Dumiretso sila sa pentsuite niya sa hotel. Clyde also followed. Nagpaiwan pa ito nang umalis si Cristina.

"What do you plan to do?" tanong nito nang sila na lamang ang magkaharap na nakaupo sa lounge area ng suite. His eyes were roaming on the CCTV monitors at the top end of the walls.

"I'll wait for his call," sambit niya. She feels tired, but didn't want to sleep just yet.

"What if he was captured by now? Uupo lang kayo?" tanong nito.

"Kakampi ka ba talaga o kalaban?" she eyed him with a smirk. She felt like he's prying. Hindi naman natinag ang binata sa tanong niya.

"I knew how the NoKor armies work. They don't waste time. If they can't get what they want, they'd kill him without a second thought," he stated. She believes what he's saying. Mas kilala nito ang mga dating kasamahan kaysa sa kanya pero hindi siya naniniwalang papatayin na lang ng mga ito si Cloud ng ganun-ganon lang.

"Bakit hindi ka nila pinatay?" tanong niya rito. She gauged his reaction once again.

"I gave them what they want and I maintained my silence," he answered without batting an eye. Napatango siya. That speaks a lot about NoKor's word of honor and how they attack people.

"If your boyfriend gives them what they want, he could have his peace. Kailangan niya 'yong malaman," dagdag nito.

They want IF to be an ally in raging a war. Mother Uni Verse will never agree with it much more Cloud. Hinding-hindi nila makukuha ang gusto nila mula sa IF.

"Hindi ka naniniwala sa akin?" nanunukat nitong tanong nang hindi siya magsalita. She inhaled deeply and stared at him.

"Ipinadala ka ba nila para iparating 'yang mensaheng 'yan para pumayag siya sa kagustuhan nila?" balik-tanong niya rito. She didn't know why she's asking the question. Alam naman niyang imposibleng aminin nito ang totoo kung sakali.

"If I am still working for them, I would've handed you to them after knowing that you are special to the head of IF," he told her.

She drew a deep breath. He was right. Iyon nga rin ang isa sa rason kaya ayaw siyang lumabas ni Cloud, para hindi siya magamit laban rito.

"Kung nahuli nila ang boyfriend mo, tutulungan kitang hanapin siya para patunayan na hindi mo ako kalaban," saad nito nang hindi siya nagsalita.

"Hindi ko lang din talaga maintindihan kung bakit sa lahat ng head ng IF sa buong mundo, ang head ng Pilipinas ang tinatarget nila," nagtataka nitong saad.

"I knew that Philippines is the best gateway to the pacific but I think there is more to that," dagdag nito.

She knew why but, she remained silent. Nagkibit-balikat lang siya.

Pareho silang tahimik hanggang sa parehong tumunog ang hawak nilang cellphone. She immediately got up and went inside the room. Naiwan ang binata sa lounge area at sinagot din ang tawag.

"Son!" It was Mother Uni Verse on the line. Saka lang niya naalalang kay Cloud nga pala ang hawak niyang cellphone.

"Mother Uni," she responded.

"Star, where's Cloud?" agad nitong tanong.

"Hindi ko po alam. Hindi pa niya ako kino-contact," tugon niya rito. She's not sure if Mother Uni already knew what happened earlier.

"Bakit nasa 'yo ang cellphone niya?" tanong nito.

"I've been calling him since this morning but he was out of reach. I was about to tell him to leave the NoKor's camp. Nalaman kasi nila na napasok ng IF ang grupo nila," dagdag ng ginang.

"Po?" nagtataka niyang tanong. Ibig sabihin bago pa siya dinala roon ni Clyde, alam na ng mga ito na nasa loob ng kampo ang grupo ni Cloud. It wasn't them who jeopardized Cloud's mission.

"I am in Japan right now with Cloud's dad. We're planning how to catch those culprits raging a nonsense war," sambit ng ginang.

She wasn't able to react on that matter. Nagkausap na rin pala ang dalawa. Akala niya magkalaban ang mga ito.

"Are you still there?" tanong nito. She inhaled deeply before narrating what happened earlier. Nakinig lang naman ito sa linya.

"Paano kung hawak ng NoKor si Cloud?" She asked after narrating. Pakiramdam niya ay para siyang batang nagsusumbong sa ina. Rinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga ng ginang.

"We'll find him. Don't worry too much," Uni Verse told her calmly. Lumuwag ng kaunti ang sikip sa dibdib niya.

"I have to hang up now. I'll call you back, I promise," saad nito bago namatay ang linya.

She went out of the room a little relieved. Agad na lumapit sa kanya si Clyde paglabas niya ng kuwarto.

"May balita na tungkol sa kanya," saad nito. It took a few seconds before she realized it was a statement not a question.

Iniangat nito ang phone. Her heart raced when she saw Cloud's picture being dragged towards an airplane.

"According to my source, they are taking him to Japan. Hindi nga lamang niya alam kung bakit doon dadalhin," pahayag nito.

His statement arranged like puzzles in her head. Nandoon sa Japan ang global head ng IF at ang ama ni Cloud. It may be possible that they already knew he is Mother Uni's son.

She didn't waste a minute. Nagpaalam siya sa binata at muling pumasok sa loob ng kuwarto. She called their global head to inform her about it.

Sinabihan naman siya nitong sila na ang bahala at tatawagan na lamang siya sa magiging resulta.

She tried to calm down that night. She was able to sleep. Clyde slept at the lounge area. Hindi na lamang niya itinaboy ang binata. He's been harmless anyway.

