Ni hindi na yata sumasayad ang gulong ng kotse sa semento sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo ni Vanna.

Her heart's racing fast as she tried to shut off everything that happened a while back. Nagpaikot-ikot siya sa kung saan-saan. It is her way of releasing all her pent up emotions.

Over the years she learned to ignore that part of her life. Ang totoong rason kung bakit wala na siyang magustuhang lalaki.

+++++

"Dad, what exactly did you tell Klein Rich?" diretso niyang tanong sa ama pagpasok sa working room nito sa third floor ng bahay nila. It is where his dad works most of the time.

Wala noong ibang nakapapasok sa silid na iyon maliban sa mommy nila pero habang lumalaki siya ay unti-unti niyang pinag-aralan kung paano iyon i-hack para makapasok. She loves the place because it spoke of high technology.

Ilang beses na siyang nakalalabas-masok noon bago nadiskubre ng ama na naha-hack niya ang passcode ng silid. Her father wasn't able to detect it right away because she hacked the surveillance cameras first. She was sixteen, then.

She was nine when she learned how open all the doors inside their house except their father's work area. Well, that was a year after seeing Von Liam opening all the doors inside their house without their father's handprint. Na-challenge siya kaya gumawa rin siya ng paraan kung paano i-hack ang mga 'yon.

Hindi naman nagalit ang ama noong nadiskubre iyon. Humanga pa nga ito. Sinabihan lang siya na irespeto ang privacy ng ibang tao at gamitin ang abilidad na iyon para sa tama.

Since then, she didn't barge in to any of the rooms inside their house without permission. Ngayon na lang ulit.

Napalingon ang mga magulang na parehong nakaupo sa couch at nakatingin sa dokumentong naka-flash sa pader. Her dad immediately minimized the document using a hand gesture.

She went straight to them and sat on the edge of the semi-circle couch. Humarap siya sa ama.

"What were you asking?" nanunuri nitong tanong nang makaupo siya.

Huminga siya ng malalim. Matapos ang dalawang araw na pagmumukmok ay naisipan niyang kausapin na si Klein at tanungin kung bakit hindi ito nagpakita sa lugar na napag-usapan nila. Inamin naman nito na kinausap ito ng ama niya kaya hindi na ito tumuloy. According to Klein, her father told him that they're both too young to enter a relationship so he should not expect her father to agree with it if ever, not verbatim.

Eversince the world begun, she doesn't want anyone manipulating her life. Kaya naiinis siya sa ginawang pangingialam ng ama sa love life niya.

"Dad you said I could have a boyfriend at 22. Bakit naman gano'n ang sinabi mo kay Klein?" Napasimangot siya sa ama. Her father's creased forehead straigtened.

"Oh, is he courting you?" natatawa nitong balik-tanong. Her mom laughed softly. Tinapik pa nito sa braso ang ama.

"Dad naman eh," reklamo niya sa ama. Tumawa naman ito ng mahina pero sumeryoso rin pagkatapos.

"Well, he asked if he could have your hand to be his," her father started. Pakiramdam niya ay pinamulahan pa siya sa sinabi ng ama.

Vaughn inhaled deeply before continuing.

"...and like any normal father I had to give him a word," he told her. She wasn't able to speak.

Huminga ito ng malalim bago muling nagsalita.

"Kinu-question mo ba ang pagiging ama ko sa 'yo?" seryoso nitong tanong.

Her forehead creased at her father's tone.

"Hindi gan'on, dad. I was just asking what exactly you told him," her voice softened.

"Well, I just told him that you are both young and if he really wants to be your boyfriend, he needs to man up first," diretsong tugon ng ama.

"Iyon lang ba, dad? Are you sure?" naniniguro niyang sambit.

"Yes," her dad answered curtly. Tumingin ito sa kanya ng diretso. She knew her dad isn't lying.

"It's not my fault if he doesn't like you that much to fight for you," may himig panunudyo ang boses ng ama.

Her mom even laughed.

"Baka na-intimidate sa 'yo yung bata," natatawang pinalo ng ina ang braso ng ama. Nailing lang ang huli.

