CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter may contain content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, depictions of and references to death, self-harm and suicide, graphic violence, sexual assault, strong language and more.

Please be mindful of these sensitive themes and other possible triggers. Remember to practice self-care before, during and after reading.

LORELEI

THE SOUND of the school bell marked the end of today's General Mathematics lesson. My classmates had been excruciatingly waiting for this moment due to the series of extremely difficult math problems. Parang nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan at nakahinga nang maluwag ang karamihan nang narinig ang tunog na 'yon.

Standing before the whole class, Sir Jim Morayta cleared his throat. "Don't forget that we will have a long quiz tomorrow. Class dismissed!"

Isa-isang nagsitayuan ang mga classmate ko habang binubura niya ang mga nakasulat na komplikadong equation sa board. Halos duguin na ang ilong ng ilan sa amin kanina. Ako? Medyo sumakit ang ulo ko pero naintindihan ko naman sa huli kung paano kunin ang tamang sagot.

I put my hard cover notebook and pen in my bag. Tinanong ako ng seatmate kong si Rosetta kung sasabay ako sa kanila, pero tumanggi muna ako. Meron pa kasi akong daraanan. Palabas na sana ako ng classroom nang may biglang tumawag sa pangalan ko.

"Lorelei, a moment please?"

Agad akong tumalikod at lumapit sa teacher's desk kung saan inaayos niya ang kaniyang mga gamit. May kaunting kaba sa dibdib ko. Did I do something wrong in the class that prompted him to call my attention?

"Ano 'yon, sir?"

He placed the pile of books on the desk before turning to me. I could not clearly see his brown eyes because the lens of his eyeglasses reflected the light outside. "I hope you don't mind me asking. Kumusta na si Loki?"

Gulp. I did not expect him to ask about that guy. Nitong mga nakaraang araw, bukambibig ng maraming estudyante sa Clark High ang pangalan ng roommate ko. Halos mag-trending nga siya sa social media, pero hindi sa magandang dahilan.

"He's . . . doing great." 'Yon lang ang nasagot ko sa kaniya. That was the truth after all. Hindi siya dinapuan ng kahit anong sakit, pero bumubuti na ang kondisyon niya. Halos bumalik na nga siya sa dati niyang attitude.

"Pasensiya na. Medyo nagdadalawang-isip nga akong itanong sa 'yo, pero hindi ko mapigilang mag-alala." Concern was etched on my teacher's face. His voice also sounded sincere. "I heard na nasa ospital pa rin si Stein. Unfortunately, he's still unconscious. Wala raw makapagsabi kung kailan siya magigising."

Dalawang linggo na ang nakalilipas mula noong insidente sa é. Due to the blunt force trauma on his head, Stein Alberts a.k.a. Moriarty had been in coma since then. The news about Loki assaulting him spread like wildfire dahil sa mga estudyanteng nasa coffee shop noong araw na 'yon. Nakuhanan nila ng video ang nangyari at ipinost pa sa social media.

"I hope na maayos na ang lahat ng gusot at makabalik na rito si Loki," napalitan ng ngiti ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya. "May ilang bagay tayong dapat pag-usapan tungkol sa taong tinatawag n'yong Moriarty at sa mga kasong involved siya."

"Sana nga po, sir."

"Ikumusta mo ako sa kaniya."

Nang wala na siyang dinagdag, nagpaalam na ako at tuluyan nang lumabas ng classroom. I was tempted to ask him what he knew about the Moriarty case. He told us back at the coffee shop that he's an ally of Loki, not an antagonist. I had been thinking what he meant by that statement. But I chose to hold my tongue. Masasagot din siguro ang mga tanong na bumabagabag sa isip ko kapag dumating na ang tamang panahon.

"Mukhang malalim ang iniisip mo, ah?"

I raised my head and noticed Rosetta waiting in the corridor. She got that bright smile plastered on her face. Her long hair was smoothly flowing along with the wind.

"Seryoso yata ang tinanong sa 'yo ni Sir Morayta?" dagdag niya bago kami sabay na naglakad.

"Kinumusta niya si Loki," sagot ko. "Medyo nag-aalala rin daw siya."

"Ilang araw ko na rin siyang hindi nakikita. Totoo ba ang mga tsismis na in-expel siya?"

"Indefinitely suspended," I corrected her. "Hangga't hindi pa tapos ang imbestigasyon ng school admin sa café incident, hindi muna siya papapasukin."

Rosetta crossed her arms across her chest before looking at the ceiling. "Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kaya niyang gawin 'yon sa isang honor student. Wala kasi sa itsura ni Loki na kaya niyang manakit ng kapwa."

