ALARIC

IT WOULD take considerable courage for someone to admit defeat. Given my recent fall from grace and the outcome of the USC presidential elections, many might argue that I had suffered a significant loss—and that I was the biggest loser of the year. But what they failed to realize was that, win or lose, I could claim victory either way. It's akin to betting on the top two horses in a race. There was no scenario where I could be truly beaten.

I know. This might sound confusing to those not privy to the behind-the-scenes machinations. I would not be surprised if someone suggested that I was under some sort of delusion.

As much as possible, I strived not to lose. I was born that way, and I intended to keep it that way.

Standing near the rooftop's edge, I overlooked students seated in the campus quadrangle. For years, I had always taken this view for granted. But today, I savored every moment. This might well be my last sight of Elysian University.

"If you're contemplating jumping and pinning your death on me, I strongly advise against it."

Footsteps and clacks echoed across the rooftop. Finally, he's here. I glanced over my shoulder.

"Firstly, only fools would believe that I, a cripple, pushed you, an able-bodied man, off the rooftop," Castiel Seville said, limping toward me. "Secondly, you're far too conceited to take your own life."

I turned to face him and approached. "Thank you for coming. I was afraid you wouldn't show up. Must be busy with the transition."

"Normally, I would not bother, especially for you," he replied, stopping in the center. "But I couldn't resist seeing your loser face and rubbing it in. I've always wanted to wipe that smug look off your face."

Meeting him in the middle, a confident smirk crossed my lips. "Then why am I still looking so smug?"

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo, eh," he snapped. "Talo ka na nga, ikaw pa ang may lakas ng loob na mukhang magyabang."

"But have I truly lost?" I tilted my head. "Am I really the loser here?"

He squinted at me, seemingly unable to comprehend. "I honestly don't care about you, but just this once, get help. You're detached from reality. Hindi magandang senyales 'yan. Baka nasisiraan ka na ng bait."

I slid my hands into my pockets and began to pace slowly around him. For a moment, I avoided meeting his gaze. "Remember our last conversation in the LEXECOM office?"

He followed my movements closely, his expression guarded. "Of course. I offered you a way out, and you refused. Now, you're facing the consequences. Your reputation is tarnished. You lost the election. You resigned from the CSC. Nagtataka nga ako kung saan ka humuhugot ng lakas ng loob at kapal ng mukha para magpakita rito sa campus."

"Consequences?" A chuckle escaped me. "You think what happened to me are consequences of my actions?"

"What else could they be?" He sounded incredulous.

I stopped abruptly with my back turned to him. "What you call consequences, I call conditions met."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" His voice betrayed confusion.

"Remember when I asked you a question?" I glanced back at him over my shoulder. "About how you would feel if you found out one day that you're part of something much larger?"

"I do remember, but I fail to see the relevance."

I turned around to face him directly. "The success of your plan is the success of my plan. Well, one of my two plans, to be more specific."

IT WAS undeniable that I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. Being part of the Eliseo family was a like possessing a key that could open many locked doors. Some would envy the privilege I lived with, viewing it as luck of birth. But few understood the sacrifices required to maintain it.

As an Eliseo, expectations were predetermined for me. I had to excel academically, participate actively in extracurriculars, and cultivate connections with peers born into similar privilege.

"Alaric, you must rank in the top five of your class. You can't bring shame to our family."

"Alaric, take on leadership roles in school. Show them natural leadership runs in the Eliseo blood."

"Alaric, stay away from those who aren't as privileged. Make friends with those beneficial for our business."

From elementary through junior high, I followed my grandfather's directives. While my family name opened doors, its weight became a burden as I pursued my own aspirations. He was the general, I was a soldier obeying orders. My father passed when I was seven, and my mother, afflicted by a degenerative disease, couldn't intervene.

Thus, my teenage life was under my grandfather's chokehold.

When I reached senior high, I discovered something that ignited a passion within me, something not on my grandfather's list of orders: basketball. I found joy and camaraderie in the game. There I met Michelangelo who saw my potential as a professional player someday.

