A/N: The eighth day of your daily dose of an update!

LORELEI

LET'S TURN back the hands of time, two hours before the expose.

"Do you think na mako-convince mo ang switch?" tanong ni Alistair. "Na abandonahin ang pangako niya kay Augustus?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "It's a gamble. Pwedeng gumana. Pwedeng hindi. It all depends on that person. Kung tama kasi ang hinala natin na nangangailangan siya ng financial resources, he would seriously consider the idea."

Today is Friday, the day of the expose. Nag-usap kaming dalawa sa labas ng classroom, nakasandal sa railings kung saan tanaw namin ang campus square. This is the calm before the storm. Maaliwalas ang kalangitan na parang walang bagyo na paparating.

Last night, our mission to sneak into Sir Ephraim Quirino's apartment was a failure. We didn't know na lumipat na pala siya. The info that Maggie gave us was from the personnel file when the former teacher was still working in Clark High. He visited the campus when he delivered a eulogy for Augustus' memorial, but I doubt he'd openly share to anyone na umalis na siya sa tinutuluyan niya dahil hindi na niya afford ang rent.

My plan relied on the fact that he'd choose money over Augustus' last will. Kapag mas matindi ang pangangailangan niya, mas mataas ang tsansa na i-delay niya ang pag-expose sa mga sikretong nasa iniwang box ni Augustus. That's right. What we can do at this very moment was to delay him. But as long as the box is in his possession, he's still dangerous. He could leak any of the secrets any time he wanted. Kung in-entertain niya ang idea na gamitin ang mga hawak niya para kumita, maybe he'd choose to leak the secrets once his victims refuse to pay.

"Tell me, Lorelei," tawag sa akin ni Alistair. "Nakasisigurado ka ba na walang hawak si Augustus laban sa iyo? I can say for myself that I'm clean. I haven't done anything that might be worthy of being used against me."

Huminga ako nang malalim at itinuon sa campus square ang aking tingin. "Remember when Augustus and I had a talk? Na palihim niyang ni-record ang mga sinabi ko?"

"So there's a recording, huh?" Alistair nodded, narrowing his eyes into slits. "You think that's one of the secrets he kept in the box?"

I gazed at him and gave him a nod. Nang naikwento ko sa kanya ang "Race to the Truth" challenge ni Augustus, I only told him a version of the truth. I didn't tell him everything dahil may mga bagay na hindi pa niya dapat malaman. "Babalik at babalik pa rin tayo sa notebook. Ang buong akala ko, tapos na ang isyu na 'to."

It's like a ghost that kept on haunting me.

"At the very least, Loki will find out na you lied to him about the notebook's contents," Alistair said, sighing. "Well, that's not exactly right. Kahit ikaw lang ang ni-record ni Augustus, I will also be involved dahil kasama mo ako nang makita natin ang laman ng notebook. It's a burden that we share. Kung talagang kasama ang audio clip sa box, then..."

I heaved a long sigh. There's something much worse in the box that I don't wanna be exposed. It's not my own secret, but the consequences of that secret being revealed to many scare me.

"Wait a minute..." Alistair muttered, squinting his eyes. "Kung talagang kasama ang audio clip sa box ni Augustus, why haven't you received a threat email from the mysterious Tiberius Roman? It's safe to assume na lahat ng mga tao rito sa Clark High na may sikreto roon ay nakatanggap ng email."

"'Yan din ang tanong ko sa sarili ko," pagtango ko. "I should have received an email from the switch, but I haven't. Malapit nang mag-48 hours pero wala pa rin akong natatanggap. How can I be given a chance to come clean kung walang heads up sa akin, 'di ba? Maybe Augustus forgot to save that clip? I mean, everything happened so fast, baka wala na siyang time na i-transfer sa box niya."

"Let's hope that's the case," Alistair commented. "Mas mababawasan ang iisipin natin kung gano'n nga ang nangyari."

Still, I couldn't be at ease knowing that Luthor's secret might be exposed. Mas importante 'yon para sa 'kin. The damage that his secret would cause was much greater than mine.

"Excuse me, Lori?"

Sabay na nagawi kay Rosetta ang tingin namin ni Alistair. Kakalabas pa lang niya ng classroom. Iniangat niya ang kanyang tingin sa amin mula sa kanyang phone.

