A/N: After two intense parts, you can breathe for now because this is just a chill update. Hinga muna. We're three to four parts away from the end of Chapter 46!
LORELEI
WE COULD finally breathe a sigh of relief. Yeah, I know that the doctors were still observing Luthor, but knowing that his body was already in stable condition was the good news that we could hope for. Nabawasan ang bigat sa aming dibdib at makakahinga na kami nang maluwag kahit paano. That's one less worry off our list.
After being treated in the emergency room, Luthor was brought to a private room. He was dressed in a hospital gown, lying unconscious on the gurney. Sumunod kami sa kanyang kuwarto.
This must be the most expensive of all the available rooms dahil mala-hotel suite ang itsura nito. There's a couch for the patient's relatives. There's a television installed on the wall. There's a mini-kitchen with fridge. There's also a private comfort room. Parang nasa bahay lang. The only difference was the machine beeping constantly, monitoring his vital health statistics.
Tita Frigette sat on his bedside, looking at him with so much concern while caressing his hair. Kung kanina'y namumutla siya at halos himatayin na sa nerbyos, ngayo'y nagbalik na ang kanyang kulay. Tito Odinaire sat in the nearest chair, with his right leg stretched. He no longer looked agitated.
"Now he's like the sleeping beauty." Loki gazed at his brother who was still unconscious. "We'll just have to wait for the frog to kiss him."
Kumunot ang noo ko at natuon ang aking tingin sa kanya. "I don't think that's how the story goes. Magkaibang kuwento yata ang nabanggit mo."
Loki shrugged. "Whatever."
I chuckled. He looked more comfortable now that the danger has passed. Nagagawa na ulit niyang asarin ang kanyang kuya. Well, he tried to joke that Luthor could not die too soon because of being a "masamang damo." But that's his failed attempt to lighten up my mood or to assure me that everything would be fine.
"I hope he wakes up soon," Loki muttered. Naging seryoso ang kanyang mga mata. "He still has to answer my questions."
"That can wait," I told him. Hindi naman niya kailangang magmadali. Masasagot ang mga tanong niya sa tamang panahon, basta't wala nang mangyaring masama sa kanyang kuya.
"I still have to find out who did this to him." Loki sounded determined as he glanced at me. "I wanna know who's bold enough to commit a crime inside the Mendez residence."
"I'll have every member of our household staff questioned!" Tito Odin exclaimed. Napaangat ang mga balikat ko nang bigla siyang magsalita. Kinuha niya ang kanayng steel cane sa gilid at maingat na tumayo. He then put his hands on top of the cane's handle. "The maids, the cooks, the drivers—even my bodyguards! Aalamin ko kung sino ang maysala at sino ang nagpabaya para mangyari 'to kay Lulu!"
Tita Frig shushed him as his voice got slightly raised. I couldn't blame him though. Nakakadala kasi talaga ng emosyon ang nangyari. As a parent, the Mendez patriarch wouldn't let this incident slide. Kung ako ang may kasalanan sa nangyari kay Luthor, I'd be terrified.
Loki turned to him. "Let me do that honor, dad. They might get intimidated if you personally ask them questions."
"No, no." His dad shook his head repeatedly, gritting his teeth. "That crime happened in my residence. In my own residence! Ako mismo dapat ang mag-imbestiga nito! What was that person thinking? I may be retired already, but retirement hasn't affected my wits!"
"Dear, Loki's right," Tita Frigette said. Sandali siyang huminto sa paghaplos sa buhok ni Luthor. "Mas matatakot sa 'yo ang mga staff kung ang nakakikilabot mong itsura ang bubungad sa kanila. Your move will also send a message that you don't trust any of them."
"I don't trust people, except the ones close to me," Tito Odin replied. Nakatingin sa kanyang asawa ang isa niyang mata habang nakatitig sa ibang direksyon ang isa pa. "I always sleep with one of my eyes open. Who knows who might stab me while I'm sleeping?"
Now I know kung saan nakuha ni Loki ang pagiging skeptic niya sa mga tao. Just like his dad, maybe he only trusts the people who make an effort to climb over the walls that he built himself. 'Di na kataka-taka kung meron siyang pinagmanahan.
"Loki can discreetly move in the house without getting too much attention," his mom insisted. "He can ask questions nang hindi nagmumukhang in-interrogate niya ang mga 'to. Right, my dear?"
