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

"What are you looking at?" Jamie asked before rolling her eyes. Nauna siya ng ilang hakbang sa akin. She did not want to walk at the same pace as me. That must be her way of expressing that we were not on the same level.

"Nothing. I thought there was a dirt on your face." I averted my gaze as we reached the landing on the ground floor. Everything seemed peaceful here. Nagtatawanan pa ang mga estudyanteng nakasalubong namin sa hallway. Ang hindi nila alam, ilang minuto mula ngayon, baka mabura na ang ngiti sa kanilang mga labi.

As we were about to exit the high school building, I sensed a threatening glare from someone, sending shivers down my spine. Agad akong tumalikod at lumingon sa kaliwa't kanan, hinahanap kung saan galing ang kakaibang pakiramdam na 'yon. Either I was only imagining it or someone was glaring daggers at me with their piercing eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Maging si Jamie, napahinto sa paglalakad. Bakas ang pagkairita sa mukha niya.

For the last time, iginala ko ang aking mga mata sa paligid, pero wala akong napansing kahina-hinala. If someone was watching me, they must be hiding behind the pillars. This reminded me of what I felt more than a month ago. I got the same shivering feeling when Loki and I were investigating Stein's disappearance. After rescuing him in the abandoned building, I saw a silhouette of a guy staring back at me. That shadow's face was revealed at the hospital where Loki was rushed after drinking belladonna.

Could it be the same person following me before? Was he connected to Moriarty?

"Bahala ka nga riyan kung gusto mong tumunganga!" reklamo ni Jamie bago siya tumuloy sa paglalakad. Nauna na siya sa isa pang school building sa harapan namin.

I shook my head and followed her lead. Considering the critical situation, wala kaming panahon para ma-distract. Kailangan naming mag-focus sa paghahanap sa bomba.

The library was unusually packed this morning. Dati kasi, parang sinehan ito kung saan showing ang isang flop na movie—nilalangaw. Ngayon, puno ang mga upuan at mesa ng mga estudyanteng subsob sa mga librong binabasa nila. Malamang inutusan sila ng kanilang mga teacher na pumunta rito para magsagawa ng research.

This was good for the library, but this was bad for us. If a bomb went off at twelve noon, everyone in this building would become casualties and the death toll might rise. If we told them to leave now, the bomber might set off the bomb and we would be caught in the explosion.

The only solution in this case was to crack the bomber's code and defuse the bomb.

"It's been quite some time, hasn't it, Loki's assistant? Glad to see you still alive and kicking."

I was too preoccupied roaming my eyes around that I failed to notice the girl who greeted me. Indeed, it had been a while since we last saw each other. Agad ko siyang nakilala dahil sa full bangs niya at sa salaming may makapal na frame. Nakadagdag pa ang metal badge sa lapel niya na sumisimbolo ng kaniyang pagiging chairperson ng student executive committee.

"Margarette," I muttered, our eyes locked into a staring contest.

"You don't frequent the library that much." She took one step closer to me, maintaining a foot distance between us. "I wonder what you're doing here."

"If you've been briefed about the situation, you should know why."

"Of course, the QED Club is always here to save the day. How's Loki? He's probably enjoying the situation." She rolled her eyes to Jamie. "You shouldn't get yourself involved with that guy, Rhea. Mapapahamak ka lang."

"My name's Jamie, not Rhea," my companion corrected her, taking off the irritated look in her face and changing it into a friendly one.

"Sorry, my mistake." Margarette shut her eyes for a second. "You do look like her."

"Lori, don't we have something important to do?" Jamie's voice sounded sweet yet impatient. Aakalaing mag-bestfriend kami kapag narinig ang tono ng boses niya.

"Excuse me, Margarette. We have a bomb to locate and defuse." We walked past her as she stood frozen on the ground. She did not bid us good luck or farewell.

