Checkmate - Chapter 33: Chapter 33

"Oh look, now they're open about it. Someone gag me." Liezel's droopy voice acknowledged their arrival.
"I spoke too soon," Althea mumbled, tightening her grip on Hana's hand and trying to control the urge to magically send Liezel flying across the hall, face-first into a metal locker.
Hana's roommates were in the hallways, waiting for them, probably for a confrontation.
"By the way, everyone..." Hana began, gripping Althea's hand in hers. "Althea and I have an announcement to make."
"Ohhh!" Fallon cried out, jumping excitedly. "Here it is!"
Liezel rolled her eyes. "Oh calm down."
"We're now officially dating," Hana said with a shy smile.
"Ooh! I knew you two are perfect together." Fallon yelled, coming to wrap her arms around the new couple.
Except for Liezel who stood watching them, but with a huge grin. "You mean... you guys just got together? Like for real?"
Althea and Hana just nodded sheepishly.
"I thought you guys were together before then," Liezel remarked, unclear whether she was being sarcastic or just her plain personality of being supportive."I mean, I did lose."
"Lose what?" Hana asked.
"Ah," Althea gave Liezel the side-eye. Such signals that she didn't want Hana to know that she and Liezel had a minor rivalry moment for her heart.
Madeline and Heather were running from the end of the hallway and skidded to a stop. Both catching their breaths, lucky for them no prefects or professors were patrolling around to catch them and Althea was in a good mood to even reprimand them.
"IS IT TRUE?" Madeline tried to catch her breath but what she was about to know was more urgent.
"ABOUT WHAT'S TRENDING?" Heather continued.
Althea shifted her weight to another foot, cheekily. "I'm afraid it is the truth."
"I knew it!" Madeline screamed before the twosome fainted in perfect synchronization.
Samantha caught Madeline on cue while Heather reached the floor with a loud thud.
"That's got to hurt," Natalya commented looking over Heather's unconscious form while Hildegard merely poked the girl's cheek to check if she was still functioning.
"What's with the racket?" Samantha asked, clueless for some reason. "Why did Miss Cutie faint?"
Althea and Hana looked at each other and then burst out giggling. This will be their whole day, breaking the news to everyone. Some people never change.
"Althea and I...we're in a relationship now," Hana said.
"You're not kidding me aren't you, ponytail?"
Hana shook her head before gesturing towards Althea with a lovesick grin.
"Finally! That's my girl!" Samantha hollered. "We all know it was bound to happen."
"Aww, Congratulation Hana! I'm so happy for you!" Natalya said brightly while Hildegard grabbed a toy gun from her pocket and shot some pride color confetti out of it. Whenever did she had the chance to prepare for it, nobody knew. "If you two ever want catering for your wedding, I'm here!"
"W-wedding?" the brunette turned beet red, losing focus and prompting Althea to reply.
"You're so thoughtful, Natalya."
"That's so like years from now on I think but—HURRAY NATALYA'S COOKING!" Hana's whole body was giddy.
Althea ever wondered if she had to request Natalya to take her as her student when it comes to cooking just for Hana.
Natalya widened her eyes, and then with a sly smirk she gave to the blonde, Althea was left wondering if Natalya could ever read minds.
"So now that everything's been settled," Samantha said, adjusting Madeline's form so she can carry her bridal style. "Who's going to carry her to the infirmary?"
They all shifted their gazes to Heather.
By the time Hana's last class came, almost everyone has stopped talking about the festival. The thoughts about being with her girlfriend alone in her room are overshadowed by the thoughts of her first lesson with Professor Oakley after this.
Hana was in class, sketching out a few ideas she has for upcoming photography lessons on the edge of her notebook, only half listening to what the teacher is saying. Learning about Trigonometry won't help her become a better photographer.
She vaguely heard the sound of the classroom phone ringing. The shapes in her anime sketch become more real and present as she added more background to it. It covered some of the notes she took earlier.
"Miss Yoshida?" Professor Babineaux asked.
Despite her immersion into her drawing, her head perked up. A few students were looking at her. "What?"
The professor hung up the phone. "Headmistress Mariam wants you at her office. You are hereby dismissed early."
Hana closed her notebook, wondering what the Headmistress could want with her today. She smoothened out her clothes as she got up and made her way to the main office. Some of the staff members smiled at her while some gave her a snub, the latter making Hana resisted the urge to glare at them, yet she returned the polite gestures.
She eventually found the aforementioned office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," Headmistress Mariam said.
