ERALD
HINDI NAMAN ako gano'n ka-excited na pumasok ngayong Biyernes, pero dahil sa patong-patong na dahilan, napaaga ako ng thirty minutes. Kakaunti pa lang ang mga naglalampungan sa mga bench at ang mga estudyanteng legit na nagre-review ng ganito kaaga.
Today's also the day of the snap elections, the only hurdle for my sister Madelaine before she could take the throne that she's wanted for a long time. I, as her dearly beloved brother, must do everything in my power to ensure that she won't win. Kaya nga kahapon, to the surprise of everyone, bago matapos ang araw, I filed my certificate of candidacy for president of the student council.
"Paano kung manalo ka?" tanong sa akin ni Charlotte matapos ang photo-op ng Clarion. "You can't be a student council president and a QED Club member at the same time. Kailangan mong mag-give up ng isa."
"Sakaling manalo ako, I'm going to choose a vice president who's responsible enough to run the council. Anyone but my sister," I emphasized. "Once a VP is chosen, I shall resign the presidency and let the line of succession takes its course."
For the snap elections, the presidential candidates are not required to choose a running-mate since there's not enough time to prepare for it. Usually, in a regular exercise of our right to suffrage, the president and the vice president run in tandem under one ticket. A vote for the president is automatically a vote for the vice president. Kung sinumang president ang mananalo, siya ang mag-a-appoint ng kanyang secretary, treasurer, public relations officer at iba pang member ng council.
Because this was also a snap decision on my part, I haven't thought that far on who would be my vice president and my fellow officers. Honestly, I don't expect to win. I only needed a platform to lambast my sister and destroy her image in public, thus reducing her chances of winning. I'd rather see Reign Imperial take the throne than Madelaine Castell. Kung ako siguro ang mananalo, I would choose Reign as my VP and let him take over.
Mamayang ala-una ng hapon pa ang meeting de avance kaya may oras pa ako upang maghandaan. Sa ngayon, kailangan ko munang siguruhin na walang manggugulo sa eleksyon.
I already accomplished that yesterday, by the way.
A small shed stood just a few meters away from the school building. This is the second storage house in the campus where they store (obviously) materials used for some school events, like a makeshift stage, ladders, poles and other stuff.
Kahit kakaunti pa lang ang mga estudyante sa campus, I needed to be discreet in what I was about to do. Ninakaw ko ang isang uniform ng housekeeping personnel ng school. Tinanggal ko lang ang aking asul na blazer at pulang necktie, at isinuot ang kanyang uniporme. There was no need for me to change my trousers or shoes. Nagsuot din ako ng cap para maitago ang hairstyle ko.
I stopped in front of the storage room, looking behind me if someone's following. Luckily, there was none. I put on a pair of sunglasses and a black lower face mask. Inilabas ko ang aking lockpicking kit at ginamit sa padlock ang skills na natutunan ko kahapon mula sa guide na iniwan ng aming club predecessors. Thanks, Louis!
As soon as I unlocked the door, dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto at pumasok. I locked the room from the inside before making a hundred and eighty-degree turn. Someone was already here. But there was nothing to worry about. I was the one who put him there.
The once arrogant Torry of the K-OS Club found himself powerless as his eyes were covered by a blindfold and a duct tape zipped his mouth. His hands and feet were bound to a wooden chair. I managed to lure him out yesterday afternoon at the back of the storage room. Thanks to Clyde's memory, he suggested a good place where to hide this wretched mastermind of the rogue club.
Lumapit ako kay Torry at tinanggal ang duct tape sa kanyang bibig. He's been here for more than twelve hours already. Mukhang hapong-hapo na siya, namumutla na at tuyo na ang mga labi.
He should thank me because I brought him a bottled water to keep him hydrated. A man can live without food for a number of days, but he can't live without water.
Was my plan bordering to a criminal activity? From the looks of it, yes. I illegally detained this man here for almost half a day already. Parang hinostage ko siya kahit walang kapalit na ransom.