"Oh, am I interrupting you two?" tanong niya, sandaling huminto sa paglapit sa amin.

"Not at all," sagot ko. "May kailangan ka bang sabihin?"

"May itatanong sana ako," tugon niya. Ipinakita niya sa akin ang school app na naka-flash sa kanyang phone screen. "I can't recall myself replying to Tiberius Roman. I also didn't tell him na willing akong magbayad in exchange sa secret na hawak niya sa akin. I was wondering kung kayo 'to o may nang-hack sa account ko?"

"Sorry! Hindi ko pala nasabi sa 'yo," paumanhin ko. "Ngayong umaga na kasi niya nakatakdang i-expose ang mga secret dito sa Clark High. I tried to think of a way on how to delay him habang hinahanap namin kung nasaan siya."

"I see! Ang akala ko, may nang-hack na sa school email ko," Rosetta nodded, looking relieved. "Pero dapat ba talaga akong magbayad ng P10,000 kapalit ng kung anumang pam-blackmail niya sa akin? I don't really have that much money. You know, kaka-start pa lang kasi ng perfume business ko."

"Hindi naman kailangan," sagot ko na may pag-iling. "What we need to know is the mode of payment. 'Yon kasi ang last conversation namin using your account. Hinihintay kong ibigay niya kung paano ita-transfer ang pera sa kanya. Once he replies, we can try to track him down."

"Teka lang." Naningkit ang mga mata ni Rosetta. "You mentioned na hinahanap n'yo kung nasaan siya. Does that mean na kilala n'yo na kung sino siya?"

Nagkapalitan kami ng tingin ni Alistair. Should we tell her? Or should we not?

"Yes," Alistair answered. "We already have a person of interest. But we can't tell anyone yet hanggang sa ma-confirm namin na siya nga ang gumagamit sa account ni Tiberius Roman."

"I understand! Under investigation pa kasi siya, 'di ba?"

"Just keep us informed kapag nag-reply siya kung paano mo maibibigay ang pera sa kanya," request ko sa kanya. Depending on the switch's answer, magkakaroon kami ng way para ma-track siya.

"Sure!" Rosetta gave us a thumbs up. "I'm always happy to help you, guys!"

Three minutes before the expose...

Pagkatapos ng unang dalawang subjects para sa aming morning period, bumaba na kami ni Alistair sa execom office. The final countdown has begun. The clock is still ticking and we don't know if the bomb is going to explode. We hope not.

"I heard from Sir Jim na may mga estudyante nang nag-step forward at nag-confess sa mga kasalanan nila," Maggie said, her arms folded. She was turning her swivel chair from left to right. "Mostly about cheating in exams. Extorting their exes for nude photos. Some pretty disgusting stuff. Binabagabag na raw sila ng kanilang konsensya. They wanted to come clean before the expose happens."

"There's a teacher who admitted that he's having a relationship with a minor," Rye added, biting a lollipop stick between his teeth. Nakasandal siya sa pader at nakakrus ang mga braso. "Paniguradong tanggal na siya sa trabaho kinabukasan."

That is the power of secrets. They can bring down any man who keeps one.

"These guys are spoiling the fun," Loki said in a bored tone. "They should have let the dead expose them for the wretched human beings they are. Augustus may not be the person who deserves any adoration, but we can't deny that his last trick reveals the stench that most of us are hiding."

"I bet na magsisisi sila sa pag-amin lalo na kapag gumana ang plano ni Lorelei," saad ni Jamie na nagbato ng matamis na ngiti sa akin. "The switch might have changed his mind and decided not to proceed with the leak, for the meantime."

"Speaking of the switch, do we have an update on his exact whereabouts?" tanong ni Alistair na napatingin kay Loki.

"Herschel seems to be having a hard time pinpointing the exact location," Loki answered as we all turned to him. "His resources are limited at the moment, but he's trying his best. All he can tell us is that the switch lives in Barangay Balibago."

"It's already 9:18," I mentioned, glancing at the clock display on my phone. "Saktong 48 hours na mula nang ma-receive natin ang video ni Augustus."

