A/N: For those who might ask about the timeline, the team building happened after Chapter 32: Haunt of Bascoville and before Chapter 33: The Enemy of My Enemy.

LORELEI

SATURDAY CAME, the day Loki has dreaded since the moment we voted to join the team building. I knew he would try to not come with us. Ini-lock niya ang kanyang sarili sa kwarto. No matter how many times I knocked and how many threats I made, he would not open up.

But thanks to him, I knew how to pick locks. Using his own tools, nabuksan ko ang pinto ng kanyang kuwarto at nadatnan siyang nakahiga pa rin sa kama. He's covered in blanket like a human burrito. I had to drag him away from his bed to make him move.

"I shouldn't have shared my lock-picking skills with you." This wasn't the first time I used what he taught me against him. Inalis niya ang nakabalot na kumot sa kanyang katawan at naglakad patungo sa bathroom.

"Next time, maglagay ka kasi ng bolt sa kwarto mo." Wait, maybe I shouldn't have made that suggestion? Binigyan ko tuloy siya ng idea. Well, he's too lazy to go to the hardware store to buy a bolt lock, let alone install it.

I tossed a towel roll at him. Iniabang niya ang kanyang mga kamay para saluhin ang tuwalya, pero 'di niya nasalo. Hindi na nga gano'n kalayo ang distansya namin. Wala yata siyang future maging basketball player.

Mismong sa school na kami nagkita ng mga kasama namin sa club. Doon din kasi ang meeting place para sa pick-up point ng school bus. Alistair was already there, wearing a light blue polo shirt. He's always an early bird. May bitbit siyang sling travel bag na hindi gano'n kalaki. Knowing him, he would have only brought the exact number of shirts and shorts needed for a two-day stay.

Jamie arrived a little late from our call time. She was wearing a ruffled sleeveless top and denim shorts, showing her legs. Kung paramihan ng dala ang labanan, siya na ang panalo. She brought a luggage na parang magbabakasyon siya nang isang linggo. When we asked about her bag, she said she only brought her essentials. Nothing more. I highly doubt that.

Loki, who was the least enthusiastic about the trip, was wearing a gray v-neck shirt matched with dark chino walking shorts. He did not bring that many clothes for the event. Ni hindi na nga niya masyadong pinag-isipan kung ano-ano'ng mga damit ang dadalhin niya. Dalawa or tatlong shirts lang yata ang inilagay niya sa kanyang backpack.

As for me, I was wearing a beige blouse and denim pants. I also packed casual and semi-formal dresses in my bag. Siniguro kong kasya sa iisang bag ang mga damit ko. Ayaw ko rin kasi ang maraming gamit. Compared to Jamie, my essentials weren't that many. Para sa personal hygiene at skin care routine ang dala ko.

"Don't look so grim, Loki dear!" Jamie tried to cheer him up. Paano ba naman, nakasimangot siya mula apartment hanggang makarating kami sa campus? Words might not have any effect on him. "Enjoy-in lang natin ang team building, okay? Kasama mo naman kami kaya siguradong 'di ka mabo-bore. This is gonna be fun!"

"Perhaps my mood will change if something happens during this two-day activity," Loki replied without any hint of enthusiasm. I bet he'd be rejoicing sakaling biglaang na-cancel ang team building. "A murder certainly will. A petty theft might also do the trick."

I sighed. Jamie groaned. Alistair shook his head. We already had enough of those cases in the past few weeks! Gusto ba niyang sundan kami ng mga 'yon hanggang sa team building? No way.

"Pwede bang huwag kang mag-wish na may mangyaring ganyan?" sabi ko sa kanya. "Let's hope everything will go without a hitch."

"This is the only time we can relax," Alistair added. "Though honestly I don't think na makakapag-relax tayo dahil siguradong may pakulong inihanda ang student council para sa atin. At the very least, we can take a pause from solving cases. 'Yon naman talaga ang pinunta natin dito, 'di ba?"

Tumango ako. Ayaw kong masyadong mag-isip. Ayaw kong sumakit ang ulo ko. Gusto kong ma-enjoy ang event na 'to. Kaya sana, 'di magdilang-anghel itong si Loki. Sana walang mangyaring masama habang nasa team building kami.

"Oh! Sasama rin pala kayo?"

Sabay-sabay kaming napalingon sa likuran. Bumati sa amin ang nakangiting mukha ni Rosetta na may kasama pang pagkaway. I couldn't help but notice her signature waist-length straight hair. I smiled back at her.

Rosetta Rodriguez—or Rosie, as how we fondly call her—is one of my classmates. She's the first friend I made when I transferred here in Clark High. Sa sobrang kulit niya kasing makipagkaibigan sa akin, wala akong choice kundi i-welcome siya sa bago kong circle.

