FABIENNE
VALERIA'S RESIGNATION was super unexpected! Busy akong nagre-review ng script nang ibalita sa 'kin ng Belle ang latest happening sa impeachment trial. I didn't wanna stress myself so much kaya pinili ko munang umiwas makasagap ng balita. Palagi ko ngang pinapatay ang phone ko kapag rehearsal na. I didn't wanna be distracted while delivering my lines. Baka kung ano pa ang biglang lumabas sa bibig ko. But a news that shocking was hard to ignore.
You know what's much more super unexpected? A call from a certain someone! Saktong-sakto pagkatapos ng rehearsal namin, matapos kong kunin ang phone ko mula sa bag na nasa locker, paulit-ulit 'tong nag-ring. Nag-flash sa screen ang isang unknown number.
Na-tempt akong i-ignore o i-reject ang call. But a part of me was curious kung sino ang tumatawag. Who knows? Baka opportunity 'to mula sa isang artist center.
"Hello?" sagot ko pag-tap sa answer call key. "May I know who's calling?"
"Fabienne? This is Valeria from USC. I got your number from the scholarship form you filled out before. Is this a good time?"
V-Valeria? Karirinig ko pa lang ng pasabog niya sa impeachment hearing, 'tapos ngayon kausap ko na siya? This was a surprise . . . and unusual.
"Sino 'yan, Fab?" kunot-noong tanong ni Belle habang inaayos ang gamit niya. "Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?"
I shook my head and smiled at her para ipakitang walang problema. 'Di basta-basta tatawag ang kagaya ni Valeria sa 'kin para mangumusta. My instinct told me to quietly leave the backstage para walang maka-overhear sa sasabihin niya sa 'kin.
"Katatapos pa lang ng rehearsals namin," sagot ko. "Mabuti't napatawag ka?"
"Katatapos lang din ng meeting namin sa USC. I thought of calling you to . . . sorry, I'm not exactly sure why. But I want to have a quick word with you. Just so we're on the same page."
"Go ahead. I'm listening." Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad sa hallway. Dahil walang ibang kuwarto sa part na 'to maliban sa rehearsals, props, at costume room, wala masyadong estudyante na dumaraan dito.
"Have you read or heard what happened in the hearing today?"
Napatango ako kahit wala siya sa harapan ko. "Yes. I'm sorry to hear about your resignation."
"Don't be sorry for me. I only did what I thought was best for the USC. And for Priam."
Nakapaninibago ang tono ni Valeria sa call. Dati'y napaka-hostile ng approach niya pagdating sa 'kin. Ngayo'y ramdam ko na humbled siya sa pagka-mellow ng kaniyang boses. May times na nagkasagutan kami noon. 'Di naging maganda ang simula at takbo ng relationship namin dahil sa feelings niya kay Priam. She saw me as a threat. I didn't see her that way.
"Do you know the truth about the Chevy incident?"
"Yes, Yam told me."
Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa kabilang linya. I checked my screen. Naka-connect pa naman ang tawag.
"He must trust you so much. There's no need for you to know our unfortunate situation, yet he shared it with you."
For that, I was grateful. Si Priam ang tipo ng tao na 'di mahilig mag-open up sa iba o mag-share ng kinakaharap niyang problema. Kung nagawa niyang i-share 'yon sa 'kin, ibig sabihi'y natitibag na ang pader sa pagitan naming dalawa. Well, baka nga tuluyang natibag na, eh.
"I don't know what's the real score between you and Priam. 'Di ko alam kung uma-acting pa ba kayo o talagang may namumuo na sa inyo—"
"We're just doing what friends do—"
"—and I know na complicated ang relasyon natin. I may have gone too far with what I said about you and what I did to you. It's clear to me that he values you a lot. You're more than just a tool to improve his image and his chance at reelection."
Kumunot ang noo ko sa huling sinabi niya. Okay na sana, eh. Ang pangit pakinggan ng tool.
