Project LOKI ③

Chapter 46: Shades of Grey IV (Grey Rescue)

A/N: Fourth update for the week! 

LORELEI

WHAT HAPPENED this morning was shook the entire Clark High student body to the core. We watched as Luthor was escorted by the very own chief of the campus police Inspector Morgan Morales. He wasn't arrested yet, but to the eyes of the public, it felt like he's being judged already.

"'Di talaga ako makapaniwala. Mismong VP natin, connected doon sa M?"

"Sayang, ang pogi-pogi pa naman niya."

"Ibinoto ko pa lang 'yan noong last student council election, eh."

"Teka, kapatid niya 'yong taga-QED Club na naghahanap kay M, 'di ba?"

"Grabeng plot twist 'yan, ah?"

Nagsimula na ang mga bulong-bulungan at tsismisan sa campus. Ni hindi man naging discreet ang ibang estudyante sa kanilang pagkadismaya kay Luthor.

The Clarion's article only alleged the connection between the vice president and M. That's the operative word: alleged. Umano. Walang nabanggit na conclusive proof na totoo ang isinulat sa article. But everyone's treating it as if the words in the article were already true.

Nabaling ang tingin ko kay Loki na kanina pa nakamasid sa pag-alis ng kanyang kuya. He only stood there and watched as the inspector walked away with his brother. He didn't bother to step in. Kung sigurong ibang tao ang nasa posisyon niya, hinarangan na nila ang inspector at sinubukang pigilan ito mula sa pag-alis.

But Loki still has ill feelings toward his brother. Lalo na kagabi. Hindi basta-basta mawawala 'yon. He'd rather watch his brother drown in the sea than throw a lifesaver at him.

"Are you okay, Loki dear?" tanong ni Jamie sabay haplos ng kanyang likuran. Kung hindi ganito kaseryoso ang atmosphere, iisipin kong nagte-take advantage siya sa sitwasyon.

"He had it coming. He brought it upon himself," Loki said with a straight face. Wala akong marinig na kahit ano'ng hint ng pagkalungkot sa kanya. "If the allegations were true."

If Luthor did not confess last night about his connection with M, Loki might have reacted differently. Baka nga dito pa niya mismo sinuntok ang kanyang kuya, sa harap ng maraming tao. Imagine how painful the scene would have been. Thankfully, Luthor managed to avert that scenario through him being forthcoming.

"Do you believe what's written in the article?" Alistair cast a sideward glance at him. "Sa tingin mo ba, kayang gawin 'yon ng kuya mo?"

"The jury's still out." Loki shrugged. "What the Clarion wrote in their article were only excerpts from Augustus' journal. He only made allegations. No evidence or whatever. Are we to believe the words of the student publication that tried to destroy our reputation months ago?"