Project LOKI ③

Chapter 46: Shades of Grey VI (Grey Surrender)

A/N: Sorry for the late update!

LORELEI

AFTER THAT intense exchange in the Clarion office, we went back to the campus police station's parking lot where Tita Frigette's car was. Nasa labas ng sasakyan si Alistair, paikot-ikot na naglalakad sa paligid nito. Nasa loob naman sina Luthor at Loki na nasa driver's at passenger's seat. I was hoping that Alistair would also be in the car, para may umawat agad just in case Loki punches Luthor in the face again.

Nang makalapit na kaming tatlong babae sa sasakyan, nginitian kami ni Alistair sabay harap sa amin. "Don't worry about the two. They behaved very well. Loki tried to get out of the car, but I asked Luthor to lock the doors."

Nagawi ang tingin ko sa windshield kung saang kita ang magkapatid. Loki was leaning closely to the car door na parang may nakakahawang sakit ang katabi niya. Luthor was only chill in his seat, his thin arms crossed across the chest.

"Thank you for looking after my sons, handsome one." Tita Frig smiled at Alistair bago pinuntahan ang side ng driver. She knocked on the window and Luthor opened the car door. Mabilis ding lumabas si Loki mula sa sasakyan nang makakita siya ng opportunity.

"So how was it?" tanong ni Alistair. "It went well, didn't it? I can see it in your face."

"Sobra'ng power ni mommy-in-law!" Jamie answered with an exaggerated hand gesture. "Buong Clarion, tiklop sa kanya! Pati na 'yong adviser nila! If you only saw the look on their faces, you would savor it!"

"Adviser?" Alistair's brows furrowed. "Nandoon din si Sir Rivera?"

I nodded. "'Di ko alam kung nataong dumaan siya roon o may tumawag sa kanya para pumunta sa Clarion office."

"Mommy-in-law asked if he approved the article," Jamie added. "Sir Rich said na hindi niya pinapakialaman ang operations ng Clarion. Ano nga ulit ang term na ginamit niya? Ah, editorial independence!"

"I see..." Alistair looked down before raising his gaze again at us. "Bale ite-take down na ng Clarion ang kanilang post tungkol kay Luthor."

Tumango ako. "Pati 'yong mga balak nilang i-post sa kanilang bulletin boards. Gusto talaga nilang ipakalat ang balita."

"Well, wala sila sa mommy-in-law ko!" proud na sabi ni Jamie na parang siya na ang official na magiging daughter-in-law. "If they don't take them down, they'd be facing a libel case tomorrow. Sino ba namang wala sa katinuan ang magtatangkang labanan ang isang Atty. Corazon-Mendez?"

"But the damage has already been done." Lumapit sa amin si Loki. "Some students have already read the article. They'd be telling their friends about it. It's gonna be their lunch time gossip topic. My brother's reputation has been tainted. Not that it's clean to begin with."

He's right. Masyado nang late ang aksyon namin. Kahit halos isang oras lang na nakababad sa page ng Clarion ang article, naimpluwensiyahan na ang opinyon ng mga nakabasa nito kay Luthor.