CASTIEL

BEING THE vice president was not on my bucket list. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine myself taking the oath of office and being too close to the presidency. Mas gusto kong magtrabaho behind the scenes. Mas gusto kong maging director na nasa likod ng camera. Mas gugustuhin kong maging anonymous writer sa likod ng isang best-selling book.

But alas, I was dragged out of my comfort zone. I found myself standing on the stage, just one or two meters away from the president. He was delivering a speech during the opening of the campus fair in the quadrangle while I was positioned like a decoration behind him. Everyone's attention was focused in my direction. Every smartphone and digital camera was pointing at us. This is making me so uncomfortable.

I preferred being at the backstage or at the wings instead of the center stage. There was comfort in being unseen. The spotlight was too blinding, too hot for me to manage.

"Today, we're opening our doors not only to the Elysian community, but also to everyone who wants to see what being an Elysian means. This is the perfect opportunity to flex what we've got in the present, and what we can accomplish in the future."

Many times during Priam's speech did I avert my gaze. Mabuti't hindi ako nahimatay sa sobrang pagiging uneasy. I did not want to ruin this moment for my president. Paniguradong mas pag-uusapan sa SchoolBuzz ang pagkahimatay ko kaysa sa importanteng mensahe niya sa mga estudyante at bisita namin.

"I declare the 2021 Elysian University Campus Fair... open!" he said, followed by a warm round of applause. Tumalikod na siya sa mga nanonood at agad na nagtagpo ang tingin namin. We stepped down the stage and met with Lavinia and Sabrina at the foot. "Are you okay, Cas? Mukhang may sakit ka?"

"I'm just not used to this," I replied as I dragged my left leg. My limb felt a bit lighter now compared during the impeachment trial. The heavy burden was already lifted. "Not the event itself, but being on stage."

"You better get used to it," he said. "You will stand where Val used to stand. That's one of your duties as my VP."

"But that's not in the job description. That's not even in the Constitution," I complained. "My job is to assist you in leading the student body, preside over meetings of the LEXECOM, and—God forbid—succeed you in the event of your resignation, removal, or incapacity."

"Kaya dapat masanay ka na habang maaga," tugon niya bago sumulyap sa akin. "You could be the one standing before that lectern someday."

I stopped dead in my tracks, my eyes shooting daggers at him. He took a few more steps before noticing that I was no longer keeping up with his pace.

"You're joking, right? Because if yes, that's not a good joke," I spat. "Let's be brutally honest here. I'm just a placeholder VP until the elections. Wait, you know what? I've got a better idea. Why don't I assume the vice presidency for a few weeks or until such time that you find a more suitable candidate?"

"I'm just trying to lighten the mood," he said before walking ahead of me. "Do not take it too seriously."

Since when did he know the phrase lighten the mood? Ever since we met, I had always known him as too serious. He would not even crack a joke. Even if he did once, that would be purely coincidental or sarcastic. Oh, well. People change. Magmula nang makilala niya at maging close sila ni Fabienne, unti-unti na siyang... gumaan sa paningin ko. Dati'y ang bigat niya. Ngayo'y para siyang bulaklak na namumukadkad at bumubuka. Oplan First Lady had such an effect on him.

"I also want to know if you are still upset with me." Priam glanced at me over his right shoulder. "We are on the same boat here, and it will be unfortunate if one of is rowing the other way."

"I still am." I limped my way forward to catch up with him. "I think you're punishing me in every chance you get. Asking me to stand there with you on the stage was a dead giveaway. If you were considerate of my condition, you wouldn't have asked me to do it. The old you before the impeachment trial wouldn't."

"Isipin mo na ang gusto mong isipin. I'm only doing what I believe is best for the team. You are the new vice president. Many students do not know you. They have to see you in the flesh."

"That's why you should have chosen someone else," I countered.

THE ENTIRE campus was splashed with vibrant colors. Mula sa mga banderitas hanggang sa kulay ng mga booth at tent, parang isa itong malaking canvas na sinabuyan ng iba't ibang kulay. A few days ago, this place looked as bland and boring as a memorial park. Today, it's alive. It was pulsating and beating like a heart.