Hana pushed the door open. The smell of scented candles and the bright colors of the paintings hung up on the walls invade her senses, along with jasmine flowers and herbal tea.
Her desk is cluttered, and in front of it are two chairs, one of which is occupied by none other than Althea whose eyes widened in equal pleasant surprise at seeing each other, probably also unaware as to why they are here. Althea's previously stiff posture turned relaxed as Hana came in, and the room seems to all of a sudden shrink in size.
"Hello, Miss Yoshida. Please take a seat." Headmistress Mariam said, pointing at the unoccupied chair.
Hana did as she was told and glanced at Althea who was already smiling at her, while tracing her index finger along the edge of her chair, sending shivers down Hana's spine. Her ongoing blush quickly disappeared when Headmistress Mariam cleared her throat.
"How did you find the Samhain Festival days ago?" she asked, even though she surely was informed.
Hana was sure this small talk was a preparation for the big one, but it was the Headmistress herself who answered her rhetorical question.
"Miss Lancaster won the Moonlit Witch title," then jerks her head in Hana's direction. "And Miss Yoshida got second place. That is incredible."
Hana was too impatient to know what the agenda is. Professor Oakley could be waiting for her and Althea. Headmistress Mariam is the principal of an exclusive College, of course, she knew. Althea is probably her most valuable student. Maybe Hana would be too if she was not such an idiot.
"Why are we here?" Althea asked.
She paused and closed her eyes for a moment. "I know you girls are not exactly... friends."
The lovers' cheeks flamed hot.
"Have I said something impertinent?" she glanced between them, her eyes dancing. Then she chuckled to her heart's content. "Rumors reach me too you know. But I didn't invite you girls here to tease you. You see, it's explicitly known in our Neos Athens history that the school has always been artistically inclined in the Golden Ages, but ever since the rise of industrialization, art appreciation has lowered in ranks in favor of the sciences. To become relevant in an ever-changing society, our foremothers decided to adapt to these changes; thus, we became a school of many degrees. The school was recently was informed of a most prestigious art competition—a very important one—and this is the first year it's being hosted here at Neos Athens. Have you heard of the Ainsley Fine Art International Competition?"
"Absolutely," Althea said. "It is a competition that spans throughout the entire world, created by the late Mavio Ainsley and his colleagues. Every year, the themes and topics change, and every art form is appreciated and welcomed."
"The competition has sent us a letter. I'm pleased to announce that the school we agreed to host the competition for this year." The headmistress started, every sentence she has spoken made her smile wider. "All the major representatives of schools and colleges will send their best representatives to compete and we will get media coverage! Think about how good it will be if our own representatives won! This year's idea is to honor contemporary visual art by our very own two young artists by focusing on differences and how they can complement each other. In other words, the theme is 'contrasts'. I'm thinking that it could be a very good opportunity for you two and besides Painting combined with Photography is a mixed media so interesting to see. It's filled with creativity!"
"Including me?" Hana blinked.
"Of course, Miss Yoshida," the headmistress said. She paused to clear her throat and adjust her glasses. "The whole point of the competition is to illustrate differences and contrasts through any art form, right? And what could be more contrasting than the work of two distinct artists?"
Hana gave her an incredulous look, and when she turned to Althea, it seemed she was pleased for this artistic opportunity. No wonder both of them were called in here.
"You want us to do it together?" Hana cautiously asked.
Her eyes trailed from her to Althea and then back to Hana. "We've made a decision that we must Miss Lancaster to participate, but the contest requires two artists, so we decided to send you off with her."
"No," Hana said. "No, no, no. Everyone at school knows who Althea is. Althea Lancaster, a successful art prodigy that has sold dozens of paintings to buyers and art galleries alike. Althea Lancaster an intelligent, beautiful, charming girl. And if anyone knows anything about me, they know me as the school's dunce with a lazy way of capturing pictures. I reckon there are more capable artists in the Arts department that can pair up with Althea. That is too much responsibility for me."
"Hana!" Althea's turned towards her, eyebrows raised. Absolutely horrified at what she heard.
"I know how it sounds, but listen," Headmistress Mariam began. "It's extremely important for the school to do well in this competition. Imagine how good it will make us look." Her eyes shine with the possibility. "And you two are the best chance the school has to win. If you work together and win, you both get a scholarship and all the other prizes. This is huge."
Hana stood from her seat and pushed herself forward near the headmistress's face. "Why are you saying that?"
"Because you might not know it but you won second place."
