Dean dropped her off at home not long after their little date. It was nothing extravagant, a contrast of what one would expect from someone of his caliber, but he was just Dean to her.
Even after she found out of his potential fame and all. She could still remember how the conversation went down.
"So...what do you do for a living?" She casually asked, as they strolled down the streets after having their tteokbokki, and boy was it spicy-she even shed a few tears, something she and Dean agreed to keep a secret between them.
She'd read reviews on it before, some claiming the sauce was too sweet and they would've preferred it to be a bit more salty and all, but she knew it wasn't the case for her. She had the real deal, on the streets of Korea and she surely liked it.
She doesn't regret it though. She enjoyed every minute of eating the street food with she and him teasing each other here and there.
Afterwards, they decided to simply take a stroll down the nearly market before they headed home. They weren't planning to buy anything in particular, just looking for an excuse to let the date drag on longer.
Dean, whom was walking beside her tilted his head in her direction, taking in the genuine curiosity masking her features as if to confirm something. Seeing as the question was genuinely from the bottom of her heart, he smiled and looked down for a brief second to hide his amusement.
"Uhm...I..." He cleared his throat, tamping his amusement down as he tilted his head up again. "I play sports."
"Sports?" She had realized after spending a few hours that he and the guys seemed to love sports, but she thought it was just a passing moment thing-not a job kind of thing. "What sort of sports do you play?"
She wasn't a fan of sports, barely knows a thing about it really. She doesn't hate it, just that she has no passion for it. She harbors no like, or hatred towards it.
Hence, why she is oblivious to the world of sports.
Dean folded his lips in for a moment, contemplating on whether to tell her the truth or not. There's no reason to lie to her anyway. So, he found himself responding. "Football." He stated, the pride in his tone hard to miss. He has every right to be proud of his job. "I'm a footballer."
She suddenly halted, then turned around to stare at him with parted lips and slightly widened eyes. "No way. Like a professional football player type of player?" She inquired, her eyes dilating slightly as she stared at him with sudden interest.
He nodded.
"Like a popular football club type of footballer?" She was still finding it hard to wrap her head around it. Yes, she isn't a fan of football but she doesn't live in a cave. She's well aware footballers are like some inspirational figures in the society these days-celebrated ones. "Soccer type of football?"
His brows furrowed, his lips slanting into a frown as he stared at her with serious eyes. Turning around to face her, he inquired in a serious note. "How many type of football are there? You seem to know quite a lot." He lightly teased.
She glared at him, her lips pressed together to express her lack of amusement to him pulling her leg like that.
He chuckled.
She ignored it, steering back to their original conversation. "So, a football player, huh?"
His chuckle had died down, though he still spotted a small grin because of amusement. Her reaction was priceless really. Nonetheless, he decided to stop pulling her legs before she gets really upset.
He has no plans of upsetting her, unlike someone.
"Yes I'm a professional football, soccer player." He answered, using her own terms. "And so are the guys." He added, referring to his teammates.
There are others obviously, but they've all returned back to London where they are based. They were originally there for work, and since they're done, they naturally headed back. The other three stayed back with him to enjoy their breaks in Seoul before they returned to work.
With the world cup coming up, and with them making it to the championship, they will be way too occupied once they officially start training. Their club wouldn't go easy on them.
So, it's more like enjoy your break while you're still on one. The real battle begins afterwards. It's the second time they're getting into the world cup-they ended up second place the last time.
This year, they will bring the world cup home. They've been training for it, nothing will stop them.
Amina nodded, the realization slowly dawning on her. Pressing her lips together, she tried to let it sink in that this Dean, the one she is staring at, is supposedly famous.
It's hard to picture it really.
She shook her head, blowing out a small breath as she pulled her overcoat closer, the air was slightly chilly. "I'm sorry, I didn't even know." She chuckled awkwardly, she couldn't imagine how foolish he must've looked being around them and not knowing who they were. "I feel bad for not knowing."
