Knight – Ang knight sa chess ay madalas na tinatawag na horse ng mga baguhan sa chess. Ito ang natatanging chess piece na pwedeng tumalon sa iba pang chess piece. Ang galaw nito ay pa ‘L’ – 3:1 (tatlo paharap at isa pakanan o pakaliwa v.v.). Sa simula ng game may dalawang knights ang bawat player.

Moonbyul’s POV

May nabalitaan ako sa nangyari kahapon. Nagabsent lang ako kahapon tapos may kababalaghan na agad na nangyari. Hindi sana ako magugulat kung may dating scandal si Seulgi, pero iba eh. Iba yung narinig ko. Ayaw ko sana maniwala pero sino ba ako para hindi maniwala? May napapansin ako kay Seulgi minsan pero mas nangingibabaw yung kabobohan niya. Kung iisipin ko, nakaka perfect siya sa finals kaya siya nakakatres sa subjects na nanganganib, pero sabi niya na kodigs lang ‘yon. Naniwala naman ako.

Nagabsent lang ako ng one day tapos nag-iba na agad yung ikot sa klase. Grabe raw kasi, biglang iba yung aura ni Seul nung pinasagot daw siya nung prof namin. Walang nagrecord pero kumalat na agad sa school.

Tinext ko si Seulgi pero hindi ata siya papasok ngayon. Pupuntahan namin siya bukas kapag hindi talaga siya papasok today. Hanggang gabi klase namin eh.  Bukas kasi ay walang pasok dahil magkakaroon ng meeting for incoming exams and events like intramurals. Ang university kasi ang maghhost sa ibang sports.

“Hi Byul!” may lumapit sa akin. Si Dana ata ‘to, yung nagpapakopya sa amin kapag wala kaming sagot. Matanong pala siya kung ano ba talaga ang pinakanangyari. Rumors palang naririnig ko and Joy is kind of annoyed din pero for a reason na I don’t know. Joy asked to talk to me and Irene after our classes and she’s thinking about the same thing. We’ll go to Seulgi’s house tomorrow, but first… we need to know her address.

“Oh, hi Dana.”

“So, you actually remember my name this time?”

Ay, hala. Katakot naman itong si ghorl. Is Dana her name talaga or nickname lang? I asked for nickname eh.

“Anyways, do you know what's happening to Seulgi now? 2 subjects na and hindi pa siya napasok. We only have 2 classes left, mamayang hapon.”

“Hindi nga eh. She’s not replying sa texts and chats ko, tapos hindi rin nagiitim yung bilog sa chats. So, I think she either deactivated or nag-off ng phone or wifi.”

“Grabe kasi talaga yung kahapon, pero I don’t think it’s the reason why she’s absent today. Medyo mababaw, pero medyo galit din yung itsura niya pagkatapos ng klase.”

“I don’t think so too. Kasi ano naman kung nasagot ni Seulgi yung tanong ni ma’am when all of you can’t think of any answers, diba? Parang normal student lang, ganon,”

“Ahm, actually. It was pretty intense yesterday. Iba kasi talaga yung way ng pagsagot niya. She felt so different from what we’re used to.”

Like, how? Lahat ng narinig ko today ay ganito. Gusto ko malaman kung gaano ba talaga siya kaseryoso.

“Wala bang naka video or record sa inyo?” tanong ko. Well to be fair, may delikadesa pa rin naman ang mga students dito sa amin so we respect the class by not using our phones na talagang buklat na buklat sa mata ng prof. But still, baka lang may nakapag video or record.

“Unfortunately, wala. We are all struck to even get our phones from our pockets. Plus, you know naman na we don’t really use phones a lot.”

“Yes. Pero, wala lang. Nagbabakasakali lang.”

“Oh, believe me kung sabihin kong gusto ulit namin mapanood yung scene na ‘yon. It was so intimidating.”

Ebarg naman, Seul. Nakaka curious talaga. Paano ako magfofocus sa class nito kung kabado ako sa magiging usapan namin ni Joy mamaya, tapos sa nangyari kahapon?

“Sayang talaga. I want to see what you all witnessed yesterday. May naaalala ka pa bang mga detalye?”

“Seulgi’s phone wasn’t on mute, tapos tunog ng tunog. May nag t-text ata sa kanya.”

Hmm, sino naman? Bakit, hindi niya ba naririnig? Or sabog na naman utak niya at kung anu-ano iniisip? Atsaka, hindi naman ako nagtext during classes nila. If sunod-sunod ang messages, then tao yung nagt-text at hindi networks or such.

“Tapos ayon, tinawag siya ni Ma’am para sagutin yung bagong sulat sa board.”

“Naalala mo ba yung tanong?”

“We need to find the negation nung statement na ano…”

Oh, negation. I hate logic, nakakabobo kasi.

“All vehicles have four wheels ata ‘yon.”

May mainenegate ba ron? Parang wala naman.

“May sagot ba ron? Mukhang timang naman yung tanong. All na nga tapos inenegate mo pa.”

