Clark High is in lockdown due to the threat of coronavirus. The student council takes over and the QED-4, now part of the student executive committee, assists in maintaining peace and order on the campus.
A/N: We're still on Day One of the school lockdown!
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ALISTAIR
TOK! TOK! TOK!
Nagkatinginan kaming lima nang may kumatok sa pinto. It felt like the time stopped as we exchanged glances. No one was moving.
"Si Margarette ba 'yon?" tanong ni Jamie na pabulong kung magsalita. "Baka narinig niya 'yong pinag-uusapan natin kaya pumunta siya rito para mag-check?"
"That's only possible if she planted a listening bug in here," Loki replied. Napatingin siya sa security camera na naka-install sa kisame. "The cameras are also off so there's no way she would know what we're talking about."
Malakas ang kutob ko na hindi si Margarette ang kumatok. She would have knocked and entered this room already. Whoever's outside wanted to get our attention or ask for permission before coming in.
Tatlong katok ang sunod na narinig namin.
"Ang mabuti pa, ituloy n'yo na 'yang pagbibilang. Ako nang magtse-check kung sino ang kumatok," utos ni Lorelei. Tumayo siya't lumabas ng stockroom. Sandali pa lang siyang nakakaalis nang muli siyang sumilip. "Don't try to steal anything, okay? Al, pakibantayan ang tatlong 'yan. Baka biglang magbulsa ng delata."
"Roger that!" I nodded. Ibinaling ko ang aking tingin sa tatlong nagpatuloy na rin sa pagbibilang. With only one pair of eyes to observe, they might try to steal something in our stock.
Jamie went on counting the packs of detergents in the box. Sinundan ko ng tingin ang mga kamay niya. I also observed kung magkakaroon ng bulge ang kanyang bulsa. Kung meron, that meant she tried to pocket something.
My gaze was then averted to Loki who's also checking the chips in a huge plastic bag. He may be a detective, but given his skills, I think he can also be a magician who can make things disappear. Just a sleight of his hand and one bag of chips may be gone. Kaso, hindi ko alam kung paano niya 'yon maitatago sa damit niya.
Stein was also doing business as usual. Paturo-turo pa ang mga daliri niya sa mga bottled water na nasa harapan niya. Hindi rin gano'n kadaling itago ang plastic bottle sa katawan niya.
"Don't worry, Alistair," Loki said. "You don't need to act like a real life CCTV camera. We aren't going to steal anything. Even if we want to, we can't. You can search our pockets later, before we leave this store."
"Balak ko ngang i-check mamaya kung may ibinulsa kayo," sagot ko. "I don't wanna suspect na magnanakaw kayo. Think of it as a security protocol."
"Don't you have a hard time keeping up with Loki?" tanong ni Stein na sandaling napatigil sa pagbibilang. "As far as I know, he's someone who's willing to resort to all available strategies to get what he wants. He's the end-justifies-the-means kind of guy. Wala siyang pakialam kung may masagasaan siya. It must have been too difficult for you."
