It was one of the boring parties Vanna Lei hated all her life. She almost wanted to pout or raised an eyebrow to anyone approaching them and exchanging greetings. Pero lagi-lagi siyang pinipisil sa braso ng ina kaya napipilitan siya.

Her dad proudly introduced her to everyone who approached their table. And how her blood boils whenever some of the old businessmen explicitly tell their sons to court her. Mas lalo siyang naiinis kapag hayagan naman ang pagkagusto ng mga lalaki.

"Pahalikin ko kaya ang mga 'to ng bala?" bulong niya habang may pekeng ngiti sa mga kausap ng ama niya. How she wanted to end the night right away.

"Ikaw talaga," natatawa namang bulong ng ina niya na narinig pala ang sinabi niya. She lightly pinched her arm.

There are round tables around the social hall but people kept walking around to greet each other. Sila naman ay nakatayo lang sa tabi ng naka-designate na table nila. Ang ibang businessmen ang lumalapit sa kanila. There are buffet tables on the sides but there are waiters serving. May bandang tumutugtog ng malamyos na musika sa pabilog na platform sa gitna.

Annual gathering pala ito ng mga businessmen at bibigyan ng award ang mga outstanding businessmen sa bansa. Her dad is one of the awardees again for the nth time. Kailangan nitong mag-speech mamaya at ipakilala ang maaaring sumunod sa yapak nito. He said she doesn't need to speak. Tatayo lang daw siya kapag tinawag ng ama ang pangalan niya, ngingiti at magwi-wave sa mga nasa paligid. Maliit na bagay pero naiinis pa rin siya, parang ang bigat sa dibdib niyang gawin iyon. If not for her dad's drama, she won't agree with it.

She went to her seat and listened intently when agent Mars spoke on her earpiece. Nakakabit sa hikaw niya ang speaker device kaya hindi halata.

Hindi pa daw umuuwi ang matanda kaya't hindi pa sila nag-uumpisa sa operasyong gagawin. Hindi siya nagsalita pero inilabas niya ang phone mula sa hawak na purse at nagmessage sa kaibigan.

It only took a few seconds before she heard Cristina's laughter on the line. She almost rolled her eyes.

"Na-miss mo na agad si boyfie, bes. Isang araw lang kayong hindi nagkita." Napasimangot siya nang marinig ang panunudyo ng kasamahan.

"Iba talaga ang epekto ng singkit sa 'yo," tatawa-tawa nitong dagdag. Her laughter filled her ears.

Sa inis niya ay nagpaalam siya sa ina na pupunta lang saglit sa restroom para mapagsabihan ang kasamahan na hindi pa rin natitigil sa pangangantiyaw. She's even mentioning Cloud.

Nang makitang walang tao sa hallway na nilikuan ay saka niya pinagsabihan ang kaibigan.

"Concentrate on the operation. Huwag kung anu-ano ang sinasabi mo," inis niyang sambit.

"Sus, ang sensitive mo naman, bes. Dahil ba namimiss mo si baby singkit?" tatawa-tawa pa rin nitong saad. She momentarily closed her eyes.

"Shut up, okay. Basta kapag nakauwi 'yong matanda saka kayo pumasok para hulihin," bilin niya rito.

Tawa lang naman ang isinagot nito sa kanya. Ni hindi man lang sinagot ang tanong niya kanina kung lumabas ba si Clyde o nasa bahay lang maghapon.

"Oh, she's here," she heard her dad muttered as she walked near their table. Busy siya sa pagdutdot ng cellphone kaya hindi niya napansin ang mga kausap ng ama.

"Meet my daughter, Vanna Lei Filan," pahayag ng ama. Nakatalikod mula sa direksyon niya ang dalawang lalaking naka-tuxedo kaya't hindi niya kita ang mga mukha ng mga ito. But looking at the built of the taller man made her feel uneasy.

Sana mali ako. She fervently prayed. However, when the two men slowly faced her, she was dumbfounded. Napalunok siya bago nagkalakas loob na ngumiti ng tipid.

"This is Mr. Sydrick Lee, they own the biggest gold mining in Asia," pakilala ng ama niya sa matandang lalaki. The old man smiled.

"This is my grandson, Dexter Clyde Lee," saad naman ng matanda. Tinapik nito ang balikat ng lalaking katabi.

Clyde only stared at her but didn't say a word.

"You look familiar, have we met before?" the old man asked when he reached out for a handshake. Mabilis niya ring binawi ang kamay at ngumiti ng tipid. Of course he would see her resemblance with Lacy, the tutor. Now, she regrets not using any disguise.

"Maybe you just bumped into her somewhere," agad na lumapit ang ama sa kanya at bahagya pa siyang itinago sa likod nito. Her dad may have sensed something from the old man's stare.

"Let's talk about some details of your business proposal," wika ng ama niya sa matanda at niyakag itong umupo na sa kabilang table. Nagpaunlak naman ang matanda.

When she glanced at Clyde, he was still staring intently at her. Napansin din yata ng ina kaya tumayo ito mula sa kinauupuan at nilapitan siya.

"Let's take our seat," nakangiting saad ng ina. Nginitian niya rin ito ng tipid. She was about to move a step when Clyde cleared his throat.

"You haven't shook my hand yet, Vanna Lei Filan," he said straight in her eyes. He extended his hand for a handshake. Natigilan siya at napatingin sa kamay nito. Unable to know how to react, she reach for his hand.

"Pleased to meet you," saad nito habang hinihigpitan ang hawak sa kamay niya. He wasn't smiling. It gave her goosebumps. Iba ang intensidad ng titig nito.

She bit the inside of her lip when she remembered what he said earlier about breaking up with Emma because of lying about her identity.

