Vanna was awakened by a soft touch on her cheek. Agad pa siyang napabalikwas. Napatingin siya sa paligid at bahagyang natuliro bago naisip na nasa loob siya ng bahay ni Cloud. It was him who woke her up.

"I prepared dinner, kumain ka muna bago ka matulog." Nakatayo ito sa tabi ng kama. Nakasuot na ito ng puting sando at sweat pants.

Before she could answer, he already walked towards the door. In a second, he already disappeared from her sight.

Napatitig na lamang siya sa nakapinid na pinto. Ngumiti siya ng tipid nang mag-sink in ang sinabi ni Cloud.

I prepared dinner.

Kumain ka muna bago matulog.

A part of her being felt better that he didn't threw her out while she was asleep. Well, if he did, he wasn't the Cloud she knew eversince.

Napatuwid siya ng upo nang muling bumukas ang pinto. Napalunok pa siya nang makita ang kunot sa noo ni Cloud.

"Lalamig 'yong pagkain," sambit lang nito bago muling tumalikod at nawala sa paningin niya. The door automatically shut.

Tumayo na lamang siya at sumunod dito.

He was at the dining table in front of the kitchen counter when she went out. Inilalagay nito ang isang bowl ng fresh cut mixed fruits sa mesa. The bowl is transparent kaya kita niya ang laman.

The dining table has four chairs around. Umupo siya sa silyang nakaharap sa kitchen counter. She expected Cloud to sit in front of her but he opted to sit on the chair at her left.

She looked at the table. Mayroong buttered veggies, asparagus stew, pork steak at chicken salpicao. Cloud knew how to cook. Mas marunong pa nga ito kaysa sa kanya. Magaling lang siyang kumain pero hindi ang magluto.

"Klein," agaw niya sa atensyon nito nang makitang naglalagay na ito ng pagkain sa plato. He stopped what he was doing and stared at her with a dark expression. Bahagya pang sumikdo ang puso niya sa kaba. Good thing, his expression softened after a few seconds.

"Let's just eat," he said almost whispering. He spooned some food and started eating.

Hindi niya magawang kumuha ng pagkain. Cloud's cold treatment gives her chills. Hindi siya sanay.

"Klein we need to talk," lakas-loob niyang saad.

"What is there to talk about?" malamig nitong tugon.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tiningnan ito kahit na hindi ito tumitingin sa direksyon niya.

"Pumapayag na akong tumira dito sa bahay mo ng isang taon. I am giving us a chance to consummate our marriage," she stated before she could lose all her courage to speak.

The clanking of Cloud's spoon and fork on the plate resonated. It was followed by an utterly deafening silence. Pakiramdam niya ay tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo nang tumitig ito sa kanya.

Her heart started beating erratically fast and it's numbing her entire senses. Hindi niya inasahan ang ganoong reaksyon mula sa sarili. She never knew she would feel that way. Ngayon lang kasi niya tuluyang hinarap ang usapang ito. Noon kasi ay pilit niyang itinatanggi sa sarili. She doesn't even want to talk about it. If it enters her mind, she immediately shrugs it off.

Ang gusto niya lang dati ay mabura ang records ng kasal nila ni Klein na pareho nilang hindi alam kung paano nangyari.

+++++

She was in Vietnam when she discovered about the marriage entry. Nandoon siya para sa isang misyon at na-tripan lang niyang i-check kung may pangalan o kapangalan siya sa records ng bansang iyon. That's when she discovered about it. Hindi na sila magkasama noon ni Cloud dahil tinanggap na nito ang promotion bilang head ng IF-Ph.

Nagtaka siya noon kung bakit sa Vietnam pa nakarecord na kasal siya kay Klein Rich. Then, she discovered that even in the Philippines, they had an entry of the same certificate. Noong hindi siya nakatiis, pumunta pa siya ng Hongkong para i-check. Then, she discovered that they had a marriage entry in all countries across the globe.

It was shocking.

It was quite impossible to believe that the marriage was registered around the globe except of course it was hacked by someone who had access to all the countries in the world.

Cloud was also surprised, then. He agreed with her idea that it may be his mom. They tried talking to Mother Universe but she only laughed at them. When they insisted, she asked them to lay their evidences. Of course, they don't have any proof.

Pero pagkatapos ay kinausap nito si Cloud. He later talked to her about a year being his wife. Iyon daw ang ibinigay na kondisyon ng ina nito bago sila tulungan para malutas ang problema.

She hated Mother Universe, then. It's not that she can't accept Cloud but she hated how she manipulated the entire thing. She can't forget what she said back then. "You can't go against the universe."

What the hell?

Parang inamin na rin nito ang lahat.

Kung mas maaga sana niyang nadiskubre ang bagay na iyon, malamang ay hindi niya tinanggihan ang promotion para magkaroon ng mas malawak na access sa system ng IF.

She tried resulting to divorce but not all countries allow divorce and each country had different rules in filing. Iyong iba kailangang maging residente ng state ng anim na buwan bago ma-grant ang divorce. In other states, the must undergo tedious settlement issues. It's impractical. The only way to erase the data is to undo whatever hacking had been made.

+++++

"Why did you suddenly decide on that?" Cloud asked with a smirk. Her face flushed. Hindi niya kasi inaasahan ang reaksyong iyon mula kay Klein.

She crammed for words.

"I-it wasn't a sudden decision. I've been thinking about it since you opened the idea," she lied.

Umiling ang lalaking kaharap.