As I recall correctly, she's a member of the Paranormal Club. That might explain why she's also here.

"I knew you were in the list, but I wasn't expecting you guys to come!" she said. "Akala ko, hindi papayag itong si Loki na sumali kayo sa team building."

"Kami pa?" nakangiting tugon ni Jamie. "Palalampasin ba namin ang chance na makapag-bonding kami sa team building? Oh, wait! Why don't we call it team bonding instead? Mas appropriate, 'di ba? Meron na tayong team na na-build kaya redundant na sa case natin!"

"I still am against us joining this unnecessary event," Loki replied with bitterness in his voice. "But I was outvoted so I had no choice but to tag along. How about you? Why are you here, Rosemund?"

"Rosetta," she corrected him. We no longer bothered to make that correction because Loki would forget about it anyway. Ilang beses na ba naming itinama ang maling tawag niya kay Rosetta? I lost count already.

"Invited din ang Paranormal Club sa team building!" Rosetta happily answered. She jerked her thumb over her shoulder, to the direction of three boys having a conversation. "Kasama ko ang tatlong clubmates ko. Excited na nga kami!"

I could not recall their names since it's been a while, but we already met them when we investigated the alleged paranormal incident in the abandoned building here. By we, I mean Loki and I. Wala pa noon sina Jamie at Alistair sa club. As it turned out, may ikinulong na estudyante sa loob ng isang locker na gumagawa ng ingay para makatawag na pansin.

"Seriously? Your club still exists?" Loki scoffed. "You should have been disbanded months ago."

I nudged him with my elbow. Minsan naiisip kong busalan ang bibig niya lalo na kapag medyo below the belt ang mga sinasabi niya. He may not believe in ghosts, as he has repeatedly claimed, but that does not give him a free pass para alipustahin niya ang club na nagha-hunting sa hindi niya pinaniniwalaan.

"Sa katunayan nga, mas dumarami ang gustong magpa-member sa amin!" pagmamayabang ni Rosetta. I was glad that she was not taking Loki's remarks seriously. "Thanks to that one time we worked together, nakahanap na kami ng bagong purpose!"

"And that is?" Loki's left eyebrow arched. There's skepticism in his voice.

"Instead of hunting ghosts, naisipan naming i-debunk ang mga alleged paranormal encounters," Rosetta replied. "Since then, nakare-receive na kami ng request para i-prove or i-disprove kung meron ba talagang multo sa lugar na 'to o wala. We owe it to the QED Club kung bakit going strong pa rin kami hanggang ngayon."

Well, that's nice to hear. Loki wouldn't have a reason to bully them again.

"Mamaya na tayo mag-usap." Rosetta waved her hand as she started to walk away from us. "Sisingilin ko na 'yong na-late naming officers. Bye!"

"What a plot twist," Loki whispered, his eyes blinking. "I honestly thought they'd be disbanded by now."

"Shouldn't you feel proud that we somehow helped them find another purpose for their club?" I asked, darting a glance at him.

He only shook his head in response.

"Nandito na ba ang lahat?"

The student council and the execom finally made their appearance. They marched down the school building like an army going to war. Everyone was wearing the same black polo shirts with the words "student council" or "executive committee" printed on the chest part. On the lead were some familiar faces.

Forty five minutes past seven na nang sila'y dumating sa rendezvous point. Dala-dala ng mga taga-execom ang ilang durable storage boxes na naglalaman siguro ng mga gamit para sa team building. I also saw them carrying a couple of foot-long sticks, cloths and painting materials.

"Parating na ang school bus! Please message your co-officers to come here as quickly as they can!" Maggie announced, cupping her hands around her mouth. "We will leave exactly at eight o'clock! Iiwan natin ang mga attendee na male-late!"

"Mabuti pala't nagising agad ako nang mag-alarm ang phone ko!" kuwento ni Jamie sa amin. "Baka 'di tuloy ako nakasama sa inyo. This trip won't be as fun as it's supposed to be kung wala ako."

I admire her confidence sometimes. She's saying like the world wouldn't be the same without her. Well, it's kinda hard to imagine the QED Club without Jamie. Nasanay na kami sa bubbly, clingy at self-assertive presence niya, mararamdaman naming kulang sakaling wala siya.

"Ano'ng oras ka natulog kagabi?" tanong ni Alistair.

