A/N: This is the finale part of Chapter 49! Since this update may contain a major revelation, I'm asking you not to post any SPOILERS. Reaction posts, memes, and GIFs are okay, as long as they do not give away the context. Let's not ruin other people's reading experience. 

Also I advise you to NOT read this update if you are currently entertaining negative or depressing thoughts.

LORELEI

MY NEXT morning in Clark High started as awkward, for the lack of a better term. Nang pumasok ako sa maingay naming classroom, nadatnan ko na roon si Alistair. Tahimik siyang nagbabasa ng kanyang notes, hindi alintana ang mga magugulo naming classmate. Tinext ko siya kagabi para tanungin kung okay ba siya at kung nakauwi ba siya nang ligtas. He simply replied yes and hoped that we're also okay.

Maingat akong umupo sa aking puwesto upang hindi siya maistorbo. Magkakaroon pala kami ng quiz mamaya kaya kailangan ko ring mag-review. The moment I took my seat, his eyes raised their gaze at me.

"Good morning," nakangiting bati niya.

"Good morning din," tugon ko. Kahit wala akong ginawa sa kanya kagabi, parang nakaramdam pa rin ako ng guilt. Parang nakokonsensya ako. Kaya siguro medyo awkward ang batian namin ngayong umaga.

Was it because I told him and Loki to shut up?

"How's Loki?" he asked.

Kahit nagkasagutan silang dalawa kagabi, concerned pa rin siya kay Loki. Should I really be surprised? That's very typical of him. "He calmed down when you two left. Well, he said that he lost control of his emotions, which was something that he wouldn't easily admit. Alam mo naman kung gaano ka-sensitive ang topic na 'yon sa kanya."

"His emotions seem to be still unstable," Alistair commented, returning his gaze to his notes. "As much as I want to understand what he felt when things got heated, I can't allow him to trample over someone's feelings. He definitely had a point, but he could have done it in a way that wouldn't break Jamie."

Maggie's death must have affected Loki so much. While I'm thankful na may nakikita akong kaunting improvement sa kanya, medyo nakakapanibago pa rin ang ilang ipinapakita niya sa amin. Weeks after her death, the wound must still be fresh. At tuwing nabi-bring up ang topic na Moriarty, dumoble na ang sakit na kanyang nararamdaman. M may not have ordered Maggie's accident, but he has indirectly affected her life and Loki's, particularly when he had Rhea murdered.

"How's Jamie?" I asked after a few seconds of silence. Dito ako mas nagi-guilty. I was the one who opened the topic that led to the shouting and slapping between her and Loki. I felt responsible for starting the mess.

Alistair let out an exasperated sigh. Doon pa lang, mukhang 'di na magandang sagot ang dapat kong asahan mula sa kanya. "Hinatid ko siya sa kanila kahit ilang beses niya akong sinabihan na iwan siyang mag-isa. I wanted to leave her alone and give her the space that she needed, but at the same time, I couldn't. Masyadong clouded ang kanyang isipan. Baka ano pang mangyari sa kanya."

I was also concerned about Jamie's welfare. Ayaw kong may mangyaring masama sa kanya pagkatapos ng confrontation kahapon. I had to thank Alistair for looking after her.

But there's one question I have in mind.

"Do you think I'm at fault for what happened last night? Dapat ba'y hindi ko na ipinakita 'yong picture sa inyo?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Alistair at sandaling iniwas ang kanyang tingin sa akin. "I guess it's inevitable to confront Jamie about her late brother's alleged connection with Stein and the organization. I can't and I don't want to blame you for bringing up that topic. But again, we could have handled it properly and things would have ended differently. Ang nangyari kasi kagabi, sinabayan ni Loki ang reaksyon ni Jamie. He fought fire with fire. Instead of extinguishing that flicker of flame, he added fuel to it, resulting to us getting some burns in the process."

Tama siya. Kung sanang nanatiling kalmado si Loki at hindi niya hinayaang pangunahan ng emosyon—which was strange for him—mag-iiba sana ang kalalabasan ng sagutan kahapon. We would have emerged enlightened, Jamie would have been enlightened, instead of us being broken.

