["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
HOW MANY times have I told people that I hated lies? Five? More than my fingers? More than a dozen? Oh, I'd lost count already! Kapag may nagsisinungaling sa harapan ko, lalo na kung interviewee, lagi kong sinasabi 'yon. I wasn't championing this I-hate-lies movement just because I was taking Journalism as my course or just because I joined and write for The Herald, our university's student publication. It's actually the reason why I was in this path.
Lies are like growing weeds around a red rose. They steal the moisture and nutrients away from that poor flower—the same way that lies deprive a person of the opportunity to have their own informed opinion.
Sa panahon ngayon, hindi lang ligaw na damo ang anyo ng kasinungalingan. Minsan nag-aanyo pa 'tong nakaaakit na bulaklak. Sa malayo, mukhang legit na flower. Pero kapag lumapit ka at in-inspect mo, mapapansin mong fake pala. That's how grave the battle against lies had become nowadays. And it's a pity that many people would easily fall for it.
Nag-eenjoy ba ako kapag may nasusupalpal ako ng katotohanan? Nakararamdam ba ako ng pleasure kapag may nade-debunk akong tao? Not really! So why was I in this crusade? Medyo personal ang reason. And—pardon me for saying this cliche—that's another story for another time.
For now, let's talk about what would happen to me next. If you'd been reading The Herald's latest issues and you'd watched the most recent livestream on campus, you'd know that I was currently in hot water.
"Reynard," the editor-in-chief called my name. His middle finger pushed his eyeglasses up the bridge of his nose. "I've got some good news and bad news regarding the so-called exclusive, explosiveexposé last week."
Nasa conference room kami ng The Herald editorial office. Nakaupo ako sa isang side habang nasa kabila siya at dalawa pang editors. The Big Three—the EIC, managing editor, and associate editor—were present. Not every Herald writer would get this chance so I was extremely lucky to be given this opportunity. Pwede ko nang i-strike out sa bucket list ko!
"The good news is malakas sa CampuSite ang video," sabi ng managing editor. Maigsi ang buhok niya, abot hanggang balikat. "Tinutukan din ng mga estudyante sa bawat area ng campus na may LED TV ang stream."
"The bad news is hindi 'yon ang exposé na in-expect natin," dugtong ng associate editor. Nakataas naman ang hairstyle niya. "Given na ginamit natin ang lahat ng broadcasting resources ng university—mula sa TVs, livestreams, radio station—hindi worth it ang subject na pinag-usapan on-air."
"So Reynard . . ." The editor-in-chief propped up his elbows on the table and put his hands on top of each other. I felt his gaze lingering on me. "Care to explain what happened? Bakit iba ang subject na lumabas sa broadcast at ang subject na i-p-in-itch mo sa 'min?"
"The only reason why we authorized it ay dahil sa level ng exposé mo," dagdag ng managing editor. Dumagdag pa ang titig niya sa pressure na naramdaman ko. "We even reached out to other offices and organizations to make this happen. 'Tapos relationship update lang ng USC president at first lady ang i-e-expose mo?"
