Project LOKI ③

Chapter 47: Dead Men Tell No Tales II (Sticky Situation)

A/N: The wave of updates continues this week (as long as I don't get sick)! We're now in a "November rush"!

LORELEI

"LOKI DEAR, bakit ka kasi nagpapalipas ng gutom?

Loki slouched on the couch as he was eating the burger that I bought for him from the fast food resto. He gave us a mini-heart attack when we found him lying unconscious on the floor. Namumutla pa siya at mukhang nanghihina kanina. For a moment, I thought that someone sneaked inside our unit and attacked him. Nakabukas kasi ang pinto pagdating namin dito.

Thankfully we didn't have to worry at all. Mabilis na chineck ni Alistair ang katawan ni Loki para sa kahit anong injury, but he found none. So either Loki decided to sleep on the floor or he passed out. Iniupo namin siya sa couch at doon siya ginising hanggang sa manumbalik ang kanyang kamalayan.

Please don't make me worry like that.

"Heto, uminom ka muna ng hot choco," alok ni Jamie sa kanya. I was supposed to be one making that drink, but Jamie insisted to do it. Gusto niya raw ipadama kay Loki kung gaano siya ka-concern at kung gaano siya ka-ready na alagaan siya. Sure, fine. Wala namang problema sa akin kaya hinayaan ko na.

Loki held the cup with both of his hands, blew the steam off, and slowly sipped from it. Dinig pa namin ang paghigop niya sa mainit na tsokolate. Jamie watched him closely, checking if he's gonna like it. Wala naman itong reaksyon kaya nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Well, it's just chocolate. Unless may inihalo siyang gayuma roon. Seeing the color return to his face gave me relief.

I can't help but notice the black shirt and pajama that Loki was wearing. Sa pagkakatanda ko, iba ang kulay ng damit na suot niya bago ako umalis kanina. His clothes right now gave me a glimpse of what he's feeling. He may not have attended Maggie's burial, but he shared the grief with us. Apat na kami ngayong nakakulay itim sa unit namin.

We watched him as he slowly finished his burger and his choco. Naging mabagal ang kanyang pagnguya at pag-inom. Binantayan talaga namin siya dahil baka tumigil na naman siya sa pagkain at bumalik sa kanyang kuwarto na kaunti lang ang laman ng tiyan. We don't want him to suffer another episode of losing consciousness due to starvation.

"Huwag mo na kaming papakabahin ng gano'n, ha?" sabi ni Jamie sa kanya. "'Di mo ba alam na halos malaglag ang puso ko nang makita ka naming walang malay riyan sa sahig? Today was already a sad day. Huwag na sanang magdagdagan pa."

Nagpapasalamat ako't hindi namin siya kinailangang dalhin sa ospital.

"I know that you aren't feeling well yet, but you must not forget to take care of yourself," Alistair reminded him. Kung ako ang magsasabi no'n, baka sermon ang dating sa kanya. "Lori's been telling us na hindi ka on time kumain tapos minsan hindi ka talaga kumakain. That's not a healthy eating habit."

"You know what? Maggie wouldn't like that," Jamie added. "Ayaw niyang makitang pinababayaan mo ang sarili mo."

Loki crumpled up the burger wrapper in his hand, fist clenching tightly. I gave Jamie a quick glance and she returned a face that told me, "Uh-oh. I messed that up, didn't I?" She flashed an awkward smile, showing us her teeth. She must have realized that she shouldn't have said those words. Or at least, mention Maggie's name at this time.