"Lori, I hope you don't mind if I ask this question," Alistair said, making me turn to him. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaba. Seryoso ang kanyang mukha at tono. Tumango ako sa kanya. "Have you suspected her brother of being the original Moriarty way before the confrontation last night?"

Napalunok ako ng laway habang nakatitig sa kanya. Hindi siya kumalas ng tingin sa akin. I knew the day would come that he'd confront me about a secret that I was keeping from him. Well, he already asked a couple of times prior to this moment, but he'd always say that he respects if I'm not ready to tell him yet.

If this were a game of chess, dumarating na sa puntong matse-checkmate na ako. I couldn't hide everything that I know forever. Darating at darating sa punto na kailangan ko nang sabihin ang katotohanan. Also he knows how to tell if I was lying. Kung magsusungaling ako sa kanya on the spot, mase-sense niya agad ito panigurado.

Kung nandito mismo si Stein Alberts at nanonood sa amin, he'd be surely grinning while sipping from a wineglass. This was exactly what he was trying to point out. This was exactly what he wanted us to do. To fight among ourselves because of the secrets that we keep from each other.

Huminga ako nang malalim at sandaling ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Wala na sigurong dahilan pa upang itago ko 'to. This wasn't like Luthor's secret where I made a solemn promise to not tell anyone about it. This was a secret that I decided to keep to myself.

"Yes," I answered as I opened my eyes and looked at him. "Bago pa ang confrontation kahapon, bago ang execom meeting natin tungkol sa intention ni M, may hinala na akong may kinalaman ang kuya ni Jamie sa organisasyon."

"Days after Maggie's death, I assume?" he asked. "Naalala ko kasi 'yong sticky note na nakadikit sa gitna ng spider's web sa sala n'yo. Remember when we went there to visit Loki after Maggie's burial? You said that he might be an important piece, but I sensed that you weren't telling us the entire truth."

Isang marahang pagtango lang ang isinagot ko sa kanya. Should I be surprised that he noticed? Well, no. Meron na rin siguro siyang hinala sa tungkol doon, pero hindi niya tinangkang sabihin sa akin.

He drew in a sharp breath as he looked up. "I wonder how long are we going to keep secrets from each other? How long are we going to play this game?"

Believe me, Alistair, that's also the same question that I have in mind.

I was getting sick and tired of these secrets. Not only does it make me feel guilty of not being able to tell the people I trust, but I could feel it eating me up inside. Every detail that I keep to myself, every secret that I can't share because they might affect the people around me, they have become nothing but a huge burden.

"Maybe after we solve the Moriarty case?" I replied, less hopeful. We may be getting close to the core of the Moriarty mystery—"But can you get close enough?" I remember Stein telling us—but the end seems to be still far away. Natatanaw ko na mula sa kinatatayuan namin, pero malayo-layo pa rin.

Natahimik kaming dalawa ni Alistair. Once this Moriarty case is over, we could finally go back to our normal high school student life. Wala na kaming seryosong kaso na poproblemahin. We would be able enjoy our teenage years here in Clark High.

"We need to talk as soon as possible," Alistair said. "The four of us. I hope that this time, we can clarify the issues and settle our differences without anyone raising a voice."

Gano'n din ang gusto kong mangyari. Ayaw ko nang lumaki pa ang crack sa relasyon naming apat. Mas mabuti nang maremedyuhan na agad ang lamat bago pa 'to tuluyang maging sanhi ng pagkakawatak-watak namin.

The famous QED Four won't be the same QED Four if one or two of us would break away. Kapag dumating ang kinatatakutan kong araw, Stein would have won without physically hurting any of us.

Naging awkward din ang sitwasyon sa execom office nang bumaba kami ni Alistair doon. Nadatnan namin si Loki na busy sa pagbabasa ng manuscript ng Everyone is Sus. That reminds me, I still haven't received any response from Sir Johannes. Ipapa-check pa raw niya sa legal team.

When we entered, he only nodded at our direction instead of greeting us.

