7: Chess Pieces 3

"Miss, you shouldn't stay up late tonight. You have important party to attend to tomorrow." Sabi ni Grace kay Emy.

"That's right. I have already prepared your clothes, Miss. You have nothing to worry about." Sabi naman ni Anika.

Emy smiled at them. "I am not worried."

Then she continued placing her chess pieces on board.

Nagkatinginan na lang ang apat niyang maidservants. Mula pa kaninang magbalik sila sa backyard ni Emy ay naglalaro na ito ng chess mag-isa. Veronica even offered to play with her. But she just shook her head.

She told them, "I am not playing. Just memorizing."

They had no idea what she meant by that. Hindi rin naman sila nagtanong.

But they were worrying that she might stay up late tonight.

"Come on. You can leave already. Matutulog na lang ako kung inaantok na ako."

"Let me get you a tea and some cookies then. In case you feel hungry or thirsty." Sabi ni Lia tapos ay lumabas na silang apat.

Emy continued staring at her chess board. She doubted if she could really sleep tonight. She was so excited.

Ilang linggo na rin siyang nasa loob lang ng residence, practicing and telling her maidservants what to do.

This time, siya naman ang gagawa. She couldn't wait at all.

Muling kumatok si Lia dala ang tsaa at cookies saka iyon inilapag sa mesa.

Paalis na sana ito when she called her out.

"Lia, I need you to deliver a letter for me."

***

Kinabukasan...

"Miss! I knew it. You didn't sleep at all. Look at your eyes." Palatak ni Grace ng maabutan siya nitong nakaupo pa rin sa may mesa.

"I slept for a bit. Nagising nga lang ako agad."

Nagkatinginan na lang sila Grace at Anika saka napailing.

"Miss, are you excited? Is that why you are not able to sleep at all?" Unlike Grace, Anika was more gentle in talking with her.

Emy smiled at her impishly.

Hindi na rin tuloy napigilan ni Anika ang mapangiti.

Grace, on the other hand, stopped herself from saying, "Silly girl." at her Miss.

"Ah, you are still young, indeed." Sabi ni Anika. Tapos ay kinuha na niya mula sa cabinet ang inihanda niyang damit kagabi para kay Emy.

Nilinisan naman ni Grace ang mesa upang mapaglagyan ng mga pang-ayos.

"I'd like to wear something Turquoise, Anika."

Natigilan ang dalawa dahil doon.

Grace looked at the dress na hawak ni Anika. It was cream colored dress, suited Emy's skin tone very well.

"I believe I have a Turquoise dress there. I'd like to wear that one instead."

Emy sounded like her mind wouldn't change at all. Kaya naman agad na kinuha ni Anika yung dress na sinasabi ni Emy.

It was a long dress with flower embroideries on right shoulder left waist and at the bottom. It looked pretty. But for the party that Emy would be attending, it was too simple.

"But this dress is too simple, Miss."

"And it is not suited for a young miss like you." Dagdag pa ni Grace. "Mas maganda if you are going to wear dresses with light colors. It is nice for youngster like you."

Emy smiled at them.

"I don't have to stand out that much. It is not my party after all. Besides, I want to appear soothing for someone who will be attending that party too."

Madaling lumapit ang dalawa kay Emy.

"May napupusuan ka na ba, Miss?" Tanong ni Anika.

"At aattend siya sa party na iyon?" -Grace.

Tumawa ng malakas si Emy. "No, you silly." Then she looked at Grace.

"Grace, let's say I have met a person and lately sobrang stressed siya sa mga nangyayari sa paligid niya, how can I gain the attention and what type of conversation I should try with that person?"

Sandaling nag-isip si Grace.

"If you approach that person suddenly, he or she might ignore you. After all, a stressed person might not want to add any more to his or her problem. You have to catch the attention of that person and lead him or her to talk to you.

"Once you caught that person's attention, you must be careful not to touch the topics that cause him or her stress. Go on light topics and make sure that he or she will have fun around you."

"But what if the reason why I want to get closer to that person is the one that makes his or her stress?"

Grace was surprised.

"You must try to pursue that topic after two or more meetings. Gain the trust of that person first. Otherwise, if you pursue what you want on first meeting, I am afraid that person will not appreciate you anymore."

Napatango si Emy.

Grace couldn't be wrong about this. Her socialization skill was witnessed by her noong maidservant pa siya ni Shereen. Samantha's sister was very timid before. But with Grace's guidance, she was suddenly became a social butterfly.

***

"Just how long can a girl brush her hair?" Reklamo ni Franco.

Dali dali tuloy siyang pinalo ng pamaypay sa braso ni Feng.

The three of them were waiting sa may Great Hall para kay Emy.

"A lady is not like a man, Franco. You should learn how to understand women more, you nuthead." Sabi naman sa kanya ni Francis.

"Ano pa? Kaya hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin nagkakanobya iyan eh. Kinakabahan na nga ako at baka mamaya ay hindi na iyan makapag-asawa."

Kung pwede lang bumaon sa lupa, ginawa na ni Franco. Akalain ba naman niyang pagtutulungan siya ng mga magulang ng dahil lang sa isang tanong.

Magsasalita pa sana si Francis ng dumating na ang mga maidservants ni Emy.