Priam and I decided to take a stroll. Nakabuntot sa amin sina Lavinia at Sabrina na nagsisilbing tulay ng mga may kailangan sa amin. The other two officers were not with us. Tabitha was probably dealing with the sponsors in an air-conditioned room. Rowan was busy managing our social media efforts, taking photos and videos everywhere.

"Priam?" Lavinia called from behind us. "Do you want to drop by the Medical Mission tent later? I asked Avi if we can make an appearance there. She said you're welcome to do so. Maraming outsiders na ang nakapila ro'n, karamihan sa kanila'y middle-aged at matatanda na."

"If we can fit it into our schedule, why not?" Priam answered.

"Avi said they can give you three to five minutes to speak," Lavinia read the message on her phone before turning to the secretary. "Sab, can you write a quick speech? Let's say that the students giving them medicines and extracting their bloods will be the pharmacists, phlebotomists, medical technologists, etcetera of their kids and grandchildren in the near future."

"Got it." Mariing tumango si Sabrina sabay labas ng hawak na tablet.

"I will also let Rowan know para mabigyan niya ng heads-up ang campus press at ma-cover ang pagpunta mo ro'n."

She was the newcomer here, so she must be trying her best to prove that she deserved the appointment. Got to admire her level of dedication. She needed to work double or even triple time. My fault. I left her some big shoes to fill.

"How about in the learning center?" Lavinia asked next. "Maybe we can ask Eleanor to give us a bit of their time with the out-of-school youth?"

"As long as we can fit it into the schedule."

"How about—"

"Wait." I held up my right hand, making them halt. Humarap ako sa bago naming chief-of-staff. "I think you're stretching him too thin."

Lavinia looked me straight in the eye, showing her resolve. "That's why I'm asking Priam kung available ba siya. If he's not, then we won't grace those areas with his presence."

"Of course, he's going to say that he's available kahit puno na ang schedule niya." My free hand motioned to our boss. "He's the freaking USC president. He wants to be everywhere all at once at the campus fair."

"I'm pulling all the strings that I can to rehabilitate Priam's and the USC's image, especially right after the you-know-what." There was contempt in Lavinia's voice. Sandaling nanlisik ang mga mata niya sa akin, ngunit agad ding bumalik sa normal ang mga 'yon. "Magbibigay ako ng suggestions at si Priam na ang bahala kung gusto niyang patulan. Right, Mr. President?"

Priam nodded. "But I'm not attending those programs for the sake of image rehabilitation. I want to be there to check their situation and see if we can extend more assistance."

"But we have to be strategic," I interjected when he paused. I gestured to our new chief-of-staff. "If Lavinia here is going after rehabilitation, we might as well focus on our constituents. Those old patients and young learners aren't going to vote in the next elections. Bakit hindi tayo pumunta sa mga booth gaya sa CCJE? They have a shooting range there. Maraming estudyante ang gustong mag-try. Maybe Priam can show them his target-shooting skills."

Lavinia stared at me as if I said something wrong. My gaze shifted to Priam. He also looked unimpressed.

"Cas, let me guess." Lavinia rubbed her chin, squinting at me. "You're the type of person who goes for the main course first instead of the appetizer."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Let me make it clear." Priam raised his hands as if trying to break the tension. "I'm not after some brownie points, okay? Huwag nating i-take advantage ang fair na ito para mangampanya o pagandahin ang image natin. Let's not get too political."

"Unfortunately, Mr. President, everything you do is political whether you intend it to be or not," Lavinia told him before turning to me. "I appreciate the vice president's insights, but I hope that he can leave this matter to me since I am the chief-of-staff."

"More like a glorified appointment setter," I muttered.

I was about to look away, but Lavinia suddenly grabbed my chin. Iniangat niya ang ulo ko para magkaharap kami. What's with her? Mas matangkad siya nang kaunti sa akin kaya umangat ang mga mata ko sa kaniya.

"Every appointment that I set today will rebuild what you ruined during your term as chief-of-staff," she said in a chilling voice. She was staring straight at me as if she was staring at my soul. "Let me do my job, okay? This is not yours anymore. In the meantime, practice stretching your lips and standing like a statue next to Priam."

"Guys."

Lavinia released my chin and looked in another direction. Napahaplos ako sa aking baba. I did not expect her to be that aggressive! I'm the freaking vice president, but she made me feel like I was beneath her. Literally and figuratively.

