THE CHESS GAME

12: PAWN PROMOTION

TODAY, WE have seen chess boards again that are piled on the table. Miss Paz is not yet here and we just sat in our chairs.

On my back, Lori suddenly gives me a quick snob. Maybe she wanted to do such annoying things like before but she could not do it because the boys are there. Very pretentious, isn't she?

A few moments later, Ms. Paz already came who is holding the small box. "Good morning," she greeted us and we did the same. "Just like the last time, you will play chess again," she said. "But please... treat each other as your team---not an enemy." As she said that, she looked at Lori who is now smirking while crossing her arms.

Ms. Paz is walking back and forth in front of us. "As what I've said, you are a team. You'll carry the name of the whole White Community. Help each other to grow. Your greatness or good skills in chess will turn out nothing when you alone is the only one having that kind of skill. Every one of you should." she said with full conviction.

Right after, she instructed us to pick a number again inside the small box. I recited Our Father and Hail Mary countless times, praying that I can pick a number not the same as Lori's.

And I guess... God answered my prayer. Ren will be my opponent this time---my fellow pawn. This is better!

"Hi, Jobella," he said, smiling, as soon as we both squatted on the floor. He looks kind---well he really is. I replied to him the same

way.

I then roamed around my gaze and I mentally laugh when I saw Gina and Lori are facing each other. Great. The play between two evils. I prevent myself from laughing at my own thoughts.

We are now started playing. Unlike before that Lori is my opponent, I enjoyed the game this time with Ren. I learned so many moves from him. He has said si many techniques that could really help in the game.

"It's okay. You are improving." he cheerfully said while handed his hand towards me. I accepted it wholeheartedly and gave him a congratulations handshake.

Well, this is a good defeat. The feeling that I lose yet with so many learnings. I give him thanks and he accepted it. A few minutes after, Ms. Paz dismissed us for our lunch break.

To be clear, we only have 3 classes each day. The chess, history, and training classes. And speaking of training, two kilos were added to our waist. This means that we are carrying 7 kilos already and as usual, we do adjustments again for us to be used to the added weight.

Before I could leave the classroom, I halted when Ms. Paz suddenly called my name. "Uhm, Jobella, could you please help me carry this stuff in our room?" she said while pointing the chess boards on top of the teacher's table.

Without any ado, I nod. "Okay sure, Ms. Paz." I then responded and get all the remaining chess boards.

I gestured to Mami V that they will go-ahead to the dorm and I will just follow right after I help Ms. Paz with this. She even insisted to help to carry some chessboards but Ms. Paz told her that only one student is permitted to go inside the teacher's faculty room.

"Just put the chessboards there. Thank you!" she muttered after we reached the faculty. I immediately went to the side where she was pointing and gently piled the chessboards.

As I roamed around my gaze, I saw Ms. Alyssa sitting on the table on the left side, near the door. So they were sharing the same room, I supposed.

After I am done with my primary task, I then decided to leave. "I gotta go, Ms. Paz... Ms. Alyssa," I said to the both of them.

"Alright, thank you again." Ms. Paz responded and I just gave her a smile.

As I touched the doorknob, Ms. Alyssa suddenly spoke. "Wait..."

My shoulder shrugged and I halted. I then face her. "Yes?" I asked.

"Just sit for a while. There is something I just want to tell you."

Though confused, I still followed what she said. Her face is very serious while looking at me. I noticed that Ms. Paz stopped from what she was doing and looked at us.

"I heard what Lori said yesterday." She firstly said. Her face remains serious.

"About what?" I curiously asked in return. What did Lori say that she heard? Out of so many words that came out in the mouth of Lori, I could not guess what she's referring to.

"About what she said during our class---about your parents," she answered which stopped me a bit. "Jobella, I will now be the one to tell you this. You are not weak," she added with full emphasis.

I am a bit confused about her right now. I could not understand why she said those words to me right now. I did not respond. I don't know what to react. "It's not mean that you are a pawn, you are weak already." she went on. "Remember, your mother is only a pawn but she brought the first victory together with your father."

