Waking up

What Reina noticed above the blanket was the trace of his amputated leg. Just after uncovering Kay's legs, an unbelievable scene unfolded; two legs, one shorter than the other, fully covered with bandages. 

When Reina witnessed this scene, she couldn't hold back her tears, despite Max's supportive words. 

Max, being sturdier than Reina, had already prepared himself for this sight. 

Reina sat on the ground, placing her arms and head on the edge of Kay's bed, and continued crying. Max decided to let her do that, understanding the need to release some of her overwhelming emotions. 

Not wanting to be deeply affected by his wife's tears, Max left the room after checking on his son's state. He headed to the hospital courtyard, seeking some fresh air. 

Reina, meanwhile, remained in her emotional state until exhaustion took over, and she fell asleep in her position beside her son. 

After some time, Kay woke up and discovered his mother asleep on the edge of the bed. He felt something strange in his right foot, as if he couldn't move it.

When he uncovered it, he saw a sight he never imagined – his left foot wrapped in bandages, no longer the same length it used to be. The realization hit him that he had lost his foot, shattering all his dreams. 

Upon understanding his current state, Kay screamed, waking up his mother who was sleeping beside him. The hospital was filled with the piercing sound, resembling scenes from a horror movie. Nurses and his father, who was outside, rushed towards him. Despite his mother's attempts to calm him down, Kay was inconsolable. To prevent a severe psychological breakdown, one of the nurses administered a sedative injection, and he fell back into sleep. 

After this accident, Max gazed at his wife, his eyes brimming with sadness for their son, and said, "It seems that he couldn't accept the situation yet." 

"I hope he calms down when he wakes up; I fear he might suffer psychological damage beyond the physical injury from the incident," Reina replied, tears welling up in her eyes. 

"Try to smile; how will he feel if he wakes up and finds you in this condition? All we can do now is offer him moral support." 

Kay's parents spent the entire night with him, foregoing sleep to be by his side when he woke up. Just moments before dawn, Kay opened his eyes to find his parents sitting in front of him, wide awake and exhausted. 

The sight left Kay in shock, as he realized how mistaken he was in his relationship with them. One of the reasons he moved to another city to play football was to distance himself from them, seeking freedom and despising being under their control. 

However, at that moment, he recognized that the reality was opposite to what he thought. Despite being distant, his parents still cared for him. This realization helped him relax a little and prompted him to reflect on his relationships and choices. 

"How are you now? Do you feel better? I hope you've improved a bit," Max said in a calm tone after noticing Kay's awakening. 

Upon hearing his father's question, Kai remembered the accident and the loss of his foot. A jolt ran through his body, prompting him to suddenly uncover his legs as if he had gained strength in just a matter of seconds. 

Kay looked down at his amputated leg with a long sigh. All his happy memories about football rushed through his brain, but the last image that surfaced was of his parents sitting next to him, patiently waiting for him to wake up. This image compelled him to calm down a little and begin to think more logically. 

"So, it wasn't a nightmare, but reality, wasn't it?" Kay questioned. 

His father nodded calmly and said, "Yes, that's true. But you must know that our love for you is not tied to being a famous star or anything like that. We love you in all circumstances," and Reina nodded in agreement. 

Upon hearing these words from his parents, Kay felt a strong sense of guilt. He, who had been trying hard to distance himself from them, realized they cared deeply for him. Tears began to fall from his eyes. 

When Reina saw Kay crying, she feared his condition might not be stable yet. However, Max quickly reassured her, whispering to her. "It seems he's accepting the situation; his mental state is stable, and he appears calmer." 

The atmosphere remained calm, interrupted only by Kay's sniffs and the warmth of his parent's embrace. Kay felt his heart warming up. 

Observing the significant concern from his parents, Kay made a promise to himself to take care of them, make them happy, and never give up or weaken in the face of life. 

The personality of Kay underwent a significant change after the accident due to successive shocks in the past few days. This transformation opened his eyes to the world, making him realize he was wrong about who was truly by his side and who wasn't. 

Days passed, and on the fifth day of his hospital stay, Kay's teammates visited him. The visit weighed heavily on him as he noticed some fiery glances directed at him by certain teammates, almost seeking revenge. 

Kay quickly understood the reason behind those glares: since joining the team, he had stolen the spotlight from them. Moreover, the previous captain of the team lost his place in the starting lineup because of him. 

In the past, Kay couldn't discern the true loyalties around him and believed that all his friends and teammates were genuinely by his side. However, in reality, only his parents and a few friends stood by him. 

A light smile graced Kay's face as he pondered, 'So there is also a positive side to the accident; it opened my mind to a lot of things that I couldn't notice before.' 

"What makes you smile, Kay? Are you feeling better now?" asked the team's previous captain, attempting to put on a friendly face. 

'I smile because I finally know the true nature of each one of you now. I will not be tricked by anyone anymore,' Kay thought as he replied, "No, it's nothing." 

After about fifteen minutes and each of his teammates wished him a speedy recovery—some genuinely from the heart, others out of obligation—they left to continue their daily lives. Once they departed, Kay let out a sigh, as if he had been released from prison and now had newfound freedom. 

A few moments later, the nurse entered and said, "Mr. Kay, you have a visitor. May I let him in?" 

"Do you know who he is?" Kay inquired. 

"He said he is an old friend. I think his name is Alex." 

Kay responded with an enthusiastic tone, "Yes, let him in." 

Alex is Kay's old friend from his previous team, and they were the same age but not the same in talent—Kay was more talented than Alex. 

In the past, Kay tried to evade him, thinking that Alex might hinder his professional career. However, after reflecting on his past life during his hospital stay, Kay is now certain that Alex is a good friend. 

A few moments later, Alex appeared in the doorway of Kay's room. Kay displayed a happy face as he said, "Welcome, my friend. I missed you." 

Alex stood shocked, not expecting such a warm welcome from Kay, considering Kay's past cold behavior towards him. 

Alex took a chair and sat beside Kay and said, "Are you better now?" 

"Yes, I am better and happy to see you" 

This answer confirmed to Alex that Kay had changed, and it was for the better for sure. 

The time passed quickly as they reminisced about their memories in their previous team, making the conversation thoroughly entertaining. Alex updated Kay on the current state of the team after his departure, prompting Kay to express a hint of sadness on his face, saying, "I wish I didn't leave; the team atmosphere was the best." 

Alex responded, attempting to console his friend, "Don't be sad; this is an obligation in the professional world. Even if you didn't leave, when the team receives a good offer, they will sell you no matter what." 

Two hours passed smoothly, and it was time for Alex to leave. When he departed, Kay felt a significant release. His mental state had improved, and he was in a better place than before. 

Following the brief meeting with Alex, Kay gained a newfound appreciation for the significance of true friends and their impact on an individual's life. 

See you in the next chapter ...