Project LOKI ②

Chapter 28: Fall of the QED Club (Part 1)

"Is this the part where you tell us to thank you?" Nakipagtitigan sa kaniya si Loki. "Did you come all the way here just to hear our words of gratitude? You could have messaged me, but there's no guarantee that I'll reply."

Oo nga naman! Bakit nandito ang lalaking ito? Sa pagkakaalam ko, para sa aming taga-QED Club ang photoshoot.

"Don't flatter yourself too much just because your club got the cover feature," Stein replied. "Yours truly will be also featured for acing the regional math contest. They've taken my photos before you came in."

"What a shame. I thought of asking you to join us." Loki jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "This isn't possible without you. You deserve more credit than we do."

"You better enjoy your moment in the limelight while you can." Stein walked past us and tapped Loki on the shoulder. Inilapit pa niya ang kaniyang bibig sa tainga nito. "This stuff does not tend to last that long."

Kumaway siya sa amin bago tuluyang lumabas ng audio-visual room. Nakahinga na rin ako nang maluwag matapos umalis ang source ng nakaka-suffocate na aura.

"That's a threat, isn't it?" Bumaling ang tingin ni Alistair sa akin bago kay Loki. "The bit about us being in the spotlight for not that long. Mukhang may pinaplano na naman siyang hindi maganda."

"It sounds like one." Napahawak ako sa aking dibdib, may naramdamang kaunting kaba.

"We need to act soon." Tila nakatulala ang tingin ni Loki sa pintuan kung saan dumaan ang mastermind. "We've been on the defensive since the beginning. It's about time to go on the offensive."

"You've got a plan?"

"We'll pay a visit to a certain someone after this shoot. Let's see if we can rattle him."

"You mean Augustus—"

Muling bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Jamie. Suot na rin niya ang kaniyang Sherlock costume. May halong pagtataka sa mukha nang napaturo siya sa labas. "D-Did you see that guy? Nakasalubong ko siya paglabas ko ng green room."

"As it happens, the Clarion's editorial team has taken photos of him for a feature article." Inayos ni Loki ang kuwelyo ng cape niya. "And he didn't miss the opportunity to send his regards and congratulations to us."

"Kaya pala! Akala ko sinadya niya tayo rito—"

"Excuse me? Are you ready for the cover shoot?" tanong ni Felicity paglapit niya sa amin. Biglang natikom ang mga bibig namin. "Puwede na kayong pumuwesto ro'n sa armchair. Kayong bahala kung saan kayo uupo o tatayo."

We were escorted to the area illuminated by warm lights. May isang upholstered na upuan sa gitna kung saan umupo si Loki nang magkadikit ang dulo ng mga daliri niya. I sat on the chair's left arm while Jamie stood on the right. Pumuwesto si Alistair sa likuran, kitang-kita ang upper body niya.

Itinaas ng cameraman ang kaniyang kamay at isa-isang ibinaba ang mga daliri na nagsilbing countdown. Bago niya na-click ang shutter, biglang tumalon si Freya sa lap ni Loki at humarap sa camera na tila gusto ring sumama sa cover shoot.

"Is it okay kung kasama ang pusa?" I raised my hand, directing the question at the editor who stood beside the cameraman. Masyadong maliwanag kaya halos sumara ang mga mata ko. "We have adopted her as our club cat, so she's technically one of us."

"As long as magbe-behave siya sa harap ng camera, we don't mind including her in the frame," sagot niya.

"Thank you!"

Muling itinaas ng cameraman ang tatlong daliri niya. "Again, at the count of three!"

Huminga ako nang malalim at deretsong tumingin sa camera. One. Two. Three.