"Lavinia," Priam called her, "do not put anything in my schedule from four o'clock onwards, okay?"

"Got it!"

"You're clearing your afternoon schedule?" I asked him once I regained my composure. I was caught off guard by our new chief-of-staff. "Do you have a date?"

"Yen's opening show later," he answered with a faint smile on his lips. "I gave her my word that I will watch later. Malalagot ako sa kaniya kapag hindi ako nakapanood."

"You're the freaking president 'tapos magpapa-under ka sa isang theater actress?" Natatawa kong sabi habang umiiling. "The world has truly gone mad."

"That theater actress happens to be the First Lady," he reminded me, "whom you handpicked yourself."

And now, I had no control over her. Such a shame that our relationship turned sour.

"Do you want to watch the play later, too?" Priam asked.

"You're kidding, right? Alam mong ayaw niya akong makita, maski ang anino ko," tugon ko. "Baka ma-distract pa siya at makalimutan niya ang kaniyang lines kapag nakita niya ako sa front row. Baka ipainom niya pa sa 'kin 'yong lason na ininom ng kaniyang character."

"Romeo was the one who drank poison," he corrected me. "Juliet stabbed herself."

"I know," I quickly replied. "I'm just checking how well you know the play that your First Lady is starring in."

"While I'm away for three hours later, roam around the fair and check if everything's okay," Priam instructed. "You will represent me here and make decisions on my behalf during those hours."

"Fine."

When lunchtime came, the entire USC ate at the fair's food park. Napalibutan kami ng mga small to medium business na nagsilbing concessionaires para sa event. We wanted them to earn a bit more and gain more recognition, that's why we decided to eat here instead in a restaurant at the food hub. Kapag nalaman at nakita ng mga estudyante na rito kumakain ang kanilang mga officer, baka mahikayat din namin silang kumain at suportahan ang mga business dito.

After lunch, we went to the medical mission organized by CAMP. Gaya ng sinabi ni Lavinia, marami ngang may edad na ang nakaupo sa hilera ng mga upuan, naghihintay na mabigyan ng serbisyo. Sinalubong kami ni Avrille na siyang nagpakilala kay Priam bilang head organizer ng buong fair. Priam delivered the short speech written by Sabrina, and he received a round of applause for it. Some members of the campus press were there to cover the event.

By three in the afternoon, Priam and I resumed our inspection of the booths. Parang naglilibot kami sa isang amusement park at chine-check kung aling rides ang available. This did not even seem like a legit work! The only thing that I hated was my left leg. Paminsan-minsa'y sumasakit kaya napahihinto o napauupo ako.

How strange. Alaric the Prick was not around. There was also nothing that could give me extreme stress. And yet, my leg was hurting. I wonder why?

Sunod naming pinuntahan ang tiger's den, ang area ng CBA. I was hesitant to go here. I even advised Priam against it. But he argued that he's the president of all students, therefore he must not neglect this college, whether they liked his guts or not. Some of these tigers were probably mad at us for stealing the presidency from one of their own—Candice Delavin, the presidential candidate of Alaric the Prick's party in the last election.

This was also one of the colleges that did not cooperate with us during the campus fair meetings. Some of the participating CBA students put up their own business booths which competed with our very own food park. These rebels...

Priam was checking the time on his wristwatch every two minutes. Mukhang excited na talaga siyang panoorin si Fabienne. Compared to the previous play, he was not going to watch this one for the sake of publicity. He was going to watch because he wanted to support his First Lady. Whether that was it or there was something else, I could not tell anymore.

I was not a superstitious person, but something strange happened the moment we walked in the tigers' territory. Wait, let me correct that. A bunch of strange things happened one after the other.

"Ouch!"

Priam and I turned to the booth on our left. Agad naming nilapitan 'yon at nalamang nabuhusan ng mainit na kape ang isang estudyanteng customer. Agad din kaming nagpatawag ng medic na naka-stand by sa 'di-kalayuan. We reminded them to be careful next time.

"Saan n'yo ba nailagay 'yon?"

Sunod naming nilapitan ang isang culinary booth. Hindi mapakali ang mga estudyanteng naka-chef uniform doon. They had been looking for a missing kitchen knife. Sinabihan namin silang hanapin agad 'yon at huwag basta-basta hayaang mawala ang kanilang mga gamit. They might hurt someone.

