LORELEI
NGAYON PA lamang nagsi-sink in ang lahat sa utak ko. Loki's father sent those men in black to school and had us kidnapped so they could bring us here? No matter where you look at it, the whole affair sounded so silly and absurd. Why did we have to go through that locked room in the first place?
My eyes observed the facial features of the old man staring at us. One of his eyes was looking back at me while the other was looking elsewhere. Most strands of his hair has turned white while some remained gray. What caught my attention wasn't his looks, but his aura. Unlike the Mendez brothers, he did not give me their signature "cold and expressionless" vibes. He was warmer than I thought.
"Hugh! Bring some chairs for these lovely ladies, will yah?" he ordered to one of the men in black standing at the foot of the gazebo. Hugh Iniguez smiled at me as he brought in two more iron chairs around the table. I became more annoyed when I remembered that he knocked us out using that weird gas.
"Come here, ladies! Come!" Loki's father called on us. His broad frame blocked the sun setting across the horizon. "Huwag kayong matakot sa akin, hindi ako nangangagat."
Nagkatinginan muna kaming dalawa ni Jamie bago lumapit sa mesa. She was trying to suppress a smile across her lips. She must be thinking, "My God! I'm about to meet my father-in-law" or something along those lines.
"Odinaire Mendez." The old man introduced himself, offering his enormous right hand to us for a shake. His stature, his voice and the way he presented himself gave off a majestic aura. Parang kausap ko ang isang hari habang kaharap siya. "I'm the father of these two handsome men. It runs in the veins, eh? Mendez are good looking fellows."
"I'm Lorelei Rios, sir. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Rios! You're the daughter of Walter, aren't you?" Nang kamayan niya ako, damang-dama ko kung gaano siya kalakas. I thought the bones in my hand would be crushed by how he gripped on them. "Is your father still eating death threats for breakfast? Ah, sanay na siya kaya wala nang dapat ikagulat pa. Send my regards to him."
Hindi ko alam kung sadyang nataon lang o talagang mapaglaro ang tadhana ngunit magkakilala pala ang papa ko at papa ni Loki. Days before the celebration of my dad's birthday, he consulted a certain someone about the mysterious gifts he had received. And as it turned out, that certain someone was none other than Loki's dad.
"And I'm Jamie! I've been wanting to meet you for a long time, sir!" Jamie has never been so enthusiastic while introducing herself. Parang isa siyang fan girl na ngayon pa lang nakita ang kanyang idol. Mukhang tama nga ang hinala ko sa iniisip niya kanina.
"Take a seat, please! Take a seat!" Odinaire motioned to the two vacant chairs on the right side, adjacent to Loki's. "Two gorgeous ladies seated beside my two equally gorgeous sons! I have never felt so happy in my life!"
From an outsider's point of view, napaka-unusual kung titingnan ang family afternoon tea set-up na 'to. Odinaire was energetic and entertaining, Luthor was silently sipping his tea while Loki showed no interest in this small gathering.
"Excuse me, sir?" Jamie butt in as soon as she saw the chance. "What did you mean earlier when you asked who's going to be your future daughter-in-law? Because I'd like to volunteer!"
Napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya. Halos malalag ang panga ko sa isinambit niya habang ang magkapatid na Mendez, tinitigan lamang siya. She wasted not another breath to express her intent. Ang bilis ng galawan mo, ah.
"My father has a habit of joking. Don't take his words too seriously," Loki said in his usual bored tone and in his usual bored face. Parang napilitan nga lang yata siyang pumunta rito. "And on his behalf, I hope you will forgive him for locking you two in that room. He couldn't resist a touch of the dramatic."
Just like you. I could enumerate instances where you would choose a method that's dramatic rather than the conventional way of doing things. Mag-ama nga kayong dalawa.
"Speaking of that room, a certain someone locked me up there years ago." Loki rested his chin on the palm of his hand, shooting a sideward glance at Luthor who's busy sipping his tea. "That certain someone thought it was a good prank."
