Half the Truth

A/N: Like what the title implies, this is story is half the truth of a real episode in my life. Happy reading and leave a comment if you liked it :) 

I rushed to the school library the second I had a chance. With the Editor-in-Chief getting mad at the News Department for our late outputs, I couldn't afford to miss this interview with the Student Council President. I checked my watch. Five minutes early.Good, I'm actually practicing!

As I waited, I really couldn't hide my anxiety. And no, you may think it's because I'm interviewing the SC President, but it's not. It's because I'd be interviewing the Associate Editor too.

"Won't that be easier?" you may ask. No, it's not.

I've been a writer for the paper for two years now, and I've seen her in action. She's a natural with influence and discussion in our Journalism club.. I've heard from other members that before she got the title of Editor-in-Chief in her junior year, she was but a staff writer. On her last year, she became Associate to lessen the load especially now that she was SC President.

I will be having my first solo interview, but of all first solo interviews, why must it be with the President who's a well-seasoned journalist? I can't make a fool of myself now.

"Wait a second, how did you get into that situation in the first place?"

Simple, flashback a few days ago:

** *

Editor-in-Chief: Sam, you know the gossip about...the president, right?

Me: Yes... [Please say I won't cover the story, please say I won't cover the story, please say I won't cover the story.]

EIC: Good, then you'll be covering for it. I've already assigned the others to write for the campaign and the other activities for the start of the school year.

Me: [Oh man.] Can I have a partner for it?

EIC: Sorry, no one's available. You're one of our best writers, Sam. That's why I'm putting you out there. Why do you look so worried? You're just going to interview Erian and ask her about all this nonsense the school's in.

Me: But she's the president,

EIC: Our Associate and friend, Sam. Don't worry about it.

Me: Alright.

EIC: Be extra careful though. You'll never know who you're facing from the three.

It was only then when I remembered that the president was also a very close friend of the EIC and Sports Editor. The three of them were a tandem in all things, inside and outside the club. At least, that’s what I’ve observed during meetings.

***

As I reviewed all my questions for the interview, I overheard a group of students talking. Amongst their dialogue about researching for their feasibility defense (all the seniors do it as a major requirement for graduation), I recognized Erian’s voice. I turned and saw her talking to her group mates in a serious manner. Don’t tell me she’s their leader too. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised.

When the others left, I saw her scan the room, looking for me. Sure enough, I stood and shook her hand as a formality when she approached the table I was at. She sat down across from me and smiled. She had jet black hair, sharp dark brown eyes and a rosy white complexion that almost made her look Chinese. Her black rectangular glasses made her look so mature and refined, it made me jealous thinking about my sleepy-looking brown eyes and awkward ambiance. She must’ve noticed the uncomfortable silence between us and catches me before I forget what to say next.

“Funny, isn’t it, Sam?” she says. She was still smiling but I could see the warmth drained from her eyes. Now I wonder if that’s a smirk. “The last time you interviewed me for the paper was when you made that article on the campaign of the winning party.”

I just swallowed that in. I knew for a fact that the interview she was talking about was full of laughter and hilarious reenactments when she spoke about the campaigning. This interview would be dead serious, about the Issue as we called it. My nerves would be calmer if Celine was with me in this interview. She’s a year older and more experienced than me. All I did last time was to take down notes. Celine did the talking and I don’t know how she does it—when she comes up with questions to ask that haven’t even been planned beforehand. She said it comes naturally when you’re interviewing. So far, I don’t see myself a ‘natural’ at this.

“I understand,” I muttered as I fumbled with my pen.

“You had a partner with you last time, if I’m not mistaken.”

“She is covering the varsity try outs.”

“I know,” she said coolly. “It was Celine, right?”

“Yes.”

I looked down at my notes and my phone. “May I record this interview?” I asked.

“Of course,” she replied. “They might think I’m lying again.”

She said that with such bitterness in her voice it made me a little embarrassed.

“Sam,” she said as I could feel her eyes watching me set the recorder on. I looked up to see her face with a tinge of sorrow. “Chose the things that you’re going to quote from me and the things you will enumerate in your article. Interchange the two and we’ll never know what they’d say about it.”

“B-but won’t you be editing this?” I asked. It was only expected that she would.

