"Agent Star, stay for a second."

Nagkatinginan sina Vanna at Cristina nang magsalita si Cloud. Sila na lang kasi ang panghuling lalabas ng opisina.

Pinandilatan niya ang kaibigan nang naging mapanudyo ang tingin nito. Agad naman itong tumalilis at tuluyan nang lumabas nang may ngiting nakakaloko.

"Sige s-sir," she stammered as she looked at him. Nakaupo na ito sa sariling swivel chair. Kinabahan siya nang makitang seryoso ang mukha nito at bahagyang kunot ang noo.

"Take your seat," he ordered. He looked mad.

Maayos naman ito kanina pero biglang nag-iba ang mood nang sila na lang.

Pero nang mag-sink in sa utak niya ang katagang binitiwan kanina ay kusa na lamang siyang nangiti.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked with a creased forehead. His authoritative voice echoed around. She got a bit nervous.

"Wala po, boss," kinakabahan niyang sambit. He saw how his expression softened. Tumikhim pa ito at bahagyang iniatras ang kinauupuan. Natahimik siya.

His eyes landed on her bandaged left arm.

"Napano 'yan?" tanong nito. Her heart rumbled because she somehow felt his concern.

"Nasugat kagabi," tipid niyang sagot. Pinigilan niya ang sariling ngumiti. She just knew after everything that happened Cloud will always be Klein Rich.

"Careless," he murmured as he fixed the folders on his desk. It sounded like an insult. Hindi na lamang siya nagsalita. Labanan nga 'yong pinuntahan niya, natural na masusugatan siya.

Umayos siya ng upo at hinintay na lamang ang sasabihin nito. Binuklat naman nito ang folder at 'di na siya tinapunan ng tingin.

Ilang minuto na siyang naghihintay ng sasabihin nito pero nanatili itong walang imik.

Ilang beses siyang huminga ng malalim at tumikhim para iparamdam na hinihintay niya ang sasabihin nito pero hindi naman ito nagsalita.

"Boss," she muttered to catch his attention. She bit the insides of her lip when he stared at her.

"Ano 'yong sasabihin mo? Bakit mo ako pinaiwan?" lakas-loob niyang tanong. Binawi naman nito ang tingin at ibinalik sa dokumentong binubuklat.

It took a minute before he cleared his throat.

"Aren't you going to start your internship next week?" tanong nito. Saglit siyang natigilan. Then she realized, he was referring to her studies.

"If you need more time at the hospital, puwede namang hindi ka muna sumama sa mga operasyon ng grupo," dagdag nito nang hindi siya tinatapunan ng tingin.

Hindi niya sigurado kung sasaya ba siya dahil updated pa rin ang binata sa mga nangyayari sa kanya o masasaktan dahil parang tinatanggal na siya nito sa trabaho.

"I have already made the arrangements, I'll have my duty at the hospital in the morning. Sa gabi naman usually ang operations na ginagawa ng ahensya," mahinahon niyang saad.

"Paano kung sa umaga kailangang gawin ang mga raids n'yo?" Sumulyap ito sa kanya bago muling ibinaling ang tingin sa dokumento.

"My work at the agency is my priority," giit niya. Napailing ang binata sa narinig. Nakaramdam siya ng pagkainsulto.

"Besides I'm a Filan. I can pull some strings at the hospital and at the university to compensate with my absences just in case," she added to save herself from his insulting gesture.

Cloud's forehead creased as his eyebrows furrowed. She felt nervous at the kind of stare she received.

"Yeah, you're a Filan," he smirked.

"I figured you've already seen the dissolved registries," he added.

"Ahm, I wasn't referring to me being a Filan a-again. I was referring to me being my father's daughter," she stammered. Hindi niya alam kung bakit sobrang apektado siya sa nakikitang reaksyon ng binata.

"Yeah, whatever," Cloud muttered. His expression became indifferent. He took his phone from his desk and swiped.

Tumayo ito mula sa kinauupuan.

"I've got nothing to say. You may go," he said before moving away. Nakipag-usap na ito sa telepono kaya naiwan siyang nakatanga lang doon.

She earned the courage to go out of his office feeling down.

*****

Ilang linggo nang hindi nakikita ni Vanna si Cloud. She got busy on her internship plus there are times when she's engaged in operations.