"Have you ever thought that maybe that certain someone was trying to teach you that you shouldn't play prank on people?" Luthor placed his teacup back on the saucer. His movements were stiff as ever. "Pranks such as changing the filling of cookies with toothpaste or replacing the contents of a sugar jar with iodized salt."
"It wasn't my fault that a certain someone fell for my pranks. I wished he was a bit wiser so he did not become a victim. Those were only for fun, but he took them seriously. Not a good sport."
"That certain someone had hoped that you already learned your lesson back then," Luthor replied before blowing the steam off his tea. "But he was wrong. You went on with your little pranks. Remember that one time when you put chalk powder into the baby powder container? He deserved being locked in that room as punishment."
"Thanks to him, I learned how to pick a lock for the first time," Loki chuckled. Memories of his childhodd might have crossed his mind. "I still remember him stealing my teddy bear and hanging my stuffed toy on the ceiling where I couldn't reach it. I don't know how he did, but how cruel of him— "
"Oh, enough with your foolish squabbles!" Odinaire roared, forcing the Mendez brothers to stop bickering. "How old are you two? Seven-year-old?"
"I'm seventeen while my brother is eighteen," Loki jerked his thumb toward himself before pointing it to Luthor.
Odinaire's right eye looked at Jamie and I apologetically. "Forgive my sons. I find it difficult to put these two in one room without them trading barbs at each other. But I assure you, they are good men."
I chuckled. Since the day that I saw Loki and Luthor in one room, there hasn't been any dull moment between them. Laging si Loki ang nauuna sa pagbira sa kuya niya. Luthor only retaliated when he needed to. And hearing some bits of their childhood was quite refreshing. They may be having a little brothers' quarrel, but they looked cute... if we set aside the truth for a moment.
"Don't worry, sir. I accept Loki for who and what he is," Jamie said, gently pressing her hand over the chest. Talagang kina-career niya na, ah?
"You seem interested in my son, eh?" Odinaire asked. "Teka, dapat uminom din kayo ng tsaa! Galing pa 'yan ng China. Munroe! Two more teacups here!"
Sunod na nagpakita ang man in black na tahimik lang kanina sa biyahe habang nagda-drive. Diretso lang ang kanyang tingin kaya hindi nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.
"Huginn and Muninn," Loki mumbled, watching as his father's agent walked away. "Did you personally pick your bodyguards? Not on the basis of their skills alone, but on their names as well."
"What's Huginn and Muninn?" Jamie asked as she poured her cup and mine with tea. Mukhang nagpapakitang-gilas siya sa harap ng daddy ni Loki.
"In Norse mythology, those are a pair of ravens bringing news to Odin about what they see and hear all over the world," Loki explained, boredly stirring his cup of tea which had gone cold.
"And how are they related with your father's bodyguards?" I slid the saucer to my side before carefully lifting the teacup.
"Hugh Iniguez and Munroe Iniguez. Take the first three letters of their given names and first two letters of their surnames. Put them together and you will get the ravens' names."
"Sharp!" Odinaire pointed his forefinger at his son, looking proud. "That's the same naming scheme I used on you and your brother. Loki from Louis Kingsley and Luthor from Lucian Thoren."
"If it isn't too obvious, father is a huge fan of the Norse mythology," Loki added, first glancing at me then to his dad. "Our namesake gods are not blood-related so I hope I'm not an illegitimate child of yours... or adopted, like the Loki in the Marvel films."
"Nah, I nicknamed you Loki because I think the name suits you," Odinaire answered, pouring himself some tea. "And you have lived up to the reputation of your namesake god!"
"Uhm... Excuse me?" I raised my right hand after putting my teacup back on the saucer. "Sorry to interrupt, but may we know why we are here? And why needed to go through that false abduction and locked room challenge?"
Ayaw ko sanang istorbohin ang family bonding nila, ngunit nagtataka pa rin ako hanggang ngayon kung bakit kami nandito. Loki mentioned earlier that he was going to have merienda with his brother. He probably had no idea that Jamie and I were also joining the tea party.
"Of course! I'd like to see who might become a part of our family in the future!" Odinaire raised his teacup. "I wanna secure the future of the Mendez bloodline!"