She did the same and she can't figure out how he feels about it. Siguradong nakilala siya nito sa unang tingin pa lang.

"I think the program is about to start." Nagulat pa siya sa biglang pagsasalita ng daddy niya. Nasa tabi na pala niya ito. Tiningnan nito ang kamay niyang hawak ni Clyde.

"May I take my daughter to her seat now?" her dad asked politely. She pretty expected that from her dad and she's thankful that he's sensitive enough to notice it. Unti-unting binitawan ng binata ang kamay niya.

"Of course," Clyde smiled genuinely at her father. Hinawakan naman siya ng ama sa siko saka pinaupo sa puwesto. She regretted glancing at Clyde before she step towards her seat. Nakita niya kasi ang pait sa mga mata nito. She felt a twinge of pain inside her chest.

"What's with the Lee?" pasimpleng tanong ng ama niya habang paupo sila. She inhaled deeply.

"Wala dad," tugon niya. She's not allowed to disclose any detail about her missions even to her family. That's a protocol. Her parents didn't ask anything after that.

Pinipigilan niya ang sarili na lumingon sa kabilang table. She's afraid to see Clyde's facial expression again. She doesn't know why every good thing he'd done kept creeping on her mind.

Mas lalong bumibigat ang pakiramdam niya kapag naaalala kung paano nito unti-unting binubuksan ang sarili sa kanya samantalang siya ay walang ni isang katotohanang sinabi tungkol sa pagkatao niya.

She felt like she needed to apologize. Pero ano namang sasabihin niya? She's not supposed to tell him that she's doing it for work. Hahabi na naman ba siya ng kasinungalingan? That would be too much.

She momentarily closed her eyes. Pinilit niyang isinisiksik sa isip na ginawa lang niya iyon para sa trabaho kaya lang umuukilkil din sa utak niya na hindi naman niya kinailangang ilapit ang sarili sa binata. She didn't need to be his girlfriend to do her job.

Nagpakatotoo ito sa kanya samantalang siya ay kasinungalingan lahat ng ipinakita.

Her guilt consumed her in the next hour and she wasn't able to comprehend with the program. Namalayan na lamang niyang pumapalakpak ang mga tao habang paakyat ang ama niya sa platform.

She was not able to understand her father's speech as well. Nang ipakilala siya nito sa lahat ay hindi pa agad siya naka-react. She only stood up when her mother nudged her.

She stood and waved at everyone. Huminga pa siya ng malalim bago pasimpleng sumulyap sa table ni Clyde. She was afraid yet but she was curious. Her heart ached when Clyde wasn't there. Ang lolo lang nito ang nandoon.

She tried to convince herself that maybe just maybe he just went to the restroom.

She sat with a heavy feeling. Pasulyap-sulyap siya sa kabilang table pero ilang minuto na ang lumipas ay hindi pa bumabalik ang binata.

Nang hindi matahimik ang kalooban niya ay nagpaalam siya sa mga magulang na pupunta ng washroom.

Her steps are heavy as she made her way to the exit. Kaunti na lang ang naririnig niya mula sa social nang lumiko siya sa pasilyo. Wala na ring katao-tao sa hallway. The sound of her footsteps echoed. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglalakad baka sakaling nagpahangin ang binata sa labas pero bago pa man niya marating ang exit door may humawak na sa balikat niya mula sa kanyang likuran. She didn't notice that somebody was walking behind her.

Her heart raced when Clyde's familiar scent filled her nostrils. She wasn't able to move when he held both her wrists above her head and pinned her against the wall.

She saw his jaw tensing. He gritted his teeth as he stared at her eyes.

"Vanna.Lei.Filan," he said gritting his teeth. Mas lalong nagregodon ang tibok ng puso niya. Amidst the anger in his eyes was pain and she could feel it in her bones. Higit sa galit ay ramdam niya ang sakit sa kalooban nito habang binabanggit ang totoo niyang pangalan. Mahigpit ang hawak nito sa pulsuhan niya.

"I'm s-sorry," she apologized. She felt the need to. Kahit pa sabihing may mali rin ito dahil hindi siya ipinakilala sa mga kaibigan nito, mas malala pa rin ang ginawa niyang kasalanan rito.

Clyde smirked with a bitter smile. Tumingin ito sa ibang direksyon. Pakiramdam niya ay nanubig ang mga mata nito.

It was a matter of a second before she felt his lips crashing hers. Napapikit siya. Mapagparusa ang iginawad nitong halik sa kanya.

She could always push him for kissing her without permission. Kayang-kaya niya itong bugbugin at tadyakan pero hindi siya nakagalaw.

Mariin niyang itinikom ang labi nang maramdamang pilit nitong iginagalugad ang dila. At that instant, Clyde stopped. Marahas nitong binitawan ang kamay niya at ngumiti ng mapait. Tumitig ito sa kanya ng matiim

"Everything you told me about yourself..." He was breathing heavily as he stared at her.

"..and everything you showed were all lies!" mariin nitong saad. Pain and bitterness were evident in his voice. Mas lalo siyang hindi nakagalaw. His stares were like daggers cutting her straight in the heart.

Bakit ba siya nasasaktan sa nakikitang reaksyon nito?

He stepped back before making his way to the exit door leaving her utterly shocked.

Her heart swelled realizing what he said.

Maaaring lahat ng sinabi niya ay kasinungalingan subalit alam niya sa sarili na kung ano man ang sayang naramdaman niya rito ay hindi niya iyon pineke kailanman. There was a fraction of happiness his presence brought to her for that short period of time they've been together. It may or may not be love but it was real. Her heart ached some more at the realization.

She went back inside when she was able to gather herself. Hindi nagtanong ang mga magulang niya nang bumalik siya. Her mother only gave her an assuring smile. What was that for? She wasn't sure.