That was also what I had thought before. But whenever Rhea was involved, his cold and calm demeanor would change into an aggressive stance. Twice had I seen the other Loki who let his emotions get the better of him.

"Sana ma-lift ang suspension niya," dugtong ni Rosetta. Gano'n din ang hinihiling ko. "Siguradong natambakan na kayo ng request sa QED Club."

Naghiwalay na kami ng landas sa stairs. Bumaba siya sa ground floor para makipagkita sa mga classmate namin na kasabay niyang kakain habang ako'y umakyat sa third floor kung saan ang clubroom.

Our mini-detective agency was never the same without Loki. I could picture him seated in his swivel chair, reading dozens of paper with codes and ciphers written on every page. The table that was once covered with complex riddles was empty. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he brought color to the club. Without him, everything here was in monotone.

"I knew you would be here."

I almost jumped out of surprise upon hearing that chilling voice behind me. Bigla akong nangilabot at tumindig ang bawat balahibo sa katawan ko. Turning around, I was greeted by Luthor's expressionless face, his dull eyes gazing down on me. If he had any superpower, his aura alone could freeze anyone near him.

Hindi ko man narinig ang mga yabag niya o naaninag ang pagpasok niya sa loob. Napaisip tuloy ako kung totoo ngang kaya niyang mag-materialize mula sa hangin o lumitaw mula sa isang pentagram, gaya ng pagde-describe ni Loki sa kaniya noon.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong ko.

His footsteps did not make a sound as he walked around the room. He clasped his hands behind him. "I would like to inquire how is my brother holding up the past few days? I am well aware that you two are living together in an apartment unit three blocks from here."

Napalunok ako ng laway at napatulala sa kaniya. Muntik ko nang linawin kung bakit gano'n ang arrangement namin ni Loki, pero pinili kong ibang topic ang pag-usapan. "Bakit hindi mo siya bisitahin doon kung talagang concerned ka sa kaniya?"

"I can, but I do not wish to ruin his day. My mere presence—even the sight of my shadow—is enough to upset him. What more if I ask him about his welfare?"

He had a point. Until now, I was clueless as to why Loki hated his brother so much. Ayaw ko ring itanong sa kaniya dahil baka masyadong personal ang gano'ng bagay. The feeling was apparently not mutual though. Kung puwedeng magtakwil ng kapamilya, siguradong si Luthor ang unang-una sa listahan niya.

"I believe that he is enjoying the suspension," he added when I failed to give him any reply. He stood near the window and gazed at the green landscape of our campus. "He hates attending his classes and acting like a normal student. He must be grateful for being punished this way."

"By the way, is there any progress sa imbestigasyon ng school admin at campus police kay Stein?" I took this opportunity para makakalap ng impormasyon. Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin namin alam kung makukulong na ang lalaking 'yon dahil sa mga kaso rito sa school na siya mismo ang mastermind.

"On the allegation that Stein Alberts, our school's math prodigy, is a young criminal mastermind? I am not supposed to tell you this piece of information as the investigation is ongoing. But perhaps, it is best for you to be informed. At the moment, there is not a single shred of evidence that he is what my brother claims him to be."

My eyes blinked repeatedly and my mouth hung loosely open. A dead silence ensued as I curiously stared at him. For a moment, hiniling kong sana'y mali ang aking narinig.

"W-Walang ebidensya? Chineck ba ng campus police ang phone niya? I'm sure na may laman 'yon na magdidiin sa kaniya! Baka may conversations o transactions siya ro'n na magli-link sa kaniya sa cases na nangyari dito sa Clark High—"

"There is nothing in his phone that will incriminate him. No text messages. No calls, except the one made by my brother," he cut my words short in a calm and gentle manner. "The school's investigation has also revealed that Stein was a victim of Moriarty, locked in the abandoned building for a day to prevent him from joining the screening for a math competition. How can he be the mastermind that you two are claiming him to be?"

Slowly, I shook my head in disbelief. Paanong walang laman ang phone niya? 'Yon malamang ang ginagamit niya para makipag-communicate sa mga galamay niya kaya paanong walang nakitang kahit ano ang mga pulis? Could it be the work of his accomplice inside?

"Stein wants you to think that he's a victim!" My voice grew louder as I insisted our claim. "He planned his own detention in that building. Sinusubukan niya kayong i-trick para hindi n'yo siya paghinalaan!"

"Perhaps, that is what you want to think. You and Loki want to believe that he is Moriarty even if he is not."

"No!" I almost roared at him. "Stein confessed to us that he is Moriarty!"