"If you wanted to meet us, why did your bodyguards have to knock us out using sleeping gas and lock us in that room?" I shot a follow-up question. "And why did they have to lie about Alistair being in critical condition?"
Jamie flashed a furious face at me that told me "What the hell are you asking?" But I ignored her. I wanted answers from the mastermind.
Odinaire took a sip before leaning on his chair. His right eye stared at me as if he was trying to read my whole life story with just a single glance. Kanina pa ako nahihiwagaan kung bakit hindi pareho ang tingin ng mga mata niya.
"I want you to understand how dangerous your situation is," he started. "I know what you and my son's club have been doing in the past few months. This business with the so-called Moriarty? This isn't just a game."
"Is that why you asked the school administration to dissolve my club?" Loki asked. "Don't deny it. There's only one person in this world who could have made such arrangement."
"Yes, I did."
We all turned to his father who confirmed his suspicion in a matter-of-fact tone. Odinaire kept a straight face as he returned our gazes. Naging seryoso ang mga ibinato niyang tingin sa amin.
Ngayon, naiintindihan ko na. Loki had already suspected back in the hospital that his father was behind the order. He muttered, "No, it can't be. Him?" Ang daddy niya pala ang tinutukoy niya noon.
"You made a mess a few months ago when you assaulted that poor student in the cafe." Odinaire looked at his younger son as if he was lecturing him. "I had to contact my friends in your school and my good friend in Manila just so you won't find yourself in any legal trouble. I waved a wand and voila! All our troubles vanished in an instant."
When he said "good friend in Manila," he must be referring to my father. Nabanggit ng papa ko noon na humingi ng tulong sa kanya ang daddy ni Loki.
"A few weeks ago, you got yourself seriously injured, these two pretty ladies got traumatized and Alistair Ravena was in a coma state. I still can see the scar across your face," he continued. "You have been chasing this elusive mastermind for months, but he has always slipped through your grasps. Are you gonna wait until someone follows that Rhiannon to the grave?"
Loki's hands gripped tightly on the armrest of his chair. He couldn't bear to look at his father in the eye. Hearing Rhea's name must have stung him like a bee.
But there's something that Odinaire did not know. He said that Loki had not caught the elusive mastermind. But he no longer had to look anywhere to find where that person was. His own son, the older of the Mendez brothers, is the villain. There he was, seated like a king while sipping a cup of tea.
I couldn't imagine how heartbreaking it would be for Loki and his father to know that their own blood was playing a cat-and-mouse game with them. Luthor seemed to be relaxed. He was confident that the truth would never come to light.
But one day, it would. When the proper moment comes, I would be the one to expose it. Just wait.
"You can take away my club," Loki spoke defiantly after a few moments of silence. "You can take away our office. But nothing's gonna stop us from investigating this case and bringing that mastermind to justice."
"Indeed," Luthor cut his brother's words short, his cup froze midway to his lips. "I heard from Maggie that the executive committee has offered you a place in their organization. You can still investigate certain cases, but with supervision. However, I highly doubt that you will bow and play by the rules."
"I will bend the rules if I need to, just so I can close this case once and for all," Loki replied, still defiant. "And I will not let anyone stop me. Not Luthor. Not even you, father."
Sighing, Odinaire flashed a not-so-amused face. "I don't think that you can do anything once I arrange for your school transfer documents."
"What?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Loki at halos magdikit na kanyang mga kilay. Maging kaming dalawa ni Jamie, napatingin sa kanyang ama.
"Alam ko namang balewala ang pagpapa-dissolve ko sa club mo. We do not let anyone or anything stop us from doing what we want. The Mendez are known for that. But in this case, I have to step in and tell you, 'Enough.' Gusto mo bang masaktan ulit?"
"You don't have to worry about me," Loki assured. "Moriarty said that I shall never be harmed. I'm untouchable."
For a brief moment, I swear that Luthor looked sideways to his younger brother while sipping his tea. The "thou shall not be harmed" order came from him after all.
