THE CHESS GAME

08: VERSUS

WE IMMEDIATELY sat back in our chairs when our next teacher already came. I and Lori just gave each other a stare for a quiet while. She even threw me a death glare as if I will be scared.

So, she did not want boys to know her childish and stupid acts like she always does. Huh.

"The traditional game started 50 years ago. Master Herod needed to implement it in order for the people in Shah City to learn that good life cannot be attained as easily as they thought. It requires sacrifices and eagerness in order for it to acquire." Our teacher, Miss Alyssa Isabella, said. She's our history teacher. I think she's the sister of our Chess teacher---Miss Paz Isabella.

My forehead folded soon after I heard what she said. This is what Herod thought of in order for us to follow his principles in life?! What kind of mind he must have?

"On the first-ever game, the Black Community won. But not only once because right after the next 10 years, they won again for the second time. Which only means that the White community had suffered also for 20 years." Ms. Alyssa went on.

The white community also suffered 20 years before? So if we think about it, we have the same situation as before.

"The people in the White community had suffered too much. They had been belittled by the Blacks, bullied, and enslaved. But look at the situation right now. The table was now really turned." then she looked at us, sternly. "Twenty years ago, the sufferings that the Whites experienced finally ended. They won the battle---we won the Chess Game. Now," she is now roaming around the classroom with her hands being clasps together. "If you want our community to be still in this state. You must win the game."

We all fall into deep thoughts about what our History teacher said. For sure, the Blacks are now hungry to win and bring home the bacon again.

Now, I understand why the people of our community--- the White community---are having this kind of attitude. Same as today, Whites had suffered 20 years and what they did to the Blacks right now is only their revenge for what also the Blacks did to them.

But still, in my perception, we should not keep exchanging revenge. We are living in one City. We should help each other and possibly, we should find a solution to end this tradition. But the question is, how? And when will it end?

I suddenly raised my hand for an apparent reason. All of their eyes were now on me. Without standing, I spoke. "Is there something we can do to end this tradition? Is there a chance that it will end?" I asked Ms. Alyssa.

It is obvious in her face that she did not expect that question to come but she immediately snapped back and smiled. "We don't know. No one dared to try stopping this. Everyone knows Master Herod. Once someone is trying to against his plans or implementations, they will surely face death." My gaze shifted to the floor after I heard her answer. I suddenly fell into deep thoughts.

If so, the situation of this city will remain like this forever. I wonder: if Master Herod will die, will the city still not be changed? Will the next leader still implement the chess game? But I guess, yes. Shah City will remain the same because this is not democratic. We don't have the right to choose our desired leader and probably, Herod will already appoint a next leader who has shared the same intention as he has.

When it is already 11:30 in the morning, Ms. Alyssa left us and instructed us to go back to our dorm to have lunch.

As we go down to our stairs towards our dorm's main door, Lori suddenly spoke. "Uhm, Jobigirl, isn't Ms. Alyssa said that no one dared to go against Herod's mandate?" she muttered, looking at me. I did not respond because surely, it is only senseless and pure trash. "What if you are the only one who can stop this? What do you think?" she went on, smiling.

I raised a brow. What did she say? I will be the one to stop this? Honestly, I really want to stop this traditional game but I know to myself that I don't have the courage to do so.

"I mean... Isn't that what you are good at?" she continued. Everyone also stops walking and silently waiting for her to continue. I just stared at her. "To show off..."

I was left dumbfounded upon hearing her last resort before she walks inside the dorm. I even hear their mocking laughs.

I felt someone patted my shoulder. "Just don't mind them," she said in a low voice and walks after them, leaving us, pawns, outside.

"Let's go, Jobs." Veah held my hand gently towards the door.

Oh, really? Huh.

♨♨♨

AS WE get back to our classroom, we immediately saw chess boards pile on the teacher's table with a small box beside them.

