"No more thesis na si antie! Pwede na natin siya kulitin!"
Tumawa ako sa reaksyon ni Raign. She was jumping like an kangaroo because tapos na 'yong thesis. It was blood, sweat and tears for hell's sake! Good thing that kahit papaano nag cooperate din yung mga classmates ko and answered the questions properly nung nagdedefense. Katakot! Pero katakot pa rin si Daddy tho.
Shocks. This past few days, he's been hardheaded as hell because of work purposes but good thing I started to do well at school again kaya wala siya masabi sa 'kin. I take all Yahwi's advice from here to there and I proudly to say, I'm started to healing. Not alone anymore, but with my mom now. She's always been there for me now and she's been extra nice too and so I also return the kindness she shown to me because she also deserve that love and care after all the mistreated dad did to her, to us.
Isang taon. Nakakahinayang ang mga panahon na 'yon dahil wala pa rin akong balita about him. It's been a year. I've been living my life that I wished for my whole existence here on earth yet... There's still missing.
And that's him. His existence. I miss his existence. I still miss him being around. Marupok na kung marupok pero miss ko talaga siya, walang magagawa ang mundo dahil miss ko na siya kaya I miss you very much, balik ka na sa 'kin. Uwu. Charot.
"Sasali ka din ba sa chess competition?" Raign suddenly asked me kaya napabalik ako sa reyalidad.
Napapikit ako saglit at uminom ng tubig para huminto na kaka-isip.
"I guess. Not sure if may space pa 'yong sched ko next month," I replied.
"Sana all may schedule, when mo kaya ako isingit sa schedule mo kasi I wanna spend the rest of my life with you, babe," Raign winked at me and I gagged jokingly. "You're so bad."
"That's 0/10, Raign. My dog can do better pick up line than you," Gwin grinned.
"Are you talking about yourself? Should I applause for you?"
"Stop! Sniper no sniping," sabi ko sa kanila.
"You guys are so childish," I heard Jil said when she walk pass to us.
"Those dogs keep barking like they thought they're bulldog or something. Little did they know, they're Chihuahua," Raign rolled her eyes.
Tumawa ako. "Back to the topic, sasali ka rin ba sa chess?" I ask her.
She smile. "Of course!" She said. "Not," she added.
"Then why the heck are you doing on a chess club?" Gwin scoffed.
"Naligaw nga yung application ko. Dapat sa arts club ako! Hindi sa chess, kaloka naman auntie!" She frustratedly said. "But it's fine kasi nakilala ko naman ka 'yo dahil dun. Bonus, we're also classmates until now."
We talked about chess for so long that we didn't realized the time we consumed. Plus Hindi rin nagtalo yong traffic. The traffic didn't let up either and we were stuck there for almost an hour so I got home even late.
"Ginabi ka ata," mom said when I came to her to kiss her cheek. "How's the thesis goes?"
I smile. "Of course, it did well. I'm Maiana Gabrielle Hermé after all," I said like I'm full of myself, jokingly.
She chuckled and ruffles my hair. Umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko pagkatapos at nag-aral na naman kasi tapos na yung thesis, means, back to reality na ako. Nagpahinga na ako afterwards.
"Kinakabahan ako," Gwin said when we're on our way papuntang district competition. Napatigil ako sa pag-text kay mom sa biglang pagsabi ni Gwin.
"Don't be."
She rolled her eyes. "What do you mean 'don't be'?" She asked. "Whatever, you're Maiana Gabrielle Hermé after all. You win every competition you joined."
I rolled my eyes and just comfort her all the way. We've been practicing chess for a while now and I believe at her, she's actually good for real and I keep saying her that pero ayaw niya talaga maniwala. Then, she ended up sleeping halfway kasi na traffic pa kami.
Nakarating na kami at nag picture picture muna kami habang nag ceceremon. Tinatamad ako makinig kaya I decided to roam around and that where I realized that I was wrecked up kasi puno na ng tao ang likod ko at wala akong choice kaya makipagsiksikan para lang makaalis.
I was gasping of air when I escaped the crowd. May mga naamoy pa nga ako, e. Joke lang.
"And that's all, goodluck for your competition!"
I cursed under my breath when the crowd I escaped was starting to bump me. What the hell?! Halos hindi ako makahinga para lang maka takas dun ta's tapos na agad?
I took a deep breath para ilabas lahat ng frustration na nararamdaman ko. As soon as I opened my eyes I saw a familiar face that I'm missing for a year now.
"Is that Yahwi?"
