REYNARD

THE SAD part about fun moments was that they had to end at some point. Kung sanang may option para sa i-extend, isa na ako sa mga nag-avail n'on. This impeachment trial was no doubt a Christmas present to the campus press craving for some drama and action in the university. Mas madalang pa sa leap year ang ganitong opportunity kaya talagang tutok ang bawat student pub sa developments.

Today was the dreaded verdict day. Matapos ang hindi inaasahang pagbibitiw ni Valeria Encarnacion bilang vice president, isinubmit na ng Ombudsman for resolution ang impeachment case laban kay Priam Torres. He was the only one being impeached because Encarnacion's case was already moot and academic. Kahit inako na ng VP niya ang responsabilidad, puwede pa ring ituloy ng LEXECOM ang pagpapatalsik kay Mr. President.

"Now, the committee will vote on the impeachment of Priam Torres, president of the University Student Council," Alaric Esteban announced after banging the gavel. "The roll will be called based on the alphabetical arrangement of the college's acronyms, with the presiding officer voting last. Say aye if you're in favor of impeachment. Say nay if you're against."

So he wants to have the last say, huh? That's gonna add more suspense to the impeachment finale!

"Avrille Mae Padilla of the College of Allied Medical Professions?"

"Nay. I strongly believe that the president has no knowledge of the coercion and has not committed an impeachable offense, as supported by the vice president's statement."

"Baron Tuviera of the College of Arts and Sciences?"

"Aye. The vice president has claimed responsibility, but the president must, too. That's only just and fair."

"Mason Urbina of the College of Computer Studies?"

"Aye. The president must be held ultimately accountable for all actions of his officers, regardless of his awareness."

"Jaegar Estrada of the College of Criminal Justice Education?"

"Aye. Kung ano'ng sinabi ng dalawang nauna sa 'kin, gano'n din ako."

"Nolan Ramirez of the College of Engineering and Architecture?"

"Aye. We must make an example that no one is above the law, not even the USC president."

"Eleanor Dominguez of the College of Education?"

"Nay. Impeaching the incumbent president will only set a dangerous precedent."

"Felicity David of the College of Fine Arts and Design?"

"Nay. The president deserves to be retained."

"Owen Navarro of the College of Nursing?"

"Aye. It's a difficult decision to make, but I agree with my colleagues to hold the president accountable."

So far... five in favor and three against as expected. The committee already had a majority consensus, but that wasn't enough to impeach Priam. The pro-impeachment needed six votes. Unfortunately for the USC and anti-impeachment, the deciding vote would be cast by the chairperson who happened to lead the majority bloc.

What's it gonna be, Mister Chair?

"I vote Nay," Alaric said. Everyone around me gasped as if he uttered something so controversial. How about me? My fingers only froze for a second from typing as my eyes squinted at him. "But do not misunderstand my vote. Me voting against the impeachment does not mean that I'm absolving the president of any potential wrongdoing. I believe he is as guilty as his vice president."

My forehead scrunched. What game is he playing at?

"As the leader of the opposition, impeaching the sitting president will be a major political victory for us," he went on. "However, I have decided to put my personal interest and the interest of my party aside. Moving forward with the ousting will only further divide the student body. You have seen the protests outside, and the clashing opinion on SchoolBuzz and in The Herald. Therefore, I have resolved to put the interest of the student body above everything else."

His statement was admirable for a student leader, but he was not being candid with us. Remember? He was the one who filed the impeachment case in the first place. He was the one leading the charge against the king. 'Tapos kung kailan mapatatalsik na niya ang hari, doon siya biglang kakambyo at uurong? I might be wrong about the sense that I got from him, but he did not seem to be the type to retreat when he was the one on the verge of triumph.

I can smell it. Siguradong may iba pang rason kung bakit ayaw na niyang ituloy ang impeachment. Did he achieve what he was hoping to achieve? Sapat na bang bumaba sa puwesto ang vice president? If his ultimate goal was to kick out Priam and Valeria, he fell a bit short in that regard. It's a mission half accomplished. So what is he truly after?

"With only five ayes and four nays, the motion to impeach USC President Priam Torres fails to pass. Thus concludes the impeachment trial." Alaric banged the gavel again. He got to his feet, as well as his allies, and promptly left the room. Naiwan ang tatlong nag-nay sa botohan.

Agad na tumayo ang ibang reporters at sinundan ang members ng majority bloc palabas ng office. Nagmukha tuloy celebrities ang anim na 'yon matapos dumugin ng mga kasamahan ko. The reporters pointed their phones at the chairpersons, hoping to get even just a word or a line. I couldn't make out anymore what questions were being asked or what answers were being given.

"Aren't you going there, too?" Ambrielle bobbed her head toward the exit. Sandali siyang nahinto sa pagta-type. "Baka nakalimutan mong LEXECOM ang beat mo, ha? I'm the one assigned to the USC."

As The Herald reporter assigned to LEXECOM, I was also supposed to chase after Alaric and his friends, bombard them with questions, and quickly write an article about it. But there was no need to rush. They would surely accommodate me anytime, anywhere. Such was the privilege that my affiliation with the university publication accorded me.

