Chapter 6: Same Old
IBINALIK KO ang paningin ko sa tanawin. Naramdaman ko namang lumapit si Josh sa direksyon ko.
"W-Why are you here?" I asked without looking at him.
Naramdaman kong umupo siya sa tabi ko. "Basically, because this roof top is our dorm's roof." sagot niya.
Yeah right. Nasa ibabaw pala namin ang kanilang dorm. But... whatever.
"Ikaw, bakit nandito ka?"
"Basically, because this is also our roof top. Nasa iisang building lang tayo. And I guess pwede kaming pumunta dito dahil may hagdanan kami para dito." I answered, sarcastically as well.
He slightly chuckled. "Same old Bella."
I stared at him. Noong nagkahiwalay kami ay hindi na kami gaanong nag-uusap. Hindi sa sinabi kong dapat pa rin kaming mag-usap palagi kahit na wala na kami. But, no. But... yeah, sort of. Hindi kami naghiwalay dahil sa galit at selos o ano pa man. It's our own decision na maghiwalay kami sa rason na pareho kaming busy noon.
I am 18 years old that time at siya naman ay 20. We're on good terms after naming maghiwalay until hindi na kami ulit nagkakita pa.
"Bakit hindi ka rin sumama sa kanila?" I asked him, referring to our fellows.
"Mas pipiliin ko ang lugar na ito kesa doon." sagot n'ya. "I'm used to be here when I'm bored."
Napatango na lamang ako. "Ikaw ang unang dumating dito, right?" tanong ko although it's quite obvious kasi King siya.
He nodded his head. "Yeah, and usually gabi-gabi akong pumupunta dito."
"At si Lori rin ang nauna sa aming mga babae." I went on, looking at the wonderful spot. Iyon kasi ang sinabi ni Veah. "Hindi ba kayo nagkakitaan dito?"
I felt that he shook his head. "No."
I looked at him again. "Bakit?" I mean, imposible naman kasing first time lang nilang nagkita kahapon, eh, ilang araw na silang namalagi dito.
"I don't know. Maybe she didn't know about this place, or she didn't like to get here." he said, brushing his long hair. Ganyan na ang buhok n'ya noon pa man. "And the staff reminded us na dapat hindi muna kami magkikita."
"Ah..." I nodded. I thought they will break the rule.
"Kumusta ka na?" he suddenly asked, looking at the view. Colorful lights coming from our community is very pleasing to the eye.
"Okay lang naman. Gaya pa rin ng dati." casual na sagot ko. He nodded his head. "Ikaw?" I asked in return.
"Same as usual. I'm a bit busy about my family's business. Pero nakapag-pahinga dahil dito." sagot n'ya.
Wala pala talagang pili ang laro'ng ito. Kahit na gaano ka ka-busy, kailangan talagang sumunod sa patakaran.
"I was just wondering. Paano kaya nila tayo pinili, 'no? I mean sa dinami-raming ka-edad natin, tayo pa talaga ang napili." I said, out of confusion. Kasi kung pahusayan lang sa labanan ang basehan, malamang hindi ako mapipili.
"I don't have an idea, either. But I guess because of our family history. It's either, wala pa'ng lumalaban sa buong angkan n'yo, or ang mga magulang mo ay dati nang nakasali."
Napaisip ako sa sinabi n'ya. What I know is wala pang kahit ni isang angkan namin ang nakipaglaban... or just as I thought. Wala kasing na-share ang parents ko patungkol sa history namin.
"And how about the roles?" I asked curiously. Dami ko'ng tanong talaga. Pero alam ko'ng sanay na siya sa pagiging ganito ko.
"It's just random, I guess. Kung sino ang una nilang mapupuntahan, automatic na siya na ang King or Queen." sagot niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
THE CHESS GAME (Completed)
ActionHave you ever thought that a simple board game will turn out to be bloody? Witness a real-life battle of pieces in a game called Chess. Shah City has this fearful tradition. Once every ten years, 16 people of each community; the Black and White comm...
