Checkmated by the Queen (Athlete Series # 4)

Chapter Twenty Five

Chapter Twenty Five

Defeated Allysa

I left Allysa shocked from what I've said. I couldn't hold my temper that much, inubos niya pa. Nagtuloy-tuloy na lang ako sa paglalakad at naghanap muna ng mauupuan dahil hindi pa naman magsisimula ang kompetisyon.

"Nice to see you here, Sir Dominic Asoro Villanueva," animo'y magkumpareng bati ni Coach Alvin kay Prof. Asoro nang makita niya ito na nakaupo sa likurang bahagi ng kinaroroonan namin.

"Likewise, Alvin," tugon niya naman at yumakap sa aming coach.

"Morning, Sir Dom," magalang na bati rin ni Miss Monica na sinuklian naman ng pagtango ni Sir Asoro.

"Ang weird pa ring marinig 'yong buong pangalan ni Sir Asoro," bulong ni Avery sa amin habang nagkukwentuhan ang tatlo sa likod.

"True, ang weird din na banggitin lagi 'yong Asoro, e mas maganda namang pakinggan 'yong Dominic. Kulit ng name niya, Prof. Dominic Asoro," natatawang bulong pabalik ni Bailey.

"Kung pangalan ko ganiyan, magwawala talaga ako. Asoro for a second name? Really? It could be Dominic Matthew, or Dominic Francisco. That would sound pleasing," Hayden added.

"Naks, English. Pwede ka na sa international school," panunukso ko kay Hayden dahilan para batuhin niya ako ng kinakain niyang popcorn.

"Ang agang popcorn naman niyan," ani Sam bago nakikain ng popcorn ni Hayden.

"Daming ebas, kakain din naman pala," sikmat ni Hayden na pabirong inilihis ang kinakain niyang popcorn nang hindi makakuha si Sam.

"Pagkatapos talaga ng tournament mag-beach tayo ulit. Mage-end na rin naman ng school year kaya deserve naman siguro nating magliwaliw ulit," ani Avery na nagbubukas ng bote ng kape.

"Nag-enjoy ako no'ng huli nating beach trip. Atlas at Alpha in one frame, when kaya ulit?" Sabi naman ni Bailey.

Our last beach trip was Sage and I's first trip together. Never thought that it would be the last one. I was really hoping to have another trip with him somewhere where just the two of us will enjoy it.

Napatingin ako sa kwintas at bracelet na binigay sa akin ni Sage noong nagpunta kami sa Pangasinan. Even if we're done, I was happy with the short period I had with him so I chose to keep these to remind me of the memories we've had.

"Naaalala mo na naman si Sage," sabi ni Savina na sinuklian ko na lamang ng pagngiti.

"Bili tayo ng taho? Mamaya pa naman magsisimula," dagdag niya.

Tiningnan ko ang aking suot na relo para tingnan ang oras.

"Tara," tugon ko at naglakad na kami ni Savina palabas ng museo para maghanap ng taho. Nang mahanap namin ang tindero ay pumila na kami para makabili rin.

"Ri, alam kong wala ako sa lugar para sabihin 'to but I think, it's time for you to move on. I know, wala akong karapatan magsabi niyan, may naging kasalanan din naman ako sa 'yo. It's just that, hindi lang kami sanay na malungkot ka," aniya.

"I told you, Sav, ayos na lahat. Wala akong galit sa kahit na sino sa inyo pati na rin kay Sage. I love him so much that I cannot be mad at him. Napatawad ko naman na si Sage, he had his chance para ilaglag kay Allysa lahat ng nalalaman niya tungkol sa akin pero hindi niya naman ginawa. He defended me in front of her and that's enough for me. Sapat na iyon para malaman kong naging totoo siya sa akin. He did what he thought was right in the end, and that's what matters the most," I explained.

Sapat na sa aking ginawa ni Sage ang tama sa huli. Everything he did for me felt real and was real to me. It will always stay that way.

"You know, I just realized how much you've grown. You are really in love, Ri, you're doing things that aren't easy to do, especially that you're the one who's been lied to by him," she smiled.