At the elite Clark University, student life is dictated by the M.E.R.I.T. system, an algorithm that rewards good performance and punishes bad behavior-controlling everything from campus privileges to sought-after scholarships.
Enter Wysiwyg Watson...
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WYSIWYG
HAVING A unique name could be a blessing or a curse. On the upside, you wouldn't have to worry about other people sharing your name, and it could make things like applying for an NBI clearance much easier. But the downside? Your name could confuse a lot of people or even become a point of ridicule.
For me, it was a bit complicated.
"What's your name po?" asked the barista at the counter, holding a paper cup in one hand and a marker in the other.
"Wysiwyg," I replied with a smile.
"Lizzy Big?" she repeated.
"Wiz-e-wig."
"Wheezing wig?"
I let out a long sigh. "W-y-s-i— You know what? Just surprise me with your spelling of my name."
"Pasensya na kayo. Napaka-unique kasi ng name n'yo, eh."
This wasn't the first time people had misheard my name. If there were a contest for the hardest name to spell, I'd probably win first place. My name was likely the most unique—and maybe the weirdest—name anyone would ever hear in their lifetime.
If I had it my way, I would've chosen something like "James" or "Conan"—something simpler. But my parents loved their jobs as IT specialists so much that they decided to name me after a term related to web design. Who in their right mind would name their child something with two W's? Only my parents.
What did "Wysiwyg" even mean? Was it just a random jumble of letters that somehow made sense? Or was it simply gibberish?
"What you see is what you get." That's what the acronym stood for. Students who took web design classes might recognize it, if they ever bothered to memorize it.
Could the same thing be said about my personality? Was I a what-you-see-is-what-you-get type of person? I couldn't say. Only those who met me could tell.
While waiting for my order, I sat on the stool near the counter and rested my elbows on the countertop. This was my favorite cafe in the university mall. The cozy ambiance paired with mellow background music was perfect. Customers were mostly quiet.
Aside from the affordable drinks, this cafe was also accessible to students like me. By "accessible," I didn't mean it was easy to get to—it was on the second floor, and one still had to walk a few meters from the escalator. If someone preferred a more convenient cafe, this one would probably be their fifth or sixth choice.
I glanced at the students tapping their IDs on the sensor at the cafe's entrance. I had done the same when I got here. Although this cafe was a public space, not all students could enter and enjoy a cup of coffee while chatting with friends. We had to accumulate a certain number of merit points to gain access to this place.
