Hunter

"Hunter I told you not to tire out yourself! What if you fainted again at wala kami?! Baka kung mapaano ka!" My Mom scolded me after she found out that I was secretly doing hard physical activities without her permission. I was a reckless 8-year-old this time being scolded by my mom while my sister was beside me holding my wrist which she always does to make me feel assured.

"Tama na yan Amanda, ako na kakausap sa kanya just rest okay?" Sabi sa kanya ni Dad while trying to calm her down her.

"Basta kapag si Hunter nahimatay ulit ikaw may kasalanan" pagbabanta sa kanya ni Mom.

"Yes honey, just rest okay? I'll take it from here. Ikaw rin Jasmine, you have school tomorrow" Sabi ni Papa. Pagkasabi ni dad ay binitawan ni Ate ang kamay ko and gave me a hug.

"Come here Hunter" Sabi ni Dad sa akin and he let me sit at the sofa and brought out a chess board.

"Am I gonna be in trouble?" I asked him but rather than answering my question he took a chessboard and put it on top of the coffee table. He put up the pieces and patted a pillow laying in the carpet as a signal for me to sit down.

"Are you?" He responded and gave me a questionionable smile—smirk rather.

"We are playing chess? Would you like to learn?" Sabi ni Dad and I nodded hoping he'll not get mad at me. After that, he taught me how to play chess and I got the hang of it. While playing for the fifth round, I asked my dad "Are you mad?" Tanong ko sa kanya.

"We are not mad Hunter, we are just concern about your health" Sabi sa akin ni Dad and I looked down feeling guilty.

"Both you and your Mom went through a lot in giving birth to you so. For her losing you and Jasmine is like losing a big part of her self" Sabi ni Dad.

"Imagine this Queen piece, for her you and Jasmine are the queen piece. She is willing to sacrifice everything and protect the two of you and she doesn't like you to be hurt, the two of us don't. Are you getting me, Hunter?" My dad asked and I just looked down.

"Hunter, I know you wanted to be strong and you want to experience things that interest you but we are not doing this for ourselves but for you. I know you are too young to understand and scolding you might let you hold some grudges towards us, but we are doing our best for both of you and your sister,  I want you to understand that" My dad said.

"I'm sorry," I told him and he smiled, he then patted my head.

"Go to sleep little fella, you have school tomorrow," My dad said and escorted me to bed.

"Can we play chess tomorrow?" I asked him while he is tucking me to bed.

"Will do little fella," He said and ruffled my hair as his way of affection.

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Several Years Later
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"Broooooo" Drake shouted in the hallway with his sweaty body which makes everyone walking by to stare at us.

"Drake shut your noisy mouth!" I shouted at him in a whisper tone to tone down his voice.

"Sorry naman, masaya lang ako kasi nakuha ako sa basketball team!" He told me and showed me his official jersey.

"Haven't you have enough? You had chess and karate lining up on your list of extracurricular activities" I told him while playing with the strap of my off-shoulder bag.

"Alam ko bro, kailangan ko kasi yung benefits atsaka ako pa? Malakas to nagawa ko nga ng paraan yung 4 na deadlines ko sa 3 araw at hanggang ngayon na sa dean lister pa rin ako" He said confidently while smirking and I scoffed in disbelief.

Drake is one of the people I trust the most, I met him at Senior High. I thought he was the kind of guy who is cocky and narcissistic but my impression changed when he helped me during my weak moments. He is a nice and very wise guy. He majored philosophy and was always bullied because of him being 'too weird' but I really applaud him for that because compared to me, he cares less about what people thinks about him.

"Atsaka nga pala paki sabi kay Coach Lazaro na medyo malate ako sa training mamaya," He said.

"Will do" I responded to him.

While I was on my way to the sports building, I saw two girls looking around. One was tall and slender, and the other one is petite. The petite one glanced at me hesitantly approached me while the taller one stayed from afar only staring at me without even moving, which I found uncomfortable.

"Hi! Isa ka sa member ng chess club dito no?" She said while pointing at my chess club uniform and I nodded in response.

"Alam mo ba kung saan yung chess club room? May ibibigay sana ako sa kaibigan ko hindi ko alam kung saan yun kasi taga-ibang school ako" She said shyly. I observe her as she speaks and somehow her eyes feels like they are talking to me.

"Baka kilala mo yung kaibigan ko si Drake Young?" She said.

"Yes I know him, he is a close friend of mine," I said to her.

