Yesterday's Superstar

01

Val

"After the investigation, he wasn't indicted for rape but bribery and the supreme court Found him guilty"

"Ms. Lim what's the issue?" The prof asked a girl behind my back

"Makinig ka muna mamaya nayan" Bulong ni chiara who is sitting beside me, "Nakikinig ako so let me be" I replied. Hindi naman umangal at hinayaan na lang ako

I heard Ms lim stood up, "it's... He was indicted of bribery instead of rape because.." She stopped for a moment

"The issue?" The prof came closer, "The issue is.. well.. w-we don't really know if he really did rape her.."

"We don't know or it was not rape?" The prof asked "well it does not seem like rape.."

"Seems like rape?" The prof asked again, "will your decision say 'he doesn't seem guilty'?!" He asked again

"it wasn't rape"

"if it was bribery?" The prof asked, "I'm not sure what you're asking?" She said

"Araneta."

"if it was a rape case, he would be a victim, But if it's bribery she'd be accused too" I said as i stopped looking at my laptop and looked at the prof

"He became a suspect, because sex was considered a bribe" I added

"And the key issue?" The prof asked, "Is sex considered a bribe?" i said

"Why did the court say yes?" He asked

"The essence of the bribe" i was cut off when he called for Ms. lim again so i continued what i was doing earlier

"Me?.. well it's.. Since people pay money, to have intercourse... she bribed him with sex , and not money.."

"so sex could be turned into monetary value, acknowledging commercialization of sex?" The prof asked

"That's not what i meant-"

"Then what?" The prof asked, "it's not that the court commercialized sex.-"

"Then what" he asked again, i turned to look at the girl, "sorry my mind went blank."

"Araneta" he called for me to answer "the court considered the benefit of bribery not only as monetary or property gain but anything tangible and intangible"

"that can satisfy the demand and desire of a human. it considered sexual benefit through intercourse as an intangible benefit."

"Ms. lim?" he asked

"why did the court acknowledge sex as a bribe" he asked

"Valerie just told you-" She said, "I'm waiting for your answer! don't use her answer as your answer"

"Then what is bribery?" the prof asked, i looked at her, "bribery is when civil servants received money"

"Only money?"

"and sexual acts, intangible benefit such as sexual acts" she said as she looked at the prof

"and the elements are?" now I'm the one who looked at the prof and looked back at her since i heard her sign and looked at me

"Relations to duty and-" The prof stopped me "Tell me now. What is bribery?" the prof asked her

she went silent "Is there any kind of answer you can give" The prof asked

"I can't do it." she said, "so you give up?"

"No, Sir" She said "It's just that.. it's difficult for me to-"

"if you give up on answering this, it means you also give on this lecture."

"I'm sorry" she said as she runs out of the class room, All eyes were on her

I can relate to her. I know she tried her best but it wasn't enough.

after the class ended we went to the library before going home

i was writing something when i heard her sitting next to me, "How are you so smart?" i looked at her

"Oh sorry for disturbing, I'm Kristina Lim." Kristina apologize, i continued writing. "are you just going to sit there and watch me or everybody else study? if you wanna be smart then go read books." I said and continued writing

"Read books? really?. oh sorry" she said and got up, my eyes followed her

she went searching for a book so i continued reading and writing some of the important things

When she got back, girl got a lot of questions. "Why do you study almost everyday? I noticed kasi na your always reading kung hindi ka naman nagbabasa nakatutok ka lang sa laptop? can i ask why please?" makulit niyang tanong

"Exams are coming up. don't want to fail. And you would have done the same if you were born with the same parents like mine" I replied, "Ahh strict pala parent mo." mahinang bulong nito but i still can hear it since we're at the library so everyone was quietly studying

When i was walking to my driver, a boy bumped into me kaya nahulog ang mga books and notebooks ko

"Sorry, i didn't see you." He apologized and helped me pick up my books, "i'm really sorry." He handed me my notebook "you should really pay attention to where your going" i thanked him and afterwards i went home

as soon as i got home mom was there casually looking at a magazine

"Your professor told me may exams kayo next week?" She said and Looked at me, i nodded. "well you better go and study because if you got 97 again I'll not send you to law school ." she strictly said and looked back at the magazine

I nodded, I went to my room and sat on the chair of my study table.

'if only you knew how much i suffer getting that score.'

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