Woodpusher – Ang woodpusher ay isang term para sa mga hindi kagalingan sa larong Ahedres.

(Author’s note: Hi! First and second chess game of this fanfic. As stated in the start of the story, this is not your usual chess notation. Pero ayon hahaha, enjoy nalang siguro? Char.)

Irene’s POV

I can’t believe na I’m skipping two classes for these friendly matches na biglaang in-arrange ng coach namin. I’m excused naman, but mahuhuli ako sa lessons. I can just ask Wendy for notes, but still. Worse is, ang amateur nitong kalaro ko. Nakaka dalawang games na kami pero ayaw niya pa magpalit ng partner kasi hindi pa sila tapos sa first game. Mabilis lang kasi kami natapos.

“You choose your side,” sabi ko sa kalaban ko.

“Ako naman ang mag w-white.”

Inikot ko yung board. Dalawang games na kasi akong white.

Ginalaw niya ng dalawa paharap yung pang apat niyang pawn mula sa aking kanan, (d2-d4). Kanina pang ganito yung opening niya, kaya uulitin ko nalang din yung opening ko kanina. Kasi baka mamaya ay inoobserbahan lang ako nito. Move ko yung left knight ko.

Irene: Ng8 to Nf6

Opponent: c2 to c4

Huh? Hmmm.

Irene: e7 to e5

Tignan natin kung kakainin mo yung pawn ko. Tinignan ko yung kalaban ko. Mukhang hindi.

Opponent: e2 to e3

Irene: Nb8 to Nc8

Nabobored na ako sa game. Bahala na kung ano magalaw ko.

Opponent: d4 to d5

Oh? Gusto mo kainin knight ko?  Bahala ka diyan. Check ko nalang king mo kasi bored na ako.

Irene: Bf8 to Bb4

Opponent: Nb1 to Nc3

Okay, ginalaw niya na knight niya. Atras ko na knight ko.

Irene: Nc6 to Ne7

Matapos pa ang ilang moves, nag castling ako. Tapos pati siya, nakigaya. I want to switch opponents so badly, but I can’t seem to play properly ngayon na wala na ako sa mood kakalaro sa kanya. Wala akong makalarong matino these past few weeks. I’m kind of thinking na gumawa ng mga unnecessary move. Why not?

Irene: Nf6 to Ne4

I moved my knight para makalagalaw yung pawn ko sa f7. Tapos ibalik ko nalang ulit yung knight ko sa f6. Kaso… I think he noticed. He finally moved his queen.

Opponent: Qd1 to Qc2

With this, the queen is pinning my knight na nasa e4. Hmmm. But he can’t do anything sa knight ko kasi I have a pawn sa d5. I’m still moving my pawn anyways.

Irene: f7 to f5

Opponent: Be2 to Bd3

Irene: Ne4 to Nc5

Lol. Nagsasayang lang siya ng moves. Kasi panigurado, babalik lang yung bishop niya sa e2.

Opponent: Bd3 to Be2.

I was right.

After ng ilan pang moves. Nagsisigalawan na yung queens namin. Pero hindi ko na siniseryoso. Ang pangit ng galawan. Is he really a chess player? Woodpusher.

Irene: Nc5 to Ne4

Napapakamot na ng ulo yung kalaban ko. Just give up.

Opponent: Qc2 to Qxe4

Kinain niya yung knight ko. But it’s fine.

Irene: Bd7 to Bf5

“Ayaw ko na,” sabi nung kalaban ko. Finally. Nginitian ko lang siya kahit hindi ako natutuwa.

He resigned.

“Nice playing with you, miss.”

“Same to you,” sabi ko nalang. I don’t know his name and I have no intentions para malaman.

“Malapit na maglunch and then we’ll stay here for another hour ulit. Do you have anyone to eat with?” tanong nung nakalaro ko. Ano pake mo kung may kasabay ako o wala?

“I have someone to eat lunch with.”

“Oh, that’s disappointing. I wanted to get to know you pa sana,” he said tapos nag pout pa. Oh, cringe.

“Btw, I’m Bogum. Bogum Park,” sabay abot niya ng kamay. “What’s your name again?” tanong niya. Do I need to answer?

Gosh, I hate men.

“Irene. Irene Bae.”

“Bae?”

“Yes, why?” tanong ko. Tapos napangisi lang siya.

“Wala naman, pero do you know someone who is named Daniel Kang?”

Kang? Daniel? The one na nahahanap ko na Kang sa chess competitions? Why is he asking? I should just pretend na I don’t kasi baka sabihin eh I’m interested. Pero, come to think of it… university nga nila yung kalaro namin ngayon. So hindi talaga siya kasali sa university team nila? But last time I checked, nasali siya sa mga regional or city competitions. Is he that “good” in playing para i-avoid ang university competitions then directly go sa city/regional/country competitions? As for me kasi, I kind of hated competitions outside university dahil hindi ko naman makakalaro yung Kang na hinahanap ko. Kaya stick nalang ako sa univ comps.

“Ahm, wala” sabi ko.

“Ah, best friend ko kasi ‘yon.”

So?

“But… Bae, huh? Are you the same person na lumaban sa finals last year sa battle of universities?”

“Yes.”

“No wonder, your moves look so familiar.”

What’s with my moves? Don’t tell me…

“Ah, well. I think all moves are familiar naman since usual opening ata talaga yung ginagawa mo.”

Sabi nalang niya. Mukhang nadulas ka? Is my hunch correct? So, he isn’t really playing seriously kanina and inoobserbahan niya lang laro ko? I think it’s a good thing na hindi ko siniseryoso yung laro ko kanina.

“I should go,” no point in talking to him anymore. Maybe we’ll meet nalang sa competitions then I’ll see what’s he’s capable of.

“Okay, nice playing with you.”

*****

“Irene!” sigaw galing sa likuran ko. Kilala ko yung boses na ‘yon.

“Wendy!”

“Walang quiz ngayon kaya don’t worry. Ready for xerox na rin yung notes. Btw, kumusta laro?”

“Tara paxerox muna tayo, kwento ko nalang habang naglalakad.”

“Sige.”

Kwinentuhan ko si Wendy habang naglalakad kami pa bookstore.

“So, ayon. Bored na ako. Parang gusto ko nga na magditch nalang sa second half.”

“Wait, so nalate sila kaya 40mins lang talaga yung game niyo before lunch? Sayang time.”

“Oo nga eh.”

Hindi ko alam kung anong magnetic force ang nangyari at napalingon ako sa labas ng bookstore. Nakita ko yung kalaro ko kanina kasama si…

“Seulgi?”

“Seulgi? Yung nasa psych department? Ano meron?” tanong ni Wendy. Tinuro ko kung nasaan sila.

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