CASTIEL

A GOOD cup of African Sunrise Tea Latte was exactly what I needed after a hectic school day. Basta't perfect ang timpla—balanced ang sweetness at zest nito—kaya nitong i-cheer up at pakalmahin ang sarili ko. I had to be relaxed before meeting a very important person in this cafe. Who, you ask? Let's just say that she and her friends were integral partners.

"Sorry for making you wait, Cas," Avrille Mae Padilla greeted me as soon as she settled down in our booth. Suot niya ang puting uniform na may V-neck ng mga MedTech student. A nameplate was pinned on the right chest part. "I met with Elle first before meeting you here."

That's right. I was meeting with the esteemed CAMP-CSC chairperson. Valeria's sudden departure shook our alliance with her college and the SALVo party. If we were to counter Alaric the Prick's influence and if we wanted to secure reelection, we needed to maintain the bridge between us. This was going to be an uphill battle, and we could not win without CAMP and their allied colleges.

"Sorry kung um-order na ako ng drink," tugon ko bago muling uminom sa medyo lumamig nang cup ng African Sunrise. It still tastes good though. "By the way, this is a nice place. I wonder why hindi ko alam ang lugar na ito?"

"Most students prefer to chill at Astra Blend," she replied while combing her hair. "You always follow the trend kaya nami-miss n'yo ang ibang better options sa overhyped cafe na 'yon. Teka, order muna ako, ha?"

"Sure, go ahead."

She excused herself and went to the counter. I heard her order caramel macchiato.

I got two reasons for arranging a meeting with her. First, to secure our now shaky alliance. I needed to ensure that they would still stand with us. Second, to find a potential vice president pick for Priam. I asked Tabitha again to reconsider my offer, but she only showed me her hand. Wala akong choice kundi humanap ng ibang candidate. Where else to look than at our allies?

"I'm kinda wondering why two USC officers want to meet with me," Avrille said upon returning to our booth. "I admit, I'm a bit flattered."

My eyes blinked. "Two?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "Priam also reached out to me and asked if I can meet him. We're going to meet tomorrow morning."

"Priam?" I averted my gaze for a second. Inalala ko kung may nabanggit ba siya sa akin kanina o noong isang araw. He would have told me if he had made such arrangement, but he did not. Or maybe he forgot?

"Why? Hindi mo alam? I thought you're here to sweet-talk me first, then he will swoop in and formalize whatever we discuss today."

Napakamot ako ng ulo. I swear, Priam never told me anything about meeting with her. If he did, I would not have come here at all. Or I would have persuaded him to leave the matter to me. Gusto kong mag-focus siya sa campus fair at ipagkatiwala sa akin ang mga bagay na hindi na niya kailangang problemahin. I was the one who brokered the alliance between us and SALVo after all.

"To be honest, I don't know why Priam wants to speak with you," I told her. Admitting it would make me look uninformed, but it was better to be honest than lie. "However, I can assure you that I'm here on behalf of the USC to discuss a pressing matter."

"Our alliance?" A smile curled on Avrille's lips. "Actually, I've been waiting for your message. Akala ko'y nakalimutan n'yo na kami. Magtatampo na sana ako. Mabuti't hindi ko na kinailangang mag-reach out sa inyo."

Right now, Avrille and her allies in SALVo had the upper hand. We needed them more than they needed us. They could dissolve their alliance and give us headaches for the rest of our term. Or they could ease the burden of pushing our agenda in the LEXECOM and block the attempts of the other party.

"As you know, Val is no longer with us and the USC is without a vice president." She was fully aware of those facts, but I still stated the obvious. "Alaric is doing as he pleases in LEXECOM as chair pro tempore, and we can't let him get what he wants. Since we're allies, we want to offer your party the VP slot. Preferably someone from CAMP, like Val—"

Nahinto ako nang lumapit sa amin ang barista at inihatid ang iced caramel macchiato na in-order ng kausap ko. Avrille thanked him before taking a sip. It made her smile a bit wider. Hinintay ko munang namnamin niya ang kaniyang inumin.

"Sorry, where were we?" she asked before her face lit up. Binuksan niya ang kaniyang bag at may kinuhang kapirasong papel mula sa loob. She placed it on the table and slid it across to me. "I knew you would ask, kaya nag-prepare na ako ng list. You can find three names there that we strongly believe are qualified to be next VP."