"Gusto mo bang maging team captain, 'Ric? Sa tangkad mong 'yan at sa galing mong tumira, mukhang magtsa-champion na ang team natin this year!"

I was thrilled not just because I might lead the team, but because I almost earned something due to my talents—not my family name. In basketball, being an Eliseo meant nothing if I couldn't shoot or dribble. Michelangelo and the team made me feel I was one of them, that I was their equal.

For a brief time, I was truly happy. After almost two decades of feeling like I was under a constant rain cloud, I had found my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Then came the storm.

"What's the meaning of this, Alaric? You're wasting your time with basketball?"

"But Lolo, I enjoy playing with the team. I might even lead us to the championship—"

"Apo, do you think playing that sport will bring a substantial return on your investment of time and effort? Do you think it has a future?"

"I feel... genuinely happy."

"Happiness... is that all?"

"I could go pro—"

"An Eliseo being a professional basketball player? Haha! You're young and naive, Apo. Leave that team and focus on being a student leader. That has a much higher ROI."

In a rare moment of defiance, I stood my ground. There was no way I would easily give something that brought me happiness. I stayed on the team and kept on playing. But I soon learned that my grandfather wasn't finished with me or my dreams—no matter how frivolous they seemed to him.

"Alaric, I'm sorry, but we have to let you go from the team."

"What?! Pero coach, may mali ba sa performance ko? May dapat bang baguhin sa gameplay ko?"

"It's not about your performance. Someone higher up wants you off the team. If I don't comply, babawasan nila ang funding para sa basketball program natin."

With one phone call, my grandfather crushed my dreams. I realized then that my surname—and being born into this family—was more of a curse than a blessing. I felt like a character in a play, constrained by a rigid script. Any deviation was swiftly quashed by the director—my grandfather.

But his iron fist only fueled my rebellion. When I graduated senior high from the secondary school owned by my family, I decided to break free from the predetermined path. I was expected to attend Elysian University—also owned by my family—but I applied to other universities instead. I spent weeks preparing for their entrance exams, hoping to liberate myself from the shackles my grandfather had placed upon me.

But I was wrong.

"The Committee regrets to inform you that we will not able to offer you admission in the upcoming academic year..."

"The admission committee has met and we're sorry to inform you that we are not able to admit you to our university..."

Despite my efforts to break free from my grandfather's influence and carve out my own path, all the universities I applied to rejected me. Yes, all of them. At the time, it felt like the universe was conspiring with my grandfather in keeping me within his sphere. I did not have any proof that he had anything to do with the rejections. But given his influence—he was a close friend of a former Philippine president from Pampanga—it was not too far-fetched.

Thus, I reluctantly enrolled at Elysian University. Determined to distance myself from my family name, I opted to use my middle name, Esteban, instead of Eliseo. Aside from those who knew me from childhood, I kept my family ties a secret. Any achievements I earned at this university, I wanted to earn on merit alone, not through nepotism or connections.

College offered a taste of freedom, but I still found myself following a script—maintaining a good public image, gaining experience, and networking strategically. I became so adept at playing this role that I almost forgot my longing to break free from my grandfather's control.

Then, a chance encounter with my grandfather's former assistant shattered my complacency.

"You must make the best out of your college years, Sir Alaric. You'll miss it once you graduate."

"I'd probably enjoy it more if I got into one of the Big Four universities and escaped my Lolo's reach. And please, huwag mo na akong tawaging Sir."

"Sayang. Kung hindi ipinaharang ng lolo mo ang iyong mga application, baka nasa ibang university ka na ngayon. Baka nga naglalaro ka na sa varsity team nila."

The revelation ignited a fury within me. I had never been that furious at my grandfather. I had suspected it all along, but having my suspicions confirmed cut me so deeply. After my dinner with his former employee, I hopped into my car and raced home, only to find myself in a nightmarish situation.

My car suddenly accelerated, and the brake malfunctioned. I tried to avoid three pedestrians, but I lost control and caused a serious accident.

