REYNARD

THINGS ON campus started to get more interesting. Just to be clear, I had no horse in this race. Castiel Seville and friends fucked around and found out, so now they were facing the consequences of their actions. Serves them right. On the other hand, Alaric Esteban and his allies were weaponizing their majority voting bloc as well as the Constitution and By-laws.

Who would win? I wasn't sure. I couldn't tell. Who would I wanna win? That's beside the point. One thing's for sure: This was gonna be a spectacle for those who craved drama and thrill in the university. And everybody loves drama. Some were probably itching to grab a bucket of popcorn and start munching as they watched this whirlwind of mess and madness.

For instance, The Herald.

"Looks like this chess game is about to get more brutal."

I craned my neck and checked the writer across my workstation. Tutok na tutok si Ambrielle sa laptop niya, walang tigil ang pagki-click at pag-i-scroll ng mouse. She might not have realized that she was thinking out loud. I swiveled my chair backward and sprang from my seat. Lumapit ako sa kaniya para tingnan kung ano ang nakakuha sa atensiyon niya. Kung may tsismis, dapat i-share niya rin sa 'kin.

"What do you have there?" I leaned my face closer to her laptop screen.

She slammed her laptop shut before I could even catch a glimpse. "This is beyond your turf so this is none of your business."

Napakamot ako ng ulo. Ang damot! "Alam kong competitive ka, pero hindi 'to ang panahon para do'n. Remember what the EIC said? We need to work together. Collaborating means sharing information. You know what I know, and vice versa."

Since the whole impeachment trial involved the University Student Council and the Legislative-Executive Committee, Ambrielle had no choice but to collab with me. This cooperation thing was a direct order from the editorial board, so she begrudgingly welcomed me as her partner.

"Fine." She sighed before opening her laptop again. "Nag-send ng audit report ang USC treasurer. You know Tabitha, right? She found out that the previous CEA-CSC had falsified some receipts for their liquidation report. Guess who was the treasurer back then?"

"Eamon Alfonso?" I guessed. Siya ang unang sumagi sa isip ko dahil siya ang incumbent chairperson. Kung ibang officer 'yon ng CEA-CSC, walang magiging impact ang release ng audit report. No one would be interested in a nobody. The exposé wouldn't even make a splash.

She nodded before clicking her mouse twice. "Base sa audit, may ilang receipts na hindi mismo galing sa business establishments na naka-declare sa liquidation reports. That's a major offense and serious accusation if ever."

"So this is what that FOI was for..." I muttered as my lips curled into a smirk. "They used it to access the CSC's old records and search for any discrepancies. Then they're using those discrepancies to either expose the CSCs or bully them into submission. It's the former, it seems."

"It's like looking for a needle in a haystack," Ambrielle added, looking up at me. "Unfortunately for the CEA-CSC, the USC found the needle."

This brush stroke could only be masterfully done by Castiel. The FOI wasn't just about promoting good governance. It was meant to be a weapon they could use. He's really make it hard for me to root for him. But it was also a double-edged sword since their political opponents could use it against them. Parang gano'n ang ginawa ko no'ng ni-request ko ang complete list ng USC scholars.

"Pretty sure that a formal complaint will be filed against Eamon." Ambrielle crossed her arms, reclining in her swivel chair. "Mukhang CEA ang next college na magkakagulo. Same pattern with Chevy Serrano and the CCS."

My eyes squinted as I tried to predict Castiel's next moves. "The USC is playing a perception game here. They wanna show that some of the CSC chairpersons are out to get them and that the impeachment trial is nothing but a way to kick out the good guys. They're playing the victim card here while painting some chairpersons as the villains."

She let out a sigh. "Since when did the campus politics here become this dirty? Student councils used to organize events, then that's it. May mga siraan, pero hindi ganito kagrabe."

Campus politics had always been dirty. Like bacteria that couldn't be seen by the naked eye, we failed to see the actual dirt until it was under a microscope. If I were to believe Castiel's words, he had some noble cause for doing all this stuff. Pero mukhang minsa'y napasosobra siya. At ang gano'ng approach niya ang nagpahamak sa kanila.

The door to The Herald office swung open, prompting me and Ambrielle to turn our heads in that direction. Our news editor Nolan San Miguel walked in and approached our workstation, startling both of us. Meron siyang sariling desk kaya bakit hindi siya dumeretso roon? Ah, malamang may importante siyang sasabihin! Let me guess: An emergency assignment?

"Hey? Have you seen what's going on outside?" he asked us as he pointed to the door. "Nakita n'yo na rin ba ang ilang posts sa SchoolBuzz?"

"Fire?" Ambrielle wondered. "Pero bakit hindi pa nagri-ring ang fire alarm?"

"Alien invasion?" I quipped. "Have they finally made contact with us?"

"No!" our editor exclaimed. "Students are holding a rally outside!"

"Oh, really?"

