The silence was deafening during the car ride. Wala ni isa sa kanila ang nangahas magsalita.

Vanna isn't use to Cloud's silence but she didn't want to question him. Gusto sana niyang itanong kung saan ito nagpunta o kung galit pa ba sa kanya pero nakaramdam siya ng hiya. Nahiya pa talaga siya?

Ni hindi nga tumingin ang binata nang itigil nito ang sasakyan sa tapat ng gate sa bahay nila. Maliwanag na ang kapaligiran dahil mag-uumaga na rin.

"Ipinakuha ko na 'yong mga gamit mo sa apartment," saad nito nang hindi siya agad bumaba ng sasakyan. Nakatingin pa rin ito sa kalsada.

She inhaled deeply. That's not what she wanted to hear but at least he finally broke his silence.

"Do you want to get inside for a cup of coffee? I'll instruct the guards to open the gate," diretso niyang pahayag bago pa mawalan ng lakas ng loob.

Sumulyap ito sa direksyon niya pero agad ding binawi ang tingin. She saw him shaking his head with a bitter smile.

"Since when was I allowed to enter your house for a cup of coffee?" he asked with a tinge of sarcasm.

She felt like her face flushed. They've been so close since time immemorial but she never asked him for a friendly drink inside their house. Saka lang ito nakapapasok kapag may okasyon at sa bahay nila ang venue.

She suddenly felt guilty about it.

"Ayaw mo ba?" balik-tanong niya rito. For the first time in years, she felt uneasy talking to Klein Rich.

Umiling ang binata.

"Magpahinga ka na. Report at the agency, ten hundred hours tomorrow," Klein said blandly.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

"Okay," she nodded before slowly moving out of the car. Mabibigat ang paa niyang bumaba ng sasakyan.

Hahakbang na sana siya papunta sa gate nang magbago ang isip. She turned around and knock at the window car.

She waited until it slowly opened.

Cloud's questioning eyes met her gaze. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nangapa siya ng sasabihin.

"What?" Cloud asked. He wasn't smiling.

"Ahm," she lost for words. Cloud impatiently waited for her to speak. Her heart beats a little faster than the usual. Bakit ba siya biglang kinabahan?

"I-iyong sinabi mo dati, pag-iisipan ko," sambit niya. Cloud's forehead creased.

"Which one?" he asked. His tone was still cold.

"That one year," she said as she swallowed hard. She's actually been thinking about it. Naantala lang dahil sa kasong hinawakan niya.

Huminga siya ng malalim.

Cloud looked in front of him as if thinking hard. He later inhaled deeply and glanced at her.

"Forget it," he said before turning the car's engine on.

Naiwan siyang nakatunganga sa tabi ng kalsada.

*******

She was preoccupied the whole day. Dapat natutulog siya dahil wala pa siyang tulog magdamag pero hindi siya dalawin ng antok.

She isn't used to Klein's silent treatment. Kahit gaano pa ito kagalit sa kanya, hindi nito hinahayaan na magkahiwalay sila nang may dinaramdam sa isa't-isa.

Parang ngayon lang nag-sink in sa kanya ang lahat ng ginawa niya bago ito hindi nagpakita ng ilang araw.

She thought he'd be happy to hear that she was considering that one year time frame he was asking.

She tried calling him up but he wasn't answering. He didn't even call back like how he used to whenever he misses a call from her.

She called agent Mars after. Pinagpahinga rin daw ito ng 24 oras at pinagre-report lang kinabukasan.

******

She arrived at the agency as Cloud commanded. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit siya kinakabahan. Cloud's cold treatment suddenly scared her.

"Agent Star, please proceed to the conference area," the voice prompt played as soon as she passed the security scanner.

Huminga siya ng malalim bago nagtungo roon.

Nakaupo na si Cloud sa kabisera ng conference table nang pumasok siya roon. She tried to shrug off her uneasiness and acted cool. There were six other agents seated facing each other. She knew some of them. Sina Wind at Mars ang magkatabi paharap sa direksyon niya, ang apat na iba pang lalaki ay nakaupo naman patalikod mula sa direksyon niya.

"Star is here," Cloud announced glancing at her. Lumingon sa kanya ang tatlong lalaki. She recognized agent Sky, the two others are not familiar, 'yong isa ay ni hindi lumingon sa direksyon niya. Looking at his back, she pretty knew who he is. She could feel it in her veins.

"Have a seat," turo ni Cloud sa upuang katabi ni Cristina. Umikot siya sa kabila at umupo na lamang.

Huminga siya ng malalim. Her eyes landed on the man seated in front of her. Umakyat ang inis sa dibdib niya pagkakita rito ng harapan.

She tried to calm down. Ewan niya kung bakit nagiging emosyonal na siya. She's been vulnerable the past days and at some point unprofessional for mixing personal issues with work.

She's inside the agency. Everything should be about work, work, and only work. She must set aside personal feelings and emotions.

"Star, meet agent Moon and agent Fire," sambit ni Cloud. She only nodded at the two men. Tahimik ang buong conference area. Ngumiti lang din ang dalawang agents sa kanya.

"...and of course, agent Rain," Cloud added. She smirked and didn't even glanced at the man. Kahit hindi nito ipakilala ang lalaki, kilala na niya. Sumulyap siya kay Cristina na nasa tabi lang niya.

Nakita niya ang pagtataka sa mukha nito pero hindi niya pinansin.

"I called for you because of an important mission," Cloud started. Natuon ang pansin nila sa binata.

