["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
MY DAYS sulking in the dark were over.
For weeks, I had blamed myself for what happened to Priam. As I mentioned to Fabienne during our one-on-one conversation in the apartment, I was not the one who wielded the blade and stabbed Priam ten times, but I felt equally responsible for the outcome. I trapped myself in a cage of guilt and shame. I abandoned my oath as acting president just the day after taking it. I even abandoned my classes because the weight in my heart was too heavy to carry on.
I had not felt such darkness since the day my sister fell into coma. It was familiar, almost comforting. Nakaka-tempt na manatili roon at magmukmok hanggang sa lumipas ang mga araw. I failed to realize that almost two weeks had already slipped away.
But alas, the depressing clouds lifted and the optimistic sun shone again on me. I had to thank Fabienne for pulling me out of the abyss. If she had not come to my apartment and knocked some sense into me, I would not have stepped out of that building.
She was right. Locking myself in my room would not absolve me of my sins. Kung gusto kong pagbayaran ang mga kasalanan ko, kailangang may gawin ako. Kailangan kong magbago. Then the idea struck me. I had been using people as pawns in my game, causing them long-term harm. Maybe it would be better if I bore the brunt alone.
My first order of business? Show Alaric who the real boss of LEXECOM was. I anticipated that he would try to exploit my absence and the confusion over my role as presiding officer. So I consulted the only person whose interpretation of the Constitution and By-laws was beyond reproach—Kayneth Palacio. We found ourselves on opposite sides during the impeachment trial, but that did not preclude us from collaborating. Kayneth was neutral—or at least, he tried not to take sides—so his opinion carried weight.
That was done yesterday. Mission accomplished.
My second order of business? Show up at the USC office and assert control as acting president. For days, I had ignored the messages and calls from my fellow officers. They must have been frustrated by my sudden appearance. When the student government needed me the most, I vanished. That was on me. I allowed grim thoughts and crippling sadness to cradle me in their arms. But not anymore.
The next day, I summoned the courage to visit the USC office. I did not go there immediately after the LEXECOM session yesterday because I had not found the strength to face them. They must have had many questions. I called for an emergency council meeting in the morning, and thankfully, everyone was available. They asked if I could do an emergency press briefing immediately after. I agreed. The campus press had been inquiring about my absence so I needed to address them directly.
"Good morning," I greeted as I limped my way into the aquarium. Everyone was gathered around the conference table, waiting for my arrival. The clanking of my walking cane ceased when I paused at one end of the table.