"I do know about that," Hana said, her head walking down the memory lane. "But it's only beautiful because Althea is beautiful."
"Hana!" Althea's face fell into a frown before reaching out for her. "We've talked about this. You don't let one critic define you! You are a great artist!"
"I'm not ready yet, Althea," Hana said. A hint of stubbornness entered her voice.
Althea lifted her head and looked at her with almost watery eyes and a smile barely tugging at the corners of her lips. "You don't want to win the competition with me?"
Hana felt a tug at her heart. "Oh, I do. I'm just not ready yet."
The headmistress formed her hand into a steeple, amused a little by watching her students.
"What are your thoughts about this, Miss Lancaster?"
"I am definitely participating." She said, trying not to show a pained expression to cross her face. Her voice was sincere, but also held a note of disappointment. "And I would love for my girlfriend to become my collaborator."
"Splendid!" she clapped before addressing the brunette. "You should think about it, Miss Yoshida. It's not until December. But consider it; we need to do well in this competition. You must also know that people believe in you if not, they wouldn't have requested for you."
"Someone requested me?"
"A group of them," she said.
"Who?"
"Your teachers," she folded her arms over her desk, "particularly Professor Andrea and Professor Kavanagh."
Hana sat back in her chair, arms crossed. Her face pursed in contemplation, weighing the cons and pros of this artistic opportunity. "Why's it important that I go with Althea?"
"It is one of the oldest and the most publicized art competitions internationally. It was the first award to pair young up-and-coming artists and has a specific focus on the future. Also, the artists who have won the award have gone on to become enormously successful, both critically and financially. The major prize is a scholarship for the rest of your schooling expenses. Needless to say but I must emphasize, this competition is also known as the career-making prize because winners indisputably become successful. Some of the contesters even become favorites and they become famous for it too. Of course, other benefits are an exclusive interview, a featured spot on a newsletter—"
The Headmistress started talking about some of the other prizes, but the only word that has stuck in Hana's mind is career-making. She thought of all the times her parents have looked at her with a sad look on their faces when they get to the topic of her going to college in London all their hard work and life's expenses on a mere hopeful thought that Hana would at least earn more than the salary of being a local artist.
Something blossomed in her chest.
Maybe this is the chance she was waiting for. Whatever she promised Wafiqah to become worthy of being interviewed alongside Althea in the school's paper and whatever promise she made to Althea about seeing where her classes under the mentorship of Professor Oakley would take her.
Hana knew she was capable of so much more and all the opportunities are being given to her.
She was just afraid, of the haters, of the non-believers, and of harsh critics who wanted her to lose her optimism.
Hana needed to get her game face on. Andromedabelieved in her from the start and she still believed. Professor Oakley saw the potential in her after an arduous test. Althea took a little more convincing but here she is now with Hana, believing in Hana's heart much more than everyone else.
Headmistress Mariam looked around her desk until she found a small envelope and handing it over to Althea "Here's the letter that was delivered to us."
Althea read the contents as the headmistress continued.
"You can confirm my information in there and check their website for their genuine and read all the other rules and requirements if some questions are lingering in mind. I'll make an announcement soon telling the students about it, but I'm telling you two in advance because I want you to work together. You are the best chance we have to win." She turned to look at Hana. "For you, Miss Yoshida, I have a special prize. If you and Miss Lancaster manage to do well in this competition, I will try my best to make sure that you pass all your minor classes at the end of the year. How does that sound?"
The expression on Hana's face shifted. She stared at the ground. "Pretty good," she mumbled.
Headmistress Mariam smiled. "Good. Now, will you two work together?"
Hana thought of the rewards and about how maybe her parents will be able to stop stressing about the tuition fees if she won. She also thought about how she can prove her non-believers wrong and thank those who supported her from the start. Her teachers wanted her to push her limits, her friends who gave her favors when she was starving or mentally burning her eyelashes from studying too hard.
Hana tried to think about how disastrous this can turn out, but her brain kept flashing the word career-making over and over again in her head, outshining everything else. "Well, how bad can it be?"
"Darling, you will?" Althea's eyes sparkled.
Hana felt a tinge of heat color in her cheeks at the endearment, grinning stupidly. She felt a little spark of pride ignite within her chest at her unfaltering ability to put a smile on Althea's face. She couldn't help but smile back. "Yes, we'll work together."
But before the headmistress can react, Althea reached for Hana and wrapped her in a tight embrace with a cry of excitement.
"Excellent," Headmistress Mariam said, taking pleasure from the sight. "You two may leave now."