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Kayden crossed his legs, leisurely leaning back in his seat, and slurping his drink.
He had to admit, this wasn’t the worst way to spend the day.
When Jiwoo had asked him to attend this annual school game thing as his primary guardian— mainly because the school itself decided he needed someone there if the boy wanted to participate— Kayden was a little reluctant at first. But all Jiwoo had to do was put on a really sad face while talking about how this would be the first time he ever attended it with his friends, and Kayden found himself agreeing and signing the form without a second thought.
Now here he was, relaxing far away from the grating sounds of people hollering. Or, trying to. The main event hadn’t even started yet but people were already cheering; loud and obnoxious. Kayden set his drink down beside him and glanced around.
Inhyuk Goo and Seongha Park were a few seats below him, Delein seated between the two almost like a peacekeeper.
Kayden knew they’d be here. Remembered how, a few days ago, Jisuk and Subin were plotting ways to convince them to come, even going so far as to pull out a whiteboard and brainstorm. The idiotic pair decided to keep working through their plans till five am.
While Jiwoo and Wooin slept through it, Kayden was victim to hearing all of it.
He got no sleep that night.
A sound cracked and fizzled in the speakers breaking through his thoughts, drawing everyone’s attention as the yelling died down.
A woman’s voice rang through the stadium, introducing herself and welcoming the parents and guardians of students, going on a large spiel about how grateful she was to everyone.
By the end of the speech, Kayden was just surprised people hadn’t gotten up to leave already.
Then, for a minute, It was quiet, a soft lull in the lively atmosphere with just the rustling of papers in the speakers acting as background noise.
Finally, some actual quiet.
Suddenly, the principal screamed into the mic. The sound echoing through the large speakers and ringing in his ears.
Nevermind.
Kayden saw Seongha almost fall out of his seat, grumbling. He would be lying if he said that it didn’t startle him too. (He almost choked on his drink, but that was no one’s business but his own.)
A second later, the doors swung open on each side and the players were walking onto the field. One side wore blue while the other donned red, all of them had bright smiles on their faces and large white numbers on their backs.
If Kayden thought the screaming was bad before, it was nothing compared to now.
Some parents or guardians or whoever the hell they were had the audacity to bring megaphones.
“WE LOVE YOU BAN MYUNG-SU!!”
“SHOW THEM WHO’S BOSS KIM CHEON-YONG!!”
“RYU GEUN-HO YOU’VE GOT THIS HONEY, WE BELIEVE IN YOUUU!!”
This is hell, this is actually hell. Why am I here?
Kayden had half a mind to just grab his drink and book it to the exit— then he saw his kid walk onto the field, and any plans of leaving flew out his head.
Jiwoo had on a blue soccer jersey with a large number twelve on his back, and a huge smile on his face.
His eyes scanned through the crowd, as if he was looking for someone. The longer he looked, the more his expression began to dim.
Look. up. For the love of God— just look up!
Kayden could see the exact moment the sunny smile fell off Jiwoo's face completely as he turned back to Jisuk and Subin, laughing nervously.
Kayden frowned, even from this far away he could see it was forced.
He sighed, clearing his throat and mentally preparing himself for what he was about to do, but then he saw Subin pointing up behind Jiwoo.
Amber eyes followed the direction the girl was pointing, before locking onto Kayden. Then, Jiwoo was smiling again, waving at him with his entire arm.
This kid..
Kayden gave a small wave back, a rush of fondness curling around his heart as he did. He opted to ignore the feeling by munching on some popcorn.
Moments later, a whistle sounded and each player took their spot.
Then the game began.
Turns out, Jiwoo wasn’t just good at soccer, the kid was fucking great at it. If it wasn’t Jisuk, it was Jiwoo scoring half the points for his team. He wasn’t even using his speed. The kid was doing his absolute best to be as fair as possible; restraining any and all traces of his awakened abilities.
“Who are those kids?” A man said. Kayden, being the curious man that he was, leaned over in his seat to hear a little clearer.
“Who, honey?” A woman whispered, or tried to. Kayden was pretty sure every awakened one there heard her since Inhyuk, Seongha and Delein were all now looking at her too.