"Why are you saying this to me?" I asked right after I have the urge. It really confuses me. I mean, I understand that she is a teacher and she is just doing her job to motivate or counsel us. But why she did not do it in front of the class? Why only me?

"Because we observed that doubts overpowered you. You doubted your skills and capabilities. You doubted whether you are strong or weak, or it a pawn like you can contribute to the actual game." I looked at my back when Ms. Paz suddenly butted in. She then walks in our direction with crossed arms.

"Like you, we were also a pawn," said Ms. Alyssa. "My sister and I were pawns. But look at us. We are here, alive and kicking."

I am not already surprised to know that they were part of the Chess Warriors before. But I was just wondering about the fear that their family felt knowing that 2 of their members were involved.

"But do you know why we survived?" Ms. Paz asked. She's already standing beside his sister.

"Because you two are strong." I plainly answered, looking down. That's true. They are strong that is why they survived the game and were able to win it.

"No..." Ms. Paz went on, responding to my answer, causing me to divert again my stare to them. "Like you, we were also scared that what if we would be the ones to be firstly dead because, yeah, we were just pawns. But we were wrong. All you need to do is to be courageous and determined during the game, and make sure that you will not stay as a pawn."

I couldn't understand her last statement, to be honest. "What do you mean?" I confusingly asked. Will not stay as a pawn?

"Oh, I forgot that you were not around when I discussed the Pawn Promotion," she replied.

Pawn Promotion? I remembered Mami V shared it with me last time but I did not bother to know it. So it will be used during the game, huh? What's this all about?

"Pawn Promotion happens when you will reach the opponent's end or base. And when that happens, you are free to choose what role you that want to be." Ms. Paz explained to me and my jaw just dropped.

Seriously?

"Before the game ended, I and my sister reached the Black's base row." Ms. Alyssa spoke next. They stared at each other for a while before continuing. "We were just pawns at the start of the game, but we became Queen at the end. The reason why we won."

♨♨♨

EVENING COMES, I decided to go to the min-park for a while to buy fresh coconut juice. I just wanted to absorb all the things that Ms. Paz and Ms. Alyssa said to me earlier.

The pawn can be promoted as one of the chess officials if it will reach to opponent's end. That was just easy to say than done. How can I able to reach the end if I am weak? There are so many opponents that I need to take down before I could reach the end. But I highly doubted that. I surely can't.

But as what Ms. Alyssa and Ms. Paz said; if we are really determined, that's not impossible.

I sighed, and just shook away all my thoughts and freshen up my mind. Few minutes that I've been sitting here on the same spot that I used to sit, I noticed the leaves are falling from the tree behind me. I immediately looked up and curiously stare at one branch of the same tree---near the wall---which is swaying. Feels like there is something on that branch earlier but fell off.

My brows furrowed a bit. I wheeled my sight around the area, confirming there are no other people in this area except me. If by chance there is, well I am sure they are in the shops.

Once I confirmed that no one is here nor looking in my direction, I decided to climbed up the tree. I just felt something weird. It is bothering me. Curiosity really hits me right now.

I somehow knew how to climb a tree because we have many trees behind our house. Soon as I reached the top of the tree, I gently traveled on that branch. My eyes suddenly grew bigger and I swallowed very hard from what I just saw.

This tree is taller than the walls that surround the academy. From the branch where I was standing, I saw the outside view. But the one that shocked me and caught my attention is the image of a man that is now already behind the walls---outside of the academy! I bend a bit to hide from his sight and I saw him fixing himself---removing the specks of dust on his clothing.

Afterward, he then starts to walk---away from the walls, away from the academy---holding two large plastics in his hand. My mind and soul are battling whether I will follow him or better not to. But in the end, I just realized that I jumped from the branch towards the ground, outside the academy. It doesn't hurt because the ground is quite soft.

I felt nervous about what I just did. My hands slowly trembling and then I started walking, following the man's track.

Wawa...

Why are you leaving the academy?!

♨THE CHESS GAME♨