Checkmate ⚢

Chapter 4 Painting

The Asian girl moved away from Althea when she reached for her, but Althea noticed that Hana bit her bottom lip softly to hold in a smile. This new chasing game of capture was a surprise to her as Althea didn't know why she was so drawn to this odd young maiden.

All Althea was certain of was when she saw her face up that close for the first time, her breath left her.

Althea couldn't help but draw towards her and push her against the wall. When she elicited a reaction from the shorter girl, she became conscious of her predatory advances and she had to move away to let the girl breathe.

She honestly had not expected Hana to take upon her request to play chess with her. She also was sincerely unaware of the reasons why she has been making decisions on a whim when it comes to the reckless girl for Althea lived her life with stern calculations and thorough thinking.

Hana sticking her tongue out as she concentrates was a plain view for Althea. While the brunette was thinking about her attack strategy, Althea used her observation skills that she garnered upon growing up.

Althea found herself staring at the girl too much. Her face is somewhat longer and wider with eyes angled upwards. She has a cute button nose, and the way she dressed was plain and simple with subtle colors, even the girl's chosen hairstyle was simple yet brings about childish qualities.

Furthermore, Althea had a hard time reading Hana's body language and facial expressions as she was foreign, but in the end, Althea successfully concluded that Hana's the reckless kind of girl—the one who's insensitive to others but would feel terrible once the person speaks their mind about the matter.

Hana's wearing a daring smile. Nonetheless, clearly, she has no chance of winning against her at all odds; yet, she was attempting her best to defeat her, although ineptly. For Althea could easily read what plans Hana could conjure up on the way she scrunches up her nose and the sly sparkle in her eyes when she makes a move.

Althea and Joshua explained the basics slowly and surely for Hana to learn the rules of chess comprehensively over a new batch of hot tea and surprisingly, biscuits and chocolates that Joshua brought with him. Hana kept comparing chess to Japanese shogi and sometimes forgot that the rook moves differently in both games.

It took Hana almost two hours to get the gist of the rules of chess. Not counting the minutes where Hana was momentarily distracted at seeing squirrels and butterflies play around and how she would twirl some chess pieces on her fingers. Hana's wavering attention sometimes annoyed Joshua's impatience but Althea was perfectly unperturbed.

Hana could have ADHD, Althea thought, not just hyperactivity.

Althea smirked, knowing she has the upper hand when the real match started. "You have the first turn, Hana." She said.

There was a look on her face that Althea couldn't seem to understand. It wasn't just suspicion but also something else like admiration. "Why?"

Althea blinked. "Because lighter colors take first turns. It's the rule."

"Any reason why?" she asked, glancing at the red pieces.