Checkmate, Alas

Chapter 11: Final Stage

"Hi Yuan! I'm Layzelle!"

'Yon agad ang bungad ng huli kong makakalaban sa araw na 'to. Unlike Misty, this girl is a jolly. Mukhang mas energetic pa siya kay Janine.

"Hello."

I don't know what else to say.

"Good luck sa atin!" she then show me her bright teeth.

"Same."

Shit. Ang pangit kong kausap parang nagkakasala tuloy ako kasi sobrang bait nitong kaharap ko!

"The final stage will start. Now."

Nag-pick kami but I lost pero mabuti nalang at  pinili ni Layzelle ang white.

Everyone is watching us so I need to be careful of my every move. I want to win and I know it'll not be easy lalo na at sa itsura nitong kaharap ko, mukhang napakagaling niya sa chess.

She started moving one of her chess piece as a memory from the past flash on my mind.

"Ano ba 'yan ang bobo mo naman, Yuan!" my classmate told me.

We're playing chess but their rules was different from what my dad told me! But they keep on insisting na sila 'yung tama. We're grade one pero I know how to play chess properly unlike them!

"But sabi ni Daddy pa-L daw talaga ang galaw ng knight." pagpupumilit ko.

Itinaob niya ang chessboard kaya nagkalat ang mga chess pieces sa sahig. Everyone in our class looked at us.

"Bahala ka nga sa buhay mo! Masiyado kang nag-mamarunong, eh iba nga 'yung rules namin!" she shouted and umalis na siya sa harapan ko.

I fight the urge of crying. I can't cry because they will only find me weak and they will continue bullying me. I don't like that.

Pinulot ko ang chess pieces sa sahig pero ang iba kong pang kaklase ay pinag-sisisipa ito.

"Hoy! Bakit niyo ba sinisipa 'yan!? Ipapakain ko 'yan sa inyo!"

Tumingala ako only to find Nine shouting at my classmates. He's my only friend. My true friend. We're friends since kindergarten dahil na rin magkaibigan ang mga magulang namin.

"Sorry, Nine!"

"Sorry!"

"Sorry sorry kayo pero nasipa niyo na!"

Lumapit siya at yumuko para mapulot ang iba. Nanatili naman akong nakatingin sa kaniya. Admiring him because he once again stood up for me.

"Thank you, Nine."

He smiled at me.

"We're bestfriend, Yuan. Just tell me if these ugly creatures here bully you again."

I nod excitedly with a smile on my face. In this classroom, I am not alone.

"Check."

I pursed my lips. She checked my king pero mabilis naman akong nakahanap ng lusot. Nakita ko naman na bahagya siyang nagulat. I think she's not expecting me to do that move.

I shrugged it off and continue to think of my strategy.

"Yuan, bakit ba gustong gusto mong laruin 'yang boring na laro na 'yan, ha?"

Umirap ako kay Nine na nakaupo sa tabi ko ngayon. Nasa field kami ng school at ako naman ay nakikipaglaro sa isa naming kaibigan ng chess.

"Alam mo hindi ka lang kasi marunong."

I heard him groan.

"Turuan mo kasi ako!"

Mabilis akong napalingon sa kaniya. Seryoso ba siya? Akala ko ba boring?