A/N: Six days nang sunod-sunod ang updates! Magpapahuli ka pa ba?

LORELEI

[Art by Aleck Khalil Alegre]

AUGUSTUS MORAN. The editor-in-chief of Clark Clarion. And our toughest enemy so far.

I stared at him for minutes habang naglalakad kami sa hallway ng ground floor. He asked if he could talk to me, but I don't know exactly why. Was it something about the literary folio that they have been working on? Or was it about the break-in into their office last week?

Noong una nga, akala ko si Loki ang kakausapin niya. I thought the chief would finally reveal to him the truth about Luthor. Well, mas mabuti nang ako ang pinili niyang kausapin. We averted a tragedy for another day... or for a few hours. There's no way of telling when he'd open his mouth.

"Don't worry, Lorelei," he spoke after a minute of silence. "Nothing bad will to happen you. I won't and can't hurt you. I don't want to get my hands dirty. Literally."

How reassuring. He doesn't seem to be the type to wield a knife and cut my throat. Parang siya si Stein Alberts na akala mo'y 'di makakapatay ng lamok. But if there's one thing I learned with M's organization, looks could be deceiving.

"I thought of sending one of my staffers to fetch you from your office, but I decided to personally escort you," Augustus said. His eyes were looking ahead. He didn't bother turning to me. Naglalakad kasi ako sa likuran niya. I feel uncomfortable walking beside him. "Ah, we won't be going to my office. We'll go somewhere else. Away from the prying eyes and ears of other people. Okay lang ba sa 'yo?"

His office? Talagang inangkin na niya ang Clarion, ah. "Sure, I don't mind." Ano ba naman ang magagawa ko?

Malakas ang kutob kong aware na siya sa mga camera na naka-install sa kanyang office. Maybe that's the reason why ayaw niyang doon kami mag-usap. Loki and the others could monitor our movements kapag nasa frame kami ng cameras. He's being cautious as hell.

"Did you enjoy the party last Friday?" tanong niya. What's with the small talk? Bakit hindi pa niya ako diretsuhin sa gusto niyang sabihin?

"Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko kaya 'di ako nakapunta," pagsisinungaling ko. I was in this school building the whole time. "How about you? Did you enjoy it?"

"Of course, I did!" he smiled. Of course, he really did. He outsmarted us. "That was the best solidarity night that I have ever been. Do you mind if we visit one of our circulation stations?"

Umiling ako at nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. It's been five minutes since we left the execom office, but he hasn't hinted at the real deal why he's taking me for a walk.

Pagkaliko namin sa hallway, dumiretso kami sa entrance lobby ng school building. May mahabang mesa roon kung saan nakapatong ang mga magazine issue ng Clarion. Naalala ko na dito unang nagkainitan sina Augustus at Loki pagkabalik namin mula sa outing.

"Thank you for the feature by the way! And thank you for immortalizing our legacy! Don't worry, we will return the favor by immortalizing you in one of the cases that Lorelei will write about soon." I remember Loki telling Augustus a veiled threat here. Kahit na may pagbabanta ang mga salita ni Loki noon, Augustus seemed unbothered. He was smirking back then.

"You can take a break muna. Ako na muna ang bahala rito," he told his three staffers seated around the table. Sabay-sabay silang tumango at umalis sa kanilang puwesto. Kaninang pagkarating ko pa rito sila namimigay ng mga copy ng magazine.

I looked around. Dahil nasa entrance lobby kami, hindi maubos ang mga estudyanteng naglalakad papasok at palabas ng school building. For a moment, I thought Augustus would ask me to help him distribute their magazines.

"I want you to feel safe," he said, holding a copy of the magazine. He was staring at the cover kung saan featured kaming apat na member ng QED Club. "There's also a CCTV camera nearby you don't really have to worry about your safety."

"Thank you for being so thoughtful," sagot ko. I never thought he'd be so concerned about that.

