Project LOKI ②

Chapter 24: The Reichenbach Resonance (Part 2)

"No, but this is a good opportunity to learn a new skill. I taught myself how to pick locks when my brother intentionally locked me out of our house."

"Loki, there are lives at stake here!" I scolded him, my hands on my waist. "Hindi mo puwedeng gawing test subject ang sitwasyon na 'to."

"And we can't take chances with people's lives," Alistair said in my defense. "We need to do something to avoid having more casualties."

"Lorelei!"

We turned around to see Sir Jim Morayta running in our direction. A grave look was etched on his face as if something bad happened. Nang nagawi ang tingin niya kay Loki, walang bahid ng pagkagulat na makita siya rito. This was their first meeting since the café confrontation. Loki suspected him to be the face and name behind the criminal mastermind. It turned out that he was wrong.

"Hinahanap ko kayo sa clubroom pero wala kayo roon." Inayos muna ni Sir Morayta ang pagkakalagay ng salamin niya bago inilabas ang kaniyang phone. There was some sense of urgency in his tone. "What I'm about to tell you shouldn't be leaked to other students. Otherwise, magkakaroon ng panic at baka maraming masaktan."

Nagawi ang tingin niya sa dalawa pa naming kasama. His facial expression told me that he was skeptical of sharing it in the presence of Alistair and Jamie. Na-meet na niya ang childhood friend ko sa General Mathematics classes namin, pero si Jamie ay mukhang hindi pa.

"Don't worry, sir," I assured him. "Members din sila ng QED Club kaya puwede n'yo ring sabihin sa kanila ang gusto n'yong sabihin sa amin."

"An unknown number texted every faculty member saying that there are bombs on campus," kuwento ni Sir Morayta habang nagta-tap sa screen ng phone niya. "Inako niya ang pagsabog sa chemistry lab at sinabing may tatlo pang pagsabog na dapat asahan."

"T-Tatlo?" magkasabay na pagulat na tanong namin ni Jamie. There was no reaction on Loki's face while a look of concern flashed on Alistair's.

"Kailangan na nating i-evacuate ang mga estudyante bago pa sumabog ang mga 'yon!" sabi ni Jamie. "Hindi na tayo dapat mag-aksaya ng oras, sir!"

Marahang umiling si Sir Morayta. "'Yan din ang unang solusyon na naisip namin, pero hindi puwedeng gawin. Kapag may napansing kakaibang kilos ang bomber sa mga estudyante, pasasabugin niya kaagad ang mga bomba. Mukhang gusto niyang i-defuse natin sila o isama tayo sa pagsabog."

Ipinakita niya sa amin ang text message mula sa isang unregistered number. Gaya ng sinabi niya, malabo ngang magsagawa kami ng mass evacuation. That must be why he was so discreet earlier. Kapag nalaman ng mga estudyanteng may bomba, magpa-panic ang lahat. That was the last thing we wanted to happen.

The three bombs will explode in three different locations simultaneously.

When the clock strikes twelve, there will be boom! Boom! boom!

P.S. I left a gift for you in the first scene of explosion.

Sabay-sabay kaming lumingon sa likuran kung saan lumabas ang isang bomb disposal expert na may hawak-hawak na brown envelope. Ipinakita niya 'yon sa mga kasamahan niya at nagsimula silang magbulungan.

"That must be it!" bulalas ni Loki sabay takbo sa kanila. Sumunod kaming mga member niya kasama si Sir Morayta.

"Nakita namin 'to sa sahig. Weird nga kasi buong-buo pa 'to," kuwento ng bomb disposal expert. "Dapat nagkapira-piraso na nang sumabog ang bomba sa loob. May nakasulat sa likod na FOR THE QED CLUB at LOVE LOTS FROM M."

"We're from the QED Club to whom that gift is addressed." Hinawi ni Loki ang kordon para makalapit. Sinubukan siyang pigilan ng dalawang campus police officer na naka-istasyon doon. "Can we take a look?"