Student protests didn't happen very often at Elysian University since the majority of students here were privileged kids with high-end gadgets, credit cards with six-digit credit limits, and own cars. Karamihan sa kanila'y out of touch sa realidad habang iilan lang ang socially aware. Real talk lang. But whenever protests happened here, they weren't frowned upon on campus. Outspoken students fighting for justice, equality, and all that jazz would sometimes convene in the campus quadrangle and demand the university administration for redress of grievances. Minsan, may mga nahihikayat silang ibang estudyante na kadalasa'y indifferent o fence-sitters.

"Wala tayong available reporter maliban sa inyong dalawa." Palipat-lipat sa aming dalawa ang tingin ng editor namin. "So sino sa inyo ang willing na i-cover ang ongoing rally?"

"Let me do it." I raised my hand lazily. "Who can better cover a rally than someone who speaks with people from all walks of life? I've interviewed university officials, college instructors, students, whistleblowers—"

"No, let me do it," Ambrielle interrupted. "Naghihintay pa ako ng additional details para mabuo ko ang article sa USC audit report. Puwede muna akong sumideline diyan sa rally. I've been speaking to students of different colleges."

"Shouldn't you give your undivided attention on the audit since that's a bigger news?" I asked. "Just sit back and focus on that article. Let me handle this one."

"Shouldn't you interview the CEA-CSC chairperson?" she countered. "That's more urgent than the rally given the seriousness of his scandal."

"I wasn't the one who received the audit report."

"But you just saw it with your own eyes!"

"Just settle this issue among yourselves, okay?" Our editor refused to weigh in. Naglakad na siya palayo sa desk namin at papunta sa kaniya. "All I want is an article within two to three hours."

Ambrielle and I exchanged glances. We could collaborate on any article, but not on this one. Sapat na ang isang writer na mag-cover n'on. Two would be an overkill for a rally story. So it's either me or her. If our immediate superior refused to choose and none of us wanted to give way, there was only one way we could settle this issue.

"It's a race then!" I dashed out of the editorial office and ran as fast as I could outside. Muntik na akong makabunggo ng ilang estudyante at isang prof! Mabuti't mabilis ang reflexes ko. Nag-sorry naman ako nang malagpasan ko sila.

Ambrielle tried to chase me, but she was so unprepared that she was unable to catch up. "Hey, that's unfair!" she yelled as she lagged behind me.

"Finders keepers, losers weepers!"

She was always chained to her desk that she forgot to do some cardio. Lagi akong nagdya-jogging bilang bahagi ng preparation ko as a reporter. Only a fool would think that being a news reporter was all about writing. Minsa'y kailangang makapal ang mukha, magaling sa pagbi-build ng network of sources, at always ready sa physical activities gaya ng gitgitan at takbuhan. Hindi gano'n kadalas ang habulan kapag may sinusundang source, pero mas mabuti nang handa kaysa hindi.

I was the first to arrive at the campus quadrangle. Nadatnan ko ro'n ang tatlong dosenang estudyante na may hawak na placards. Lahat sila'y mga babaeng mula sa iba't ibang colleges. What did their signs say? PRIAM RESIGN!

From my pocket, I fished my phone out to take photos and videos of the ongoing protest. Since this was a political rally, I couldn't help but wonder if a certain someone orchestrated the whole thing. Timing na timing pagkatapos ng unang impeachment hearing.

"Hey!" Huminto sa tapat ko si Ambrielle at hinabol muna ang kaniyang hininga. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang dibdib na parang aatakihin sa puso. It wouldn't be my fault if something were to happen to her. I didn't ask her to run after me.

"Keep keeping up!" I said without darting her a glance. Naka-focus ako sa pagkuha ng magandang shot ng mga nagpoprotesta. Our photojournalists would usually do this sort of thing. Since no one was around, I had to step up and get my own materials. Baka pagalitan pa ako ng editor namin kapag wala akong nakunan ni isang photo o video.

"Teka lang! Puwede bang time out muna?"

"Dapat kasi'y hindi ka laging nakatambay sa office at nakaupo nang ilang oras doon," pangaral ko sa kaniya. "Tingnan mo ako. Lagi akong gumagalaw kaya hindi agad ako kinakapos ng hininga kapag nakikipaghabulan. Maybe you should join me in my community service? May light physical activities do'n! Baka makatulong 'yon para humaba ang stamina mo."

"We're writers, not runners!"

"When you're chasing a story, you have to run sometimes," I told her before putting down my phone. Ini-stop ko na ang video recording at inihanda ang voice recorder app ko. "The story won't wait for you, so you have to catch it before it slips away!"

"Reynard!"

I approached one of the protesters who was holding a megaphone. She had been chanting the words "Priam resign!" repeatedly as if it were a prayer. Sana'y hindi siya mapaos o mawalan ng boses pagkatapos nito.

"Excuse me?" I held up my media ID to them. "I'm Reynard Falcon from The Herald. I know what you're doing is important, but can I bother you for a minute?"

Agad siyang huminto sa pagtsa-chant at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang sapatos na parang X-ray scanner. Natuon din sa 'kin ang tingin ng iba pang nagpoprotesta. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagsasalita sa megaphone na parang hindi narinig ang request ko.