"How would we know kapag natuloy ang expose?" Alistair asked. 'Yon din ang tanong ko. Magkakaroon ba ng announcement? "What will the switch do exactly?"

"Maybe he's gonna broadcast live on the radio station the sins of every dirty person in the campus," Loki quipped, finding the current dilemma amusing.

"He obviously knows the school email address of some people here," bulong ko. "Maybe he'll resort to an email blast to everyone in Clark High? Magse-send siya ng link sa atin kung saan pwede nating i-access ang lahat ng files ng Augustus' box... o kung anuman ang tawag niya roon."

Maggie slowly shook her head, looking down at her phone. "A minute already passed, but I haven't received a new email."

"Maybe there's a problem in the queuing?" Rye commented, checking his phone too. "If he's sending an email to everyone, it might take some time before we receive it."

"Ano 'yon, parang na-traffic ang email niya?" pabirong sagot ni Jamie. Nakatutok din siya sa kanyang phone at nag-aabang. Maging si Alistair ay napa-check sa phone niya.

Three minutes passed. But we received nothing.

"Grabeng traffic naman 'yan!" naaasar na komento ni Jamie. "One of us should have received something by now!"

Five minutes passed. Still we received nothing.

"Maybe it's not via email," Loki muttered. Siya lang ang tanging tao rito sa execom office na hindi tumitingin sa kanyang phone. He must be so confident that Augustus had nothing on him. "Maybe it's through other means."

"Or maybe Lorelei managed to convince him to make good use of the blackmailing materials?" Jamie asked, turning to me. "Baka nagbago na nga ang desisyon niya! Iniisip na siguro niya ngayon kung paano niya pagkakakitaan ang mga hawak niya."

"We've also alerted the other execom officers and faculty members," Maggie shared, putting down her phone. "Kapag may napansin silang kahit ano na related sa expose, they will immediately inform us. Pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin."

Fifteen minutes passed. We still haven't received anything.

Thirty minutes passed. Wala pa rin talaga.

"So is it safe to assume na delayed na ang expsoe niya?" nababagot na tanong ni Jamie na napangalumbaba na sa mesa. Nakaupo lang siya magmula kanina pero mukhang napagod siya sa kakahintay ng email. "Halos mapudpod na ang daliri ko rito sa kaka-refresh ng school app natin. Wala pa ring nag-a-appear."

"Well..." Loki slapped his hands on his lap and stood. Nagawi sa akin ang tingin niya. "Congratulations, Lorelei. Your plan has worked."

"No..." I shook my head. "Hindi pa tayo nakakasiguro. Hangga't 'di natatapos ang araw na 'to, we can't say that we've won. For now. Hindi muna tayo pwedeng magpaka-kampante."

"What if something happened to the switch?" tanong ni Alistair. That's a valid point. "Maybe his leg injury got worse kaya kinailangan siyang dalhin sa ospital kaya wala siyang access ngayon sa box?"

"Or maybe, may nangyaring masama sa kanya habang pauwi siya kagabi?" dagdag ni Jamie. "Maybe he got robbed or kidnapped?"

"Let's assume for now that he changed his mind," Maggie said, standing. "We still have morning classes. Continue monitoring on your phones and the people around you. Gaya ng sinabi ni Lorelei, we can't be so sure yet."

Sabay-sabay na kaming lumabas ng execom office. Wala ring mangyayari kung tatambay kami roon habang naghihintay ng updates. Kaming apat nina Loki, Jamie at Alistair, sabay nang umakyat sa hagdanan patungo sa classroom namin.

"If the expose has been delayed," Alistair began, looking at me, "...maybe we can start thinking of a new strategy on how to track the switch?"

"Palipasin muna natin itong araw na 'to," sagot ko na may pagbuntong-hininga. "Kapag sure na tayong wala na talagang panganib, mas makakapag-strategize tayo nang maayos. We have to wait until the afternoon period is over."

"Baka pwede nating pag-usapan 'yan mamayang gabi?" suhestiyon ni Jamie.

Kunot-noo akong tumingin sa kanya. "Mamayang gabi? Balak mo bang mag-stay rito sa school? O baka ang ibig mong sabihin, pag-usapan natin through voice call mamayang gabi?"

