Project LOKI ③

Chapter 46: Shades of Grey X (Grey Discussion)

"Tell him what you know," his dad ordered him. "Don't withhold any piece of information from Morgan. Let him handle this case."

"Only if he tells us what he knows," Loki replied.

"Dear!" Tita Frig called him. "Ano na naman 'tong pakulo mo?"

"Why do you want our son and his friends to put their lives at risk?" Tumataas na naman ang boses ni Tito Odin. Kinailangan pa siyang senyasan ni Tita Frig para hinaan ito. "Pinagbigyan ko na nga sila dahil 'di ko na itinuloy ang kanilang expulsion sa Clark High. Can't you see that I'm trying to steer them away from danger?"

"Alam ko namang ayaw mong may mangyaring masama sa kanila," mahinahong tugon ni tita. "But we know Loki better than anyone else. We know a bit about his friends. They are tenacious. Do you think they'd just walk away if you put a 'do not enter' sign on the door? No. Papasok at papasok pa rin sila. At kahit ipagtabuyin mo sila, hahanap at hahanap pa rin sila ng paraan upang makapasok."

"So what? You want me to escort them to harm's way by letting them do what they want? Masyado mo kasing kinukunsinti itong si Loki at ang mga kaibigan niya. Let's let the big men handle this case. Morgan was already investigating that M case. There's no need for them to be involved. That problem will be solved in due time."

Napairap si Tita Frig at napabuntong-hininga. Parang pinag-aawayan na naman nila ang isang bagay na dati na nilang pinag-awayan. "Don't you understand what I'm trying to tell you? As much as I don't want them to be harmed, there's nothing we can do when they put their mind into it. It is what it is. Kapag lalo mo silang sinasakal, lalo silang magpupumiglas."

"But—"

"Who do you think will win?" bulong ni Loki sa 'kin sabay ng isang mabilis na sulyap.

"My money's on your mom," sagot ko habang nakatingin kay tita. "But your dad is putting up a good fight."

Tito Odinaire is no match to Tita Frigette's tenacity. She beat him before, she could beat him again. Kung si Inspector Morales nga na nakatatakot, napatiklop niya, ang lalaki pa kayang mahal niya at mahal siya?

I thought this husband and wife scene was something that I could only watch in TV dramas. Well, I was too young when my mom died. I never saw her fight with my dad. If they did fight, I couldn't possibly remember it.

"'Di ba't mas mabuti kung nakaantabay sa kanila si Morgan kaysa sila-sila lang ang kumikilos?" tanong ni tita. She's trying to control her voice so as not to wake up the sleeping prince. "They'd be protected if there's an adult supervising them. They'd be more vulnerable if they're investigating on their own."

Marahang umiling si Tito Odin, mukhang ayaw talagang magpatalo. "Morgan shares the same concerns as I do. He didn't block them from interfering in the crime scenes just because I told him so. Alam niyang may punto ako at naiintindihan niyang mas mahalaga ang kaligtasan ng anak natin."

Naging seryoso ang tingin sa kanya ni tita. I could see the word "threat" written in her eyes. I saw that same stare when she confronted the Clarion people. "If you won't talk to him, then I will. At kung hindi ko siya madadaan sa santong dasalan, idadaan ko siya sa santong paspasan."

"No!" Tito Odin shook his head, his eyes widened. "Don't you dare!"

Humarap sa amin si Tita Frig nang nakangiti. Parang may masama siyang balak. "Do you wanna know what Morgan's secret is? The story behind the scar across his nose?"

Napakurap kaming dalawa ni Loki sa kanya. I never thought that the scar held a deeper meaning. Ang akala ko'y galing 'yon sa sugat na natamo ng inspector sa isang operasyon.