"Is she done?" Dali dali niyang tanong kanila Grace at Anika.

"Opo."

"Sorry for the wait." Sabi ni Emy as soon as she entered the great hall.

"Oh my, you're beautiful, Emy." Masayang sabi ni Feng.

"Thank you po, Aunty."

Franco smirked. "Eh kaya naman pala ang tagal mo eh."

Muli ay pinalo siya ni Feng ng pamaypay. Saka niya nilapitan si Emy.

"Ignore your cousin." Ikinawit nito ang braso sa kanya. "I can't wait to introduce you to my friends."

"Since when did you become a socialite, Mama?"

Batok ang inabot niya mula sa Papa niya. Tinawanan naman siya ni Emy.

"Shut up, Emy."

***

The party was held in one of the officials' houses sa Royal Area ng Grey City. It was a birthday celebration at lahat ng imbitado ay mga importanteng tao.

Open area ang harapan/garden ng bahay at kitang kita ng mga bisita na naroroon kung sino man ang mga paparating. At karamihan sa mga bisita ay hindi agad nagsipasok sa loob ng bahay ng may kaarawan para lamang makita at makilatis ang mga dumarating na mga bisita.

Ganyan kasi talaga sa Grey City. They loved to compare and criticize. Most of the rich people sa city na ito ay mga inggetero at inggetera. The more you stood out, the more people would hate you. Lalo na if they felt like you were living well more than they do.

Isa sa mga kakilala ni Emy na ganoon ay ang mga pinsan niya.

Sila Cherry at Kelly.

They were just living with her family within one compound and yet, the two of them hated her and Shereen.

And since wala na sila Samantha at Shereen sa landas nilang dalawa, they were definitely living happily now. And one thing they loved to do was showing off.

With straight bodies and high chin, bumaba sila sa carriage kasunod si Diana.

Diana, of course, gathered admiration. She was perfect. She was graceful, beautiful at alam naman ng lahat that she was smart.

However, the people around her couldn't stop grimacing as they watched Cherry and Kelly walked beside her. They were obviously trying to gain popularity by mixing with her.

"Diana!" Masiglang bati sa kanya ng may-ari ng bahay.

"Official Sachel, happy birthday po." Bati niya dito sabay abot ng kanyang regalo.

"Nako, salamat. Nag-abala ka pa. Nagbigay na nga ng regalo ang mga magulang mo."

Diana smiled. "How can my gift be the same as my parents'? I have to give too. After all, Official Sachel is always kind to me."

"Oh come on, Diana. You don't have to mention it."

Diana just nodded. "Saan po ba nakapwesto sila Mama at Papa?"

"Come, I'll have Lucy accompany you."

Pagkarinig ni Lucy ng pangalan niya ay napabuntong hininga na lang siya. She didn't even want to join the party and now she was being an usherette.

"Hi, Lucy." Bati ni Diana sa kanya.

"Hello." Ganti niyang bati ng walang buhay.

Nauna na siyang maglakad papunta sa backyard nila but stopped when she realized na hindi niya kasunod si Diana.

"Are you not coming with me?" Lucy asked Diana with a bored voice and look.

Nilingon naman ni Diana ang dalawang kasama.

"Mauna ka na, Diana. We want to stay here a bit to watch people coming."

"Tch." -Lucy.

"Okay." Yun lang ang sinabi ni Diana bago sumunod na kay Lucy.

Walang balak si Lucy na makipag-usap kay Diana kaya hinatid niya lang ito kung nasaan ang mga magulang ng dalaga saka bumalik na rin agad sa may entrance.

As much as she wanted to escape, hindi pwede. Her father threatened her to cut her allowance kapag ginawa niya iyon.

Kaya naman she stood beside her father to greet their guests.

Napadako ang tingin niya kanila Cherry at Kelly. Tch. They were obviously criticizing the others. Magbubulungan tapos magtatawanan. Hindi na nga niya gusto ang pagmumukha ng mga ito, hindi pa rin niya magustuhan ang attitude nila.

Napailing na lang siya.

"General Hans and his family have arrived." Balita nung inatasan ng Papa niya sa may gate.

Agad na tumayo ng tuwid ang Papa niya at saka naghanda ng malaking ngiti upang salubungin ang mga bagong dating.

Naunang bumaba sa mga kanya kanyang kabayo ang mag-amang Francis at Franco. Matapos maitabi ang mga sinakyan nila ay pumarada naman sa harapan ng gate ang isang carriage. Bumaba mula doon ang dalawang maidservants atsaka inalalayan si Lie Feng na asawa ni General Hans sa pagbaba sa carriage.

Gaya ng dati, naiiba na naman ang suot ni Lie Feng. Well, she was considered as foreigner sa Grey City because she came from different race.

Everyone could have bullied her kundi lang siya asawa ni Francis na isa sa mga general ng royal army. Bukod pa doon, she had her own fair share of military background. Kaya instead of bullying her, people were trying to gain her favor now and then.

The guests started to look forward to the next carriage when they noticed na may isa pang pababa mula sa carriage. Gaya ni Lie Feng, inalalayan ito ng dalawang maidservants.

Everyone was surprised and curious about this new girl na kasama nila General Hans.

***