Chapter 24 | Check

The uncomfortable feeling kept on disturbing me every passing day. I got nervous not because of the upcoming district chess competition but because of the possibility that could happen to me and Lukan.

Umaga ng Martes, na sa paaralan na ako para sa training naming sa chess. Five players kami, akala ko kasi noon ay kaming dalawa lang ng napili ni coach. Iyon pala, may isa pang coach na pumili rin ng makasasama namin.

Magandang opurtunidad ang patimpalak na ito para sa akin, bukod sa dagdag puntos ay mas lalo pa akong gumagaling sa larong ito.

"Check," deklara ko.

Nginitian ko ang aking kasamang natalo ko sa ikalawang pagkakataon. I cornered his king using my knight and queen.

"I didn't see that coming," natatawa niyang sabi.

"Well-played," I said smiling.

Change the winner kaya umalis na ako sa aking inupuan at tumungo sa aking bag. I was about to get my phone when someone called me, not far from my distance.

"Zorron!" tawag sa akin ng aming coach.

Lumapit ako sa kanya nang may taka sa mukha. My question got answered by the man beside our coach. My eyes darted at him, ignoring the coach fully.

"Makikilaro daw sa 'yo si Lukan ngayon?" our coach asked.

I blinked and gazed my eyes on coach.

"Ah... opo," aking sagot.

Saka ko lamang napansin na, oo nga, maglalaro kami! For the first time! I quickly glanced at Lukan and the brute was smiling ear to ear. I wanted to roll my eyes yet I decided not to, baka ma-misunderstand ni coach.

"Sige. Do'n na lamang kayo sa sulok maglaro. Kunin mo ang isang chess board sa table," coach ordered me.

I only nodded dahil baka mautal pa ako kung magsasalita. Agad kong kinuha ang chess board at tumungo sa sulok kung na saan ang lamesang pangdalawahan. Lukan sat infront of me, like the usual set up in a game. I placed the chess board above our table and opened it to get the pieces.

"Nakatulog ka ba?" he mockingly asked.

Sinulyapan ko siya habang inayos ang mga pieces.

"Oo naman," I answered like I was dismissing him.

Ayan! Good. Puwede na akong best actress nito sa pagtatago ng kaba.

"You look tensed," puna niya.

I raised a brow and looked at him. He wasn't affected, his smile remained mocking me.

"Feeling mo lang 'yon," walang kuwenta kong sabi.

Lukan chuckled as if he knew I lied.

"Ang sabihin mo, masyado lang akong g'wapo para sa umagang 'to," he proudly said.

Ayos, ha?

"E 'di ikaw na," natatawa kong sabi.

"Ah, so, totoong guwapo ako?" he amusingly asked me.

Why were we talking about this anyway? He wanted a compliment so bad at ako ang nakita niyang puwedeng asarin.

"Mukha kang tao, iyon ang mahalaga," I answered instead.

He jokingly groaned in frustration.

"You confessed to me tapos simpleng sabi lang na guwapo ako, hindi mo magawa?" he demanded.

My cheeks blushed as I re-imagine what he said.

"Ang drama mo. Oo na, guwapo ka na pero ngayong umaga lang," I said.

"Akala ko ba never akong magiging g'wapo sa pananaw mo?" he teased.

Tignan mo 'to.

"Sinabi ko na ngang oo, 'di ba? Ayaw mo pa? Oh sige, wag na," I irritatingly hissed.

Padabog kong binaliktad ang board na kanyang ikinatawa. This brute really liked teasing me, malaki man o maliit na bagay.

"Tinalo ko na ba si Model ng Alaska?" he asked.

I knew he meant Eros and I couldn't help to chuckle at his nickname for Eros.

"Oo na," natatawa kong tugon.

"Ayon naman pala. May pag-asa na talaga ako," he said and even looked up as if thanking God.

Ang landi ng usapan namin!

"Oo na. Anong kulay ka?" I asked.

"Black na lang." he answered.

We started arranging our specific pieces to each edges of the board. S'yempre, dahil puti ako, ako ang unang gumalaw. Hindi na kami muling nagsalita nang nagsimula na ang laro.

We were both focused and serious on the game. I didn't want to lose without even trying my best nor win because Lukan let me. We were silent as we moved each pieces. I observed his moves and I sometimes predict his next step. My prediction didn't match his real move that somehow amazed me.

Lukan was a difficult opponent.

Hindi ko napigilang hindi siya lingunin. Pasimple akong nagnakaw ng tingin habang siya'y na sa kalagitnaan ng pag-iisip. His face remained calm and blank as he stared at his pieces. He wouldn't take off his eyes on the game. The playful and jolly Lukan was gone and I couldn't resist to admire him more.

I immediately looked down when me made a move. I scanned my pieces and tried to think which of them should I move. I got lost because of Lukan's seriousness, stupid, Mia.

Wala akong maisip na itirang piece kaya ginalaw ko na lamang ang aking knight sa kung saang tile. Ayon pala, kapag ginalaw ko ang aking knight, makakain ang queen ko ng kanyang rook!

What the? Wala pang back-up upang maiwasang kunin ang aking queen. Frustration ate my system and I complained because of it.

"Wrong move, bakit gano'n?" panic and irritation were evident on my voice.

