REYNARD

WE WERE just three weeks into the second semester, but things escalated quickly! I almost envied Rie because all the action seemed to be centered around the USC. Kung hindi ako na-reassign, ako dapat ang nagko-cover n'on. Ako dapat ang may front-row seat do'n.

But thanks to Castiel and his aggressive stance, nabiyayaan din kaming nagko-cover ng LEXECOM. He kept us busy! His relentless attacks on Alaric Esteban with material to work on. For that, I was thankful.

A campus war was brewing, and only a few students were aware of it. Hindi alam ng karamihan kung sino ang unang nagpaputok: si Castiel ba o si Alaric? I wasn't even sure myself. But that was the least of my worries right now.

"Mister Chair!" I called out to the university's alpha tiger. Inabangan ko siyang lumabas sa student council office ng Business and Accountancy building. I had learned from my colleague covering the CBA beat that the CSC held a meeting before lunchtime. For this ambush to be perfect, I didn't wear my navy blue hoodie. I might stick out like a sore thumb, and he could have evaded me as soon as he spotted me nearby.

"Reynard from the Herald?" he acknowledged me, abruptly stopping. Nakaakmang haharangan ako ng kasama niyang councilor, pero sumenyas siya rito. That guy glared at me instead. "I have already released my official statement to the campus press. There's nothing else that I can add to it."

Due to Castiel's live interview with us and Valeria Encarnacion's confirmation, Alaric found himself in hot water. What a PR nightmare! To most students, his image was flawless. Meron siyang looks, meron siyang charisma, meron siyang brains, at meron din siyang talent sa sports.

However, the supposed revelations made some students question if his image was truly spotless. May ilang nag-post sa SchoolBuzz na binabatikos ang umano'y ginawa niya. May isa o dalawa rin sa columnists namin ang nagsulat ng opinion piece tungkol sa kaniya. He was supposed to be untouchable and invulnerable. Now, he was exposed, all thanks to Castiel.

"I'm not here to inquire about your statement," I replied with a smile. "I'm here to ask about the conspiracy theory circulating on SchoolBuzz."

"Conspiracy?" Some of his councilors scoffed.

"You don't have to respond to filth—"

Alaric raised his hand, instantly silencing his colleagues. The leader knew how to rein in his tigers. "What conspiracy theory is this?"

"That you were involved in the USC president's attempted assassination." There was no need to beat around the bush. Nearby students gasped as if hearing this angle for the first time. "You allegedly asked the president to resign in exchange for not exposing him. That failed. You tried to impeach him. That failed, too. Now, some are speculating that maybe... you took more drastic measures."

"Let me put in on record—and I hope you're recording this—that I have nothing to do with what happened to Priam Torres." Alaric stared directly into my eyes with each word. "Now, off the record, I wonder why a distinguished Herald reporter is entertaining such a conspiracy theory. I hope you don't stoop so low. You've built quite a reputation for yourself. Don't throw it away."

I slid my phone back into my pocket after tapping the stop record key. Masunurin akong bata. No'ng sinabi niyang off the record, hininto ko na agad. But I wouldn't let him have the last word. He kinda insulted me.

"I hope you didn't stoop so low, too. You've built quite a reputation for yourself. Don't throw it away," I echoed his words like a parrot.

"Excuse me?" Alaric squinted. "It seems like you've taken their side. Is that why you're badgering me with that question?"

"Badgering you?" I scoffed, shaking my head slowly. "No offense, Mister Chair, pero ang OA niyang paratang mo. I only asked you that question once. Kung tinext ko sa 'yo, minessage ko sa 'yo, itinawag ko sa 'yo, 'tapos tinanong ko sa 'yo kanina, 'yon ang puwedeng ma-consider na badgering."

He grinned as if I had cracked a joke. Did I say something funny?

"Do you remember back at the team building?" Alaric leaned in closer, standing eye to eye with me. If he thought his muscular build and height would intimidate me, he was mistaken. Halos magkasintangkad kami—mas matangkad siguro siya nang isa or dalawang inch—kaya walang effect sa 'kin. "You said you expose people in the beat you're assigned to."

"And I'm currently assigned to LEXECOM where you serve as the majority leader," I finished what I assumed to be his thought. "Are you worried that you're the one I'm aiming to expose?"

A smirk appeared at the corner of his lips. "I'd like to see you try."

"Oh." A mischievous smile crept onto my face. "If I were you, I won't ruffle the falcon's feathers. You might regret it in the end, Mister Chair."

"We'll see about that."

He turned his back and walked away with his councilors. I watched as he disappeared down the hallway.

