"Susundan ko sana ang tita Lacy n'yo kaya lang may nakita akong dating kakilala," tugon ni Clyde sa bata. Sumulyap pa ito sa kanya. There was something in his stare.
Kinabahan siya pero hindi niya iyon ipinahalata. Pare-pareho lang silang natahimik hanggang sa natapos ang mga bata sa kinakaing dessert.
Clyde was awfully silent on their way home. Inihatid muna nila ang mga bata saka naman siya inihatid sa apartment.
The silence was deafening inside his car but her mind was restless. Umuukilkil sa utak niya na maaaring ang binata ang kasama niyang nakipaglaban kanina.
"There's something I want to tell you, Lacy," Clyde uttered. Itinabi nito ang sasakyan.
She got nervous when he stared at her. Napatuwid siya ng upo.
"Kanina sa restaurant," umpisa nito. She felt her muscles tensing. She tried hard not to rub her palms.
She swallowed a bit.
"May nakita ako," dagdag nito. Hindi siya nilubayan ng titig nito. Her heart raced and she tried so hard to ignore. She needs to be calm and alert.
Pinakiramdaman niya ang bawat galaw ng binata. Kung nabuko siya sa ginagawa, kailangan niyang maging handa.
She waited for him to speak as his eyes were glued on hers.
He was about to say something but he shook his head instead.
"Damn brown eyes!" he hissed with gritted teeth. Nag-iba ito ng tingin. He saw how he smirked as he gripped the steering wheel. Matiim itong tumingin sa harapan.
She swallowed hard and inhaled deeply.
"A-nong nakita mo?" lakas-loob niyang tanong nang 'di na ito muling nagsalita pa. Sumulyap ito sa kanya pero naiiling na ibinalik ang tingin sa daan.
Nakita niya ang paghinga nito ng malalim.
Hinintay niya itong magsalita pero walang namutawi sa bibig nito. He shook his head once again.
"I'll tell you when I am ready," he uttered as he switched the engine.
Hanggang sa maihatid siya nito ay walang nagsalita sa kanila. There wasn't even any goodnight or good bye. Inihatid lang siya nito sa tapat ng pintuan niya bago tahimik na umalis.
***
Pagpasok niya sa apartment ay agad niyang inilabas ang quadmonitor na laptop. She needs to hasten her investigation.
She slid the monitors on the sides and at the top. Naging apat ang monitor ng laptop niya. One monitor is searching about gold mining in Asia. 'Yong isa ay pictures ng serial numbers sa mga baril ni Clyde para matitigan niyang maigi. Ang isa naman ay pinaprocess ang serial numbers baka sakaling may ka-match itong code at ang isa pang monitor naman ay naka-flash ang whereabouts ng matandang Lee.
She got a bit frustrated nang wala ni isang pumapasok sa utak niya. Idagdag pa ang mukha ni Clyde na pumapasok sa utak niya. Mukhang may gusto itong sabihin pero inalala kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya kaya hindi itinuloy.
Was he about to tell her what happened at the parking area? Ayaw niyang isiping ganoon nga pero alam niyang malaki ang posibilidad na ito nga ang kasama niya kaninang nakipaglaban.
She flashed the serial numbers on the wall to scrutinize them further. Hinila niya ang upuan at humarap sa pader.
95GB35R9K51S85CHR2J4X5BP242
2D3B76RL721SLKC6RA9M4YB748Q
They were random numbers and letters. It took her three good minutes to notice something common with them.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd
ActionVanna Lei is shrewd and strong. Nobody can tear her down. Not even love? ***** Vanna Lei is one of the best agents in the International Forces. She was trained to combat even the toughest of underground syndicates. Kaya noong binigyan siya ng misyo...