Humarap siya sa akin at inayos ang pagkakalagay ng kanyang salamin. "I want our next conversation to be off the record. Mas magiging komportable akong sabihin sa 'yo kung alam kong 'di mo ire-record ang usapan natin. Do you mind?"

Tch. I clicked my tongue. Naka-ready na ang mga daliri ko na i-record ang conversation namin. I only have one phone right now and the execom had no time to put a wire on me para ma-monitor ang usapan namin. Mukhang wala akong choice kung 'di pagbigyan ang request niya.

"Sure." Inilabas ko ang aking phone at ipinakita sa kanya ang screen nito. Walang recording app na naka-on. Ipinatong ko pa 'to sa mesa bilang proof na hindi ako magtatangkang utakan siya.

"Thank you, Lorelei," Augustus replied, smiling. Now he shouldn't fear being recorded by me anymore.

"So ano ba talaga ang gusto mong sabihin?" I folded my arms. "Bakit gusto mo akong kausapin?"

"Do you know what's one of the important jobs of the Clarion's editor-in-chief?" he answered my question with another question. Iniharap niya sa akin ang magazine at dahan-dahang inilipat ang mga page nito. Nakita ko nga 'yong feature kay Stein Alberts. "Finalizing the layout of an issue. I had to make sure na maganda ang kalalabasan nito. Maayos ang pagkakalagay ng mga text, image at iba pang materials. Walang naliligaw na lines."

"I see." If I know nothing about him, I might have mistaken this brief lecture as a recruitment pitch for me to join the Clarion. "Mabigat na responsibility 'yan. Kapag may mali sa layout, ikaw ang sisisihin."

Augustus chuckled. "I'm a meticulous person. I can't let one typographical error to be printed on any of our issues. Kung babasahin mo ang lahat ng mga release namin ngayong school year, I doubt you'd spot any. The content, the layout. They're all perfect. At least, to my eyes."

"Good job then," I forced a smile at him. Ngayon nagbubuhat siya ng bangko kung gaano siya kagaling bilang EIC. I still don't get the point that he was driving at.

He then heaved a long sigh. "You know what annoys me with this responsibility?"

I thought na may sasabihin pa siya kaya tinitigan ko lang siya. When I realized that he's waiting for my reply, I tried to make a guess. "Uhm... Kapag may na-overlook ka sa final layout?"

"You see, a layout is like a plan," Augustus replied, putting down the magazine. "It shows you what you want to see, what you want to achieve. When something doesn't go according to plan, that annoys you, right?"

"I agree," pagtango ko. Given the surprise that Alistair and I saw in his drawer, I have a clear idea on what he's talking about. "Nakaka-frustrate talaga kapag may hindi umayon sa plano. I'm speaking from experience."

Augustus looked down on the magazine and went silent for a while. He then lifted his gaze and looked at me.

"You, Lorelei, are not acting according to my layout."

Napalunok ako ng laway. How did I become part of his layout? We've never been in the same camp. He's our enemy right now.

He showed me the black notebook na dala-dala pa niya kanina at binuksan ito. Napabalikwas ang tingin ko. I already knew what's inside, I don't need to see it again.

"Relax," he said, flipping the pages. "This is not a copy of the notebook that you stole from my office. I kept a copy of that somewhere else. I'd be a fool if I carry it around."

"Wait, what?" I tried to keep a straight face. "Ano'ng sinasabi mong notebook na ninakaw ko?"

Ngumiti siya sa akin at sandaling nagawi sa ibang direksyon ang tingin niya. "Are we really playing that how-did-you-know game? Fine, I'll bite. A notebook that I was keeping in my desk vanished last Friday. Before I went to the solidarity night, alam kong nasa loob pa 'yon. Pag-check ko nang matapos ang party, wala na. Tell me, who could have stolen that notebook within two to three hours? I'm not a detective, but common sense tells me that it's probably someone who's not in the party."

