Project LOKI ③

Chapter 43: The Last of Augustus V (The Surveillance)

"Kinailangan naming kontratahin ang dalawang taga-housekeeping para tanggalin ang bara sa ventilation at palihim na i-install ang mga camera," sagot ni Rye. He was chewing on a lollipop stick. "The Clarion knows our faces so we can't be directly involved with the installation."

I still remember the day when he's secretly following me. I thought he was enemy at first. But it later turned out that he was actually an ally.

"How sure are we na hindi ipagkakalat ng mga inutusan n'yong housekeeping personnel ang ipinagawa n'yo sa kanila?" tanong ni Alistair.

"May mga in-identify si Loki na dalawang housekeeping personnel na—sabihin na nating—hindi mahirap kausapin," sagot ni Rye na napanguso kay Loki. "At ang mga napili niya ay nangakong walang pagsasabihan tungkol sa hidden cameras."

"How did you identify them exactly?" I asked.

"During my free time, I investigate security guards, housekeeping personnel, faculty members—almost every adult in the campus—to see what skeletons they're hiding in their closet," Loki answered. "I've been expecting that one day, I might use whatever I found against them to make them do what I want. That day is today."

"So you blackmailed them?" How typical of him. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan noong araw na in-invite niya akong sumali sa QED Club. He threatened that he would leak my photo while sleeping kapag hindi ako nag-apply bilang member.

"You can put it that way," Loki replied. "So if Augustus reaches out to them, they would really think twice and hard if exposing what they know is worth the risk."

"Don't worry! Ako ang nag-supervise sa kanila!" pagmamalaki ni Jamie. "Sinigurado kong madi-distract ang mga staffer ng Clarion at strategically na mailalagay ang mga camera sa dapat paglagyan."

I thought na wala dapat directly involved sa amin sa installation? "Hey, the Clarion knows you very well. Do you think na hindi ka nila makilala kapag nakita nila ang naka-braid mong buhok?"

"Not if I'm wearing a disguise!" may kumpiyansang tugon ni Jamie. "Sa tingin mo ba, makikilala pa nila ako kapag nakasuot ako ng wig na pang-short hair, may fake na bigote at uniform ng housekeeping personnel?"

"And that's enough to fool them?" may pagdududa kong tanong. For me, sa TV series at movies lang effective ang mga disguise-disguise na 'yan.

"You haven't seen Jamie's disguise skills." Loki glanced at me sideways. "Even I would have been fooled if I didn't know about her plan."

Inilabas ni Jamie ang kanyang phone at nag-swipe nang ilang beses sa screen nito. "Now tell me, Lori. Makikilala mo pa ba ako kung ganito ang itsura at suot ko? How about you, Al?"

Napabuka ang bibig ko habang tinititigan ang photo ni Jamie. When Loki praised her disguise skills, he was being genuine. Talagang hindi agad mahahalata na si Jamie ang nasa likod ng mukhang 'yon.

"Impressive!" Alistair commented. "Saan mo natutunan 'yan?"

"Alam n'yo namang dati akong taga-repertory theater, 'di ba?" sagot ni Jamie. "I've been friends with professional make-up artists. One time, meron kaming play kung saan kailangang mag-cross dressing. After our prod, they taught me how to make a woman a man. Pinractice ko lang sa bahay, then voila! Hindi ko nga in-expect na magagamit ko 'to ever!"

Napatulala lang ako kay Jamie. Aside from her convincing acting skills, may itinatagong disguise skills din pala siya. Well, sa sobrang galing niyang mag-disguise, 'di agad namin nalaman ang tungkol sa kakayahan niyang 'yon.

"Sigurado ba kayong walang naghinala sa ginawang pag-aayos sa ventilation ng Clarion?" tanong ko. Kahit kasi gaano kaperpekto ang disguise ni Jamie, kung may nakahalata kahit isa lang sa mga staffer, balewala ang effort namin.