"Despite our differences, I believe we can agree on one thing—Priam deserves to remain as USC president. Am I right?"
"Yes. He deserves his position and he doesn't deserve this treatment."
"That's why I took responsibility for the Chevy incident and resigned. In order to protect him. Ayaw kong ibigay ang burden na 'to sa 'yo. Pero sana'y willing ka ring gawin ang lahat para protektahan siya. Normally, he doesn't need protection. But this situation is different. Masyadong overwhelming ang ordeal na 'to para sa kanya."
"Of course." Muli kong tinanguhan ang hangin. Huminto ako sa gitna ng open-air hallway at dumungaw mula ro'n. "Basta nasa tama si Yam, willing akong depensahan siya. Medyo nahirapan lang ako ngayon dahil sa restrictions sa 'kin. But I found a workaround."
"That's good to hear. I won't be in the USC anymore to advise him and protect him from his enemies. But I will still be helping them from the outside sa abot ng aking makakaya. Whatever's going on between the two of you, I hope you will always be there for him."
"Don't worry, I will be."
"Once you find the opportunity to speak up, just play along with my narrative. Pin the blame on me and defend him as fiercely as you can. Ayaw ni Priam na madamay ka sa gulong 'to, but we need you to boost the student body's support for him. If things don't go well in the trial, that's the only way he can retain his position."
"Got it."
"And Fab, before I go, I want to say sorry for how I treated you and what I said to you the past few months. You didn't deserve any of them. Please accept my apology."
"Apology accepted." Kahit nasaktan ako at nainis ako sa kaniya, sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang paghingi niya ng paumanhin? 'Di ko alam kung ano ang nakain niya o ano ang na-realize niya sa nagdaang weeks para maging ganito ang approach niya sa 'kin. Pero honestly? Mas gusto kong umayos ang pakikitungo namin sa isa't isa.
"I have to go now. Thank you for your time, Fab. Good luck."
"Thank you rin, Val."
Ibinaba na niya ang tawag. Sandali akong natulala sa mga punong tanaw ko mula rito sa hallway. Naalala ko no'ng nakasalubong namin ni Priam si Valeria na paalis ng USC office matapos ang exposé livestream ni Rey. Namumugto ang mga mata niya at mukhang katatapos lang umiyak. Maybe she got the wrong idea about our unscripted kiss? And maybe that wrong idea eventually humbled her?
Bumalik na ako sa backstage at kinuha ang aking bag. Nagpaalam na akong mauuna sa fellow actors at crew, lalo na kina Belle at Colin. We exchanged "see you tomorrow" bago ako tuluyang lumabas.
As expected, may nakaabang na entertainment reporters sa labas ng auditorium. Alam na nila ang rehearsal schedule namin kaya alam na nila kung kailan mag-a-ambush interview. Because of recent developments, I was no longer prohibited to speak up my mind in front of them. Pero siyempre, maingat pa rin ako sa mga sinasabi ko lalo na't ayaw ko ring magalit o madismaya sa 'kin ang aming publicity manager.
"Fabby! Have you watched the impeachment hearing this afternoon?"
"Do you believe that Priam is innocent of what he's being accused of?"
"Has he mentioned anything about the coercion?"
No'ng una'y nagpakipot muna ako at sinubukang iwasan ang kanilang mga tanong. Tutok na tutok talaga sa mukha ko ang kanilang mga camera. But when they almost got me cornered, I stopped in my tracks and faced them.
"I honestly don't know what's going on in the USC," I answered. "Kapag nag-uusap kami ni Yam—sorry, I mean Priam—iniiwasan naming pag-usapan ang council matters lalo na't may mga bagay na wala akong karapatang malaman. 'Di rin ako nakikiusyoso dahil nirerespeto ko ang boundary ng relasyon namin."
Patango-tango silang nakatitig sa 'kin, talagang inaabangan ang bawat salitang lalabas sa bibig ko. I got them hooked. Ngayon na ang perfect opportunity para sabihin ang dapat kong sabihin.