"Talaga?! Pasuyo naman ako ohh" She said and gestures the paper bag she is holding as if she wants me to give to Drake, while she is looking up to me with smiles on her face even her eyes are smiling as well.

"......Sure?" I said to her. She smiled and gave me a paper bag.

"Thank youuu Mr. Royalty pasabi nalang sa kanya dumaan kami!" She said cheerfully as she called me from the rank that was indicated in my shirt as she runs towards her friend and drags her out. Our School chess club has designed a ranking system for each chess player.

"Hindi mo na sana kinuha bro, nakakahiya naman sa'yo" Drake said while I handed him the paper bag that the petite woman gave.

"It's fine, It wasn't that heavy anyway" Sabi ko sa kanya as he brought out the things that the woman gave it to him which are food, snacks in general.

"Bro sa'yo na to," he said and handed me a bag of bite-size doughs. The name of the product based on the label was 'energy cookie'.

"That's honey cookie, by the way, Alam ko namang picky ka sa pagkain kaya sa'yo na yan and it is all-natural," He said.

"Binake yan ng kaibigan ko kasi may sarili siyang fundraising sa school niya for a good cause naman kaya bumili ako and it tastes really good she gave me samples of it," He said.

"Konti lang binili ko pero naparami ata binigay niya, yung babaeng yun talaga," He said and scoffed. Because I was a little hungry I tried the cookie Drake gave to me and it was really delicious to the point where I didn't realize I consumed half of it for 1 minute.

While enjoying the treat the girl suddenly came to my mind which makes me wonder who she is and why there was somehow a connection between us that I somehow felt.

"Drake, what's the name of your petite friend?" I asked him.

"Petite? You mean si Savannah" He said. Savannah huh?

"Why are you asking?" He asked.

"I-i j-just r-really like the cookies that's all, I might order some more," I said and he gave me a questionable look but I just shrug in response.

After several months (by months I mean a whole semester) of doing the same routine, I opened my account for me to catch up with some projects when suddenly I saw a message from someone who I don't expect to see, chatted me online.

Savannah: Hi, crush ka nga pala ng best friend ko

Me: Really?

After months have passed, I saw her again, this time she was with Drake and the other girl she was with. She roamed our practice room alone and our gaze met and she just smiled in response which I find cute. I started practicing with a co-member and tried to focus on our game but I can't help glancing at that petite girl. I noticed that she was staring at our direction, at our game specifically. I tried to ignore her presence however, I became conscious when she went started approaching at our direction and silently watched our game. When I did a checkmate, I glanced at her and saw how her jaw dropped with amazement.

I was about to speak to her when Drake immediately called her attention and I unconsciously frowned. Drake saw my reaction and he smirked at me and I just shrugged in response. The petite girl— I mean Savannah, walked near his direction and Drake escorted her out of the practice room.

We continued chatting each other and slowly I was smitten by her. She made me feel happy and I felt really comfortable around her. To the point where my day somehow feels incomplete without her. I responded to her without me knowing it will be a risky but I was happy I chose the risk because that risk turned into my happiness— our happiness.

"Daddyyyyy" Tawag saakin ni Asher at niyakap ako. Birthday ni Ashlynn and Asher which are my kids at ngayon we will celebrate their 5th birthday. I and Savannah wanted the kids' birthday to be really special that's why she arranged their birthday party with a fairy-tale-like theme.

Savannah and I decided that we'll just prepare a simple salo-salo with our family and closest friends. It has been like 20 years since I and Savannah first chatted and I have never been so happy in my entire life. I got my own career, my own house, a wonderful family and having the best life.

"Where is mommy?" Sabi ko.

"She's at Ate Ashlynn's room po Dad" Sabi ni Asher who is dressed up as Peterpan.

Asher and Ashlynn are twins at panganay si Ashlynn. Asher looks like a Boy version of Savannah with a hint of my 'mysterious looks' (as Savannah declares it) but has the same mannerisms and he also thinks like me. On the other hand, Ashlynn looks like a girl version of me with a hint of Savannah's soft features like their smiles and has the same mannerisms.

Many things happen in 36 years in our lives both bad and good. After all of that, I became the person I am right now and life I have been living in. My anemia didn't stop me from becoming a father that I want to be.

Me and Abigail? We had closure before she even got married to Drake, no grudges and hard feelings. We often visit their place more often so we can have our bonding together as friends.

Together with Asher, I went to Ashlynn's room and saw Savannah combing my little girl's hair while singing.