"Yes, yes, you are untouchable." Odinaire averted his gaze to me and Jamie. "But how about the people around you? Moriarty or God-knows-who may not hurt you physically, but emotionally? They could torture you. Use your friends to hurt you. Yes, you are untouchable, but they are not. Will you wait until one of them is dead?"
Loki fell silent for a while, he must be thinking of a good rebuttal. May punto naman ang daddy niya. Moriarty's protection was only exclusive to him. Me, Jamie and Al were not covered by it, thus making us vulnerable to any danger.
"With all due respect, sir!" Jamie cleared her throat first. "We are well aware of the risks, but we still chose to stick with Loki. Alam kong inilalagay namin sa panganib ang mga buhay namin, pero hindi 'yon sapat na dahilan para tumigil kami."
Odinaire raised an eyebrow. "Despite everything that happened to you?"
"Despite everything, sir," Jamie echoed. "Only Loki has gone this far. Only Loki can solve the Moriarty case. At kapag dumating na ang araw na sarado na ang kasong 'to, we want to stand beside him as we mutter the words case closed."
"You don't get it, my dear." Odinaire shook his head slowly. "You should be enjoying your high school life doing high school things! You shouldn't be wasting your time chasing cases every now and then. Bata pa kayo, may ibang bagay pa kayong mas karapat-dapat na ma-experience. Leave the investigations to the authorities."
"Forgive me, sir, but I have to correct you," I spoke when he took a pause. "We do not chase cases. Cases chase us wherever we go. No matter how hard we try to live a normal day, the gods of murder cases and what-not always find their way to us."
Remember the suicide case at the mall? Before that young woman jumped to her death, we all thought that we were gonna have a fine afternoon, with the exception of Stein Alberts' presence.
"Some joked that we were cursed," I added. "Baka nga hindi na joke 'yon. Baka totoo ngang may sumpa kami na kahit saan kami magpunta, susundan kami ng mga kaso."
Odinaire repeatedly tapped his forefinger on the table, looking at Jamie and me. "I appreciate your devotion to my son and his cause. But your safety comes first before your thirst for justice. Ayaw kong malagay ulit sa peligro ang mga buhay n'yo. I will call your parents soon and tell them about our little dilemma."
"Eh?" Sabay naming reaksyon ni Jamie. We exchanged glances at each other, our mouths slightly opened.
"Walter is a good friend of mine." Nabaling ang tingin ng kanang mata ni Odinaire sa akin. "If I tell him that you need to be transferred to another school to keep you from danger, he would do so."
I shook my head in protest. My dad has been itching to drag me back to Manila. Kapag nagkwento ang papa ni Loki sa kanya, he would have a stronger reason to demand my return there!
"As for you," he turned to Jamie next, "I will tell your guardian that you also need to be transferred."
"Guardian?" kunot-noong tanong ng kasama namin. "How did you know that my parents are—"
Loki's father scratched the side of his left eye. "I know almost everything that happens within my area of interest. The same way I knew about your friend Alistair who's now awake and recovering in the hospital. By the way, sorry if I got you worried about his condition."
"What if we refuse?" Kagaya ni Loki, I couldn't just sit here, enjoy my cup of tea and let someone dictate what we were supposed to do. I defied my dad before. I could defy him again or someone's dad if I had to. "What if we do not wish to abide by whatever our parents will tell us? What can you do?"
He smirked. "Simple lang. I will find a way to force you out of Clark High. Hindi naman gano'n kahirap mag-stage ng senaryo na magiging basehan para ma-expel kayo. Once you are out of that school, you can no longer touch the Moriarty case."
Alam ko na kung kanino nagmana si Luthor. He could make such a serious threat as if he was only reciting the letters of the alphabet. I don't know how much influence he holds in Clark High, but Loki was definitely not joking when he told us that his father's words — the same person who ordered the dissolution of our club — would be taken as gospel.
"Let the executive committee and the campus police handle that case." Luthor broke his silence. "Have faith in the authorities. Moriarty and his gang would be brought to justice. It might take some time, but it is definitely going to happen."
Oh, you mean you and your gang? I wanted to rebut but I held my tongue. This wasn't the right place for a revelation.
