LORELEI
IT WAS a long way home from Black Dahlia hotel. Due to the accident last night, the traffic moved slowly at the intersection. Ilang oras din kaming na-stuck dito. I can't help but remember the traffic woes in EDSA when I was still living in the metro.
Despite settling our issues, tahimik kaming tatlo sa loob ng sasakyan. Hugh and Munroe tried to break the ice and engage us in a conversation, but we only gave them lazy replies. They must have felt that something was off.
Seated beside me, Jamie was unusually silent, her dreamy eyes looking at the green scenery outside. For two or three times, she attempted to talk to me, but she must have read the mood. Tahimik na lang siyang nakatulala at pinagmamasdan ang mga nalalampasan naming puno at kapatagan.
Loki and Luthor were unsurprisingly quiet. Not once did they utter a word. Back at the hotel, after our club had a "heart-to-heart" talk, Luthor returned to our unit and went straight to his room. Despite him being the catalyst for us to hold a dialogue, he did not ask how our conversations went through. He did not want to get himself involved.
The eerie atmosphere inside the van was enough to tell everyone inside that there was an issue brewing. Everything was settled already, so what was the problem?
Yes, I have forgiven Loki and Jamie as I tried to understand the motivations behind their actions. But going back to the way everything used to be might take some time. Forgiveness doesn't equate to forgetting all wrongdoings that a person has done and returning to the status quo in the twinkling of an eye. Saying "I forgive you" is easy. That phrase can be uttered by anyone in any given time. But meaning those words? It may not happen overnight.
Isipin n'yo na lang na ang pagpapatawad ay kagaya ng pagbuhos ng rubbing alcohol sa isang sugat. Lilinisin nga nito ang sugat, ngunit panahon lamang ang makapagsasabi kung kailan ito tuluyang hihilom.
We arrived at the Mendez residence at around four in the afternoon. The facade of their mansion greeted us as the van drove into a subdivision. Their lot was presumably six or eight times larger than the regular houses. I never pried into Loki's life so I had no idea how well off they are. Meron silang mansyon, meron din silang mga sasakyan. And yet, Loki still chose to rent a small apartment unit a few blocks away from school.
The van stopped in front of the steps of the Mendez mansion. Hugh and Munroe helped us carry our baggages. Tanaw ko mula sa sasakyan na nakaabang na si Sir Odinaire sa may entrance. One of his eyes was looking straight while the other was staring down on us. His steel cane helped him project a strong stature.
"Man, it feels like ages since I last all of you!" he greeted us as we climbed the steps leading to the porch. "I hope you enjoyed your short trip."
Nilagpasan lang siya nina Loki at Luthor na diretsong pumasok sa loob. Kami naman ni Jamie, sandaling tumigil sa harap ni Sir Odinaire para magmano. He seemed pleased by that gesture of respect.
"Come inside, let's have some afternoon tea!" His steel rod produced a clanking noise that reverberated in the entrance hall. Sumunod kami sa kanya ni Jamie kasabay ng pagpasok nina Hugh at Munroe dala-dala ang aming mga gamit.
We sat on the couches of their living room. Iginala ko ang aking mga mata at napansin ang mga portrait na nakasabit sa dingding. The biggest one featured Loki and Luthor, probably aged seven or eight. Hindi ako nahirapang i-identify sila. Since his childhood, Loki already had that bored, uninterested look on his face who would rather play with a jigsaw puzzle than have his photo taken. At noon pa man din, Luthor had those cold eyes that could pierce anyone who stared at them.
Sa larawan pa lamang, halata na ang gap sa magkapatid. They refused to stand close next to each other. Parang may barrier sa pagitan nila. Days before this photo was taken, Luthor probably hung Loki's teddy bear in the ceiling or Loki replaced the fillings of the cookie that Luthor ate with toothpaste-whichever narrative can explain the animosity between them in the photo.
Their parents were also prominently featured on that huge portrait. Around the time that photograph was taken, Mendez Sr.'s hair was still jet black, his face was clean-shaven, looking as if he was always ready to chase a criminal. In contrast, Mrs. Mendez was all smiles, her hands trying to put her two sons closer together but failed, unfortunately.
One of their housekeepers (since they have three) served us with cups of tea. Based on the familiar sweet and relaxing scent, the tea being served must be chamomile, my dad's favorite.
"I heard from Hugh that you got yourselves involved in a case," Odinaire started, darting a sideward glance at his two bodyguards stationed at the entrance hall. He stretched his left leg. "Mukhang namana n'yo ang sumpa ko. Back in the day, when my eye was not yet damaged, I used to be assigned in operations almost everyday. There was never a dull moment in my career."