"Pakawalan mo na ako," pagsusumamo niya matapos ko siyang painumin ng tubig. Mahina na ang kanyang boses kaya malamang, wala na siyang lakas para sumigaw. If he tried crying for help last night, he would have exhausted his remaining energy.
I forced a cough and spoke through my black face mask. Hindi lang ito basta-basta maskara na ginagamit na pamporma. A voice-changing device was installed inside. Ilang buwan ko nang nabili ito sa Lazada, ang balak ko sana'y mag-prank call sa mga classmate ko. At last, nagkaroon na rin ako ng pagkakataon para magamit ito.
"Hindi kita papakawalan hangga't hindi ka umaamin sa mga kasalanan mo." My voice sounded like Darth Vader's from the Star Wars franchise. Hindi gano'n kalinaw ang audio quality pero naiintindihan pa rin ang lumalabas sa bibig ko.
"Erald, alam kong ikaw 'yan," nanghihinang tawag ni Torry sa pangalan ko. "Itigil mo na ang kalokohang ito. This ain't fun, man."
Obviously, I had to deny that I am the person he called. "Hindi ko alam kung sinong Erald ang tinutukoy mo. Ngunit sang-ayon ako sa 'yo. Hindi nakakatuwa ang sitwasyon mo ngayon. Kaya kung ako sa 'yo, aamin na ako sa mga nagawa kong kasalanan para makaalis na ako rito."
"Ano bang gusto mong malaman, ha?" tanong ni Torry, iginagalaw ang kanyang ulo mula sa isang side. "This isn't part of the agreement."
Agreement? "Aminin mo na nakipagsabwatan ka kay Madelaine Castell para mapatalsik sa puwesto ang dating student council president at vice president. Aminin mo on the record na ikaw ang lider ng K-OS Club."
Natawa nang mahina si Torry. "Paano ko aaminin ang isang bagay na hindi ko ginawa? Do you want to force me to make a false confession that can hurt Madelaine's chances of winning the snap election today?"
"Ang gusto ko lang ay malaman ang katotohanan," tugon ko. Inihanda ko na ang recorder app ng aking phone, sakaling sumuko na siya sa pag-resist. "Bakit ba nahihirapan kayong magsabi nang totoo? May nakabara ba sa lalamunan mo kaya hindi mo maisambit ang katotohanan? O sadyang ikaw ang pumipigil sa sarili mo na mailahad kung ano ang totoo."
"Ilang beses ko bang dapat sabihin sa 'yo?" nagpupumilit na sagot ni Torry. "Na wala akong alam sa pinagsasabi mo. I can't admit something that I did not do!"
"Ipagpatuloy mo lang ang pagmamatigas, at tiyak na hindi na ka na sisikatan ng araw."
"Maniwala ka sa 'kin! Hindi ako ang—"
Muli ko siyang pinatahimik gamit ang duct tape. Well, even if he admitted to the crimes, I wouldn't set him free yet. As long as he's hidden in this isolated place, there's no way that his group could influence the snap election later.
Tinanggal ko ang sunglasses at ang face mask pagkalabas ng storage room. I put on the padlock again. This shed was like a Pandora's Box. Kung may magtatangkang buksan ito, maghahasik na naman ng lagim si Torry at ang kanyang mga kasabwat.
I removed the housekeeping personnel's uniform and stuffed it in my bag before returning to the QED clubroom. Nadatnan ko roon sina Clyde at Charlotte na mukhang maaga ring pumasok para maghanda sa snap elections. They were cutting printed leaflets that containted my name and my face. Thanks to our club president's camera and photography skills, hindi kami nahirapang makagawa ng campaign materials.
"How is he?" Clyde asked as soon as I setlled down on the chair beside him. "You haven't killed him yet, have you?"
"Don't worry, kaya pa naman niyang mabuhay hanggang mamaya." Kinuha ko ang isang pirasong leaflet. I never thought that I was photogenic. "As soon as the election is over, papakawalan ko na siya. Hindi pa siya umaamin na siya ang lider ng K-OS Club at nakipagsabwatan siya kay Maddie. If he did, may pasabog na sana ako mamaya sa meeting de avance."