"Yeah," Loki sighed. "Having faith in them will surely solve and close this case, instead of us doing actual detective work. I put so much trust in the authorities, my dear brother. But have they made any breakthrough since the start of their Moriarty investigation? As far as I recall, no."
"Lu-lu's right. Leave the case to grown up men, Loki!" Odinaire seconded. "This is a game too dangerous for you and your friends to play."
Then there was silence. I could only hear Luthor stirring his tea using a silver spoon.
"I understand that everything I have told you must be too much to absorb," their father spoke once more. "Sa totoo lang, ayaw kong umabot sa puntong kailangan ko kayong puwersahin na itigil na kung anuman ang ginagawa n'yo para makaiwas kayo sa gulo."
"You know that's futile, father," Loki butt in.
"Perhaps you need some time to give it with thorough consideration," Odinaire ignored his son's remarks. "You need to let go of everything that's bothering you and clear your mind so you can make the right decision."
"Instead of contemplating, we'd rather continue our investigation," Loki interrupted again.
Ngunit hindi na naman siya pinansin ng daddy niya. "Are you all free this weekend? A friend of mine owns a rest house at a beach in Subic. He once invited me over his place once I return from abroad. Kaso matanda na ako para mag-beach. Biglang sumagi sa isip ko na imbes na ako ang pumunta roon, kayo na lang ang ipapadala ko."
His younger son's eyes narrowed into slits. "Wait a minute. Do you expect that we will have a change of heart once we experience a one or two days life at the beach? Do you really think a cheap bribe would be enough to do the trick?"
"This isn't a bribe," Odinaire spat each word with emphasis. "This is the kind of life you should be enjoying as teenagers, not doing detective work. This will be your retreat, a moment of recollection. Gusto kong pagnilay-nilayan n'yo rito kung ano ang magiging desisyon n'yo."
Nagkatinginan muna kaming tatlo nina Loki at Jamie. We were mentally asking one another, "Should we accept the invitation?"
"Wala naman akong gagawin ngayong weekend," sambit ni Jamie at saka tumingin kay Loki. "I'm fine with going to the beach kung okay lang sa inyo. Gusto ko ring i-try ang binili kong two-piece swimsuit. At sabi nga ni daddy, we need to reflect."
"I agree. We have been through a lot the past few months," sagot ko na may kasamang pagtango. "I'm not fond of going to beaches but it isn't a bad idea to take a breather once in a while. We need to relax a bit or else we might get overfatigued. Doon na rin natin pag-usapan kung anong gagawin natin."
Tulala lamang si Loki sa kanyang harapan bago inayos ang kanyang pagkakaupo. "Okay, fine! Since you two are open to this invitation, I might go as well."
"Will Alistair come with us?" tanong ni Jamie.
"Once he's okay by the weekend, I think he will," sagot ko.
"Lu-lu is also coming with you," Odinaire announced.
Napatingin kaming tatlo kay Luthor habang siya nama'y nakipagtitigan sa kanyang ama. He probably didn't expect that he would be joining us in this weekend trip.
"Me?" He returned his teacup on the saucer as he crossed his legs. "I have council work to do and I cannot afford to spend a day or two enjoying the fine white sands on my feet or sniffing the sea breeze."
"Exactly." His father slowly nodded, his right eye's gaze transfixed on his older son. "Loki's too busy with this Moriarty chase and you are too busy with your student council stuff! Take a rest, will yah?"
"But I have more important—"
"This is not an offer, Lu-lu." Odinaire's tone became serious. Nakakapangilabot ang bigla niyang pagpapalit ng tono. "This is a command."
Maging si Luthor ay walang nagawa kundi mapatingin sa ilalim at marahang tumango. In front of their father, the Mendez brothers could do nothing but obey whatever he wishes.
As for me, I don't know whether to be excited or not. A weekend with Loki and Jamie... and Moriarty. I hope no gruesome case would follow us at the beach.
q.e.d.
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW:
"You're Moriarty, aren't you?"
"..."
"ANSWER ME!"
CHAPTER 40:
The Sleeper Agent