Dumeretso kami ni Jamie sa librarian's desk kung saan nakapuwesto ang matabang babae na mukhang hindi maganda ang gising. Nakasimangot siya at halos nagdikit ang mga kilay niya. Parang leon siya sa zoo na iiwasan dahil baka biglang manlapa ng tao. Mahihirapan kaming maghanap kapag nandito siya. Ang balita ko, binabato niya ng flying pamaypay ang mga nag-iingay o nanggugulo sa kapayapaan dito sa library. Laging bullseye ang mga tira niya kaya mahirap umiwas.

Paano namin siya mapapaalis sa puwesto niya? Puwede kong ikuwento sa kaniya ang sitwasyon, pero baka maging exaggerated ang reaksiyon niya't maalarma ang mga estudyante. Hindi rin siya mapakikiusapan na hayaan kaming maglibot sa library para i-check kung saan itinago ang bomba.

Kung sanang may authority lang ako.

Wait, authority?

Lumingon ako sa likuran. Hindi pa tuluyang nakalalabas ng library si Margarette. May nakasuot na wireless earpiece sa kanang tainga niya, tila may kausap sa call.

"Stay here," sabi ko kay Jamie bago ako naglakad nang mabilis papunta sa babaeng 'yon. Iniwasan kong magmukhang tumatakbo dahil baka masampolan ako ng pamaypay ng librarian.

"Teka, saan ka pupunta—"

"Margarette!" I called her in my whispering voice. Napahawak ako sa magkabilang balikat niya. Nagulat tuloy siya at napahawak sa kaniyang dibdib.

"W-What's wrong with you?" Tinanggal niya ang suot na earphone at tiningnan ako ng mga nanliit niyang mata. "I thought you were about to do something important?"

"I need your help." I looked her in the eye to show how we badly needed her support. "Kailangan naming mapaalis ang librarian. There's a bomb hidden here. We can't move freely while she's watching our every move."

She stared at me for a few beats, probably pondering what I meant. "How exactly am I supposed to do that? Do you want me to drag her out of the library?"

"No! Just tell her that a person of authority wants to meet her somewhere."

"You're asking me to lie?"

"We sometimes need to lie for the greater good." Napatingin ako sa clock display sa aking phone. Mahigit thirty minutes bago sumapit ang alas-dose ng tanghali. "It's now or never, Margarette. Time is not on our side."

"Fine!" She clicked her tongue before walking toward the librarian's desk. I followed behind her, but I maintained some steps between us.

Jamie furrowed her eyebrows at me when I returned to her spot. "What did you do? Wala tayong oras para makipagtsismisan!"

"Kailangang umalis muna ang librarian bago tayo magsagawa ng search," sagot ko sabay hinto sa tabi niya. Pinanood ko mula rito ang pag-uusap ng dalawa.

"Excuse me, ma'am? I'm Margarette Fernandez from the student executive committee. I was sent here by Sir Jim Morayta . . ."

Tumingin ako sa ibang direksiyon para hindi obvious na nakikinig ako sa kanilang usapan. Pero teka! Bakit pangalan ni Sir Morayta ang ginamit ni Margarette?

"He wants to ask you about an incident here two weeks ago. I don't know the exact details, but can you come with me and visit his office?"

"Naku, bakit ngayon pa? Andaming estudyante rito. Hindi ko puwedeng basta-basta iwan ang library dahil baka may nakawin silang mga libro!"

"Sir Morayta says it's urgent. If you're concerned about book thieves, we can ask those girls to look after the library. They're members of the QED Club and they're keen observers. Kung may magpupuslit ng mga libro, mapapansin nila agad."

I observed from my peripheral vision that Margarette motioned her hand in our direction.

"Sabi mo 'yan, ah? Kapag may nawalang libro dito, sa inyo ko ipapa-charge 'yon."

"Yes, ma'am! You have my word."