And that solves the mystery why Loki appeared to be chased by cases left and right. Unfortunately, mukhang napasa rin sa akin ang sumpa niya. Remember when I visited my old Alma Mater and there was a series of unfortunate events? How about the assassination attempt to my dad's life? Either those were mere coincidences or the Mendez family curse was passed to me.
"Father, why don't you regale us with your tales of the old?" Loki spat, blowing the steam off his tea. I can sense sarcasm in his voice. "I'm certain that we are interested to know what happened back then. And it might change our lives."
"Nah, I won't bore you with the details," Odinaire replied, munching a whole biscuit. "Before I let all of you to go home, I wanna know if you had reflected on your involvement in this overarching Moriarty case. With a flick of my fingers, I can transfer all of you to another school where you can start a new life."
"You make it sound like a magic trick," Loki put down his teacup and crossed his legs.
"I sent you to that place so you would see what you have been missing," his father replied. "To sum everything up in one word: Fun. Dapat ay nag-e-enjoy kayo at hindi nagpapa-stress sa mga bagay na hindi n'yo naman dapat pinapakialaman."
"We may be reading the same dictionary, but we certainly have an entirely different definition of fun," Loki argued. "Solving cases is fun to me. Enjoyable. Going to beaches and watching the sunset? Distraction. Unnecessary waste of time and energy."
Odinaire sighed, shaking his head. "How about the ladies? Don't you want to focus on things that girls of your age do like joining the cheerleading squad, shopping and going to salons and spas?"
"Nagagawa naman ho namin ang ilan sa mga 'yan kahit na busy kami sa pagiging high school detectives," sagot ni Jamie na sinabayan niya ng ngiti. "Just a week ago, we went to a mall so we could chillax. Well, something happened along the way. But the point is, kaya naming mag-enjoy gaya ng ibang estudyante habang ine-enjoy ang trabaho namin sa QED Club."
"Which is now defunct. Thanks to you," Loki said, pointing his forefinger at his father. "Once we return to school tomorrow, we already have an alternative in mind on how we can still get ourselves involved."
"Personally, I want to see that case through." It was my turn to weigh in my opinion. "We started investigation a few months ago. We are getting closer to the truth, to the case resolution. It would be a shame if we abandon it halfway through."
"But the danger! The danger!" Odinaire grabbed his steel rod and walked around us. "This is not a simple game that you teenagers should play. If something happens to any of you, there's no option to resurrect yourselves."
"Forgive me for the intrusion," Luthor spoke after placing his teacup back on the saucer. "If you want them to back down, you have to convince Loki to abandon the case. These three are connected by a bond that cannot be easily destroyed."
"Haven't you tried convincing them, Lulu?"
"My words fell on deaf ears."
"I do not need to convince them," Odinaire stood as firm as his tone. "I only need to impose my will on them."
"Since you were away for months, I have known my younger brother much better than you do," Luthor responded. "Take away his club, he will still find a way to investigate. Transfer him to another school, he will still find a way to sneak into Clark High and continue his investigations. Forcing people to bend to your will may not be the most effective response."
Loki was sipping tea when he heard his brother speak. Muntik na niyang mabuga ang iniinom niya. "Wow! Was that a compliment or something? I never thought that you are capable of giving one."
"Just my mere assessment," Luthor replied.
Odinaire went on shaking his head, his hand clutching firmly on his cane. "I have known some people who refused to bow-"
His words were cut short when we heard a disturbing noise. We were startled by the sound of a car crashing into the iron gates of their home. Hugh rushed to Odinaire's side and revealed the gun concealed on his ankle. Munroe, with a gun in his hand, slowly opened the wooden door and peeked at what happened outside.
"Just in time," Loki mumbled as he stood and went near the entrance.
"Huwag kang lalapit diyan!" Hugh warned him, but the younger Mendez was too stubborn to heed it.
"Don't worry, we are not being attacked," Loki pulled the giant doors, revealing the scene at the gates.
Dala na rin ng kuryosidad, napatayo kaming dalawa ni Jamie at sinilip ang sitwasyon sa labas. A scarlet sports utility vehicle rammed into the iron gates of the Mendez household. Sa sobrang lakas ng impact ng pagbangga, puwersahang nabuksan ang gates. A dent could be seen on the car's bumper as it drove closer to the house.
Munroe, who was stationed at the porch, recognized whose vehicle that was. He lowered his gun and sent a hand signal to Hugh inside.
