What happened after the ending of Project LOKI ③?
"Project LOKI: Forward" is a collection of special chapters and writing prompts that will show us glimpses of the characters' lives after the Moriarty case has been solved.
DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Happy birthday to our beloved chronicler, Lorelei Rios! I promised a special chapter on her special day, so here it is! I know it's a bit late, but I hope you'll still enjoy it!
Oh, by the way! This is just the first part of her birthday special. Masyado kasing napahaba ang isinusulat ko. Bukas ko ipo-post ang second part.
Enjoy reading, everyone!
اوووه! هذه الصورة لا تتبع إرشادات المحتوى الخاصة بنا. لمتابعة النشر، يرجى إزالتها أو تحميل صورة أخرى.
Lorelei fan artwork by RAZE_DALI (www.facebook.com/razedaliart)
LORELEI
I JUST got home from school when I got a call from Nancy, my dad's executive secretary. She's been checking up on me from time to time, asking how I was doing, so I wasn't surprised to pick up her call. But today was different. She asked me if I was in my condo unit and if I could meet her to discuss something important.
Curious, I took a pause from my schoolworks and told her that I could make time for her. She wouldn't bother going all the way here from Manila kung hindi gano'n ka-importante ang sasabihin niya.
At six in the evening, I came down the condo's cafe on the ground floor and waited for her there. Saktong magpa-park na raw siya. Naghintay pa ako ng sampung minuto bago ko siya nasilayan sa entrance. The cafe's wall was made of glass and transparent, I could see who's coming in and out, and who's just passing by.
"Lori!" tawag niya sa akin sabay beso. Her eyes scrutinized me from head to waist, gently holding me by the arms. "Parang wala mang nagbago sa 'yo mula noong huli tayong nagkita!"
Indeed, it's been a while since we last saw each other. Summer, I think? "Bagong gupit ho kayo, ah?"
"My last haircut ages me. I want to feel young again!" Umupo na kami't tinawag ang waiter. We gave him our orders. "So... how's school?"
"Medyo busy sa studies at tambak sa requirements," nakangiting kong sagot kahit nakaka-stress isipin. "Graduating na ako this academic year kaya siguro tinatambakan na kami."
"Oo nga pala, Grade 12 ka na!" pagulat na reaksyon ni Tita Nancy. "My God, I'm still stuck in your Grade 11 era! Ang bilis talaga ng panahon, 'no?"
Tumango ako. My Grade 11 year was the longest school period for me. Sa sobrang dami ng mga nangyari, parang kulang pa ang 365 days. Cases happened left and right. After the resolution of the Moriarty case, parang bumalik na sa normal ang takbo ng panahon. Everything seemed to have slowed down a bit. Hindi na gano'n ka-thrilling, pero mas peaceful na ngayon.
"You must be wondering why I'm here," Nancy began. "Pumunta ako rito para kausapin ka tungkol sa 18th birthday mo."
"Eh?" Right, my birthday was on the weekend. But I could not see any reason why she had to personally come here. If she wanted to greet me in advance, pwede naman niya akong i-video call o i-chat.