"Uhm... I will try?" Loki was not so sure. Knowing how he does his investigations, naisip kong baka hindi niya maitago ang tunay niyang intensyon. He's straightforward. He doesn't beat around the bush. "I'm not the type of person who likes idle chit-chats. Everyone in the house knows that already."
"No, I will not—"
"Dear." Tita Frig gave her husband a stare that meant something.
Suminghal muna si Tito Odin bago muling mapaupo. Mukhang 'di niya talaga matitiis kapag ang asawa na niya ang nagsawa. I can't help but admire the power that tita holds on the Mendez men. "Fine! I'll let him ask around. But if he fails to find anything, I'll do the investigation myself!"
"One more thing, dad." Loki raised his right forefinger. "If you wanna see the full picture of why this happened to my brother, maybe you can help us with the roadblock that is Inspector Morales."
"Morgan?" his dad repeated, eye furrowing.
"There's another case in school that might be related to what happened to my brother," Loki explained. "However, we cannot solve that case because the inspector refused to cooperate with us. He doesn't want to share his resources with us. He's so stubborn, I'm starting to think he's an eight-year-old kid who doesn't want to share his toys."
"Of course, he won't." Tito Odin raised his chin. "Ako mismo ang nagsabi sa kanya na huwag niya kayong hayaang makialam sa kahit anong kaso sa Clark High."
"What?" Napakurap ang mga mata ko. Nag-buffering pa ang utak ko nang ilang segundo.
"Part of my plan to stop you from interfering in police work. I've made myself very clear that I want you to enjoy your lives as high school students! Unfortunately, that didn't work well so I went after your club."
"So it's you all along. Again." Loki inhaled deeply, closing his eyes for a second. "Well, things took a grave turn so you might as well want to lift that campus police ban on us. We know some things that the inspector or the campus police doesn't know. Without the other, we won't be able to put all of the puzzle pieces together."
"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.
"Oh, this is gonna be fun," Loki muttered.
Tito Odin raised a finger and pointed it at his wife. "Don't you try to use that against Morgan. I'm warning you!"
I can't help but wonder why he was so worked up about the scar. It's like a secret that he didn't want to be revealed.
"So talk to him," Tita Frigette said calmly. "Convince him to cooperate with our son and assist him in every way possible. Or else, I will use that card. It's your choice, dear."
Her husband breathed sharply. "I shouldn't have told you that thing."
"Frankly, I didn't know that information would be useful until today." Tita Frig smiled menacingly. Then the curve across her lips faded. "Sana'y maintindihan mo kung bakit kinakampihan ko ang anak natin. Putting a leash on him won't stop him from what he wants to him. He's gonna chew that leash until he frees himself."
"Kung 'di mo siya kukunsintihin—"
"If he's like any child who gives up easily after slapping him on the wrist, then I won't tolerate him," Tita Frig said, looking at her son with eyes blinking. "But Loki is Loki. He won't let get anything in his way."
Somehow, naiintindihan ko ang sinabi niya. Loki might take those words as compliment. Remember when we learned that the QED Club was dissolved? Sinabi niyang kahit sa ilalim siya ng puno ng mangga tumanggap ng cases, okay lang sa kanya. Gano'n siya ka-persistent. So no matter how many times his dad tries to stop him, he just wouldn't give up.
"Let me think about it." Looks like my bet was right. Sumuko na si Tito Odin sabay sandal sa kanyang upuan. "I can't think clearly right now because so much is going on."
"Sleep on it," Tita Frig told him, smiling. "I hope by the time you wake up tomorrow, you'd realize na tama ang mga sinabi ko sa 'yo. Loki and his friends are better off with Morgan's supervision. I'm sure he won't let something happen to our son under his watch."
"Pag-iisipan ko muna."
"Speaking of sleep..." Tumingin si Tita Frig sa kanyang relo bago iniangat ang tingin sa amin. "It's already nine in the evening. May classes pa kayo bukas. You two better take your rest. Sa sobrang dami ba naman ng nangyari ngayong araw, kailangan n'yong magpahinga."
"I'll be sleeping at our house tonight," Loki declared.
Nagawi ang tingin namin sa kanya. Not even his dad or his mom expected him to say that.
"I need to start my investigation into my brother's poisoning while it's still fresh on the minds of the household staff," he went on. "I assume that dad didn't let anyone leave our house?"
Tito Odin shook his head. "Sinabihan ko ang security na wala siyang papapasukin at paaalisin ng bahay."
"Good." Loki nodded before turning to me. "Do you mind if you return alone to our apartment? I have to deal with this case tonight."
