Checkmate, Alas

Chapter 17: Death Note

I was so happy upon seeing my grades on our school's official website. It's not that bad I mean straight line of 9 siya. Pinakamababa ko is 'yung genchem dahil nga pakiramdam ko dinadala ni Ma'am Pauline sa profession niya 'yung galit kay Kuya.

"Hoy kuya pakisabi nga kay Ma'am Pauline na tigilan niya na ako."

Nasa sala kami ngayon ni Kuya at nanonood ng netflix. We chose to watch Fairytail this time. Hindi ko pa 'to nasisimulan pero sabi naman ni Kuya maganda daw 'to so why not  give it a try.

"Huh? Bakit? Anong mayro'n kay Pau?" nanatili siyang nakatutok sa tv.

I rolled my eyes at him kahit na hindi niya nakikita. I ate the ice cream that I was holding right now. Tig-isa kami ni Kuya ng pint size ice cream. It's weekend kaya wala kaming pasok ni Kuya. Wala rin siyang lakad today same with me.

"Pinag-iinitan yata ako, eh. Porket ba kapatid mo ko." sumbong ko. "Sila Alexa at Nathalie, 96 'yung grade sa genchem tapos ako 95 lang! Mas mataas 'yung quizzes and exam ko sa kanila. Unfair talaga ni Ma'am!"

Kumunot ang noo ni Kuya Yelix at bumaling sa akin. He sighed heavily.

"Alright, I'll talk to her."

"Thanks, Kuya!" I smiled widely. "Pero bakit ba kayo nag-break ni Ma'am?"

Nag-iwas siya ng tingin, walang balak sagutin ng tanong ko. I pouted and continue watching na lang.

After naming manood ni Kuya ay nagpaalam siya na ipapasyal niya daw si Saint.

"Ayaw mo ba sumama?" tanong niya habang sinusuotan ng leash si Saint.

Umiling ako at abala pa sa cellphone.

"Kayo nalang kaya mo na yan."

"Sige, alis na kami."

Tumango lang ako at ng makalabas sila ng bahay ay nag-decide ako na sa kwarto ko na lang mag-stay.

Pagpasok sa kwarto ay dumapa ako kaagad sa kama ko. I'm playing mobile legends with Nine. Naka-limang rank game kami at puro panalo.

Nine Angeles: ayaw mo na?

Nagtipa ako ng reply.

Yuan Fortunalez: maya naman.

Nine Angeles: sino tao sa inyo?

Yuan Fortunalez: kami lang ni Kuya

Nine Angeles: okay

Hindi na ako nag-reply kasi hindi ko rin naman kung anong dapat kong i-reply sa 'okay' niya.

Nakatulog ako at nag-tuloy tuloy 'yon kaya paggising ko ay umaga na ng linggo. We spend our Sunday staying at home while playing monopoly. Wala talagang pasok sila Dad, Mom and Ate every sunday dahil sabi nila it's a family day.

One week nalang at semestral break na namin. Then 'yung balik is mga third week na ng December. Kaya naman 'yung tournament sa Thailand, sa sembreak 'yon.

"Saan ka sa sembreak, Yuan?" Hana asked.

Nandito kami ngayon sa cafe shop sa harapan ng school. Uwian na namin kaya nag-decide kami na tumambay muna dito.

I sipped on my iced coffee bago sumagot sa tanong niya.

"Sa bahay lang ako. Sa December nalang daw kami pupuntang other country." I said.

"Sabagay you have an upcoming chess tournament in Thailand naman." tumango pa si Alexa.

Bumaling si Nathalie sa amin, nagbabasa kasi siya.

"Hindi ba pagpipilian muna kayo ni Nine?"

I nod.

"Paano 'yon? Maglalaban kayo?"

Tumango ako kay Hana.

"Next week kami magwa-1v1 ni Nine sa chess then the other week 'yon na yung day ng tournament." I explained. "And if ever matalo daw isa sa amin, makakasama pa rin kami sa Thailand."

"So counted na 'yon as vacation mo!"

I just smiled on Alexa.

It is true that days passed by so quickly. Ngayon, Thursday na kaagad. Bukas ay last day na namin tapos semestral break na. Then finals tapos magugulat na lang kami graduation na.

"I hate volleyball talaga argh!" 'yon ang reklamo ni Alexa pagkapasok namin ng locker room.

Nathalie smirked at her, "Sabihin mo takot ka lang sa bola."

Natawa ako habang nagpupunas ng pawis. Alexa pouted and glared to both of us.

"It's not my fault though. Si Mommy kasi she doesn't want me to play volleyball as a sport." she reasoned out.

"It's alright, Alexa. No need to explain." sabi ko ng nanunuya.

Humarap na ako sa locker ko at binuksan ito. We need to change to our uniforms again because we still have class sa other subjects namin.

"Hey may nahulog from your locker."

"Huh?" taka kong tanong kay Alexa ng lumingon ako sa kaniya.

"'Yan o." the she pointed the paper near my right foot.

"What's that?" Nathalie asked.

Yumuko ako para pulutin ang papel. It's an envelope na naka-sealed pa.

"Admirer?"

Umiling ako kay Nathalie, "I don't think so."

"Gosh what's that?" lumapit si Alexa sa amin.

Magkatabi kami ng locker ni Nathalie while si Alexa sa tapat namin 'yung kaniya.

I opened the white envelope and I saw a black paper inside.

"Mukhang hindi nga sa admirer galing."

"True, Nathalie. Sa black paper pa sinulat and it's kinda creepy, huh."

I opened the paper na naka-fold into crosswise. Halos mabitiwan ko ito ng mabasa ko ang nakasulat.

The two beside me stiffened when they read it.

Not all roses are red
Violets are never blue
You maybe know who I am
I'm from the past that can check you.

It was written with a bloody red ink.

"W-What was that?" Alexa's voice was filled with horror.

"May nant-trip ba sayo? May nakaaway ka ba?"

Napaisip ako sa sinabi ni Nathalie. I don't remember having an enemy except Nine but he can't do this to me.

Although, he's from my past, I know he won't do this to me.

"No. I don't have any enemy." sagot ko sa kanila.

I folded the black paper again and binalik 'yon sa loob ng envelope. Tinapon ko 'yon sa loob ng locker ko at kinuha ang uniform ko. Mabilis kong isinara ang locker ko at umalis na.

"Yuan wait for us!"

"Sandali lang, Yuan!"

I didn't look at them. I can feel my whole body shaking.

Based from the last word of the letter I know that the one who send it is a chess player. If he or she is one of my schoolmate then I can easily know it dahil kaunti lang kaming chess player.

But if he or she is not from our school, then sino siya? Sabi niya galing siya sa nakaraan ko. My former classmates then?

Tulala ako habang nagbibihis. Malakas pa rin ang tibok ng puso ko. Whoever send that letter to me, I don't know what they want.

Napapikit ako ng mariin at nagpakawala ng buntong hininga.

I'll consider that as a death note. It's creepy and the ink! Just to think the color of the ink send shiver to my spine!

Should I tell Nine about this? Alexa and Nathalie knew but they also don't have any idea.

What should I do?