Project LOKI ①

Chapter 13: Moriar-Tea Party (Part 1)

Come to think of it, this was the first time I saw Loki and Margarette in the same place.

"You still have the guts to come here after what you've done?" She bared her teeth like a dog that would bark and bite at a suspicious stranger. I sensed the seething rage in her voice. "This time, you've brought the next person whom you'll send to the grave."

She must be referring to me, since she had mentioned many times that being associated with Loki was synonymous to being in constant danger.

"I didn't come here to trade barbs, Maggie." Nanatiling kalmado si Loki habang nakatitig sa kausap. Kung iba ang nasa harapan niya, malamang binalikan na niya ng witty remark. "I came here to remember her."

"Remember your sin as well." Inilagay ni Margarette ang dala niyang bulaklak sa tabi ng dalawang basket at nag-alay ng panalangin. "You must never forget the price that Rhea had to pay by befriending you."

"If she were here, do you think she would be happy to see us engage in a word war in front of her grave?" Sandaling napasulyap si Loki sa lapida ng kanilang kaibigan. "I know how much you hate me. I know you may not forgive me. But please save your anger for another day, out of respect for our friend."

"Hate? I despise you." Margarette's lips twitched. Kanina pa siya nagtitimpi. Mula nang makilala ko siya, naramdaman ko nang may matindi siyang pagkamuhi kay Loki. Parang malalim ang pinanghuhugutan niya. It might have something to do with Rhea's death.

"Anyway, we'll take our leave now so my presence won't annoy you any longer." Tumalikod na si Loki at nagsimulang lumakad palayo sa puntod. Sumunod ako sa kanya. "See you around campus."

Lumingon ako kay Margarette na nanatiling nakatayo roon. Tinanggal niya ang kanyang salamin at bahagyang nanginig ang katawan niya. 'Tapos may narinig akong mga hikbi. Was she crying?

Hindi kumibo si Loki hanggang sa marating namin ang entrance ng memorial park. Mukhang may malalim siyang iniisip kaya hindi ko muna siya kinausap. Kung sigurong buhay pa si Rhea ngayon, baka ise-celebrate nila mamaya sa clubroom ang birthday niya.

Habang hinihintay namin ang sasakyan na b-in-ook ni Loki gamit ang app, doon ko na siya tinanong tungkol sa bagay na bumabagabag sa akin. "Do you mind me asking why Margarette resents you so much? Mula no'ng una ko siyang nakausap hanggang kanina, damang-dama ko ang galit niya sa 'yo. Daig mo pa yata ang may ginawang krimen."

Malalim ang buntonghininga ni Loki. "Rhea was not just a friend to Maggie. She's like a sister to her. They were quite close. She warned me about getting Rhea and myself involved in a case that was connected to M. I didn't listen to her. Rhea got killed afterward. Since then, she's been blaming me for what happened to our friend. She'll not miss the opportunity to remind me of it."

Kaya pala gano'n katindi ang galit niya. "Do you think she will ever forgive you?"

Tumingin siya sa akin at napakibit-balikat. "Only time can tell."

PASADO SEVEN o'clock na ng umaga nang nakarating kami ni Loki sa school. Na-late kami ngayon dahil kinailangan pa naming bumalik sa apartment at maligo bago pumasok. Ni hindi na nga ako nakapag-breakfast. Bilang sa mga daliri ko ang mga araw na sabay kaming pumasok. And today was one of those days.

"What do you think of the guy behind us?" tanong niya sabay turo sa estudyanteng nasa likuran namin. Nilakad namin ang covered walkway patungo sa high school building. Kahit late na kami sa classes namin, parang namamasyal kami sa park sa bagal ng aming paglalakad. Hindi problema sa akin ang ma-late dahil kadalasa'y late din ng fifteen minutes ang teacher namin sa first subject.