Kapag nagpapasa naman siya ng report matapos ang operasyon nila sa iba't-ibang sindikato, hindi niya ito naaabutan sa opisina.

It's like the world doesn't want them to see each other or he's really making a way not to see her.

She shook her head as she tried to concentrate on what agent Rain is discussing. Nasa loob sila ng isa sa mga safe haven nila sa kalakhang Maynila. The haven is under an abandoned building. Sira-sira at maalikabok ang labas nito pero kapag pinindot ang open button sa pader na natatakpan ng sirang steel cabinet at na-verify ang access, bumubukas ang elevator pababa. Under the ground is a high tech hideout. Malinis din at maliwanag. Mayroon itong lounge area, bar counter, mini kitchen, dining area at ang silid kung saan naroon ang mga baril at gadgets nila.

"Para makapasok sa grupo nila kailangang manalo sa sponsored car racing nila," Rain explained. Tinutugis nila ang isang grupo ng sindikato na may kinalaman sa gun at car smuggling. Resulta ito ng imbestigasyon matapos ang naging operasyon nila noong nakaraan. Nagsanga-sanga na ang grupo. Agent Rain is determined to destroy all of them.

"That's easy as 1, 2, 3," she said boringly interrupting her brother.

"They are daredevils, Star. It's not your usual car racing. Ginigitgit nila lalo na kapag baguhan hanggang sa madisgrasya. There'd been reports that most of newbies die on the race," sagot nito.

Lahat sila ay natahimik. She inhaled deeply. Well, at this point in her life, she's not afraid to die.

"I'll do it," she said with conviction. Nagsalubong ang kilay ng kapatid. Parang ayaw pa nitong pumayag.

"Oh boy, are you underestimating me?" gigil niyang tanong nang mainsulto sa reaksyon ng kapatid. Tumikhim naman ito bago tumango bilang pagpayag.

*****

Tatlong araw siyang tumambay sa isang high end bar para makilala ang isa sa mga lalaking kasama sa grupong papasukin nila. She had to do her disguise and wore like celebrity to be noticed but still keeping her cool. She also changed the plate number of her car.

She smiled triumphantly when a group of men approached her. May gusto raw kumausap sa kanya. She suspected it was one of the men in the group. Wala kasing mukha ang mga lider ng tinutunton nilang grupo, nagpapalit-palit din ng pangalan kaya hindi niya masabi.

Alam niyang napansin siya ng mga ito dahil sinasadya niyang i-drift palabas ng paking area at paharurutin ang sports car niya sa tuwing paalis sa lugar.

Maraming naging tanong ang lalaki sa kanya nang iharap na siya rito at napaghandaan na niya lahat iyon. Pati ang makahulugang paghawak at pagpisil nito sa balikat niya ay napaghandaan niya. Hinuhuli niya ang kamay nito at mariing hinahawakan sa tuwing pipisilin nito ang balikat niya. She had to show her fierce side to convince them that she had an edge to their group.

Pagkatapos ng pag-uusap, pinasunod na siya ng mga ito sa convoy nila.

"There'd been a report of rape done by the group, Star," she heard agent Rain speaking on her earphone camouflaged as earrings. She heaved a deep breath as she drives fastly to cope up with the group. They were all overspeeding.

Pakiramdam niya ay umiikot sila sa kamaynilaan bago pumasok sa isang tunnel path.

"Don't get yourself killed nor raped," Rain added.

Nainis siya sa sinasabi ng kapatid. Sasagot na sana siya nang pabalang pero umilaw ang mga gadgets sa loob ng sasakyan it's indicating that there is no signal. Pati ang gps ng sasakyan niya ay nadeactivate. It went on until they went out in an open area with lots of sports cars and people partying like crazy. May kanya-kanyang hawak na bote ng alak o di kaya'y kopita. She didn't know what part of the city it was, o kung nasa siyudad pa ba sila.

All her gadgets automatically shut off when she stopped the car engine.

"Of course," she smirked as she realized that group won't go in running for years if they weren't careful and discreet. Malamang untraceable talaga ang lugar.

Nakaramdam siya ng kaunting kaba pero ipinagsawalang-bahala niya.