["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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CASTIEL
I WAS supposed to take my two-week suspension as a time to reflect on my actions and to enjoy stuff that I had neglected since I became part of the University Student Council. However, thanks to Alaric the Prick, I would have to end my suspension prematurely and prepare our castle's defenses against his impending siege.
If he thought that we would just wave the white flag and open our gates to him so he could sack our capital city, he was gravely mistaken. We would not surrender even an inch of our land. I would fight to the bitter end—even if it would cost me my life.
The last part was obviously an exaggeration, but what I meant was crystal clear. Bottomline: Alaric the Prick must not sit on the throne at all cost.
"I know that you three have classes this morning, but I want to discuss this matter as soon as possible," said Dr. Sonia Altamonte, the director of Student Affairs. She also happened to be our adviser in the student council.
We were supposed to be independent from any influence of the university administration, but the USC Constitution and By-laws—which had remained unamended since 1987—automatically appointed the director of Student Affairs as our adviser. In fairness to Ma'am Sonia, she remained true to the purpose of an adviser—which was just to give us advice. She had not attempted to block any of our plans since we assumed office.
She summoned Priam and Valeria to her cubicle in the Office of Student Affairs. Hindi dapat ako kasama sa meeting, lalo na't suspended pa ako at isa lamang akong hamak na chief-of-staff. Ngunit dahil sa pumutok na balita, ipinatawag na rin ako.
"Have you read the latest issue of The Herald?" she asked, tossing the folded newspaper on her desk. Nakaupo kaming tatlo sa kabilang panig ng mesa niya. "Do you know why Alaric and his bloc may file an impeachment complaint?"
Priam grabbed the newspaper and unfolded it in front of him. He had stopped reading The Herald since they published the gradual decline of his approval ratings. Ako lagi ang nagbabasa at nagre-report kung ano ang ibinalita tungkol sa kanya o sa USC.
Valeria leaned close to him to get a better look. Hindi ko na kinailangang basahin pa dahil alam ko na ang laman n'on. But I had to pretend to be interested in it. The headline read:
I had already informed Priam about it, so he was not as shocked as Valeria. The leak also came from me so it did not come as a surprise that Reynard Falcon wrote that article. This was all part of my plan to soften the initial impact of the impeachment blow . . . and for one other reason.
"Walang ibinigay na specific details sa article," Ma'am Sonia took off the eyeglasses sliding down the bridge of her nose, "kaya kung totoo o posible man ang bulung-bulungan na impeachment laban sa inyo, I need to know as early as now. The chancellor may ask me about it during our meeting later this week. I have to be properly informed."