"But I can say confidently say this," I went on. Deretso akong tumingin sa camera ng kanilang phones. "The vice president is a hundred percent right about one thing. Kung alam ni Priam ang plano na i-blackmail 'yong CSC chairperson, I'm pretty sure na 'di niya papayagan 'yon. I wished na sana'y nalaman niya para napigilan niya ang balak ng kanyang VP at 'di na humantong pa sa impeachment trial."
"So you're vouching for Priam's character na never niyang bibigyan ng go signal ang gano'ng pamba-blackmail?"
"Yeah, I swear!" I exclaimed as I raised my right hand. "Alam n'yo kung gaano siya ka-workaholic, 'di ba? 'Di siya gagawa ng isang bagay at 'di niya pahihintulutan ang isang bagay na makasasama para sa kanya at sa USC. I wouldn't have dated him in the first place kung may gano'ng tendency siya. It just so happened na kumilos ang VP niya nang wala ang kaniyang basbas."
"But doesn't that speak a bit about his leadership?" tanong ng isa pang reporter. "Parang nagmukhang wala siyang kontrol sa mga officer niya kaya nagagawa nila kung anuman ang kanilang gustong gawin?"
"Priam isn't the type of leader na hahawakan sa leeg ang mga officer niya." I fully came to his defense this time. "He trusts that his officers will do their jobs nang naaayon sa kanilang sinumpaang tungkulin. If they fail him, he probably expects them to hold themselves accountable. And I think that's what the VP did when she announced her resignation."
"The VP already took responsibility for the incident and stepped down, but the LEXECOM can still vote to impeach the president," panimula ng isang babaeng reporter. "If worse comes to worst, will you vote to retain or oust him?"
"Of course, I will vote to retain him!" I answered with a hundred percent conviction. "And I encourage everyone to vote the same way. Let's not judge him by one mistake that he wasn't aware of. I fully trust Priam and I believe in his vision for the student body. What happened was unfortunate, but this won't deter him from serving the students in a much better way."
"That's all!"
We all turned to the auditorium's double door. Saktong paglingon namin ay ang paglabas ni Priscilla. Hinawi niya ang nakapalibot na reporters sa 'kin hanggang sa makalapit siya sa kinatatayuan ko. Bigla niya akong inakbayan at in-escort palayo sa reporters.
"You've already asked enough for the day," she told them. "Katatapos lang ng rehearsal namin kaya papagpahingahin muna natin si Fabby. If you have further questions, just message them to me at ako na ang magre-relay sa kanya."
"Pero may mga tanong pa—"
"Today was an exhausting day and Fabby needs to rest na, okay?" Pilit na ngumiti si Priscilla sa kanila bago nagpatuloy sa pag-escort sa 'kin palayo. "You already had enough soundbites anyway."
Nagmadali kaming umalis mula sa tapat ng auditorium at dumeretso sa hagdanan. I almost appreciated her stepping in, but I realized that she had probably intervened because I was about to say something that she might not like.
"This is why I insist on having only one channel of communication with the reporters," bulong niya sakaling may makarinig sa 'min. "Para hindi kayo basta-basta ina-ambush at hina-harass kung saan-saan. If they have to deal with me instead of you, hindi ka na masyadong maha-hassle."
My lips curled into a forced smile. "Don't worry, nasasanay na ako sa ganitong set-up. This wasn't the first time na halos dumugin ako ng entertainment reporters. Won't be the last for sure."
"Well, I'm glad that I arrived just in time. You said something that might be perceived as divisive by some students. Puwede kong palagpasin ang mga naunang comment mo. But encouraging students to vote the same way as you? You're dangling your feet in dangerous waters."
"I was only answering a hypothetical question. Besides, wala pa namang kasiguraduhan na aabot sa gano'ng punto ang impeachment. Someone already took responsibility. Baka hanggang do'n na lang 'yon."
