Chapter 25 — The Beginning of the End
Cambridge, Massachusetts — February 4, 2013 | Monday, 7:34 AM
A cold breeze cut through the campus like a razor. The ground was partially covered in melting snow, and Gustavo's boots felt firm as he made his way to Austin Hall. The sun still seemed hesitant on this winter morning, and the branches of the trees were bare, stripped bare by the season and the urgency of time.
Gustavo took a deep breath as he climbed the steps and pushed open the heavy door of the building. This was where it all began again and where it would all begin to end.
He crossed the lobby, nodding to a few familiar faces. Most of the students were back in their groove, but the tension was palpable. The final year of the J.D. Program was no joke.
He entered room 208, where he would have his first class of the semester: Advanced Criminal Law with Professor Gerald H. Kramer, a living legend of the school. The room was large, with dark wood paneling and tall windows.
Gustavo chose his favorite seat second row, on the far right. Close enough to show attention, but not so central as to be a constant target of cold calling. Little by little, the students started arriving. Lucia entered with a black folder under her arm, waving to Gustavo.
"Good morning, Harvard boy. Ready for hell version 3.0?"
"Not just ready… but eager."
"You definitely need more vacation." She sat next to him.
8:00 AM – Advanced Criminal Law
Professor Kramer entered without making a fuss. He was wearing a gray wool jacket, a light blue shirt, and a burgundy tie. With a neutral expression, he walked to the board, wrote the title of the course and turned to the students.
— "Good morning. For those who don't know me, I'm Gerald Kramer. This is the Advanced Criminal Law course. Welcome to the most defining year of your lives."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
— "In this class, we don't memorize. We don't imitate. We interpret, argue and, above all, understand. If you expect to come here to survive, you're in the wrong course. Here, you're going to fight."
He looked around, and his gaze fell on Gustavo for a moment.
— "Gustavo Silva. I assume you're prepared to talk about United States v. Leon, correct?"
Lucia looked at him as if to say "good luck". Gustavo closed his eyes for a second and answered confidently:
— "Yes, professor."
— "Very well. Let me start by explaining what the good faith exception adopted by the Supreme Court was in this case."
Gustavo sat back in his chair, took a deep breath and began:
— "The case United States v. Leon, decided in 1984, addressed the admissibility of evidence obtained through search warrants that were later found to be invalid. The Supreme Court ruled that if the police acted in good faith believing that the warrant was valid, the evidence could still be used. This created the so-called 'good faith exception' to the exclusionary rule."
Kramer nodded.
— "Continue. What is the practical impact of this exception?"
— "It makes the application of the Fourth Amendment more flexible. Although the warrant was invalid due to judicial error, the Court considered that punishing the police officers for this, even if they had followed the procedure correctly, would be excessively restrictive. This decision opened the way for debates about the balance between individual freedom and the effectiveness of police action."
The professor watched Gustavo for a second, with half-closed eyes.
— "Good answer. Clear and concise. Don't get used to compliments."
Gustavo smiled internally. He was back.
12:20 p.m. – Langdell Library | Reserved study room
Lucia, Gustavo and two other colleagues, Brian and Meera, had reserved a room to discuss upcoming deadlines.
— "We have a paper due by next Friday. Free topic, but with a critical analysis of recent jurisprudence." — Lucia said, already with a notebook full of notes.
— "I'm thinking of writing about hate crimes and freedom of expression. There's new material from the Supreme Court that could make for a good critique." — Gustavo suggested.
— "Wow, you don't take it easy, huh?" — Brian joked.
— "Senior year. Time to make a mark."
3:40 p.m. – Bar Exam Preparation Workshop
The room was packed with eager students. On the screen, the phrase "Bar Exam Strategy — Time Management and Mental Toughness" flashed in red letters.
The workshop coordinator, a former prosecutor named Rachel Bennett, began with a straightforward speech:
— "You've come a long way. But what separates lawyers from those with only a degree is this: the Bar Exam. And no, it's not impossible. It's just a monster you have to tame."
For the next three hours, she talked about study methods, weekly mock exams, daily reviews, and mental rest. Gustavo took notes frantically. He wanted to be prepared for July.
At the end of the workshop, Rachel approached Gustavo.
— "You're Silva, right? I've heard of you at the moot courts. If you keep up this pace, the exam will be just another step to overcome."