His lips slanted downwards, his brows furrowed together. "What's there to feel bad about?" He couldn't see why she was bothering herself over it. "It's perfectly alright if you aren't interested in sports, lots of women aren't."
"Still-"
"Still it's nothing out of the ordinary." He cut her off assuredly before she could further have negative thoughts. "Don't beat yourself over it. I actually liked the fact that you were clueless." It was refreshing to be around someone who doesn't recognize him and swamp him.
She's like a breath of fresh air for him. He liked those moments with her.
Her lips slowly slanted upwards into a smile. It was great to have reassurance, she's the type in constant need of one and he gave it to her without even realizing it.
A few seconds passed before her eyes dilated again, then she looked around to spot the crowds bursting around them. They weren't too crowded, but there were still a lot of people there.
She then stared back at him with worried eyes. "Wait, should you be roaming about like this freely? Won't people recognize you? What if you get involved in scandals and all that? What if..."
Dean could only stare at her with a warm smile on his face as she rambled on, too caught up in worries to even realize he wasn't bothered in the slightest. For him, it was the little things that mattered the most.
They were the priceless moments.
Eventually, he decided to put an end to her rambles. "Relax, my club will handle it if anything comes up." He cut her off, gaining her attention yet again. "And besides, Aahil should be the one who worries the most about that."
"Aahil?" She repeated, remembering of the man's existence. "Your brother?" she was still trying to wrap her head around that fact.
How can they be brothers? They are complete opposites. This one is cute, kind hearted, and so down to earth. The other is brooding, annoying as hell, and just a hard pill to swallow.
Besides, they don't even look alike.
He nodded.
She scoffed, unable to help herself. "What is he famous for? Being a jerk?" She couldn't even pretend to like him for the sake of Dean.
She can never bring herself to even pretend to like him, much less eventually getting along. It's impossible.
Dean didn't take any offense in her words. "He's actually quite famous, beyond that you can imagine."
"Did his attitude get him the fame?" she asked blankly, having no interest in the conversation. "He seems to have a knack for annoying people."
Dean could only chuckle. It seems Aahil pulled his famous Aahil act on her. Why isn't he surprised?
Well, actually, he is. He can be annoying to men, but never to women. He won their hearts easily for knowing how to smooth talk them.
What's different with her? And besides, didn't he hear something about them attending the same High-school before? How are they always getting on each other's throats then.
"He's actually nice once you get to know him." As always, he'll protect his brother regardless, wherever he finds himself.
Even if it may not seem like it, Aahil has been the best brother to Dean. Though they didn't grow up together, the latter couldn't remember a single time where Aahil wasn't a brother to him. How could he not try to be there for him as much as he can as well?
That's what family is to them. They keep each other afloat, regardless of the secrets they've chosen to bury.
But of course, Amina couldn't see that, because that wasn't the side of him she was accustomed to. She's accustomed to the side that said things without considering another's feelings, the side that seemed to have a thing against her when she's done nothing to deserve it, the side that makes her life insufferable.
So no, she doesn't and has no plans of seeing him in the same light Dean does.
I beg to differ. She wanted to say, but held herself back before Dean actually gets upset.
She sealed her lips shut.
"-he's just going through a very difficult time now. It's not easy for him in the slightest. He may seem okay, but deep down, he's struggling. So please, don't take it to heart. Give him the benefit of doubt, okay?"
Though she couldn't understand what he meant, since he chose not to explain further, Amina tried to keep it in the back of her mind.
While Dean left off to fetch his friends from God knows where they went, she took off her shoes and trudged into the quiet house. She was certain by that time, both Amma and Benazir were asleep, it was late anyway.
Hence, why the house was silent.
She welcomed the coldness that came with walking bare feet, finally freeing her poor feet from the agony of being cooped up half the day.
