CHAPTER THREE: LONG JOURNEY, FAREWELL MY FRIENDS

Before anyone else got a word in the coach walked back into the room "Well that goes that! Doesn't look like he'll be back anytime soon, whats with you both anyway?" he asked, gesturing towards Mateo

Mateo kept quiet and stared at the teacher, tears still forming in his eyes 

"Ah, I see." The coach added, taking a step back

The coach looked towards the audience of students and announced; "Let's just continue this next week. but uh, Mateo you're definitely out."

Mateo muttered "Gladly" and walked out of the room, Me and Liam looked at each other and pondered if we should follow after and we decided for it, walking beside him, from behind we could hear "hey the meeting isnt over!" from our coach but we decided to ignore it

We soon caught up to Mateo who was standing by a school window

"HEY UH... ARE YOU GOOD?"

Mateo glanced and said "Yeah I'm fine, just got caught in the middle of the game, thats all."

We decided not to press on, and Liam blurted out "WE SHOULD GO GET FOOD!!" 

Me and Mateo looked at eachother before looking back at Liam and agreed "Sure."

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"So whats up with you and that dark brooding guy?" I asked on the way to the school cafeteria,

"Well, aside from leaving me in the dust (that rat bastard) he seems to have been caught up with this idea that he's untouchable, you get it?" He said, putting his palm on his face "We both have different play styles and i think that sort of reflects our personality, he was always that kind of guy who think-before-you-act kinda thing, you get it?" 

Me and Liam nodded but then i asked "If you two were so tight how come you and him aren't so close anymore?"

"After he lost 3 years ago he sort of gave up on playing competitively even though he definitely could, last time he played was competitively was last year and I heard he vowed not to play against so called 'mince-meat' anymore. (that guy has a huge ego.)"

I stopped and said "Well then, don't worry! Cause it wont take long for me to beat him!" 

He paused and looked at me saying "C'mon dude you can't even beat me how can you be so sure."

I said confidently "I know I'll win!"

Liam cheered "LETSH GO!!" and patted my back and before we knew it there was already a guy inside the school cafeteria, he looked at us and saying "Didn't think anyone would be out here." 

He wore a black hoodie that had "SHOE GAZE" written across it that hid his id, and had earphones that connected to an ipod, he had slick blonde dyed hair, he was around 1.8 meters, and held a few dollars in his left hand, he was definitely a third year but he was shorter than Michael.

I thought "What the hell is shoegaze?"

We asked, confused "Who are you?"

Ignoring the question he continues, "You three look like you just got emotionally mugged.”

Mateo gets irritated and tries to ignore him but the guy walks infront of him and says "Alright fine." He pulls out his id and shows that hes the vice-president of the chess club

"V-Vice president?" I muttered

Mateo scoffed saying "A new mutt that I could beat in one go." walking right past the tall guy

He looked back at Mateo, irritated after being ignored, and offered "If you're so certain you can beat lil ol' me then lets have at it." He said opening his arms for an invitation 

Mateo, easily angered turned around and said "You think this is a joke? Mr 6-foot-tall? Because you look like me except way more stupid!" 

The tall guy walked closer and leaned in towards Mateo and said "You want to hear a better joke?" and they stared at each other

Liam butt in saying "ALRIGHT GUYSH LETSH NOT FIGHT EACHOTHER NEOW!!" and they immediately backed away from eachother.

Mateo clenched his jaw, then let out a sharp laugh.

“Fine,” he said. “One game. Right here. Then you get out of my face.”

The tall guy straightened up, a grin tugging at his lips. “Deal.”

He reached into his hoodie pocket and pulled out a foldable travel chess set, the cheap plastic kind that snapped open with a click. He set it down on one of the cafeteria tables like he’d done this a hundred times before.

Mateo froze.

“…You carry one around?” Mateo asked.

The tall guy shrugged. “Bad habit.”

Mateo glared down at the board and shoved his pawn to e4 like a dare. The tall guy didn’t flinch — he just smiled with an almost bored calm and replied, “Pawn to c5.” From masters to club players, that’s the classic Sicilian Defense — the kind world champions have used to dismantle aggressive openings.

Mateo’s eyes narrowed. “Of course,” he muttered under his breath, moving Knight f3 before he exploded into the center with rapid piece placement. But the tall guy’s knights and bishops slid out effortlessly, his moves precise as though he had every square in his head. Mateo attacked fast — too fast.

