A/N: It's time to deal with Lorelei's secret admirer!

LOKI

AND THAT'S the reason why this Lorelei was not happy to see me. She must have remembered how our conversation went down that day. Did I cross the line? Maybe. But it's not my intention to hurt her by reopening old wounds. I stated merely my observations. I only wanted to prove to her that it's incorrect for her to say we knew little about each other. Maybe she did. But not me.

Back in the clubroom, she turned around and was about to walk away. She might not like my guts, but I was the only one on campus who could help her with her dilemma. I was the only doctor here who could cure her illness. If she wouldn't consult me, then the symptoms would persist.

"Sorry, pero mukhang nagkamali ako ng room na pinasukan."

"Oh, don't you lie. You're exactly where you're supposed to be." I lowered the book that I was reading. This might be more interesting than the fiction novel. "A minute ago, you asked if this is the QED Club. You're obviously looking for this place so why are you denying it now?"

"You're the last person that I want to see today," she replied. Her bluntness was something that I appreciated, but what she said wasn't true. She's letting her impression of me get the better of her decision-making. "If you don't mind, I'll go ahead."

"That's another lie," I called her out before she could reach for the door. "The last person you wanna see is someone who's causing you trouble. A secret admirer, perhaps?"

She turned to me with widened eyes and mouth hanging loosely open. I hit the bullseye, as I always did. "At paano mo nalaman ang tungkol doon?"

I snapped the book closed and tossed it on the table. "Let's say that I have the power to know if someone's in trouble or not." Then I put my fingertips together.

"May nagsabi sa 'yo?"

She did, but not directly. After our disastrous conversation that day, I ran an online background check on her. I wanted to know if the person that I'd be sharing the unit with was a suspicious individual. She could be an assassin sent by a clandestine organization to silence me forever. Fortunately, nothing alarming showed up in my research. What I found was her blog. There she had been posting her new experiences since the day she transferred here in Pampanga.

I read her latest entry yesterday and found out that she's being troubled by a person who was leaving gifts in her locker. On Monday, a box of chocolate. The next day, a red rose and a photo of her. She didn't appreciate those gestures that some might find romantic.

But I'd rather not say that I found her blog. I'd let her make her own guesses on how I knew that she's having a secret admirer dilemma. She might even think that I was some sort of wizard.

"Our first conversation must have left a bitter taste in your mouth." I changed the topic so she wouldn't ask about it any further. "I have nothing on my plate at the moment so I can help you out. I'm not forcing you though. You have two options. You can walk away and be still bothered by your secret admirer. Or you can tell me the details of your problem and I'll expose the identity of the mysterious guy."

A look of hesitation flashed across her face. Was she so mad at me that she wouldn't allow me to help her? I was trying to be a good Samaritan here. Perhaps, she needed a little more convincing. A little more push.

"Don't worry. Once your problem is solved, we can return to playing strangers again." That's probably what she wanted to hear. I motioned my hand toward the vacant chair across the table. "So why don't you take a seat and tell me more about your case?"

She eventually gave in and settled down on the chair at the other end of the table. The distance between us was very telling of our relationship.

"Go ahead, I'm listening," I told her before leaning my back against my swivel chair.

She took a deep breath before starting. "Nitong Monday, napansin kong may nagbukas ng locker ko at nag-iwan ng isang box ng chocolate. Kahapon, naglagay siya ng red rose at picture ko na may note. Kanina, nag-iwan siya ng maliit na teddy bear na may nakadikit na profile picture ko mula sa Facebook."

I know, I know. I swiveled my chair away from her and looked out the window. So the third gift prompted her to pay my club a visit. "Looks like there's nothing unusual in your secret admirer case. Do you have any idea on who this person might be?"

"Sa tingin ko, isa siya sa classmates kong lalaki. 'Yong iniwan niya kasing picture kahapon, kinuhanan habang nasa classroom ako. Wala namang taga-ibang class na pumapasok sa room namin kaya malabong outsider 'yon."

Oh, she managed to make that deduction? It's quite obvious who the suspects were, given the circumstances. But at the very least, she's not entirely clueless. "Interesting observation. What time do you usually check your locker?"

"Umaga tuwing PE class namin."

I stared at the blue skies outside. A thought came to my mind, and I tried to visualize how it would play out. Here's what's clear to me: The secret admirer knew how to pick her locker door, and he could check its contents anytime. I might be able to use that fact to solve this little mystery.