I unfolded the piece of paper and read the three names in silence. Only one of these names sounded familiar to me. I wished that we could choose someone whose name would immediately ring a bell. Inilabas ko ang aking phone, kinunan ng picture ang listahan, at sinend sa kakilala ko gamit ang messaging app.

Desiree Ortega
Lavinia Esquivel
Imelda Fajardo

"Desiree is my secretary and one of my possible successors. Lavinia is the president of the MedTech Society. Imelda is the vice president of the Junior Pharmacists Association," Avrille introduced them to me. "They all have expressed intention to accept the VP nomination should you choose any of them."

"Your name is not here. You don't want it?"

"Nah! Satisfied na akong maging CSC chairperson hanggang gumraduate. I've never aimed for a higher office anyway. But those three? They're super interested."

Can I trust any of them? Maybe I had to plan an escape route. Just in case.

"That's good to hear." I nodded as I folded the piece of paper. "I appreciate your effort in coming up with a list, but I have to let you know that we reserve the right to consider or neglect any or all of the names here. Of course, our first priority is to consider—"

"No."

"No?" My left brow inched upward.

"That's the only list where you're going to choose your next VP from," Avrille said with a threatening tone and stare. She pressed her forefinger on the paper. "If you choose someone else over those three names, our alliance is over. Have I made myself clear?"

I leaned my back against the chair, my gaze lingering on her. "I didn't expect you to be this assertive."

"You don't like me being this assertive?" She rested her forearms on the table and leaned closer to me. "I'm only looking after the interest of my college and my party. You might pull a fast one on me kaya kailangan ko ng assurance na susunod ka sa pinag-uusapan natin dito."

If only we could nominate her as VP, she would have been a better option than the three names on the list. But she was a graduating student, and she wished to finish her term as CSC chairperson. We could not and should not give the spot to someone who was not hungry for it.

"Do I have your word, Cas? Or do we have to break our alliance now?"

I drew in a sharp breath. "You're driving a hard bargain here, Avi."

"You're the one begging for a deal with us. Take it or leave it." She smirked before taking a sip from her drink again.

I looked away and let out a sigh. "Fine, you have our word. I will give this list to Priam and ask him to choose among these three hopefuls."

"Speaking of Priam," she put her cup down, "my party is interested in knowing kung gusto n'yo bang sumali sa amin. Since we're allies and we will continue being allies, why don't we make it official? Join SALVo. After all, we have the same enemy."

Bahagya akong natawa. "The election is still, what, five months away? Masyado pang maaga para pag-usapan 'yan."

She stretched her lips into a forced smile. "Don't bullshit me, Cas. Alam kong nagpe-prepare na kayo ngayon pa lang para sa reelection ni Priam."

"What if we are?"

"We want to know as early as now if we're going to face off with you in the next election." She shook the contents of her cup gently. "I'm assuming that Priam and Val only ran as independents because our party already had a ticket. We don't want a repeat of the 2021 elections, and we also don't want to split the votes. After all, our party and yours share the same political beliefs. More freedom to the students. Fewer restrictions when it comes to university grants and services. In comparison, AEGIS is more conservative."

"Priam and I will have to discuss that." I held up the list. "Let's take one battle at a time, shall we? For now, we will choose our next VP."

"We? You mean he?"

"Of course. I was only speaking in a collective sense."

I excused myself before getting up with the help of my cane and exited the cafe. Nagmadali akong bumalik sa USC office para ibalita agad ang pinag-usapan namin. I could have messaged or called Priam, but I preferred discussing it in person. May tanong din ako sa kaniya na gusto kong sagutin niya sa akin nang personal.

Pagpasok sa office, nilagpasan ko ang cubicle ni Rowan na abala sa pagta-type. Our relationship had become sour since Val's resignation, but he managed to be professional toward me when it came to council work. Dati'y binabati niya ako. Ngayo'y tumatango o binabato niya na lamang ako ng tingin.

Nilagpasan ko rin ang cubicle ni Tabitha na bakante. She must be in a coffee shop with her fellow tigers. Nai-submit na niya ang budget request para sa campus fair kaya wala na siyang dapat gawin dito sa office. She also probably did not want to see me since I might pester her again about the VP nomination.

Pumasok ako sa cubicle ni Sabrina na nire-review ang ilang files na naka-folder. I knocked on the wing panel first to get her attention. Agad na umangat ang tingin niya sa akin.