Asking him about the conspiracy theory might have offended him, but couldn't he see that I was only doing him a favor? I gave him the chance to respond. May kumalat na tsismis, 'tapos hiningi ko ang opinyon niya. He flatly denied it, so that's what I would report. Malalaman ng mga magbabasa sa article ko na itinanggi niya 'yon. Whether they believed him or not was up to them.

Wait. Now that I thought about it, something similar happened to Fabienne. May kumalat na tsismis, 'tapos muntik nang masira ang image niya. If Castiel's suspicion that he mentioned to me on the rooftop weeks ago was true—about Alaric allegedly asking his good friend and my best buddy Michelangelo to smear Fabienne—then it would be poetic justice for him to face a similar fate.

I RETURNED to The Herald's editorial office by lunchtime. My mind was racing so quickly that I forgot to feel any hunger at all. Umupo ako sa aking swivel chair at inilabas ang white board na nakatago sa likod ng flat-screen monitor. I had borrowed it from my editor so it would help me visualize the mystery I was investigating.

In the center of the board, a photo of Alaric Esteban was pinned. Pinalilibutan 'yon ng photos ng apat pang estudyante—Michelangelo Jordan, Brandon Cabrera, Candice Delavin, at Priscilla Mercado—at may mga nakakonektang linya sa isa't isa. Priam's picture was also there, right next to Brandon's.

I crossed my arms as I stared at their static photos. Kapag biglang kumindat ang isa sa kanila, siguradong mapatatakbo ako sa takot. I hoped the answer would reveal itself: whether or not there was indeed a conspiracy in the failed assassination of Priam Torres. I could be looking at something significant. I could also be looking at nothing.

"Ang ganda naman ng art project mo."

Muntik na akong malaglag sa upuan nang may narinig akong familiar na boses mula sa likuran. My mind was so preoccupied with theories that I had not noticed her presence. Umayos muna ako ng upo bago ako lumingon sa kaniya.

"Don't startle me like that!" I nearly exclaimed. "Muntik na akong mahulog sa upuan! Paano kung nauntog ang ulo ko sa sahig, 'tapos nagka-amnesia ako?"

"Much better then." Rie's lips twisted into a mischievous smirk as she took a sip from her tall cup of coffee. "Mababawasan ng isa ang mga kakompetisyon ko sa pagiging next news editor. I'll only have to deal with poor Spencer. Easy win for me."

"You shouldn't underestimate people," I retorted. "Baka nga kahit magka-amnesia ako, masapawan pa kita sa promotion. So maybe don't get too cocky."

"Whatever." She rolled her eyes before gesturing toward my magnum opus. "Anyway, what do you have there? Playing Six Degrees of Separation?"

"This?" I held up the board, almost embracing it. "This is my masterpiece. It's still a work in progress. But once it's done, mamamangha ka sa hitsura nito."

"If I were your Arts Appreciation instructor, I'd give you an 'E' for effort," she said matter-of-factly. Ouch. Admittedly, this collage was low-effort, but that stung! She leaned closer to the board, narrowing her eyes. "Wait, are you investigating the conspiracy theory from SchoolBuzz?"

"I thought it was worth looking into." I displayed the board on my desk once more. "Alaric is the majority leader of LEXECOM, so it falls perfectly within my beat. Just imagine if I can prove the conspiracy true. That would be my golden ticket to the news editorship!"

"Have you reached out to him?" Rie asked.

"Yup! Just thirty minutes ago."

"What did he say?"

"He denied it, of course!" I swiveled my chair back to face the board. Alaric's smirk in the photo seemed to mock me. "Sino bang guilty ang aamin na may kinalaman siya sa isang kontrobersiyal na isyu? No one, especially not to a reporter!"

"Good luck with your quest. I hope it's not a wild goose chase. Otherwise, magsasayang ka ng oras at effort," Rie remarked, stepping back before her face lit up. "Oh, wait! Mas pabor nga 'yon sa 'kin. You will be distracted and might miss a more important coverage."

I had started this investigation two months ago, initially just trying to verify Castiel's claims. Then I started to see smoke. You know what they say. Where there's smoke, there's fire. I was getting closer to the source.

I smelled crap around Alaric, so there must be crap somewhere.

"Rey?"

My chair swiveled to the right as I turned to our news editor. Ako lang ang tinawag pero lumingon din sa kaniya si Rie. Kailan pa naging Rey ang pangalan n'yo? Oh! Baka iniisip niyang magkatunog ang Rie at Rey kaya gano'n?

"Yes, boss?" I greeted with a warm smile. Kailangang magpa-good shot, eh.