She came to a sudden halt, making me stop as well. Tiningnan ko ang mukha niya. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi at ang kislap sa mga mata niya. She looked dead serious, a face that she seldom showed to me.
"I like you, Fabby," she said. "But I would like you more if you weren't involved with the usurpers."
Is this the time for us to take off our masks? Gano'n ang vibes na nakukuha ko galing sa kanya.
"Usurpers?" Halos magdikit ang magkabilang kilay ko. "All those restrictions . . . Do they have anything to do with the last student council elections?"
"My priority is to ensure that our play will be a financial success," palusot niya. "Whatever you're accusing me of comes second or third."
"Let's drop the act now, Priscilla." I chose to be blunt this time. Kung gusto niyang magprangkahan kami, heto na ang tamang oras. "I have a hunch na sinadya mong busalan ako para 'di ako makapag-express ng support sa USC at maimpluwensiyahan ang mga estudyante sakaling lumusot ang impeachment. I also heard that you're the campaign manager of the defeated presidential candidate—"
"Defeated?" she scoffed. "My candidate won that election. If it wasn't for a foul maneuvering, she would have been president by now, not your silly boyfriend. See how good I am at my job?"
"Whatever issues you have with the current USC in the past, I have nothing to do with it, okay?" I held up my hands in the air. "Kaya please, 'wag mo na akong idamay sa pinaplano mo."
"You're already part of this game, Fabby," she insisted. "Sa ayaw mo o sa gusto mo, isa ka na sa mga player ng larong ito. If I had any choice, I don't want to involve you. But you're the flickering light that gives the hopeless USC hope. I can't let your flame grow bigger than it already is."
"Let me make this clear: I don't wanna take any part in this game or whatever you call it." Deretso ko siyang tinitigan sa mata para ipakita ang resolve ko. "All I want is to act on stage and entertain people with my performance."
"Maybe you would understand my position better if you knew the truth." Lumalim ang boses ni Priscilla, nawalan ng liwanag ang mukha. "Why don't you ask your boyfriend about what happened to Candice Delavin, the duly elected president of the USC?"
My eyes squinted at her. All I knew about that Candice was her disqualification due to a technicality. Wala na akong ibang detalye na alam. Come to think of it, parang never ko na siyang nakita rito sa campus no'ng magsimula ang academic year na 'to.
"Oh, speaking of the devil," bulong ni Priscilla. Nanlisik ang mga mata niya nang napasulyap sa likuran ko. Agad ding nanumbalik sa normal ang kaniyang tingin nang muling natuon sa 'kin. "Anyway, see you tomorrow, Fabby. Remember what I said."
Sakto palang paakyat si Priam sa hagdanan kaya niya nasabi 'yon. She walked past him without saying any word, but I felt the uneasy tension coming from her.
"Yen?" tawag ni Priam habang palapit sa 'kin. "You're out early?"
Tumango ako. "Agad na natapos ang rehearsal namin today. Galing ka pang admin building niyan 'tapos dumeretso ka rito?"
"Kinda." He averted his gaze and heaved a sigh. Lalong naging prominent ang pagkaitim ng kaniyang eyebags at ang pagkawala ng kislap sa mga mata niya. His lips couldn't even smile at me. Mukhang dinaramdam talaga niya ang'di magandang kinalabasan ng hearing kanina.
"Let's go somewhere else," yaya ko sa kanya. "Baka maabutan pa tayo ng entertainment reporters 'tapos tanungin ng kung ano-ano."
"Sure."
Pumunta kami sa campus garden kung saan wala masyadong tao. Gumagabi na rin kasi kaya nabawasan na ang mga tumatambay rito. The lamp posts guided us to the bench where we sat side by side quietly. Naging background music ang tunog ng mga kuliglig sa kalapit na puno. Umihip ang malakas at malamig na bugso ng hangin.
"How are you?" I asked after minutes of silence. Nakare-relax ang katahimikan, pero baka mas mabuti kung pag-usapan namin ang pinoproblema niya. It might ease his burden. "What happened back there, it mustn't have been so easy for you."