"There is a report that a chain of syndicated group who has been operating around the world is using the country as a passage between Eastern and Western countries," pahayag ni Cloud. They only listened. A hologram of globe appeared just above the table highlighting countries around the Philippines.

"We all know that our country's location is the best gateway to the pacific from Asia and vice versa. Matagal na pala itong ginagawang tulay ng mga sindikato."

Napatango siya. She tried to concentrate on what Cloud is discussing.

"The full reports will be sent to agent Rain so he could do the tactical plans. He will be the head of the team and will work hand in hand with agent Moon, Sky, Wind and Fire," Cloud stated. She looked at Cloud at the same time he stared at her. She almost held her breath. His stare is still as cold as yesterday.

"For Star and Mars, you will be the on-call agents when they need rescue. If they don't need additional team, you will be given auxiliary missions."

Halos mapanganga siya sa sinabi nito.

"What?" kunot-noo niyang tanong. As far as she knew, she's more experienced than agent Rain. Why would Cloud make her a spare tire in the mission? Ito ba ang parusa nito sa ginawa niyang pagsuway dito noong nakaraan?

"Yes, any question?" balik-tanong ni Cloud sa kanya. His cold stare gave her chills but she didn't falter.

"Why don't you assign me and agent Mars on this and we'll call them for rescue when we need one?" buong-tapang niyang suhestiyon.

"Are you questioning my decision?" salubong ang kilay na tanong ni Cloud. Cristina kicked her on the foot but it didn't stop her from commenting further.

"No, but I was just thinking if this is a chain of syndicated group operating around the world, someone more experienced must be designated, not a newbie," tugon niya. She glanced at agent Rain before turning his gaze to Cloud. Ramdam niya ang mga tinging ipinukol ng mga taong kaharap sa kanilang tatlo nina Cloud at Rain.

"Agents Rain and Fire have toppled different syndicated groups around the world and they are experienced enough," madiing pahayag ni Cloud. She could see his jaw tensing.

"North and South Korea has nothing to do with these syndicated groups," he stated. Tumingin ito sa kanya ng diretso. "If that's what you're thinking," he added with grimace. Agent Mars faked a cough but immediately stopped when Cloud glared at her. Natahimik siya. Hindi naman iyon ang ipinupunto niya. She momentarily closed her eyes as she remembered Clyde. Gusto niya itong puntahan at kumustahin pero may pumipigil sa kanyang gawin iyon. It wasn't sane at the moment. Mayroon pa siyang isang bagay na gustong malaman bago ito puntahan. Kaya lang sa ipinakita ni Cloud parang hindi niya iyon maisasakatuparan.

"Agent Rain will lead on this mission and it is final. If you have any questions, I'll be at my office," madiin at pinal na saad ni Cloud bago tumayo at mabilis na lumabas ng opisina. Hindi pa sila nakapagsalita lahat. Sinulyapan siya ng lalaking kaharap.

She gritted her teeth. Kulang na lang ay suntukin niya ang table. Mabilis niyang iniatras ang swivel na kinauupuan saka tumayo at lumabas na rin ng conference area leaving everyone in silence.

She was walking out of the agency when Mars walked beside her.

"Anong problema? Who's agent Rain? Bakit parang galit ka?" sunud-sunod na tanong ng kaibigan. Huminga siya ng malalim. Cristina may be closed to her but it is only limited on what she tells her. Hindi pa nito nakikilala ang buong pamilya niya. Well, she met her parents but not all her siblings.

"May nakaraan ba kayo?" tudyo nito. Ang seryoso na nga ng lahat. Nagawa pa nitong magbiro.

She stopped and eyed Cristina. She later smirked at her colleague.

"Akala mo ba hindi ko napansin 'yong kakaibang titig sa 'yo ni agent Fire?" nakangisi niyang sambit sa kaibigan.

Nakita niya ang pagkatuliro nito.

"At kailan ka pa natutuong mag-ipit ng buhok sa tainga mo?" natatawa niyang dagdag. Nakita niya kasing inipit nito ang ilang hibla ng buhok kanina ng kaibigan at saka sumulyap sa lalaking kaharap.

"Grabe, ibinalik talaga sa akin?" natatawa namang saad ni Cristina. Natawa siya rito.

"Loka," naiiling niyang sambit bago nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

"Mana lang ako sa 'yo," natatawa itong sumunod sa kanya. "Landi-landi rin pag may time," Cristina added laughing. Nailing na lang siya.

"Kaya tayo na-demote dahil sa kalandian mo," biro pa nito at nagpatuloy sa pagsunod sa kanya hanggang sa sasakyan niya. There is a few square meters parking area in front of the building aside from the 2-floor basement parking. The building is a registered office of a canning factory owned by Klein's mother. Hindi kasi dapat malaman ng iba na may IF sa bansa maliban sa presidente. Whenever, they have to capture criminals, they act as legit NBI agents. They have masks that would identify them as one.

"Kapag sumunod ka pa sa akin, babarilin kita," banta niya sa kaibigan nang makitang nanunudyo na naman ang tingin nito pero sa halip na matakot ay tumawa lang ito ng malakas.

"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya nang tunguhin nito ang passenger's side ng kanyang two-seater sports car.

"Nag-commute lang ako papunta rito, coding 'yong sasakyan ko," nakangisi nitong wika.

Vanna smirked at Cristina. Alam naman kasi niyang may motor ang kaibigan na ginagamit kapag coding ang sasakyan nito. Pumasok na lamang siya sa sasakyan at ini-unlock ang passenger door.