CHAPTER 70
Days had passed since the incident with Cerca, and the issue had caused a commotion within the university. It is unavoidable given that the students are merely bystanders in the middle of the commotion and right now, I'm here in the conference room with the investors. They heard about the uproar and are now asking what I will do to keep it in place.
They certainly don't want to get involved in this because it would jeopardize their reputation. I understand their point, but my and this university's reputations are more at stake than theirs. I have a lot on my mind, and this incident, as well as the incident that occurred at the site, are not yet resolved.
"Mr. helffrich, what's on your mind?" Kunot noong tanong sa akin ni Mr. Chua at humawak sa braso ko. Kanina pa siguro sila nagtatanong na hindi ko naman napansin dahil sa rami ng iniisip ko. Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago tingnan ang nakalagay sa folder.
"Hindi pa ito nakakarating sa media, rigth? We can fix it. Panandalian lang na magiging issue 'to sa mga estudyante." Paliwanag ko at inilapag na ang folder.
"But how?" Tanong naman ni Mr. Hernandez, nagtataka kung anong magiging plano.
"It's that simple, Mr. Hernandez," tumingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti. "As long as we stay quiet about this while we fix the problem, hindi na nila mapapansin iyon." Paliwanag ko. I know it's not easy, and I'm just trying to alleviate their concerns, which isn't working as well as I had hoped. "Unless there's someone here with a string to pull." Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa sa mata habang nakangiti bago tumigil kay Mrs. Ramirez at siya naman ay naaligagang nagiwas ng tingin.
Nagbulungan pa sila tungkol sa sinabi ko pero binalewala ko lang iyon bago tumingin kay Rain at sumenyas ng kanyang gagawin. Tumayo naman siya at nagpaalam na lalabas. After she left, I discussed some important issues with the investors because we were already here, and I persuaded them to agree on some decisions I made for the school.
"Meeting adjourned!" Sabi ko at nauna nang umalis sa silid. Things are getting more and more complicated at nawawalan na ako ng oras na um-attend sa classes ko. Professors must understand my situation because I am the one who corrects every blunder that this university has gotten into. I'll just enroll in their make-up classes.
I was about to go to my next class nang makasalubong ko si Sherman and asked me if I'm free for a moment. I am not though, pero tumango lang ako sa kanya kaya sumunod lang ako hanggang makarating kami sa isang gilid kung saan hindi masyadong maingay.
"What have you gotten yourself into, aber?" Nakapamewang na sabi niya at taas pa ang isang kilay. "Alam mo namang mabilis ang balita diba? I'm just here to ask if it's true, and what exactly did she do?" Tanong niya, seryoso pa ang tono at tingin sa akin. I know na ang tinutukoy niya sa kanyang tanong ay si Cerca.