“Them.” The man emphasized, as if it should have been obvious. Dark eyes followed the man’s gaze, he was looking at one of the tables where Jiwoo, Wooin, Subin, Jisuk and a few boys were all huddled together.
“They have to be professional athletes or something, they’ve been carrying their teams for half the damn game!” The man yelled.
Kayden smirked, practically glowing with pride as he obnoxiously sipped his drink. Seongha and Inhyuk seemed to do the same, only nodding at each other in a show of mutual respect. Delein just stared at the two as if they were idiots.
Then, another man decided to join the conversation, “You take that back.”
“I’m not wrong though, your kid especially is trash. Damn, at least mine’s a good goalie, someone needs to kick yours off the field. He almost gave that other team a goal if it wasn’t for that number twelve kid.” The first guy said, voice complete deadpan. He delivered it with the same amount of enthusiasm as a funeral director would.
Kayden guffawed, coughing up a bit of the juice into the crook of his elbow and wiping his mouth with a napkin.
A whistle sounded to signal the teams back onto the field, but the two men were still going at each other’s throats with their wives begging them to stop verbally baiting each other. They even puffed up their chests in an attempt to intimidate the other.
It wasn’t working, but it sure as hell was hilarious to watch.
At this point he wished the two would just attack each other, fight it out, that would at least make this evening more interesting.
Kayden yawned, getting up to stretch his legs. This was one of the moments his genius had come into play; he had decided to sit a good four rows above the rest of the crowd. He had so much space to himself that it was amazing.
Kayden could have changed into a cat and not one person would have noticed.
He didn't though, not wanting to risk it and flopped right back into his seat, snatching a handful of popcorn just as the whistle blew once more.
The final round had begun.
Kayden was absentmindedly chewing popcorn for half the time, sipping his ginormous drink (sue him, this blue stuff was amazing), and tuning people in and out.
He saw Inhyuk almost slap Seongha twice in the face by shoving handfuls of snacks into the other man’s mouth, saw Delein get shy as he flashed Wooin a thumbs up when the boy scored, and the two men still glaring at each other again but not saying a word.
Shame, they could’ve fought. Instead they chose to sit and stare at each other like idiots.
Kayden shook his head disappointedly, and peered down at the field. Navy eyes zoning in on Jiwoo who now had the ball. A familiar look of determination on the kid’s face as he swerved past a few students. Another boy appeared and blocked his path, but Jiwoo got past him with ease.
Kayden knew that with all the training he put the boy through in the past few months of knowing him, Jiwoo didn’t need awakened powers to dodge these kids. Along with Kayden’s natural genius and skill in teaching, this was to be expected.
Still didn’t stop him from grinning like a lunatic when Jiwoo got closer and closer to the net.
Huh, so this is why people love sports.
The goalie was good, Kayden would give her that. Seemed like Jiwoo would too cause a moment later he kicked the ball to Jisuk and sprinted across the field in record time. In a display of impressive teamwork, Jisuk kicked it back to him high in the air.
Jiwoo jumped and volleyed it with his right foot into the net.
The stadium went quiet, everyone there looked like they were barely processing what just happened. Kayden couldn’t blame them, Jiwoo had just kicked the ball while being a good five feet in the air.
Before Kayden realized what he was doing, he was already standing. Hands cupped around his mouth and yelling louder than any regular person could.
“YES JIWOO, THAT’S MY BOYYY!”
Kayden froze, brain barely registering what he had just done. Everyone had been cheering so much it actually rubbed off on him too, he didn’t even know how that happened.
He glanced back down at the field and saw Jiwoo freeze the same time he did, a pink flush steadily creeping up the boy’s neck, then his entire face.
Not even a second later, the stadium erupted in cheers. People were screaming and yelling louder than they had all day. Somehow, Kayden found he didn’t mind it this time. Even with all the lingering stares from those who had just noticed his presence.
Soon after parents and families began gathering in the parking lot, talking amongst themselves. Seongha, Inhyuk, and Delein walked up to him, bowing slightly in greeting.
