Check-Mate

CHAPTER 2

The bell above the café door chimed.

Then he stepped in.

He wore a crisp white polo with the sleeves rolled neatly to his forearms, dark jeans, and a black watch. His hair was styled simply—the kind of look that took effort but appeared effortless.

He didn't swagger. He just… belonged. He was the kind of person people instinctively moved aside for, not out of fear, but out of a strange kind of respect.

Jess leaned into my space, her voice a heavy stage-whisper. “Oh no.”

“What now?” I muttered.

“He’s handsome.” She let her head drop onto my shoulder with a dramatic thud.

I rolled my eyes. “You say that every week.”

“No,” Jess corrected, peeking up. “This one looks expensive.”

Kyle turned to look and immediately straightened.

“Hey. That’s Eli.”

I frowned. “Who?”

“Elijah Kian Ramos. Eli for short,” Kyle said. “College Student Council Vice President.”

“Ah,” I said casually, pretending not to care.

So why was I suddenly sitting straighter?

Eli glanced at everyone politely..

Then his eyes landed on our table.

Specifically—On Menchie. For some reason, I didn’t like that he looked at her first.

He walked over, stopping beside us with an easy smile. Up close, he looked even more unfairly put together.

“Hi, excuse me,” he said pleasantly before turning to Menchie. “Miss Galvan.”

“Good afternoon, Vice P,” Menchie replied with a smile.

“I saw you from outside and came to return these.”

He handed her a clear folder filled with printed handouts.

“All complete. I highlighted the formulas you said you didn’t understand.”

Menchie looked genuinely touched. “Thank you. Seriously.”

“No problem.”

Then his eyes moved to me.

“And you must be Kaisha.”

My straw nearly slipped from my hand. Kyle and Jess immediately looked at me like wolves who smelled gossip.

“Breathe,” Jess whispered beside me, grinning like she was watching free entertainment.

“I am breathing.”

“No, you’re malfunctioning.” Kyle snorted.

I ignored them, focusing on the guy standing by our table. “How do you even know me? We aren't in the same block.”

“I see you every day,” he said, pulling out the chair next to us and sitting down with casual ease. “You’re the loudest person in the hallway at 8 AM, and usually the last one to slide into Sir Dela Cruz’s room.”

Kyle bent forward, shoulders shaking.

Jess slapped the table once and nearly spilled her drink.

“I thought he was about to confess,” she said between laughs.

Menchie pinched the bridge of her nose in secondhand embarrassment.

I pointed at Eli.

“hey! That was uncalled for.”

“But accurate.” He answered playfully

“That’s rude.” Glaring at him as I crossed my arms. He even had the nerve to smile.

“And how exactly do you know I’m the last one to enter class? I don’t remember seeing you in Section E.”

“I’m in Section B,” he said. “Your hallway passes ours first.”

Then he reached into his folder and placed a small attendance sheet on the table.

“And Professor Dela Cruz marked you absent twice this week.”

I scanned the sheet to see my name, it was indeed marked absent. I frowned. “I was there.”

“You were late .”

“I was… present-adjacent.” I retorted

He looked at me for a moment.

“That is not a thing.”

Kyle wheezed.

Jess covered her mouth, already red from laughing too much.

Even Menchie let out a small smile.

I glanced back at Eli.

A quiet laugh escaped him too.

And wow. No wonder students liked him.

It wasn’t just his face.

It was how naturally he made people comfortable.

Menchie spoke gently “It’s true Eli, she really attends, just… late.”

He nodded and stared at his watch.

“I know, but it was Sir Dela Cruz decision to mark her absent”

“I have a meeting in ten minutes.”

“Student council?” Menchie asked.

“yes, you should be present too. The meting starts at 3 pm”

Then he looked at me one last time. “You should come earlier to class tomorrow.”

I scoffed. “Why? So you can monitor me?”

“No.” He slung his bag over one shoulder. “So you won’t miss something important.”

Then he walked away.

Again calm, collected and annoyingly memorable.

The bell rang behind him as the door shuts.

There was silence for two seconds.

Then Jess grabbed both my shoulders.

“KAI.”

“What?!”

“He noticed your attendance pattern.”

“And? That is not romantic.”

“That is obsession kai.”

I laughed at her “you’re over reacting, you know it’s not.”

“Bro’s into late girls.” Kyle said jokingly.

Menchie sipped her drink. “You’re all impossible.”

I stared out the window. Eli was crossing the campus path now, students greeting him as he passed.

And somehow—he greeted everyone back.

No superiority. No fake charm. Just natural.

Oh wait.. Why was I still watching the door after he left?

The rest of the day passed normally enough.

I attended my remaining classes with Kyle and Menchie. Jess excused herself halfway through, claiming she felt sick, though all of us strongly suspected she had a date and simply preferred romance over responsibility.

By late afternoon, it was finally time to head home.

Kyle stayed behind with his friends, already planning whatever chaos came after class.

Menchie remained at the CSC office for their meeting.

So for once, I walked toward the gate alone.

The campus was beginning to thin out. Some students hurried to catch rides home, others lingered under the trees, stretching out the last few minutes of freedom before evening.

The school exit was in sight when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, assuming it was Jess asking for the homework.

Unknown Number: One more late or absent in Dela Cruz’s class may affect your evaluation. Come early tomorrow, Miss Lopez.

I stopped mid-stride, maybe one of the Student Council officers had leaked my contact info to the department. Or was Sir Dela Cruz texting students now? I began to type a respectful, slightly panicked reply. Good afternoon, Sir/Ma’am. I’m very sorry, I’ll make sure to—

“Ow!” Before I could send anything, I took another step and walked straight into a low-hanging branch near the sidewalk.

I stumbled back, clutching my forehead.

A group of students nearby turned to look.

One of them tried—and failed—to hide a laugh.

“Are you okay?” someone asked.

“Yes,” I said quickly, mortified. “Just not paying attention.”

My face burned as I brushed my hair back and pretended nothing had happened.

"Miss Lopez," a low voice interrupted.I looked up, startled. The security guard was leaning slightly out of his station, beckoning me closer with a subtle wave of his hand. I stepped toward him, confused, as he lowered his voice to a discreet whisper."Your jacket, kid... it's inside out," he murmured, his eyes darting to the students passing behind me. "The seams and the tag are sticking out in the back."

I froze.

The air in my lungs seemed to vanish. My hand flew to the back of my neck, and sure enough, I felt the rough, white brand tag poking out for the whole world to see.

A wave of heat crashed over me, starting at my chest and climbing all the way to the tips of my ears. I didn't just feel embarrassed; I felt physically heavy with the weight of my own clumsiness.

I slipped my phone back into my pocket and climbed into the taxi I hailed as quickly as I could, taking what little dignity I had left with me.

The message stayed in my mind the whole ride home.

And for the first time in a long while, I found myself wondering if waking up early tomorrow might actually be worth it.