Chapter 14: The Game of Minds

    Ikenna''s face darkened as he realized the inevitability of defeat. No matter which move he made, Four''s next would be checkmate.

    "Checkmate," Four said, his voice steady as he slid his queen into position.

    Ikenna leaned back, stunned. "I underestimated you."

    "You really did." added Nnenna.

    The man smirked, his eyes meeting hers briefly before turning back to Ikenna. "You didn''t underestimate me. You overestimated your control."

    The room was silent for a moment as the reality of the game sank in. She found herself clapping softly, unable to hide her admiration for the sheer brilliance she had just witnessed.

    Ikenna stood, slapping Four''s shoulder with a grudging smile. "I''ll win next time."

    Four simply nodded. "We''ll see."

    As the pieces were reset, she couldn''t help but ask, "How did you do that? I thought you were losing!"

    Four smiled faintly, unlike his usual indifference. "Chess isn''t just about what''s happening now. It''s about what could happen five moves ahead. You don''t win by reacting. You win by planning."

    She nodded, letting his words sink in. This wasn''t just a game of chess, it was a battle of minds. And this man''s mind had proven sharper.

    "I want to play against you next," Nnenna said, her voice brimming with determination as her eyes locked onto the chessboard. She had completely forgotten about their physical therapy session in her excitement.

    Four, sitting across from her with his ever aloof expression, paused to consider her challenge.

    Chess was one of the few things he truly respected, and seeing her eagerness piqued his interest. He gave a slight nod, his face reverting to its usual stoic indifference.

    "Alright," he said simply, gesturing for her to sit across from him.

    Ikenna watched the interaction in stunned silence. Four, the enigmatic and often cold man, was agreeing to play chess with someone he barely knew? It felt surreal.

    Nnenna''s eyes widened slightly as she spotted the flaw. She could capitalize on this and turn the game in her favor.

    ''Is this a trap?'' she wondered, but her instincts told her otherwise. She decided to trust herself and moved her rook into position, threatening his king. The room grew quieter as the onlooker realized what was happening.

    Four''s gaze sharpened. He stared at the board intently, realizing his mistake. For the first time in the game, he seemed...human. Fallible.

    "You''re not bad," he muttered, almost begrudgingly.

    "And you''re not invincible," Nnenna shot back, her confidence swelling.

    Four''s lips twitched as if suppressing a smirk. He countered her move swiftly, forcing her to sacrifice a bishop to maintain her advantage. But she didn''t falter. Piece by piece, she tightened the noose around his king.

    Nnenna maneuvered her queen and rook in perfect harmony, cornering Four''s king. His defenses crumbled under her relentless attacks. With one final move, she placed her queen directly in front of his king.

    "Checkmate," she declared, her voice steady but laced with triumph.

    Four "..."

    Ikenna "..."

    Four leaned back in his chair, staring at the board in silence. Ikenna stared at Four in shock. Nnenna had beaten him, a man known for his genius.

    For a moment, Four said nothing. Then, to Ikenna''s shock, he gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "Not bad," he said simply, his voice devoid of malice. If anything, there was a hint of respect.

    Nnenna grinned, her heart pounding with exhilaration. She had done it. Not only had she impressed him, but the familiar ding of the Love System echoed in her mind.

    Ding!

    "When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world. Congratulations! You have successfully raised Four''s impression of you by 0.8 per cent and earned 800 good points! Keep up the good work!"

    Four stood abruptly, his expression unreadable. "We''ll play again," he said before wheeling away, leaving her stunned. Did that mean...he wanted a rematch?