THE CHESS GAME (Completed)

EXTRA CHAPTER 4: JOAQUIN'S POV

Note: Make sure you have already read all the chapters of the story, including the extra chapters (especially the last part of Extra Chapter 3), before reading this part.

♨️JOAQUIN♨️

"PACK YOUR things for you will stay at the Chaturanga Academy starting tomorrow."

My parents cried soon as they heard the committee. We were both sitting in the wooden chair right now. My mother was covering her face and shrugged her shoulders while my father was caressing her back.

As the committee left our house, I was dumbfounded. I don't know what to react.

Suddenly, my grandfather came. "Joaquin..." he said like a whisper as he stepped inside.

My fist clenched. Without saying a word, I stood up and went outside of our house. I crossed the bridge and rushed towards the forest and there, I let out all of my emotions.

"Screw this tradition!" I shouted, bursting all my anger.

Afterward, a tear suddenly escaped my eye. I sat on the ground and cried. Cried, not because of coward and fear but because of my family.

How are they if I leave? How could they survive for their living?! I have no brother, and my father was not physically able. His left leg cannot walk properly. He always has an assistive cane for him to walk. My grandfather was already 70 years old. His bones were already weak. So tell me, who will get a sack of sweet tomatoes for them if I will leave? That's our only food every day! I do not want my mother to do the job.

"This is bullshit!" I muttered picking up a stone and threw it forcefully towards the tree.

I went silent for how many minutes. I just looked down and let the silence calm myself. Then a few seconds more, I stood up and remove the small leaves that stuck on my pants and shirt.

I heaved a deep sigh first before crossing again to the bridge and went back to the house.

"Joaquin..." My mother hugged me as I entered back in our house. She sank his face in my neck while still crying.

I did not show them and let them feel that I can't do it. I acted as if I am willing to be one of the warriors to bring home the win of our community. I acted bravely for them to not feel any worries in me. For them to not mind me while I am away with them. For them to ease their worries and fears.

"Don't worry, I will make sure to win the game," I said to them.

I spend my whole night harvesting 3 sacks of sweet potatoes. My parents tried to stop me but I insisted, my grandfather wanted to help me as he always wanted but I told him not to. I don't know how many days that we need to stay there to train. I wanted that before I will leave, my family will have a food supply to eat.

On my very first stay here in the academy, I was alone in the big dorm which looked like a house. I spent the day alone, thinking of many possibilities. The staff that escorted me told me to not go out in the dorm. But who are they to be followed? I hate them so I broke the role.

Days have passed and people arrived simultaneously. I knew some of them by their faces but we're not close.

"So you are the king," said the guy, sitting comfortably with the couch while occupying the whole space of it. "Ugh, this couch feels good. So soft."

I just nodded at him in response. We were already six here. The five of us were sitting around the dining table except for that guy who's name is John, the bishop.