"Excuse me—"

"Hi there!" biglang singit ni Ambrielle na sa wakas ay nakahabol na rin sa 'kin. "I'm Ambrielle Zeferino from The Herald. I'm here to cover this event. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"

"Sure," sagot ng babae, sandaling ibinaba ang hawak na megaphone.

What?! She ignored me when I asked earlier, but she entertained Ambrielle when the latter asked the same thing! Mas maiintindihan ko pa sana kung pareho niya kaming hindi pinansin. Some students here did not trust the campus press. Mukhang may preference siya, ah?

"May I know who you are and who are with you?" Ambrielle began, holding her phone near the interviewee's mouth. Wala akong nagawa kundi tumayo na parang dekorasyon dito. "Are you a student org here on campus?"

"My name's Bellatrix Yllana. You can call me Trixie," the girl introduced herself before motioning to her fellow protesters. "Hindi kami part ng kahit anong student org. Basta nagtipon-tipon kami rito dahil may iisa kaming panawagan—ang pagbibitiw sa puwesto ni Priam Torres bilang USC president."

"And why exactly do you want him to step down?" my colleague asked. I would have thrown the same question even though I had an inkling on what the answer might be. Let me witness first-hand kung paano mag-interview ang isang Ambrielle Zeferino.

"Because of the ongoing impeachment trial," Trixie answered. "Whether fully aware siya o hindi sa ginawa ng officers niya, naniniwala kami na kailangan niyang akuin ang responsabilidad. He needs to hold himself accountable because the buck stops with him. And that's why we're demanding his resignation."

I glanced at their placards again. The protesters must have recycled cardboard boxes, cut them into A4-size canvas, and wrote the words "Priam resign!" in all caps. Very environmental friendly.

"You mentioned the impeachment trial." Ambrielle had to raise her voice because the chants almost drowned her question. "You do know that he's not the only one being impeached, right? Kasama na rin si VP Valeria Encarnacion. Why is her name not included on your placards?"

"Again, the buck stops with the president," Trixie replied. "Lahat ng mga desisyon at galaw ng USC ay dumaraan sa kaniya. May responsabilidad siya na i-police ang sarili niyang officers lalo na't siya ang nag-appoint sa kanila. If he can't keep his troops in line, he doesn't deserve to stay in power any longer. That's why—"

"Priam resign! Priam resign!" the crowd chanted. Gusto ko sanang magtakip ng tainga lalo na nang ginamit ang megaphone, but that might be rude to the protesters. My eardrums would have to endure for a few more minutes.

"But you're well aware that if he ever resigns, Valeria will succeed him as president," Ambrielle pointed out. "She's also under intense scrutiny because of her alleged direct involvement with the coercion complaint."

"Yes, we're well aware of the line of succession. We read the Constitution and By-laws."

"Some students may find it strange that you're holding the president accountable but not his vice president."

"It's about damn time for us to have a female USC president again. Can you recall the last time we had one? Nine years ago!" Trixie spoke with so much passion. "If she was in control, maybe this issue wouldn't have happened in the first place. She wouldn't have allowed any of her officers to drag her and her council into this mess. She was probably against the coercion, but Priam—being the reckless man that he is—ignored the wise counsel of his VP. That's why—"

"Priam resign! Priam resign!"

"Thank you for your time!" Ambrielle almost yelled to express her gratitude. She withdrew her hand holding the phone and pocketed her gadget. Lumayo na siya para hayaang bumalik sa pagpoprotesta ang mistulang lider ng rally. Sumunod ako sa kaniya.

"Ako ang nauna, pero ikaw ang nakakuha ng scoop," himutok ko habang pinanonood namin ang rally mula sa 'di-kalayuan. "May nakuha akong photos at videos na may magandang angles. Do you want them?"

Her forehead scrunched and her eyebrows furrowed at me. "Wow, ah? Kanina, atat na atat kang i-cover 'to. Nakipaghabulan pa nga ako sa 'yo. 'Tapos ngayon, basta-basta mong ibibigay sa 'kin. Baka may catch 'yan, ha?"

"I'm serious! Wala naman akong paggagamitan ng mats na 'to. Besides, the protest leader chose to speak to you instead of me." I made a few taps on my phone screen. "Puwede ko nang i-send ngayon kung gusto mo."

"Hmmm... Medyo duda ako sa biglaang kabaitan mo."

"Think of it as a super early Christmas gift from me. Or a trust-building exercise. We're collaborators now. Dapat magtulungan tayo."

"Sige na nga!" Mabuti't hindi na siya nagmatigas pa. "I hope you're not expecting anything in return kasi wala akong ibibigay sa 'yo."

"Just a 'thank you' will be enough." I made a dramatic tap. "Anyway, photos and video sent! Ikaw nang bahala riyan, ah? Ipinauubaya ko na 'to sa 'yo. You have an hour and a half before the deadline."

"Fine. Thank you," Ambrielle uttered before checking her phone. Halatang napilitan siyang magpasalamat.

Losing this story wasn't much of a big deal at the moment. But who knows? It might develop into something much bigger in the future.

30

NEXT UPDATE: Fabienne and Priam talk about the latest developments in theater and in the impeachment trial.