"Hindi pa ba dumaan si Jamie dito?" tanong ko habang iginagala ang aking tingin sa paligid. Medyo late na nga kaming nakababa rito ni Alistair dahil late na nag-dismiss ang instructor namin.

Loki only shrugged as he turned over to the next page. Ni hindi man niya iniangat ang kanyang tingin sa akin.

I don't think he really wanted to act like a snob to us. Feeling ko, nahihiya pa siyang i-address ang issue. He's not the type of person who'd bring something serious up this early. Either he's waiting for the perfect opportunity to raise it or he's waiting for someone else to start talking about it.

Lumipas pa ang mahigit sampung minuto, hindi pa rin dumarating sa office si Jamie. Hindi ko siya masisisi kung ayaw muna niyang makita ang mga taong nagduda at—para sa kanya—nanira sa kanyang pinakamamahal na kuya. If she needed some time alone, we should give it to her. Ayaw ko namang magkausap kaming apat habang nagpupuyos pa siya sa galit o pagkadismaya sa amin.

"Should we check on her?" tanong ni Alistair matapos mapatingin sa clock display ng kanyang phone.

I nodded. Sabay na kaming tumayo. Saglit na nagawi ang tingin ko kay Loki na patuloy sa paglilipat ng mga page. "Don't you want to come with us?"

He only shook his head. Hindi pa siguro siya ready na harapin si Jamie. Fine. Kami muna ni Alistair ang kakausap sa kanya.

"Loki," Alistair called before turning the door knob. Nagtagpo ang tingin ng dalawa. "Let's talk when we come back, okay? Gusto kong ma-settle natin ang issue na 'to as soon as possible."

Loki gave him a thumbs up. Thinking that's enough, tuluyan na kaming lumabas ng execom office at umakyat sa hagdanan. Una naming pupuntahan ang classroom ni Jamie. Assuming that she went to school today despite what she's feeling, naisip kong baka nag-stay lang siya sa kanilang classroom at hindi bumaba sa office.

"Ho-ho-ho."

Bigla kaming nahinto ni Alistair sa pag-akyat ng hagdan nang may hindi kami inaasahang nakasalubong. We were already on the last flight of stairs before we reached the second floor.

"Hello there, Lorelei and Alistair. How nice to see half of the QED Four!"

Stein Alberts, the last person that I'd want to see today, stood before us, grinning as far as his lips could stretch. His eyeglasses gleamed as he raised his chin. I could feel his sinister aura a few meters away. He slid his hands inside his pockets.

Dala siguro ng masamang presensya niya kaya napahinto kaming dalawa ni Alistair. Mas malakas ito ngayon kumpara noong huli kaming nagkausap. Bumping into him couldn't mean any good news for us.

He sniffed so loudly as he panned his head. "Can you smell that?"

Maging ako'y napasinghot din. Kumunot ang aking noo habang palinga-linga sa paligid. Did he release a poison gas or did he set a room or an entire floor on fire? Because I couldn't smell anything.

"What smell?" I asked.

"The smell of trouble!" I thought his grin couldn't grow any wider, but I was wrong. He stretched his lips from ear to ear. He seemed to be extremely happy today. And that's not a good sign. Baka binabalak niyang maghasik ng kasamaan ngayong araw? Well, we'd be there to stop him.

"You should have your nose checked," sagot ko. Hindi ako basta-basta magpapa-intimidate sa kanya. "Baka may problema na ang pang-amoy mo. Kung ano-ano na ang naaamoy mo."

"The sense of smell is still perfect," Stein replied. "What I'm smelling right now is from a relationship that has been rotting from the inside due to distrust." Muli na naman siyang suminghot. This time, he took a step closer to us. Napahakbang ako paurong ng isang beses. "Oh! It must be coming from you!"

What the hell was he talking about?

"Kung wala kang sasabihing maganda, I hope you can excuse us," Alistair said before taking another step forward. He still managed to be polite kahit na kampon ng kadiliman na ang kaharap namin. If he's not the gentle and principled Alistair that I know, he would have punched the boy before him in the face.