Napatingin ako kay Gwin. "I guess, it does look like him."
"Miss muna na siya, noh? Yakapin mo na ang iyong sugarplumsugarpie."
I rolled my eyes. "Why don't you do that instead?" I crossed my arm.
She scoffed. "No thanks. Baka magselos ka pa," she said. "But he changed a lot though. He has lot friends than before."
I just nodded. It's true. I'm kinda worried that he don't know me anymore kaya nahihiya ako mag approach sa kaniya. Well, maybe because of my past mistakes, maybe he did choose to forget me and live differently.
I sighed and about to walk away pero napatigil ako kasi bigla nagtama ang mga tingin namin. Hindi ko alam but I just froze there, unable to do anything. He told something to his friends bago siya tumakbo patungo sa 'kin. He was smiling brightly like as if I've done nothing to him before.
"Hi," he said.
Gwin leaned in to me para bumulong. "Wow, his voice changed also. A bit nga lang."
Siniko ko siya at ngumiti kay Yahwi. "Hey."
He was about to say something when his friends called him. Lumingon siya muna do'n bago ulit tumingin sa 'min. "I'm glad that you're here. Goodluck to us." Tumango ako sa kaniya and signaled him that his friends was calling him. "So, yeah. See you around, Maiana."
I just smiled and he goes back to his friends. Napahinga ako at tinignan si Gwin.
"I almost passed out," I said like my soul just fly away to my body.
She tap my shoulder. "Don't worry, kahit papaano napakilig niyo naman ako."
Napailing nalang ako at tinignan ulit si Yahwi na ngayon naglalakad rin papunta kung saan din kami maglalaro. Oh, so he's playing chess? Exciting. Very exciting if magkalaban kami.
***
I could hear the silence atmosphere. The people around us was watching our next move. I could feel my hands getting colder everytime my enemy move her hand. It's the last round. I heard that Yahwi won from the last round which was he will compete in the division. We don't know yet if sino yung kasama niya, it's either me or this girl right in front of me.
"I bet Hermé will win."
"Nah, I think her enemy will win. Tignan mo yung sa kaniya, obvious na matatalo na 'yan."
"As far as I'm seeing Hermé played. Kahit gaano ka impossible na manalo siya, nanalo 'yan."
I close my eyes and took a deep breath silently.
My enemy move her horse on the left side which was the front of it was pawn and bishop and the side of it was rook. I saw a bit panick on her eyes in instant, regretting her move.
Just about I was about to move my bishop when suddenly we heard a noise from the outside. May mga tao na tumayo at sumilip kung ano 'yon pero I just stayed on my seat and continue the game. Just when I met the enemies eyes, she was calmed but there's form of guilt. I know it's not scared of losing like earlier because her stare was different.
"G-go on," she said.
I nodded silently and move my bishop. I was surprised that suddenly she move her queen to my king which was means...
"C-checkmate," she muttered that the audience attention turned to us.
I lost.
But it wasn't there. The queen wasn't there earlier. I was sure!
The girl was announced the winner and the audience praised her and congratulated. Meanwhile me, they're comforting me and telling me 'better luck next time'.
I sigh as I watch the last announcement which was the winners. The girl look so happy and same goes with Yahwi.
I just stared at him while he was searching for something. Sakto naman ay tapos na yung announcement keneme nila kaya agad na akong umalis at pumunta sa parking lot.
"Why are you sad again, Maiana Gabrielle," I talked to myself because I felt heavy again. I wanna cry or something like that.
"Are you okay?"
As soon I heard the familiar voice, I look at him with a bit suprise. He was just looking at me with a worried smile on his face. It felt so sincere and comforting.
I sigh and shook my head. What's the point of lying? Alam niya naman na hindi ako okay pag sinabi ko oo, 'di ba?
I thought he was going to say 'it's okay' or 'it'll be okay' but no. He smiled and opened his arm. Hindi pa nga ako nakapag-isip pero ang alam ko lang ay napakagat ako ng ilalim labi ko para pigilan ang pag-iyak but my tears disappoint me and they keep falling and I just found myself, embracing his arms.
"Why are you crying?" He asked.
"Are you stupid?" I rolled my eyes. "Of course because I'm sad. The queen wasn't there earlier. I swear," my voice cracked as I explained.
"Are you sure?"
"Don't you trust me?"
He laugh and hugged me tight. "I know how sad it is for you. Just let it all out, I'll keep my mouth shut so you'll not embarrassed yourself that you're hugging me."
"So gentleman, Esparez," I sarcastically said and he chuckled.