"Did you receive my—"

"Here." I was not finished with my sentence yet, but she quickly grabbed and handed me three sheets of paper. Bawat papel ay may naka-print na photo sa upper right corner at naka-bullet points na detalye sa body nito.

"Thank you." I skimmed through each page. These were the profiles of the three VP nominees from CAMP. Nang ibigay ni Avrille ang listahan sa akin kanina, kinunan ko ng retrato 'yon at sinend kay Sab para makapagsagawa siya ng background check. We had to vet every person that we would invite on board. "Anything interesting?"

"None," she answered. "Wala ni isa sa kanila ang involved sa kahit anong isyu o controversy. They're clean."

"Good." I bobbed my head twice. Even if I was reluctant to choose one of them, at the very least, the nomination would not land us in any trouble. "SALVo must have vetted them before putting their names on the list. Thank you, Sab."

I made an about-face turn and was about to leave her cubicle. But I remembered something, so I came to a halt and turned to her again.

"May kailangan ka pa ba, Cas?" tanong niya.

"We're good, right?" I asked her back. "Wala ka namang issue sa akin?"

She shook her head slowly. Masyadong firm ang reaction niya kaya masasabi kong hindi siya napilitang gano'n ang isagot sa akin. I could not afford to lose control of more pieces in the council. Rowan was disappointed in me. Tabitha was uncontrollable. If our secretary had any issue with me, that might pose a problem.

Luckily, she did not have any. "Thank you again, Sab."

Tuluyan na akong tumalikod at lumabas ng cubicle niya. Nilagpasan ko ang aking cubicle, 'tapos sandali akong nahinto nang madaanan ang cubicle ni Val. It was still empty. But soon, one of these three names would occupy that desk. Tumuloy na ako sa cubicle ng USC president. Nadatnan ko siyang nagbabasa ng kaniyang notes habang mabagal na sinu-swivel ang upuan niya.

"Knock! Knock!" I imitated the sound as I knocked on the air.

"Cas?" Priam raised his gaze. He pulled his chair closer to his desk and put down his notes. "How did your meeting go?"

I showed him the sheets of paper in my hand before laying them flat on his table. "Avi gave us three nominees. Gusto niyang isa sa mga 'yan ang piliin natin bilang VP mo. If we choose someone else, they will break our alliance."

He grabbed the candidate profiles and checked them one by one. "Anyone who jumped out at you?"

"I only know Desiree since she's part of CAMP-CSC, but I don't know her that well," I answered. "Whoever we choose, we're going to take a risk on that person."

"I'm going to announce my VP pick tomorrow at lunchtime." He tossed the papers to the file rack and resumed reading his notes. Hinintay ko kung may idaragdag pa siya, ngunit nanatili siyang tahimik. That's it?

"Tomorrow at lunchtime?" I repeated with squinted eyes. "Are you sure you want to make that big decision in less than, what, twenty hours? Ayaw mo munang pag-isipan nang maigi?"

He lowered his notes so I could catch his gaze. "You told us that time is of the essence and we cannot let Alaric preside over the LEXECOM any longer. That's why I'm making the decision as soon as possible."

"If that's what you think is best." I was about to turn around, but then I remembered another thing. "By the way, nabanggit ni Avi sa 'kin na makikipag-meet ka rin sa kaniya bukas. May I know why?"

"I want to give her my personal assurance that we are committed to maintaining and even strengthening our alliance with them," Priam answered. "Mas mabuti kung manggagaling mismo 'yon sa USC president. Why? Do you think it's a bad idea?"

"No, no." My head shook. "Maganda ngang mag-reach out ka sa kanila para makita nila ang commitment natin. A personal touch will go a long way. But... I hoped that you had told me para hindi ako clueless."

"Sorry. It is not my intention to leave you in the dark. It must have slipped my mind." He closed his notebook and placed it on the table. Tumayo na siya at isinuot niya ang kaniyang maroon blazer. "Do we still have anything to discuss? Magkikita kami ni Yen ngayon."

"That's all."

"See you later in the apartment."

He smoothed his blazer before walking past me. I watched him as he crossed the lounge and went outside. My gaze then bounced around the room.

I was not sure what exactly it was, but something did not feel quite right in this office. Parang ang dami at ang laki na ng ipinagbago mula nang umalis si Val. Or maybe it was just me.