"this is a nice view" I said and both Ashlynn and Savannah looked at our direction. Ashlynn's eyes sparkled when she saw me and ran towards me.

"Daddy look I am a fairy," She said and twirled in front of me.

"Yep, the prettiest fairy alive," I said and she giggled.

"Everything is set downstairs, we should greet everyone" Sinabi ko. I approach Savannah and hold her hand as we all went downstairs to officially celebrate the twin's birthday.

"What a wonderful view we got here" A familiar voice commented and when I saw who it was I realized that it was my mother wearing her favorite lavender-colored dress and she is accompanied by my dad in his wheelchair assisted by a male nurse.

"Mom, nice to see you again to" Sabi ni Savannah at nagbeso-beso sila.

"Where are my Lovely apos?" Sabi ni Mom at tumakbo sila Ashlynn and Asher patungo sa Mom ko at nagmano.

"Don't forget us" Sabi pa ng isang boses at hindi ako nagkakamali si Ate Jasmin yun hawak si Baby Emily and Alexander. Lahat ng pamangkin ko ay nagmano rin kay Mom at nagtungo na sila sa children's corner where they just play for a while.

"Pwedeng makisali?" Sabi ni Mama(which I call Savannah's parents) while entering the house with Papa who is still jolly as ever.

"Balae" Mom and Mama said ang hugged each other while Papa and Dad just pat each other's shoulder.

"Are we late?" Sabi ni Drake hawak si Blair at Si Abby naman ay hawak niya si Josh.

"Brad, Musta" We said to each other and do a manly hug towards each other.

"It's been like what? 3 years simula pumunta kaming U.S" Sabi ni Drake. Drake got promoted in the U.S so Josh and Blair with of course Abby lived there by now.

"Grabe nakakamiss dito sa Pilipinas" Sabi ni Drake. After the twins blew their own candles and had our salo-salo, we had a casual conversation.

"You should start saving for their college funds Savannah" Sabi ni Mom. Nagkatinginan lamang kami ni Savannah.

"We are planning to do so Mom, however we are first prioritizing the insurance for the kids" Sabi ko.

"Well that's great" Sabi ni Mom while smiling.

After talking to our parents, Savannah immediately talk to Abbigail and Drake while I talk to my older sister.

"So you're pregnant again?" Sabi ko.

"Why don't you look surprised little brother?" Sabi niya.

"Meh, It's not that surprising tho. Baka umabot pa nga kayo sa anim" Sabi ko at she smacked me at my shoulder. After that bickering with my sister, I went to Abbigail and Drake's direction to have a little chat with them.

"So how's life in America?" Sabi ko.

"Wala naman masyadong maasahan doon, parang Pilipinas lang pero mas-maunlad, masmalamig at masmahal ang bilihin." Sabi niya while his arm is on Abbigail's shoulder. Abbigail, on the other hand, shrugged the shoulder which made Drake frown.

"Naiinis ka pa rin ba babe? Sorry na I promise that I won't promise a new baby anymore" Drake said which made Abbigail frown.

"Itong talaga si Drake mas gusto ako kapag buntis" Sabi ni Abbigail at tumawa ng mahina si Savannah.

"Mas sweet ka kasi saakin kapag buntis ka, babe" Sabi ni Drake and Abbigail gave him a death glare. Drake attempts to hug Abbigail and she let him do it.

"Hello? Nandito pa kami" Sabi ni Savannah while waging at the air.

"Speaking of, kailan kayo titira ulit dito sa Pilipinas?" Sabi ni Savannah.

"Siguro kapag highschool na si Josh. We are not sure yet kasi eh.." Sabi ni Abbigail.

After the party, I and Savannah cleaned up with the help of the maids and put the twins to bed.

"Grabe Hunt, ang bilis lumipas ang panahon no? Parang noon lang nasa tiyan ko pa yung kambal" Sabi ni Savannah sabay haplos sa mukha ni Asher who is the hardest one to tuck when sleeping.

"Yeah, before we know it we are blessed with two angels" Sabi ko while staring at my son who is sleeping.

She smiled at me and she smiled towards Asher. So many things had happen before and I am thankful that I have a family to cherish and a wife that I love so much. I am proud to declare that this girl is the mother of my children. I stared at the chess piece being displayed at my son's cabinet and smiled, my mother treated us like the queen chess and now It's my turn to be a king and protect the queen, my family.

THE END