Checkmate - Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Hana had finished packing her clothes. With a quick movement, she closed the lid and pushed the box of her treasures inside the closet again, without even giving it another glance.
She locked their apartment door and steadily dragged along a smaller trunk downstairs, all the way murmuring to herself and mentally checking if she had packed everything necessary. As soon as she reached the main lobby, she gazed up she noticed Althea. She was being entertained by Fallon and Liezel.
Althea looked pretty as she always did, wearing a white shirt, black pants, and a brown middle-length coat to keep her warm in the chilly November weekend whose air predicted the approaching of snow. In contrast with her cold appearance, Hana wore a blue turtleneck cardigan, shorts, and the same orange jacket that reached her thighs.
Hana hugged both her friends then went on to Althea's side and as she reached her, Fallon suddenly pulled Althea in a tight clutch.
"You take good care of Hana for us, okay?" Fallon spoke up and Althea nodded after her first initial reaction. "She's such so clumsy please take care of her. Don't let her drag you into those spontaneous dangerous ideas of hers," she went on and pointed her index finger towards Althea, thus making Hana chuckle.
"I'm not a child, Fallon!"
"But you're you!" Fallon said. The Finnish and the Filipino looked at each other with mutual thoughts then smiled at each other, laughing.
"Obviously, Fallon is describing you like a reckless dog brought by his owner in the riskiest expeditions."
"Liezel, I'm clearly not a dog!"
"Hey," Fallon began, worry etched on her face. "Are you both sure about your classes being covered by your absence?"
"Headmistress Mariam had informed us that she has concurred with Professor Oakley. Neos Athens will completely do anything if it means a chance of winning."
"Sounds like it didn't take much convincing. Professor Oakley must be a big deal." Liezel said.
After their usual banter, they got all Hana's luggage into the trunk of Althea's car, fitted nicely next to her lover's luggage, and then Hana got into the front seat next to her. Althea simply smiled as she started the car and drove off from the parking lot.
The sun weakly shone through the tinted window of the car. Hana looked at stores and buildings, traffic signs, and people. Her photographer mind started looking at simple objects and began to think of creative and beautiful ways to capture them. Nothing escaped her notice, not the big cars and small cars, not the sidewalk cracks and the dancing birds on the road.
Reaching the park, they grabbed their luggage and walked towards the meeting place where they met up with Professor Oakley.
"Good morning, Professor!" Hana greeted in her perpetual joyful habit.
The old woman's smile reached her eyes, as it was crinkled. Then handed them warm cups she bought from a nearby café. "Nothing quite starts my day without tea." She said in a singsong voice.
"Thank you," they both replied as they took a sip.
The old woman led them through the forest they have not gone through yet. They had reached a glade when Professor Oakley stopped. "I ask of you, my students, to keep silent for a while in this part of the woods."
Hana smiled and nodded approvingly, and together with Althea, followed the old professor towards a blossoming bush. She stepped forward with such a delicacy, afraid to make any sound but the natural ones.
Her mind was still stuffed with all sorts of random thoughts, most of them concerning her old mentor, Andromeda, and the competition, and for a brief second, she feared that the rumbling going around her head could be heard by the others as well.
Professor Oakley had been lecturing them about finding the beauty in ordinary things. She even had to reprimand Hana because she always got bogged down by equipment.
"There are types of photographers out there who usually have three or four cameras strapped to them with lenses long and short enough. There's no need for all that equipment. You cannot drag your friends all the time to help you shoot. You got lucky last time. One camera with one or two lenses is better. You will be freer in your movements to capture interesting angles or subjects on the go."
Althea was prepared for that. She only brought a drawing pad, a pencil, and an eraser. Everything else for a canvas was left in the car so if she should want to improve, she can do it later.
Professor Oakley pushed aside some of the branches of the bush. The old woman signaled her students to look forward and as they both leaned over, they noticed a flock of birds. They were small but round looking, with brown feathers and a small yellow beak. But the most predominant feature is a bright orange breast which fades into a stark white underbelly.
