The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd

Chapter 48: Empathy

"Nasaan ka? Are you okay?" Nag-alalang tanong ni Vanna Lei sa nobyo nang angatin ang tawag nito. Nasa loob na siya ng kuwarto.

"Yes, sweetheart. Nilinis lang namin ang paligid ng agency," tugon naman nito. Nakahinga pa siya ng maluwag.

"Who are those men Cloud? Why are we being attacked? Has it something to do with Clyde?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

"Walang alam 'yang si Clyde tungkol sa IF. He's no longer working for NoKor. We found out that he separated," he told her. Huminga siya ng malalim. Clyde was telling the truth then.

"He knows your dad. Alam niyang hinahanap ka niya. Do you know that your father is an ally to the NoKor?" tanong niya.

"Yes," Cloud answered. She heard him inhaling deeply.

"We received a report that they are in the country. Matagal na pala silang nagpapabalik-balik dito. They are planning to rage a world war," he exposed. That added to her confusion.

"Five years ago, those black men we fought were actually looking for potential nuclear weapon launching sites."

She remained silent and only listened to Cloud.

"They saw that our country is the best location to launch missiles to the western countries," he added.

"Balak rin nilang gamiting bakod ang bansa natin laban sa US kasama ng mga katapat nating bansa sa north at south."

Napatango siya kahit hindi siya nakikita ng binata. It shed some light to her, but it added more questions in her head.

"I don't understand why I am being attacked. Bakit ako ang babarilin kanina? Do you know something?" she asked. That has been puzzling her a while back. Kanina pa niya iniisip na maaaring tama ang mga sinasabi ni Clyde.

"They want to get the IF as an ally. My mom refused to," sambit ni Klein. She found his answer indirect and vague.

"Iyon lang ba?" tanong niya rito. There was an utterly short silence before Cloud spoke.

"Basta mag-ingat ka. I don't want you getting hurt. Be alert all the time."

His answer made her think that Clyde may be right.

"Pero alam mo ba kung sino ang gustong bumaril sa akin?" tanong niyang muli. She's hoping to get more information from Cloud.

"I am not sure. We'll still investigate," tugon nito.

"Is it really your dad?" pangungulit niya. If it's about Klein's father, she's willing to cooperate and help.

"Basta huwag muna tayong magkita, Vanna. Promise me you'll be careful, okay?"

"So tama si Clyde? Your father is after me?" giit niya rito.

"He may be right...or he may be wrong. Basta mag-ingat ka."

Magsasalita pa sana siya pero namatay na ang linya. Hindi pa naman kasi niya sinasabi kung ano ang eksaktong pahayag ni Clyde tungkol sa intention ng ama nito pero sumagot na agad ang binata ng ganoon. It seems like he knew exactly what is happening and he's refusing to tell her everything.

She tried to call him back, but his phone was already turned off. That made her static for few minutes before finally resigning from her thoughts.

*****

Vanna couldn't sleep. Madaling araw na pero dilat pa rin ang mga mata niya. She decided to go down for a glass of milk. Ayaw niyang manggising ng kasambahay kaya siya na mismo ang bumaba.