CASTIEL

IF I could only tear the latest Herald issue into shreds, I would have done it already. But other students were present around me, reading the same newspaper. Two Herald staffers were also in front who handed me a copy. Instead of creating a scene, I went on my way to the admin building.

What caused my blood to boil this morning? The headline. Alaric the Prick for vice president?! If I were a conspiracy theorist, I would think that they paid the writer or our student publication to publish that article. But The Herald was not known for being a paid news media on campus.

Well, whatever. There would not be any special election for the VP spot. The Constitution and By-Laws granted the USC president—who happened to be Priam—the power to choose, not the student body. We could ignore that survey and use the newspaper as a tissue paper instead.

Something did not feel quite right when I entered the USC office today. Rowan was in his cubicle, preparing the media brief for later. Tabitha was in her cubicle, preparing the budget request for the upcoming campus fair. Sabrina was in her cubicle, preparing letters to be sent out to sponsors and concessionaires.

When I got to mine, I realized what was wrong—or missing. Valeria. The cubicle on my left was vacant. It had been a few days since she resigned as vice president. Noong una'y hindi ko masyadong ramdam. Baka dahil inisip kong naka-leave siya o nag-absent nang ilang araw? But today, the realization that she was gone for good from the USC hit hard.

I should have been the one out of this office, not her.

As much as I wanted to mourn her departure for a bit longer, we had a student government to run and a student body to lead. Makikita pa namin si Valeria sa campus at puwede pa naman siyang bumisita rito. We had to move on and move forward.

Knock! Knock!

I knocked twice on the wing panel of Priam's cubicle. As usual, his eyes were glued to the screen of his laptop, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he was making addendums in the campus fair plans. He had been working on it for the past few weeks. If it weren't for the distraction that was the impeachment trial, he would have been done with it.

Mabuti't agad na umangat ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. Huminto rin ang mga daliri niya sa pagta-type. He had become more attentive since the start of Oplan First Lady. Good. Being with Fabienne had changed him for the better.

"Are you ready? We have a meeting in five minutes," I asked him after checking the time on my phone.

He checked his wristwatch, his eyebrows moving. "Oh, is it time already? I did not notice." He shut down his laptop, sprang from his seat, and fixed his blazer. He bobbed his head toward me, and we walked side by side to the conference room.

Everyone in the council gathered in the aquarium. I sat in the swivel chair left of Priam. The one on his right remained vacant, out of respect for Val. Sigh. The council felt incomplete without her. It's like Christmas without the chilling breeze of December or New Year's Eve without the fireworks.

"Our first agenda is the upcoming campus fair," I began by reading the paper handed to me by Sab. "Now that the impeachment circus is over, we're hoping that the CSC chairpersons will return to the table and cooperate with our plan. Sab has already sent invitations to them again. Our meeting is scheduled for Friday."

The campus fair was a three-day annual event where we would open the university for outsiders to showcase what we got in Elysian University. Laging itinatapat ito sa pagtatapos ng first semester bilang celebration sa mga accomplishment sa first half ng academic year at bilang paghahanda sa second semester. As a tradition, we as student council were expected to continue it. The students might get mad at us if we did not because they were expecting it every year.

"The other important details have been taken care of, right?" Priam propped up his arms and steepled his fingers. "Can we get a rundown of the stuff that we have already accomplished?"

We turned to Sab who had the answers. Sanay na siya kaya hindi na siya nape-pressure kapag may hinihingi kami sa kaniya. She had been diligently taking minutes of the meetings and tracking progress in our tasks. Kapag may tanong kami, inaasahan naming agad niyang masasagot. She turned on her tablet and pinched the screen.

"We have received positive responses from thirteen out of eighteen sponsors," she answered. "We have also finalized the list of concessionaires who will put up booths during the fair."

"These concessionaires..." The president interjected when the secretary took a pause. "They are a combination of the usual businesses and small businesses. Am I right?"

"Yes. Per your instruction, cinontact natin ang mga local business dito sa community na gustong sumali sa fair. Majority sa kanila ay nag-respond positively."

"Good," Priam replied with repeated nods. "We must also give spotlight to the small businesses around campus. They are also part of the Elysian culture. Without them, the college life here will be incomplete."

"We have also received responses from the artists and bands that we invited for the Elysian Night." Sab glanced at her seatmate Tabitha who was busy sipping from a cup of coffee. The latter pretended not to have heard anything. "Tabby?"

Hinintay muna naming matapos sa pag-inom ang aming treasurer. Our stares were not enough to make her finish her drink any quicker. She really took her time!

"I'm already in touch with their road managers," Tabitha reported. Nag-i-scroll siya sa kaniyang phone. I hoped that she was checking their communications, not her social media feed. "Nagne-negotiate na kami sa kanilang fee. 'Wag kayong mag-worry. I'll make sure that the amount will be within our pondo."

"Good, good." Priam nodded repeatedly again before turning to our public information officer. "How about our publicity and marketing efforts? Have we reached out to the appropriate parties?"

"I've already sent them the press release approved by the Office of University Relations," Rowan replied. Ipinakita niya ang ilang papel kung saan naka-print ang mga marketing material namin. "Those ads will be in the newspapers, magazines, radio spots, and local television commercials."