Muli siyang nagbuga ng malalim na buntonghininga, pampito na yata mula nang nagkita kami. "It caught me off guard. I did not expect that Val would pull that move. I would have appreciated a heads up, but she probably did not want me to stop her from making that sacrifice.
"Will you accept her resignation?" Sumulyap ako pagilid sa kanya. The last time someone resigned from his council, he rejected it. Twice. Baka gano'n din ang gawin niya kay Valeria.
"I have no choice but accept it," he said with a sigh. "She announced it not only in front of the LEXECOM, but to the entire campus through The Herald's livestream. Kapag hindi ko tinanggap, iisipin daw ng mga estudyante na kinukunsinti ko siya. Gusto ko ngang akuin ang responsabilidad, pero mas gugulo raw ang sitwasyon kapag ginawa ko 'yon."
"Was it Cas' idea?" I asked the million peso question. Only someone as cunning and devious as him could come up with that strategy. "Siya ba ang nakaisip na ipag-resign si Val? Because that would be freaking insane."
Marahan siyang umiling. "Cas' strategy was to actually have Val claim that he's the one behind the coercion. Handa siyang akuin ang responsabilidad. Pero may ibang plano pala si Val."
"R-Really?" My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. "Cas actually thought of taking responsibility? Himala, ah? I thought he'd use someone else as an scapegoat kaya naisip kong siya ang may pakana sa pagre-resign ni Val."
"He thought of making the sacrifice. But it was too late. Val already made up her mind and made it impossible for us to step in."
"So . . ." Nagawi sa paanan ang tingin ko. "What's gonna happen now? Tapos na ba ang trial? Tatantanan na ba kayo ni Alaric?"
Napakibit-balikat siya. "I cannot tell what he's thinking, but if he wants to take all of us down in one fell swoop, he can do so by proceeding to the vote."
"Kakailanganin niya ang majority ng student body para makuha ang gusto niya, 'di ba?" naalala kong sabi ni Priam sa 'kin no'ng isang araw. "Pero malas niya! I'm willing to use my influence to make sure that doesn't happen. I promised, remember?"
A smile was formed across his lips. Sa wakas, nagkabuhay na ang labi at nagliwanag na ang mukha niya! Sinubukan niya pang iiwas ang mukha niya sa 'kin, pero kitang-kita ko ang kaniyang ngiti. 'Di na niya kailangang mahiya at itago 'yon. Kaming dalawa lang ang nandito. Parang ang suwerte ko nga dahil exclusively ko 'yon nakikita. Not everyone would get the chance to see a smiling Priam Torres.
"Rowan sent me a clip of your ambush interview a while ago." Lumingon si Priam sa 'kin. Nabawasan na ang bigat sa kaniyang mukha, salamat sa pagngiti niya kanina. "What you said about me? I do appreciate it. Sincerely."
"I only told them the truth." I smiled back at him. Sandaling nagkaiwasan kami ng tingin, pero bumalik din agad sa isa't isa. "I may not be the best judge of character—I mean, look at my ex-boyfriend—and I may not know you very well, but I can tell you're genuine with what you're doing and what you wanna do. You really won't let Cas or Val blackmail Chevy, will you?"
"I won't. Sesermunan ko pa sila kapag ipinaalam nila sa akin."
In-expect kong 'yon ang posisyon niya kaya confident ako na 'di ako nagkamaling depensahan siya.
"Your words mean a lot," sabi niya bago muling kumurba ang kaniyang labi. That's, what, the second time he smiled? "Masyadong stressful ang araw na ito kaya nakaramdam ako ng comfort nang marinig ko ang mga sinabi mo. Thank you."
"There's no need to thank me." I nudged him on the arm. Ang liit na bagay! "Just stick to your principles and try to be better kung sa tingin mo'y may kailangan ka pang i-improve sa sarili mo at sa pamamalakad mo. But from what I can see . . . you're doing fine."
