Check-Mate

47. Dinner

Warm Pov

As I sit at the dinner table, watching Chain devour the food I made for him, I feel a heavy knot in my chest. It's the same feeling that's been there ever since our argument—the same hurt, the same resentment. 

He is eating like everything is fine, like we are back to normal. He smiles at me between bites, his face so carefree, as if he hasn't noticed a thing.

"Warm, this is so good! I really missed your cooking so much," Chain says, grinning as he shovels another spoonful into his mouth.

I nod and give him a small smile, but it's half-hearted. "Glad you like it," I say, trying to sound casual, but there is an edge to my voice that I know he won't pick up on. He never does.

Maybe I am being unfair. Maybe I should have let it go by now. One might call me petty for holding onto a grudge for this long, but how can I? The words he threw at me during that argument still ring in my ears, every single one cutting deeper than I care to admit. 

He doesn't even realize how much he hurt me. It's not something I can just forget, not like that.

Yet, here I am, sitting across from him, watching him smile and laugh, complimenting every bite as if nothing's wrong. And I smile back, just enough to keep up appearances. 

But inside? Inside, I know things will never be the same between us again. I still care about him, though. I hate that I do. 

Despite everything, my first instinct when I heard him scream in pain earlier today was to rush to his side. No hesitation, no second thoughts. My body just reacted.

I glance over at P' Terk and P' Gym, sitting across the table from us. 

P' Terk's face is drawn tight with worry. He has been like that ever since Chain fainted earlier. 

The doctor said Chain was fine, but P' Terk... he doesn't seem convinced. 

I can see it in the way he watches Chain, his eyes flickering with concern, his lips pressed in a thin line. It's like he is waiting for something to go wrong again.

"Chain, you really need to slow down," Terk says, his voice low but firm. "The doctor said—"

"I am fine, Phi," Chain interrupts, waving him off with a casual smile. "Really. I just overdid it earlier. I am fine now."

Terk doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't push it. His gaze shifts to me for a moment, and I know he is thinking the same thing I am—Chain is far too careless with himself. He acts like nothing can hurt him, like he is invincible. But that collapse earlier? It scared all of us. Especially P' Terk.

P' Gym sits quietly beside P' Terk, but I can see the questions in his eyes. He has been watching P' Terk's behavior closely, and it's only a matter of time before he starts asking why Terk, another enigma, is so concerned about Chain. It's not exactly common, after all. 

I can feel the lingering possessiveness P' Gym has for Chain in the air.

But what really gets me is Chain's complete obliviousness to all of this. 

Normally, omegas are sensitive to the emotions of those around them. We can pick up on the slightest changes in mood, in atmosphere. But Chain? He has always been different. 

I never noticed it until today, but it's like heis blind to everything happening around him. He is smiling, chatting away, completely unaffected by the tension in the room. 

I always thought we omegas were supposed to be able to sense these things. Yet, Chain seems utterly disconnected.

He looks at me again, his face bright with that familiar smile. "You should make this more often, Warm. I forgot how much I missed it."

"Maybe," I reply, keeping my voice light. It's easier than telling him how much things have changed, how I feel the distance growing between us every day.

P' Terk's gaze keeps shifting between Chain and me. He hasn't said much, but I know him well enough to recognize when he is holding something back. He is worried. For Chain, yes, but also for other reasons—reasons that neither Chain nor Gym understands. 

The truth hanging between us, the one Terk and I know but haven't told anyone, is weighing heavily on him. It is hard not to notice.

But this isn't the time for that. The last thing we need is for Gym to start asking questions before Terk is ready to answer them. And Chain, well... he wouldn't understand. Not right now.

Chain finishes his food and leans back in his chair, looking satisfied and sleepy. "Thanks again, Warm. You are the best."

I nod again, forcing a smile. "You should get some rest, Chain. It has been a long day."

He stretches and lets out a yawn. "Yeah, I guess you are right. Hia, you coming?"

Gym starts to rise from his seat, but I stop him. "Actually, Chain, P' Terk and I need to talk to P' Gym for a bit. You should go ahead and get some sleep."

Chain looks confused for a moment, glancing between us. "Oh... okay." He doesn't question it, though, and why would he? Chain has always been easygoing, never one to dig too deep into things that don't concern him directly.

"Goodnight, everyone," he says, leaning down to give Gym a quick kiss on the cheek before turning toward me with a grin. " I will see you in the morning."

I just nod, watching as he heads out of the room, his footsteps growing fainter as he disappears down the hallway toward the bedroom. The door clicks shut behind him, and for a brief moment, the room falls into a thick, heavy silence.

P' Terk's eyes are still fixed on the door where Chain just left, his expression tense. 

I can feel the unspoken questions hanging in the air, but no one says anything for a while. P' Gym shifts in his seat next to P' Terk, clearly waiting for someone to speak. 

But tonight isn't the night for this conversation. The weight of it presses down on me, but I know we can't tell Gym—not yet. We aren't ready, and neither is Chain.

"Warm" Gym finally says, breaking the silence. "What's going on? You guys have been acting... strange. More worried than usual."

P' Terk glances at me, his eyes filled with a silent question. 

But as I sit here, watching Gym's concerned expression and Terk's quiet unease, I know one thing for certain: things are far from fine.

I open my mouth to speak, ignoring P' Terk's silent pleas, "There is something about Chain that you need to know, phi." I say in a tight tone, staring right at