I swiveled my chair to face her again. "Consider your problem solved. If you want, I can introduce your secret admirer this afternoon."

Her eyes blinked. "Kilala mo na kung sino siya?"

"Not really. But I have an idea on how I can expose his identity. Until what time are your classes today?"

"Until four o'clock. Why?"

"Meet me at exactly five o'clock on the rooftop. I'll unmask the identity of your secret admirer and put an end to your problem."

SOMEHOW, I was grateful to her for giving me the distraction that I badly needed. It kept my mind off the thought that I'd be losing the clubroom to some random group who didn't deserve it. I got some important memories in this place, that's why I was desperate to keep it. But I was not that desperate to kneel before my brother and beg for his mercy. I'd never do that. He could have the clubroom for himself.

It's three in the afternoon. While my Oral Communication in Context instructor was discussing our lesson, I tore a page from my small notebook and wrote the following words: "Meet me at the rooftop 5 PM." But I thought that might not be enough so I drew a heart symbol and added my client's name.

Wait, what's her name again? Lorraine? Louella? Loretta? Ugh! I rarely hated my mind for forgetting the names of my clients. Oh, yeah! Her name's Lorelei.

When our instructor asked us to do a seatwork, I raised my hand and excused myself to go to the boy's comfort room. As soon as I was allowed, I got to my feet, walked faster than my usual pace, rushed down the stairs, and went to the locker area. I didn't ask my client what her locker number was, but owners' names were plastered on the doors. It wasn't an issue.

"Lorelei Rios . . ." I muttered as I walked past columns of steel lockers. Then I halted before the one with that name.

Wait. Rios? Why did that family name sound familiar? I must have seen it somewhere. No, not in the news or magazines. Was it in my dad's or my mom's—Oh, well. It's not a unique surname, like Mendez.

I was ready to use my lockpicking kit, but I realized that it wasn't necessary. The locker door had vents to allow good airflow into and out of it. All I needed to do was slip the torn page through it. And so I did. There's no security camera in this area, which was convenient for her secret admirer and for me as well. I left the place as if nothing happened and returned to my classroom.

When the clock struck four, the school bell rang, one of the stuff that I had been always looking forward to every day on campus. I rushed out of the classroom and climbed all the way to the rooftop. There's a group of old large cardboard boxes and a bunch of plumbing pipes on one spot. Perfect for hiding.

I sat behind the boxes and tilted my head up, staring at the cerulean blue dome above me. It must be so boring and sad to be one of those white clouds. They seemed free as they moved slowly over our heads. But the truth was, they had no freedom of their own. They only followed the dictate of the local winds and the rotation of the Earth. That must suck.

Compare them to the birds flying around. They could go wherever they wanted—except when the weather's bad. They had to take shelter from the wind and rain in bushes and trees. But once the skies cleared, their wings could take them anywhere.

What's the point of these musings? Nothing really. I wasn't trying to be philosophical here. I only wanted to pass the time. When I checked my phone, it's a quarter before five. Just fifteen minutes before the meeting time. Letting my mind wander around was effective.

Fifteen minutes turned to ten, then five. Until finally, only a minute was left.

I heard footfalls from the stairs leading to the rooftop. I knelt on one knee and leaned my back against the box behind me as I tried to check who's coming out. Just on time, the client arrived at the meeting place. She darted her gaze around, looking for me. Disappointed to see no one, she went near the ledge and stared down the campus field. I hoped she had no intention of jumping off there.

Then I heard another set of heavy footfalls coming from the stairs. That must be our special guest. He had no freaking idea that he's walking into my trap. Should I expect anything from someone as lowly as him? My client would surely thank me after this confrontation for exposing her secret admirer.

The show's about to start. I fished my phone out of my pocket, opened the camera app, and angled my device from a spot that they wouldn't notice immediately. When they're both in the frame, I pressed the record button. If this guy would act the way that I predicted, he'd be earning his expulsion ticket tomorrow.

"Aaron?" Lorelei called him. She stepped back. "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito? May ka-meeting ka rin ba sa rooftop?"

"Ang sabi mo, gusto mo akong makita." He showed her the piece of paper that I slid in her locker. "Kaya nagmadali akong pumunta rito."