"Shouldn't you be going there?" Ngumuso ako sa desk kung saan nakapuwesto ang USC. Kinamayan at pinasalamatan nina Priam at Castiel ang kanilang defender na si Helene Fabio. They looked a bit surprised with the verdict, but it was a good surprise nonetheless. Christmas came too early for them with a gift from their number one political enemy.

"Oh, yeah!" Ambrielle snapped her laptop shut and stuffed it inside her bag. Tumayo siya't halos talunin ang gallery para agad niyang malapitan ang USC officers. I admired her energy and enthusiasm. Mabuti't walang takbuhan dito dahil paniguradong matatakasan siya ng kaniyang source.

If this shocking yet anti-climactic impeachment resolution was the only thing I got going today, I would have also sprung from my seat and chased the story like a dog. Yeah, it was the biggest news of the day. But something else caught my attention.

I typed some lines on my laptop's word processor app—repeating what Alaric said earlier—before sending the article to my editor. May naka-ready na akong 300-word draft kaya pagkababa ng desisyon, puwede na naming i-break 'yon sa website at SchoolBuzz account ng The Herald. May naka-ready nga rin akong draft sakaling ma-impeach si Priam.

Click!

After stuffing my gadget in the bag, I rose to my feet and slipped out of the room. My job as a LEXECOM reporter was over, and my job as an investigative reporter began. Nagtungo ako sa food hub kung saan maraming estudyante ang tumatambay lalo't oras na ng dismissal. Their phones were out as they were reading the article posted by The Herald. Ang bilis in-edit ni Boss, ah?

I walked past some students who whispered about the latest political news. Some did not care at all. Could you blame them? Their academic load must be too overwhelming that they got no time for any campus drama. If it was a gossip—maybe about Fabienne or any campus celebrity with the same level of popularity—they would have been probably interested.

Oras na ba para sa miryenda matapos ang show kaya pumunta ako rito? I wasn't in the mood to eat or drink anything, but I couldn't resist an invitation from a very important person. Nagtungo ako sa restaurant na nasa hindi mataong parte ng second floor. The resto's name and interior arrangement were somewhat familiar because they were relevant a few days ago. Binati ako ng staff pagpasok ko sa loob. Ngumiti muna ako sa kaniya bago ko pinuntahan ang booth kung saan may babaeng naghihintay. Naka-full bangs at naka-ponytail siya. She was enjoying a cup of chocolate parfait.

This was not my first clandenstine meeting with a student of a certain fame. This also would not be the last. Marami na akong na-meet no'n sa iba't ibang parte ng campus para maitago ang meeting namin. We couldn't risk being seen by other people. Parang mag-jowa kami na engaged sa isang forbidden romance. I got so used to this arrangement that it didn't surprise me anymore whenever someone would invite me to the most obscure part of the university. Kung saan comfortable ang mga ka-meeting ko, willing akong makipagkita sa kanila ro'n.

"This is quite an odd choice for a meeting place, don't you think?" I asked before taking the seat across from her. Iginala ko ang aking tingin habang pinakikinggan ang lumang music na pinatutugtog ng resto. They need to update their playlist. "Are you reminiscing some unfortunate memories here? After all, what happened here cost you your position, and almost cost your council."

Valeria Encarnacion put back her glass on the table. Pinunasan muna niya ang kaniyang bibig gamit ang napkin. As expected from someone who underwent a great deal of stress, she wasn't looking her best today. Wala siyang suot na make-up. Makapal at maitim ang kaniyang eyebags. Walang kislap ang mga mata niya. Ni hindi niya nga ako binati ng ngiti o kahit simpleng hello pagpasok ko rito.

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me," she said as her gaze flicked up. "I know you're busy with the impeachment coverage, but you managed to accommodate me."

"You must have heard the news. Congratulations, Priam has survived impeachment," I told her in case she wasn't aware yet. Baka umiiwas muna siya sa mga balita para hindi na siya masyadong masaktan pa. "To be honest, our meeting is much more interesting than that of the trial. Dalawa ang puwedeng outcome n'on: Either impeached or not. May naka-ready na nga akong draft kahit alin sa dalawa ang mangyari."

"By the way, do you want to eat or drink anything?" she asked, but I politely declined. Mas masarap ang scoop ng balita kaysa sa scoop ng ice cream. "I hope you won't regret prioritizing our meeting over the most important development in the recent history of this university."

"It depends on why you called me here." Nakapangalumbaba akong tumingin sa kaniya. "Kung bibigyan mo ako ng juicy exposé, talagang masasabi kong worth it ang pagpunta ko rito. Do you have any inside information that you wanna share with me? Anything that you're afraid to say in public, but the public needs to know?"

"If you're referring to the trial, I can offer nothing new to you," she replied, maintaining a straight face. That's a lie. "Kung ano ang napanood, narinig, o nabasa mo, 'yon na talaga 'yon. Sorry to disappoint you."

