"You are thirty minutes late."
Andrew's voice echoed inside the common room. He said it without even giving a look at Serenity who was in a state of shock.
"Grabe naman ang lakas ng pakiramdam nito. Maingat ko na ngang binuksan ang pinto, eh," bulong niya pa.
Tama naman kasi si Andrew. Kalahating oras na siyang late.
"May sinasabi ka ba?"
Nagtama ang paningin nila ni Andrew. Tumatagos sa salamin ni Andrew ang walang emosyon niyang mga mata.
Napangiwi na lamang si Serenity at saka mabilis na umiling. "Ahh. Wala, wala. Wala akong sinasabi, 'no. Wala talaga, promise!"
Dahil sa todo niyang pagtanggi ay mas lalo lamang siyang naging halata.
She knew it. Andrew was mad. She should not forget that Andrew doesn't want people who come late. She should set an alarm for the next few days.
Hindi na siya pinansin ni Andrew; nagpatuloy na ito sa paglalaro. Isinarado na niya ang pinto ng commom room.
Dumiretso na si siya sa tapat ni Andrew. Ipinatong niya ang kaniyang maliit na bag sa monoblock at saka rin siya naupo rito.
"Sorry. Na-late ako ng gising, eh," aniya sa nahihiyang tono. Hindi niya magawang tapatan ang tingin ni Andrew dahil nararamdaman niya ang inis na awra nito sa kaniyang puwesto.
Seems like her guts to annoy him were burned.
"Next time, don't bother to come if you are late. . . or if you will come late, mind telling me. You can text me."
"But I don't have your number. Will you give it to me?" Halos pumungay ang mga mata niya na agad din namang nawala dahil sa isinagot ni Andrew.
"Nevermind. Besides, it would be good if you won't come," he uttered uninterested. "I can play alone."
"Pero mas maayos kung may kalaro ka, 'di ba?" pilosopong sagot ni Serenity. Napapahawak pa siya sa kaniyang tiyan dahil nagugutom na siya.
Late na nga siya, hindi niya pa nagawang kumain. Hindi naman siya late sa klase. Late lang siya sa training. Mas maaga kasi ng isang oras ang training kaysa sa regular na oras ng klase.
"That's why don't come late. It's good to play with someone—"
Pinutol niya ang sinasabi ni Andrew. Umaarangkada na naman ang kaniyang pagiging pilya sa harapan ni Andrew.
"You mean, it's good to play with me?" she asked smiling from ear to ear.
"Wala akong sinabing ganiyan, Serenity. Nag-a-assume ka na naman. Kaya ka nasasaktan, eh," walang pag-aalinlangan na sambit ni Andrew.
Hindi na nakaimik pa si Serenity. Sapol na sapol sa kaniya ang sinabing iyon ni Andrew. Umaasa siya at iyon ang dahilan kung bakit siya palaging nasasaktan. Napatungo na lamang siya.
Napansin ni Andrew na hindi nagsasalita si Serenity kaya umangat ang paningin niya rito na ipinanalangin niyang sana ay hindi na lamang niya ginawa.
Naramdaman niya ang sakit at lungkot na nararamdaman ni Serenity. Bigla ay nakonsensiya siya na hindi niya matanggap na nararamdaman niya dahil sinabihan naman niya na si Serenity noon pa man.
Malalim na pagbuntonghininga ang kaniyang ginawa. Nagdalawang isip pa siya kung hihingi ng pasensya pero ibang salita ang lumabas mula sa bibig niya.
"Let's play."
He then looked down at the chess mat and chess pieces. Serenity just nodded and uttered, "Okay."
They started playing. Andrew's mind was somehow occupied by what Serenity might have felt at the moment.
Alexis— Andrew's coach wasn't around. Usually, maaga siyang pumupunta sa training just to check if Andrew was doing his task which is to keep on training.
Minsan ay nag-iiwan siya ng file kung saan mayroong magandang laban sa pagitan ng dalawang taga-ibang bansa na manlalaro.
Andrew was used to it. Even if his coach wouldn't come, it's okay for him.
Time flies fast as they play. After thirty minutes of playing, they have finished the last table. Of course, Andrew won. Serenity doesn't get a win at least once. That's how good Andrew is really. Given that Serenity is a very good player, she's still no match for him.
Sabay silang lumabas ng common room. Andrew was the one who locked the room. Together, they walked in the hallway heading in front of the canteen. Doon pa kasi ang daan pakanan sa silid-aralan ni Andrew.
It's the only way. They are almost at the canteen when Serenity looked at Andrew.
"Babe, samahan mo naman ako kumain, please?" she muttered.
Andrew stopped walking. He looked at her gloomy face. Halatang gutom na gutom na siya.
"You can eat alone, Serenity."
"But I could eat more if you will eat with me."
Tila ibang Serenity ang nasa harapan ngayon ni Andrew at medyo naninibago siya. If it's Serenity's usual, her hands will be at his arm.
Also, she looks tired. Anyone could feel it because of her voice.
Gusto mang samahan ni Andrew si Serenity ay hindi niya magawa. He has morning classes and it's about to start. He can't afford to come late.
"You can eat without me, Serenity. I'm going now. Male-late na ako at mas importante 'yon kaysa sabayan kang kumain."
Wala pa rin siyang patawad. He said those words without emotion. Even a little hint of sympathy couldn't be heard.
Mas lalong naging down ang mukha ni Serenity. Although she failed, she beamed a little. "Okay lang. Naiintindihan ko."
Behind her smile, Andrew knows it was fake, but he didn't give a damn.
He did not know what happened about her earlier but he did not want to give a damn. It's his goal tho; to get rid of her.
Bago pa tumalikod si Andrew ay nauna nang umalis si Serenity. Bagsak ang balikat nitong naglakad patungo sa canteen habang pinapanood niya.
Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan niya at saka tatalikod na sana nang may matanaw siya.
Isang lalaki ang lumapit kay Serenity at sinabayan itong maglakad. Kahit nasa malayo ay alam niyang nag-uusap silang dalawa.
He knew to himself that Serenity has no friend so he's wondering. He's not a gossiper but there's one question he want to be answered.
"Who is that guy?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Checkmate (Varsity Series #2)
RomanceA monarchy is always protected by its men, but in a game of chess, the queen is the one who's moving for the king because once the king dies, she will die, too. In order to win the game, the king and his men including his queen must kill all the op...
