To Become Number One

Chapter 23

Reach beyond your limits.

The man grinned, “Deal,” He said as if he was so sure that he'll be going to win in this one, yet Killian remained silent and calm on which, as always when he's like this, I couldn't help but to get nervous for what will happen because yeah, it only means one thing.

Killian is serious. Deadly serious.

Just as when I watched the man seated at the place where I was earlier as he made an order to someone, which I think is his nerd classmate, to call the chess professor since their game will now start. I don't know if they're allowed to play that isn't on their schedule, maybe they are— the reason why Killian already defeated his supposed to be opponents in just a little span of time that he's here.

“Miss? Tell us what you feel,”

My focus was turned into one of the medics who are looking at me with complete confusion on their face, as that's when I've noticed that I don't feel anything anymore regarding my hips which were too painful earlier.

With forehead creasing in complete confusion, I lifted my gaze into them. “Ah… surprisingly, I don't feel anything anymore,” I told them honestly.

“It's weird, I saw how you were pushed forcefully and if I were in your spot, maybe I've already had a broken bone.” Said by one of the medics that made my gaze on her lingers a little.

I just laughed nervously at it. They're kind of right.

It's weird that I don't even feel anything anymore when earlier, it was as if it's going to affect my games tomorrow— which is I wished not to, of course.

After all, we still need to participate in the waiting section, which is section 1-B, before we will defeat the winner in the mages section and after that, there will be two more games and if ever we won with those two, we will be the champion in Volleyball girls. Yeah, that's how it works here.

My gaze accidentally caught Killian as it seems to be in slow motion. I saw how his hand goes to my blue Gatorade that's on the table— the one I've been drinking earlier as to how he pulled it and opened it with his both of his hands— and swear, I saw his muscles flexing with every move he's doing.

Just as when he successfully opened the bottle's top as it looks like in kind of slow motion, how he lifted that bottle and placed it on his lips just before I saw his adam's apple turned up and down and swear… I think I got frozen after I remembered something.

Just as when everything turned back; the slow-motion of time disappeared as everything turned into normal. Killian looked at me and here are his sharp eyes again! As he spoke as if he doesn't do anything!

“Hey, you woman, come sit here,” He said looking at me after he wiped his lips using the back of his palm while I remained watching him with wide eyes before I transferred my attention to the Gatorade on the table then to him again.

Thankfully, he didn't see it as he turned his attention back to the opponent— no, they are looking at the professor who came into their aid as if he agreed to what the man has said regarding finishing their games today.

As I couldn't believe what happened… I mean I'm talking about how he drank on my drink since I've read it on Lucian's paper, and it's a big deal! Why?

Killian doesn't like sharing, nor even asking something from other people even he really needs it.

Especially, he doesn't ask help from people whom he sees as inferior to him.

Even it's about asking for food, water, or even paper. He would make you buy it for him and you have no other choice but to follow it because if you don't, he will do anything you wouldn't like.

Lucian wrote it in different penmanship as he has— I confirmed it since I once helped Yuki checking the papers and yeah, the way he wrote those words, it's like a kid's penmanship.

And if it means Killian doesn't like sharing… why did he drink into my Gato?!

“What?” I was awoken by my reverie when I heard his voice again. This time, annoyance could be heard from it. “I thought you wanted to learn something?”

His eyes sharpened again and that's one of what I've noticed about him. He isn't angry every time his eyes will become sharp because sometimes he's just confused or maybe thinking.

As I silently sit from one of the chairs in which, not so close to him since it was also written on the paper: He values personal space. Follow it and move away from him or else you'll get burned again.

Yeah, it's more like child Lucian's note to himself.

“Is he the one who defeated those male chess contestants in less than five minutes each?”

“He's genius then,”

“Wow! So he isn't just talks huh?” I even heard those whispers that I think, my ability made me hear it again that I chose to ignore.

I choose a place not so far from him… or them so I could watch their every moves as the game started. It's still a mystery of how he defeated those in just a small span of time.

Everyone's just silent, watching those two who are playing seriously the game until Killian spoke. “Checkmate, you lose,” As everyone gasped especially when he moved his piece and right now, his pieces really cornered the king that it has no other move since whatever move it'll do, it will still get eaten!

Of course, I know the moves that those pieces do, it's just that, I really haven't won while playing this game and sometimes, once I'm the one playing, I would forget everything regarding this game that would end up me having a mental block. It's what I usually called when I forgot what I must remember when it was messed the most.

How the hell he did that…

But looking at him right now… who successfully defeated the man in front of him… the undefeatable King of Chess of Northridge Academy… in just less than five minutes!

Everyone couldn't believe it— I could see it the way they stare at them as if a newborn king just appeared in their land. They were so shocked as I even heard one of them said that Julius lost for the first time ever since he's here and that his win streak will end here, in which I assumed that Killian's opponent's name is Julius.