"I told you, masama ang pakiramdam ko kaya hindi ako naka-attend," palusot ko.

"So sabay na sumama ang pakiramdam n'yong dalawa ni Alistair last Friday night?" Augustus chuckled. "I know that you're watching my every move. But did you really think I'm not doing the same thing to you and your friends?"

"Isipin mo na ang gusto mong isipin," sagot ko sabay kalas ng tingin sa kanya. "If you have no evidence, what you're saying is just pure conjecture."

"Then do you mind giving me a sample of your DNA so I can compare it with this?"

Muli akong napatingin sa kanya. He pulled a plastic from the notebook. 'Di ko gets noong una kung bakit niya pinapakita 'yon. But my eyes widened when I saw a strand of hair in it.

"A long strand of hair. Probably from a female student?" Augustus mused. "I found it near my desk. It could have been from one of my staffers. It could have been from you. Wanna bet on it?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. The longer I kept my silence, the wider Augustus' smile got.

"You may not have left any fingerprints, but this piece of evidence is enough to conclude that you broke into my office and stole my notebook," he said, putting the plastic bag in between the pages of his notebook. "I've also suspected that you planted hidden cameras in my office to monitor my movements."

Sinubukan kong i-maintain ang seryoso kong mukha, para hindi niya mapansin ang pagkagulat. Nasubukan ko nang kontrolin ang microexpressions ko noong Sabado, nang tanungin ako ni Loki kung si Luthor ba ang ka-date ko. If I convinced him, I could probably also convince the guy before me.

"Since your partner warned me last week, I've been on my guard," he explained. "I've been acting na para bang may mga nakamasid sa akin, kahit wala naman. Then one day, when I was making a call, I heard a static. I moved around my cubicle to see where that noise was coming from. Galing pala sa likod ng upuan ko, sa may ventilation duct na bagong linis."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I shook my head. "Baka napa-paranoid ka lang sa dami ng—"

"Let's drop the act now, Lorelei," Augustus cut my words short. "After all, this isn't the reason why I wanted to talk to you."

"Then please tell me why we're having this conversation," sagot ko.

"As I said earlier, you are not acting according to my layout," he repeated. "And that irks me."

"Ano bang ine-expect mong gagawin ko?" I asked. Ni wala nga akong idea kung ano ang sinasabi niyang layout.

"You've seen the contents of the notebook, haven't you?" Augustus asked, his eyes glued to me. "What's written there can shock the entire student body and take down the most powerful student in Clark High. Kilala mo na siguro kung sino ang tinutukoy ko."

I shrugged. "Okay, let's assume that I do."

"Given the juicyness of the information inside, I was expecting na sasabihin mo kay Loki at sa execom ang tungkol dito," Augustus explained. "And once they find out the truth about that person, ano sa tingin mo ang mangyayari? The rift between between the Mendez brothers will grow wider and the execom will have no choice but to investigate the student council vice president."

He's right. 'Yan nga ang posibleng mangyari kapag na-reveal ang laman ng notebook. 'Yan din ang kinatatakutan ko. Everything would be in a mess. That's why I had to lie to Loki and the execom. To prevent that from happening.

"Now imagine my surprise when I paid the execom a visit this morning," he went on, sighing. "Mukha kayong natalo sa laro, which made me feel good, but the drama that I was expecting? It wasn't there. You all should be shocked by the truth. You all should be in disarray. I also didn't hear any whispers that the execom is making a move against one of the student council officers."

Sinubukan kong itago ang ngiti ko. Augustus beat us last Friday night, but thanks to Alistair and me, we didn't give him so much satisfaction. He may look calm and composed, but he must be so frustrated right now.

"Doon ko na-realize na kung sino man ang nagnakaw sa notebook, hindi niya sinabi kay Loki at sa execom kung ano ang laman nito." Augustus looked at me in the eye. "You told them nothing."

