Vanna didn't know what to say when Cloud pulled her. Nahihiya siyang napatingin kay Clyde. Nakita niya ang natatawa nitong pag-iling. When their eyes met, he pursed his lips and winked. She just knew he didn't buy Cloud's statement.

Naiiling na lang siyang sumunod kay Cloud.

"What was that all about?" she asked when they reached the car park.

"I'm pulling you out of the mission," he said curtly without looking at her. Binitawan nito ang kamay niya. Napatigil siya at napakunot-noo pero itinuloy din ang paglalakad nang makitang walang balak tumigil ang kasama.

"Hop in." Binuksan nito ang passenger's side ng sasakyan. Hindi siya sumakay at humalukipkip lang sa harapan nito. Cloud's reaction became stern. Hindi siya sanay sa ganoong akto ng binata pero hindi siya nagpatinag, tiningnan niya lang ito ng diretso.

She wants an explanation.

"The report of our South Korean Intel already came," he stated. Tumingin pa ito sa paligid. Wala naman siyang napansin ni isang tao, may mga naglalakad sa ibang parte ng car park pero masyadong malayo ang mga ito para marinig ang usapan nila.

"The guy has entries and exits at an airport in South Korea but there is no trace that he'd been wandering along the streets of the country," mahina nitong sambit.

"He may be way too dangerous for you, Star," saad nito sa mababang tono. Napailing siya. That sounded like an insult to her.

"Dangerous for me?" She asked with an ironic smile. Napakunot-noo naman ang binata sa reaksyon niya.

She moved closer to him.

"I've been to a lot more dangerous missions in the past, you exactly know that," madiin niyang saad dito.

"Do you think I can't handle a half-assed Korean?" Natawa siya ng pagak. She averted her gaze. Her jaw clenched as she tried to control her emotion.

Cloud's reaction softened.

"Hindi ko minamaliit ang kakayahan mo. Alam kong kahit ibala ka sa kanyon, kaya mong lusutan," saad nito.

Magsasalita pa sana si Cloud pero inunahan na niya.

"I am not going out of this mission unless I found the culprits and be satisfied of the result," pinal niyang saad sa binata. Nakita niya ang pag-iba ng reaksyon nito. His jaw clenched.

"I am your superior Vanna, do as I say," he said sternly. She could see his muscles tensing. However, instead of feeling nervous about his reaction, she gave him a smirk.

"No, I will finish what I have started," mariin niyang tugon. She didn't want to appear disrespectful but she knew the rule in their agency, once a mission is given to them, they must finish it by hook or by crook.

She has a hunch why Cloud is pulling her out of the mission and she doesn't think it's fair.

Magsasalita pa sana ito pero biglang napatigil at napatingin nang kunot ang noo sa likuran niya. When she turned to see what he's looking at, she saw Clyde walking towards them.

"Lacy, I'm going to Camp Crame. May nagtangka raw na dukutin ang mga bata sa loob mismo ng bahay. I have to see them. Gusto mo bang sumama?" sunod-sunod nitong pahayag. Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapatingin kay Cloud.

"Sama ako," agad niyang sambit. She took that opportunity to escape another confrontation with Cloud.

Cloud's aura turned dark when she glanced at him.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of your WIFE," Clyde stated when she moved towards his side.

Cloud smirk but Clyde only turned his gaze to her.

"Let's go?" anyaya nito. Tumango na lamang siya. They are about to walk towards his car when he stopped and looked at Cloud still standing beside his opened passenger door.

"Your wife? Dream on, man! Nobody is buying your crap," he said sardonically before guiding her towards his car.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit siya biglang nakaramdam ng guilt nang makasakay na sila sa sasakyan ni Clyde. Mas lalo siyang nakunsensya nang madaanan nila itong isinasara pa lang ang nakabukas na pintuan ng sasakyan.

She glanced at Clyde. The man has an air of arrogance. He didn't have to tell those words straight at Cloud's face. Hindi niya alam kung bakit parang nasaktan siya para sa binata pero mas lalo niyang hindi maintindihan kung bakit hindi niya magawang magalit kay Clyde.

"Is he really your husband?" tanong ni Clyde nang makalayo na sila.

She felt the urge to say yes to salvage Cloud's pride from this man but later decided to shake her head. Baka kapag pinatotohanan niya ang sinabi ni Cloud ay mas lalo siyang hindi makapapasok sa mundo nito. Kung totoo ngang mapanganib ang lalaking ito, mas lalo niyang gustong mapalapit rito para malaman kung may illegal itong gawain.

