HE Who Saw the Deep

Chapter 12

As much as I want to not think about it that night. I ended up not getting enough sleep. If ever I did sleep, then it was nearly morning.

Unang ginawa ko nang magising ay binuksan ang social media account ko. Madalas ay may chat si Eron pero mukhang nakuha niya ang punto ko kagabi at talagang seryoso rin siyang pumayag sa gusto ko. No messages at all.

I shook my head. The guts of me to think of him messaging me when I spat ill words at him!

Sa susunod na week na ang intramurals kaya mas madalas ang pagp-practice namin ng chess. Kasabayan ko palagi si Elijah at diretso kami sa bahay nila Miz pagkatapos.

I haven't seen him around either.

"Ang busy ng mga seniors dahil sa research, pero mas inaabangan ko ang intramurals." Masayang litanya ni Johann hindi pa nagsisimula ang klase.

"Sinong sumali sa mga clubs? Ichi-cheer ko kayo!" Pasigaw na tanong ng isa sa mga kaklase ko.

"I-cheer niyo kami ni Eryna. Chess club." Eli raised his hand lazily and smirked at me.

Naghiyawan ang iilan sa mga kaklase ko.

"My gosh, nasa club niyo ata iyong crush kong senior! Huwag kayong magpapatalo!" Ang isa pa sa mga kaklase kong parang na electrocute sa tabi dahil sa kilig.

Nagtawanan kami.

"Go through your individual piece's missions. Forget memorizing overrated moves. Malalaman agad 'yan ng opponent mo." Ani Elijah habang naglalaro kaming dalawa.

"It's always important to know how to play the middle game. Atleast after your witty opening. Don't rush too much, it'll affect your moves." Dagdag niya habang nag-iisip akong tumira.

I castled on the left side to prepare my knight at the center.

"Woah, that's too soon." Ngumisi siya sa akin.

Naiirita na ako sa bibig ni Elijah. He's all talk, I can't focus. He moved his queen.

I was about to move my knight when I realized he's making a move on me. Queen's Gambit, huh. That's a popular move, I knew that actually. Ngumisi ako at hinayaan siya.

He can't attack that fast. I have my bishop on stand by. I laughed inwardly and smirked at him.

Umiling ako nang tama ang hinala ko sa mga sumunod na move niya. Damn, muntikan na sana akong manalo if I haven't made a blunder! Now I'm on a disadvantage side. Nauubos niya na ang pawn ko at iilang officials.

He's enjoying the game and I'm getting all worked up here. Ano ba naman ang laban ko sa chess master na'to?

Now my choice is to delay his attack. I have my rook on e1. To check him, I need support. I smiled inwardly when I realized that my knight can support if I'd put it on f6.

Then I moved. I watched his eyes seriously analyze my move. Ngumisi siya.

"Are you sure? That's blunder." He smirked and  moved his knight on c3. Damn! Hindi ko nakita iyon!

I displayed a surrendering image. "Grabe ka na," Tumawa ako.

Ni hindi na dumaan sa pag-check lang eh! Talagang na checkmate agad! We shook hands after and stood up to let the other players play next.

"I think that's enough for today?" Tumawa si Eli

"Goodluck nalang sa intrams," Sambit ko sabay labas ng room.

"Laurier! Chryses!" Napabaling kami sa kinaroroonan ng tumawag.

It was Johann who's waving his hands, tila gustong palapitin kami. Nagkatinginan kami ni Elijah nang makita kung sino ang katabi nito. Nakatalikod si Eron sa amin, mukhang nag-uusap sila tungkol sa kung ano. He's holding a guitar, mukhang nagp-practice tumugtog.