— "Thanks. I'm doing my best."
— "And it's going to work out."
8:45 p.m. – Dormitory room
Gustavo entered his room and dropped his backpack with a sigh. He was exhausted. He took off his shoes, sat on the edge of the bed and stared at the ceiling for a moment. Then he picked up his cell phone.
New message from Haley.
Haley: "The store is officially open!! There's no way you'll be here for just 5 minutes, right? Haha"
He replied with an audio message:
— "Hey, Boss Girl… I really wanted to be there. But today was punk. I was called early by Kramer, I was lucky I remembered the case. Then I went to a session about the Bar Exam. Just thinking about it gives me chills, but let's go. So happy for the opening. You deserve everything."
Minutes later, she responded with a selfie inside the store — with her arms open and an expression of genuine happiness.
Haley: "The store is booming, and you're going to stop by this bar blindfolded. I believe you."
11:50 p.m. – Reflection before sleep
In the silence of the room, with the lamp softly lit, Gustavo opened an old notebook. In it, he had several notes from when he was still in Brazil. Dreams, goals, inspirational phrases.
One scribble in particular caught his attention: "Harvard. Law. Justice. Growing up."
He ran his fingers over the half-faded ink, as if thanking that visionary 17-year-old teenager. And then, he wrote a new line below:
"Senior year. Last chance to make it all count. Go."
He closed the notebook. Turned off the light.
And fell asleep with a heavy but determined heart. Because the end was near and he was ready.
Chapter 26 — The Scorch Trial
Cambridge, Massachusetts — February 7, 2013 | Thursday, 10:10 p.m.
Gustavo was sitting at the table in his room, lit only by the warm glow of the lamp. Books were open in front of him — Criminal Law manuals, class notes, mock exams marked with yellow and orange highlighters. The timer in the corner of the laptop screen indicated that he had been studying for exactly 3 hours and 47 minutes that night.
He took a deep breath, closed his eyes for a moment, and remembered what his father had told him one of the first times he talked about his dream:
— "The hardest path usually leads to the best destinations, son. If it's easy, it might not even be worth it."
That phrase had become a silent mantra.
He picked up his cell phone. A new message from Haley flashed on the screen:
Haley: "You're already the best lawyer I know. Now you just have to show it on the test. I'm rooting for you!"
He smiled and replied with an audio message:
— "Thanks, Haley. Seriously. Every word you say helps. Now... full focus. I'm going after this Bar."
San Francisco, California — February 25, 2013 | Monday, 7:05 a.m.
The line at the entrance to the San Francisco Convention Center was impressive. Candidates from all over the United States — and some from abroad — were waiting to enter the building where they would take the California Bar Exam.
That was where Gustavo would make history.
Dressed in a black sweatshirt, dark jeans, and discreet sneakers, he kept his gaze focused and his headphones on. An instrumental playlist he had prepared especially for that day was playing — calm piano tracks, soundtracks from films like "Inception" and "Interstellar."
Beside him, a red-haired woman was trembling slightly. Gustavo noticed.
— "Are you nervous?" — she asked gently.
— "Very. Third attempt. And you?"
— "First. But I treated it as if it were the only chance."
She laughed lightly, nervously.
— "Gustavo."
— "Emily. Good luck, Gustavo."
— "Good luck, Emily. Today we win."
8:00 AM — Start of the Exam: Day 1
The first day of the exam involved three complex law essays and a performance test. Gustavo sat down, typed his candidate code into the computer and began reading the first case.
It was a problem involving qualified homicide, with nuances of self-defense and excessive use of police force.
Gustavo naturally engaged.
"The candidate must assess whether the officer's conduct was proportionate to the threat posed, considering precedents such as Tennessee v. Garner and Graham v. Connor…"
His fingers flew over the keyboard, his mind racing and focused.
The second essay was on contract law, a dispute over breach of contract involving an ambiguous clause. The third was on constitutional law—free speech versus hate speech on college campuses.
On the performance test, Gustavo had to analyze court documents and draft a legal memo for a partner at a fictitious law firm. That was his forte. The practice. The realism. The pressure.
February 26—Day 2: Multiple Choice (MBE)
The second day was dreaded by many. 200 objective questions covering multiple areas of law: constitutional, criminal, civil, contract, procedural, evidence, property.