"Given what happened recently, I need to do better. Val's departure is going to be heavy blow to the council. Well, the impeachment is not over yet. We may even join her in leaving the USC office."
Speaking of USC . . .
"Yam, do you mind me asking a question?" panimula ko. Gusto kong maging maingat sa pag-approach sa topic na 'to. "'Di siya related sa impeachment, pero related pa rin siya sa council."
Muli siyang lumingon sa 'kin. "Tungkol saan?"
"You saw me with Priscilla earlier, right? Ang sabi niya, tanungin ko raw kayo tungkol sa nangyari kay Candice Dela Cruz or whatever her surname is. All I know is na-disqualify siya."
"Candice . . ." Nahaluan ng lungkot ang mga mata niya pagbanggit sa pangalang 'yon. "After the COMELEC ruled that she was not eligible to be a presidential candidate, she went into severe depression. Because she was a transferee, she failed to meet the residency requirement. From what I heard, hindi na siya pumasok sa klase matapos ang kaniyang disqualification. She even tried to . . . end her life a few days later. She was rushed to the hospital and underwent psychological treatment."
"Really?" Pakurap-kurap ang mga mata ko. "I'm not a student leader kaya 'di ako fully maka-relate sa pinagdaraanan n'yo, pero gano'n ba talaga ka-big deal ang pagiging USC president na umabot sa puntong ginawa niya 'yon?"
Tumanaw siya sa malayo. "She was already a student-leader before transferring here. Imagine dedicating your entire college life to become the leader of the student body. Imagine every survey for three months telling you that you would win the presidency. The idea was planted in her mind. Then, when the moment of your triumph came, someone or something snatched it away from you just because you were one semester short in meeting the residency requirement. Her whole world probably came crashing down."
"I see . . ." I hung my head low. Iba man ang pagiging student leader sa pagiging theater actress, mas naintindihan ko na ang pinagdaanan ni Candice. Kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya—na buong buhay ko'y nag-train para makuha ang isang bagay—'tapos ibinigay sa 'kin ang pinapangarap ko kaso biglang binawi, talagang guguho ang mundo ko. I almost felt that way no'ng ginawan ng tsismis ang pagsungkit ko sa lead roles at no'ng dinownplay ang talent at dedication ko sa acting.
"I assume Cas was the one who found the loophole and exploited it?" tanong ko. His face automatically came to mind. "Siya lang ang tusong makagagawa n'on."
"He was," Priam confirmed with a nod. "At the time, we did not know that the disqualification would make Candace do the unthinkable. If I had known, I would not have let Cas . . ."
Kahit kailan talaga, ang Castiel na 'yon ang pahamak! 'Di lang pala ako ang taong muntik niyang tanggalan ng pangarap dahil sa mga galawan niyang napakadumi at controversial.
"That's why people call us names. Illegitimate, usurpers, pretenders, among others," dugtong ni Priam. "And that's also why I'm working hard to prove that we deserve the honor of serving in the student council even if we did not have a solid electoral mandate."
Wala siyang dapat patunayan lalo't 'di siya ang nagpumilit na ibigay sa kanya ang korona. The rules and the system crowned him as the president kahit 'di siya ang nakakuha ng pinakamaraming boto. He played by the rules, kaya bakit kinukuwestiyon ang legitimacy niya?
But Priscilla was absolutely right. Lumawak nga ang understanding ko sa sitwasyon. Naintindihan ko na kung bakit gustong-gusto ni Alaric na patalsikin sina Priam at kung bakit tinutulungan siya ni Priscilla. But if I were in her shoes, I wouldn't blame Priam for what happened to Candice. I would blame the one who orchestrated the disqualification.
I wished that Castiel was the one who resigned instead of Valeria. Siya talaga ang cancer na kailangan nang ma-surgically removed mula sa council.
♕
NEXT UPDATE: The USC bids farewell to the Vice President.