Biglang hinarangan ni Stein ang daraanan niya, nakangiti pa rin na tila nag-e-enjoy na pag-trip-an kaming dalawa. Pasalamat siya dahil mabait ang aking kasama. Kung hindi, malamang buong puwersa na siyang itinulak at tatama ang ulo niya sa matigas na pader.

"Excuse us, please," Alistair pleaded. His voice went from polite to serious, with a hint of threat by the way he said please.

Ano ba'ng trip na Stein na 'to? Kay aga-aga, nang-iistorbo na siya sa amin. Doesn't he have a Math problem to solve? Or an organization to run?

"I knew this was coming," Stein said, clicking his tongue. "I told you before, didn't I? That your group isn't immune to the rust that corrodes the foundation of a relationship. Ang yabang pa nga ni Jamie na sabihing parang stainless steel ang bond n'yo na hindi tinatablan ng kalawang. But look at you now. Something must have happened yesterday. You all look distraught and downhearted."

"Hindi namin alam kung ano ang pinagsasabi mo," tugon ko. I'd rather not dignify his words. Humakbang na ako hanggang sa magkaharap kaming dalawa. Halos itaboy ko siya sa isang paghawi ng kamay ko.

"Oh, speaking of Jamie, did you know that she's working for me?"

Natulala ako sa kanya nang ilang segundo, pakurap-kurap ang aking mga mata. I already knew that Jamie's spying for him. Well, the four of us knew about it. But he's not supposed to know what we already knew. So I pretended to be shocked.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" tanong ko. Maging si Alistair yata, kapareho ko ng iniisip. Kumunot ang noo niya habang seryosong nakatingin sa lalaking nasa tabi namin.

Stein only stared at me for a minute, as if he's trying to read my innermost thoughts. But I know he couldn't do that. He could try to read my facial microexpressions and make deductions on what I was thinking, but I doubt he could specifically know what's going on in my head.

"She's been working for me since the day she set foot in your clubroom," he revealed. "She's been telling me information about your activities. Thanks to her, I managed to keep a close eye on you even if I wasn't anywhere close. Kung pwede ko lang siyang parangalan para sa best acting, bibigyan ko siya ng mamahaling plaque!"

Think, Lorelei! Stein shouldn't notice that you already knew what he's talking about!

Natawa ako na may kasamang pag-iling. "You must be so desperate to break us apart. Is that your best shot? Medyo disappointing mula sa isang mastermind na gaya mo."

"You tried to plant seeds of doubt in our minds, but it failed," Alistair added. Mabuti't naka-ready siyang b-um-ack up sa akin kahit wala kaming napag-usapan. "Now you're spewing lies about our friend, hoping that it would make us doubt her."

"You don't believe me at all, do you?" natatawang tugon ni Stein. Hinintay muna namin siyang kumalma. "So tell me, how did I know that the four of you had some kind of fallout last night?"

My eyes widened in shock. Legit na reaksyon ko ngayon. Maging si Alistair, nanlaki rin ang mga mata.

"If you thought she's on your side, you had it all wrong!" Stein plastered a grin across his face that made me want to punch him. "Why don't you confront her about it?"

I shook my head slowly. "Hindi ako naniniwala sa 'yo. You're just playing mind games with us!"

"Maybe. Maybe not." Stein shrugged as he waggled his eyebrows. "If you really want to beat me, you need to push her away from your team. Otherwise, I will always be one step ahead of you. And that's not clearly to your advantage."

Push her away, huh? I pushed him away and went on my way to the second floor. Sumunod na sa akin si Alistair. Stein was still saying something, but we chose to ignore him.

My first reaction? Angry. Angry at Jamie for letting Stein know about our dilemma. That's exactly what he wanted to hear! Dahil ba nagalit siya kahapon kaya naisipan niyang baligtarin kami? Did she finally show her true colors?

But as I got closer to her classroom, unti-unti akong nahimasmasan. Jamie is spying for Stein, right? It's her job to tell him what's happening in our team. Kapag wala siyang ini-report, malamang ay paghinalaan siya ng kanyang boss at baka may nangyari pang masama sa kanya. She's only doing for him what she's already doing for us. Kaya nga alam namin ang mga komento at reaksyon ni Stein.