Gustavo remained completely focused. He had solved more than 2,500 questions during his preparation. He knew how to spot the pitfalls, avoid obvious distractions, and focus on pure legal reasoning.
February 27 — Day 3: California Local Writing
The third day was all about California law. Mock cases based on state laws.
The first involved a medical malpractice case. The second, a criminal case focused on evidence admissibility. And the third, a mock trial involving cross-examinations of fraud and extortion between partners in a company.
Every word Gustavo wrote seemed to be infused with the experience he had gained over the years: his moot courts, his internship at Pearson Hardman, the technical visits, the negotiation workshops with former CIA agents.
February 28 — After the exam
In his hotel room, Gustavo sat on the edge of his bed. He was exhausted. Not physically, but emotionally. As if everything he had accumulated up until that point had been dumped into that test center.
He called his parents on a video call. Leandro and Carla answered with anxious smiles.
— "What's up, my son?!"
— "It was… brutal. But I gave it my all. I gave it my best."
— "You'll pass, Gustavo. I saw your dedication. We saw it." — Carla said, moved.
Then she called Hailey.
She answered with a fake flower crown on her head and a glass of juice in her hand.
— "I was waiting to toast! Are you going to toast with me or not?!"
— "You're crazy."
— "I really am. But my intuition is telling me that you're going to get a perfect score."
— "Wow, calm down… perfect score?"
— "Hey, you're Gustavo Silva. And you promised that if that happened, you would take me to dinner in Paris."
— "Did I say that?"
— "Yes. It's recorded." — She turned her phone around and showed a note stuck to the mirror: "If I get a perfect score at the California Bar, I'll take Haley to dinner in Paris – Gustavo, October 2012."
He laughed out loud, the kind of laugh he only allows himself when he knows he's given it his all.
March 26, 2013 — One month later
Gustavo opened the California Bar website. His registration number was there, waiting to be typed in.
His hands were shaking.
He took a deep breath.
He typed.
"Congratulations! Your name appears on the pass list."
And right below it:
"Performance Score: 1440/1440 — Maximum Score Achieved."
For a second, he thought it was a bug.
He read it again.
His heart raced.
He threw himself back in his chair and screamed:
— "I DID IT!"
Video call with Haley — 2 minutes later
He called and waited. She answered, still yawning.
— "It happened."
— "What?"
— "Full marks."
— "... You're kidding."
— "1440. Full marks at the California Bar."
She screamed. Literally.
— "I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU! I AM AN ORACLE!"
— "Paris?"
— "Paris, honey. Start practicing your French."
Message from parents
Shortly after, Leandro sent a voice message:
— "Gustavo, my son… you make us proud. You didn't just win. You made history. Now the legal world is yours."
Carla was crying in the background.
That night, alone in his room, Gustavo opened the same old notebook. On the page where he had written "Go," he added:
"I went. And I won. Lawyer, officially."
He went to bed with a slight smile.
The fight was just beginning.
But he was already a real lawyer.
CHAPTER 27 — THE WEIGHT OF A NAME AND THE BACKING OF MERIT
Cambridge, Massachusetts — March 2013 | Early spring
The wind in Cambridge was beginning to lose the icy bite of the harsh winter. The trees, once bare, now showed shy green shoots. The halls of Harvard Law School were more lively than usual at the beginning of the semester. It wasn't just the end of the cold that was raising spirits: there were rumors — and they spread like wildfire.
Gustavo Silva. The Brazilian who had passed the California Bar Exam with top marks. A very rare, almost mythological feat.
It was as if, suddenly, all eyes had turned to him.
Room 202 – Advanced Criminal Law | 09:00
Professor Richard Mendelson, one of the most respected experts in Criminal Law in the country, began the class with his usual posture: glasses perched on the tip of his nose, tweed blazer, fountain pen in hand.
— "Today we will discuss criminal liability in corporate crimes. But first…" — he looked to the back of the room, where Gustavo had just sat down, punctual as always. — "We have someone here who, in the last few days, has even made headlines among the professors."
Some students looked at each other, and their attention was focused on him.
— "Gustavo Silva. Congratulations. You have achieved the improbable. Top grade at the California Bar. On behalf of the faculty, I say: we are proud of you."
