Project LOKI ③

Chapter 44: Dead Man's Switch X (The Switch)

"Why don't you leave this task to the girls?" Jamie said, smiling. "As you all know, I have the charisma and I can easily charm people to give me what I want. Mas magiging effective siguro kung kaming dalawa ni Lori ang magtatanong-tanong tungkol kay Sir Ephraim."

Wait, hindi ba siya nagkamali ng pangalang nabanggit? Ako talaga ang gusto niyang makasama? "I thought you'd suggest that Loki should come with you to... charm people."

"I would!" Jamie replied. "Pero ayaw ko kasing mainitan ang Loki dear ko. He can relax here and wait for us to return."

"Are you sure na kaya n'yo nang dalawa 'yon?" tanong ni Alistair. "Don't you want me to escort you two?"

"Baka kasi ma-intimidate ang mga tatanungin namin kapag may nakita silang bodyguard," sagot ni Jamie. "At baka magkaroon sila ng maling impression na boyfriend kita. No offense, Al. You really are a boyfriend material, but my heart is loyal to my Loki dear."

"Don't worry. None taken."

Wala mang reaksyon si Loki sa sinabi niya. If he were one of those men willing to kneel before Jamie, he would have felt touched by her loyalty. But he's Loki. Those words seemed to not matter to him.

May kinuha si Jamie mula sa kanyang maliit na bag. A pair of sunglasses. She put them on and turned to me. "Shall we go, my best buddy Lori?"

We got out of the car and walked on the streets. She clung to my right arm na parang mag-bestfriend talaga kami.

"Hindi ka ba magsisisi na ako ang pinili mong kasama?" I asked her. I wasn't used to her being this close to me. "You could have really asked for Loki. I bet he'd be willing to come with you, especially this is for a case."

"We know that Loki isn't the most sociable person in our team," Jamie answered. At least, she also acknowledged that fact. "Mas lalakas ang charisma natin kung tayong dalawa ang magkasama. No man can resist helping two girls who are looking for their long lost father."

"What?" my eyebrows furrowed. "Anong long lost father ang sinasabi mo?"

"That's gonna be our script!" Jamie exclaimed. "Hinahanap natin ang nawawala nating dad. Come on, Lori. Internalize it! Think as if you're looking for your long lost dad—"

Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita at sandaling natigil sa paglalakad. The smile on her face faded as she looked at me.

"Oh, sorry," she apologized. "I didn't mean to..."

"It's okay," I told her, forcing a smile.

It's been weeks since I found out that the dad that I grew up with wasn't my real dad. I have no idea who is and what he looks like or if he's still alive. Hindi ko rin nga alam kung alam niyang nag-e-exist ako. My dad Walter offered to look for my biologal father, but I turned down his offer. Maybe one day, we would cross paths in the most unexpected situation. Who knows?

"I-revise natin ang script!" sagot ni Jamie, nagpatuloy na siya sa paglalakad. "Ako na lang ang naghahanap sa aking long lost dad habang ikaw ay ang very supportive friend ko. Sounds good?"

Tumango lang ako. Hindi naman niya kailangang baguhin ang script niya dahil sa kalagayan ko. I wasn't offended by what she said at all.

We started asking people in carinderia, sari-sari stores and other small business establishments. Jamie put on her best acting skills. Napapaluha pa nga siya at napapasinghot habang ikinukwento kung gaano niya ka-miss ang kanyang long lost dad kuno. Ako naman, bilang ang kanyang ever supportive friend, pinapatahan siya sa pag-iyak at kina-caress ang kanyang likod.

But her acting bore no fruit. Lahat ng mga nakausap namin, sinabi na wala pa silang napapansin na lalaking naka-tungkod na napadpad sa kanilang establishments. All of Jamie's acting was in vain.