"Maybe I didn't trust what's in the notebook," tugon ko nang may pagkibit-balikat. "I mean, hypothetically speaking, kung may nabasa akong hindi kapani-paniwala sa notebook na sinasabi mong ninakaw ko, why would I tell other people about it? Bakit ako magse-share ng posibleng fake news sa kanila?"

Silence. Ilang segundo ring napatitig sa akin si Augustus. I can't say what's going on his mind, but he must be processing something.

His mouth gaped. "Or maybe you, Loki and the execom already knew about it."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What?"

"Maybe I was wrong..." Augustus' eyes narrowed into slits as he looked away. "Maybe you did tell them about the notebook's contents, but you didn't act on it. Why? Dahil matagal n'yo nang alam ang katotohanan. You weren't surprised by my revelation. You knew it all along, that the vice president is connected to M."

"H-hindi ko gets kung ano ang pinagsasabi mo," pailing-iling kong sagot. I'm sure na ang tanging sinabi ko kay Loki ay blangko ang notebook na nakita namin ni Alistair. Kaya saan hinuhugot ni Augustus ang theory na 'to?

"Maybe after all this time, the vice president and his brother have been working together... to take down the organization," Augustus muttered. Iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa akin. "Do you know what might happen if M finds out about this? That one of his underlings is secretly working with the detective who's hunting him? The vice president will be in the front page of the Clarion tomorrow."

Napalunok na naman ako ng laway. My eyes also widened when I thought of what I might be reading in the papers tomorrow. Did he mean na patatahimikin ni M si Luthor?

No, we can't let that happen!

"Teka, you got it wrong!" My voice was shaking. I needed to correct what Augustus was thinking. Mapapahamak si Luthor para sa isang bagay na 'di naman totoo! "Loki and the execom do not know anything about it! We had no idea! Tama ka, hindi ko sinabi sa kanila kung ano ang nakasulat sa notebook!"

Napatakip ako ng bibig at napapikit ang aking mga mata. That's the moment I knew I said too much.

"Gotcha." Augustus smirked. He removed his eyeglasses and wiped the lens with his sleeve. "So that's what really happened. Thank you for confirming it."

I was trying my best to pretend na wala akong kinalaman sa paratang niya, but my tongue slipped. Darn it! He put me in a situation kung saan kailangan kong sabihin ang katotohanan.

In the end, I've confirmed to him what he already knew.

"Do you like playing games, Lorelei?" Augustus asked, putting back his glasses on. He still had that triumphant smile plastered across his lips.

"Why?"

"I want us to play a game," he replied, taking a step closer to me. "Let's call it, Race to the Truth. It sounds lame, I know, but this will do."

Race to the Truth? What kind of game was that?

Tumingin si Augustus sa kanyang relo. "It's almost ten in the morning. I will give you twenty-four hours to tell Loki what you saw in the notebook. Is that enough for you?"

"And? Kung hindi ko sabihin sa kanya?"

"I will give him my other copy of the notebook," sagot niya. "And I will also tell him that that's the same notebook that you saw in my desk, but you chose to keep it a secret from him."

"Do you think he'll believe your word against mine?" tanong ko.

Iniharap niya sa akin ang screen ng kanyang phone. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansing naka-on ang recording application niya. He's been recording our conversation from the start!

"You and Loki are quite close, right? He probably considers you as his friend," he said. "Now I wanna test that friendship. Will it break once he learns that you lied to him? Isn't this exciting?"

"I thought this is supposed to be off-the-record?" Napakuyom ang mga kamao. I wanna punch him in the face. He tricked me!

"I like to play dirty sometimes." Augustus' grin grew wider. "So what is it gonna be, Lorelei? Will you tell him? Or should I tell him? You still have enough time to think about it, but remember, your clock is ticking."

q.e.d.

Sino kaya kina Lorelei at Augustus ang unang magsasabi kay Loki ng "katotohanan"?

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