"Did you harass Alaric Esteban?" Nolan asked, reading something on his phone with squinted eyes. He glanced up at me. "I got a message from one of the CSC councilors. In-ambush interview mo raw siya kanina sa BA building?"

"What?! Harassed?" My forehead creased, eyebrows furrowing. "That's an exaggeration! I simply approached him and asked a question. That's all."

"It doesn't seem that way, according to this councilor." He powered off his phone and slipped it into his pocket. "Anyway, just try to approach your sources more diplomatically. We need to maintain good relationships with members of the student government."

"But I wasn't pushy at all!"

"I believe you. But it's your word against theirs. Basta approach them in a much nicer way next time, okay? And maybe don't approach them during lunch."

"It was before lunch—"

Nolan waved his hand and walked back to his desk. I let out a frustrated sigh. "I swear I didn't do anything wrong."

Rie gave me a shrug before returning to her seat.

That Alaric must have been offended by my question. Either that's a sign of guilt or a defense for his innocence. We'd find out very soon.

I WOULDN'T usually stay late on campus. Bago mag-ala-sais ng gabi, umaalis na ako ng office unless may meeting kami o may ipinatatapos na article sa 'kin. I always made sure to wrap up all of my tasks before six. But today, I decided to linger in the office for a bit and let time pass. Nang malapit na sumapit ang alas-otso, do'n na ako lumabas at pumunta sa Business and Accountancy building. Ulit.

Nope, I wasn't planning to ambush interview Alaric again. Na-warning-an na ako. Masunurin akong bata kaya hindi ko lalabagin ang advice ng editor ko. I didn't wanna be reprimanded again. It might jeopardize my chances for the editorship. I was here for someone else. But first, I had to meet up with someone. I sat in the lobby for five minutes, waiting until I saw her approaching me.

"Sorry for asking you to meet me so late," I greeted as I stood up. Sinalubong ko ang First Lady sa gitna ng lobby. "You look a bit tired."

"Galing kasi ako ng ospital," sagot ni Fabienne na may kasamang pilit na ngiti. "I'm curious kaya pumayag akong samahan ka. Gusto ko ring malaman kung tama ba ang hinala ko."

"Any good news?" I asked even though it's obvious that there wasn't. It's just a good conversation starter.

She shook her head. "He hasn't woken up yet."

It must be emotionally draining and psychologically torturous to hope every day for someone in a coma to regain consciousness, then only to be disappointed in the end. The fact that she was willing to spend her free time with Priam suggested their relationship was more than friendship.

Suwerte ng lalaking 'yon kapag naging totoong jowa niya si Fabienne.

"Shall we go? Baka maagang ma-dismiss ang klase ng taong 'yon at masalisihan tayo."

"Tara!"

I led the way to the stairs. Pagtuntong namin sa second floor, nilakad namin ang hallway hanggang sa huminto kami sa tapat ng Room 207. Some CBA students had night classes. Napaisip nga ako kung mas maganda bang gano'n din ang schedule namin. Sa ganitong oras, hindi na gano'n karami ang mga estudyante sa campus, 'tapos hindi na mainit dahil gabi na. The only downside was that most stalls and restos in the food hub were closed by this time.

Limang minuto rin kaming tumambay sa labas ng room na 'yon. As soon as the clock struck eight, the door swung open. A female instructor in business attire emerged, followed by several students. Fabienne and I scanned their faces, looking for a particular person. I had asked her to come along because she was more familiar with that person than I was. Kung mag-isa ako rito, baka makatakas siya mula sa paningin ko. Add the fact that I'm a Herald reporter. She might find me intimidating.

"Priscilla!" tawag ni Fabienne sabay lapit sa babaeng may kulot na buhok at kalalabas pa lang ng room. Pinagtinginan siya ng iba pang Advertising Management students.

"F-Fabby?!" Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babae, halos malaglag ang panga sa pagkagulat. Who would expect the First Lady to come all the way here now that the play was over?

"Can we talk to you for a minute?" Fabienne lowered her voice. "May importante kaming itatanong sa 'yo."

"We?" Priscilla's eyebrows furrowed as she glanced toward me. A hint of recognition crossed her face.

"Hi!" I greeted her with a bright smile as I waved. "I'm Reynard Falcon from The Herald. Do you have a moment?"

Her gaze shifted between me and Fabienne. She seemed perplexed by our presence together. After contemplating for a few seconds, she closed her eyes and breathed a sigh. "Fine."

