CHAPTER EIGHT: HIGHWAY TO HELL

"AHHHHH!!" I groaned

Nareen and Michael glanced at me and got up from their seats; Michael spoke first; "Go home, idiots." and walked away

Nareen followed suit; "See ya!" 

Mateo and I sunk into our chairs and looked at each other: "Let's go home?" and got up and walked away, closing the door behind us

We saw Liam waiting enthusiastically for us: "YOU GUYSH WANNA HANG OUT?"

We looked at each other before looking back at Liam; "Sure." We replied, hesitatingly

Mateo and I followed Liam as we walked back to his house, 

I started; "I'm sorry you didn't get chosen.", 

He didn't reply, instead continuing to walk, I glanced back towards Mateo and he shook his head,. implying; "You shouldn't"

We continued walking and he opened the conversation by saying; "YOU KNOW. OUT OF MY THREE SIBLINGS, TWO OF THEM ARE IN THE DISTRICT MEET."

I felt bad, and pat his back, saying "Dude, It's okay! We're first years after all!"

He replied; "ITS OKAY.. BUT... YOU SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF MY BROTHER."

"Brother? Why?"

"HE'S REALLY GOOD.. LIKE.. REALLY GOOD.."

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Before Liam and Elara Suen were born, Matt Suen was first, and right from the start he had a distinct trait that made him unique from others;

He had the ability to predict the thoughts and movements of others with 100% accuracy, He was fully aware of his innate ability and with that, it made him a terrifying force in the chess world

His father was a chess god, sitting right below Mateo and Michael's father, but what stood out from their heritage differently was the fact that Matt's father kept his rank hidden from both of them. 

Although fully aware of his capabilities, the sheer size difference between Mateo and Michael's fathers was understood, forcing him to hide in the shadows

When Matt was born before he learned to speak, he learned to calculate

In elementary, he found an old book his father owned inside his office, it was a chess book riddled with games of pros;

"There's nothing here but my fathers games!" He remarked, annoyed

His father walked inside his office; "Trouble?"

"An unexpected setback, My moves are still linked to the originals database... YOUR  moves father, your moves are still my default"

"And you're still trapped." His father remarked, walking towards Matt

"After playing chess with you for so long, I've inherited how you play. But once I learn how to play like the real pros i can use it to reset this one-- then, I'm cured"

"You say that as if learning how they play is an easy task. Admit it Matt, we need each other."

"No, I need this to evolve and you want me to continue with this disgusting style, that's a bad basis for an alliance."

"And you think the so-called pros  will accept you once you've studied how they played? You'll only go so far without me."

After Elara and Liam were born, he shunned himself into his own secluded melancholy, focusing his time on studying rather than plotting

After a few years, he developed his own unique way to play, focusing on advancing using pure statistics mixed with his perfect intuition, and afterwards? he dominated

Pure domination, it didn't take a while until his father noticed his elegance,

"I've chosen a successor, A successor for who I'll bring and nominate for the National Chess tournament." 

Matt and Elara walked inside his office, Matt stood while Elara sat

Matt let out a big breath of air, clapped and said; "then our alliance has served its purpose." 

"Hm?"

"Our agreement? once I've mastered how to free myself from your binds, I can free myself from this unorthodox playing style."

"Yeah, There's been a change of plans. Soon, It will be Liam. I'll finish what I didn't with him." He said, turning his back out on us

Matt lashed out, gripping his fist

"Why are you doing this! We had an agreement!"

"True, but my soon to be protege does!"

"It's going to be glorious, Matt."

Matt, sitting down in his dads office; "Pardon me if I don't break into applause."

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We walked side by side until we reached a mansion.. the very kind millionaires in hollywood actors had, we gasped "Woah"

The light basked the marble floor as the gate opened for Liam, who we followed inside

Once we reached the front door, he told us to take off our shoes and we walked inside his house, inside was a girl sleeping on the couch

"Isn't that your sister?" I asked

"YESH!!"

We proceeded into the kitchen and there was a boy who played chess all alone by himself, "ANOZHER LATE NIGHT CHESSH SESSION?" Liam asked

He had gray hair, and a black tight shirt on, He looked sleep deprived, eye bags making his face seem more slender

"As usual.. You presume wrong." He replied. 

We asked; "Who's that-- your brother?"

He stood up, and shook both our hands, Mateo and I thought "So formal!" 

I decided to ask; "Excuse me, will you be participating in the district meet kuya?"

