"Puwedeng inside job ang nangyari," saad ng opisyal ng pulis nang makausap na nila ito. Hindi humiwalay ang dalawang bata sa kanila. Ayaw ng mga itong magpaiwan kaya kahit sa loob ng opisina ay kasama ang mga ito.

Napatingin si Clyde sa kanya. Hindi naman siya nagsalita at tahimik lang na nakinig. The police officer told them that someone from the inside may have let the intruders came in or someone may have given the kidnappers the blueprint of the house. Kaya madali nilang nahalughog ang bahay.

Hindi binanggit ng mga pulis kung sinu-sino ang nagligtas sa mga bata kaya hindi tuluyang nadukot ang mga ito.

While she was listening, she noticed how Clyde glanced at her once in while. Hindi ito nagsalita.

Even when they were going home, he was awfully silent, but he stares at her once in a while. Sa ibang bahay ng mga Lee sa San Juan sila tumuloy.

The kids didn't want them to go out of the room. That's why they waited for them to sleep before they went out. May guwardya nang nakatalaga kahit sa loob ng kuwarto ng mga bata. Magkatabi rin ang mga itong natulog.

They were walking at the deserted hallway when Clyde stopped and stared at her. His aura is foreboding. Her heart raced when he pinned her against the wall. Inilapit nito ang mukha sa mukha niya.

"Ngayon pa lang umamin ka na?" mariin nitong bigkas. Hinawakan nito ang leeg niya. She automatically held his wrist. Handa na sana niyang labanan ito pero naisip niyang magdududa ito sa kanya kapag ginawa niya iyon. She swallowed hard instead. Medyo madiin ang pagkakahawak nito sa leeg niya,

"What were you doing in the third floor?" he asked again. His jaw clenched. He looked like he's ready to kill her. Napalunok siya.

"Kasabwat ka ba ng mga nagtangkang dumukot sa mga bata?" tanong nito. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa leeg niya. She's almost choking.

"What? Hindi ko magagawa 'yan. N-naghanap lang ako ng CR noon," paliwanag niya. Tumitig ito sa mga mata niya. Pinigilan niya ang sariling manlaban rito. Humigpit ulit ang pagkakahawak nito sa leeg niya. Nakaramdam siya ng kirot. She thought he'd really choke her so she started counting. Kapag lumagpas sa limang segundo at di siya binitiwan, she can't do anything but to protect herself.

"I'm sorry."

Wala pang apat na segundo ay binitawan na siya ni Clyde.

She cough after he released her. Tumingin ito sa kanya nang masahiin niya ang leeg na hinawakan nito.

"I don't mean to offend nor hurt you," he muttered. Hindi siya nagsalita. Ang totoo mas nagpapasalamat pa siya dahil napatunayan niyang wala talaga itong alam tungkol sa trabaho niya at ang tunay na ugnayan nila ni Cloud.

"I think I need to cool down. I'll drop you off at your place, now," sambit nito. Hinapo nito ang ulo at nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya.

"Kahit hindi na," tugon niya rito.

"No. I insist," he said. Hindi na lamang siya sumagot at naglakad na.

They were already walking towards the door when the old man, Mr. Lee came in with an angry face.

"Where are the kids?!" mataas ang boses nitong tanong.

"Natutulog na, gran---"

"You see what happened?! You really are stupid!" asik nito kay Clyde. Ni hindi naituloy ng binata ang sasabihin. Kahit siya ay nagulat sa galit ng matanda.

"Bumalik ka nga. Wala ka namang silbi!" dagdag pa nito. She wasn't able to react. Clyde glanced at her. Ramdam niya ang pagkapahiya nito.

"Ms. Elejorde, nandiyan ka pala," sambit ng matanda nang mapansin siya. Medyo bumaba ang tono nito nang tumingin sa kanya.

"Nadamay ka rin ba sa gulo kanina?" tanong nito. Sasagot na sana siya pero muli itong nagsalita.

"Pasensya ka na, wala talagang silbi 'yang apo ko. He should've kept the security tight. Ibang-iba talaga sa kapatid niya," dagdag ng matanda. Napatingin siya kay Clyde. Namumula ang tainga nito. Naawa siya rito. Now, she understood why he went off before.

"Kung mas magaling siya sa akin sana wala siya sa hukay ngayon," matapang namang tugon ni Clyde.

Napipi siya sa sagutan ng dalawa. Nakita niya ang mas lalong pagngalit ng matanda.

"Tara na, Lacy. Ihatid na kita," sambit ni Clyde bago pa man makapagsalita ang matanda. Ni hindi na siya nakapagpaalam dahil hinila na siya ng binata.

Tahimik sila pareho nang nasa sasakyan na. Hindi rin niya alam kung ano ang dapat sabihin.

"That's how he treats me," putol nito sa katahimikan. Resentment ang anger is evident on his voice.

"Galit lang siguro ang lolo mo kaya niya nasabi ang bagay na 'yon," saad niya rito. Clyde shook his head. He doesn't look convinced.

"When people get mad, they say something they don't actually mean. He's just angry, huwag mo nang pansinin," dagdag niya.

"Maybe yes," he laughed ironically.