"I still don't know if we are doing the right thing." Napatigil si Charlotte sa panggugupit, may kalungkutan bumalot sa kanyang mukha. "Detaining someone illegally just so we can prevent him from meddling? I'm having a moral dilemma right now."
"We sometimes have to resort to repugnant tactics to get the results that we want," I defended my plan. "And we are not doing this for our personal gain. Ginagawa natin ito para sa ikabubuti ng lahat. Do we deserve a leader who schemed her way to the presidency?"
"Some may see it as your way for exacting revenge on your sister," Clyde shot me with a glance. "Baka masyado mo nang pinepersonal ang issue mo sa iyong ate."
I wouldn't deny it. This is personal between me and Maddie. The scheme she concocted to oust Agnes and Bruce from the student council, as well as her connivance with the K-OS Club, only served as justification for me to go after her.
"By the way, someone came here earlier." Iniangat ni Charlotte ang kamay niyang may hawak na gunting. Midway through her sentence, she froze. Her eyes only blinked a couple of times before she lowered her hand.
"What did someone want?" tanong ko. Was she having another episode of memory loss?
Muling kumurap ang mga mata niya't napayuko ang ulo. "I forgot what I was about to say."
This was the second time that she lost amid her train of thoughts. The first one was during the committee hearing.
"I feel like there's something na kailangan kong sabihin." She was struggling to recall what that something was. "Hindi ko lang matandaan kung ano."
"Don't force yourself," Clyde tried to soothe her. "If you can't recall it, just let it go. Baka maalala mo rin mamaya."
"It has something to do with a piece of paper." Napatingin si Charlotte sa may corkboard at sa may file rack namin. "Hindi ko matandaan kung saan ko nailagay o kung bakit kailangan n'yong malaman."
I stood next to the corkboard, my eyes searching for whatever piece of paper that wasn't pinned there yesterday.
"I have to go to the washroom." Charlotte excused herself and left the clubroom. It must be frustrating to forget what you wanted to say in the middle of conversation. Nahihirapan din ako para sa kanya.
"Are you planning to tell her the truth anytime soon?" Clyde asked.
I sighed, turning to him. "How about you? Plano mo na bang sabihin sa kanya?"
"Once I find the perfect opportunity, why not?" Clyde replied, putting down the pair of scissors. "But I suggest that we tell her altogether."
Lumapit ako sa mesa at saka inilapag ang kapirasong papel na tinanggal ko mula sa corkboard. "Maybe after the snap election. We have too much on our plate right now. Kailangan muna nating mag-focus sa kung ano ang urgent ngayon."
"I agree," Clyde nodded. "As soon as this case is done, we will tell her about how we three are connected to one another. It's about time for her to know as well. I don't want to keep her in the dark about it."
"Anyway." I pushed the piece of paper to him. "'Yan siguro ang tinutukoy niyang papel."
"A code?" he muttered. "A client asked us to solve a code? In the middle of our campaign prep?"
"That came from one of Torry's classmates," I replied. "How did I know? Because I was the one who left it in their locker. In-expect ko na hihingi sila ng tulong sa atin para mahanap ang kaklase nila."
"So you wanted to make it appear that we will find Torry later?" Clyde deduced. "Do you think that will lessen the suspicion on you?"
"Nanghihinala si Torry na ako ang dumukot sa kanya, but I denied it," sagot ko. "Won't it be a good visual kung tayo na nasa likod ng sandaling pagkawala niya ang siyang makakakita rin sa kanya?"
"You are sly as ever," Clyde chuckled. "That mentality can get you into trouble one of these days."
"Hopefully, not today."
***
Halos hindi magkamayaw ang mga estudyante sa school gymnasium. Afternoon classes were suspended to give way to the meeting de avance. Talagang dapat magsaya ang lahat dahil hindi na nila kailangang magpanggap na nakikinig sa kanilang mga instructor.
Thirty minutes before the event, the OSA director summoned me, Maddie and Reign to her office. She briefed us on how the program would flow. Magkakaroon daw ng townhall format na debate kung saan pwedeng magtanong ang mga estudyante sa amin. After the three-way debate, there would be a thirty-minute break to give the students time to think on who they would vote for.
