21: Initiation Day 5

Everyone watched as Diana and Emy faced off with chess. They all knew that Diana was good in this game. But they were expecting that this girl would somehow give her some sweat.

Napailing na lang ang karamihan while they were thinking that this girl was just making a fool of herself.

However, not all of them were thinking the same.

For example, Franco had never seen Emy played chess before but he knew that she wouldn't just let anyone beat her this badly. He knew that for a fact because he witnessed her tenaciousness before.

Kaya naman kahit na naririnig na niya ang mga sinasabi ng mga tao sa paligid ay kalmado lang siya na nakaupo doon at nanonood.

Isa pa na kagaya ni Franco ay ang lalaking nakaupo sa itaas ng puno. He hated socializing that much lalo sa mga tao ng Grey City kaya naman he preferred to stay kung saan walang masyadong tao. But he made sure na sa pwesto niya ay mapapanood pa rin niya ang laban ng dalawang babae sa stage.

Then his lips hooked up as he noticed that Emy started to really make her move.

***

"My God, nagpapatawa ba siya? Does she really think kaya niya si Diana?" Natatawa pang tanong ni Cherry.

"Let her be. Let her taste her own arrogance." Sabi naman ni Kelly.

"The game is not yet done at hindi pa rin nananalo si Diana so what are you two being happy there?" Nakataas pang kilay na tanong ni Lucy sa dalawa. Bakit ba napaupo siya malapit sa dalawa na ito?

"Oh, are you close to her, Lucy?" Cherry asked with fake surprised. Then she smiled. "Unfortunately, she is not Samantha who can turn around tables when she wants too."

Lucy smirked. "Are you admitting now the greatness of your cousin? What a sore loser are you, Cherry. Aaminin mo din naman pala pero kung kelan wala na siya."

"Exactly, she is dead already. Yan ang napapala ng mga taong masyadong perfect kung umasta." Sabi naman ni Kelly.

"Talaga lang ha?" She said, boringly. Walang sense kausap ang mga ito. Nagpatuloy na lang siya sa panonood sa dalawa.

She was unsure about Emy beating Diana. But she was hoping for some divine mercy to happen.

As if hearing her wishes, Emy took down one of Diana's pawn.

"Tch. Tsamba." She heard Kelly said.

Pero dinedma lang niya ito because another pawn was taken down by Emy. It couldn’t just be luck, right?

Diana was still calm. You could say that those two were her mistakes. As long as she still had her important pieces, she was fine.

Right on that moment, Emy took down her Rook... and then the other one.

Nangunot ang noo ni Diana. And looked clearly at her opponent's side of board. Half of her pieces were already taken down by her. 4 pieces of pawn, a rook, a knight and a bishop.

That's when she only realized that it was so evenly taken down. Could it be intentional?

Diana tried to gain her momentum again. She straightened up and slowed her pace.

Emy, on the other hand, smiled at herself. She noticed that Diana was suddenly became cautious. But it was too late for her already.

She had been cornered by her a long time ago. Emy had already blocked all of her possible attempt of redemption. No matter how much she struggled at her, it would all just be in vain.

The outcome of this game had long been decided.

***

"Interesting play." Sebastian muttered to himself.

Everyone was dumbstruck by the sudden change in the game but he was full of thoughts about it.

As of now, Emy has taken down the remaining Knight and Rook of Diana. All she had left now were her Queen, King, a bishop and two pawns. Habang ang kalahati ng pieces ni Emy ay intact pa rin.

But Emy's play had deeper meaning into it. Sebastian's lips slowly hooked up. Was she not afraid that her enemies would be able to realize that her play right now was her plan for the future?

Meanwhile...

"What were you two saying before?" Tanong ni Lucy kanila Kelly at Cherry na ngayon ay nanahimik na.

She smirked at the two at saka napadako ang mata niya sa kanan niya. She saw Franco looking at her with a smile. Agad siyang namula dahil doon. But the lad just gave her a thumbs-up bago ibinalik ang paningin sa may stage.

