Project LOKI ③

Chapter 44: Dead Man's Switch VI (Trust and Doubt)

Napaangat ang aking tingin mula sa librong binabasa ko. I've been reading the same page over and over, but my mind couldn't absorb anything. Masyado na yata akong preoccupied sa case na iniimbestigahan namin at sa issue ni Jamie.

Rosetta was staring at me curiously, her eyes squinting. "Kanina mo pa binabasa ang page na 'yan."

Absent ang instructor sa World History subject ng afternoon period, but we were asked to read the history of monarchs of Spain. I was reading the part about Queen Isabella I of Castile. I found out that she's the inspiration for the figure of the queen in modern chess.

"Hindi ako makapag-concentrate sa pagbabasa," sagot ko sabay sara ng libro. "Masyadong maraming nangyayari sa paligid natin, parang hindi na ako makasabay."

"I don't mean to offend you, pero 'di ba dissolved na ang QED Club?" maingat na tanong ni Rosetta. Don't worry, I wasn't offended. Totoo naman kasi. "What else can make you busy?"

I showed her the metal pin on my collar, the proof of my affiliation with the executive committee. "You thought na panggugupit lang ng crepe paper ang ginagawa namin. But there's so much more."

"I see," Rosetta nodded. "Meron sana akong iko-consult sa 'yo, pero mukhang you have a lot on your plate already. Baka makadagdag lang ako sa iisipin mo."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Go on, tell me. I might need a distraction right now."

"Sigurado ka?"

Tumango ako.

"Ganito kasi 'yan." Inayos ni Rosetta ang kanyang pagkakaupo at umanggulo sa direksyon ko. "Yesterday morning, I received an email from an anonymous person. He calls himself Tiberius Roman. I checked my socials, pero wala akong fina-follow na gano'n ang pangalan."

When she said the word "email," she got my full attention. "Ano'ng sabi niya?"

"He said na may alam daw siyang sikreto ko," pabulong na sagot ni Rosetta. Kinailangan ko pang mag-lean sa kanya para marinig siya nang malinaw. "He gave me 48 hours to confess my sin. Kung hindi, siya raw ang magbubunyag nito. Sounds creepy, right?"

I gulped. Malakas ang kutob ko na ang taong nag-email sa kanya ay ang switch ni Augustus. The sender's name gave it away. Tiberius. Roman. In Roman history, Tiberius was the second emperor who succeeded Augustus.

"I dismissed it as a bad joke kasi wala naman akong sikretong itinatago," Rosetta said confidently. "I don't have a video scandal or nude photos! Ano ang dapat kong ikatakot? Baka meron siyang picture ko na tumatawid sa maling tawiran. But can you seriously use that as a threat?"

I have no idea what secret Rosetta might be hiding, but her story revealed na isa-isang kinokontak ng switch ang mga taong may sikreto sa Augustus' box. He's giving them a heads up bago ang revelation bukas.

If that's the case, why haven't I received my threat email? Maybe Augustus didn't have time to save it in the box? So am I safe? I don't wanna be so sure. Baka may inihandang twist itong si Augustus para sa 'kin.

"At heto ang mas weird!" share ni Rosetta. "Some of my friends also received this email. And they're freaking out! Chill lang ako kasi wala akong tinatago, but my gals are worried. Feel ko may ginawa silang 'di maganda kaya natatakot sila. So I was wondering if you can find out who's behind these creepy emails?"

"Actually, we're on that case already," pabulong kong tugon. "May natanggap din kaming email, pero hindi galing sa isang Tiberius Roman, na nagbabantang ire-reveal ang mga sikreto ng ilang tao rito sa Clark High."

Napatakip ng kanyang bibig si Rosetta, bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata. "So you mean, this threat is legit? My God, ano kayang hawak niya laban sa akin?"