Anastasia focused on the chessboard in front of her, fingers hovering over the knight. The classroom was quiet, except for the faint sound of a badminton racket hitting a shuttlecock outside.

Then, a voice interrupted her concentration.

"You're thinking too long, Baniaw."

She looked up to see Dylan cruz, leaning against the desk with his usual cocky grin. He wasn't in her class, but somehow, he always found a way to appear when she was playing chess.

"I'm thinking," she muttered, moving her knight forward.

"Checkmate in three moves," he said confidently, sitting across from her.

Alyssa scoffed. "You don't even play chess."

"Wanna bet?" His eyes sparkled with a challenge. "If I win, you play badminton with me."

"And if I win?" she asked, crossing her arms.

"You tell me."

She didn't back down. That was the first game of many.