She's not my type

Chapter Five

After Stefflon’s dramatic garden incident, Sean was invited in to meet Ren Hashiro privately.He stepped into the same luxurious office his sister had entered moments ago, but his demeanor was calm — almost humble.

Ren stood behind his desk this time, no longer gazing out the window, but focused entirely on Sean.

"So," Ren said, gesturing toward the seat in front of him. "Tell me. What do you want to do?"Sean sat down and took a steady breath. "I want to be a footballer, sir. I’ve trained in different places… with different clubs. Sometimes with nothing but borrowed cleats. I’ve been pushing myself for years. It’s the only thing I’ve ever really wanted."Ren raised an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. Sean continued, his voice steady but heavy with emotion.

"My Uncle couldn’t afford the best schools, but I never gave up. I trained in the sun, in the rain. I got turned away a lot, but I kept showing up. I believe I have what it takes. I just… need the right connection.

"Ren leaned back in his chair, silently studying him.

There was something about Sean — a quiet strength, a fire hidden beneath all that reservation.He remembered him clearly from the restaurant scene with Risa. Sean hadn’t jumped into the chaos or tried to defend himself. He had stayed calm, composed — something Ren respected deeply.

"You didn’t say much at the restaurant when things got tense," Ren said, folding his arms. "That told me a lot more about you than words ever could."Sean blinked, surprised."I don’t like noise," he admitted. "And I was raised to pick my battles."Ren gave a small nod of approval.

"I happen to know someone at the National Football Academy," he said simply. "You don’t need to worry. I’ll make a few calls. If you’ve got the talent, I’ll make sure you get your shot."Sean’s eyes widened slightly, but he stayed composed.

"Thank you, sir. I won’t waste the opportunity.""I’m not doing it as a favor," Ren added. "I’m doing it because I believe you’ve got potential. Don’t disappoint me."Sean nodded firmly. "I won’t."Ren offered a rare smile — faint but genuine. "Good. You’ll hear from them in a few days. Be ready."As Sean left the office, a sense of purpose surged through him. He had walked in with uncertainty, but walked out with something more — a real chance.And for the first time in a long while, the world didn’t feel so far out of reach.Sean stepped out of the office, and for a moment, he just stood in the hallway, letting the weight of Ren’s words sink in.

The air in the building felt different now — less suffocating, more promising.He had a shot.As he walked down the corridor, he caught sight of Stefflon standing beside a glass wall, arms folded, eyes red-rimmed from embarrassment or maybe exhaustion.

She looked up and saw him, forcing a small smile."How did it go?" she asked.Sean gave a shrug, trying not to look too proud. "Let’s just say... I might be getting a call soon."Her eyes widened. "What? Sean, are you serious?""Ren said he’d help. He knows someone at the National Football Academy."Stefflon blinked, stunned, then launched forward and hugged him tightly.

"I knew it! I told you, Sean! I told you you’re meant for something bigger."He smiled faintly and patted her back. "One step at a time, Steph."

From a distance, Chloe watched them — her arms crossed, lips pressed in a thin line.She didn’t say a word. Just turned on her heels and walked away.Later that evening, as they stepped out of the Hashiro building, the sky had started to darken. The golden glow of the sunset bathed the skyscrapers in warm light."This day feels like a dream," Stefflon whispered.Sean looked ahead, eyes set with focus. "No, Steph. This is the beginning of real life."

They walked off into the evening no longer just two jobless siblings, but two people with doors slowly creaking open before them.And somewhere behind them, on the top floor of Hashiro Global Enterprise, Ren stood by the window again — watching.