"Unfortunately for me, my grandfather is mad all the time," sarkastiko nitong dagdag.

Hindi na lamang siya nagsalita. Huminga siya ng malalim. She's thinking that this guy may really be innocent of their suspicions. Kung may balak ang mga lalaki sa restaurant kanina na patayin ito, may banta nga talaga sa buhay ng buong pamilya at kasali ito roon.

She inhaled deeply when she started feeling sorry for him and how his grandfather treated him.

"Sorry for my outburst a while ago. Hindi ko dapat ginawa 'yon sa 'yo," he said when he stopped the car. Mukha talaga itong nagsisisi.

"Naiintindihan kita," sambit na lamang niya bago bumaba ng sasakyan. For a new tutor wandering around inside their house, she thinks it was natural for him to suspect her.

"Good night," sambit pa nito bago niya tuluyang isara ang pinto.

***

She felt like she was drained when she get inside her apartment. Agad siyang nahiga. What happened gave a new light to what is really happening. The culprit is really an outsider. Pero sino ang nagbigay ng access sa mga itong makapasok sa bahay? She needs to find out the third party security team.

Ilang minuto siyang nakatunganga sa kisame bago niya naisipang buksan ang mga gadgets. The moment her phone was turned on, a voice spoke on her earpiece.

"Agent Star."

Boses pa lang kilalang-kilala na niya ang nagsalita.

"Mother Universe," she muttered as she forcibly closed her eyes. Universe is their global head. Marahil ay nakarating na rito ang ginawa niya kay Cloud kanina.

"I heard you slammed your superior," she told her. She inhaled deeply. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Iniisip na agad niya kung ano ang maaaring parusa niya dahil sa ginawa.

"He's pulling me out on a mission which I already started. I don't think that's fair," Vanna explained.

"Don't you think your superior knows what's best?" she asked ironically. Pakiramdam niya ay pinamulahan siya. She knew when Universe is scolding her in a subtle way.

"He's only jealous," halos hindi iyon lumabas sa bibig niya. She heard Universe's laughter on the line.

"You're really stubborn. You should always follow your superior," sambit ng head. Her tone changed. Nakahinga siya ng maluwag. She thought she'd really give her punishment for not taking Cloud's order.

"I know which rule to follow," tugon niya rito na ikinatawa ulit nito.

"Kung hindi ka lang magaling na agent, baka ipinalibing na kita," sambit nito.

"So am I spared?" she asked. Gumaan ng kaunti ang loob niya.

"Pasalamat ka paborito kita sa lahat ng agents ko." The woman laughed again. That made her breath lightly.

"Shall I thank you?" she joked. Tumawa ulit ang ginang.

"Never forget that you are enjoying the field because Cloud assumed the role you are supposed to do," seryoso nitong saad. Huminga siya ng malalim. Alam naman kasi niya na noong mapu-promote dapat siya ay hindi siya puwedeng tumanggi pero ipinaglaban niya pa rin. Good thing, Cloud made an agreement with Universe.

"And also do not ever forget, once he imposes his right, you have to abide," dagdag nito.

Once he imposes his right...

She inhaled deeply. She doesn't want to dwell on that part.

"Can I hang up now?" she asked. No one had the guts to do that to Universe except her. They both knew why.

"Remember that Cloud gets to decide when the Star would shine," she said instead of answering her.

Huminga ulit siya ng malalim.

"I know you planned everything, Mrs. Uni Verse Kaye Saturday," she said boldly at her superior. Never did any agent referred to the head by that name.

"What?" tanong ng ginang mula sa kabilang linya.

"Mrs. Uni Verse Kaye Saturday," she repeated.

"How did you know my real name?"

Napangisi siya sa tanong nito.

"I have ways to know the enemy," Vanna told her seriously. Gusto lang naman niyang iparating rito na hindi na siya nito puwedeng paglaruan ulit.

"Am I? Hanggang ngayon ako pa rin ang pinaghihinalaan mo." Tumawa ito ng nakakaloko.

She didn't answer.

"Cloud is on his way to your apartment. You may want to start hiding," saad ni Universe nang makahuma mula sa pagtawa.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo.

"You cannot run away from your destiny, Star," she added before the line went dead.

She almost rolled her eyes hearing that from her. Kasabay ng pagkawala nito sa linya ay ang mahihinang katok naman sa pintuan.

She inhaled deeply as she opened it.

"Klein," she muttered as she look at his hand holding a pillow.

"Para kang tanga," sambit niya habang niluluwagan ang bukas ng pintuan. Para kasi itong pinalayas sa bahay ng disoras ng gabi at unan lang ang nadala.

"I can't sleep. Dito muna ako," saad nito. Dumiretso ito sa kama. Nagtanggal agad ng sapatos at sumampa na sa kama.

"You can't just come here and sleep in my bed just like that," she lazily muttered as she looked at him.

"I can't sleep in that empty house," mahina nitong sambit. Tumitig ito sa kanya. Her heart skipped a beat. Alam na niya ang mga ganitong tono ni Klein.

"I am going to sleep here, end of conversation," he added. He moved aside near the wall leaving a space for her. Then, covered his eyes with his hands.

She helplessly drew a heavy sigh.