Project LOKI ③

Chapter 50: The Final Equation IV

"Do you think it's a good idea that we haven't asked her about her brother?" I asked, tossing a glance at Alistair. I lowered my voice so no one could overhear us.

We haven't broached the subject yet to Jamie since the rooftop incident. We have been careful on how we're going to deal with her. May ilang beses nitong mga nakalipas na araw na naisip kong tanungin na siya. Pero tuwing nakikita ko ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha, umuurong ang dila ko. I couldn't. I couldn't make her feel the misery again. Even Loki, who would surely want to know more, didn't dare to ask a question.

Alistair's vibrant smile slowly faded as his lips drew a straight line. He blew off some air. "For now, yes. Ayaw nating bumalik ulit siya sa dati niyang kondisyon. She might attempt to harm herself again. We can't allow that to happen, can we?"

"But we can't avoid the topic forever," I replied, gently shaking my head. "At some point, we need to confront her about it. It burdens not only her, but us as well."

"You're right. At this point, we're only delaying the inevitable." He stretched his lips to show a smile, but I saw no joy in it. "I want to protect that bright smile of hers. I want to protect what we have. I'm sure you do as well."

But we cannot protect ourselves from the truth. Hangga't hindi naa-address ang issue, tila may tanikalang pumipigil sa amin upang makahakbang palayo. We have to unshackle ourselves from the chains of the past. Sooner rather than later, hopefully.

"Hayan! Napapayag ko na rin si Loki dear!" masayang anunsyo ni Jamie habang naka-lock ang kanyang braso kay Loki. Hindi na siya nagtangka pang umalis. Malamang napagod na rin sa pakikipaghabulan sa kanya. He's not the athletic type. Ilang minutes pa lang, paniguradong hihingalin na siya agad.

"Sayang," nakangisi kong tugon bago tumingin sa katabi ko. "Ipabubuhat ko sana siya kay Al kung magmamatigas pa siya."

"Ano ba'ng mas gusto niya? Princess carry o piggyback carry?" pabirong tanong ni Alistair. Either way, Loki would surely look embarrassed in those positions. Nai-imagine ko na ang itsura niya habang binubuhat siya ni Alistair. Hindi ko palalampasin na kuhanan iyong ng picture. His brother might be amused to see it.

"If I could only jump from this ship and swim across the sea and back to land, I would have already." Loki had a faraway away look in his eyes as he stared at the blue horizon. The setting sun was kissing his face with its tangerine light.

"Pwede ka namang tumalon ngayon kung gusto mo." Nakisakay na ako sa joke niya, kung joke man 'yon. "Ang tanong lang ay kung marunong ka bang lumangoy?"

"He can borrow a life preserver from the crew," Alistair added, pointing at the water wheely over there. "Baka nga lang mapagod siya sa kapapadyak niya."

Loki only gave us a stare. Mukhang hindi niya na-appreciate ang joke namin. O may iba pang dahilan?

"Wait a minute." My eyes slowly squinted at him. He would have boasted that he knew how to swim to defend his reputation, but he did not. "You don't know how to swim, do you?"

"Totoo, Loki dear?" Jamie clapped her hand over the mouth." Dapat sinabi mo agad! E 'di sana nagkaroon tayo ng private one-on-one session para naturuan kitang lumangoy. Paano kung biglang lumubog ang barkong 'to? Paano kung magaya tayo sa Titanic?"

"Oh, please!" Loki scoffed, averting his gaze. "I don't see any iceberg here so how can this cruise ship sink? By the way, speaking of cruise ship, this isn't exactly what I've imagined. I thought it's gonna be huge. But it isn't that big. Whoever called this thing a cruise ship must be tied to a stake and burnt."

I got to agree with him. Hindi talaga gano'n kalaki ang barkong ito. In my estimate, it could only fit fewer than a thousand people. Cruise ships could accommodate thousands. But it still gave us the Titanic vibes. Sana nga lang, wala kaming matamaan na malaking bato na magpapalubog sa barko namin.