The Game Begins
1107 Words
CHAPTER 2: THE GAME BEGINS
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Seren’s POV
I hated how Kael Navarro looked at me — like I was some kind of puzzle he wanted to solve. Like I was a challenge.
I don’t do challenges. I don’t want any distractions.
So when I saw him waiting by the gym entrance the next day, I pretended not to see him.
Easy, right?
Nope.
He called out, “Hey, new girl! Ready for round two?”
I rolled my eyes and kept walking. No way I was giving him the time.
“Why are you even here?” I finally snapped, stopping to glare.
Kael shrugged, like he didn’t care. “Watching you practice. Figured I’d see if you’re really as good as you say.”
My lips curled into a smirk. “Didn’t know I had to impress the infamous biker boy.”
“Infamous?” He laughed — that deep, careless laugh that made me want to smack him. “I prefer ‘mysterious.’”
I snorted. “Right. Whatever.”
The thing is… I was curious. Not about him — no way. But about why he cared.
Why did he want to watch me play?
I kept my face cold. Snobbish level one hundred. “I don’t need a fan club.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You’re defensive.”
“Because I don’t like the spotlight,” I said, folding my arms. “And I don’t like people like you.”
“People like me?” He stepped closer. “Care to explain?”
I stared at his black boots, trying to stay calm. “You’re loud. Too loud. You walk in like you own the place. And you think every girl is chasing you. It’s annoying.”
Kael’s eyes sparkled — maybe he liked the challenge.
“Good,” he said. “I like annoying people.”
I wanted to say, “Get used to it, because I’m not going anywhere.”
But instead, I turned and walked away.
Because that’s what I do. I walk away.
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Kael’s POV
Man, I couldn’t stop smiling. That girl? Seren? She’s fire. Real fire.
The way she talked to me — like I was the problem, like I didn’t belong — it made me want to prove her wrong.
I don’t usually care what people think. But Seren… she made me care.
She’s not like the other girls screaming my name.
She’s cold, quiet, and sharp. Like she’s hiding something under that serious face.
I want to know what.
When she said I was loud? Ha! I own that. But maybe… maybe I’m loud because I want to be noticed.
Because inside, I feel invisible sometimes.
That’s why I ride my bike fast — to feel alive.
To feel seen.
And for the first time, I want to be seen by someone who doesn’t care.
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Seren’s POV
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
Why did Kael bother me so much?
I kept remembering how he smiled like he knew something I didn’t.
Like he could see through the walls I built.
But I’m not the type to fall for bad boys.
Nope. Not me.
I stared at the ceiling, thinking about what my friends said.
“Kael Navarro is trouble,” Bea warned.
“Rich kid with a bad reputation,” Lia added.
“Don’t get close,” Ira whispered.
But I wasn’t close. Not yet.
I didn’t want to be.
Still… I wondered if they were right.
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Kael’s POV
Next day, I saw her again at the gym.
She was warming up — focused, intense.
I walked over, feeling stupid but honest.
“Want to practice together?” I asked.
She looked at me like I grew a third eye.
“No thanks.”
I smiled anyway. “Come on. It’ll be fun.”
She sighed. “I don’t do fun.”
“Okay, serious then. Just one set.”
She finally said, “Fine.”
We played.
She was good. Better than I thought.
Fast, precise, ruthless.
She never smiled.
I kept trying to make her laugh. Failed.
But I didn’t mind.
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Seren’s POV
Playing against Kael was frustrating.
He’s cocky but skilled.
Every time I won a point, he’d grin like it was a joke.
Every time he won, he’d tease me.
“Not bad,” he said after one rally. “You’re better than I thought.”
I crossed my arms. “Don’t get used to it.”
He laughed. “I’m used to things.”
“Good for you,” I muttered.
Deep down, I wanted to admit it felt good — someone noticed me.
But I wasn’t going to say that.
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Kael’s POV
After practice, we sat on the bleachers.
The silence was different — not uncomfortable.
She looked at me, eyes sharp but soft.
I asked, “Why so serious all the time?”
She shrugged. “Life’s serious.”
“Not everything has to be.”
She looked away.
“I’m not like other guys,” I said.
“Good.”
We laughed.
Okay, maybe just a little.
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Seren’s POV
Days passed, and Kael didn’t disappear.
He showed up at the gym every day.
Annoying? Yes.
But maybe… less annoying than before.
One afternoon, he surprised me.
“Want to grab some food after practice?”
I almost said no.
Almost.
But curiosity won.
“Fine,” I said.
He smiled like he won a race.
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Kael’s POV
Walking to the food stall with Seren was weird.
She didn’t talk much.
I tried asking questions.
She gave short answers.
But it was a start.
For the first time, I felt like maybe this could work.
Slowly.
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Seren’s POV
We sat on the curb, eating.
Kael told stories about his bike, his friends, his family.
I listened.
He told me about his childhood — how his parents were busy with their businesses, how he felt lonely sometimes.
I said nothing.
Because it was hard to admit, but maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t the loud, annoying guy I thought he was.
Maybe he was just… lost.
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Kael’s POV
That night, I thought about Seren.
About how she kept me grounded.
How she didn’t fall for my usual charm.
How she made me want to be better.
I wanted to protect her.
But I didn’t know how.
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Seren’s POV
I don’t trust easily.
Especially not boys like Kael.
But there’s something about him that I can’t ignore.
Maybe because he’s not perfect.
Maybe because I’m not either.
Maybe… this is the start of something new.
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✨ TO BE CONTINUED... ✨
- Writer
