At the Black Panther Stadium, Max struck again, making it 2–0 in the second half.
"What a show! The young talent scores again. What do you think of his performance today, Decent?" Shakes asked, his voice brimming with excitement.
"Quality, oh, absolute quality, Shakes. Moments like this make me happy to be a commentator. We've seen many talents over the years," Decent replied warmly.
The referee's whistle echoed across the pitch, signaling the end of the match. Jaden stood on the sidelines with Anna, while Assistant Coach Anderson moved forward to shake hands with players and officials. Anna, tablet in hand, turned to Jaden and displayed the match statistics.
"It was expected. Everything went according to plan," Jaden said flatly.
"You like to act tough, don't you? I can see through you, Jaden," Anna teased.
Jaden chuckled softly, knowing he'd been caught. How is she doing this… psychic? he thought.
"Hey, we should go out for a meal to celebrate today's win. We're now three points clear of the relegation zone," Anna suggested.
"Just the two of us, or the whole team?" Jaden asked.
"The two of us, you dummy!" Anna snapped.
"Yeah, nahh… sounds like a hassle," Jaden muttered.
Anna's eyes narrowed dangerously. "I'm not going to ask again."
Terrified by her glare, Jaden forced a smile. "We should definitely go." She's a monster, he thought.
At the restaurant, the two sat across from each other at a small corner table.
Anna scrolled through her tablet with one hand while absent‑mindedly poking at her grilled chicken, creamy mushroom sauce pooling beside roasted vegetables.
Jaden was halfway through a sizzling platter of steak and chips, the aroma of garlic butter filling the air. He leaned back, sipping on a cold glass of orange juice, trying to look relaxed.
"Stop eating slow and sit straight," Anna ordered, shutting off her tablet and fixing her gaze on him.
"You're so bossy, jeez," Jaden said, sitting up straighter and eating faster.
Anna rested her cheek against her hand, eyes glinting with curiosity. "So tell me, what are you into? Your likes and dislikes?"
"Uhm… I like to read, play chess, and game. Mostly I enjoy things that challenge my intelligence or improve it. I've loved strategy games ever since I was a kid. As for dislikes… I hate anything that requires physical ability, but mostly I hate losing. What about you?" Jaden asked.
"Hhm, I see… well, I've always liked analyzing things. I enjoy reading, watching TV shows, and football, that's thanks to my dad. I once liked drawing too, but not anymore. I'm too busy with studies and my internship. As for dislikes… I can't stand people who pretend to be something they're not, wasting time on things that don't matter, or looking down on others," Anna replied.
"You do art?" Jaden asked, leaning forward. "I can't draw, but I love looking at it. There's something about it that puts my mind at ease. You should show me sometime." He reached out and held her hands.
Anna's cheeks flushed crimson. "Uhm, yeah… I'll show it to you sometime," she muttered, barely audible.
"What was that?" Jaden asked.
"I said I will show you, dammit! Now get your filthy hands off me!" Anna snapped.
Jaden quickly pulled back. "Jeez, did I say something wrong?" he asked.
They stared at each other for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Later, they strolled through the city streets.
"It's nice taking a walk in the city," Anna said.
"Nah, I prefer rural areas. Full of nature… its beauty is a sight to behold," Jaden replied.
"Hah, I knew you'd say something like that."
"Word," Jaden said simply.
Anna laughed and playfully punched his shoulder. "I admit, you do have great tactical insight. It hasn't been long since I started working with you, but I can see it. Still, you should really try to improve your relationship with the players. Football is more than just tactics and talent."
"Hhm, well…" Jaden stopped, hands in his pockets, gaze lowered. "I know that, but I don't know how. The age gap is large, and my personality isn't helping either."
"I believe you can do it. You just have to try. Even Max trusts you, I believe there's nothing he wouldn't do for you on the pitch. If you managed to connect with him, then connecting with the others should be a walk in the park," Anna said firmly.
"I guess you're right," Jaden admitted.
A sleek car pulled up beside them, Mr. Tau's driver.
"Well, I have to go. Good luck getting home," Anna said quickly, rushing into the car before it sped away.
"Would it kill you to give me a ride?" Jaden muttered.
Moments later, a beautiful black and blue sports car glided to a stop in front of him. The window rolled down.
"Savio Silva?…" Jaden asked in surprise.
"Yeah. Let me give you a ride," Savio offered.
"Sure," Jaden said, climbing into the passenger seat. This is a nice ride. I should get one of these too, he thought.
Savio pressed the accelerator, weaving through traffic with ease, like a striker dribbling past defenders.
"Was that your girlfriend?" Savio asked with a grin, braces flashing.
"No, just a colleague," Jaden replied.
"She's pretty," Savio said casually.
Jaden shot him a glare, but Savio only smiled.
"Do you know where I live?" Jaden asked.
"Nah, just put the location on the GPS," Savio said.
"Never expected to see you or get a ride from you," Jaden admitted.
"Me too. Even though we're at different clubs and you ended our unbeaten streak, that doesn't make us enemies outside of football," Savio said.
"Okay, well, looking forward to playing you again," Jaden said.
"The feeling's mutual," Savio replied with a smile.
They pulled up outside Jaden's house.
"Thanks for the ride," Jaden said.
"Anytime. You should give me your digits, we should link up sometime."
"Uhm, okay," Jaden said.
Savio drove off, leaving Jaden standing on the sidewalk.
"What a weird day," Jaden muttered as he walked into his house.