["PLAY THE KING" IS ACT TWO OF THE "PLAY" SERIES. PLEASE READ "PLAY THE QUEEN" FIRST.]
It's been four months since Priam Torres, the once unpopular president of the Elysian University Student Council, assumed office. Thanks to his chief-of-staff Cas...
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REYNARD
THE PLOT thickened. I was busy writing my latest article about the LEXECOM when I received a call from someone. Hindi ko in-expect na tatawag ang taong 'yon sa 'kin dahil akala ko'y gusto niyang manatiling tikom ang kaniyang bibig. But for some reason, she finally decided to sing. Yeah, it's a she.
"Are you sure that's not a trap?" Rie asked me when I whispered the update to her. She didn't request to be informed of the latest, but I chose to share with her anyway. "Baka malaman kong nawalan ka na naman ng malay mamaya, ah?"
"I don't think so." My head shook slowly. "Masyado pang maaga para targetin ako at i-check ulit ang phone ko kung may bago na akong discovery. If I were them, I'd wait for a month since the resumption of classes."
"Basta ayaw kong may marinig na masamang balita tungkol sa 'yo."
"Wow! Are you that concerned about me?" I pressed my hand on my chest. "Medyo na-touch ako ro'n, ah! Don't tell me na napo-fall ka na sa 'kin?"
"Anong fall-fall ang pinagsasabi mo riyan?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "As your fellow campus journalist, we have to look out for each other. Kargo ng konsensiya ko kapag may nangyari sa 'yo lalo na't ina-update mo ako sa development ng iniimbestigahan mo—which I didn't ask for, by the way."
"And I appreciate you looking out for me." I showed her a grin that almost reached my ears. If that's her preferred love language, then I'd wholeheartedly accept it. "Don't worry! Kapag meron ka ring explosive exposé, you can count on me for support!"
"Hopefully, not as dangerous as yours." She lowered her voice after letting out a sigh. "Maiba ako. Kapag nakuha mo na ang lahat ng mga detalyeng kailangan mo, what will you do with them?"
"Of course, I'm gonna write an in-depth article about it! Then I'm going to submit it for publication gaya ng ginawa ko sa mga dati kong exposé."
Sumeryoso ang timpla ng mukha ni Rie. May nasabi ba akong masama? "Sa tingin mo ba'y ipa-publish 'yon ng editors natin? Our managing editor is a CBA student. What if she's a silent supporter of Esteban 'tapos harangin niya ang article mo?"
"Why won't they?" My eyes squinted slightly. "If they were willing to publish my exposé on a university official and a college instructor, why won't they publish an article about a college student?"
"Sa bagay." Umaliwalas na ang mukha niya. Wala siyang dapat ipangamba. Naniniwala akong walang kikilingan at poprotektahan ang mga boss namin. "Anyway, good luck sa meeting mo sa 'yong source. Mag-ingat ka."
"Thank you, Rie!"
"Call me Rie one more time, babawiin ko 'yong sinabi kong mag-ingat ka."
I waved my hand before leaving the editorial office. I hit a snag in December of last year. But this year seemed to be looking quite good to me. If that person would be willing to go on the record, then I'd have something concrete to work with.