THE NEXT day, I rushed to the USC office after my Industrial Psychology subject. Nadatnan ko si Priam at ang iba pang mga officer na nag-uusap sa cubicle ng PIO namin. They all turned in my direction when I entered the room.

"Cas, you're almost late," Priam greeted me. "But I'm glad you made it in time. I want everyone to be there once I make the announcement. To show solidarity and to welcome my VP nominee."

"So who's the lucky girl?" My gaze hopped around my colleagues. "Is it going to be Desiree, Lavinia, or Imelda?"

"Don't bother, Cas." Tabitha rolled her eyes. "Kanina pa kami nag-a-ask, pero ayaw i-reveal ni Priam sa 'min. At least, I know it's not gonna be me. What a terrible choice that will be."

She's not the best choice, but she can make do.

"I want you all to be as surprised as everyone else in the room," Priam explained. Nabaling ang tingin niya sa bawat isa sa amin. "Ready na ba tayong lahat?"

Sabay-sabay kaming tumango. Let's get this over with.

"Let's go, then."

Sabay-sabay kaming lumabas ng USC office at naglakad patungo sa media room kung saan nakaabang na ang mga reporter. I saw Avrille standing on the sidelines with her arms folded. Mukhang excited din siyang malaman kung sino sa tatlong napili niya ang susunod naming VP.

I also saw Ambrielle and Reynard of The Herald seated next to each other. Wait, Reynard? Napaisip ako kung bakit nandito ang lalaking 'yon. Then I realized that whoever the VP pick was, she would be the one to preside over LEXECOM—which happened to be his beat.

Pagtapak sa entablado, napangiwi ako nang biglang sumakit ang binti ko. I roamed my eyes and searched for the source of the pain: Alaric the Prick. What's he doing here? Umaasa ba siyang siya ang pipiliin ni Priam bilang VP? Well, he must be dreaming.

Rowan stood before the lectern while the rest of us stood behind him. Natuon sa kaniya ang bawat pares ng mga mata sa media room. All reporters settled down and prepared their devices for reporting.

"Good morning, Elysians! Thank you for coming today," Rowan greeted the members of the campus press. "Alam kong gutom na kayo dahil malapit nang mag-alas-dose kaya hindi ko na kayo masyadong paghihintayin pa. Let me call on our USC President Priam Torres for his important announcement."

Nagpalakpakan ang ilan sa mga reporter at ang ilan sa mga student-leader na in attendance. Our PIO stepped aside and beckoned the president to take the stage.

"Good morning," Priam greeted, clutching the edges of the lectern. "It's been a week since the resignation of former USC vice president Valeria Encarnacion. Since then, there have been rumors about who's going to take her place. If I'm going to be honest, no one can fill the shoes that she has left in the USC."

My eyes looked down. If she were watching or listening, she would have been touched by that line. She would have been here instead of me if she had not made a huge sacrifice. But the past is the past. Now, we had to play the cards that we were dealt with.

"Today, I have made an important decision," Priam went on. "After careful consideration, I have decided to nominate a vice president who can work together with me and the USC, and hopefully with the CSC chairpersons in the LEXECOM. Someone who can be my crutch during trying times. And that person... is none other than Castiel Seville, chief-of-staff of the USC."

My eyes went wide. My mouth hung open. What?!

Did I hear him right? Did he mention my name?

No, he did not just mention my name. He said it in the same breath as the phrase vice president.

Everyone tossed me a glance as they clapped in unison. Even Avrille and Alaric the Prick were clapping for me. Am I just dreaming? Talaga bang ako ang pinili ni Priam?

"Congratulations, Cas," bulong ni Tabitha sa akin. "And good luck."

"Cas," Priam called as he beckoned me. "Join me here."

I limped my way toward the lectern. Kahit suportado ako ng aking walking cane, muntik na akong ma-out of balance papunta roon. Biglang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko. I did not see this coming.

"Priam, there must be some sort of mistake," I whispered to the president when we stood next to each other, wary that the microphone might pick up my voice. "I told you to pick one of those three names—"

"We will talk about it later," he cut me short.

I should be flattered. I should be honored. But I could not feel that way. This was a bad sign, not only for me, but for the USC as well.

My grip on my cane was tight. But my grip on the council? I was losing it.

♔

NEXT UPDATE: Why him?