"Who would dare crash the gates of your house?" tanong ko kay Loki.
"Our salvation," he answered. "The only person who can match Odinaire Mendez. I inherited my love of theatrics from her."
Was he talking about-
Nag-park sa mismong tapat ng porch ang red SUV. Pagkatigil ng engine, lumabas mula sa sasakyan ang isang babae na nasa early forties na siguro. Her crown braid was the first thing that I observed on her. Parang korona ng isang reyna kung titingnan. Terno ang nakalagay na pulang lipsticks sa mga labi niya sa kanyang suot na blouse.
As she was climbing the steps, she greeted Loki with a smile. I recognized her as the same woman on the huge portrait: Mrs. Mendez.
"My dear, how are you?" the woman hugged her son and kissed him on the left cheek. Hinawakan niya sa magkabilang balikat si Loki at ilang segundong tinitigan. "Tumataba ka na, ah? How long has it been since we last saw each other?"
"Since you left for the United States? Nine months, two weeks and five days," Loki answered. "I thought you were with father when he arrived here a few days ago?"
"It's complicated," Mrs. Mendez answered, her smile became slightly forced. "And these must be...?"
"My...uhm... friends," Loki shot a sideward glance at me and Jamie. "They are here to have tea with my father."
"Hello, tita!" Jamie was quick to take action. Nagmano siya sa mom ni Loki. "My name's Jamie Santiago, your future daughter-in-law."
"I love the guts of this girl," Mrs. Mendez commented, her eyes slightly squinting at our companion. "I'm Frigette Mendez y Corazon, a lawyer by profession."
Sunod siyang tumingin sa akin. Nagmano rin ako gaya ni Jamie at ipinakilala ang sarili. "My name's Lorelei Rios, just someone who had the misfortune of meeting your son."
"Rios?" Frigette repeated. "Related ka ba kay Walter Rios? He was my classmate in college."
I nodded. My dad was like a famous celebrity whose name could elicit recognition from the people I meet. Loki's father also asked me the same question when we first encountered each other a few days ago.
"You are also the one who shares the same apartment unit with Loki?" she asked next. "Just to be clear, you two are not living together, are you? Because it's going to be confusing. There's already someone claiming to be my future daughter-in-law and there's another one living with my son."
"Tita ko ho kasi ang may-ari ng apartment," I explained to clear any misunderstanding. "Wala na kasing available unit noon kaya naisip niyang maki-share ako sa unit ng anak n'yo."
"Your aunt trusts my son," Frigette nodded, smiling. "Hindi magandang tingnan na magkasama sa iisang bubong ang isang lalaki't babae, lalo na kung 'di sila magkaano-ano. But as you have probably observed, Loki is harmless. Your aunt probably thought the same."
Loki might be the only one in the neighborhood who would never think of taking advantage of me. He's too busy with his cases to care anyway.
"Oh, Luthor!" Frigette approached her taller son and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Let me guess: You haven't found the one, have you?"
The elder Mendez only stood frozen and stared at his mom.
"My god, mukhang mauuna pa ang kapatid mo sa 'yo!" biro ni Frigette sabay tapik sa balikat. "If you don't make any move, tatanda kang binata."
"I have sights on better prospects," Luthor replied.
"Well, you are still young and handsome, thanks to my genes," Frigette chuckled. Her gaze then shifted to Munroe who was still on stand by. He only gave her a nod as a greeting.
"Now to business!"
Tuluyan nang pumasok si Mrs. Mendez sa loob. Sumunod kaming apat sa kanya. Nanguna si Loki na mukhang confident sa magiging kalalabasan ng kung anuman ang mangyayari. He said that his mom was our salvation. In what way, I wondered?
Odinaire stood at the center of the entrance hall, with Hugh on his side. Huminto sa tapat niya ang kanyang asawa at ilang segundo ring nagtitigan. I could sense a palpable tension building up. Something must not be okay between the couple. Dahil kung okay lang ang lahat, they would have hugged each and expressed words of endearment.
"Odinaire, ano itong narinig ko mula kay Loki?" Frigette fired the first shot. "You wanted to have them kicked out of Clark High?"
"I am merely protecting him and his friends from harm," Odinaire answered, placing both of his hands on top of the cane. "Come on, Frig. We do what's best for our children. Wala siyang mapapala sa pagso-solve niya sa kasong matagal na niyang pinagkakaabalahan. Let the authorities do their job."