She went home the next morning greeted with a news that Liam had found the woman he loves and he's fixing everything. Mabuti pa ang kakambal umaayos na ang buhay.

She didn't tell him about Cloud's situation when they spoke. Hindi na rin naman ito parte ng IF.

Nakikibalita siya sa mga kasamahan ng mga sumunod na araw pero walang makapagbigay sa kanila ng detalye. When she called Mother Uni, she only told her that they are doing everything to secure Cloud's well-being. She said they were under negotiations, but did not disclose any details.

Ilang araw siyang hindi mapakali. Nang manganak ang asawa ni Liam at iniuwi nito sa bahay ang mga anak, pinilit niyang maging masaya para sa kapatid. Even when they started planning for their wedding, she tried to be happy for them. She didn't want to spoil her family's happiness.

PERO pakiramdam niya ay ayaw na niyang tumagal pa na wala si Cloud dahil lumalaki na ang tiyan niya. She's been wearing lose shirts to hide her tummy. Gusto niya kasing kasama si Klein kapag ini-announce sa pamilya niya ang pagdadalang-tao. Baka kasi magwala ang ama niya kapag sinabi niya ang sitwasyon nang hindi kaharap si Klein.

After Liam's church wedding, she had to pull away from the crowd. Tinatanong kasi ng mga magulang niya kung nasaan si Cloud at sinabi lang niyang busy pa at susunod na lang sa reception.

She was on her way out when she noticed Clyde following her. Naging komportable na rin ito sa pamilya nila. He's getting along well with her father. May business deal na rin yata ang dalawa. Hindi naman niya pinakiaalaman.

Hindi na rin naman ito masyadong nakabantay sa kanya pero parati pa rin nitong tinatanong kung kailangan nito ng tulong sa paghahanap kay Klein Rich.

"Where are you going?" tanong nito nang huminto siya.

"Hindi ko na talaga mahintay ang agency namin. It's been weeks. Ni wala akong balita kung nasaan na si Klein Rich," nanghihina ang loob niyang saad. Clyde stared at her.

"I actually know where he is," saad nito.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?" kunot-noo niyang tanong rito.

"That's why I've been asking if you needed my help. Ayaw lang kitang pangunahan," tugon naman nito. Huminga siya ng malalim. Naintindihan naman niya ang binata. Hindi naman talaga ito obligado at ayaw na rin siguro nitong makisali sa gulo hangga't maaari.

"Could you help me?" tanong niya rito. He nodded in response.

They immediately went to her pent suite to plan how to rescue Klein. Tinawag rin niya ang mga kasamahan. Fire and Mars came in just 5 minutes. Sumunod na dumating sina Wind at Sky.

"I can't wait for our International correspondents, we need to take him out of there by ourselves," Vanna told them. Hindi nakapagreact agad ang apat. Nagkatinginan ang mga ito.

Sinabi niya sa mga ito ang mga impormasyong nakuha ni Clyde sa dating kasamahan.

"I want to get him out of there. Will you help me?" she asked them.

"Sigurado ka ba sa mga impormasyong 'yan, Star?" tanong ni Cristina sumulyap pa ito kay Clyde. She eyed him with skepticism. She looked at Clyde apologetically before she nodded at Cristina.

"Noong tinawagan ako ni mother Uni na nasa Japan sila, sakto namang sinabi ng kakilala ni Clyde na dadalhin siya sa Japan. Clyde's resources are legit," she told them.

Tumingin siya sa mga lalaki. Hindi naman nag-react ang mga ito.

"Kung gagawin natin ito at masisira ang plano ng global head, patay tayong lahat," Sky commented. Huminga siya ng malalim. She understood his point. She's asking them to break the rules.

"I know," she said inhaling deeply.

"But if we rescue Cloud, which I know we can, we'll gain her respect," pangungumbinsi niya.

"Fire," baling ni Wind sa kasamahan. Fire's reaction was blank.

"Kung ayaw n'yo, kami na lang ni Clyde ang pupunta," determinado niyang pahayag. Batid niyang, hindi niya maaaring pilitin ang mga ito.

"Sasama ako," Mars stated. Mukhang tutol pa si Sky nang tumingin ito kay Cristina.

"We're going," Fire announced. His voice echoed. Natigilan pa sila ng panandalian. She smiled at him. The others agreed, too.

The next thing she knew, they already planning. Clyde help them plan how to get inside NoKor's camp in Japan and a few escape routes upon rescuing Klein.

They needed Sky as a sniper and Wind as a hacker. Sila namang tatlo nina Fire at Mars ang in-charge sa tactical combats at papasok mismo sa loob.

When everything was set, the four boarded on a private plane to Japan i at dawn.

Sumunod naman sila ni Clyde na sumakay sa pribadong eroplano para sundan ang apat matapos ang limang oras. Kailangang magkakahiwalay sila ng sasakyang panghimpapawid para hindi mahalata ang sabwatang nagaganap.

None of them knew, she was pregnant. Ayaw rin niyang sabihin dahil baka hindi siya payagan ng mga itong sumama.

She's nervous, but she knew that desperate moment calls for desperate measures.

She boarded on the plane with high hopes to rescue Cloud. 

*****Three more chapters and this story will end with  another BANG! Charot. Salamat po sa lahat ng sumusubaybay. Thank you for making her number 1 in Action over and over again kahit hindi masyadong maaksyon. Hahaha! Leave it, jazlykdat (just like that)