"Mag-a-ala-una na yata?" sagot ni Jamie. "'Di ko na namalayan kasi masyado akong na-hook sa series na pinapanood ko. Nakatulog nga ako sa kalagitnaan, eh! Ikaw? I bet na maaga kang natulog. Eight o'clock pa lang siguro, knocked out ka na. 'Yon ba ang secret mo kaya 'di masyadong malalim ang eyebags mo?"

Napangiti si Alistair sa kanya. He's an early riser, if I'm not mistaken, pero masyado namang maaga ang alas-otso para matulog. "Nine o'clock. Inayos ko lang 'yong mga dadalhin kong gamit tapos nagpahinga na agad ako."

"Mabuti ka pa, maagang nagigising. May isa nga riyan na kinailangan ko pang hilahin mula sa kama niya para magising," parinig ko sabay bato ng tingin sa taong pinariringgan ko.

"Let me guess. That's Loki, right?" Parang kabute na sumulpot sa gilid namin si Maggie. "Don't look so sad, Loki. You're absolutely gonna love and enjoy this event."

"Make sure it's worth my time," he replied. "I don't want two days of my life go to waste."

It's definitely gonna go to waste if he chooses not to enjoy these two days. Nasa mindset na niya kung susulitin ba niya o hindi ang team building na 'to.

"I wasn't expecting you'd show up."

Nanindig ang mga balahibo ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ng lalaki sa likuran namin. Goosebumps all over my body. There's only one person in this school who could make me feel that way: Luthor Mendez.

"Lorelei seems to be doing a great job as your vice president." He put his hands behind him as his eyes landed on me. Gaya ng ibang student council officers, nakasuot din siya ng itim na polo shirt. This might be the first time I saw him wear something other than his school uniform.

"The color perfectly suits you," Loki commented, his eyes scanning his brother from head to toe. "Did someone die? You look like you're gonna attend someone's funeral."

I couldn't believe they're starting this early. Mag-a-alas-otso pa lang ng umaga. Let's brace ourselves for some unique display of brotherly love.

"I'm mourning the fact that you can't enjoy this day the way you want," his brother retorted.

Luthor Mendez is the honorable vice president of the powerful student council. He's the right-hand man of the president and next-in-line to the presidency. In other words, a spare tire. But that's not the real case.

Nang malaman kong magkapatid silang dalawa, Loki pointed out that his brother is not just the vice president of the student council. He is the student council. While someone else holds the title of being the president, Luthor has the final say on everything. He's like a puppetmaster who pulls the strings behind the shadows.

If it wasn't that obvious yet, he and Loki does not have a smooth sailing sibling relationship. Whenever he could, Loki would always find a way to throw an insult at his brother. Luthor, being on the receiving end, tries not to dignify those insults most of the time. He's probably thinking that as the elder brother, he should be the bigger man.

"Lori," Jamie whispered as the brothers locked into a staring contest. "Dapat ko na bang simulan na makipag-close kay Lulu? He's gonna be my brother-in-law in the future anyway."

"Lulu?" I mimicked, my eyebrows knitting. And what's with the "brother-in-law"?

"Short for Luthor! Kinda cute, right? Masyado kasing intimidating ang aura niya. The way he stands, the way he speaks, the way he puts his hands behind him. Parang ayaw kong gumawa ng mali habang kaharap niya."

Even the ever friendly and socially confident Jamie was somehow afraid of Lulu's—sorry, I meant Luthor's—intimidating aura. Parang may invisible wall na nakalagay na "Don't come close" sa paligid niya. We already had a couple of conversations, but I couldn't easily shake that feeling off.

"Dapat ba akong mamagitan sa kanilang dalawa?" pabulong na tanong ni Jamie. "I'd be part of their family in the future kaya dapat alam ko kung anong role ang gagampanan ko."

"Nah." I shook my head. "Just let them insult each other. Lilipas din 'yang asaran nila. Just grab a bucket of popcorn and watch them."

"Pero wala namang popcorn dit—" Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita at bahagyang nakanganga ang bibig. "Oh, you meant that figuratively, not literally? Ikaw talaga, Lori!"

There's nothing we could do about their complicated relationship. For now. Kahit na mamagitan kami, kung hindi mismo sa kanila magmumula ang initiative na ayusin ang kanilang relasyon, wala ring mangyayari.

"Those two won't really get along, will they?" Alistair asked. That's the million peso question.

"Sa tingin ko, open si Luthor na makipag-reconcile sa kapatid niya," sagot ko habang nakatingin sa nakatatandang Mendez. "But Loki being Loki, he's acting immature, like a child throwing tantrums whenever he sees his brother."

He would sometimes use any word synonymous to "evil" in describing Luthor. That's how petty he could get.

