The Game

I am rendered speechless. I don't know what to say or do to make this woman shut that smart mouth of hers.

Whereas she is unfazed by all the emotions she is swirling inside of me like a fucking tornado.

She walks past me, shoving me in the shoulder and my eyes follow her as she stalks toward the bed and all of a sudden I have found something more disorienting. She is wearing a hospital gown that ties at the back and I can clearly see her naked tanned flesh as she swings her ass while walking. Somehow the gown fits her perfectly and envelopes all of her curves but at the same time it looks comfy and airy.

And with that I decide that I am paying too much attention to someone's body.

Someone I hate.

Someone I am supposed to be mortal enemies with.

I don't even have to think twice before turning and walking to the door. I stop at the entryway and say, "I will send the contract over."

And with that I leave the room more confused about my feelings than I have ever been in my entire life.

_______________________

Erna

I scoff at his retreating back before diving back inside the sheets and covering every inch of myself, because to say I feel exposed is an understatement. I don't know what else to do except hide because the memory of his gaze burning and etching itself in my back is still very fresh. His penetrating stare is still lingering behind me. I had been too quick in getting off the bed when he told me that he has looked up my family. So quick that I didn't even think about what I was wearing. And the fact that it was an open back hospital gown only dawned on me when I felt him staring and the heat of his gaze brushed my bare skin.

The thing is, I liked him watching me.

I liked the fact that I could capture his attention like that.

But what I didn't like was him, himself.

He was obnoxious, loathsome, despicable and with a disagreeing nerve inside him that pumped stupidity twenty four-seven.

I am so immersed in my predicament that I don't even notice anyone coming in until the sheet is ripped apart from my body and I quickly cover myself only to realize that I am covered. I just… feel naked.

I blink my tightly shut eyes open and look at the unwelcome intruder.

Its Kal.

"What are you doing here?" I groan in annoyance. He is the last person I want to see right now.

"The actual question is what are you doing here but since I already know the answer, I won't eat up your pea sized brain." he said with a mocking grin pasted on his face.

"Why are you here Kal?" I ask him, more annoyed than ever.

"Brought you a little something." He holds up a box with a checkered exterior and points to the take out, he has already set on the side table.

The sight of my favorite food and game does nothing to soothe my nerves.

Chess isn't just a game but something I deeply resonate with. Its etched in my soul. But today I don't feel like playing because the feeling of having already lost some bigger game has got me in a chokehold.

When I don't say anything, he quirks a brow.

"I expected a much better reaction."

"Yeah, I am sorry. I am not just feeling myself."

"Its alright, maybe one game and you would feel better."

I can't bring myself to say anything so I just nod.

He sets up the board while I munch on the fries he brought for me. There's an iced Milk Latte too but I don't feel like drinking dairy, so I just set the cup to the side.

I have made my way halfway through the pack of fries when Kal call out to me.

"Come on. White or black?"

"White." I choose black most of the time, so me choosing white must have thrown him off.

He stutters before settling on a nod and turning the chess side with white pieces toward me.

I play D2 to D3 making an opening for my queen to step out.

He mirrors my move.

Next I move e2 pawn to e4 and he uses an a2 pawn.

I move my queen to diagonal h5 and checkmate his king.

He look up at me.

Blinks.

Blinks.

Blinks.

"You fucking swore, you would never use that move."

"Well I am not in the mood to play."

"Well then, you could have said exactly that instead of making me into a fool."

"How did you not see it coming?"

"I don't fucking know. Maybe I just trusted you to remain by your promise."

"Well don't."

"I won't."

We sit in silence for a while before he speaks up.

"What happened at the job?"

"It was a trap."

"A trap?"

"The instructions said that the document had to be burned. And there was kerosene all over the floor, which I presumed to be water."

"So its someone who wants to kill you."

"Guess we will find out."

"I brought what you asked."

"Good, give it to me."

The Game shall begin.