Project LOKI ③

Chapter 44: Dead Man's Switch V (The Commitment)

Bago pa siya makaupo sa bakanteng monobloc chair, Loki kicked the seat away from him. Sa sobrang lakas ng sipa, the poor thing hit the wall. Walang nagawa si Stein kung hindi mapabuntong-hininga.

"You can't sit with us," Loki declared.

I would have scolded him for the disrespectful behavior, but our visitor deserved it anyway.

"Fine!" Stein gave up the thought of being seated near Loki. Inilayo niya ang upuan mula sa table at doon siya pumwesto, malapit sa may pintuan. "You satisfied now?"

"Nothing's more satisfying than seeing you leave this room," Loki answered. He's on fire. He wouldn't miss the opportunity to make Stein feel that he's unwelcomed here. "So what brought you to our lair? You didn't come here for an afternoon tea, did you?"

"First of all, I wanna congratulate you for this new gig," Stein said, roaming his eyes around the execom office. "Dissolved na ang QED Club, but you still found a way to make yourselves useful. By the way, in case we haven't sorted this one out, I had nothing to do with your club being dissolved."

We know. It was Loki's dad who used his influence in the school board to have us kicked out of Room 315. Gusto na niyang itigil na namin ang pagpapanggap bilang detectives at enjoy-in ang aming high school life. Kapag daw nagpumilit kami, ipapa-expel niya kami para hindi na kami makialam sa mga case. The joke's on him because his plan ultimately failed. Luckily, Tita Frigette intervened.

"And it's really nice to see you doing well, Alistair!" Stein said, motioning to my childhood friend. "I really prayed for your fast recovery. I hope it isn't late, but I'm sorry for what Cedric did."

"I can't say the same about seeing you, but thanks," Alistair said, returning the courtesy.

"Sana'y hindi ka magalit kasi sinuggest ko sa mga kasama mo na ako na ang papalit sa 'yo sakaling 'di ka nagising," Stein replied, leaning forward. "I wanna know kung ano'ng meron sa inyong apat. You know the danger, but you still kept on pursuing me. It's as if you're trapped in a spell."

Loki chuckled. Nagawi sa kanya ang tingin namin. "I have an idea why you wanna join us. Is it because you don't have friends in your organization? Do you envy us?"

That statement from him came as a surprise to me, Jamie and Alistair. Ilang segundo ring natuon sa kanya ang tingin namin. I can feel that Loki considers us his friends, even if he doesn't say it. Para kasing pinapahiwatig niya sa kanyang sinabi na "I found friends in our group. You didn't find any in your own, did you?"

"Deep inside, you must be longing for genuine companionship." Loki wouldn't just stop savoring the confused look on Stein's face. "But you can't find that in your own group because the people there do not care about friendship. They do not care about anything except the pleasure of hurting people, causing trouble and making money."

Kapag talagang itong si Loki ang nagsalita, dire-diretso na't walang preno ang kanyang bibig. Minsan lang magkrus ang landas namin at ng aming bisita kaya malamang sinusulit na niya. He would burn Stein at every turn. I hope the young mastermind brought some aloe vera because the wounds are gonna sting.

Hindi siya nilubayan ng tingin ni Stein na napahinga pa nang malalim. I can't say kung na-offend siya dahil meron pa ring ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Some of Loki's words may have pierced through his smiling facade.

"When you are part of an organization where the members have varying interests, it's hard to find someone you can call a friend. A true friend," Stein answered, touching the bridge of his eyeglasses. "But believe me, I have a few that I can consider as friends. But sadly one of them is dead."