Huminto kaming dalawa sa tapat ng isang classroom at tinanong ang isang kalalabas lang na estudyante kung pumasok ba si Jamie. We saw her seated in the front row, quietly reading a book. Sa malayo pa lang, halata ko nang wala siya sa mood. Nilapitan siya ng kanyang classmate at itinuro kaming dalawa ni Alistair na nasa pintuan.

Napalunok ako ng laway nang magtagpo ang tingin namin. Remember: I was the one who showed the picture that led to the confrontation. I was the one who mentioned that her brother might be the original Moriarty. Si Loki man ang nakasigawan at nasampal niya, may papel pa rin akong ginampanan upang humantong doon ang lahat.

Jamie heaved a long sigh as she closed her book and stood. She dragged her feet to the doorway. Kitang-kita ko sa kanyang namumugtong mga mata, sa kanyang maitim at makapal na eyebags, at sa kanyang kakulangan sa make-up kung gaano nakaapekto sa kanya ang sitwasyon namin. Alistair couldn't help but look sorry for her.

"Morning," she greeted lazily. "Wanted na ba ako sa execom office? Pasensya na, wala ako sa mood na mag-duty ngayon. Pakisabi kay Rye na pass muna ako. Salamat."

She turned her back to us and took a step away. I quickly grabbed her by the wrist and gently pulled her. Lumingon siya sa akin at muling nagkatitigan ang mga mata namin.

"Let's talk," I said. Kung hindi siya papayag ngayon, okay lang sa akin. Bibigyan ko pa siya ng time hanggang sa maging ready na siyang harapin kami.

We did not avert our gaze from each other.

"Fine. I think it's also time for something."

I gently pulled her closer to me. Noong una'y parang ayaw niyang sumama, pero kalauna'y humakbang na rin siya palapit sa akin at sumunod palabas ng classroom.

Sicne this might be a heart to heart and intense talk, we needed to find a place where no one's gonna be disturbed and no one's gonna disturb us. Hindi pwedeng sa execom office dahil maya't maya ang pagpasok-labas ni Rye at ng iba pang members. Fortunately, we have a go-to place where we could freely express ourselves: the rooftop.

Ayaw ko nang patagalin pa 'to kaya sinabihan ko si Alistair na kung pwede ay sunduin na niya si Loki mula sa baba. Dumiretso naman kami ni Jamie sa may hagdanan hanggang sa marating ang huling flight ng stairs kung saan may mga barricade tape sa pintuan at may "do not enter" sign sa tapat.

Jamie was silent the whole time. Nang makatapak na kami sa rooftop, tahimik siyang tumayo malapit sa edge at nakatitig sa mga estudyanteng naglalakad sa campus square. At first I thought she might try to jump, but the metal fence wouldn't allow her.

Naghintay pa kami ng ilang minuto bago bumukas ang pinto at pumasok sina Loki at Alistair. They locked the door to ensure that no one would suddenly barge in.

We met at the center of the rooftop, remaining silent and eyes gazing elsewhere. Kahapon, ang saya-saya naming apat, mula sa execom office hanggang sa apartment. Ngayon, nagkakahiyaan na kami. Parang bigla kaming nagkaroon ng tampuhan, which was actually the case.

Alistair cleared his throat to get our attention. Tumingin kaming tatlo sa kanya. "This level of awkwardness isn't usual for the four of us. Something really changed since last night's discussion."

Tumango ako habang nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya sina Loki at Jamie.

"Kailangan na nating pag-usapan ang dapat pag-usapan," he went on, glancing at each of us. "Hindi natin dapat palampasin ang araw na 'to para magkaayos tayong apat. If we don't mend the dent in our friendship, we will only be playing right into Stein's hand. We will be proving him right when he said that we don't trust each other."

"Do we really trust each other?" matamlay na tanong ni Jamie. Iniwas niya sa amin ang kanyang tingin. "Or are we just putting up the illusion that we trust each other because we're supposed to be friends?"