"Sorry, pero hindi ko maalalang may sinabi akong ganyan sa 'yo. Baka nagkakamali ka lang. May iba akong hinihintay rito."

"Pero nag-iwan ka ng message para sa 'kin sa locker mo. Ang sabi mo, gusto mo akong makita ngayong five o'clock dito sa rooftop para makilala ako at magpasalamat sa mga regalong ibinigay ko sa 'yo. I'm here, as you requested."

I didn't tell the client about my plan because she might object to it. She might make a fuss about it if she's informed. My priority was to expose the secret admirer. Everything else could not and would not take precedence.

"K-Kung gano'n, i-ikaw ang secret admirer ko?" the client asked. Shouldn't it be obvious by now?

"Yours truly," the guy admitted with a bow. "Oh, bakit namumutla ka riyan? Hindi ka ba masaya na makita at makilala na ako?"

"S-Sorry, pero hindi ko talaga alam ang sinasabi mo—"

Her mouth froze midway as if a sudden realization hit her. If she realized that I was the one who had left that note, I would applaud her.

"Noong first day mo pa lang dito, gusto na kitang makilala." He started moving closer to her. "Lagi kong pinagmamasdan ang ngiti mo at kung paano ka tumawa."

"S-Stay away from me!" she yelled.

Go on, secret admirer. Act the way that you're supposed to.

"Ganyan mo ba pasasalamatan ang admirer mo? Mahilig ako sa mga palabang babae kaya siguradong magugustuhan talaga kita."

"TULON—" The client tried to scream, but the guy covered her mouth.

Should I reveal myself and help her out? No, not yet. Just a little more and I'd have everything that I needed.

"Shush . . . Huwag kang maingay. Ang akala ko, gusto mo pa akong mas makilala? Kapag sinubukan mong sumigaw ulit, baka matulak kita mula sa rooftop."

His fingers ran through the client's face, which made her whole body freeze like a statue. His head leaned closer to the client as if he's going for a kiss. She had no choice but to close her eyes and accept her helplessness.

Okay, that's enough. Show's over.

I pocketed my phone, sprang from my hiding spot and kicked the guy from behind. He's so shocked by my sudden appearance, he wasn't able to dodge it. He's lying flat on his stomach. My right foot stepped on his back to make sure that he couldn't stand for a while.

The client opened her eyes slowly, surprised that the guy was no longer standing in front of her. She instead found me. "Loki?"

"Sorry if I didn't act too soon." I glanced at her over my shoulder as I showed her my phone. "I waited for him to make his move. I was recording a video of his attempt on you."

"K-Kanina ka pa nandito? Paano mo nalaman na—"

"He can access your locker, right? I left a note for him, asking to meet you here at five." My left hand pointed at the cardboard boxes. "I was hiding behind those while waiting for the two of you. If he saw you alone here, he would lower his guard and take advantage of the situation. It worked as I predicted."

She must be so amazed how I set this up and how everything went according to my plan. Her expression of gratitude was expected later.

"You bastard . . ." She ground her teeth, showing me her fangs ready to tear me apart.

Who was she calling bastard? Me? The one who helped her?

I got distracted by her comment that the secret admirer was able to pull himself up and ran away from us. Chasing him would require energy, and I had already exhausted my battery for the whole day. So I let him escape. But his fate was already sealed.

"Don't worry about him. The video that I've recorded will suffice as evidence," I assured her. Her secret admirer would be gone by tomorrow. "Once I submit it to the school authorities, your secret admirer will be no more—"

Then she slapped me in the face, making my head snap to my right. That hurt. I didn't see it coming. All the while, I thought she'd be thankful. I thought she'd be having a better impression of me. Not that I care. But I misread her.

Was I the bad guy now?

"Is this how you say thank you?" I asked as I touched my swelling left cheek. "If yes, you're welcome."

"You have no idea what you've put me through today." Her voice was shaking, but her eyes were shooting daggers at me. She's holding back her tears. "You lied to me and used me as a bait to lure out that creepy guy. Ngayon, hindi ko alam kung sino'ng mas masahol sa inyong dalawa."

"The end justifies the means, Lorelei," I spoke of her name slowly. Again, my priority in this case was to expose her secret admirer. And I did. Mission accomplished. Whatever she felt during the confrontation or whatever she thought of me, I could care less about it.

She walked toward the rooftop's exit and left me behind.

I didn't see this sort of ending coming.

—to be continued—

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