Project LOKI ③

Chapter 49: Sign of the Four VIII (Forgotten)

A/N: This is the finale part of Chapter 49! Since this update may contain a major revelation, I'm asking you not to post any SPOILERS. Reaction posts, memes, and GIFs are okay, as long as they do not give away the context. Let's not ruin other people's reading experience. 

Also I advise you to NOT read this update if you are currently entertaining negative or depressing thoughts.

LORELEI

MY NEXT morning in Clark High started as awkward, for the lack of a better term. Nang pumasok ako sa maingay naming classroom, nadatnan ko na roon si Alistair. Tahimik siyang nagbabasa ng kanyang notes, hindi alintana ang mga magugulo naming classmate. Tinext ko siya kagabi para tanungin kung okay ba siya at kung nakauwi ba siya nang ligtas. He simply replied yes and hoped that we're also okay.

Maingat akong umupo sa aking puwesto upang hindi siya maistorbo. Magkakaroon pala kami ng quiz mamaya kaya kailangan ko ring mag-review. The moment I took my seat, his eyes raised their gaze at me.

"Good morning," nakangiting bati niya.

"Good morning din," tugon ko. Kahit wala akong ginawa sa kanya kagabi, parang nakaramdam pa rin ako ng guilt. Parang nakokonsensya ako. Kaya siguro medyo awkward ang batian namin ngayong umaga.

Was it because I told him and Loki to shut up?

"How's Loki?" he asked.

Kahit nagkasagutan silang dalawa kagabi, concerned pa rin siya kay Loki. Should I really be surprised? That's very typical of him. "He calmed down when you two left. Well, he said that he lost control of his emotions, which was something that he wouldn't easily admit. Alam mo naman kung gaano ka-sensitive ang topic na 'yon sa kanya."

"His emotions seem to be still unstable," Alistair commented, returning his gaze to his notes. "As much as I want to understand what he felt when things got heated, I can't allow him to trample over someone's feelings. He definitely had a point, but he could have done it in a way that wouldn't break Jamie."

Maggie's death must have affected Loki so much. While I'm thankful na may nakikita akong kaunting improvement sa kanya, medyo nakakapanibago pa rin ang ilang ipinapakita niya sa amin. Weeks after her death, the wound must still be fresh. At tuwing nabi-bring up ang topic na Moriarty, dumoble na ang sakit na kanyang nararamdaman. M may not have ordered Maggie's accident, but he has indirectly affected her life and Loki's, particularly when he had Rhea murdered.

"How's Jamie?" I asked after a few seconds of silence. Dito ako mas nagi-guilty. I was the one who opened the topic that led to the shouting and slapping between her and Loki. I felt responsible for starting the mess.

Alistair let out an exasperated sigh. Doon pa lang, mukhang 'di na magandang sagot ang dapat kong asahan mula sa kanya. "Hinatid ko siya sa kanila kahit ilang beses niya akong sinabihan na iwan siyang mag-isa. I wanted to leave her alone and give her the space that she needed, but at the same time, I couldn't. Masyadong clouded ang kanyang isipan. Baka ano pang mangyari sa kanya."