The group studied the awkward bird. Hana was glad she managed to bring camera lenses fitted for wildlife photography and as she tried to take photos of the bird-like the amateur she is, Althea, on the other hand, sketched the bird and the twig it nestled in on her drawing pad. Meanwhile, Professor Oakley made some brief annotations about it on her journal and after everyone declared satisfaction with their own purposes, Professor Oakley led them to a remote place, where their voices could not scare the animal away.
"Now let me see how you capture them." She said as the girls handed her their mediums whilst leaning casually on a rock. "While I review your portraits of the bird, can anyone tell me what that creature is?"
Hana was clueless as to what the species was. Althea took her silence as an affirmation to answer it herself. "The brambling birds are often seen among clearings or open woodland. The species migrate all across Europe and a winter visitor in these parts."
"Had people told you that you would make an excellent naturalist, Miss Lancaster?"
"I love animals like my dear mother and father." Althea smiled. "Of course, that comes with no surprise for you."
"Indeed," she said then a mask of irritation mixed with permanent surprise came upon her features. "Although I am surprised that both of you evidently needs work."
The plates, where food had been served the night before, were still resting on the desk only now they were empty except the salmon grille that lay half-eaten on a sparkling white dish.
Emerging from beneath the white sheets, there were two pairs of feet: one belonging to a woman, quite large and bony who fancied turquoise nail polish and the other one, definitely, more slender and fancied no nail polish. Tosca's right foot was rubbing against Andromeda and as their fleshes met, one could easily make out a hushed moan escaping their throats.
Tosca looked so peaceful when she's asleep, Andromeda thought. Her lilac hair was slightly dabbing her face and her pink lips seemed to be twisted strangely. She was smiling in her sleep. Her long lashes were immobile and Andromeda grinned as she recalled that she hardly got to see the Italian woman with her eyes closed.
She clutched the sheets tighter, making sure that they covered the nudity of her body and as she moved closer to Tosca, hoping to fall asleep listening to her heartbeat again. But the mere gesture made Tosca open her eyes and smiled. There was something odd emanating from her dark eyes, which Tosca found much pleasing and intriguing in a way only Tosca could be.
"Good morning," Andromeda finally spoke breaking the awkward inlay of chaotic sentences forming in her mind with such speed that not even she could keep track.
"Good morning," she whispered, still not being able to fully comprehend what's happening. Tosca harrumphed before she pinched her nose to collect herself. "Fancy an adventure today?"
"What kind of adventure?"
"Does a walk through the town sound exciting enough for you?"
"Will we buy brushes and colors?" she wondered.
Tosca nodded. "And since you said I should go eat good food, we will get fruits that have traveled a long way to reach our mouths. Like mangos and papayas from Thailand. And then if we're tired we'll stop by and have a drink at a local pub."
Andromeda desisted smiling, knowing well that Tosca was simply delaying on confronting the truth and the core of her problems. Squabbling about minor matters wasn't amiss to a person's life after all. She fully understood this. It took her years to brazen out to Tosca and if she needed more time then Andromeda will gladly give it to her. Yet, it shouldn't take forever. There has to be a time limit.
"And after all of that?" she asked.
Patiently, Andromeda awaited a reply. She sent her piercing gaze to Tosca who blinked in disbelief.
"Then we visit Professor Oakley."
They decided it was settled. This was it, no more beating around the bush.
"But!" Tosca interrupted Andromeda's thoughts. "You drive!"
The group was silently eating back in the glade after a long hard work, enjoying a late lunch break on a fluffy blanket that Hana had brought along.
Hana gladly continued to enjoy the sandwich that Althea had so carefully prepared for her. She noticed that Althea's case was open. The blonde still had her strange routines; she had had as a child. Hana observed that Althea would never drink anything that had not been made by her own hands, or at least under her careful eye. So just like the usual, she had brought along a handful of tea leaves and herbs to make the habitual five o'clock tea.
"Althea, want me to brew the tea for you?" she asked.
Her lover stared at her profoundly. Althea doesn't budge. As she spoke, a breeze played up, carrying with it the strong, sharply sweet scent of pine. "Are you any good?"