Pinapunta kami ni Margarette sa librarian's desk at pinakilala kami sa masungit na tagapagbantay. She was not interested in knowing our names. Ang tanging gusto niya ay masigurong ligtas ang mga libro at gamit dito. Sakaling hindi namin na-defuse ang bomba, lahat ng pinakamamahal niyang libro dito'y magiging abo.

"Make sure you defuse that bomb. And remember, you owe me," Margarette whispered as she walked past me. The ill-tempered librarian tagged along her. I only answered with a confident smile kahit wala pang kasiguraduhang maliligtas namin ang school mula sa banta ni Moriarty.

Ngayong wala na ang librarian, masisimulan na namin ang paghahanap.

"Ano na'ng gagawin natin ngayon?" Umupo si Jamie sa desk ng librarian at inilibot ang tingin sa buong library. There were a number of bookshelves plus the tables and chairs all around us. Mukhang kulang ang natitirang oras para halughugin ang lugar. "Saan tayo mag-start?"

"Paghatian natin." Ngumuso ako sa isang banda. "Doon ako sa kaliwa, doon ka sa kanan para ma-cover natin ang lahat ng areas."

"No."

"No?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniya. "What do you mean by no? Alam kong mas gugustuhin mong makasama si Loki kaysa sa akin, pero kailangan nating magtulungan. Let's set aside whatever we feel toward each other and work together, okay?"

I did not want to use the word together, but I hoped that it would somewhat make her cooperate with me.

"You misunderstood me, Lorelei," nakangisi niyang tugon sa akin. "When I said no, that doesn't mean na ayaw kong makipagtulungan sa 'yo. I just have a better idea. Yours is so time-consuming."

Umangat ang kaliwang kilay ko. "And that is?"

Tumayo siya't naglakad-lakad sa paligid ko. "Don't you see? There are many students in this library. We're fools if we don't take advantage of that fact."

"Explain to me how we're supposed to ask these students to help us look for a bomb," nakapamaywang kong hamon sa kaniya. "Do you seriously think they will cooperate with us?"

Lalong lumawak ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Nakalimutan mo na yata kung sino ang kasama mo?"

Without telling me anything about her plan, she went to the center of the library. Hindi naiwasan ng mga estudyante—lalo na ng mga lalaki—na mapatingin sa kaniya.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan. She's the Jamie Santiago.

"Good morning, everyone!" Minsan siyang pumalakpak para makuha ang kanilang atensiyon. "I'm Jamie Santiago from the Theater Club. May I have your attention please?"

All heads turned to her, kahit na ang mga estudyanteng abalang-abala sa pagsusulat ng research paper. May ilang lalaking malapit sa kinatatayuan ko na nagsimulang magbulungan.

"Siya nga 'yong napanood natin sa play! Sabi ko sa 'yo, e."

"Eh? Ang ganda pala niya sa personal!"

"Suwerte siguro ng boyfriend niya. Imagine having a girlfriend like her."

I rolled my eyes and focused my attention on Jamie. Mukhang alam ko na ang binabalak niyang gawin.

"Our propsman in the club created a fake bomb as a prank. Kaso may isa sa 'min ang kumuha n'on at itinago raw sa library. We don't want to create unnecessary panic here kaya gusto na naming ma-retrieve bago pa may makakita ro'n. Hihingi sana kami ng tulong mula sa ilan sa inyo para hanapin 'yong fake bomb. Makaaasa ba kami sa inyo?"

Nag-unahang nagsitayo ang mga lalaki at nagpahayag ng willingness na tumulong sa aming search.

"Posibleng nakadikit siya sa ilalim ng mga mesa at upuan o kaya'y nakaipit sa bookshelves at naka-disguise bilang libro. Sa mga busy, walang problema kahit hindi kayo tumulong. Naiintindihan namin. So ano na? Game?"

Tama nga ang desisyon kong paalisin muna ang librarian kundi pinagbabato na niya kami ng pamaypay. The volunteers—mostly boys—went to different areas of the library and started their own search.

