Vanna was putting the double lock on her apartment door when she smelled a familiar scent. Napakurap pa siya. That same scent filled her nostrils last night during the car ride.

Hindi niya naramdamang may taong lumapit pero imposible namang guni-guni niya lang.

She slowly turned around. She was right. Clyde is standing three feet away from her.

Her heart beats a litte faster than the usual. Iba talaga ang pakiramdam niya sa lalaki. Kapag ibang tao kasi ang papalapit sa direksyon niya ay nararamdaman agad niya ang presensya ng mga ito. Only skilled people could just walk towards a person, especially to a trained agent, without being noticed. Isa nga iyon sa inaral nila noon sa academy. Even Cloud couldn't apply that skill to her. She knew whenever he's approaching even if he sneaks in like a pro.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tumingin sa gate.

Hindi na niya ipinagtaka kung paano ito nakapasok, malamang ay pinagbuksan ito ng mga tenants malapit sa gate. Nakita kasi ng mga ito noong hinatid siya kagabi. Puro mga babae ang tenants doon. Clyde was friendly enough to greet them when they passed by.

May limang hilerang studio type apartment ang compound. May laundry area ang pagitan ng bawat apartments kaya hindi dikit-dikit. May pathway sa harap ng mga units papunta sa gate na nasa dulo. Sa gitna ang unit niya kaya maglalakad pa ng ilang metro papunta sa gate.

"Baby."

Napakurap siya nang magsalita ang lalaki. Kasabay ng pagrehistro ng sinabi nito ang pagkunot ng noo niya.

He's making it a habit to call her baby and she doesn't like that. Pero hindi rin niya alam kung paano ito sawayin. She didn't want to annoy him. Baka iyon pa ang maging mitsa ng misyon niya.

"B-bakit mo ba ako tinatawag ng baby, sir?" She almost cursed hearing herself stammering when he met her gaze.

Bahagyang umangat ang sulok ng labi nito. His lips were pursed. It could have been insulting if he didn't look handsome doing it.

"Don't you like it?" tanong nito. Humalukipkip ito bago ngumiti ng matamis.

"I don't," she said averting her gaze. Pakiramdam niya ay pinamulahan siya nang tumawa ito ng mahina. She glanced at him causing her heart to jump for a nanosecond. Nakatitig pa rin kasi ito sa kanya at nakaramdam siya ng pagkaasiwa.

"You look naïve and innocent, bagay sa 'yo ang baby," nanunudyo nitong saad. Huminga siya ng malalim. She has to maintain her composure.

"Technically, employer ko po kayo, SIR. Hindi po yata okay na tawagin niyo ako ng kung anu-ano," she said calmly but emphasizing the word sir. She also met his gaze.

Ngumiti naman ito.

"Okay if you don't want me to call you baby, don't call me sir neither," tugon naman nito. There was something mischievous with his grin but she dismissed the thought.

"Call me Clyde instead, anyway, just like you, I'm also 28," dagdag nito.

She inhaled deeply. The bargain was good enough so she ended up nodding.

"Okay, Clyde then," she muttered. Ngumiti naman ang binata pagkarinig sa sinabi niya.

"That's better, honey," he grinned. Hahawakan pa sana nito ang baba niya pero mabilis siyang lumayo at naglakad papunta sa gate.

She wanted to protest but maybe it was really his personality to tease people. Ibang-iba kay Klein. In-expect niya kasing magkasing-ugali ang dalawa base sa larawan nito na mukhang seryoso sa buhay. Maybe photographs really lie most of the time.

"Ano pala ang ginagawa mo dito? Mamayang 4PM pa ako dapat pupunta sa inyo," saad na lamang niya.

He chuckled at her remark. Napatigil siya sa paglalakad. Tumingin naman ito ng mataman sa mga mata niya. His eyes are smiling.

"Well, naisip ko lang na ihatid na kita sa school para alam ng driver ko kung saan ka susunduin mamaya para ihatid sa bahay," he answered.

That was a lame explanation. What for? Puwede naman siyang mag-commute. Napailing siya. Parang nabasa naman nito ang nasa isip niya dahil muli itong nagsalita.

"Less hassle for you para hindi ka ma-late sa tutorials ng mga bata," saad nito.

Vanna stilled. She still find it lame. He must be up to something.

"Kaya ko namang mag-commute," sambit niya. She continued walking. Sumunod ito nang lumabas siya sa gate.

"You don't look like you're used to commuting a lot." Clyde chuckled softly.

Napakurap pa siya. Shit. She cursed silently. Maaaring nagbibiro lang ang lalaki kaya nito nasabi iyon o may alam ito sa ginagawa niyang pagpapanggap. She doesn't want to entertain the latter.

"Nasa mukha ba ang pagcommute?" sambit na lamang niya para hindi halata ang kaba niya. Napatikhim naman ang binata.

"We'll, you don't look like you can't afford to buy a car,"sambit nito. Napatigil siya at tumingin sa binata.

"Compliment ba 'yan? Salamat," natatawa niyang sambit bago naglakad papunta sa kotse nito sa gilid ng eskinita.

She tried to recall whether his family were invited to any of the Filans social functions. Baka nakilala siya nito. Iyon lang naman kasi ang mga oras na lumalabas siya sa gatherings bilang Vanna Lei Filan.