"Are you kidding me? Of course, I know how to brew some!"
As Hana started to carefully brew their teas, Althea trusted Hana enough she confined herself with some of the photos that Hana had done of the birds, completely ignoring the situation around her.
The photos though could have been better, was fairly enough fun to look at. Hana even managed to capture a scene where two birds were hunched together. Witnessing Hana improve certainly sparked a desire within her to become better.
Hana grabbed the electric water kettle Professor Oakley provided when the breeze strengthened, playing across her face. Pine needles brushed her skin, soft as trailing fingers. The tea leaves that Althea prepared beforehand were swept away. Hana tried to catch one, but it danced off on the growing wind.
"Oh crap!" she had quickly tried to find it on the ground and brewed it.
Throughout the day, Althea had gained quite a habit of sketching scenes. Ones that are fondest of her memories, like the first kiss they shared under the branches of a tree, with the wet in their hairs and the bemused expression plastered on Hana's face as their lips parted, or ones that are completely based on her imagination, like the small figures of two people sitting on the edge of a fountain—a girl with long blonde hair and a young blond man leaning on a statue.
"Who are they, Althea?" Hana asked, looking over her shoulder.
Althea flinched at being caught. A flush grew on her cheeks before saying, "My parents. I imagined them in their first meeting, talking and gazing at each other as the hot sun of that day made clothes feel like an impediment. My father died two years after I was born from a car accident and my mother would often tell me stories about their love."
Hana stared at Althea's father as she took a sip of her tea first. A very dashing-looking man, who was wearing a spotless shirt and a pair of luxurious pants that one, could only buy in a French boutique.
"I know nothing about him, only from stories passed down to me."
"I bet he's wonderful. Tea's ready!" Hana said, handing her lover's cup in her free hand. She might not mention it but she totally messed up the brewing process.
"There were no mysteries related to my father." Althea began, holding her tea. "He was sharp-minded, quite handsome, and of a noble family. He had studied at a renowned school in France, which explained his taste for couture and his high manners, had graduated with top marks. He was in a way, a rival to my mother before they fell in love. Everything else was pure speculation, or in my case, imagination. From the stories, Edith and the servants at home have told me. He hardly did anything to resemble his previous actions; his life did not follow any pattern and she often wondered if his wavering between the different phases of his behavior was a good or a bad thing. He was fluctuant, but never did he show any sign of hesitancy in his actions on account of the obscurity which his life seemed to dwell on most of the time."
"People die leaving broken hearts behind them," Hana said, cuddling her lover. "But those that are left standing up must go on, despite the terrible aching draining their whole body."
"Thank you, Hana. You are the sweetest." Althea complimented, taking a sip of the tea Hana made for her when the taste was absolutely horrid. She spat the liquid out in pure horror before glancing at her lover.
"H-Hana? Are you alright?"
It had only been a few minutes when Hana's face had become yellowish. "Hmm, now that you mentioned it... I feel nauseous all of a sudden. My stomach aches too."
Althea plunged a hand towards Hana's cup and found it empty. "OH GOD HANA!"
"What seems to be the matter with her?" Professor Oakley asked.
"It seems Hana slipped between the tea leaves one belonging to the iris flower that she might have had picked up minutes before."
"Is it poisonous?" Hana queried.
Althea helped her lie down. "Iris leaves are poisonous, but certainly not lethal in any way." She said, causing her lover to gasp. "You will be fine, Hana. The only thing they could cause is a sudden digestive discomfort, which was only natural every once in a while."
"I think this trip is over for us for today," Professor Oakley said. "Let's get you back to my cottage."
Althea carried Hana piggyback style as they headed towards the house where Professor Oakley resides. It was almost half-hidden in a grassy hill, sheltered from the earth element and blending in seamlessly with its surroundings.