"We do trust each other," I answered, mustering all the courage that I have in me. Ang tapang ko kung magsalita na parang wala akong trust issues sa kanila. "If we don't, we wouldn't have lasted this long. We would have pushed someone away from our team kung wala tayong tiwala sa isa't isa. Am I not right?"

Only Alistair nodded while Loki and Jamie stood like statues.

"Trust isn't all being transparent with everything that we do and know," I continued. "Kung 'yon ang basehan ng pagkakaibigan, marami nang friendship siguro ang nasira ngayon. It's about believing in the people who are close to our hearts even if there are reasons, no matter how absurd or sensible, that suggest we shouldn't put our trust in them. Maybe that's just it! We believe in each other, that's how we trust each other."

"But," Loki broke his silence, "if you still believe in a friend despite the overwhelming evidence that suggest you shouldn't, I don't think that's friendship. I think that's blindness. You intentionally close your eyes from the negativities just so you could preserve your relationship. Isn't that bad?"

Kumurap ang mga mata ko sa kanya. As much as I wanted to fiercely defend my stand, his argument has a point. Surely there are limits on how far are we willing to believe in our friends. Kung kitang-kita na sa harapan ko na may mali sa kanya at sa kanyang ginagawa, pero patuloy pa rin ako sa pagtitiwala sa kanya, parang bulag na rin ako noon.

"That flaw isn't exclusive to friends alone." Loki folded his arms. "That blindness is also applicable to our loved ones. Be it a parent, a sibling, a cousin, or a lover. Perhaps it's in our DNA to be selective when it comes to the people close to us."

Nagawi ang aking tingin kay Jamie. Kumuyom ang kanyang mga kamao habang nakatitig sa sahig. Mukhang naghahanda na ring mamagitan si Alistair sakaling tumaas na naman ang tensyon dito.

"Unlike last night, I'm not here to drive my point home," Loki said, sighing as he took a pause. "I'm here to offer clarity... and my apologies."

Umangat sa kanya ang tingin ni Jamie habang napalingon kami sa kanya ni Alistair.

"Frankly I don't know what's going on with me." Loki showed us a wry smile. "I felt bad after the confrontation yesterday, which I shouldn't be normally feeling. But I crossed the line. I disregarded the feelings of others in my pursuit of shoving reason down your throats. I do not want to use my emotions as an excuse for my behavior, but I wasn't able to control them. It terribly went out of hand."

Hinayaan namin siyang magpatuloy.

"Alistair and Lorelei are correct," he continued, shifting his gaze from my friend then to me. "I could have handled the situation better. For what it's worth, I guess I'm still a human after all. The fact that I let the mere thought of the people who I deeply care about influence my mood is proof that I am not immune to being flawed. For that, I sincerely apologize to Jamie, to Alistair, and to Lorelei."

"What's important is you acknowledge where you went wrong," Alistair replied, smiling. "Basta't may natututunan tayo sa ating mga pagkakamali o pagkukulang, at ia-apply natin para hindi na maulit pa, 'yon ang mahalaga. No matter what you think of yourself, you're still a human. You may be flawed, but you are capable of learning."

I agree. Based on what I have observed about him, Loki's really learning. Maybe not that fast, but he's making progress. You can't change a person overnight. It would surely take some time.

"Gusto ko ring mag-sorry." Kay Jamie sunod na nagawi ang tingin namin. She bit her lower lip na parang maiiyak siya. She was trying to hold back her tears. Nanginig din ang kanyang mga kamay. She clasped her hands to stop them from shaking. "I feel bad about myself. Really bad. And that's just an understatement. Gusto ko na ngang magpalamon sa lupa."

Hinaplos ko ang kanyang likuran. She was there for me when I was grieving for my dad. I'd be here for her. No matter who she is, she deserves a shoulder to cry on. "I also felt bad for telling you that your dear brother might be original Moriarty."

"He is."

My eyes blinked once and my lips slowly parted as I stared at her.