Kung siya ang tatanungin, wala namang masama sa sinabi ng ama niya. Why would Klein get intimidated with that?

"Baka nirerespeto lang siguro niya ang sinabi ng daddy mo," baling ng ina sa kanya. She saw her dad smirking at her mom's statement.

Humarap sa kanya ang ama at tumingin ng diretso.

"If he really likes you or loves you, there is nothing that could ever stop him, not even me." Vaughn stated.

Pinamulahan siya sa sinabi ng ama. Pakiramdam niya ay napahiya siya sa sarili mismo.

They looked at the doorway when someone faked a cough. It was Von Liam.

"Dad's right," he said with a mocking smile. Lumapit ito sa kinaroroonan nila at nakiupo na rin.

"Isa ka pa!" irap niya sa kapatid bago mabilis na tumayo saka lumabas ng silid.

+++++

If he really likes you or loves you, there is nothing that could stop him, not even me.

Tumimo sa isip niya ang sinabing iyon ng ama kaya kahit na anong ginagawang panliligaw ni Cloud ay iniignora niya.

He's only good in words but when worse comes worst, he couldn't fight for her.

She kept driving round and round until the car ran out of gas. Ni hindi niya iyon napansin.

"Great. Just great!" she muttered as she punched the steering wheel when the car made a halt. Pati 'yong reserved gas ay nagamit na pala niya. Maybe it was blinking many times but she didn't notice.

Lumabas siya ng kotse at tinanaw kung may malapit na gas station o convenient store man lang. She knew she's still around Metro Manila but the street is unfamiliar.

She looked at her watch. It's already 3AM kaya pala wala na masyadong nagdaraang sasakyan. Ang karamihan sa kabahayan ay nakapatay na ang ilaw at tanging mga ilaw na lang sa lamp posts ang nagliliwanag sa paligid. Ang alam niya hindi nawawalan ng tao ang mga kalye ng kamaynilaan pero sa parteng iyon ay wala man lang katao-tao.

Kinuha niya ang phone at ilang cash na nasa dashboard bago ini-lock nang maigi ang sasakyan. She didn't want to call anyone for rescue. Maglalakad na lang siya hanggang makakita ng gas station o taxi na magdaraan. Sinigurado rin niyang nakasukbit ang baril sa likurang bahagi ng baywang at ang tracking device sa bulsa ay naka-on.

She walked briskly. Nawala pa ang ilang isipin kanina. Ilang metro na ang nalakad niya pero wala pa rin siyang matanaw na convenient store o gas station.

Her forehead creased when she felt like someone is following her footsteps. Binilisan niya ang lakad. Napatakip siya sa mata nang masilaw sa sasakyang parating.

It stopped right beside her and before she knew it, two men already held both her hands. Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggaling ang mga ito. Bumukas ang pintuan ng Van kung saan siya itinulak para sumakay pero mabilis ang naging reaksyon niya. Tinadyakan niya ang dalawa pang lalaki na papalabas sana ng Van saka buong lakas na umatras bago tumalon at kumuha ng puwersa sa tapakan ng sasakyan at nagpaikot sa ere.

Nang mabitawan siya ng dalawang lalaki ay agad niyang binigyan ng mag-asawang flying kick na ikinatumba ng mga ito.

There were men who came out from the Van but she immediately fought them. Nakipag-karate siya at sinalag ang bawat suntok at tadyak na ibinigay sa kanya.

She was down to the last man on the Van when another car stopped.

"Sh!t," she muttered to herself when men came out and immediately walked towards her. Mabilis niyang binunot ang baril sa likod at itinutok sa mga ito. Tumigil ang mga ito sa akmang paglapit sa kanya. They are masked again like ninjas. Parang 'yong mga umatake lang sa kanya dati sa labas ng restaurant.

"Sino kayo?" mabilis niyang tanong habang alertong nakatingin sa mga ito. She pointed her gun directly at them. There were eight of them. She swallowed hard and made some tactical escape plans when another car stopped. May mga lumabas na namang mga kalalakihan.

