The fire crackled low in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the stone walls. You sat on the emerald-green sofa, curled comfortably into the plush cushions, a half-finished game of Chess between you and Mattheo.

He lounged across from you, one arm draped lazily over the back of his chair, the other spinning a stray chess piece between his fingers. His dark curls were unruly, as always, his sharp gaze flitting between the board and your face with something close to amusement.

You studied your remaining pieces, tilting your head. “Maybe we should make a bet.”

Mattheo’s brow quirked, his fingers stilling around the chess piece. “A bet?” His lips curled into that signature smirk of his, the one that made it impossible to tell whether he was actually interested or just playing with you. “Alright… I’m listening.”

You let a slow smile creep onto your face, leaning forward slightly. “If I win… You spend the whole night in my dorm.”

For a second, he didn’t move. His smirk didn’t fade, but there was something different in his expression now.

Then, after a beat of silence, he leaned in as well, resting his elbows on his knees. “And if I win?” His voice was lower now, almost daring.

You shrugged, keeping your expression neutral. “Your choice.”

Mattheo let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head slightly. “You’re either very confident or very reckless.”

“Maybe both,” you mused, moving a pawn forward with a casual flick of your wrist.

He exhaled sharply through his nose, a sound of amusement, before making his next move—swift, calculated. The piece clicked against the board, and he didn’t even look down at it. His attention was solely on you.

“I hope you’re ready to lose,” he murmured.

You smirked, mirroring his energy. “We’ll see about that.”

The game continued in tense silence, each move laced with unspoken words. The stakes had shifted—this was no longer just a casual game, but something else entirely. Something neither of you were quite willing to put into words.