"Where is your evidence? Did you record his confession? Did he write it on a piece of paper and sign it?"

This was unbelievable. Feeling a bit hopeless, I heaved a sigh as my head hung low and my fists clenched. Bakit ba niya pinagdududahan ang theory ng kapatid niya? Bakit ayaw niyang i-entertain ang posibilidad na totoo ang akusasyong si Stein ay si Moriarty?

"I have come here to let you know that the student council will decide this Friday whether to dissolve your club or not." Luthor regarded me coldly. "If I can be perfectly candid with you, we are not inclined to vote in your favor."

Iniangat ko ang aking ulo at muling nabaling ang tingin sa kaniya. "Anong motion 'yan? Bakit biglang nadamay ang club namin? Hindi ba't ang isyu rito ay sa pagitan nina Loki at Stein Alberts?"

"The school administration believes that this club is enabling my brother to pursue wrong leads and fanciful theories which eventually led to the attack on one of our prodigies. It's now up to us whether you will stay or not."

"And you've done nothing to defend your brother and the club that's dear to him?"

"If I have not done anything, my brother would probably be in jail by now. I helped him in ways that I could. But I cannot clean all of his mess."

Whatever help he was referring to, I got absolutely no idea.

"Send my regards to my brother. Now, if you will excuse me." Luthor turned around and made a beeline for the exit. The chilling air that filled the four corners of this room dispersed upon his leave.

Napaupo ako sa monobloc chair at ni-replay sa utak ko ang mga sinabi niya. This did not look good for me, for Loki, and for the club. No one believed my roommate except me. Everyone thought he was the villain and Stein was the victim. What they did not know was that it's the other way around.

PAGPATAK NG alas-kuwatro, dumeretso na ako pauwi sa apartment. Dahil suspended ang number one puzzle solver ng Clark High, temporarily closed ang QED Club. Wala ring estudyante na pumunta sa clubroom kanina para humingi ng tulong sa amin. Hindi rin bumisita si Jamie nitong nakalipas na linggo sa club. What's she up to the past few weeks?

Nang huminto ako sa tapat ng pinto ng aming unit, may nakita akong note na nakadikit malapit sa doorknob.

UNLOCK ME

This must be his doing. I rolled my eyes before taking out my lock picking kit. Ipinasok ko ang dalawang mala-alambreng bagay sa loob ng keyhole at paulit-ulit na kinalikot ito. Ilang minuto rin ang lumipas at ilang butil ng pawis ang tumagaktak bago na-unlock ang pinto.

Huminga ako nang malalim at saka itinulak papasok ang pinto. Loki must be testing if I had learned anything from our lock picking sessions. Since he was suspended, he had been sharing some of his tricks to me. Sabi niya, kailangang magaling ang isang detective sa pagbubukas ng kahit anong pinto. The world should thank him for not teaching robbers his ways. Otherwise, the evening news would be filled with robbery reports.

Pagpasok sa loob, bumungad sa akin ang isang malaking teddy bear na nakabigti sa kisame. My heart almost shattered into pieces when I recognized that life-size stuffed toy.

"LOKI!" I looked at my roommate comfortably seated on the couch. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH MY TEDDY BEAR?"

He raised his right forefinger while holding a book in his left hand. "Correction—my teddy bear, no longer yours. Have you forgotten that you passed the ownership of that cuddly thingy to me after throwing it away?"

"But that's not the issue here! Bakit kinailangan mo siyang ibigti?"

He dismissively waved his hand. "Don't worry, Theodore doesn't mind. You should be proud of him. He helped me prove the innocence of a young man accused of hanging his girlfriend. He couldn't have committed the crime because his height lacks a few inches. The culprit is someone taller than him, around six-foot-three."

"Theodore? Bakit pangmatanda ang pangalan?"

"Teddy bears were named after US President Theodore Roosevelt who—"

"Yeah, I know! Pero andami namang pangalan diyan na puwedeng pagpilian."

Why were we having this conversation about the poor teddy bear? And why did I even bother arguing with this guy? Umupo ako sa isa pang couch at ipinatong ang aking bag sa tabi.

His bored gaze returned to the Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire book. This was the first time that I had seen him not reading a mystery novel. Alam kong hindi siya naniniwala sa magic kaya nakapagtatakang nagbabasa siya ng story tungkol sa isang boy wizard.

"So how's your day?" he asked after a few beats of silence.

"Well . . ." I began by telling him that Sir Morayta wanted to meet us once his suspension was over. I also mentioned his brother's unexpected visit to the clubroom and the update about the Moriarty case. When I informed him that the student council was mulling over our club's dissolution, there was not any glimpse of concern on his face, to my surprise.

