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
A MIRACLE happened. That's what my classmates were saying the next day in our classroom. As usual, I arrived early to earn those precious 10 merit points. I walked past several rows of seats before reaching my spot at the back of the room. Everyone was looking at their phones, checking the SIMS.
"Ano kaya'ng nakain ni Sir? Bakit biglang tumaas ang grade ko sa kanya?"
"Baka kasi mali ang computation niya no'ng una. Halos lahat yata tayo itinaas niya ang grade. 'Yong mga line of seven kahapon, 85 na ngayon."
"Grabe! May 'di siguro siya na-compute na score natin kaya nag-iba ang grades natin."
I was already seated when I checked the SIMS app on my phone. When I checked it first thing this morning, nothing had changed. Cesareo probably hadn't logged into his account yet, so he hadn't been able to adjust the grades right away. My grade went from 83 to 85. Instead of deductions, I had been awarded fifty merit points.
To hide the smirk forming on my face, I raised my phone to cover my expression. Everything went exactly as I had dictated to the toad-faced professor last night. In exchange for not exposing him, I ordered him to make 85 the lowest grade for his students in Logic—not only in our class but in the others as well. He had no choice but to comply.
What I did—blackmailing a college instructor—was strictly illegal. If anyone found out that I was the one who threatened the grumpy toad, I would be expelled from this university. So I had to think up a strategy to ensure the blackmail couldn't be traced back to me. That's when I came up with the idea of a massive grade readjustment.
I wasn't a detective, but I had to think like one if I wanted to outsmart any Sherlock wannabe who might try to track me down. Investigators would first look at who benefited from the blackmail. Since almost all of Cesareo's students with grades below 85 received a boost, it would be hard to pinpoint which one of us was behind it. It's like finding a needle in a haystack.
But I wasn't done with him yet. Far from over! He still owed me, and I'd make sure he would pay. Last night was just an appetizer. The main course would be served at noon. I hoped he would still have an appetite later.
As soon as I put down my phone, someone's shadow was cast over me. I nearly fell off my seat when I saw Irene standing beside me.
"I-Irene!" I exclaimed, my heart almost dropped.
"Sorry, nagulat yata kita," she said.
"H-hindi naman."
"I appreciate your message last night," she added. "It took courage to stand up to Sir, and maybe it paid off? Chinat ako ni Serena kanina 'tapos nabanggit niya na tumaas ang kanyang grade from 83 to 85. Sakto sa minimum grade requirement para ma-maintain ang scholarship niya."
"Maybe you're the one who made this miracle happen..." I pointed at her, squinting. "Baka pagkatapos mong i-confront si Cesareo, na-realize niya na posibleng may mali sa kanyang computation kaya ni-review niya ang grades natin. It might have looked like he didn't appreciate your comments, but your words must have left an impact on him."