When Mateo pushed his pawn to g4 with reckless aggression, the tall guy leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. “Risky,” he murmured. A grin tugged at his lips. “Very, very risky.” He hovered over the board like a director choosing his next dramatic beat, then moved Bishop to g5, pinning a knight and cutting off Mateo’s attack

Mateo’s jaw tightened. “Checkmate in forty,” he said, but even as the words left his mouth his posture shifted — the tall guy’s pieces were swallowing his lines faster than he could threaten them.

The tall guy clapped once, exaggeratedly slow. “Ah, the fiery youth,” he intoned, “burns bright but forgets what lies behind the flames!” Then, with sudden dramatic flair, he slid his Queen to d7 — calm — and whispered, “Let’s see how you handle this check.”

Mateo froze. He stared down at the board, his rooks and queen tangled in his own assault, his king suddenly vulnerable. His heart pounded — the tall guy had it calculated. The crowd of students watching was silent.

“Alright,” Mateo breathed, “block… g6.” His hand shook as he moved.

Mateo glared down at the board and shoved his pawn to e4 like a dare. The tall guy didn’t flinch — he just smiled with an almost bored calm and replied, “Pawn to c5.” From masters to club players, that’s the classic Sicilian Defense 

Mateo’s eyes narrowed. “Of course,” he muttered under his breath, moving Knight f3 before he exploded into the center with rapid piece placement. But the tall guy’s knights and bishops slid out effortlessly, his moves precise as though he had every square in his head. Mateo attacked fast — too fast.

When Mateo pushed his pawn to g4 with reckless aggression, the tall guy leaned forward slightly, eyes gleaming. “Risky,” he murmured. A grin tugged at his lips. “Very, very risky.” He hovered over the board like a director choosing his next dramatic beat, then moved Bishop to g5, pinning a knight and cutting off Mateo’s attack

Mateo’s jaw tightened. “Checkmate in forty,” he said, but even as the words left his mouth his posture shifted — the tall guy’s pieces were swallowing his lines faster than he could threaten them.

The tall guy clapped once, exaggeratedly slow. “Ah, the fiery youth,” he intoned, “burns bright but forgets what lies behind the flames!” Then, with sudden dramatic flair, he slid his Queen to d7 — calm, functional, beautiful — and whispered, “Let’s see how you handle this check.”

Mateo froze. He stared down at the board, his rooks and queen tangled in his own assault, his king suddenly vulnerable. His heart pounded — the tall guy had it calculated.

“Alright,” Mateo breathed, “block… g6.” His hand shook as he moved.

The tall guy blinked once, then smiled — not smug, but genuine. “Ohhh, I hoped you’d choose that.” He leaned back, drumming his fingers and theatrically exhaling. “And now we dance.”

He didn’t rush. Every move was like a step in choreography: Bishop to e7, Knight to g5, Queen to h4. Each shift tightened the noose around Mateo’s king. The tall guy leaned forward, eyes sparkling, and announced theatrically, “Oh, the cruelty of strategy! A knight here, a bishop there — and suddenly the board is mine.”

Mateo’s brow burned. He tried to retaliate —forcing a tactic that might confuse his opponent, a tactic he’d seen, a wild sacrifice that turned tables — but the tall guy saw it coming like a ghost seeing its own reflection.

“Would you look at that?” the tall guy murmured, tone dry as sand. “A spectacular downfall. Tragic, really. Like an opera where the hero trips over his own ego.”

Mateo’s face flushed. The board was collapsing. He tried one last stand: pushing his pawn to e6, threatening to open lines. But the tall guy didn’t flinch. No theatrics. Just a quiet, precise Queen to f7 — checkmate.

Mateo stared at the board, mouth slightly open, as the tall guy stood, spreading his arms like the final curtain had been drawn on a grand stage. “Checkmate!” he declared, voice overblown. Then, just as suddenly, he dropped his head to his chest and sighed loudly. “Ohhh, the weight of victory…. It’s heavy… and burdensome… and yet… glorious.”

For a moment he looked like a tragic hero, tears of exaggeration welling up. Then — just as fast — he straightened, The tall guy suddenly started tearing up, saying "That was fun wasn't it?", gripping the table, "I haven't had that much fun in a while."

Mateo, frustrated after losing twice in a row, "You..." but before he could have done anything the tall guy stood up and raised his hand towards Mateo saying "Name's Narreen, Nareen Kaya!", he chuckled saying "You could've won if your emotions didn't bury you like a living skeleton."

Mateo still angry reluctantly shook his hand, and Liam whispered towards me "I LIKE SHISH GUY ALREADY..." 

I chuckled and asked, hesitating "Hey... How do we beat Michael Fauante?" 