Lumayo kami mula sa classmates niya na tumambay pa sa labas ng room at nakipagtsismisan sa isa't isa. I made sure that no one could overhear us. If anyone tried to eavesdrop, I would spot them immediately. Our topic was sensitive—especially since we were in the tiger's den—so we couldn't risk others hearing about it.

"What do you want?" Priscilla asked impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest. "Do you want to interview me about Romeo and Juliet? Or do you want advance info on our next production?"

"Neither!" I maintained my smile to keep the atmosphere relaxed. "If you've read any of my articles, you'd know I'm a news writer, not a features writer."

"You heard about Priam, right?" Fabienne interjected. "He was stabbed by someone you know. He's in a coma."

Priscilla looked away, her discomfort evident on her face. "I'm aware. Nabasa ko ang updates ng Herald tungkol sa kondisyon niya."

"I know you have issues with him," Fabienne continued. "You don't think he deserves to be USC president. Pero sa tingin mo ba'y deserve niyang pagsasaksakin ng maraming beses at ma-coma?"

"If I didn't believe in karma, I might say he deserves it," Priscilla replied after giving the First Lady a pointed look. "Candice almost died because of him stealing the presidency. Maybe karma is real after all."

"Based on what you said, it sounds like you have a motive." I finally broke my silence. I was the one supposed to ask questions, not Fabienne. "Brandon may have wielded the knife and stabbed Priam, pero posibleng may mga kasabwat siya na may alam sa nangyari."

"W-what?" Her eyebrows almost furrowed into a single line. "You think I had something to do with what happened to Priam? What nonsense is this?"

"Priscilla," mahinahong tawag ni Fabienne habang nakahawak sa magkabilang braso ng kausap. "Ilang oras bago ang opening show natin, nakita kitang may kausap sa phone. Nagtagpo pa nga ang tingin natin, eh. Narinig kong binanggit mo ang nickname ni Brandon. You were surprised to know he was at the fair. You even asked if he's gonna be okay."

Her eyes bulged, almost popping out of their sockets. She pulled away from Fabienne's grasp. "A-are you accusing me of—"

"We just wanna know kung meron pa bang taong involved sa pananaksak kay Priam," matapang na sagot ni Fabienne. Determinado ang mga mata, mukha, at boses niya. "Alam kong medyo complicated ang working relationship natin sa theater dahil sa mga gimik mo, but I don't wanna believe you had anything to do with it. Kaya ka namin tinatanong ngayon. For me, gusto kong magkaroon ng peace of mind."

Priscilla shook her head slowly. "I-I had nothing to do with what happened to Priam, okay? Ni hindi ko nga alam na pupunta si Bran. I just answered his call and asked how he was doing."

"May iba pa ba siyang sinabi sa 'yo?" tanong ko. "Meron ba siyang nabanggit na detalye na susuporta sa theory na may iba pang involved?"

"H-he didn't say anything like that," sagot niya. "All he told me was that he met with Alaric and some old friends in CBA. He did say na dumating na raw ang chance para maipaghiganti niya si Candice. He didn't say how, but I advised him against it. Then he hung up."

Fabienne and I exchanged curious glances. This was the second time na narinig ko ang pangalan ni Alaric na lumabas mula sa bibig ng mga nakakakilala kay Brandon—nauna si Michelangelo, 'tapos itong si Priscilla.

"Just leave me out of this, okay?" Priscilla held up her hands and walked away. "I don't know anything, and I don't want to be involved."

"Priscilla—" Hahabulin sana siya ni Fabienne, pero hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at hinila papunta sa 'kin. "Rey! Mukhang may 'di pa siya sinasabi sa 'tin! Hahayaan ba natin siyang tumakas?"

Marahan akong umiling. "Hindi natin siya mapipilit na magsalita kung ayaw niya. You saw how shocked and anxious she was. Baka magkaroon ng confusion o misunderstanding sa mga sasabihin niya kapag pinressure natin siya. Let's hope she calms down and talks to us again when she's ready."

"Pero paano kung meron talagang—"

Beep! Beep!

Huh? I pulled out my phone from my pocket and checked the alert. My eyes widened as I read the breaking news posted by The Herald on SchoolBuzz.

"What the—" Nanlaki rin ang mga mata ni Fabienne habang binabasa ang post sa phone niya. "I-is this true?"

"Maybe?" I shrugged. "Never magpo-post ng fake news ang Herald."

On my screen was a photo of car with a broken window and a dented door. A guy in business attire was lying on the ground next to it.

The caption read:

BREAKING NEWS:
CBA-CSC Chairperson Alaric Esteban found unconscious and bleeding in the car park.

Now what?

30

NEXT UPDATE: A MUST-READ CHAPTER! Castiel receives some good news.