By now, Diana's King was kept on bay by Emy's Rook and Bishop. It was still far from being checkmated but it didn't mean it could free itself from those two pieces.

Diana gritted her teeth. She took her Queen and placed it near Emy's pawn. She better ended this game now. Tutal naman ay talo na din siya.

But Emy had another plan for her.

"Vicious..." Sebastian commented with a smirk. Hindi niya napansin na kanina pa siya napaupo. His excitement was evident on his eyes.

He watched as Emy moved her Queen. All of her other pieces were in places that were untouchable for Diana's queen. She was careful too to remove them out of her way.

Soon, their both Queens were facing each other. But it was obvious who had the last say on the game.

"You play well..." Diana was forced to say. Everyone's eyes was on her so she couldn’t make a mistake right now.

Emy smiled at her bago dinampot niya ang Queen niya to take down Diana's Queen. But before she could even put it down, an explosion shook the whole Grey Academy.

***

There were shouting and screaming of students all around them. Nanumbalik sa kanila ang nangyari ding pagsabog last time also in this Academy. Was this another terrorism by an enemy?

They were panicking as they left the multi-purpose hall in rush. Kanya kanya ng uwi ang ilan sa kanila.

Only few realized na wala namang usok o signs ng pagsabog sa paligid nila except for that loud sound.

"I think the sound of explosion came from that way!"

Namutla si Diana when someone said that from the crowd. Saka nito itinuro ang parte ng Grey Academy kung nasaan ang Black Council. Of course, their headquarter was a huge secret. Bukod pa doon, isa iyon sa pinakamatibay na lugar sa buong academy.

But the degree of explosion earlier was so scary. Even them na nasa labas ay naramdaman ang pagyanig na dulot nito.

Nagmadali siyang pumunta doon but it wasn't just her who was thinking the same thing. She blended with the crowd na papunta sa direksyon mismo ng Black Council Head Quarter.

Soon enough they all reached the place. Pero may nauna na sa kanila doon. A White Masked person was standing just beside that wall kung saan may lumalabas na green na usok. It must be one of those secret passages of this campus.

However, their eyes fixed on the White Mask person. Some of them remembered that mask, especially those seniors.

Lucy secretly watched Diana. Malapit lang siya sa dalaga and she got to see all of the changes in her expression.

"Behind that wall was the Head Quarter of the Black Council. If I were the Supreme President, pababantayan ko ng husto ang lugar na ito because not all of the council members were inside and died from the explosion." Malakas na sabi nung nakaputing maskara bago mabilis na tumakbo.

"Quickly! Someone catch that person. He or she might be a terrorist." Sabi ni Diana. She couldn’t just simply let that person escaped.

May ilan naman na humabol dito but Lucy just smiled. They were her people after all. It had been scripted this way by Emy na kapag may nagsabi na habulin ang nakaputing maskara ay sila ang hahabol dito.

"The White Mask person is not wrong at all. This place has to be guarded night and day. Whoever approach or try to enter this place will be considered as Black Council members and I will personally ask the Emperor for them to be executed kasama ang sampu ng kanilang pamilya."

Everyone was shocked at the declaration of Sebastian.

But his eyes fell down on Emy once he finished saying those words. The lady was obviously pleased habang nakatingin kay Diana na namumutla.

Of course, he didn’t need to confirm na siya ang may kakagawan nito. Yung berdeng usok pa lang ay patunay na na may kinalaman siya dito.

Emy looked at him. Dati, kapag nagkakatinginan sila, she would immediately act innocently. But now, she even smiled at him. Then she fixed her expression.

"Franco, totoo kaya ang sinabi nung nakaputing maskara kanina? Did the members of the Black Council really die inside of that room? And totoo kayang may mga Black Council members pa na kasama natin? Are they here with us?" Malakas niyang tanong sa pinsan niya na nasa likuran niya.

Even Franco was surprised at Emy's question. Ang mga nasa paligid naman nila ay tinignan ang isa't isa.

"I am sure the Supreme President will find out about that for us. For now, let's go home first at baka nag-aalala na ng husto sila Mama at Papa sa atin."

***