Few moments, Ms. Paz came. "Good afternoon," she greeted us and we replied the same. "This afternoon, you will play chess. I have here 8 chess boards and this means that all of you shall be going to play it by pair," she said. "Though not all of you know how to play chess yet, well... this is the only way for all of you to learn. Because experience is the best teacher, as what they said. Don't treat this game today as a competition between your pair. You are only going to learn. If ever you will win, then good. If not, that's still good! Be a teacher to one another because, in the end, you are a team and not an opponent."

That's what Lori should put in her mind. We should treat each other as a team, not as a slave or her servants.

We just nodded our heads as a response to her. And I just noticed that the boys seemed mesmerized, looking at Ms. Paz who is speaking in front. Well, Ms. Paz is undeniably beautiful, has a good physique, and she's still young. Maybe she's just around 30 years old, as close as our age. The boys probably thought that they will have just a small age gap if they have a chance. Tsk.

"Okay, all you have to do right now is to pick a number inside this small box. And whoever person that has same numbers as you have, that means he or she will be your temporary opponent. But don't take him or her as your competitor, okay? But instead, take him or her as your teacher." she said while letting us pick a rolled paper inside the small box.

Right after we are done picking, she then instructed us to look at our paper to know our respective numbers.

"All number 1, stand up and get your board here," said Ms. Paz, and Rosy and Blyth both immediately stood up. They looked surprised and then gladly get their chessboard piled on top.

Ms. Paz called the next numbers. Until she called my number. "Number 5." I stood up after I heard that and my body wanted to sit again when I noticed that Lori also stood up.

We looked at each other and I saw her smirking. I shook my head. So she will be my opponent, huh? I just don't know how our game will be going. Fate really wanted this. Tsk.

Then we squatted on the floor as instructed. We shall comfortably play chess, squatting. Lori and I already faced each other and the former repeatedly giving me a mocking smirk.

"Good luck, Jobigirl. Make your Queen impress with your moves." she sarcastically said and I just don't bother to reply. We might probably end up arguing with each other.

We have then arranged our chess pieces on the board and immediately start to play. And because I have the white chess pieces, I am the one to make the first move.

I moved the pawn---which is in front of the king---2 squares forward.

Lori's mocking smile is not vanishing since the start of the game. She then moved the Knight.

I think hard first before doing my next move. I shifted my gaze to my other colleagues. I noticed how they have fun in their play. They are smiling, laughing, and even teaching each other. While Lori and I? Nothing. She takes the game seriously. She is really competing with me.

Didn't she hear what Ms. Paz said earlier? We should help each other. But knowing her, that won't gonna happen.

"What now? Aren't you gonna make a move?"

I immediately diverted my gaze back to her. I just sighed and then moved the bishop on vacant squares towards her pawn.

We already have taken many moves. Many pieces have gradually been removed from our board. Compared to me, she's good at chess.

Many times she does a 'check' on my King and many times also I avoided it. I already did the so-called 'castling'. To recall, castling is moving the king two squares towards the rook and the rook on the other hand will jump over the king.

But Lori is just undeniably good. Well, what can I do? Hello, I only just knew their moves but don't even know even a single and basic strategy.

Then suddenly I heard her shouted victoriously. "Checkmate!"

By that, I immediately looked at the board. I saw my King being cornered at the very edge of the board, with her Rook in front and her Queen on the side.

My King was now out of moves. Whatever direction will my king take, it will be still captured. Her Queen and Rook are perfectly teaming up.

I lose.

Now, she looked at me with a smile. An evil smile perhaps. "You really do not belong here, stupid pawn," she said in a low yet firm voice.

Seems like my blood suddenly boils after I heard what she said. I did not prevent myself to stand up and stare at her intently at her eyes. Others have obviously bothered to look at our direction, even Ms. Paz.

My fist trembles. "I surely do not belong here because, in the very first place, I don't want to be here! You understand that?!" I blurted out and forcefully walked out.

♨THE CHESS GAME♨