Project LOKI ③

Prologue

LORELEI

I AM ready. I have prepared myself for this day.

"Saan ka pupunta, Lorie?" tanong ni Rosetta nang magkita kaming dalawa sa may hagdanan. "And what's with the serious face? May nangyari ba?"

Sinubukan kong magmukhang normal na parang walang ibang bagay na iniisip. With all the things that happened, my mind has been preoccupied with theories. Kaya sigurong laging malayo ang tingin ko o kaya'y nakakunot ang aking noo.

"I will meet someone somewhere." Pinilit kong ngumiti upang mawala ang pagdududa ng classmate ko. "Medyo kinakabahan lang ako."

"Is it Loki? Bumalik na ba siya sa school?"

Umiling ako. "He's not yet feeling well. Or maybe, he isn't in the mood to come to school."

"Oooh. I wonder kung sinong ime-meet mo ngayon. Anyway, send my regards to Loki! And to Alistair as well. I kinda missed him sa klase. Sana'y magising na siya."

Rosetta waved her hand as she bade me farewell. Hinintay ko muna siyang mawala sa aking peripherals bago ako nagpatuloy sa pag-akyat sa hagdan.

No one knows who I am meeting with or where I am going. I'd like to keep this upcoming conversation between me and that person in private.

I don't know if it's the perfect timing to confront the face of evil. Loki's in the apartment. Jamie did not come to school. Alistair still hasn't regained his consciousness.

I am alone. But I know that I can do it. Para saan pa ba ang pagiging member ko ng Q.E.D. Club kung hindi ko kayang lutasin ang isang simpleng problema?

Yes, the problem was so simple that we failed to see the most obvious answer. It has been staring us in the face but we chose to look away. Everyone was deceived, even the person with the most logical mind in the campus.

Somehow I felt that the whole scenario was weird. It's already four o'clock in the afternoon pero wala ni isang estudyante akong nakasalubong sa pag-akyat ko sa hagdanan.

I went on until I reached the door to the rooftop. Tumigil muna ako sa harapan nito, huminga nang malalim at hinawakan ang stun pen na nasa bulsa ko.

It's now time for the moment of truth.

Hinawakan ko ang doorknob at dahan-dahang itinulak ito palabas. My eyes were greeted by the blinding flash of light outside. Nang makapag-adjust na ang mga mata ko, I saw someone's figure near the edge. His hands were behind his back. And of course, I will never forget mentioning about his signature feature: his chilling aura.

I know that you have already met him, but let me introduce him again to you: Luthor Mendez a.k.a. Moriarty.

"You took your time, Lorelei." His voice was so chilling that it almost gave me colds. He slowly turned to me, his frozen face devoid of any emotion greeted me.

"Sorry, late kasi kaming dinismiss ng instructor namin. I hope na hindi ka naghintay nang matagal."

Napakapit ako sa aking stun pen habang dahan-dahang naglalakad papunta sa kaniya. Biglang nanginig ang mga tuhod ko na tila bibigay anumang sandali.

Keep calm, Lorelei. Hindi ko dapat ipahalata sa lalaking 'to na alam ko na ang katotohanan.

"So," he gave me his usual cold stare, "is there any particular reason why you called me out here?"

Napalunok ako ng laway. Natagalan akong sumagot dahil parang may pumipigil sa lalamunan ko na magsalita.

I'm already face to face with Moriarty. There's no turning back now.