"My salary can't afford to pay a car loan," she added glancing at him. Ngumiti din ang binata.

Her facial features is giving her away. She was stupid on that part. Ulila kasi dapat na pinag-aral ang sarili si Lacy Elejorde. Pero kahit naman ulila at lumaki sa hirap, ibig sabihin pangit na agad. That's stereotyping and it's a no-no.

"I figured. Part time ka nga lang pala sa university," he muttered. Napatango naman siya.

"Bakit di ka na lang mag-fulltime instead of doing some tutorials?" Clyde eyed her skeptically. She is not sure if it was an innocent question or he is trying to bring out something.

Ngumiti siya. "Mas mahal ang kita sa private tutorials, napipili ko rin kung anong oras lang ang puwede kong tanggapin," kaswal niyang paliwanag.

Lame, Vanna Lei. She scolded herself. Nakita niyang tumango ang binata.

He even murmured, "Sabi ko nga."

Ipinagtataka talaga niya ang tatas nitong magsalita ng tagalog at English. Ayon kasi sa nabasa niyang report sa folder nito, pagkatapos ng high school ay bumalik na ito sa South Korea at doon na nag-aral. Parang may selos daw kasi ito sa kapatid kaya ayaw manirahan sa Pilipinas.

It's odd. Mahirap tanggalin ang accent kapag nakasanayan ng isang tao na makisalamuha at makipag-usap sa ibang lenggwahe. But then, maybe he's just a linguist or something. Isa iyon sa kailangan niyang malaman kaya mas okay na rin siguro na mapalapit siya rito.

"Mukha ka talagang mayaman," sambit ulit nito nang buksan ang pintuan ng kotse. May ilang taong nakatingin sa kanila pero hindi na lamang niya pinansin.

"How I wish," she muttered and pretended it was a joke. Natawa lang din ito ng mahina.

"Hindi ka mukhang Filipina," komento ni Clyde nang makaupo sa loob ng kotse. Napatingin siya rito. Ngumiti naman ito ng tipid at hinintay ang sagot niya.

Binawi niya ang tingin at tumanaw na lang sa labas ng sasakyan.

If this guy is responsible for his own brother and sister-in-law's death and he knew she's into the case, Klein must be right. She's putting herself at stake.

"Are you living alone? Where are your parents?" he asked again. Huminga siya ng malalim at sumulyap rito.

"Mag-isa lang akong anak," sambit niya bago tumungo. She let a minute passed before speaking again.

"Yong nanay ko nagta-trabaho sa bar dati," iniangat niya ang tingin rito. He's still staring at her. As if weighing the truth in her words.

"She was what you call this..." she swallowed hard.

"sex worker...prostitute," she nearly choked at the words. Clyde didn't withdraw his gaze.

"Nabuntis siya ng foreigner. She's not even sure of his nationality," she stated.

You better be good, Vanna. She told herself before continuing.

"My mother died after I graduated in high school, HIV-AIDS," she narrated.

"I never met my father," she continued. Nangilid ang luha niya pagkabanggit ng pangungusap.

Naiiyak siya dahil sa pangamba na hindi umubra sa binata ang hinahabi niyang kuwento.

Tumingin siya rito. She saw him inhaling deeply.

"I'm sorry," sambit nito. Ngumiti ito ng alanganin. She could see sympathy in his eyes.

Her heart twinged a bit at his reaction. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit na-guilty siya na mukhang pinaniwalaan nito ang kuwento niya, kanina lang gusto niya itong maniwala.

She momentarily closed her eyes and inhaled deeply to calm herself. Pagmulat ng mata niya, nakatitig pa rin ito sa kanya.

"I'm sorry for bringing out the topic," he told her. He looked sincere. Napangiti na lamang siya ng tipid at napatango.

She's convinced. Her suspicion a while ago was wrong. This guy doesn't know anything about her disguise. Gusto lang yata nitong makilala siya.

There was an awfully long silence before Clyde spoke.

"Tell me, how were you able to get through college? Did your relatives help you?" he asked.

"Wala akong kakilalang kamag-anak. Nagtrabaho ako para makapag-aral," maikli niyang tugon. Sana lang hindi na ito magtanong kung saan-saan siya nagtrabaho. Hindi naman sa nahihirapan siyang maghabi ng kuwento pero ayaw niyang madagdagan ang guilt niya.

Ipinilig nya ang ulo. She's on a mission. She must not feel any guilt.

Nagpasalamat siya nang hindi na ito muling nagtanong pa.

Clyde reached for her hand and held it when the car stopped at the university parking area. She wasn't able to react especially when he squeezed it a little. It seemed so sympathetic especially with the look in his eyes.

"Grandfather and I won't be home later," sambit nito. She didn't know why he's saying that. She stared at his hand clasped with hers. Napalunok siya.

"Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa mga bata," dagdag nito.

She stilled when he raised her hand and gently kissed it. She couldn't explain how it feels.

"Take care, honey," he muttered with a smile. His grin wasn't mischievous. It seemed gentle and sincere.

Napatango siya at dali-daling binawi ang kamay bago lumabas ng sasakyan.

She almost held her chest when she went out of the car but she controlled herself.

She inhaled deeply before walking away.

What was that all about?