She fired the man who tried to approach her. She hit his leg to immobilize him. Mabilis din ang naging galaw ng mga lalaki. May tumadyak sa kamay niya na sanhi para mabitawan ang baril. Wala na siyang mapagpilian kundi makipag-karate na lang. She fought them with all her skills. Bawat tadyak ay sinalag niya ng mabilisan. Hindi niya hinayaang may makalapit sa kanya at makahawak. Her feet were her weapons, her hands her shield. If only she had her pins, it would have been easier.

Hinila niya ang kamay ng lalaking humawak sa balikat niya at ibinalibag sa sementong daan. Napahawak siya sa tagiliran nang hindi na niya nasalag ang tadyak ng isa pang lalaki. Nang tumunghay siya ay nasuntok siya sa mukha kasabay ng pagtadyak sa kanya sa tiyan. That hurts badly.

Then, somebody hit her from behind causing her to drop on the ground. Mariin siyang napapikit at tiniis ang sakit. Naramdaman niya ang dugo sa pang-ibabang labi. She spit the blood on the ground before forcing herself to stand.

She wanted to fight but it was too late. Nahawakan na siya ng dalawang lalaki at marahas na hinila papunta sa sasakyan. Their hands tightly held her wrist. Hindi siya makagulapay.

The moment she was inside the van, they tied her hands. Two other men held her feet and tied them together.

"Sino ba kayo ha? Anong kailangan n'yo sa 'kin?!" she yelled at the men. Hindi na siya nakapagsalita ulit nang lagyan ng mga ito ng tape ang bibig niya. Sinubukan niyang kilalanin ang mga lalaki sa kabila ng kanilang itim na mask pero piniringan siya ng mga ito.

She wriggled but later thought it was futile so she just reserved her energy. Mabilis siyang nag-isip. Her tracking device is at her pocket. She only needs to push a button for rescue. Nakiramdam siya sa mga tao sa loob ng sasakyan. Kailangan pasimple niya iyong gagawin para hindi makita ng mga ito kaya lang paano niya malalaman na hindi nakatingin ang mga ito kung nakapiring siya?

Ilang minuto sila sa loob ng sasakyan bago ito tumigil. Nagkunwari siyang nanlalaban kahit nakatali ang mga kamay noong pilit siyang ibaba para masagi ang rescue button sa device niya. Nang masiguro niyang napindot iyon ng tama ay saka siya tumigil.

Hinila siya ng mga ito at pinaglakad. Nilakasan niya ang pandinig pero walang kahit na anong ingay ang nanggagaling sa mga lalaking humihila sa kanya. That made her wonder. They must be trained. Hinihila na siya't lahat wala pa ring nililikhang ingay ang mga yabag ng mga ito.

Itinulak siya ng mga ito nang patigilin siya sa paglalakad. Naramdaman na lang niya ang pagtama ng puwit sa matigas na upuan. She felt her body being tied up on a chair.

"Vanna Lei Filan, huh?"

She heard someone muttered. Pinanatili niyang alerto ang pag-iisip at sinubukang pakiramdaman kung ano ang pakay ng mga ito. If they know her as Vanna Lei, they may be after some money.

"Yonglihan mongsang-ga," sambit ng parehong boses. She doesn't understand anything about the language but she knew they accent is Korean.

"Call the boss," saad naman ng isa pa. She heard them speaking in Korean language but she never understood a word or two.

Were these really the same people who attacked her outside the restaurant?

Kumunot ang noo niya nang makarinig ng mabibilis at sunud-sunod na kaluskos. She tried to sense what is happening.

"Nugunya?" someone muttered before she heard some bones breaking and bodies clattering on the floor. Alam na alam niya ang tunog ng katawang tumatama sa semento at lagatok ng mga buto.

Napayuko siya nang maramdamang parang may nahagis papunta sa ulunan niya. Then, she heard a glass breaking.

Her heart raced. She had a hunch it was the rescue she was waiting for. Ang bilis lang ng mga itong makarating. She counted the seconds passing by as the clanking of people fighting continued.