"Good work, Rowan. Sab, how about our projections for the number of attendees?"

"Given our artist lineup for the Elysian Night as well as the showing of Romeo and Juliet, we're expecting a five to ten percent increase from last year's numbers." Sab showed him a line graph on her tablet. "We will get a much more accurate estimate once the tickets are for sale."

"And our donation drive partners?"

"We're waiting for them to send us the MOU to formalize our partnership."

"I believe that we are all set," Priam said. "The only thing left is the collaboration among the colleges."

"Based on our communications with the four cooperative colleges," Sab checked her notes on the tablet, "CAMP will offer free laboratory testing services and distribution of medicines. CAS will be live on radio and television for three days where they will talk about biological and psychological matters. CED will launch a book drive and open a learning center. And CFAD will hold an art exhibit."

"I heard a chika na the CBA will open booths for our collegemates' businesses," Tabitha revealed, checking her nails while tossing glances at us. "Not sure if that's gonna be a concern sa 'tin kasi we already have invited businesses outside campus."

"This is the reason why we have to coordinate the efforts of every college." I clicked my tongue. Damn that Alaric the Prick! Hanggang sa campus fair, balak pa rin niya kaming bigyan ng sakit ng ulo. "We need to know how many business booths will be there so we can manage the foot traffic and see if there's going to be any competition."

"I heard from my sources that the CON will do free medical consultations while the CCJE will offer free legal consultations," Rowan shared. "Those are good initiatives kahit hindi pa sila fully nakikipag-cooperate sa atin."

"We just need to be properly informed of their plans," I said. "This is supposed to be a display of unity, not division. We can't let them do as they please dahil baka magkaroon ng conflict."

"That's a bit rich coming from you, Cas."

My gaze flickered to Rowan who let out a chuckle. Even Priam and Tabitha looked in his direction. He loved shooting funny side comments during meetings, so it was not strange to hear him do the same here. But the way he spat those words just a minute ago? I sensed some contempt.

"While waiting for all colleges to return to the fold, let's discuss another pressing issue," I said, scanning the table. "Veepstake."

"Hungry ka na ba, Cas?" agad na tanong ni Tabitha. "Puwede akong mag-order ng food if you want."

"Not beef steak. Veepstake, as in veep for vice president," I explained. "We need to find someone who's going to fill Val's shoes."

"Isn't that a bit soon?" Rowan asked. He reclined in his seat and locked his arms behind his head. "Ilang araw pa lang mula no'ng nag-resign si Val, 'tapos ngayon hahanapan na agad natin siya ng kapalit? Can't we just give it a few more days or weeks out of respect for her?"

"I agree, but time is of the essense," I countered, locking eyes with him. "Right now, Alaric is presiding over the LEXECOM sessions. Kung may agenda siyang gustong i-push, agad niyang magagawa 'yon dahil wala tayong representative doon na nagbabantay at haharang sa kaniya. We need to find a VP as soon as possible before Alaric makes any major move."

"Okay" was all Rowan replied. Something was a bit off about him today.

"May candidate ka na ba in mind?" tanong ni Tabitha.

"I don't have a candidate yet, but I do have a profile of who that person should be," I answered. "First, they must be from a college that can help us win reelection, just like Val who comes from CAMP. Second, they must be likeable enough to easily breeze through the confirmation hearing in the LEXECOM."

That's right. Whoever the candidate was, they would need to secure the approval of at least five out of nine chairpersons before they could officially assume the vice presidency. Ibig sabihin, hawak na naman ni Alaric the Prick ang magiging choice namin. It sucked big time that he was always involved in our every major move.

"Someone from SALVo will probably reach out to us soon to discuss the vacancy," I went on, glancing at the vacant chair on Priam's right. "We're currently allied with their party so they will surely want to have a say on our pick if we want our alliance to continue."

"Then just pick one of the SALVo chairpersons." Tabitha made a dismissive wave before looking at the time. "We done here? I have an appointment pa right after this."

Out of our four allied colleges—now down to three because CAS was being led by Alaric the Prick's pawn—only CAMP could meet the criteria that I mentioned. Kaya nga si Val ang kinuha kong runningmate ni Priam dahil malaki ang voter base ng college niya. I could recommend Avrille Mae for the vice presidency. But she was a graduating student, therefore she would not be there with us next year. She would only be a placeholder, and we might not need any placeholder at this point. We needed someone who could join us in this voyage until next academic year.

"Have you read The Herald's banner story today?" Rowan asked. "Almost half of the surveyed students say that Alaric is the best choice for the vice presidency. He has experience. He has the looks. He has charisma. Complete package."

"If we're going for a united government, offering the VP slot to Alaric seems to be a good political move," I replied with a slow nod. But those words almost made me puke. "We're going to run with a message of unity and tell everyone that the impeachment mess is right behind us now—"

"Alaric for VP? Are you two for real?" Tabitha slammed the conference table as she got up, her chair noisily scraping behind her. "He freaking tried to take out Priam and Val, and now you're thinking of opening the door for him and welcoming him with open arms? I swear, if he sets foot here and takes Val's chair, I'm gonna resign the next second!"