Napa-thumbs up at napangiti sa akin sa Jamie. Whether she was being sincere or she was mocking me because she thought of a better idea, I could not tell anymore.

Aside from her retentive memory, her charms and popularity on campus could be useful. Sometimes.

Tumulong na rin kami sa paghahanap. Wala kaming pinalagpas na spot. Halos suyurin na nga namin ang buong library. Twenty minutes went by, but no sign of bomb yet. Mas na-pressure tuloy ako nang nakatanggap kami ng text message mula kina Loki at Alistair. They found the bombs in their assigned locations.

"Maybe we should ask for their help?" Jamie suggested. "We don't have much time, do we?"

"They're now trying to solve the chessboard puzzle. Kailangan nilang mag-concentrate sa part na 'yon. We will only distract them if we ask for their help." Hininaan ang aking boses dahil pinagtitinginan na kami ng ilang estudyanteng malapit sa amin.

"May gusto ka bang patunayan, Lorelei?" She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "You know what? If we die here because of the explosion, I'll kill you."

I ignored her threat. "Dalawa tayong nandito. We need to put our heads together. Let's try to deduce where the bomb is. Loki once quoted Sherlock Holmes about eliminating all other factors and the one that remains is the answer."

"And what are those factors?"

"'Yong mga lugar na chineck natin. Wala sa mga mesa't upuan. Wala sa bookshelves, wala sa mga librong nandoon. Wala rin sa ilalim ng librarian's desk."

"Chineck din ng volunteers ang mga halaman sa pot at ang loob ng air-con, pero wala rin sa mga 'yon. The ceiling is concrete here so the bomber can't place it there."

Saan ba puwedeng itago ang bomba nang hindi magmumukhang kahina-hinala? Muli kong iginala ang aking mga mata sa library. Nakita ko ang masasayang mukha ng mga estudyante. May iilan ding seryoso sa pagbabasa habang may ibang walang pakialam sa mundo.

If I were Loki, where would I check next?

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang napansin ang isang estudyanteng may suot na itim na jacket at walang tigil ang pangangatog ng mga tuhod. Fear was apparent on his face, but he got no reason to be afraid of dahil walang nakaaalam maliban sa amin ni Jamie na may bombang sasabog mamayang alas-dose.

"I think I know where it is," I whispered to my Jamie sabay turo sa estudyanteng naka-jacket.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang itinuro ko. "Nasa kaniya? Paano mo nasabi?"

"Process of elimination. Wala ang bomba sa kahit saang bagay o lugar dito sa library. Ang natitirang factor na nandito ay ang mga estudyante."

"So the bomb is strapped to his body? That must be why my charms didn't work on him. Kanina pa kasi siya nakaupo riyan."

"We need to approach him in a not so suspicious manner or—"

Hindi na ako pinatapos pa ni Jamie. Basta-basta niya nilapitan ang lalaki. May sinabi siya rito bago niya hinila ang kamay papunta sa kinatatayuan ko. Kahit sobrang lamig na rito dahil sa air-con, pinagpapawisan pa rin ang lalaki. Lalong nabalot ng pagkabahala ang mukha niya.

"T-Teka, a-ano'ng gagawin n'yo sa 'kin?" garalgal ang boses ng lalaki, parang gusto niyang maluha.

"'Wag kang mag-alala." Hinawakan siya ni Jamie sa balikat at kinausap sa malambing niyang boses. "Nandito kami para i-defuse ang bombang nakatali sa katawan mo. Relax ka lang, okay? 'Wag kang magpa-panic."

"Can you please open your jacket?" utos ko sa kaniya.

The student was hesitant at first, but he gave in to our request and unzipped his jacket. Maingat niyang binuksan 'yon at bumungad sa amin ang isang improvised na bomba. Nakadikit doon ang isang lumang cellular phone at may nakasulat sa screen nito.

ENTER THE 8-LETTER PASSWORD:
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q.e.d.