My goal was to destroy Maddie's chances of winning. Kahit walang bumoto sa akin, ayos lang. Hindi ko naman ine-aim na manalo sa eleksyong ito. If Reign wins, mission accomplished. If I win, still mission accomplished.
My sister was as calm as the sea before a storm hits. Her support from the K-OS Club wouldn't be coming any time soon, so shouldn't she be worried about it? As long as Torry was locked in the storage room, hindi basta-basta makakakilos ang grupo niya.
Reign was also composed. Without his knowledge, this battle was a two-on-one. Maybe it was okay for him if Maddie wins the election. But for me, that's an eventuality that I would like to avoid. Well, Reign already has assets that he could use to sway the electorate to his favor. May itsura siya, mukhang matalino at may napatunayan na sa executive committee. But Maddie was on the equal footing.
Pagpatak ng ala-una ng hapon, in-escort na kami patungo sa gymnasium. Para kaming mga artistang pinagkakaguluhan ng mga fan namin. Wait, silang dalawa lang pala, hindi ako kasama. I was nobody in this scene. Kumpara sa kanila, wala akong hinawakang kahit anong significant position. Sa mata siguro ng iba, saling-pusa lang ako na nagkamaling banggain ang dalawang bigatin.
May kani-kaniyang kaming supporters. May mga nagpagawa pa ng tarpaulin para kina Maddie at Reign. Halos lumabas na ang mga ugat ng kanilang tagasuporta sa kakasigaw. How about me? May isinulat na "GO, ERALD" si Charlotte kanina sa isang buong cartolina paper. Kitang-kita ko kung saan siya nakapuwesto pati si Clyde dahil hindi gano'n kaagaw pansin ang material namin.
Pinapuwesto na kami sa naka-set-up na tatlong lectern sa stage. I was at the right-most part. Reign was at the middle while Maddie was at the left-most position.
"Good afternoon, Clark High students!" the OSA director took the role of master of ceremonies for this event. "Today, in an unprecedented circumstance, you are going to elect your new student council president through the first ever snap election!"
Naghiyawan ang mga estudyante na parang mga nakawalang aso mula sa kanilang hawla. The names of Madelaine and Reign were being chanted by the crowd. Sa sobrang dami ng kanilang supporters, nasapawan na ang mga nagtsi-cheer sa akin.
"Huwag na nating patagalin pa! Let us now meet our presidential candidates!"
I covered my ears when the crowd went wild again. Hey, election ang pinapanood n'yo, hindi isang beauty pageant na kailangan ng audience impact. But who was I kidding? Election was a popularity contest after all.
"Our first candidate!" the director called, turning to my sister. "She served as the secretary of the student council. She is a consistent honor student who also tops in their class. Madelaine Castell of ABM 12-A!"
Sa isang kumpas lang ng kamay ni Maddie, nagsitayuan at halos magtatalon ang kanyang mga fan, este supporter. Baka nga masira bigla ang mga bleacher dahil sa sabay-sabay nilang pagtalon.
"Our next candidate is the chairman of the student executive committee," the director introduced. "He's a consistent scholar since junior high school. Reign Imperial of HUMSS 12-A!"
Umalingawngaw ang tilian ng mga babaeng estudyante sa gymnasium. As expected, marami-rami rin ang fan girls nitong si Reign. Isang ngiti lang niya, halos mahimatay na sa kanilang kinauupuan ang mga babaeng naka-baby bra pa yata.
"And last but not the least!" the director announced. "He's a member of the revived QED Club. Erald Castell of HUMSS 11-A!"
"Woooh!" Charlotte's lone cheer was heard amid the eerie silence. I know, I know. This was the first time they heard my name and saw my face. Huwag na nilang isampal sa akin na hindi ako sikat dito sa campus.
"Now that you have met your candidates, let us now proceed to the townhall debate!" Sumenyas ang OSA director sa mga naka-standby na personnel sa gilid ng stage. On her cue, one of them brought a microphone stand at the center of the gymnasium. "Know more about your candidates by asking them questions. Just approach the mic and address the person you want to hear his or her answer."
