ng binata.

She inhaled deeply. She's not supposed to feel bad. Nagpapanggap lang naman siya pero kahit ganoon masakit pa lang maitanggi ng harap-harapan.

Well, she's Lacy and she's Clyde's girlfriend. May karapatan naman siguro siyang masaktan sa nangyari.

Sana nag-dress rin siya para makita nito ang difference nilang dalawa ng babaeng 'yon.

She shook her head.

The girl looks immaculate at her fitted dress and red stilletos. Just like the last time she saw her. Yes, she knew Emma, but the latter didn't recognize her because she was on a disguise then.

She was already inside a taxi when her phone started ringing. When she saw that it was Clyde, she turned it off.

Hindi rin siya dumiretso sa apartment. She went home instead.

It was past twelve. Akala niya ay nasa kani-kaniyang kuwarto na ang dalawang kapatid at mga magulang nang pumasok siya pero nasa living room pa pala ang mga magulang niya.

Sina Leandrei lang at Vance ang umuuwi sa bahay nila. Liam is out of the country while Vander already has a house with his wife.

"I was actually about to call you," her dad's voice resonated in the living room.

"Bakit dad may problema ba?" tanong niya sa ama. Hinalikan niya ang mga magulang sa pisngi bago naupo sa kaharap na couch.

"Nothing. I just need an heir to introduce to some business partners and stockholders tomorrow night," saad nito.

"Vance and Leandrei are still too young, Liam is out of sight just like you, so you are taking his place," pahayag ng ama niya.

"Dad, I can't," tanggi niya niya. Bukas ng gabi kasi ang nakatakdang pag-raid ng pulisya sa mga Lee. She wants to stay at the vicinity to make sure no one escapes.

Her dad's expression turned grim.

"Sumama ka na. I will be there, too," segunda naman ng ina niya.

"Mom, may importante akong pupuntahan," baling niya sa ina.

"More important than our family business?" bahagyang tumaas ang boses ng ama niya.

"Vaughn," saway ng mommy niya sa ama. Her dad seldom raises his voice on them. Kaya naman nanahimik na lamang siya. She hates corporate parties. It's where she sees a lot of fake people. Malakas pa naman ang instinct niya kaya nakikilala niya lahat ng plastic ang pakikitungo.

"I've been so supportive of your dreams, Vanna," saad ng ama matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan.

"Pero sana kahit minsan isipin mo ring maging Filan para maramdaman kong anak pa kita," her dad stated.

She pursed her lips. She almost wanted to laugh at how dramatic her dad is, but as she looked at him she realized maybe he's just aging. That's why he acts that way.

"Ang drama ni daddy," natatawa siyang lumipat sa gitna ng mga magulang at yumakap sa ama.

Somehow, she missed being her dad's princess.

"Inuuto mo naman ako para bumigay ako sa pagtanggi mo," saad ng ama niya. He draped his arms around her shoulder. She grinned at him.

Natawa naman ang mommy niya sa kanilang mag-ama. "Seryoso, Vanna. Pagbigyan mo na ang daddy mo," suhestiyon nito.

Vanna looked at her dad. She could see that he was waiting for her answer.

"Sige na nga," natatawa niyang saad bago yumakap din sa ina. Her parents laughed. And just like that, she felt a lot better again.