"Don't kid yourself, Vanna. Akala mo ba hindi ko alam ang ginagawa ninyo ni agent Mars?" mahina ngunit madiin nitong wika.

Napalunok siya sa intensidad ng titig nito.

"You've been hacking statistics office around the globe to erase our marriage entries." There's madness and pain in his voice.

"A-alam mo naman ang bagay na 'yon 'di ba? Nabanggit ko rin sa 'yo," aniya. It almost came out as whisper.

Why is she stuttering?

"Bakit nagbago ang isip mo?" madiin pa rin nitong tanong. Hindi siya agad nakasagot.

Bakit nga ba biglang nagbago ang isip niya? Has it something to do with his coldness? Natatakot ba siya? Saan?

Cloud averted his gaze. He breathes in heavily. When he stared back, his eyes were remorseful that it scared her.

"Because of Clyde right?" His jaw clenched as he said it. She wasn't able to react.

How could it be about Clyde?

"Gusto mo nang makawala agad sa kasal natin dahil sa kanya," puno ng hinanakit nitong saad.

She felt like her mind buffered for few seconds.

"T-that's crazy. He's just part of my mission and it already ended," wala sa sarili niyang sambit. She almost jumped when Cloud punched the table.

"C'mon Vanna! He already knew who you are. Kilala na niya ang mga magulang mo," saad nito. Ngumiti ito ng mapait.

She tried hard to stay calm.

"Tell me, what will you do if he suddenly appears at your house and tell your parents that he's your boyfriend?" madiin nitong tanong.

She swallowed at his question. That never even crossed her mind. Gagawin ba iyon ni Clyde?

"What will you do if he'd appear at your doorstep and declares his love for you?" Klein asked emphasizing each word.

Siya naman ang napailing sa tanong nito.

She bit her lower lip and stared back at him.

"Tell me, Klein. What will you do if he appears at my house and tell my parents that he's my boyfriend?" balik-tanong niya rito. Nangilid ang luha niya sa sariling tanong.

Emotions poured down on her.

"What will you do if he appears at my doorstep and declares his love?"

Klein wasn't able to speak.

Memories flooded her mind. Iba-iba. Halu-halo. Gulo-gulo.

There was a long silence before he opened his mouth to speak. Pero bago pa ito magsalita ay inunahan na niya.

"No. don't answer it! Alam ko naman ang magiging sagot. You'll stay behind and watch him take me." She smiled bitterly.

"If I ever walk with him, I am sure, you'll watch us walk away from you. Gano'n ka naman 'di ba?" Her tears rolled down as she said it. She doesn't want to dwell on it but it voluntarily came out her mouth.

Klein looked shock at her remark. He wasn't able to speak.

There was another deafening silence before she spoke.

"That night on my 22nd birthday, you could've been my first kiss. I waited for you. Kahit madilim, kahit nilalamok na ako. I was ready, Klein." She closed her eyes as she remembered the exact scene.

+++++

Birthday party nila iyon ng kakambal sa isa nilang private resort. Habang nagsasayaw sila ni Klein, sinabihan niya itong magkita sila sa labas ng venue pagkatapos ng isang oras.

Under the shade of a tree, on that dark night, she waited.

She was anxious to tell him that she wants to be his girlfriend. Hindi naman kasi ito nanliligaw ng tahasan pero laging nakadikit sa kanya.

Akala niya si Klein 'yong lalaking lumapit noong gabing iyon.

She didn't know what to say so she grabbed him on the neck and kissed him senselessly. In that way, he'll get all the idea that she wants him.

BUT that was a nightmare.

The man wasn't Klein Rich. It was Von Liam, her twin brother.

Pareho kasi sila ng built ni Klein. They even have the same facial hair for Pete's sake. Nainis din siya kung bakit nagbago ng pabango ang kakambal niya ng gabing iyon. He had the same scent as Klein.

It was terrifying that it took them an hour to go back to their senses. Nagalit din ang kapatid niya sa kanya.

When she went back inside the venue, Klein was happily chatting with their classmates. Sumulyap pa ito sa direksiyon niya bago muling nakipagkatuwaan sa mga ito.

Since then on, she shun away the idea of having a relationship. She later learned that her dad talked to Klein. That's why he didn't show up.

+++++

She wiped her eyes and looked straight at Cloud's eyes.

"But you chose to listen to my dad," she muttered.

Pagkatapos ng maraming taon, ngayon lang niya ito nagawang sumbatan sa nangyari. Clouds's expression changed.

"I asked permission but he declined and I respected him," depensa nito. There is wariness in his eyes.

"I think he was right. We were both young, then," he added. His voice toned down.

Itinanim niya sa isip noon na hindi naman talaga niya gusto si Klein. Maybe she only got used to their closeness that's why she entertained the idea of having him as a boyfriend, then. It was less than romantic. They are better off as friends. Saka kung talagang mahal siya nito, sana naging matapang itong salungatin ang ama niya.

She smiled bitterly at the thought.

Akala niya nakalimutan na niya ang bagay na iyon. Cloud is a close friend, no more no less.

"You know what? I think you're right. We should forget about that one year thing," aniya.

Cloud stared at her digesting each word.

Klein wasn't courageous enough and over the years as they got closer and closer she was able to see that weakness in him.

"Bakit ko gagamitin ang apelyidong ikaw mismo ay ayaw ipagsabi sa buong mundo?" She smirked as she wiped her eyes. Cloud was static.

"I hate cowards." she said before standing and walking away.