"I thought so. Hindi ka naman sasama sa akin kung totoong asawa mo siya. Isa pa single rin ang nakalagay sa resume mo," nakangiti nitong sambit.

"Hindi ka naman siguro magsisinungaling 'di ba?" Sumulyap ito sa kanya. That sounded different to her ears but she didn't entertain the idea.

"Why would I?" she said softly. Napatango naman ito.

"He sounded like he has authority over you, boyfriend mo na ba?" he asked again.

"Actually, he's my ex-boyfriend who can't get over the breakup," saad niya rito.

"Okay, I get it," he said with a nod. Nagpatuloy ito sa pagmamaneho at hindi na muling nagsalita pa. There was a deafening silence between them for minutes.

Napansin niyang panaka-naka itong tumitingin sa sideview mirror at bumilis din ang pagpapatakbo.

Tumingin din siya sa sideview mirror sa gawi niya. Napakunot-noo siya nang makitang may sasakyang sumusunod sa kanila.

"May problema ba?" painosente niyang tanong sa lalaki.

"Nothing," Clyde glanced with a smile, but she noticed his agitation. Lumiko ito sa isang kalye. Out of way iyon papunta sa Crame. Hindi siya nagsalita at nakiramdam lang.

"May sumusunod sa atin," anunsyo nito nang muling sumulyap sa sideview mirror. Kunwari rin siyang tumingin sa sideview mirror kahit kanina pa niya nakikita ang sasakyang nakasunod sa kanila. Napansin nga niyang may tatlo pang nakamotor.

"Tumawag na kaya tayo ng pulis," sambit niya. She acted feeling nervous though there is no strand of anxiety in her whole being. Kayang-kaya naman niyang patumbahin ang mga sumusunod sa kanila nang hindi nauubos ang bala ng baril niya.

"Huwag na lang muna baka nagkamali lang ako," tugon nito.

"Paano kung pagbabarilin tayo rito? O kaya ay harangan? Ayoko pang mamatay," nag-aalala niyang saad rito.

"Calm down, honey. Ako'ng bahala," saad nito.

"You mean kaya mo silang labanan?" tanong niya rito.

Sumulyap ito sa kanya. She tried to hide her eagerness to know that side of him.

"Nope but I can do this. Hold on to your seatbelt, honey," he told her. Kasabay no'n ay ang pagbilis ng takbo ng sasakyan. Pakiramdam niya ay nasa car racing siya. She knew that because she joins car racing sometimes. Iyon ang silbi ng Ferrari niya sa bahay nila.

Marami itong nilagpasang sasakyan at nilikuang kalye. Bibilis ito ng takbo tapos biglang kakabig paliko sa kung saan-saan. Her heart is racing fast. When she thinks they'd bump to a car or a building, he'd flawlessly get away. Ilang liko pa ang ginawa nito hanggang sa sumulpot ulit sila sa highway at wala na rin ang mga sasakyang sumusunod sa kanila.

"They're gone," he told her few minutes later. Bumitaw siya sa seatbelt. Hindi siya nagsalita. No one could do that nerve-racking car ride without proper training. Lumakas ang hinala niyang miyembro ito ng isang lihim na organisasyon.

"Hey, we're safe," untag nito nang di siya nagsalita.

"Are you okay? Nabigla ka ba sa bilis ng pagpapatakbo ko?" may pag-aalala sa tono nito.

Huminga siya ng malalim at tiningnan ito. She's trying to recall what particular organization, syndicated or mafia group could do that skill in driving.

"I'm sorry," he told her. Huminga siya ng malalim bago tumango.

Sa Camp Crame na sila tumuloy nang mailihis ang mga sumusunod sa kanila.

Agad na tumakbo ang dalawang bata papunta kay Clyde nang makita nila ito. They were crying. She watched as Clyde pacified them. Nabigla pa siya nang tumakbo palapit sa kanya ang dalawang bata pagkakita sa kanya.

"Teacher Lacy," Cherine hugged her first. Nagulat pa siya nang pati si Devine ay lumapit para yumakap. She could feel how the kids need a mother's hug or a woman's hug at least. Dalawang araw pa lang naman niyang nakakausap ang mga ito pero kung yumakap ay parang matagal na siyang nakasama ng mga ito. She hugged them both. Napatingin siya sa ibang direksyon nang parang nanubig ang mga mata niya.

P.S. May kasunod pa.