“I’m sorry Sam,” she said. “I can’t risk making your article seem biased.”

I just nodded and tapped the virtual recording button on my phone’s screen. Here, we begin with the real interview.

Me: Good afternoon, Erian V’ysquil.

Erian: Good afternoon, Sam.

Me: So as Student Council President, you must be very busy. Not to mention the pressures of a graduating student.

Erian: Quite so indeed.

[She never changed her monotonous and tone even though I tried making her comfortab— Wait what am I doing? She’s a journalist, why would she be uncomfortable with an interview?! Or, is she? Maybe I’m just not used to seeing her this serious—serious in a bad way.]

Me: Yes, well, there have been rumors…

Erian: I know.

Me: Rumors about you and your behavior with the principal last week at the café near school.

Erian: Yes.

Me: Are they true?

Erian: The truth is depending on what version you heard, if it was the right version.

Me: Hm. What is the right version? [I can’t believe I’m improvising! This is great! It does come naturally!]

Erain: You mean to ask my version is it?

Me: Yes.

[Here, she took her time composing herself. I decided to go on with telling her of the rumored version.]

Me: It was during the weekly morning assembly when Principal D’kanai mentioned an anecdote of hers of two weeks ago. It was about a student who saw her out of campus and didn’t greet her. The student was described as rude and disappointing, especially when he/she held such a high position in school. This was even made worse when the following day after the principal had announced this, the student was found to be absent. This is highlighted because the student was needed in the Student Council meeting that he/she missed. It was also in this meeting when the principal got displeased with the Council for having such a member.

Erian: What are you asking me?

Me: Are you the student the principal was referring to?

Erian: No. I am not rude or disappointing.

Me: [she looks like she wants to murder me with that look. But I need to get the facts…] But do you know who the principal saw in the café that week?

Erian: It was me.

Me: [Then the rumors were true. How could she…?] It was…you?

Erian: Yes it was. Like I said, I was the girl in the café and not the one who didn’t greet the principal.

Me: And you also said that the truth depends on the right version that we hear. May I know your version? [Oh my, she has that fierce look. God on high, help me.]

Erian: You may. But the truth also lies within the listener too: if she is open to accept the truth.

Me: [Her voice suddenly hardened there, better take note of that] I will be open then.

Erian: Good. Pray to God everyone will.

It was a Friday afternoon and I was thinking of getting an iced coffee in the café. It was only after I had ordered my drink and found a seat when I saw Principal D’Kanai. She seemed to be in a business meeting with a woman who looked like an official of another school or something of the sort. I sat at the sofa parallel to the glass doors, worrying. I knew I had to greet her, or else something like this Issue would happen. But as we all can see, I didn’t have the chance to save myself from that.

I really tried to catch her eye, I really did. But the entire time I was there, I never had the luck. She seemed engaged in her discussion with the woman, I decided that I didn’t want to be rude and disturb them. Ha, turns out my caution just got me in hot water, eh?

Me: Uh, what do you say about the sudden announcement?

Erain: Oh, that. I let the matter pass when she mentioned it during the morning assembly. I was thinking to myself, ‘Even though I know who she’s talking about, as long as she doesn’t give my name or involve my Council, I won’t utter a syllable.’ And really, I have no fault because it was an honest mistake. If I had to explain myself, I would. She could call me up to her office to explain to her why I had failed to pay homage to her majesty, and I would answer in all honesty, my side of the story.

Me: [Oh my, this stupid issue was even shallower than I thought.] And what about the SC meeting?

[I saw her take a deep breath and momentarily closed her eyes to contain her growing anger.]

Erian: Now that was uncalled for. Here’s when a series of unfortunate events happened to me. That day after the announcement at the morning assembly, I got sick. I had an asthma attack in the middle of the night, which meant bed rest the following morning.

Knowing me and my load, I couldn’t afford staying in bed the entire day. I rested for half a day and worked the other half. I researched for our feasibility, finished my assignments and articles, I even finished writing another proposal for the SC.

I only became aware of the things the principal said behind my back when Carma, the SC secretary texted me that afternoon.

Our weekly meetings were held every Wednesday but that day was a Tuesday, so I didn’t expect that something important might come up while I’m at home. Carma texted me saying that the principal was looking for me, the president. My Vice President stood and said that I was sick with asthma at home. And what did the principal say? She said with sarcasm, “What? She became sick of asthma because of her iced coffee? Pity.”