Isang lalaking nakasalamin ang unang humarap sa mic. Tinapik niya muna ang ulo nito bago nagsalita. "Good afternoon, candidates. Gusto kong i-address ang tanong kay Gerald Castell."
"Erald," I corrected him.
"Sorry, kay Herald pala." Hindi ko alam kung mata lang ba ang diperensya sa estudyanteng 'to o pati ang pagdinig niya. "Napansin mo naman kanina na bilang sa daliri ang nag-cheer sa 'yo. Obvious na mas sikat ang mga kalaban mo. Now how can you convince us to vote for a nobody?"
In-adjust ko ang mic sa lectern at bahagyang inilapit sa bibig. "Salamat sa tanong mo. Alam kong ngayon n'yo pa lang siguro narinig ang pangalan ko. May ilan siguro sa inyo na nag-iisip na nuisance candidate lang ako rito. But let me tell you a fact. Etong mga kalaban ko, mga trapo ang mga 'to, eh. Lalo na si Madelaine."
The guy in glasses interrupted me. "Napansin kong pareho ang apelyido n'yo. Magka-ano-ano kayong dalawa?"
"She's my sister," I answered without any hesitation. "If you want your student council to be a dog that does the bidding of the school administration, there's your candidate. Kapag siya ang nanalo, magiging sunud-sunuran lang ang council natin sa admin. Gusto n'yo ba ng gano'n?"
"HINDI!" sigaw ng ilang estudyante. Good, may mga
"Excuse me?" Maddie spoke. "Dahil nabanggit niya ang pangalan ko, I believe that I deserve to be heard as well. My younger brother is fond of hyperbole. Should I be elected as your president, the student council shall observe independence from any influences. I shall serve as an effective liaison officer between the students and the admin."
"Don't be fooled!" hirit ko pagka-pause ni Maddie. "Effective liaison officers is her kinder version of saying tuta ng admin. Tanungin ko kayo, ano na bang ipinaglaban ng student council para sa ating mga estudyante? Nagmistulang event organizer lang ang mga 'to, eh. Kung mananalo itong si Madelaine, dapat nang palitan ang student council at gawing student organizers' council."
My remarks probably hit home to the audience. Maging ang ate ko, hindi kaagad nakasagot tungkol sa paratang ko. That has been my stand since the beginning anyway. The student council only organizes events for the students, neglecting their more important role of being the voice of the students. Maddie said she's going to be a liaison officer, but that was just lip service.
"Well, what should we expect from someone who hasn't held a position in the student government?" my sister retorted. "Erald has never been in our shoes and yet he dares to speak ill of the student council's mandate. He has no experience and whatsoever. All he has are rhetorics."
"Yeah, you are more experienced than I am, but you haven't done anything significant for the benefit of the students." I put my microphone down as the crowd cheered, not for Maddie, but for me.
This was too easy! Too easy! Most elections are about popularity and theatrics. Clearly, I don't have the former, but if I went on with my rhetorics, I might convert the Madelaine supporters to my side.
Isang matangkad na lalaki ang sunod na lumapit sa microphone stand sa gitna. Umubo muna siya bago nagtanong. "This question is for everyone. The former president and VP resigned because of the scandal shared by the so-called K-OS Club."
"Alleged scandal," Maddie corrected the student.
"Okay, so hindi 'yon ang unang pagkakataon na nakialam ang grupo ng mga siraulo sa atin. Nanggulo rin sila sa club fair noon kung saan nagbanta sila na may papasabuging bomba kung hindi ma-solve ang puzzle. Pati 'yong senior high acquaintance party, sinubukan nilang guluhin. Paano n'yo maisisiguro sa amin na hindi na sila kailanman makakapanggulo?"
"Thank you for that question," Maddie was the first to answer. "Before the alleged scandal broke out, the student council and the executive committee have been trying to idenfity who are the people behind the K-OS Club. The investigation is still on-going. We can't share any information to you at the moment."
Oh, really? She should know some people from that rogue group. Pwede na niyang isuplong kung gugustuhin niya. But no, may kailangan pa siya sa kanila kaya hindi pa siya pwedeng gumawa ng hakbang.