Ngumiti si Jamie sa akin. Mukhang may ibang kahulugan ang ngiting 'yon. "Lori, nakalimutan mo na ba ang napag-usapan natin sa apartment n'yo?"

I tried to recall kung ano-ano ba ang mga topic namin noon, but I can't remember what she might referring to. Most of the things she says aren't really relevant to what we're investigating.

"Come on, Lori!" tawag ni Jamie na may kasamang pagtapik sa braso ko. "You said na pwede tayong mag-overnight sa apartment n'yo!"

"O-Overnight?" I echoed, my brows furrowing.

"Yup!" masiglang tugon niya. "'Di ba nagkasundo tayo na kapag tapos na ang issue natin kay Augustus, mag-o-overnight bonding tayo sa apartment n'yo?"

"But our issue with Augustus isn't done yet," I replied. Hey, this wasn't a case closed and a case solved yet. "We're still looking for his switch and the box."

"Then let's make some adjustments!" Jamie wouldn't easily give up, would she? "Mag-o-overnight tayo mamaya sa inyo para pag-usapan kung ano ang magiging strategy natin sa case na 'to. Sounds fair?"

"Pero weekend naman bukas," sagot ko. "Pwede naman tayong mag-meet sa isang cafe para pag-usapan ang plano."

"We don't have the luxury of time!" kontra ni Jamie. "Mas maganda kung mas maaga tayong makakaisip ng plano. The opportunity is already presenting itself. Mag-isip na tayo ng strategy mamayang gabi sa inyo para bukas, pwede na nating i-execute! What do you think, Loki dear?"

I doubt Loki would agree to her suggestion. He may not feel comfortable na may ibang tao sa unit. Gusto talagang pagsabayin ni Jamie ang business at pleasure. Sa urgency na dala ng sitwasyon, hindi kami pwedeng maging lax. We have to be focused—

"Jamie's idea makes sense," Loki answered. "We can make the plan tonight. The weekend is perfect for the execution."

Nagbato ako ng nagtatakang tingin sa kanya. I was surprised that he took sides with Jamie. I thought he'd dismiss it right away?

"Kita mo na, Lori?" pagmamayabang na sabi ni Jamie. "Loki dear is okay with the overnight bonding with strategy session. How about you, Al? Are you with me?"

"I see nothing wrong with it," Alistair replied, turning to me. "As long as it's okay with Loki and Lori, I'm in. Sila naman kasi ang nakatira sa apartment."

Dalawa na silang nakatingin sa akin, may kasama pang pagtaas ng kilay itong si Jamie. Parang na-pressure tuloy ako.

"Fine! We'll have an overnight strategy session tonight in our apartment." I gave in, raising both of my hands. "Assuming na wala na talagang mangyayari today."

"Yehey!" halos magtatalon sa tuwa si Jamie. Para siyang bata na pinangakuang dadalhin sa Jollibee.

We haven't won against Augustus yet so I couldn't share that feeling. We have to be on guard.

By the end of the afternoon period, walang gumimbal sa Clark High. Everything was peaceful, except for the students who decided to confess their sins. Ang feeling ng iba sa kanila, nai-scam sila. Parang may nanakot lang sa kanila para aminin ang kanilang mga kasalanan.

We have delayed the inevitable, but this moment of peace wouldn't last that long.

Sumakay kaming apat sa kotse ni Alistair. Sa wakas, maisasakatuparan na ang request ni Jamie: na mag-overnight kaming apat sa apartment namin. Dumaan muna si Alistair sa kanyang condo para kumuha ng damit at ilang essentials.

Sunod naming pinuntahan ang bahay ni Jamie. Gusto sana namin siyang samahan sa loob ng kanilang bahay at kumustahin ang kanilang katiwala, but she told us na maghintay na lamang kami sa sasakyan. Medyo matagal-tagal din namin siyang hinintay. Paglabas niya ng kanilang gate, may dala siyang maleta.

"Overnight ang pinag-usapan natin, 'di ba?" pabulong na tanong ko kay Alistair. He was in the driver's seat while I was seated beside him. "Bakit parang magbabakasyon siya sa amin?"

