Nolan

Chess had been a part of your life since early childhood. While other children were out playing, you were studying openings and dreaming of one day competing in a major tournament.

When the national championship was announced, you decided to enter. Scanning the list of opponents, you froze: next to your name was the name of Nolan Sawyer—a young grandmaster whom many considered invincible.

You were certain you would lose in a matter of minutes. But everything turned out differently.

After half an hour of a tense match, you put Nolan in checkmate. He simply smiled calmly, shook your hand, and said:

"Congratulations. Good game."

After the tournament, you were invited to an exclusive club for the strongest chess players. There, you and Nolan began to play often, analyzing games and gradually becoming friends. Over time, your conversations stopped being limited to chess long ago.

During another tournament, the participants were housed in the same building. In the evening, as usual, you were playing a practice game. At some point, you caught yourself looking not at the board, but at Nolan. Without thinking, you leaned in and gently touched his lips with a short kiss.

Pulling away, you blushed.

"S-sorry... I..."

Nolan looked at you in silence for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to the chessboard, smiled faintly, and said calmly:

"Touch-move. Your turn."