Nareen paused, scratched his head and started thinking, "Well, I don't know.", We were bewildered, even Mateo who was Michael's friend couldn't believe it, he continued "What're you all looking at me for, I don't know how to beat him!" 

he continued "these stupid first years.. always adapting to us third years.." and he paused, saying "Well that's about it."

I muttered "this will be harder than i thought." but i kept my demeanor and stayed confident, saying "Well, this will be harder than I thought."

Nareen tapped the desk like drums and said "Bravo! that's it! keep up the demeanor baby!" 

Liam noted "ZHISH GUY ISH WEIRD BUT YOU KNOW WHAT!! IM OKAY WISH SHAT!!"

Nareen sat back down and started telling us a story of him versus Michael, when Michael first enrolled

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8 DAYS BEFORE MARCO, MATEO AND LIAM ARRIVE...



"When're these interesting first years gonna come coach?? I'm exhausted." Nareen claimed, laying his feet laid atop the teachers desk, beside him the coach yawned saying "Well, until you find some niche ones you'll be stuck with these folk." 

Infront of them were a bunch of defeated first and second years, they looked both exhausted and depressed. Nareen chuckled and saying "This is what chess is all about right? Winning!", The coach sighed and saying "You've never changed."

Suddenly, Michael walked through the open door and lifted his bangs, showing his bright green eyes and perfect pale face, Michael and Nareen locked eyes and Nareen chuckled "Oh?"

Michael stared at Narreen, then switched his gaze towards the Coach and said "If I win, I become president."

Narreen chuckled, "You really think you can win? Every cell in my body is telling me that I! NARREEN KAYA! AM DESTINED TO WIN!" The Coach cut in and said "Well, that isn't really how it works--" But Narreen interrupted saying "Nonono! Lets have the poor man get what he wants!"

Coach nodded reluctantly, and Narreen started smiling Michael grabbed a nearby chair and placed it infront of Narreen, Narreen let his legs go from the chair and sat properly, Michael and Narreen placed fixed both their pieces and,

Michael pushed his pawn. “You ready for this, Nareen?”

Nareen smirked. “Always. Don’t blink. I bite.”

Knight out. Pawn forward. Bishop slides. “You’re predictable,” Michael said, calm.

“Predictable?” Nareen laughed, flicking his queen aggressively. “Watch me.”

Michael glanced at the board. “Bold. Brave. Foolish.” He captured the pawn. “And yet, still wrong.”

Nareen groaned. “Impossible! My perfect storm…” He lunged a rook forward, sacrificing a pawn. “Boom! Momentum!”

Michael tilted his head. “Momentum? Cute.” Bishop takes pawn. Knight jumps in. Nareen freezes.

“Check,” Nareen said, voice sharp.

Michael smirked, sliding his queen. “Checkmate in three, inevitable.”

Nareen threw his hands up, leaning back dramatically. “No! The universe is cruel! My genius—thwarted by… patience?!” He shook his head, then straightened, puffing his chest. “Fine… I’m vice-president. But remember, Michael Fauente, one day…” He spun theatrically. “…I’ll return!”

Michael chuckled. “Vice-president suits you. Someone has to keep the drama alive.”

Nareen waved like an audience, mock tears in his eyes. “Ah… the agony! And yet… the delight!”

Michael leaned back, smirking. “And just like that, its over.”

("THATS A HORRIBLE WAY TO TELL A STORY!!" Liam yelled)

Narreen, defeated, said "You know... I've only ever felt a deep connection through chess." Michael stayed quiet, and Narreen continued "This was fun, Boy-Wonder." and the audience looked in shock as Narreen stood up and let Michael sit in his place

Narreen stayed quiet, but muttered "Shut up, dude. (seriously)." 

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Nareen continued, "And that's about it, and here I am as you see me today!"

Mateo chuckled " Mr cant-shut-up loses? I'm not surprised."

Narreen says "HEY! If u cant beat me, then you can't beat him, that's all there is to it!" 

Liam cut in "OKAY NOW NOW, WASH WERE YOU DOING HERE ANYWAY?"

"Well since I'm not president anyway, don't need to be there right? I mean the other officers weren't there... were they?"

"ZEY SHEFINITELY WERE.."

I turned around for a second and started thinking, "I need a better game plan if I'm gonna go about this, Michael is smarter than those two guys I can't even beat, if I'm gonna go about it, I'll have to train harder than I ever have."

My eyes lit up and said "Michael Fauante, huh." turning around

Mateo stared at me and murmured "Weirdo."