"I don't think it's a hopeless case," Alistair said. "They may be trading barbs right now, but for all we know, they care for each other. No matter what either of them says, they're still family."

Honestly I also don't think that their relationship is beyond repair. But it might take some time bago maayos ito.

"We have a game that you will surely love." Maggie smiled, standing next to the vice president. "Gusto naming maging special ang team building na 'to. Nakasasawa na rin kasi kung uulitin namin ang mga activity na nagawa na noon. It's time to spice things up."

"On behalf of the student council, I hope you'd all enjoy this two-day trip." Luthor bowed his head before taking off with Maggie.

The bus arrived at seven-fifty and parked near the waiting shed. The execom officers asked us to fall in line and hop on the bus one by one. Nauna si Loki sa amin sa pila, kaya nang makapasok siya, dumiretso siya sa pinakadulong row ng upuan. I would prefer the seats in the middle, but he already made the decision for us. Ayaw naman naming mag-isa siya roon. Sinundan namin siya at magkakasunod na umupo sa kanyang tabi. Jamie sat next to him, then me and Alistair.

"Why are you all here?" Loki asked, craning his neck to see the seats in front of him. Parang ayaw niya pa kaming makatabi, ah? "There are many vacant seats around."

"Loki dear, the club that sits next to each other, stays together," Jamie answered. That's a good slogan, by the way. "Mas mabuti nang sama-sama tayo para ipakita sa ibang clubs na united tayo. If there's a contest about unity, may advantage na tayo!"

"We're here to enjoy, remember? Not to compete," I reminded her. Baka nakalimutan na niya ang purpose ng team building na 'to. We should focus on our own team, not on others. "Gagawin natin ang ipagagawa ng organizers, e-enjoy-in natin ang bawat moment tapos uuwi na tayo nang may improved sense of unity."

"One way of enjoying is by competing." Loki rested his chin in his hand, gazing out the bus window. Oh, no. He heard the c-word. "While I question the purpose of joining the team building, I won't question the benefits of competition. Our club versus other clubs? That's an exciting thought, isn't it?"

"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na we're not here to compete with other clubs." I put so much emphasis on the second half of my response. "The purpose is to build teams, not to destroy teams."

Loki turned to me, his dull eyes spoke of boredom. "If I were to be frank, Lorelei, the thought of competing is the only reason why I came here with you. You thought I'd be here because you forced me to? Nope."

"May point si Loki dear." Marahang tumango si Jamie. Mukhang bumalik na siya sa "I second the motion" attitude niya. "Competition isn't necessarily bad. Basta nasa lugar, wala akong nakikitang mali. Nakaka-motivate din na mag-participate sa mga activity kapag meron kang kakompetensya, 'di ba? They can bring out the best in you."

"Or the worst," I added. "Look, I understand your points. What I'm trying to say is that beating the other teams shouldn't be our priority."

"I don't wanna say this, Lori, but your words will only fall on deaf ears," Alistair chimed in, shaking his head. "Loki likes competition the same way he likes showing off that he's superior than everyone else. Ilang buwan na natin siyang kilala, this shouldn't come as a surprise to us."

"Alistair, if you're trying to insult me, that won't do," Loki retorted. "In fact, I take your words as a compliment. Why should I feel embarrassed about showing off that I'm superior when I really am superior?"

Alistair was absolutely right. "Competition" is probably Loki's favorite word that starts with letter "c," next to "cases." I attended a number of team building events before. Hindi talaga maiiwasan na magkaroon ng pagalingan sa mga participant. I totally agree with Jamie. Competition isn't bad at all. It only becomes bad when one side takes it seriously and makes it too personal. And Loki being Loki has the tendency to lean toward that direction.

"Fine! Competition during the team building is inevitable," I said. That's a fact so there's no good in denying it. "But let's aim for a healthy competition, shall we? Not a toxic one."

"If we win, don't gloat. If we lose, don't be bitter," Alistair added. "Kung anuman ang maging resulta ng team building, dapat huwag tayong magtanim ng sama ng loob sa ibang participants."

"Siyempre naman!" sagot ni Jamie. "Only losers hold grudge after being beaten. And we're not a bunch of losers, are we?"

"Whatever you say." Loki cut away his gaze from us.

At exactly eight in the morning, nagsimula nang umandar ang sinasakyan namin. The organizers were not joking when they said we were gonna leave on time.

To pass the time, I put on my earphones and listened to my favorite music playlist. Alistair went to read an e-Book while Jamie rested her head on Loki's shoulder and slept throughout the trip.

Sana naman, walang maging aberya sa team building.

q.e.d.

Liked this update? Don't forget to share your thoughts on Twitter using the hashtag #PLChronicles!