Chess Pieces Endgame: Checkmate

Chapter 31

I was crying while we're on our way back to the hideout. Mahigpit na nakahawak si Death sa mga kamay ko, giving me comfort pero hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang mag-alala para kay Kuya Vander. Sa binti sya natamaan and I know that he will live but still, I'm worried about him.

Tahimik kami sa daan. The grim expression on everyone's face was evident at alam kong pare-parehas kami ng nararamdaman. We're angry. Angry to the gamemaster and to ourselves dahil hinayaan na naman naming mahulog kami sa patibong nila.

I want this game to end. I want everyone of us to live a normal life. "Cause we all deserve it. We don't want to be in this game anymore.

Pagkaparada pa lang ng sasakyan sa harap ng hideout ay mabilis kong binuksan ang pinto. I quickly went out of the car even if I heard Death calling my name. Pumasok ako sa loob ng hideout, almost running but when I saw the scene inside, napatigil ako.

Sobrang gulo sa loob ng living room. The dead bodies of the hired Pawn were nowhere to be found pero ang dugo ay nasa sahig pa din. I bet Hoax already took care of it as L was just sitting on the sofa. Sapo ang ulo habang ang mga siko ay nakapatong sa mga hita nya.

"Where's Kuya Vander?" tanong ko kay Hoax nang makitang pumasok sya sa living room.

He pointed upstairs.

"Ishtar is treating him."

I looked at L first before I decided to went upstairs. My heart was thumping so loud. I know that my Kuya Vander will be okay  but I need to see it with my own eyes first bago ako makalma.

Kuya Vander doesn't have a good fighting skills. He doesn't have a parents who's a chess piece before kaya hindi sya nagkaroon ng training sa pakikipaglaban. He's only in this mess because of me. Because he wanted to take my position as the Pawn of EL Ordre. I was out of the game because of him and my children will not inherit my position.

Kaya kung may masamang mangyari sa kanya ay kasalanan ko.

Padarag kong binuksan ang pintuan sa kwarto nya. Sabay pa silang napatingin ni Ishtar sa akin. She was already dressing his wound when I came in.

"Vexen..." Kuya Vander mumbled my name.

Pinasadahan ko sya ng tingin. He was sitting on the bed while his back was leaning on the headboard. He looked like a mess. Ang pants na suot ay pinunit kung nasaan ang sugat nya so Ishtar can treat it better. Punong-puno ng dugo iyon. But other than that, Kuya Vander looked okay.

Relief flood through me. Nanghihina akong napaupo sa gilid ng kama nya. Ishtar stood up as she was already done treating his wounds. Tumingala ako sa kanya.

"He'll be okay, right?" I asked. Ishtar blinked like she's surprised that I'm talking to her.

She nodded. "Natanggal ko na ang bala. He just needs to rest para mabawi ang lakas nya."

I smiled at her. "Thank you."

Tumingin ako kay Kuya Vander. He looked pale dahil sa dugong nawala sa kanya but a few days rest will make his color came back again. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag.

"I was so scared." I softly said.

Seeing everything happening on the CCTV monitors made me go crazy. That feeling na wala kang magawa kundi ang manood na lang. 'Cause even if we went back, we all know na wala na kaming aabutan so we have no choice but to watch.

Kuya Vander took my hand. Hinawakan nya iyon ng dalawang kamay nya. Ramdam ko ang panghihina sa kanya but he still smiled at me.

"I'm sorry for worrying you pero ayos na ako, Vexen."