Project LOKI ③

Chapter 49: Sign of the Four V (Forefront)

A/N: Fifth update for the week! We're still on a roll! Please, NO SPOILERS!

LORELEI

"Na-miss mo ba ako, Lori?"

MY JAW dropped as my blinking eyes stared at Rosetta's smiling face. I knew that she's still alive, thanks to Luthor's brilliant scheme, pero iba pa rin na makitang buhay siya in person. Para akong nakakita ng kamag-anak na ilang taon nang hindi umuuwi mula abroad. Only weeks have passed since I last saw her in the flesh, but it felt like it's been a long while noong huli kong nasilayan ang kanyang mahabang buhok at malapad na noo.

Hindi ko tuloy nasagot ang tanong niya sa sobrang pagkasorpresa. I was just thinking about her when I was at Diogenes Cafe. Now she appeared before me. Indeed, think of the devil and he shall come. Well, to be fair to her, she's not the devil here.

"Parang na-starstruck ka sa akin, ah?" nakangiting sabi niya sabay suklay ng kanyang mahabang buhok. "Wala man ba akong hug mula sa 'yo? Parang 'di mo ako na-miss."

I really thought of giving her a hug kahit na may atraso pa siya sa akin. Parang tinubuan na ako ng mga ugat sa paa kaya hindi ako nakagalaw sa kinatatayuan ko.

Weeks ago, she tricked us at the rooftop when she tried to steal the hard drive from us. Binuhusan pa niya ng mainit na kape ang aking kamay. Halos malapnos pa nga ang balat ko.

But she's an ally, so maybe I could close my eyes and forget my bad memories of her.

Maingat na lumapit si Freya kay Rosetta at ikinaskas ang katawan nito sa kanyang binti. Ito yata ang unang beses na nagkita silang dalawa. She seemed to like the human in front of her. I had a hunch that our cat could sense the evil in a person. When she met Jamie, Freya looked so frightened, which should have been a hint that our friend was hiding a dark secret.

Nang mapatingin ang pusa namin kay Luthor, biglang nanindig ang mga balahibo nito at nanigas ang buntot. She bared her fangs as she slowly walked backwards. Luthor only stared down at her, unfazed by the cat's frightened reaction. If he had the same powers as Medusa, he would have turned the poor pet into stone.

Agad kong binuhat si Freya, idinuyan sa aking mga braso, at paulit-ulit na hinaplos ang kanyang ulo. I tried to calm her down by keeping her away from Luthor's sight. Maging siya yata, naramdaman ang goosebumps na lagi kong nararamdaman. Kinailangan ko pa siyang bulungan para bumalik sa kalmadong normal ang itsura niya.

She still had the same reaction in one of the times that Luthor went here.

"Let's save the drama for later," Loki said impatiently. He took a peek outside before slamming the door shut and bolting the multiple locks. "Why are you two paying us a visit around this hour?"

"Maupo muna kayo," alok ko sa kanila sabay mosyon sa couch. Masyadong rude kung mag-uusap kami nang hindi inaalok na umupo ang mga bisita namin. Basic courtesy would go a long way.