"Moriarty is an able strategist," he commented after my long narration. "The faux abduction in the abandoned school building, the absence of incriminating content in his phone—every piece was positioned perfectly to ensure that not a single crime would be linked back to him. If we wanna bring him to justice, we need to secure an irrefutable evidence."

"What about the QED Club? Parang hindi ka nababahala na baka i-dissolve 'yon ng student council?"

He flipped another page of the book and darted a quick glance at me. "I'm currently suspended so there's nothing I can do for the club right now. Since the president won't come around any time soon, the burden to deal with that alarming issue falls on the vice president—which happens to be you."

Hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan ako pumayag na maging vice president niya o talagang by default na ang second member ng isang club ay automatically appointed sa gano'ng posisyon.

"But isn't the club dear to you?" I asked. "Hindi ka ba nanghihinayang na baka mawala ang isang lugar kung saan marami kang nagawang alaala? It may be just a small room for most people in Clark High. But for you, it can be much more than just a room. Paano na ang memories n'yo ni Rh—"

My mouth froze open before I could finish mentioning the name of his old acquaintance and probably the first friend he had ever had. It had been my own unspoken rule in our apartment and in the clubroom to never speak of her name. Ayaw kong muling masaktan si Loki kapag naaalala niya ang babaeng 'yon.

"You probably have some questions you wanna throw at me," he said. "I'm in the mood to give you answers. Ask away."

For the past two weeks, I had avoided this topic. Ayaw ko na kasing buksan ang sugat na unti-unting naghihilom dahil baka muli 'yong humapdi. But there was something that I wanted to know.

"Do you feel good now? Nailabas mo na ba ang lahat ng kinikimkim mong galit kay Moriarty?"

There was a minute of silence in our living room. At first, I thought that he would not answer my question. Then he spoke. "Strangely, the feeling was far from satisfaction. I should feel ecstatic now that I have sorta exacted my revenge on him, right? But that doesn't seem to be the case. I feel so underwhelmed. I feel so disappointed."

"Maybe that's not how justice should feel like."

For a guy who wanted to bring evildoers to justice, it was out of character for Loki to take the law into his own hands. I did not want to condone what my roommmate did, but Stein had it coming. He pressed Loki's berserk button.

"My God! Bakit nakasabit sa kisame ang teddy bear na 'to?"

Dahil sa sobrang seryoso ng usapan namin ni Loki, hindi namin namalayan ang pagpasok ni Tita Martha sa unit. May dala-dala siyang isang platter ng sandwiches na ipinatong niya sa mesa.

"Pasensiya na, Tita! Bored kasi si Loki kaya naisipan niyang pag-trip-an ang teddy bear ko."

"Correction, it's my teddy—"

"MUKHANG BUSY kayo ngayon, Tita? Ano'ng pinagkakaabalahan n'yo?" Mabilis akong sumingit bago pa matapos ni Loki ang hirit niya. Ayaw ko nang balikan ang topic tungkol sa kawawang teddy bear.

"Kinailangan kong ipaayos ang antenna ng cable sa bubong." Inalis ni Tita Martha ang mga kalat sa mesa. Ang sipag kasing maglinis ng kasama ko. "O hayan, magmiryenda muna kayo."

Kumuha ako ng isang sandwich habang tiningnan ni Loki ang pagkain sa harapan niya. Either wala siyang ganang kumain o mas gusto niyang tapusin muna ang kaniyang binabasa.

"By the way, Lorelei, busy ka ba bukas ng hapon?" tanong ni Tita.

Nginuya ko muna at nilunok ang pagkain sa bibig ko bago sumagot. "Free ang schedule ko tomorrow after class. Bakit po, Tita? May kailangan ba kayo sa 'kin?"

"Ah! Wala, naitanong ko lang," nakangiti niyang tugon. Pero pakiramdam ko, may itinatago siya sa likod ng kaniyang ngiti. "O, ubusin n'yo na muna 'yang mga sandwich, ha? Huwag n'yo ring kalilimutang tanggalin sa pagkakasabit ang teddy bear. Baka biglang bumigay ang kisame."

"Yes, Tita! Thank you po."

Pagkaalis ni Tita Martha, kumuha pa ako ng isang sandwich. Ang sarap ng pagkakagawa niya. Bahala ang kasama ko kung ayaw niyang kumain.

"Now it's my turn." Ibinaba ni Loki ang hawak niyang libro at tumitig sa akin. "Are you free this weekend?"

"I have nothing on my schedule. Why?"

"I'd like to invite you on a date."

What did he just say?

q.e.d.