Umiling ako. Wala namang problema sa akin. "I'll be fine. Kasama ko naman si Tita Martha roon."
"Are you sure you wanna leave Lorelei alone in your apartment?" nang-iintrigang tanong ni Tita Frig.
"What is she? A seven-year-old kid?" Loki scoffed, rolling his eyes. "She's already seventeen, mom. She sees herself as a strong and independent girl."
I took that as a compliment. May katotohanan naman kasi. No one needs to babysit me or act as my bodyguard. There are also four door locks in our unit. Remember that time when someone broke into our place and stole Loki's silver laptop? Doon niya napagpasyahan na dagdagan ng dalawa pa ang locks.
So if a suspicious individual wants to intrude, good luck sa kanya. I also have Freya with me. She could scratch them with her claws and bite them with her cute fangs. Oh, never underestimate our home cat.
"Ipapahatid ko na siya sa apartment n'yo," Tito Odin said as he pressed something on his phone.
The door opened. Sabay kaming nalingon ni Loki sa pintuan. We saw one of his dad's bodyguards, Munroe, enter the room. If I remember correctly, he's the silent one among the brothers. Mas maingay ang kapatid niyang si Hugh, who seemed to be missing-in-action since this afternoon.
Akala ko'y kaming dalawa ni Munroe ang lalabas ng kuwarto, pero napansin kong sumunod sa amin si Loki. Gusto rin siguro niya akong ihatid sa baba. We crossed the hallway and stopped in front of the elevator lobby. We waited until the lift reached the fifth floor.
"By the way, where's Hugh?" Loki asked the bodyguard as soon as the elevator doors opened. "I thought you two are always together."
"Nasa isang safehouse siya, binabantayan ang kaibigan ni Sir Luthor," sagot ni Munroe. Pinauna na niya kaming pumasok. Walang kagana-gana ang kanyang boses. He almost sounded like a robot. He then pressed the basement button.
"Kaibigan?" pag-uulit ko. I don't know who Luthor's friends are or if he has any friends at all—well, maybe Maggie?—but I quickly thought of one person who might have needed that level of protection. "You mean Rosetta?"
Munroe nodded. Diretso ang kanyang tingin, ni minsa'y hindi nagawi sa direksyon namin ang kanyang mga mata. He only stood at the center of the elevator like a statue.
"So you helped my brother pull off that fake death trick, huh?" Loki asked. "How did you do it?"
"May mga kakilala kaming officers sa fire department," Munroe answered. "Naka-standby na sila bago pa magsimula ang apoy. Kinailangan din namin silang bayarin nang malaki."
So that's why they arrived sooner than expected! Because they knew that a fire was scheduled to spark in Rosetta's room. Parang doktor na nakabantay sa hallway at alam na aatakihin sa puso ang kanyang pasyente.
"You could be charged with arson."
"Magdo-donate si Sir Mendez para sa pagpapa-repair ng nasunog na bahagi ng hostel," sagot ni Munroe. "Siniguro din namin na walang ibang masasaktan kapag sumiklab ang apoy. Tiniming namin ang sunog sa oras na nasa klase ang halos lahat ng mga nag-i-stay sa floor na 'yon."
Sandaling nagawi sa akin ang tingin ni Loki. He said exactly the same thing when I was wondering about how Luthor pulled that trick off. He knew his dad really well.
Pagbukas ng elevator door, we found ourselves in a dimly lit parking lot crowded with cars. This must be the basement parking. Isa sa mga kotse ang nagpailaw ng bumper lights nito. That looked like the car driven by Mr. Vasquez. Well, it is.
We walked toward that car. Palingon-lingon ako sa aming likuran dahil baka may palihim na nakasunod sa amin. Sorry, medyo na-paranoid na sa dami ng mga nangyari. Munroe opened the door and waited for me to get inside before closing it. I rolled down the car window as I turned to Loki.
"See you tomorrow," I said.
"See you," he replied, awkwardly waving at me. "If you observe anything suspicious in the apartment, give me a call."
"Sure."
The car then drove off. I threw one last glimpse at Loki and Munroe who remained where they stood. Hinintay muna siguro nilang tuluyang makaalis ang sasakyan ko bago sila bumalik sa loob.
Nang nakalabas na kami sa basement parking, sumandal ako sa upuan at napabuga ng hangin. A lot of things happened today. And I don't think that's the rest of it.
I wonder what awaits us tomorrow?
q.e.d.
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