Crash.

"What on earth were you doing, Alaric? Do you realize the trouble you've caused? You hit two pedestrians—one is in a coma and the other has a leg injury!"

"Don't worry about it, Lolo. I'm taking responsibility for the accident."

"Can you hear yourself, Apo? If you turn yourself in, you will bring shame not just to yourself, but to our entire family. I've spent decades building our legacy, and I won't let you ruin it in one reckless night!"

"But, Lolo—"

"I will take care of it as I always have. I will arrange for the victims' family to sign NDAs and waivers. I will also offer them a generous settlement they won't easily refuse."

For the second time in my life, I defied my grandfather. I headed to the police station and turned myself in. I spent what felt like an eternity in the cold, sterile holding area—an ironic kind of freedom from my grandfather's control. Then, someone entered.

"Sir Alaric, your grandfather sent me to pick you up."

"Pick me up? I'm turning myself in, attorney."

"Apologies, Officer. My client is in shock after the accident. He's not thinking clearly. On behalf of the Eliseo family, I apologize for the inconvenience."

I did not want to escape accountability, but my grandfather did it for me without my consent. My family name and connections handed me a get-out-of-jail card, and it sickened me.

"If you don't want me to turn myself in, I'll post it on social media. Everyone will know what happened."

"Are you sure about that, Apo? Once you do, you will be in a dirty cell... and your mother will stop getting her treatments. She will pass away without you by her side. Is that what you want?"

He did not say it outright, but I read between the lines. My choice would impact not just me, but the person I cared about the most. He ensured any misstep on my part would result in severe consequences.

My grandfather did not need a whip to control me. All he needed was a leash long enough to make me believe I had freedom.

"Tomorrow, use the other car. Act like nothing happened. I have pulled all the strings to ensure the accident won't make the news. Do you understand, Apo?"

"Yes, Lolo."

"One more thing. Don't do anything reckless that will disgrace our family name again."

Like a dutiful soldier, I obeyed. I smiled, chatted, and laughed as if everything was normal. But inside, I was consumed by guilt and shame. Then, I saw one of the two victims on campus, limping with a cane. For a moment there, I considered disobeying my grandfather's orders. I wanted to approach that person and apologize for what happened.

But his eyes shot daggers at me. I saw in him the unquellable anger and the insatiable thirst for vengeance. If glares could kill, he would have murdered me right then and there. Even if he wanted to scream at me and expose me, the NDAs and waivers silenced him.

We could offer him all the treasures in the world, but nothing could soothe the rage in his heart.

That's when an idea dawned on me. For a while, I had been holding a gun in my hand. My finger was itching to pull the trigger, but I could not find the courage to do it. So what if I let someone else do it for me? Someone who would stop at nothing to get the justice that my family had robbed them of.

Since then, I had been taunting that person at every opportunity possible. He was a raging fire, and I had to ensure that he would grow until he was big and dangerous enough to burn down the House of Eliseo. Every move and every trick I pulled—they served as coal to be shoved into the bonfire of vengeance that was Castiel Seville.

The car accident and the subsequent cover-up intertwined my fate with my grandfather's. If Castiel could take me down using the silver bullet of truth, he would also deal a heavy blow to my grandfather. He could accomplish what I had failed to do myself.

And who knows? He might be able to bring down the empire and claim the justice he and his family had always deserved.

"WHAT?" Castiel scrunched his forehead, furrowing his brows deeply. A hint of disbelief crossed his face. "Are you trying to tell me that you've been a good guy all along? That you're one of us? 'Yon ba ang sinasabi ng mga delusyon mo?"

Called it. I had been waiting for him to say that word: delusion.

"I won't claim that I'm a good guy. I have done things that disqualify me from being considered as one," I explained as I closed the distance between us. Our eyes locked in a tense stare. "If you're going to call me evil, I'd say I'm a necessary evil."

He scoffed at first, then burst into laughter. I maintained my smile as I waited for him to finish.

