The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd

Chapter 14: Start of War?

Umusog si Vanna pero sa halip na palayo ay mas lumapit pa siya kay Clyde. She smirked as she put her phone inside her bag. Walang lalaki ang puwedeng magdikta sa kanya kung ano ang nararapat niyang gawin. Magalit na ito kung magalit pero gagawin niya ang mga bagay na naaayon sa kagustuhan niya.

Ano nga ba ang kagustuhan niya?

She shrugged the thought off and looked at Clyde instead.

The man smiled at what she did. Tikom ang bibig nito pero nanunudyo ang mga matang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Bakit bawal bang lumapit sa 'yo?" Pinagtaasan niya ito ng kilay na ikinatawa nito ng mahina. His chuckle warmed her heart. Napansin na lamang niya ang sarili na nakikitawa ng mahina.

Napatikhim siya nang ma-realize kung ano ang ginagawa niya.

The kids stared at them with a puzzled look. Nagkatinginan pa sila na ni Clyde. The latter winked at her. She averted her gaze when she felt the familiar racing of her heartbeats. Tumingin siya sa direksyong tinungo kanina ni Cloud, wala na ito roon.

Her heart leaped when Clyde's hand clasped her waist and pulled her closer. Natuliro siya at hindi agad naka-react.

Naturally, she would've reacted violently no matter how delicate the situation is but to her surprise, her cheeks felt hot, and when the kids looked at them and squealed "yieeehhh," her lips curved involuntarily into a smile.

She had never felt her heart fluttered this way before and she just knew SHE IS DOOMED. Totally.

She kept telling herself, it couldn't be happening. She can't be falling that fast. Not to a stranger like Clyde.

Pero sa tuwing susulyap siya sa binatang nagmamaneho ng sasakyan, mas lalo niyang nararamdaman ang eksaheradong pagtibok ng puso niya.

She inhaled deeply to stabilize her heart but it keeps beating fast. She felt uneasy. Kailangan na yata niyang tumigil sa pag-inom ng kape.

Naiuwi na nila ang mga bata at patungo na sila sa apartment niya. Pakiramdam niya ang tagal nilang makarating. Sinasadya yata nitong bagalan ang pagpapatakbo.

Napatingin siya rito nang itigil nito ang sasakyan sa isang hindi mataong parke.

"Let's take a walk?" anyaya nito sa kanya. Hindi siya dapat pumayag pero parte ng utak niya ang sumang-ayon kaya't tumango na lamang siya. Magkasabay silang lumabas ng sasakyan nito.

Clyde's hand were on his pockets as they walk towards a nearby bench.

Pareho silang tumigil sa tapat ng bench nang walang salita. She waited for him to speak but he remained silent. She could only hear his heavy breathing.

Nang hindi niya ito mahintay na magsalita ay naupo na lamang siya sa bench. Clyde looked at her as if trying to figure out what to say.

Napalunok siya nang lumapit ito at naupo sa tabi niya. She didn't look at him. Pasimple siyang tumingin sa paligid. There are few people walking around but none of them looks suspicious.

Naiisip niya tuloy kung may banta ba talaga sa buhay nito. This is a good chance for enemies to kill him if ever. Well, not that good because she's still around.

She stared back at him. Her thoughts lingered to the unknown code in his guns and how it is connected to the tattoo of the men who attacked her.

"Have you read my letter?" he asked. Napatango siya. He said in his note that there were two reasons why he intivited her to gaze at the stars.

"So, what's the second reason?" she asked.

Clyde inhaled deeply. Mukha itong nag-isip ng malalim.