"Kuya? what? Anyways, Yes I will." He fixed the chess pieces on the table and held a pawn towards me asking, "You want to play?"

Mateo and I froze for a second

"Black or white. Choose carefully." he asked, this is the first time we've met and he's confident enough to play

I nodded, "Sure.." with uncertainty, and Liam cheered me on

I sat opposite towards him and I instinctively took the black pieces, He asked; "Are you ready?"

I gulped, agreeing "Sure."

He started with e4, a basic opening with many variations, I responded with e5 instinctively fighting control over the center of the game

Nf3, Nc6,  Bb5, giving him a clear advantage over the game with the Ruy Lopez opening, I threatened his undefended e4 pawn with Nf6

He muttered; "An unexpected setback..." and castled king side, and continued the game onward, 

By move 15, the game was already in his favor, a looming queen while my king was left exposed, nothing to defend it, I immediately played Qe6, placing the Queen right next to the castled king, protecting it

He zoomed a rook from the backside to Rae1, threatening to take my queen, I immediately realized my blunder, "I'm about to lose my Queen!" I thought

My hands shook knowing the inevitability. Intending to save as much value as I can-- I moved my Queen out of the way, "Wait!" I thought, "I'm going to lose! This bastard-- he made me choose between losing my Queen or losing the game, I didn't see it coming!"

But similarly to a mastermind, He confidently placed his Knight to e7

"Check." He pointed out, almost enthusiastically

I moved Kh7, and he chuckled; "I know what you're thinking.. that knight was impossible right? Well so is this." He flared flamboyantly and moved his other knight to Ng5, ending the game

"Well I know this is over." I said, almost chuckling

As I got up, Mateo's eyes met mine and pat me on the shoulder; "Brother... He absolutely rocked-the-shit out of you." 

I moved his hand away, "Yeah.. yeah.. I know."

e4 e5
Nf3 Nc6
Bb5 Nf6
O-O Bc5
Nxe5 O-O
Nf3 Nxe4
d4 Bb6
d5 Ne7
Bd3 Nf6
d6 cxd6
Bg5 Ng6
Nc3 h6
Bxf6 Qxf6
Nd5 Qd8
Bxg6 fxg6
Qd3 Qe8
Rae1 Qf7
Ne7+ Kh7
Ng5+ 1–0

"You needn't sweat about it, after all you never stood a chance." He said, confidently

"IM SORRY, HESH ALWAYHS LIEK ZHAT!" Liam apologized,

I let it go and replied; "You don't need to apologize for anything Liam, He was right too."

He glared into my eyes and let out a smile, offering his hand towards me; "My name's Matt, Matt Suen, Pleasure to meet you." 

I shook his hand; "L-Likewise.. I'm Marco Villanueva."

He offered his hand towards Mateo and did the same, and he sat back down to his chair

We went into Liam's room and sat down on his bed

Mateo; "That's one hell of a brother."

"YEAH.. YOULL GET USHED TO IT THOUGH, MY DAD IS THE REAL PAIN IN THE WORK."

"If your brother is this bad I wonder how bad your father will be.." I thought

He had chess posters plastered around his walls, and had a family photo with all of them on his desk; below the picture was a sign that said "First tournament! 20--" 

"This family has been at it for quite a while huh?" I asked

Mateo chuckled; "You really are new to this chess thing huh? Everyone's got a gimmick nowadays."

Mateo compared his family to Liams, after noticing the happy family he grit his teeth; "I've always been burdened by my families decisions."

Liam noticed Mateo and replied; "HEY, DON'T SWEAT ABOUT IT! WE ALL GO THROUGH SOMETHING!"

"You're right."

I laid down on his bed and found an old book lying there, It read; "Chess for intermediates!" 

I picked it up and asked; "What's this for? Don't you already know chess?" 

"YEAH.. WELL MY FASHER HASH A ZHING WHERE HE DOESNT NOTISH USH UNLESS WE WIN A COMPETITION, IM GETTING THE SHORT END OF THE STICK..." He said, depressingly

Mateo, relating with Liam's circumstances said; "You're not the only one fatso." 

I opened the book and the author had his name ripped apart aside from his last name, "Suen."

"Suen? Isn't that his father?" I asked

"DONT KNOW.. I ZHONT KNOW WHO MADE THAT BOOK!"

I placed my hand on my mouth, thinking "Suspicious."

We blabbered on about chess tactics, plans and strategies of what we would do during the district game

Liam laughed and put on a huge grin, and said; "I'm counting on you guys!"