"It's Jamie, what do you expect?" natatawang tugon ni Alistair. Inalis muna niya ang kanyang seatbelt bago lumabas ng kotse para tulungan si Jamie na ilagay ang maleta sa trunk.

"Sorry sa paghihintay, ah?" bungad ni Jamie pagpasok niya sa kotse. "Nagpaalam muna kasi ako sa katiwala namin. Ayaw niya akong payagan noong una kaya nilambing ko siya."

Pagbalik ni Alistair sa loob, he started engine and drove the car to our apartment. May build-up na ng traffic ngayon, lalo na't malapit na ang rush hour.

"I expect to hear good news from Herschel tonight," Loki said, looking at the scene outside through the car window. He was seated at the back with Jamie. Ganito na lagi ang arrangement namin kapag nakikisakay kami kay Alistair. "We only need to know the address where the switch is staying."

"If all else fails, we can search every apartment in Barangay Balibago," I jested. Kahit may time na kami, that would still be impossible to accomplish. "Kailangan nating—"

May naramdaman akong nag-vibrate sa aking bulsa. I took my phone out and noticed that an unknown number was calling. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba habang nakatitig sa mga numero.

I usually ignore calls from unregistered number. Dapat magpakilala muna sila sa text bago ko sagutin ang tawag nila.

But I have a strange feeling on this number. Na parang dapat ay sagutin ko 'to. Huminga ako nang malalim bago pindutin ang answer key.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Lorelei Rios," a robotic voice called my name. My eyes looked sideways at my phone. Sa boses pa lang, alam kong hindi lang pangungumusta ang pakay ng tumawag.

"Sino 'to?" I got feeling kung sino ang nasa kabilang linya. Considering the situation, there could only be one person na tatawag sa akin.

"Do you remember having this conversation?" the caller asked, ignoring my question.

Kumunot ang aking noo. Sandaling nagkaroon ng katahimikan. At isang pag-click.

Muli kong narinig ang boses ni Augustus.

"Maybe after all this time, the vice president and his brother have been working together... to take down the organization. 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."

"Teka, you got it wrong! 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!"

I took a deep breath as my hand gripped tightly on my phone. Nanginig ang kanang kamay ko, pero ayaw kong mahalata 'to ng mga kasama ko.

I really hoped na hindi nailagay ni Augustus ang voice recording ng conversation namin sa kanyang box. But I was wrong. He did. Hindi man ako naka-receive ng threat email, mukhang may iba pa siyang pasabog para sa akin. Maybe he wanted to suprise me, to catch me off guard. Gusto niya sigurong isipin ko na wala siyang hawak laban sa akin. Kapag kampante na ako, bigla niyang ilalabas ang kanyang alas.

I knew it. The switch was the one making the call.

"May problem ba, Lori?" tanong ni Alistair na sandaling nagbato ng tingin sa akin.

I shook my head and smiled at him. Sinubukan kong magsalita sa normal na tono, na parang walang dapat ikabahala. "What do you want?"

"Twenty thousand pesos in exchange for not leaking this clip," the caller said. "By the way, Augustus sends his regards."

Even in the afterlife, Augustus managed to spell trouble for me.

"Send him my regards too," I answered. Gusto kong matawa sa isip ko. I was the one who gave the idea to the switch na mag-extort ng pera gamit ang mga hawak niyang blackmailing material. Ngayon, ako mismo ang naging biktima ng sarili kong suggestion.

"I will send you the details this evening," the caller went on. "Upon receipt of my message, I will give you twenty-four hours to make the transaction. Should you choose not to make business with me or go to the police, I will send this recording to everyone in Clark High. Let's keep in touch."

And then he hung up.

"Sino 'yon, Lori?" tanong ni Jamie. "Bakit parang namumutla ka, ah?"

"Did something happen?" sunod na nagtanong si Alistair, may bahid ng pag-aalala sa kanyang mukha. He kept on shooting glances at me kahit na dapat sa daan lang siya nakatingin.

I took a deep breath. Mukhang wala akong maitatago sa kanila. "The switch called to extort money from me. He's asking for P20,000."

"In exchange for what?"

Lumingon ako kay Loki sa likuran. Ilang segundo kaming nagkatitigan.

"Lorelei, what does he have against you?" Loki asked.

q.e.d.

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