"My goodness! You need to seek professional help as soon as possible!" he said in a mocking tone. "You've lost almost everything. You can't live with that fact, so you're trying to twist the narrative to suit your fantasies! Hindi mo ako maloloko, Alaric. Huwag mo nang tangkaing i-justify ang mga kagaguhan mo."

"Aren't you wondering why we didn't pursue any legal action when you violated the NDA?" I reminded him. "Because I deliberately asked my grandfather and our lawyers not to. You and your family would have been in big trouble if we did."

"Huwag mong palabasin na utang na loob ko 'yon sa 'yo! You didn't retaliate legally because you were scared it would only make your situation much worse!"

"If I were the monster you think I am, wouldn't it be more in character for me to drag you down with me?" I asked, as if posing a riddle. "If I were a monster, do you think I would let my opponent walk away unscathed?"

"Then you must have made a strategic blunder—"

"When your sister unfortunately passed away, who do you think sent those funeral wreaths?" I continued. "Who do you think convinced my grandfather—who did everything to distance our family from yours—to personally attend your sister's burial and expose him a bit?"

"You prick did?"

"Two reasons," I replied, raising two fingers. "First, to send my condolences and pay my respects in person to your sister. Second, to remind you and my grandfather of my family's sin."

"You... Why are you..."

"After your sister's death—"

"SHE HAS A NAME! YOU BETTER NOT FORGET IT, YOU KILLER."

"After Cassidy's death, I knew it was only a matter of time before you dropped the bombshell about the car accident," I recounted calmly. "You even tried to expose me during one of your press briefings. But you got interrupted, then disappeared for a while. Weeks later, you left me with no choice but to expose Oplan First Lady earlier than scheduled, hoping for your retaliation sooner. But you took your time."

"Are you seriously suggesting—"

"Aren't you wondering why I didn't make a serious effort to counter your exposé about me?" I cut him off. "I could have found two or three ways to soften the impact of your revelation. But I chose not to. Deliberately."

"Because you knew you were losing the election anyway."

"No," I countered. "It's because I've already accomplished what I set out to accomplish. My grandfather will soon be voted out of the university board, then the foundation. Some local newspapers and TV shows saw the writing on the wall and released stories about the cover-up."

Castiel stared at the floor for a full minute, clearly struggling to process everything I had revealed to him. Despite his incredible foresight and hindsight, he likely hadn't anticipated this turn of events. Ultimately, we were both heading toward the same destination but by different routes.

"I won't ask for your forgiveness because I don't deserve it," I told him sincerely. "But I want to thank you for everything you've done."

"Do you think I'll believe a single word that came out of your mouth, huh?!" he roared, his nostrils flaring. "Sa tingin mo ba'y gano'n ako katanga at kauto-uto para paniwalaan ang gaya mo?!"

"Whether you believe me or not is entirely up to you. I've only told you my truth. How you deal with it is your responsibility."

"Bakit kailangan mo pang sabihin ang lahat ng 'to sa 'kin? Gusto mo bang kaawaan kita? Gusto mo bang palabasin na biktima ka rin ng privilege mo? Gusto mo bang mabawasan ang guilt na nararamdaman mo?"

"You don't have to worry about my guilt." I turned my back to him, pausing as the wind blew strongly around us, enveloping us in silence. "I'm going to turn myself in today... for the death of Cassidy Seville."

"What?!" His jaw dropped.

This was the final domino that needed to fall. Exposing me and my sin was not enough. There had to be atonement on my part, and this was it. I wished Cassidy hadn't passed away, but since it had come to this point, I must face the music. And I would, willingly.

Besides being my punishment, it would also serve another purpose. The Eliseo family name would take more hits once the local media caught wind of my detention. The legacy my grandfather had built over the decades was now crumbling, ironically thanks to his attempt to protect it by allowing me to escape accountability.

"I wish you and the USC success."I waved my left hand without looking back at Castiel. "Unfortunately, nextacademic year won't be as exciting without me."

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