"Oh, really?" My left eyebrow arched. "I read some interesting theories online about your sudden resignation. Ang hinala ng ilan, pinag-resign ka ni Priam at ginawa kang scapegoat para maisalba ang reputasyon niya. Kung hindi si Priam, baka may ibang nag-utos sa 'yo na mag-isa mong saluhin ang mga bala para maipagpatuloy ng mga maiiwan sa council ang mga balak n'yo?"

I was obviously referring to Castiel. He's the only one capable of devising that risky plan. It could have blown up in his face if his calculations were wrong. But he got it right this time.

"Priam will never turn me into an scapegoat," Valeria said with conviction. The way she spoke the president's name was full of reverence. "Siya pa nga ang gustong mag-resign para panagutan ang ginawa namin. He isn't some sort of cunning leader who would willingly throw anyone under the bus."

I smirked. "Is that on the record?"

"As long as you use that info to rebuild his image. His approval ratings took a hit during this impeachment ordeal."

No, I won't let myself and my pen be used as a tool.

"If it weren't for you, his political career would have been over by now. Him and his entire council," I told her sympathetically. Her sacrifice was commendable. "Malamang todo-todo ang kanilang pasasalamat sa 'yo. You saved their ship from sinking no matter how many cannonballs were fired in your direction."

"They're extremely grateful." She nodded twice. "They said they won't let my sacrifice be in vain. I wasn't trying to be a heroine, but I only did what I thought was right."

"So," I reclined against the backseat and locked my arms behind my head. "Why did you ask to meet me here? Gusto mo bang sulatan ko ng tribute ang ginawa mong kabayanihan? Your selflessness was praiseworthy, but it fell short on some criteria to warrant a tribute."

She let out a chuckle before shaking her head. "I'm here to guarantee that my sacrifice won't be in vain. I gave up the second highest position in the student government. I took a lot of flak for holding myself accountable. I don't want everything to be for naught."

"I'm still waiting for you to tell me why I'm here." My lips twisted into a forced smile. Ayaw pa niya akong deretsohin. Parang tinatantiya pa niya kung dapat ba niyang i-share sa 'kin ang gusto niyang sabihin.

Valeria and I exchanged stares—mine was relaxed while hers was doubtful. Silence ensued at our booth as an old song played in the background. Then she leaned forward. "Can I trust you, Reynard?"

"Of course." I gave her a reassuring nod. I also leaned forward and rested my forearms on the table. "You wouldn't have asked me to meet you if you can't. You would have met with someone else—Ambrielle maybe, since she was assigned to the USC beat—if I'm not trustworthy enough for you."

If she was concerned about trusting the right person, she needed not to look any further for proof. Kung nabasa na niya ang mga exposé ko sa The Herald, alam na niya dapat ang sagot sa kaniyang tanong. Some of the sources who came forward and spoke to me in confidence were never identified. My editors even tried extracting their identities from me, but I never gave them up. Over my dead body. Gano'n ako kaingat pagdating sa mga nagtitiwala sa 'kin.

"Consider our conversation as my contingency plan," she said after sipping from her parfait. "I will tell you everything I know and I will answer every question you may have."

"But?" My eyebrow arched. Her unexpected generosity was kinda suspicious. "There must be a catch there. Hindi mo basta-basta ibibigay ang gano'ng access sa 'yo at sa mga nalalaman mo nang walang kapalit."

She showed me a smirk. "You really are sharp. Hindi na ako nagtataka kung bakit threatened sa 'yo si Cas. You would have been able to take us down weeks ago if it weren't for some last-minute adjustments."

I placed my right hand on my chest. "I take that as a compliment."

That, I almost did. If I were a petty and unscrupulous person, I would betray Valeria's trust once I got it out of spite for the USC. But that thing was in the past. The milk was already spilt on the table. There was no point in crying over it. A lot was waiting for me in the future. Opportunities, possibilities, scoops, etcetera. Mas gusto kong mag-focus sa mga 'yon.

"So... what's the catch?" I asked. This time, my face and tone were serious. "What are your terms?"

"As I mentioned earlier, I will tell you what you need to know, particularly about Oplan First Lady. Does that ring a bell?" Valeria answered. A hint of recognition crossed my face. "But promise me that you won't publish any or all of it and you won't share it with anyone until I tell you to do so."

"Whoa!" I threw both of my hands in the air. "That's quite a big ask!"

I knew a bit about the so-called Oplan First Lady. Naikuwento na sa 'kin ni Fabienne no'n ang premise ng operation. I could have exposed it during my livestream with her, but she changed her mind. I could have leaked it to my friends on the entertainment side, but I couldn't bring myself to betray the First Lady's trust.

Finally, I got someone who was willing to speak about it.

"When do you intend to give me the go signal?" I went on. "If what you're about to give me is a smoking gun, I will be itching to pull the trigger."

Valeria took a deep breath first. "Should the time come that Cas betrays Priam in any way, I want you to expose him and his scheme. That is my one and only condition."

Now that's a scoop I couldn't easily refuse.

30

NEXT UPDATE: Fabienne and Priam discuss the aftermath of the impeachment debacle.