"Nasaan na 'yong pera?"

Kinailangan naming mamagitan sa dalawang Accountancy student na nagmamando ng isang coffee booth. Apparently, the money in their cash register went missing, and the thief could only be one of them. Pinayuhan namin silang mag-file ng report sa mga pulis na nakaistasyon sa quadrangle.

"What's next?" I let out a sigh after resolving the third conflict. Umupo ako sa bench at ini-stretch ang kaliwang binti ko. Priam remained standing. Nakatitig siya sa makeshift stage sa harapan namin kung saan nagpe-perform ang isang lalaki. That guy sat on a barstool while strumming a guitar.

"My next song is dedicated to... whoever can relate!" the male singer waited for the applause to die down. He strummed first. "Oh, father, tell me. Do we get what we deserve? Whoa, we get what we deserve."

"That Alaric is such a rebel," I blurted out as I roamed my eyes around. Nagsimulang magsitayuan ang mga tao sa paligid namin. "Hindi siya nakipag-coordinate sa atin kaya may competition tuloy sila ng ilang booths."

"If this is what will make his constituents happy." Priam checked his watch again before glancing at me over his shoulder. "It's about time. Let's go back to the quadrangle. Aakyat na rin niyan ako sa auditorium. Ikaw na muna ang bahala sa inspection."

It's already three-thirty. I grabbed my cane and held it down as I got to my feet. "Let's go. Baka ma-late ka pa sa show."

A crowd began to gather before the stage—some holding cups of coffee, some cans of soda. We had to say "excuse me" as we squeezed ourselves through them. The song was bringing them together.

"Send my regards and congratulations to Fabienne," I almost yelled because the music was drowning my voice. "For sure, magiging successful ang kanilang opening show! Sayang dahil hindi ako makapanonood!"

"I will let her know." Priam turned to me. "I have ordered some flowers for her. Ipi-pick up ko na ngayon sa entrance at dadalhin sa taas."

"Is this still scripted? Or is this real already?"

"For me, it's—"

"PARA KAY CANDICE!"

A guy wearing a yellow-and-black college shirt sprang behind Priam. Isn't that Brandon Cabrera, Candice's runningmate in the last student council elections? What is he doing here—

Then the music stopped. Screams filled the air. My eyes went so wide, almost protruding out of their sockets. My mouth hung so widely open.

What the—

He brandished a kitchen knife in his right hand and swung it in the president's direction. Inundayan niya ng saksak ang kasama ko. Isa, dalawa, tatlo, lima, walo... I lost count. Sa bawat wasiwas ng patalim, tumilamsik ang dugo sa sahig at sa mukha ko.

"PARA KAY CANDICE!"

Blood started to seep from Priam's mouth as he collapsed forward, but he managed to clutch onto my shoulders. I stood there frozen in shock, letting his blood stain my polo shirt, as I listened to his labored breaths.

"P-Priam..."

The attacker was tackled to the ground by two men. Inalis nila ang hawak na kitchen knife nito at ini-restrain ang mga kamay. He kept on screaming "For Candice" as he was being dragged away from the scene.

"P-Priam..." was all I could mumble. My entire body was frozen. I stood rooted on the spot. Ni hindi ko siya nagawang hawakan at tulungang makatayo.

"Ca... Fa... Ye..."

He slid down and collapsed on the ground. Halos nawalan na ng kulay ang mukha niya. His panting grew louder and heavier as he gasped for more air. Patuloy ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa mga saksak niya.

Seeing the life leaving his body jolted me back to reality. I tossed away my cane and knelt beside him. Sinubukan kong bigyan ng pressure ang mga saksak niya para mabawasan ang pagdurugo. Wala na akong pakialam kung madumihan ang damit ko. But with only two hands and numerous stab wounds, it became impossible to staunch the flow of blood. It kept seeping through my fingers.

"PRIAM!" I gently slapped him in the face to keep him awake. "PRIAM!"

"Fa... Ye..."

His eyes slowly shut, a stream of blood kept dripping from his mouth.

"PRIAM!"

♔

NEXT UPDATE: The conclusion to the first half of PLAY THE KING!