12 No Mr Guard. You have to believe me.
There was an emptiness that Kai could not describe. It was numb, cold, and painful. Yet it was also a pain he long grew familiar with. The expectations, the aspirations, his destiny. Why can't he choose his future… It was a throbbing that Kai could no longer ignore.
He denied he was hurt. He denied he was in agony. He denied he was suffering. But it grew to such an extent that he could no longer ignore it, he could no longer turn a blind eye to this "obsession".
Kai grabbed his shirt tensely. He grabbed the shirt that was signed by those players, the players he aspired to be. He must succeed, nothing would stop him.
He ate in his bedroom that night.
~~~
Time was flowing quicker than anyone could decipher. Unknowingly, the days passed as Kai early awaited his opportunity, as well as engaging in this… silent war in his family. He chose his words wisely in front of them, he was a senseless rock under his mother and father's scrutiny. Kai was unmoved, unfazed by such inherent discontent.
He would prove them wrong. He would prove them wrong when he made it. He would prove them wrong when he made it to the biggest scene of football. When he bathed in the glory of winning titles and becoming a global star, they would see their faults and accept he was right.
Kai stubbornly believed this would happen. He would go against their wishes, but he was iron-willed to make his family proud.
The days passed as the fateful second chance would come. His second match, was the chance Marley had promised him. He was ready, he was focused that morning as he dressed in his sports attire. Kai suited up for his battle, the football match that would change everything.
The sun was hanging ever so tranquilly in the distance as Kai gazed out his small window. Kai didn't bother making his actions quiet. There's no reason to hide what he's doing. After all, Kai knew his parents were working even on Saturday. They were always working.
Just another reason to become a professional footballer.
Kai exited the confines of the place he begrudgingly called 'home'. He jogged to his local club, taking the opportunity to warm his body up with light exercises. He's going to get his body pumping, preparing himself for the all-important event.
Kai hummed to the tune of Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran. That was until Kai realized this song wasn't even created in this timeline. It would be another 4 years before this song was even released! Then an idea came to his head: perhaps he should write down the lyrics of these popular songs and then sell them to their original singers! He would make a killing!
The youth had a slightly immoral smile as he thought about the prospect of monopolizing the lyrics of all these popular songs.
'Ed Sheeren, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande? I will copyright all your songs! Do you want to sing them? Sure, just pay me money.'
Kai was drooling over the thick stash of cash that would soon be his. He made it his goal. The moment he gets back home, he would write down the lyrics of Galway Girl and register for copyright!
*Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz*
His half-broken Nokia with a shattered screen vibrated in his pants pockets. Wondering what it was, Kai pulled his phone out and found none other than Zagadou calling him.
Kai immediately accepted the call at first notice. They hadn't conversed much over the phone or via texting. In fact, this was the first-moment Zagadou had even interacted with Kai over the phone.
"Morning Chap! Are you awake?"
"Of course. Waking up early is like second nature."
Zagadou had a soft chuckle that Kai heard over the phone. "Good... Well, you know what I said about 'seeing what I can do'?"
'Umm hmm"
"Today's your lucky day," Zagadou stated enthusiastically. "My words finally got through to that old geezer. Come over and have a kick or two."
Kai was a bit slow in his understanding. He wasn't particularly fluent in French given he wasn't a native speaker. Zagadou's informal speech and slang didn't help either, but Kai still managed to piece the information together.
"Like a trial?"
"Oui, Monsieur!" Zagadou replied in a joking manner. (translation: Yes, Sir!)
A chance, an opportunity, god gave a second chance to Kai that he mustn't waste. However, doubt arose in himself as he realized the implication of his actions.
He was supposed to go to his local club for today's match. Marley even promised him a starting position! Kai was confident, certain that he would make an impact in the game and would unquestionably earn himself a professional contract.
His futsal match was the confidence booster he needed. He was among the promising talents in Europe, the scouts just have realized it yet.
Should he go for the safe route? If he goes to his local club, he can earn a stable income and he can slowly work his way up to become a desired footballer. More importantly, he would undoubtedly prove his parents wrong.
He could show the contract that he earned to his parents' faces and they would have no choice but to relent. However, can he afford to wait? Can Kai afford to slowly work his way up from the third tier of French Football? Kai's local club wasn't even professional! It's a semi-professional club.
No, he must take risks. Risks are necessary for Kai. He had the talent. He had to believe. He had to believe he could topple the world with his very own power.
"Yes. I'll be there." Kai sternly replied, not thinking of looking back on this betrayal to his local club.
"Great! See you soon bro. Christopher would be relieved to see you here."
Kai ended the call. His eyes were laser sharp as he charged forward. He must impress. He will impress. Wait…
Kai suddenly stopped in his track as he had a moment of perplexity.
*Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz*
"Hey, Dan…" Kai called back only moments after they ended the phone call.
"Yeah?"
"What's your club again?" Kai asked in an embarrassed tone.
~~~
The Camp des Loges in Saint-Germain-en-Laye had a rare charm that emitted a sense of French Historical elegance. Its late European architecture combined with modernity seemed surreal. A football ground of its size was unmatched by other modern European academies. The whole place exuded tradition and glory. This place that served as the home of a top-tier club should be playing a prestigious continental game. It certainly didn't happen today.
"This is where I belong," Kai thought to himself. It was too much to hope for to be making a professional football team debut at this place, but the youth team was a different matter entirely.
"Well, isn't this a sight to see?" Kai admired the view from just outside the gate.
Kai didn't know how long he had been idling at the gate of Camp des Loges. He only fiddled his fingers as he waited for something, anything that would change the awkward situation.
Kai was stuck outside the gates.
The security guard on duty had a strange look as he had one eye on Kai at all times. A visitor? He certainly didn't look like one. The guard had questions in his mind as he wondered if Kai was just a tourist passing by, a lost child that was wandering on the street, or an actual academy player that he should let in.
Kai's football attire didn't help either. The guard was having second doubts.
"HEY, YOU. YEAH, YOU! What are you doing?"
The guard's stern eyes glared at Kai's unfriendly disposition. It looked like a job interview had gone wrong.
"I, uh, I'm here for a trial? Is there any chance you could let me in?" Kai bravely answered
The guard gave Kai a sidelong glance. He had a smirk on his face like an insect fell into the spider's trap. 'Gotcha, you little prick.'
The guard's attitude changed completely from polite to ignorant. "Tsk. Another kid trying to trick me." The guard told himself.
"Uhm, erm, not at all actually. It's the, uhm, my, erm… friend! Dan invited me for your…(pause) academy! Uhm, I mean the team!" Kai nervously smiled
The guard gave a wry smile, his light blue eyes fluttered as he turned his head back. "I don't understand, do you have any ID? A student card? I know a guy who will help you."
Kai became flustered as he became lost in translation. "What do you mean? Can't I just come in?" He asked
"Don't be such a child. I won't fall for these tricks anymore!" The guard's already icy tone turned into a more accusatory one. "You think because I'm a guard that I won't call security?" He slammed his hand into the stone wall.