“That’s exactly what the class thinks, pero Seulgi’s thinking something different.”

“Is she correct?”

“She is.”

Oh, damn.

“Do you remember her answer.”

“I can’t seem to remember her exact words kasi ang sosyal masyado pakinggan.”

“Grabe?”

“But, that’s not really the turning point of everything.”

Huh? Bakit naman? May iba pa bang nangyari? Kasi ang naikot lang ay biglang nagseryoso si Seulgi at nakasagot sa recitation ng matino. Ang babaw nga ng chismis eh, pero ang lakas ng impact. Mukha kasi talagang sira ulo si Seul.

“Then what is it?”

“She defended her answer.”

“Isn’t it normal for some people? Seul is always on the debate naman talaga lagi, kahit puro kalokohan ang sagot.”

“Not in a pilosopo way. Philosophical, if you ask me.”

“Inenglish mo lang eh.”

“No, I mean in tagalog kasi diba we often associate pilosopo sa—”

Ito naman, masyadong seer use. Nag jjoke lang eh.

“Alam ko naman, jinojoke lang kita” tapos natawa siya. “Well, continue continue.”

“So ayon, the way she explained her answer and defended it as well… ibang-iba.”

“If you were to compare, how different is it?”

“We all know her as class clown, right?”

“Yes.”

“Hmmmm…” nagiisip siya. “I don’t know eh. But she talks as if she really knows her things. She didn’t spare any second. Parang alam niya na yung tanong agad and alam niya na rin yung isasagot niya.”

*****

Joy’s POV

I already talked to Irene and now I know what happened. Apparently, she figured out that Seulgi plays chess. I felt betrayed once again pero what can I do? I am aware with a bit of her family history and if I’m correct, then it has something to do with them. All I know is she never played chess seriously, it’s as if she’s worse than a child na nakakalimot ng basic rules and moves. I know her capabilities when it comes to acads, that’s why nung napuno ng tres yung card niya ay inaway ko siya.

It's not her. It’s not like her.

She’s a genius, if we can consider her one. Pero her knowledge is not something na nagpalayo sa amin, and that’s why I liked her in a way na best person siyang kaibiganin. She’s not arrogant, she’s not boastful, she’s doesn’t look down on people that is way below her intelligence. She’s humble and kind. The Seulgi that is roaming in this college is not the Seulgi I know. Pero what can I do? I already tried confronting her na she doesn’t need to act stupid for people to be convinced na she is one, kasi it’s seriously a big effort to do so. She’s not stupid, but she acted one.

I was shocked to know na hindi siya nag architecture. Ayon yung gusto niya eh. Since first year, nag bbrag na siya na mag t-take siya ng architecture and she’ll build the greatest comfort area. At first, we’re not so sure but what she meant. But as months went by, us – her close friends nung high school, ay naintindihan na kung ano ba ang ibig niyang sabihin. She’s a neglected child, but with her attitude… hindi mo halata. She’s sweet, caring, smart, thoughtful, generous, kind, basta. She is that girl na maa-attract ka because of her inner beauty. Not saying na she’s not beautiful, because she is. She is almost perfect.

Almost perfect lang, kasi her life will never be one.

I was betrayed many times pero I felt her sincere apology everytime. Alam ko na napakatago niyang tao when it comes to her problems, pero iba kasi talaga kapag nasobra na. I want her to open to us more. Hindi yung inaako niya lang mag-isa. Mukha na akong marupok dahil nandito pa rin ako kahit na ang dami niyang tinatago, kasi nga nararamdaman ko na hindi siya peke. Seulgi is genuine, and she has her reasons kung bakit siya matagong tao. I know, I can feel it. I asked her once, pero she just brushed me off. Ang tagal kong hinihintay na magopen up siya, pero kung sa ngayon ay hindi niya pa rin kaya, then... 

 I’ll go.

I hate to, but I need to. If I need to force her for the last time, then I will. Pero if she’s so persistent with her secrets then hindi ako magdadalawang isip na umalis. The only thing I can promise is I can go back once she’s ready to tell me everything. I know my worth as a friend, and if she doesn’t… then what’s the point of staying? I hate to think na I’ll leave her pero she needs to realize na nandito ako. Nandito ako dati pa. She was there for me, and I was so willing to give back what she has done. I wasn’t alone, and ayaw ko rin siyang maiwanan mag-isa. She deserves to have someone beside her, and I do hope na she’ll realize it.

That’s why, bukas na bukas din… I will go to her house. No, hindi pala. Not just me, but with Byul and Irene. Irene said that she owes her an apology for what she did. Pero she had her reasons, and she needs explanation din. We all do, to be honest. Byul’s still unaware of what’s happening so kakausapin ko siya mamaya. She needs to join us bukas. Pati si Yeri, gusto sumama. Akala niya kasi, hindi pumasok si Seul dahil hindi niya binilhan ng yema at meringue kaya sasama raw bukas to give it to her. Sinabi ko na yung rason kung bakit kami pupunta,