THE CHESS GAME

01: APPOINTED

EQUALITY MUST be given to us. Equal living and equal opportunities. But what happened in our city is very far from that word—equality.

This is already the happenings in this city ever since I was born. This is our city, the Shah, which comprises two communities: the Black and White communities.

We, people in the White community, are considered fortunate because we have the opportunities. We are living our lives normally. Can eat three times a day or sometimes more.

But our lives are opposite to the lives of the people living in the Black Community. Riding in my car, I witnessed how poor their lives are. I am visiting their place right now and they are pitiful. The people here are fighting for their lives. They had no decent works to be able to sustain their daily living.

I saw a lot of children wearing worn-out clothing.

The houses here are mostly made of weak woods and only coconut leaves are acting as ceilings to cover up the heat of the sun or whenever rain will come.

They need help from the Shah House but they act nothing to help the Black community. All of the attention of the committees living in Shah House is on us---White Community---only.

The very reason? Because of the game.

The committees shall only focus on your community if and only if your community wins the traditional game...

...the Chess Game. This is the very reason why the people of the Black Community suffer—we call them Blacks.

When I was about to open my car, there was mud that suddenly flew in front of my car causing me to stop. When I look where it came from, I then realized that almost all of the people here are now looking at me. Their faces are full of anger while looking straight at me.

I slowly gulped. I understand why they give me that kind of stare. Yes, they have visible anger towards us. They blamed us for why they suffered a lot. On why they experienced what they are experiencing right now. The truth is, the committees of the Shah House, especially the leader are the ones who should be blamed. We only follow what is mandated by the Shah House. Our community only played as instructed and luckily won twice. The chess game takes place every 10 years, this means that the Black community already had suffered for 20 years.

I only open the window of my car instead and just put on the ground the thing that I brought for them. Seems like the time suddenly went slow as I drop that thing on the ground. This is the money that I saved for 10 years.

If the Shah House would not help them, at least I do.

Confusions are visible in their faces while looking straight at the thing I dropped. Gone were their intent and scary stares. I smiled at them genuinely and then started the engine of my car and drove my way back to my community.

A long bridge serves as a boundary between the two communities. But that does not mean that we are forbidden to pass through this boundary. However, that was what the Blacks thought of. They thought that they are not welcome in our community because when they once visited the White community, to work for a living, they were being maltreated, bullied, and belittled by my fellow Whites.

The reason why Whites were acting like that is that they thought that they are much superior to Blacks---which I highly disagree with. This is one of the reasons why Blacks are angry with us. Because of this, the Blacks are much hungry to win the traditional game this year. Yup, this year is another bloody year to play the bloody game. The game that people feard the most.

What if the Blacks are the ones who will win this time? Will our lives in the White community be poor? Are we ready to face the negative results?

"Jobella..." said my mother as I entered the house. "Where have you been? I search for you everywhere..." she asked in concern.

I sat first on the couch and my mother followed. I sighed a bit and slowly bow my head. "I went to the Black community."

"What?!" she shockingly replied. "Are you serious?" her tone feels like she is very shocked to the point that her voice sounded airy.

"I just visited, mom," I said to her causing her to massage her temple.

She looked at me in disbelief. "Didn't you think how dangerous that was? W-What if they hurt you there?"

I heaved a sigh. I did not think of that thing. I believed that those aren't their primary doings.

"Mom, they are not like that," I said to her. "They need help, mom. Their lives are very poor unlike in our community."

"And what were you doing there? I will not believe that you 'just visited' the Black community." she muttered with an assuring tone.

My mother knows me so well. I will not go to a place just to stare. Just like when I go to the mall, I will not go there to do window shopping.

"I gave them money for them to have something to buy if ever they will go to the Sentro." Her jaw dropped after hearing my words.

'Sentro' is where the malls and other shops are located. Factories and large buildings are there where my fellow Whites, just like my father, are permitted to work since we are only the ones who have the right to have decent jobs, unlike Blacks. As I've said, the Blacks are living independently---no help coming from Shah House. Shah House is where the Committees and our Leader stayed.

That's how inequality is visible in our city.

"Why did not said it to me and your father?" she said looking straight into my eyes. "Jobella, just like you we also want to help them." she continued, smiling while caressing my lengthy hair.

I smiled. I inherited my personality from my parents. Maybe if they were not my parents, I was already being scolded. Or worst, I am not Jobella Krista today.

Suddenly, we heard three knocks on the door. My mother stood up and opened the door to see who is knocking.

"Come in..." My mother said and I saw a woman in her mid-40's. I think they are the same age as my parents.

They went in my direction. My mother sat beside me while the woman sat across.

"How we may help you?" asked my mother to the woman.

The woman looked at me. "Are you Jobella Krista?" she asked and I just nodded my head in response. "I am Nifa Loleta, a Committee." Upon hearing the last word, I felt something weird. My heart suddenly beats fast in nervousness.

She held a folder from her large bag and carefully put it on the table just in front of us. "Uhm, you already know our city's tradition, right?" she suddenly asked. As soon as we heard that, my nervousness doubled, and feels like my lips have dried.

My mother's trembling hand touched mine. "W-What do y-you mean?" she asked. I know that she already has an idea of what the woman meant.

She opened the folder and my picture came into view. "Your daughter is required to be part of the White Chess Warriors for this year."

"What?!" My mother can't help but to rose from her seat. Her voice raised. "No way... There are many youths out there, choose them instead of my daughter!" she said firmly at the woman. I noticed her tears are about to escape from her eyes.

I don't know what to respond. I want to protest but I cannot. It seems that there is something in my throat that resist me to speak.

"Mrs. Krista, you already knew that once appointed, there is nothing else we could do. You know what our Master can do." the woman said sternly.

Suddenly, my mother just dropped her knees to the floor and started crying out loud.

♨THE CHESS GAME♨

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