Game of chess

As an asthmatic person, I couldn’t relate to how sporty and active you were. The only sport I thought I could play with you was chess, so I wanted to learn it for you. You were one of the “pro” players in class, therefore, asking you to teach someone with no idea about chess felt embarrassing, but you reassured me that it’s okay and that you’re happy to see me interested in something you love to do. With your chess mat on the floor, you arranged all the pieces neatly on its corresponding square, and explained each of their purpose. You showed me how to move each piece and how much points each piece give once it is eaten. You also taught me strategies on how to win the game. I never imagined seeing myself learn a sport I never had an interest in—but then you came and changed it all. First game. The newbie in me felt nervous as I try to play against a pro. It took me at least a minute to move a piece, which would never win in an actual game. 15 minutes in the game yet the match still looks boring. You like thrill and pressure when you play and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t giving you any of that, but you still kept playing with me. We had to end the game early because break time already ended. I played horribly and I knew you saw it too, but still, you complimented my “great” moves which I didn’t even know was great because I was just moving pieces I thought would do something. As days passed, I started to become familiar with the moves, techniques, and strategies of the game. Chess games became more casual but pressure still stirred in me. What pressured me most is when people would watch us play. Seeing their disappointed faces when I make a bad move and their impatience when it took me 2 minutes to push a pawn forward filled me with nervousness. I was getting teary-eyed over the pressure and even without saying a word, you noticed how I was feeling. “𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳”, you told them gently. As they go away one by one, I stare at the person in front of me, admiring how he’s able to read how I feel without even asking me. God, please let me have this one. I may have lost that game but I’m pretty sure I still won—because I have my king with me. It was a beautiful game, not until... —————————————————————— 𝗜 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱. That’s what ran through my mind when I lost you. I lost the most valuable piece in my life—you. Questions ran through my head, whose fault was it really? Was it mine because I blundered? Or yours because you allowed me to make that move? You knew better, you knew the game better than I did. You saw me pick up the piece, you saw how it could potentially be a blunder—yet you remained silent. Was it because you wanted to win? Or because you did not care if I lost? You knew what to do, you could’ve warned me not to move but you didn’t. You continued on developing your pieces while I’m stuck moving my pieces back and forth. You moved forward while I’m still here—stuck, not knowing what to do. Your time ran out but my clock still continued ticking. You left your pieces untouched while I desperately try to make my next moves better, hoping it would bring you back to the game. The board and pieces pieces are there, but only one player is left. —————————————————————— Chess became my hobby, even when I lost the person who taught me how to play. I learned openings, traps, and gambits. I learned how to win with only a rook and how to end the game in a stalemate when all hope is gone. It wasn’t easy but I did it in an effort to win against you. I never thought I’d play chess with you again but there you were, sitting in front of me as I arranged the pieces on the board. You’re still the pro chess player I know, quick with moves and smart with tricks. Music played in the background, which brought me back to those days when I would play with you during lunch time and spend half of the time admiring you. The songs added tension to the game. “𝐼𝑓 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢’𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑠 𝑎𝑔𝑎𝑖𝑛, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟” I sang along as I calculate my next move. It took me a while to move, and as competitive as you are, you couldn’t keep your mouth shut. “Move this here”, you said with a smile—oh, I hate that smile. You kept smiling at me and I couldn’t figure out why, is it because you’re planning something evil? I wasn’t gonna let you be happy so I moved my piece where I wanted it to be and disregarded your suggestion. Your next move made me smile—you blundered your queen. You remained silent because you thought I wouldn’t notice, but I did. When I moved my bishop to take your queen, we both laughed because of how bad of a blunder you did. As the game continued, smiles remained on both of our faces. I wasn’t sure if it was because of how bad the game was going or how much fun we’re having because we’re playing against one another. Either way, I’m happy to play chess with you again, even if it meant losing. The game ended in stalemate—no loser nor winner, just a king stuck with no moves but not in check. Just like what we have now, no one’s losing nor winning but neither of us can make a move to change our fate. ————————————————————— It was just a random afternoon at school, 1pm with no teacher; just a free one hour period. Everyone around me was studying for the long quiz next subject but I remained calm, I even had the time to arrange pieces on a chess board so I can play against myself. Then suddenly, a voice interrupted me. “𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺”, you said calmly as you place your science book on your armchair. I continued placing down the pieces and turned the board so the other side would face you, signaling that I agreed to play. e4, e5, then so on and so forth. After each move you make, I noticed how you would take a glimpse at the science book beside you. You asked to play chess with me as you try to study for the long quiz. Wow, talk about time management. You seemed quiet and calm when we were playing, which is weird because when you’re playing with others, you’re loud and wouldn’t stop talking. Your loudness during chess games is a part of your strategy to distract your opponent, I remember that clearly. Were you quiet because you were studying? Or were you quiet because you were trying to help me focus? I shrugged off the idea of “maybe I’m the only exception” because I know that would make me sound delusional, but even our classmate noticed how you were going easy on me. "𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳”, that’s what our classmate said, not me. The game ended quickly with a checkmate. Dang, I lost but what did I expect? I thought that was it, not until you arranged the pieces back to its original pieces and said “𝘓𝘦𝘵'𝘴 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯”. You’re kidding me, aren’t you? No, no you weren’t. And so, we played—calmly and quietly, like you were trying to make the most out of it. —————————————————————— A day wouldn’t end without a chess board between us. Playing chess against you would remind me of those days when we would plan to say we’re “chess buddies” if ever teachers start to suspect our closeness. Before, it was just a white lie, but now it’s slowly turning into reality. I’m still not as good as any of you are and my moves prove that right. But somehow, you still kept on inviting me to play with you. When your other opponents blunder, a smile starts curling on your face, but when I blunder, you seem worried that I’ll lose. You know I’m losing and you could definitely do a mate in one but for some unknown reason, you don’t. I don’t know if you’re doing it because you know I suck at chess and you’re messing around with me or you just want to play with me. Playing against 𝘺𝘰𝘶 is more complicated than 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 against you.