There was spontaneous applause.
Gustavo was visibly embarrassed, but smiled respectfully, raising one of his hands slightly.
— "Thank you, professor. And thank you, everyone. But… now I'm just another student trying to survive Professor Mendelson's class."
Everyone laughed.
— "Good answer, Mr. Silva. But I'm warning you: now I expect even more from you."
Central courtyard – 10:30 a.m. break
Gustavo was walking toward the library when he was intercepted by two classmates: Lucia Rivera, an American daughter of Cubans, with whom he had already worked as a partner on some projects, and Tariq Al-Fulan, an Egyptian who was studying for a double degree at Harvard Law and the Kennedy School.
— "You've become a celebrity, Brazilian." — Tariq said, patting him lightly on the shoulder. — "We should start calling you Gustavo Freaking Silva."
— "It's true, too." — Lucia added. — "I had a class with Professor Bryant yesterday. He literally used your Constitutional Law essay as an example. He said it was didactic, elegant, and precise."
— "Wow…" — Gustavo scratched the back of his neck, not knowing how to react. — "I just did what I always did. I studied with focus."
Lucia smiled.
— "Yeah. But you inspire, you know? There are people who now want to review Criminal Law just because you chose to specialize in it."
— "Yeah." — Tariq added. — "You're like the Messi of Harvard Law now."
Gustavo laughed.
— "Well, then I need to keep playing well. Because if I start missing passes, they'll say it was just luck."
Moot Court Board Meeting Room – 2:00 p.m.
Sitting with his fellow Moot Court members, Gustavo reviewed the defense arguments for a case involving allegations of abuse of power by a public prosecutor. Although the case was simulated, the complexity was that of a real case.
— "Gustavo, can you lead this oral argument?" — asked Karen Ito, president of the board and a third-year student.
— "Sure. But I want everyone to participate in the development of the arguments. Especially you, Ryan. Your analysis of precedents always helps to put together the timeline."
Ryan, a sophomore, smiled shyly.
— "Thanks, Gustavo. You'll be fine."
Karen rested her arms on the table.
— "You know what's interesting? Even though you're the most cited student in the last few weeks, you still treat everyone the same."
Gustavo just responded with a simple smile.
— "Respect is given. The rest comes as a consequence."
Night – Gustavo's Room | 9:00 PM
His cell phone vibrated with a call from Haley.
He answered quickly.
— "Hey! How are you in LA?"
— "Everything's great! I just wanted to tell you something before you get busy again."
— "Tell me."
— "I'm so proud of you. Like, really proud. My best friend is now a licensed attorney with a 100% track record. This is unreal."
— "Thank you, Hails. You're part of this, you know? Every time I thought about giving up or thought it wasn't enough… you pulled me back in."
She laughed on the other end.
— "Now all that's left is for you to come give a talk at the store. 'How to Succeed in Law Without Going Crazy – by Gustavo Silva'."
— "I might. But only if there's a discount on the dresses."
— "Deal."
Next Day – Harvard Faculty Lounge | 12:15 PM
While having lunch with Professor James Callahan, mentor of the summer internship program, Gustavo listened attentively.
— "Do you know what this means, Gustavo? Getting top marks in the Bar doesn't just make you a household name in the hallways. It means you now have the attention of people who wouldn't even look at a JD student before."
— "I've noticed an increase in invitations to events".
— "More than that." — Callahan leaned in. — "You're being watched by recruiters from the Department of Justice, federal prosecutors, and even members of the state Supreme Court."
Gustavo kept his gaze steady.
— "I only want to work with purpose. If I'm going to defend, let it be with justice. If I'm going to prosecute, let it be with ethics."
— "Keep up that mindset, Gustavo. And you can get wherever you want."
Weekend – Study and Reflection
Even with the spotlight on him, Gustavo kept up his disciplined routine. He studied. He prepared seminars. He read case reports. He answered emails from professors and invitations to events. But one night, sitting on the balcony of the student residence, he wrote in his diary:
"Being recognized is good. But being honest is better. The respect I receive now is only valuable if I continue to be the same Gustavo who left São Paulo at 17, with an old laptop and a huge dream."
He closed his notebook, looked up at the clear Cambridge sky, and smiled.
There was still a lot to come.
But he was already prepared.
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