Kayden just nodded at them, eyes still searching through the hoards of people for a familiar cream-blonde head.
“So, uh, sir. You were here this whole time?” Seongha asked, Kayden stared blankly at him, brow raising in question.
“Yeah, Jiwoo asked me to attend.”
“And.. you agreed to it?”
Kayden rolled his eyes, a little offended at the three identical looks of surprise.
He wasn’t just going to deny his apprentice something as simple as this, how cruel did these fools think he was to Jiwoo? But then again… considering his reputation, he couldn’t really blame them for their reaction.
In the corner of his eye he spotted Jiwoo talking to his teammates at the far back. Before the three men could say another word, Kayden gave them a brief goodbye and left to walk over to the group.
He caught the tail end of the conversation.
“-that was so freaking awesome dude, how did you even do that?”
“Yeah man, you’ve been holding out on us. I didn’t know you could fly!?”
Jisuk rushed over, wrapping an arm around Jiwoo and giving him a quick noogie on the head. Jiwoo just laughed, rubbing the back of his neck with a shy smile on his face.
Kayden was a few steps away, hands casually tucked into his pockets when Jiwoo noticed him.
“Mr. Kayden, you came!” Jiwoo exclaimed, walking up to him with a smile brighter than the afternoon sun shining down on them. Arms wrapping around the man's torso.
Kayden rested a hand on the boy’s head, leaning into the hug before softly ruffling Jiwoo’s hair and pulling away.
“Of course. I watched the whole thing, you were great out there.”
“Holy shit.. It was you.” One of the teammates screeched, pointing at Kayden.
Both mentor and mentee looked over at the boy confused.
“What?” Kayden said, actively trying to ignore Jisuk beside him. The kid looked hysterical. Aggressively shaking his head back and forth while mouthing no, no, shut the fuck up, no, at the teammate, as if Kayden couldn’t see him.
The teammate was still grinning. “I thought it was coach but you’re the one who cheered after Jiwoo made that insane goal! Damn, so you're Mr. Kayden. Jiwoo was right, you are awesome.”
At that moment, Kayden Break —one of the most fearsome awakeners known to mankind— had never been more confused.
When he turned to his apprentice for an explanation, the boy was looking up at the clear sky like he had already accepted a fate to remain mute for the rest of life.
Then an idea hit him like a bolt of lightning.
Kayden lopped an arm around Jiwoo's shoulders dragging his apprentice right back into the conversation against the boy’s will.
“Look at that Jiwoo, your teammates think I’m awesome too.” He flaunted while Jiwoo just stared at him in disbelief, expression equal parts embarrassed and shy as the boy hung his head in his palms.
It took a second before it clicked in Kayden’s mind, and his sly grin faded into something more genuine.
“Jiwoo talks about me?” Kayden asked, grip not slackening on his apprentice who was doing his best to impersonate a ripening tomato. At this rate the kid was gonna give the fruit a run for its money.
The teammate, who was practically being dragged away by Jisuk looked back at Kayden over his shoulder, an incredulous stare on his face like Kayden was asking him if the sky was blue. “You didn’t know? Sunshine over there talks about you all the time; like you’re the coolest — ow, Jisuk you bastard, why’d you hit me!?”
Another teammate chimed in, but Kayden wasn’t listening anymore. His throat was dry, and his heart felt all warm and fuzzy with emotion he didn’t understand. He cleared his throat, letting go of Jiwoo and giving the boy a gentle pat on the head.
“Come on, let’s go home.” He said, voice steady despite the surge of affection bubbling up in his chest. Jiwoo waved goodbye to the rest of the group and hurried after him.
“Can we get ice cream, Mr. Kayden?”
Kayden glanced back at his apprentice, Jiwoo’s silhouette is gentle and golden in the warm sunlight, much like everything else about the boy. His eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiles up at Kayden, not a trace of anything but pure adoration pouring out from them.
Kayden can feel his lips twitch, tempted to slip into a small smile for the nth time today. He’s been smiling a lot more than usual ever since he started staying with Jiwoo, he can’t say that he hates it.
Kayden looked back at the road, nodding.
“Sure, kiddo. Whatever you want."