"Narinig n'yo ba ang sinabi niya?" I lifted my mic toward my mouth and jerked my left thumb at my sister. "Hindi raw niya pwedeng i-share sa inyo kung ano na ang progress sa K-OS Club case. Shouldn't the student council be more transparent in a matter of public interest?"
"Oo nga!"
"We deserve to know."
"There are times that we have to withhold pieces of information," Maddie defended. "As a member of the QED Club, you should understand our position. Ayaw naming mabulilyaso kung anumang imbestigasyon ang isinasagawa namin."
"Ang sabihin n'yo, wala pa kayong progress sa kaso kaya wala kayong mai-share sa amin," buwelta ko. "Look, I want you to see how incompetent the previous student council is. The K-OS Club issue has been pestering us for weeks and yet, they haven't made any breakthrough! If I were elected as your president, give me three to six days, timbog ang mga lokong 'yan. Don't underestimate the QED Club!"
May ilang napamangha sa pangako ko. Whether I win this election or not, I would still hunt down the members of the rogue club anyway.
"May I speak?" Reign broke his silence at last. Muntikan ko nang makalimutan na kasali pala siya rito. "Last week, the executive committee tapped the QED Club to track down the K-OS Club. As of recently, our campus detectives have given no update on the case. So how can you confidently promise to the student body that you can stop the chaos within a short period of time?"
"Erald has promised that he can find the golden goose," Maddie butt in. "But you heard Reign. Ilang linggo na palang ini-refer sa QED Club ang kaso pero kayo ang wala pang progress? And you have the gall to call us incompetent?"
"What the hell, Reign? We were supposed to be allies here, not enemies!" I wanted to tell the execom chair telepathically. Pero wala yata akong mental load kaya hindi na-send sa kanya ang message.
Mukhang kailangan ko nang ibaba ang itinatago kong baraha.
I smirked. "What if I tell you that I already know who is the brains behind the K-OS Club?"
Most of the students gasped upon hearing my revelation. Both Maddie and Reign stared at me curiously, waiting for the next words that would come out of my mouth.
"Hindi naman sa itinatago ko sa inyo ang nalalaman ko, but I wanted to obtain concrete proof before I reveal the name," I went on. "We are the highly respected QED Club. We can't accuse someone if we don't have enough evidence. Let this serve as a lesson that no one should underestimate our premier detective group."
"That might be just rhetoric to score points from the voters," my sister argued. "You are bluffing. Now let me call your bluff."
"Rhetoric? A bluff, really?" I repeated. "I can tell you his name at the backstage later. Pwede ko ring bigyan ng clue ang mga estudyante kung sino ang mastermind. Don't believe me? He is a boy and his name starts with T—"
"Hello, is this the K-OS Club?"
Nanigas ang dila ko at nakanganga pa ang bibig nang marinig ang boses ko. My eyes roamed around the venue, looking at the speakers from where the sound came from. Without a doubt, that was my voice. But I did not utter those words in real time.
"Nakita ko ang number n'yo sa isang bulletin board. I want to ask if you can help me with a gimmick at the club fair?"
"Sure, how can we be of assistance?" the masked voice answered.
"Kailangan namin ng pasabog para makapag-recruit ng members para sa aming club. I thought that since we are campus detectives and you are the harbingers of chaos, our interests might be aligned. You create a problem, we solve it."
"You are proposing a partnership, huh?"
"For this instance only. Do you know how to create a fake bomb? Here's my plan. You are going to send that false explosive to a booth of your choosing. Mag-a-attach kayo ng code na kailangang i-crack para malaman kung paano i-defuse ito. I can provide you one, if you need."
Only the audio recording was heard in the school gymnasium. Natahimik ang lahat, maging ang mga kalaban ko. I looked at one side of the bleachers. Charlotte stared at me in disbelief, shaking her head. Clyde already suspected about my connivance with K-OS Club during the club fair, so it did not come as a surprise to him.
The silence that followed only spoke about one thing: any chances of me winning the presidency was gone.