Join Lorelei and Loki as they unravel the threads of mystery, unveil the masks of evil intentions and put together the pieces of the puzzle in their adventures.
Looking for VOLUME 2? Read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/220978938-project-loki...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is the updated 2022 version of Chapter 20-Part 1. If you are re-reading this part, you may observe some changes from the previous version.
CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains references to kidnapping that may be upsetting for some readers. Please be mindful of this sensitive theme and other possible triggers. Remember to practice self-care before, during and after reading.
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LORELEI
MORIARTY'S IDENTITY was still a mystery, but we were one step closer to unmasking him. Ngayong hawak na namin ang kanyang number—o kung sinumang malapit sa kanya, sakaling hindi kanya 'yon— it was only a matter of time bago namin malaman ang katotohanan. Loki advised us na huwag munang ilabas ang aming alas. Gaya sa isang card game, kailangan daw naming maghintay ng tamang opportunity bago ilahad ang mga hawak naming baraha. Sa gano'ng paraan, mas masisiguro naming ang victory.
"When I dial this number, I wanna see that person answer my call so I can confirm whether he's Moriarty or not," Loki told me when I brought up the topic in our apartment last night. Mukhang mas ginanahan siya dahil sa progress namin sa case. "Texting or calling him now is an idiotic move. Let's stand by and wait for our window of opportunity."
Thanks to Jamie and her God-given retentive memory, extracting Moriarty's number from Officer Bastien Montreal's phone went so smoothly, we did not even break a sweat. Well, not really. We had to punch Loki in the face so he would appear injured and unconscious. That way, the officer who responded to Loki's call would let his guard down, making himself vulnerable.
Kapag naiisip kong malapit na naming malaman kung sino si Moriarty, lalo akong nae-excite. Sa hinaba-haba ng case na ito, sino ba naman ang hindi masasabik na makaabot sa katapusan? It would also be thrilling to know if the person behind that codename was someone who could shock us to the core or leave us dumbfounded.
Nine-thirty ng umaga nang ipinatawag ako ni Loki sa clubroom. In-expect kong dalawa na silang nandito, pero tanging si Loki ang naabutan ko. Hindi ko nasilayan ni anino ni Jamie. Kadalasa'y nauuna siya sa akin dito tuwing breaktime.
"She told me she'll be late," sabi ni Loki. Malamang nabasa niya sa mukha ko ang tanong sa aking isipan. Nakasandal siya sa nakasanayan niyang monobloc chair. Wala na yata siyang balak na mag-request ng swivel chair na dati niyang inuupuan. "By the way, do you know what X means? There are three X's at the end of Jamie's message."
"X?" Inilagay ko sa mesa ang aking bag at saka umupo sa kabilang dulo nito. Hindi na nakapagtataka na wala siyang kamuwang-muwang sa gano'ng expressions. "If I'm not mistaken, X can be an expression of affection. Are you familiar with XOXO? No? The X represents kiss while the O represents hug. But X can also mean target, like in X marks the spot."
"Why would she send me three kisses?"
Bumuntonghininga ako nang makita ang nakakunot niyang noo. Even if he could read any person like an open book, his obliviousness to simple gestures related to expressing emotions was something worth taking note of. Ito namang si Jamie, mukhang interesado talaga kay Loki. That was fairly obvious—in Loki's own voice— after she kissed him in the lips and hugged him tightly in two separate occassions.