"I'm just kidding!" I held up both hands to calm her down. "Never in a million years will we offer anything to him voluntarily. Parang pinapasok natin ang magnanakaw sa sariling bahay natin para nakawan tayo. Should he become the VP, he will find a way to impeach Priam, assume the presidency, and kick us out of this office."

"But other student pubs are saying the same thing," Rowan added. "The unity angle is a tempting product that we can sell to the student body. They're gonna love it and buy it! Baka nga ma-recover pa natin ang nabawas na approval points ni Boss. Sometimes, you have to charm the snake in order to put up a good performance."

"That snake is venomous and is going to bite us back later on," I countered. "Taga-saang colleges ba ang mga naglabas n'on? They must have published those articles to condition the minds of some students that Alaric is the best choice and to pressure us to choose him over other candidates."

"Hey, I'm just a public relations guy." Rowan threw his hands in the air. "What do I know?"

"Can we suspend the discussion on the next VP?" Priam asked. "Let's talk about it again once we have solid options. Bring me a list of choices."

I had a candidate in mind, but I needed to consult that person first.

"If there's nothing else, this meeting is adjourned."

Everyone stood. I asked Tabitha to stay for a minute. She rolled her eyes and begrudgingly agreed. We waited for the rest to leave first.

"What is it, Cas?" she asked as soon as the door closed. "May hinahabol pa akong appointment this afternoon."

"You don't want Alaric to be the VP, right?" I sauntered to her seat, her gaze following me intently. My cane hitting the floor filled the silence in between. "What if you become the VP?"

Her brows almost formed a straight line as her eyes narrowed into slits. "Are you on drugs, Cas? You want me to be the VP?"

"You're from CBA." My right hand motioned to her while my left kept my cane steady. "Your college is Alaric's stronghold, but we can probably reduce his influence and steal some tigers from him."

"You know that the VP is also the LEXECOM person, right? I can't stand being in the same room as him. Baka mabato ko pa siya ng gavel."

"You won't see him every day. Just once every week. Puwede mo namang tiisin 'yon—"

"The answer is no. I'm already satisfied with being the treasurer. Masakit na nga sa ulo ang pagko-compute ng numbers at pagba-balance ng sheet natin. 'Tapos gusto mo pa na mas pasakitin ang ulo ko? No way!"

"Well, if not you then—"

"There are plenty of fish in the sea," she said as she stood. "I'm not the one you're looking for. Don't try bringing that up again. I will never ever change my mind."

She walked out of the aquarium, leaving me alone without even saying goodbye. Lumabas na rin ako, pero hindi ko na siya tinangkang habulin o pilitin. I was about to return to my cubicle when I saw Rowan in his area. Something about him bothered me today, so I decided to drop by.

"Rowan," I called him, "do you have a minute?"

"I'm a bit busy but I can spare our chief-of-staff a minute but not a second more." He raised his head with a forced smile plastered on his lips. "Ano'ng kailangan mo, Cas?"

Lumapit ako sa desk niya at umupo sa bakanteng upuan. I put my hands on top of my cane. "I'm not sure if it's just me, but your attitude toward me during the meeting earlier seemed to be a bit hostile. May problema ba tayo?"

He stared at my face for a few seconds before reclining his back against the chair. "I don't think so. Baka ikaw ang may problema sa 'kin?"

I shut my eyes for a second. He's trying to avoid the topic. "You can be honest with me, Rowan. Is something wrong? May kailangan ba tayong pag-usapan?"

"Okay." He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk, his monitor between us. "I feel bad about what happened to Val. I don't think that she deserved not only to resign, but to receive foul comments from some students."

"She wasn't supposed to resign—"

"I also don't think that I deserved to stand before a lectern and be bombarded with questions about a matter that I wasn't fully aware of," he cut my words short. "I understand why it had to be done, Cas. And I understand that you have your own way of doing stuff."

"That was a mistake on my part—"

"Maybe next time," he cut me again, "before you pull a stunt that can put us in a potential PR nightmare, let us know first so we can prepare a coordinated response. Hindi 'yong isang araw, may issue na biglang puputok, 'tapos wala kaming kaalam-alam. That caught us off guard."

"I apologize for the inconvenience that it has brought to our council. I promise not to do it again."

"Remember when we had a one-on-one conversation in the aquarium? You asked me what can make me flip," Rowan reminded me. I do remember. "I told you not to make me defend the indefensible. What you did and the fallout that followed were this close to being that."

"That's the last time, I swear."

"Now if you will excuse me, I have a media brief to finish."

I got to my feet and walked back to my cubicle. How many times should I tell people that I regretted being callous and reckless? How many times should I tell people that I tried to sacrifice myself for the greater good? Kailangan ko bang ipa-tattoo sa mukha ko para madali nilang maintindihan?

I lost Val. Tabitha was not cooperating. Rowan was upset with me. If this went on, I might lose control of this council. 

♔

NEXT UPDATE: On the way to a TV interview to promote their play, Fabienne will be joined by an unexpected person.