"You think that the case he's solving is just a case?" Frigette rolled her eyes. "That isn't just a case. A part of him is in that case. May sentimental value, kumbaga. Kaya ka iniiiwan, eh. Ang mahalagang bagay para sa isang tao, maliit na bagay para sa 'yo. You fail to see things in the same perspective."
"He needs to let go!" Odinaire argued, but his wife was unfazed.
"He needs closure," Frigette corrected him. "Our son has been wounded by that incident. Solving that case is the blood clotting that he needs. The closure, as I mentioned. Once it kicks in, he will start healing. By depriving him of the right to settle the issue on his own, you are not offering any help."
"No, no, I will not-"
"If you still insist on your plan, you will never see me again," Frigette threatened her husband. "I did not want to take another step into your house. But my son texted me, saying he needs my help. I know that I should support him, despite the danger, because I understand where he is coming from. You should, too."
Napasinghal na lamang si Odinaire, tila nakipag-staring contest sa kanyang asawa. Not a single word was uttered by him after his wife said "you will never see me again." As I suspected, something's going on with their relationship.
"Grab your bags," Frigette told Loki. "Ako na ang maghahatid sa inyo."
Humirit si Hugh. "Kami na ho ang maghahati-"
The queen silenced the knight with her dead eye stare. Walang nagawa si Hugh kundi manahimik.
Kinuha namin ang mga bagahe sa gilid. Frigette shot one last look at Odinaire before turning around. She walked down the steps, entered her car and started its engine.
Litong-lito kami ni Jamie sa kung ano ang nangyari. We were outsiders so we knew nothing of the Mendez family problems. What we did was go with the flow.
Tinulungan kami ni Munroe na ilagay sa trunk ang aming mga gamit. His boss did not give them any order to stop us or Mrs. Mendez.
Loki sat beside the driver while Jamie and I were seated at the back. Nakatanaw lang sa amin si Luthor mula sa porch. Ang matandang Mendez naman, nanatili sa loob ng kanilang bahay.
Huminga muna nang malalim si Frigette, nakahawak ang parehong kamay sa manubela.
"That card is effective," Loki commented, strapping on his seatbelt. "You managed to silence the great Odinaire Mendez."
"Your dad loves me so much, he's willing to sacrifice his remaining eye just to have me back." Frigette fixed the rearview mirror where my face and Jamie's were reflected. She put her right hand on the gear stick. "Wala na kayong poproblemahin sa pagpasok n'yo sa Clark High bukas."
"Put on your seatbelts," Loki instructed, looking at us through the rearview mirror.
"Hindi na kailangan, nasa likod naman kami."
"Listen to my son," Frigette remarked, shifting the gear. "It's for your safety, you know."
Hindi na kami umimik pa at isinuot na lang ang aming safety belt.
"Let's go!"
We found out a few seconds later why Loki told us to wear the belt. Mrs. Mendez was driving the car like a mad driver! So sobrang bilis niyang magpatakbo, sa tuwing biglaan niyang aapakan ang brake, halos tumilapon kami mula sa aming upuan. Napakapit na nga sa braso ko si Jamie. Pakiramdam tuloy namin, nasa rollercoaster ride kami.
Una naming hinatid si Jamie sa kanilang subdivision. Nakita ko ulit ang caretaker nila na binati kami sa Kapampangan. Once we bade farewell to her, we went straight to Tita Martha's apartment.
"Loki, be a gentleman!" his mom ordered. Tanging ang gamit lang kasi ni Loki ang bitbit niya papasok sa apartment. Walang nagawa ang roommate ko kung hindi bitbitin na rin pati ang aking bag.
On the looks of it, only Frigette could order around the Mendez men. Her charisma must be her secret.
Papasok na rin ako sa gate para sumunod kay Loki nang bigla akong tawagin ng mama niya.
"Lorelei, if something happens or if you need my help, I'm just one call or text away." Frigette said, giving me her calling card. "My son is sometimes stubborn, and he might be tempted to do something reckless. His dad's fear is not unfounded."
Sometimes? More like "most of the time." Ilang beses na rin kaming napahawak, but we managed to survive.
"Take care of Loki for me," she smiled.
"Makakaasa ho kayo, tita."
q.e.d.
A/N: Hi there! I will update PL3 more regularly once I finish writing CODE Q and WALTZ OF WYSIWYG. As for my other ongoing stories, I still can't give a date when I will update them.
Anyway, I'm going to attend the PSICOM booksigning events on September 15-16, 2018 (Saturday and Sunday) during the 39th Manila International Book Fair! Looking forward to seeing you there!