“I demand a second match!” That Julius said just after he woke up from the thought that a freshman defeated a senior like him. It looks as if he really couldn't believe it, as Killian just arrogantly smirked.

Thankfully, he isn't scary again.

“Sure, noob fake king,” Killian said, teasing the man who seems as got annoyed at what Killian called to him, but he decided to let it pass as he asked the professor for another match if it's alright.

Well, it's alright to ask a rematch yet only one in every inside game and after that, their wish for a rematch wouldn't be accepted.

After all, in this game, once you lost, you're already out of the game. So in able to move forward, win every fight.

The professor agreed to that rematch that the senior— which I learned is from Support Class, asked. But the results remained the same.

Killian smirked as he put down his pawn before he said those words. “Checkmate,”

As the man stood up from his seat as he forcefully placed his hand on the table in anger, enough for its sound to be heard at the place where we are.

“You're cheating, right? Maybe your ability is about predicting your opponent's future move too?!” He said furiously, however, Killian just crossed his arms to his chest and of course, his muscles flexed again at that move!

“That ability is too boring, I don't like that,” He said so calmly and arrogantly yet it just increased the rage that our senior feels right now.

“Then what?!” He said so loud that his companion— the one who called the professor earlier.

Killian shrugged.

“I just played how I usually do. Accept your defeat and do your consequences, great gorilla.” He said so sharp with an evil glint on his face and yeah, he's smirking as he said those words that made our senior lost it.

“Last match!” A desperate yet trying to conceal it plea from our Senior that of course, Killian wouldn't say no into challenges like this.

“Sure,” He said so short.

But rules are rules.

“It's not allowed,” The professor said that made Killian's opponent look at him.

“But—!” Julius, Killian's opponent couldn't finish what he was saying when the professor stood up.

“It's on the rule, Mr. Garcia. Follow it. If you excuse me,” As the professor started walking away from this place as we all watched then in silence.

Just as when Killian broke that silence.

“Say sorry to this woman,” Killian said and pointing me. His opponent looks at him with glaring eyes before it spoke.

“If you would fight again. Last match! If I won with this one, tell them… that mentor that I'm the winner!” He said his new rule that my eyes widen.

“That's not allowed!” I couldn't help but intertwine to what he's saying since that's considered cheating! I mean, once it's done, it cannot be asked again right? Like after it got printed, it cannot go back and edit again!

“Shut up b***h!” The man said angrily at me as if I'm the reason for everything before he turned his attention back to Killian. “Let's fight! This time, with our abilities—”

“So you can see my future moves? Sure, feel free,” Killian said as he started fixing the board, as the man got frozen from what Killian just said.

Before the whispers from people around us could be heard and I know I'm not the only one hearing it. Basing from that man's pale face, and to his companion who looks the same as how he looks right now, it could confirm everything. That he was and is still cheating with his games.

“So Julius is always cheating with his games, that's why no one can win from him.”

“Only this man from Mages 1-A,” 

They say while looking at Killian that I couldn't help but look at him again. I extended my hand to get my Gatorade as I unconsciously drank from it. Yeah, Killian could do anything from impossible into possible.

“Predict your loses, and of how you will lose no matter how much you change your strategy,” Killian smirked as if he's really pushing the guy over.

My eyes widen as I coughed when I realized something. Everyone looked at me as I started coughing and truth to be told, my nose hurts right now as if some liquid entered it! No, it really does!

Killian looked at me in annoyance in his face as I frantically shook my head as I glared at the Gatorade placed in the table in front of me. And yeah, it's the one at fault and… the reason why something slipped into my mind!

Killian drank on it earlier so it means… I shook my head. No, Artemis, don't think about it, please. Just… don't!

But I couldn't help it, especially as I stare at it and to Killian who's enjoying right now as he plays with his opponent which is still predicting his moves no matter what the others are saying to him.

And yeah, Killian could even turn the table despite that this man could predict his future movements. I don't know how Killian could change his attacks and the result is just the same as earlier.

“I'm sorry for earlier, I really do.” The man sincerely said to me after Killian continuously defeated him in a row, just before they turned their backs on me— with the man with him, and started walking away with their defeated shoulder before they disappeared on my sight.

However, I turned my attention to Killian. “How did you do that? I mean, like changing the fate since he could predict your future moves, right?” I asked as I saw him stood up. Yeah, earlier, he looks as if he's the one reading his opponent's future attacks.

He stopped after hearing my question but decided to walk again as I followed behind him.

I thought he wouldn't answer my question, but he does.

“There's a trick. That ability could only predict if you're thinking about it and it's the way of how your body moves even just a little action. By changing your original plan and not thinking at all, you can surpass it. It's about surpassing beyond your limits after all.”

He stopped speaking, and it was as if he realized something when his expression turned sour. “Tch, why am I even explaining? You didn't even get it, after all, slowpoke.” As he accelerated his pace while I remained watching his back with a smile on my face.

Someone's doing his researches too.