The old woman opened the rusty wooden door and led the way inside. Althea followed suit. Her jaw dropped as she scanned the polished wooden interior of this seemingly hermit's house. Everything looked quite clean on the surface at least, and it wasn't as small as she had thought. Classic furniture was well arranged, leaving a welcoming feeling in the air. There were loads of records and an accompanying turntable, books, and even scrolls among the shelves. Several rounded windows were facing the mountains. Althea speculated on how all the massive furniture had been taken up here. Certainly, it couldn't have been maneuvered up through the small narrow door, which was barely more than a foot wide.
Althea laid Hana down on a couch when a burst of light bathed through the room. Professor Oakley had managed to breathe life into the fireplace and began cooking something over a stove.
"Oh dear me!" she was cutting through the carrots when she exclaimed. "Miss Lancaster, why had you failed to remind me of your room? Miss Yoshida has to lie down in bed. But do not let her sleep just yet. She needs to eat before drinking her medicine."
Althea and Hana settled in their room, which thankfully they were allowed to decorate to their liking without any restrains from Professor Woodard. Hana thought she would start working on it as soon as she unpacked her things and she would be done by the time dinner would be served.
Althea wouldn't allow her of course, but Hana insisted that they should fix the room a little.
Hana had come to this house to learn, and she had decided that nothing would keep her away from her goals—even if it was some nasty poison. She wouldn't be staying up late in looking through social media, or get distracted by her girlfriend no matter how pretty she is, nor would she stray from her duties. She wouldn't let anything interfere with her plans.
Except for these iris leaves she mistook for tea leaves.
Althea helped Professor Oakley clean the dishes after their dinner when the old woman spoke conversantly.
"Miss Yoshida has a lot of will in her. I assure you she will be up in no time."
"I am not afraid she will be stopped by a mere stomach ache. The girl is made of steel; it will take a few more to break her entirely."
"She is a resilient girl who has been subjected to many hardships in life, but with her foundation of determination and bravery, she stood tall and proud when confronted by trials. She will persevere..." Professor Oakley said, "With or without you."
"Are you indicating our parallelism with our mentors?" she scoffed. "Trust me; I do not intend to become so broken and jaded just because Hana was chosen instead of me."
"You are right. Initially, you were this immovable person, left undeterred and with no opponent. You were an unmovable force. Few things could whisk away your iron will and leave your defenses open, but you are not invincible. Even if you pose as a woman as clever as yourself, I do believe that you need Miss Yoshida more than she needed you."
"As I had mentioned mere seconds ago, your words cannot rue me. Hana is not a trophy to be decorated beside me or a prize to be won. Her accomplishments are entirely her own and I harbor no desire to possess her and subdue her in some way. You are correct to declare I needed her more than she needs me, but love is about appreciating and complementing each other... to help one another to become better individuals. For someone as old and wise as you, you sure care less about the people you have hurt along the way."
"And what makes you say that?"
"Hana is a good person. She believed the good in everyone and expects the same. The guilt eats you away, doesn't it? To hurt innocent people who do not deserve the derision and detestation thrown at them. If I were you, given the next opportunity, you should resolve everything with your old students."
Professor Oakley stared into open space, a little philosophical. Her silence indicated that their conversation was over.
When Althea finished, she flipped her hair as she exited. Stepping into their room, Hana had finished drinking her medicine that Althea brought. She instantly realized that Hana's state was far from improving; on the contrary, with every passing minute, it seemed that it was worsening.
Althea didn't have to be a medical practitioner to know that Hana was bound to spend at least another couple of days in bed, perhaps continue drinking that horrible tasting concoction that Professor Oakley had fixed for her once they had reached the old woman's home.
It wasn't that bad after all, apart from constant nausea and the aching, which, as Hana had pointed out. She hardly had any reasons to complain.
Hana was lying down comfortably in the grand bed that Professor Oakley had offered upon seeing her deplorable state. She smiled upon seeing Althea and excitedly began talking.
"How are you feeling, Hana?" Althea asked worriedly.
"Not so good, this pain is sucking the life out of me." She managed to mumble before falling asleep.
Althea sighed. This was the thing Fallon was warning her about and she got distracted for a moment and now Hana is severely sick. She cannot help but blame herself; she needed to do better to take care of herself.
She could not afford to lose another person she loved.