She knew it happened for five good minutes before the place became totally quiet.

She gasped in pain when the tape on her mouth was removed. Masakit pa kasi ang labi niyang nagdurugo kanina.

She blinked thrice when her blindfold was removed to get used to the light.

"Cloud? Mars? Ikaw ba 'yan?" she immediately asked. Iginala niya ang paningin. Unsconcious bodies dripping with blood are scattered around. Isang mahabang mesa lang ang gamit sa loob. May lalaki pang nakahandusay roon.

"Clyde," she muttered when she saw him standing on her side. He was waering a gray cap. Agad itong pumuwesto sa harap niya. He kneeled down and hugged her tight. His warm embrace engulfed her.

"Vanna Lei," he breathed as he kissed her hair. She could feel his fast heartbeats. Napalunok siya nang sapuin nito ang mukha niya.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered as he stared cupping her face.

She wasn't sure where the aching on her chest came from. Dahil ba sa pasang natamo sa pakikipaglaban kanina o dahil sa kasalanang nagawa niya sa binata?

"I will do everything to protect you," he told her. Natuliro siya sa pahayag nito. It took a while before the words fully registered on her mind.

"Protect me from whom?" she asked but he didn't answer. Nag-iba ito ng tingin. Pinulot nito ang isang kutsilyo at kinalagan siya.

Inilagay nito ang sombrero sa ulo niya bago siya hinila sa kamay at mabilis na iginiya sa pintuang palabas.

Medyo madilim ang paligid pero aninag niya ang gate at mataas na bakod mula sa tanglaw na nanggagaling sa loob.

"You have to leave immediately, Vanna." Clyde stated.

Napatingin siya sa palad nang may ipahawak itong remote control ng sasakyan.

"Go home. Ako na ang bahala rito. Leave the car outside your village," saad nito.

"Clyde," she whispered but he released her hand. He stared at her for a moment and was about to speak when his phone rang. He took the call and spoke in Korean.

Maraming katanungan ang pumasok sa isip niya pero wala ni isa sa mga tanong ang nangibabaw.

"We have to leave. The police are coming," sambit nito ng ibaba ang tawag. Gusto niyang magsalita pero napipi siya. Sobrang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Sanay na siya sa mga ganitong aksyon pero sa pagkakataong ito ay nawawalan siya ng pokus sa nangyayari.

"Take the car, baby. I'll find my way out." dagdag nito. He leaned in to kiss her cheek.

For a moment, she was lost, not because of the kiss but the way he addressed her. He used the endearment despite everything that he learned about her. Hindi ba ito nagalit sa ginawa niya?

Gusto sana niyang sabihin na puwede naman silang sumakay pareho sa sasakyan pero mabilis na itong nakaalis. She tried to run after him on the back gate when she regained her momentum but he's gone nowhere. Para itong bulang nawala sa paningin niya. Madilim na ang bandang likod dahil wala na ang ilaw na nagmumula sa harap.

Questions streamed down her mind again.

Shaking her head, she made her way out of the place as she picked the tracking device on her pocket. She pushed some buttons and saw that Cloud is approaching the area.

Tumigil siya sa akmang paglabas ng gate nang makita ang sasakyang tumigil. Mabilis na umibis si Cloud mula sa loob ng isang sasakyan. He was followed by her twin brother, Von Liam, agent Rain.

"What happened? I'm sorry," Cloud muttered. Yayakap sana ito sa kanya pero umatras siya.

"You're late," sambit niya rito. "Again," she added in disappointment.

Von Liam silently stared at them. Napasulyap si Cloud rito at hindi na muling nag-react pa.

Why was she disappointed by the way? Umasa ba ang puso niya na ito ang magliligtas sa kanya? That thought made her smile bitterly.

She was reminded of what happened earlier and she can't help but smile bitterly again.

Lumabas siya ng gate para makaiwas rito pero nanubig ang mata niya nang makita ang sasakyang iniwan ni Clyde.

She pursed her lips to control her tears.

She knew somebody is bound to get hurt.

#AlamNaNiVannaKungSinoAngMahalNiya