Project LOKI ②

Chapter 24: The Reichenbach Resonance (Part 1)

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

"SOMEONE BROKE into your apartment?" Alistair asked as we were walking down the third floor's hallway, on our way to the clubroom. Tapos na ang morning period namin kaya may time na kaming bumisita roon. Nauna kong ikinuwento sa kaniya ang conclusion ng Avada Kedavra case, 'tapos ang panloloob sa apartment namin. "May clue ba kayo kung sino ang may gawa n'on?"

Umiling ako. "Wala raw napansin si Tita na kahina-hinalang taong pumasok sa apartment. Tinanong namin ang mga tenant sa katabing units, pero wala rin silang napansin na kakaiba. Wala ring CCTV camera sa bawat floor. We have no clue on who did it and what they looked like."

"They stole only Loki's laptop, huh? The thief must have known what that device contains. Otherwise, hindi 'yon pupuntiryahin. Alam mo ba kung ano'ng laman n'on?"

How should I put it? Parang hindi maganda kung aaminin kong blackmailing materials. "Let's just say the laptop contains files that Loki may use in the future to turn a situation in his favor."

Umangat ang isa niyang kilay. "Then you can suspect the people who know about the laptop's existence. Kung may sinabihan kayo tungkol sa laman n'on, they are at the top of your suspect list."

No one knew about the Pandora's Box in Loki's laptop except the two of us. I had never mentioned its contents to anyone when I brought it to convince Luthor and the student council not to dissolve our club. Whoever was in possession of that laptop, as long as they cracked the password, could literally and figuratively make anyone kneel before them.

"Maiba ako. St. Bart's cultural festival is fast approaching," banggit ni Alistair nang kumaliwa kami sa hallway. "Bago ako umalis doon, sinabihan ako ni Lionel na welcome tayong pumunta kung gusto natin. Do you want to come?"

Akmang pipihitin ko na ang doorknob ng clubroom namin nang bigla akong napahinto. Then there was silence. That was just a categorical question, yet it took me a while to think about it. Of course, I missed my old school. Na-miss ko ang mga hallway, ang cafeteria, at iba pang lugar doon. Na-miss ko rin ang mga dati kong classmate at teacher. If given the chance, I would want to visit there again. However, my bitter memories associated with it were making me reconsider.

"You don't have to if you don't want to," dugtong niya nang nanatili akong tahimik. "Ilang linggo pa naman bago ang festival. Puwede mo pang pag-isipan."

I ended up not answering his question. Hindi pa ako handang sagutin 'yon sa ngayon. I turned the knob and pushed the door inward. Papasok na sana ako, pero nanigas ako sa aking kinatatayuan nang tuluyang bumukas ang pinto. There were two familiar figures at the end of our long table. Magulo ang buhok ng lalaki na parang hindi sinuklayan habang naka-braid ang abot-dibdib na buhok ng babae.