[I could sense Erian’s anger in her voice and the way she said the principal’s reply through her teeth made me feel a tinge of such anger as well. This interview is going to get sad, I imagine.]

Me: And what about the Council? [She suddenly looks so sad… Okay, this is heartbreaking.]

Erian: (faint chuckle) My Council? What do you expect? The principal called that meeting because we had to plan a major event in school. But that wasn’t the only objective she had for calling them that day. S-she told them. She told the Council that I was the disrespectful student she thought me to be.

Do you know how painful that was? To have your own people turned away from you and you couldn’t do anything about it? Having no one there who has the courage to defend you? I had more than members there, I had friends. Because of this, they never looked at me the same way again. Carma also said that she was mad at the VP too, for not defending me. And what’s worse, the principal even told the VP to tell this ‘crime’ of mine to my classmates. I didn’t think about that anymore. All that I was thinking of that afternoon was how no one defended me and the principal telling that to the Council and my classmates as if I’d committed murder of some sort!

I admit I was paranoid that day. Resting at home, I was alone. I cried, thinking what my Council, my classmates, my friends and my teachers thought about me after the principal had planted those distorted things about me in their heads! I was depressed, thinking the four years of the high school reputation I worked so hard to keep clean would shatter in just a day. I was so sad and lonely. I needed guidance but with no one to turn to, I just cried till my eyes were dry.

Well, all that drama lasted for only a day or two. I came back to school acting as if nothing happened. And it’s true. I wasn’t affected because I wasn’t guilty. I was just hurt because of the bias. If the principal calls me to explain, only then will I explain to her.

Me: And…what do you feel about what the principal has done?

Erian: I think it was very inconsiderate of her to do all that. Nonsense. That’s what this is. All of this trouble just because of one misunderstood action. I don’t think it’s right to judge a person so easily even if she had hurt your pride. Remember that there are always two sides of a story. Better to hear both of them before opening your mouth. You’ll never know who you’re going to hurt with your words.

Me: I see. Thank you, Erian V’ysquil for your time.

I stopped the recording and looked at my Associate Editor’s face. After her sudden burst of emotion, she looked half drained. She was sad. She met my gaze and smiled.

“Good job on your first solo interview, Sam,” she said, forcing a smile.

“Thank you,” I said. I was really concerned for her after hearing all those things she admitted during the interview. “I’m just worried that something might happen to you when this article gets published. All the things you said…”

“That’s why I told you to be careful of the things you will enumerate and the things that you will quote in this article.” She looked at me and I suddenly didn’t know if I was talking to an editor or a friend. “And there is nothing to fear if you speak the truth.” Or a leader.

“But the truth said with anger does not add up to a good ending mostly,” I said.

“Mostly,” she repeated as she smiled. “Not always.”

I had to smile too. Not because of the things I heard or because I was no longer worried for her, but because I thought that she would need my smile more than I do. I think she’s been seeing less and less of smiles after that.

“Don’t worry,” she assured me. “Everything will be fine.”

I nodded. “I hope.”

With one last nod, she left.

That interview I had with the president was truly a different one. It really showed me how hard it was to be a journalist. How hard it was to stay neutral and just write the truth all the time. I wanted to quote everything Erian said in the article. I felt so bad for her that I wanted everyone to know the real story, her version. I wanted to show the school how superficial this issue is and point out that there were bigger things to worry about: our consideration towards others. Journ taught me so much in life, it taught me how to seek the truth, give a damn about it and give a bigger damn about letting the people know about it. I never felt so alive with a new passion in me! Is this the thrill of the veteran journalists? The thrill of knowing something so important and life changing and being the herald to the people!

Despite entertaining this sudden charismatic boom in my reflection, I knew that writing in her defense would really be bias and would not only involve her in another controversy, but it would also harm the club. I knew I couldn’t risk that.

I know how to write

I know how to bend these words to make it look like the desired outcome.

I can do this.

With the recording and notes in hand, and inspiration in my soul, I began to write the article that changed my life.

***

Fun fact: Sam wasn’t real. She was just a personification of my conscience. 

Yes, you’ve deduced it: I wasn’t the journalist.