Humarap sa akin si Jamie, patuloy na naglalawa ang mga mata niyang nakatitig sa akin. Kumapit siya sa mga braso ko at ibinaon ang kanyang ulo sa balikat ko.

"I knew all along that he was Moriarty!"

Tulala akong nakatingin sa kawalan habang naririnig ang paghagulgol niya. Naramdaman kong nabasa ang aking shoulder pads dahil sa walang tigil na pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha.

What did she say?

Did she say she knew it ?

That her brother is the original Moriarty?

She kept it a secret from us all these months?

She pretended that her brother's a good man?

Nanigas ang mga kamay ko. Hindi ko alam kung yayakapin ba siya upang patahanin o itutulak palayo mula sa akin. I would have understood her relentless defense of her brother if she had no idea. But she had!

Luthor was right to suspect her. Kung hindi pa namin siya kinompronta kahapon, kailan niya kaya balak sabihin sa amin na alam na niya noon pa?

Ugh! Heto na nga ba ang kinatatakutan ko. Magkahalong pagkadismaya at galit ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Gusto ko siyang yakapin pero hindi ko magawa.

Loki and Alistair did nothing but watch her break down into tears. Tanging ang paghagulgol niya ang umalingawngaw sa rooftop. Hindi ko matanggal sa isip ko ang idea na baka umiiyak at nagdadrama siya sa harapan namin upang kaawaan namin siya.

Jamie wiped the tears off her eyes and sniffled. "I learned about it when my brother became the student council president. Sinabihan niya akong huwag ipagsasabi kahit kanino. Bilang nakababatang kapatid niya, walang reklamo akong sumunod."

Hinayaan kong patuloy na pumatak ang kanyang mga luha sa uniform ko, kahit mabasa na 'to.

"Imagine my horror when I realized what he's been secretly doing," she said, still sniffling. "Parang gumuho ang magandang image niya sa akin. He still had a strong sense of justice, but he went too far! That's why, that's why, when he died, I tried to erase that memory from my head. I tried to forget about his bloodstained image. I don't want to remember him as someone who got his hands bloody. I want to remember him as the incorruptible and caring brother that I grew up with."

Forget about his bloodstained image? Could she really do that? She has a retentive memory that can make her memorize anything so easily. But can she consciously forget a memory?

"Since then, pinanghawakan ko ang alaala niya bilang mabait at mabuting kuya sa akin," she went on. "I started to believe him being Moriarty is an outrageous lie or a fantasy. I began to live in an alternate reality where he remained pure and untarnished."

My eyes blinked at her. I don't know whether to believe what she's saying or not.

She looked up at me. "Then last night happened. What you revealed about him challenged my alternate reality. I already dismissed it as a lie and I was comfortably living with it, but you brought it back and presented it as the truth! Hindi ko matanggap ang mga pinagsasabi n'yo tungkol sa kanya. When I got home, the memories that I sealed away came rushing back to me. The lie that I created began to crack!"

Sinabunutan niya ang kanyang sarili at iniangat ang kanyang mukha na basang-basa na ng luha. I felt pity by just looking at her. She's in a miserable state.

"You know what made me feel worse?" she asked. "It's not the way you confronted me or when Loki shouted at me. It's the realization that I defended an evil man like him just to preserve his immaculate image! Oh, what have I become? Tell me, Lori—"

Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit at patuloy na hinaplos ang kanyang likuran. Whether she's acting or not, I didn't care anymore. Ramdam ko ang pagiging conflicted niya. Ramdam kong nalilito siya ngayon.

I don't know exactly what to tell her. But I hope my embrace would be enough to make her feel a bit okay.

Kumalas siya ng pagkakayap sa akin at pinunasan ang kanyang mukha. I offered her my hanky but she refused.

"I couldn't take this lie anymore." Her eyes still red and wet with tears. "That's why I finally made a decision. To correct my mistake."

"What is it?" I asked.

"I'm so sorry," Jamie said. She pulled a razor blade out of her pocket and quickly slit her left wrist. Blood started to gush, some sprayed all over my uniform.

"JAMIE!"

q.e.d.

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