Tinawanan niya lamang ako habang halos ma-iyak na ako sa katangahang ginawa.

Na-Lukanzoned ako ro'n, ha? Hindi na talaga ako titingin sa kanya!

Ayaw ko pa namang namamali ang move ko tuwing naglalaro. Magkamali man ay ayos lang hangga't hindi malalaking pieces ang mawawala. Nakakainis ka talaga, Mia!

"Na-Lukanzoned ako, nakakainis," I whispered.

Tawa lamang siya nang tawa habang bulong ako nang bulong ng mga kung ano-ano tungkol sa kanya.

"Hindi ko naman alam na seryoso pala itong laro natin?" I jokingly asked.

"Pwes, sige... seryoso na ako! Nako talaga Lukan nanggigigil ako sa 'yo," I said with humor.

Umiling lamang siya nang nakangisi.

We continued playing and I wasn't distracted again. Every move felt heavier and our pieces slowly went out.

Malapit na ang kanyang queen sa first row ng aking side, kung na saan ang aking king. Sumakto namang may bishop ako na kasing-lane ng kanyang queen sa 'di kalayuang bahagi—kaya kinuha ko ang opurtunidad na kunin ang kanyang queen gamit ito.

He got alerted of my unexpected move, he didn't see it coming. I clapped my hands in excitement as if I already won the game.

"Ay we?" he reacted.

Pumiyok pa ang kanyang boses na parang na-ipit at ang mukha... priceless! I genuinely laughed because of his reactions. Hindi makapaniwala ang loko at ipinaglaban pa ang kanyang sarili.

"Di! Mali ka! Di mo pwedeng kainin—"

"Awat na. Puwede kaya! Na sa white tile ang queen mo at ang bishop ko. Tanggapin mo na kasi!" pang-aasar ko.

He got irritated of my previous move kaya naman hindi siya nagpatalo. We continued the game until two pieces were left from the both of us.

"Wala ka bang planong patigilin 'to?" naiinip kong tanong.

Paano ba naman kasi, rook and king na lamang ang natitira sa 'min, paano magkaroroon ng panalo rito? Unless, magkamali siya ng move at sakto kong na-check ang king niya... but that would take so much time because neither of us wanted to lose.

Sumandal siya pagkatapos kong magreklamo.

"Wala," sagot sa seryosong boses.

So, buong magdamag kami rito?

"Parang itong laro natin, walang katapusan—walang katapusan kitang mamahalin," hirit niya.

Biglang gano'n? I glared at him and he was smirking at me. I rolled my eyes and chuckled afterward. Ang korni niya bakit? Yumuko ako upang itago ang namumulang pisngi. I heard him laugh. Aba, pinagtawanan pa ako nito.

"You're still shy, huh?" he mocked.

Ewan ko sa 'yo.

"Ewan! Tara na nga! Draw na tayo!" I said with finality.

Siya ang nagligpit ng mga gamit at ako naman ang nagbalik sa table ni coach.

"Hey, may klase na akong magsisimula. Aalis na ako," pagpa-alam niya.

Oo nga pala't tanghali na. Ako rin naman ay may klase na.

"Sige," I nodded.

"Teka... may nakikita ako sa mukha mo," he said.

Kumunot ang aking noo at naalerto na baka may dumi sa mukha.

"Ano?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

"Nakikita kong gustong gusto mo ako," he answered.

'Tong lalaking 'to!

"Ewan!" I commented.

Binatukan ko siya ngunit humalakhak lamang ang loko.

"Hindi ko alam kung kikiligin ba ako o maiinis," I chuckled.

He laughed and said, "Sorry. Wala akong maisip, e. Ikaw lang kasi."

Aba naman.

"Ewan! Lumayas ka na nga at mag-aral!" natatawa ko ring sabi.

I spent the whole class listening on the lessons and participating on the activities. Sa uwian ay hindi na sumabay si Lukan dahil mayroon daw siyang aasikasuhin.

When I got home, wala pa ang aking mga magulang at si ate. Their presence always tensed me specially when they were near or was it my guilt for disobeying?

I ate early dinner alone kasi may gagawin pa akong mga take home activities. I cleaned myself and changed clothes after dinner. I busied myself on my school works rather than waste my time for overthinking. Halos malunod na ako sa kagagawa at kasasagot ng mga ito.

I ended all of my works at exactly ten of the evening. Habang inaayos ko ang aking mga gamit, may katok mula sa labas ng aking kuwarto akong narinig.

"It's open," I shouted.

The door opened and my mom went in. I stand still instead of continuing my cleaning.

"Ma?"

"Nak, gusto lang kitang kausapin," she said and smiled.

I hesitated to speak and to move. The nervousness consumed me without any particular reason. I exhaled slowly to let out the heavy feeling.

"Sure," I unconsciously said.

Umupo si mama sa aking kama at pinagmasdan pansamantala ang aking kuwarto at ginagawa. Naglakad ako patungo sa kanya at tumabi nang nakalapit.

We looked into each other's eyes when no one spoke. I immediately looked down because I couldn't face my mother.

"Ano iyon, ma?" I asked.

"Alam ko," she said.

"A-Ano pong alam ninyo?" I asked again.

"Iyong tungkol sa inyo ni Lukan... " she answered.