A Stalemate

Chapter 12

Delphine's POV

I opened my eyes and one look at the wall clock above the door, I know I woke up earlier before my alarm can ring. I rubbed my eyes before standing up and turning off my alarm.

Isang katok ang narinig ko na sinundan pa ng ilang katok pag gising ko pa lamang. Binuksan ko ang pintuan at niluwal nito si Lance.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty!" bati nito na may malaking ngiti sa kanyang labi. May dala itong kape at pang-umagahan.

We might not be completely okay but I'm glad he's trying. I should put an effort just as he is doing.

I opened the door wider and gestured for my best friend to come in. "Umupo ka muna. Maliligo lang ako real quick."

Dumiretso siya sa kama ko at nahilata doon. "Sure. Take your time, Delvi. Makikialam na lang ako ng mga gamit mo."

Inirapan ko siya bago kinuha ang tuwalya ko at dumiretso sa paliguan na pinakamalapit sa kwarto ko. Unfortunately, it was occupied so I had to go to another bathroom.

As much as I wanted a long bath, I can't because Lance is waiting for me. I twisted the knornob to open the door but I heard voices inside. Idiots, why didn't they lock it?

"So sa tingin mo may makukuha tayong impormasyon sa chess system sa juniors?"

"May be. Baka may clue din sa jengga system. Ang malas kasi natin. Hindi tayo dito nagjunior high."

"Oo nga eh. Balita ko lahat ng students sa Class Z at ilan sa class Y dito nag-junior high."

The junior high school students, huh? Why did I never think of that?

"Tara na. Gusto ko magshopping."

Madali akong nagtago sa gilid ng hallway para hindi nila malaman na nasa labas lang ako kanina at nakikinig sa usapan nila. Nang umalis sila tsaka naman ako pumasok. Ini-lock ko na din ang pinto upang walang makapasok.

This is a competition. Giving information to other students and sections will make you lose.

I took a quick bath and then dried myself. Next, I dried my hair with a hair dryer that was in the cabinet below the sink. After that, I changed into my uniform, styled my hair, and applied powder and lip balm.

After I finished getting ready, I decided to finally look at the architecture and design of the bathroom because I haven't been in one in the dormitories.

In front of me is a huge vanity mirror with three white chairs with red cushion on it, it's table coated in pink. By the table are products, equipments, and make-ups that girls' use. Then below is a storage cabinet where they keep dry towels, tissues, and cleaning equipments.

On the ceiling, there are chandeliers and below is a shower room on the right and in the middle, a huge, wide, and white bathtub.

What fine luxury. Matapos ko pa tingnan ang ibang sulok at disenyo ng paliguan, lumabas na ako dala ang tuwalya at gamit ko. Bumalik ako sa kwarto ko kung saan ko natagpuan na kumakain ng cookies na pinadala ng tita ko galing Australia si Lee.

"Lee!! Why are you eating MY cookies?" hinablot ko ito sa kanya habang patawa-tawa pa siya na nakaupo sa study chair ko.

"You were taking too long and I got hungry," natatawang tugon ng kaibigan ko.

"Kaya ka nga may dalang pagkain, 'di ba?" inirapan ko siya at itinago na ang lalagyan ng cookies.

"Nah. I brought that so we can eat breakfast together. Hindi ako mauuna noh."

I looked away, hiding a smile on my lips. Baka wala naman talagang magbago. I'm just constantly negative kaya inakala kong may magbabago.

"Come here. Let's eat."

Tumango ako at umupo sa kama ko. Please let it be like this. Sana wala talagang magbago.

_ _ _ _

Vedh's POV

It was already night when I came back to my room. Kakagaling ko lang sa trabaho at dumiretso na ako sa kwarto ko para magpalit.

Nagpalit ako at nagsuot ng isang plain black t-shirt at shorts. Matapos noon, agad kong tinapos ang mga homeworks ko nang makaramdam ako ng gutom kaya kinuha ko ang wallet ko at lumabas.

I was walking silently in peace when I heard unfamiliar noises nearby. Nang silipin ko kung ano ang narinig ko, nalaman kong mga estudyante  mula sa junior high school department ang narinig ko dahil sa unipormeng suot nila.

Napagdesisyonan kong tumago sa likod ng poste at mga puno malapit dito at makinig sa mga nag-uusap na estudyante dahil nag-uusap sila tungkol sa sistema ng year nila.

"Fuck. How does our classmates keep getting eliminated?" dinig kong tanong ng isang lalaki sa mga kasamahan nito.

"We're missing something important about the jengga system," sabi naman ng lalaki ding kasama nila.

"I don't know how our system suddenly became so hard when it's not as complicated as the chess system," saad naman ng isang babae na siyang huling kasama nila.

"Oo nga eh. Balita ko pipili na ang student council ng magiging king ng bawat section."

"Kawawa naman kung sino magiging-" Hindi natapos ng babaeng nagsasalita ang sasabihin niya dahil agad tinakpan ng lalaking nagtanong kanina ang bibig niya.

"Don't continue. Baka may makarinig sa'yong transferee. Malalagot tayo sa students ng class Y and Z."

Tumango ang babae. "Oh, right. Sorry."

"Mag-ingat ka sa bawat salitang sasabihin mo sa school na 'to. Alam mo namang monitored tayo," sabi pa ng lalaking kanina pa kausap ng dalawa.

"Let’s just head back and talk about this in Meimei's room." Sumunod naman ang dalawa sa lalaking nagsalita at agad silang umalis mula sa kinakayuan nila.

Meimei? She's the girl who spoke something about whatever she thinks is pitiful to be chosen in the chess system. Tingin ko marami siyang alam tungkol sa sistema ng senior high school students at ganoon na rin ang dalawang lalaking kasama niya.

I've always wondered about the chess system. If they apply chess rules in it, then why would they say the king is the most powerful when he's weak compared to the other pieces in the game? The king in a game of chess is not an attacker because it's only purpose is to be protected.

I'm getting closer to the answers I'm looking for and I'm certain that the systems are not just simply what is seen and heard from the higher-ups.

Naglakad ako palayo sa lugar na 'yon. I bought ramen and water from a nearby convenience store bago ako bumalik sa kwarto ko at nagmadaling buksan ang laptop ko.

My laptop is not officially registered sa school. That's why it's perfect for the job I'm about to do. I hacked into the school's camera footages and deleted the video where I'm seen to be watching and listening to my lower classmen, including this very footage where I opened my laptop and hacked into the school's property.

I did some tweaking and made sure that anyone who checks it will not notice that a few footages are missing.

Matapos noon ay kumain na ako at mahimbing na tulog.

You'll never win the game if you reveal your strategies. Act like a fool, Ezequiel.