Shifting the shoes to her left hand, she slid her hand into the back pocket to pull out her phone as she trudged further when something caught her attention in the backyard.
She almost trudged past it, but something held her back.
So, letting curiosity get the best of her, she took a few steps back in the direction of the glass walls and stared out.
In the lavish backyard of the house, there sits a small, meticulously crafted miniature football field. Lush, perfectly trimmed artificial turf covers the ground, mimicking the look and feel of a real stadium.
The field is enclosed by elegant white picket fences, adorned with tasteful decorative elements that exude an air of sophistication. Miniature goalposts stand at each end, painted in regal gold, reflecting the owner's exquisite taste.
The surroundings are adorned with well-manicured shrubs and vibrant flowers, adding to the enchanting ambiance of the area. It's a picturesque spot, ideal for leisurely matches and gatherings of friends, offering a sense of luxury and refinement amidst the tranquility of the outskirts.
But, it wasn't the setting that caught her attention. Rather, it was the figure on the field, a figure she was well acquainted with.
She watched as he played around with a ball, his steps calculated, and meticulous. However, it was undeniably a bit sloppy because each time he tried to score a goal, something wrong happens.
He did that once, then twice, then three times.
He went on till she lost track, each time being more ferocious than the last and exerting himself beyond which his body can handle.
She could see it, his body convulsing as he strained it. He was visibly shaking, his legs even more but he pushed on even harder. At one point, she would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about him, because it seemed his body couldn't handle it anymore an still, he pushed on.
Just as Amina decided enough was enough, she was going to put an end to whatever torture he was himself through because it was too arduous, even she feared for him the consequences of his actions. What was he trying to prove? Was he trying to ruin himself beyond repair or something?
She gets that it's his career, but with what he was doing, he would no longer have one. It was almost like he was torturing himself.
Her feet moved on their own accord, as she made a move to head to the backyard and stop him, even if it would mean them fighting at the top of their lungs, his legs gave out on him, making him fall on the ground with a thump.
He didn't get up, his body shook even more, and she feared even more than ever then. It wasn't a sight one would like to see.
He drew his legs up, folding his knees while he blew out large breaths. He repeated the action a couple of times, and then Amina could see the effect almost immediately, he was slowly getting back to normal.
She released a relieved breath, her shoulders slumping in the process. Swallowing thickly, she threw him one last horrid gaze before she turned around and hastily left, not ever wanting to witness such a sight. He gave her a scare.
Whatever it was he was going through, she wouldn't wish it upon anyone, not even her enemy.
But she could also tell something then, something is indeed wrong with him. The question is, what exactly?
****
And then, it starts! The brewing romance she did not see coming, but I did😂
Dean, oh Dean, I love you😭 you are so sweet and understanding. Don't listen to the haters here, baby. They just jealous their Aahil ain't nowhere close to you.
Team Aahil, your guy is left behind o. Ya daura damara ko mu barshi wlh. Me zamuyi da shi daman bayan munada habibi Dean, za calm and understanding guy🤭
Kimura is about to return. What do you think of her and Aahil? Ya see something there? Abi you blind? Sha, I'm rooting for Dean and Amina, then Aahil and Mia. 🤭👍. Thier names fits seff.
8am-4pm lectures people! 8-4! That's how I'm suffering Mondays to Fridays fisabillilah. What has my life turned to? Kawai don nazabi boko?? Toh nafasa. Aradu nafasa. Ba dole bane.
Oh and pleaseeeee, if you're recommending my books to others don't forget to tell them it's not complete on this all please. I'm tired of getting attacked for taking down my own book. Now if I reply I'll be rude. Sighhhhhssss. Sha, biko tell am beforehand. Yawwa, ina godiya bokiti bokiti.
Goodnight, I've got nothing else to say aside from drop comments abeg. Just drop them now.
Stay safe. I'm here impatiently waiting for Friday to come so I can see the face off between Abba and Presido. Kai, in fact, no more updates sai naga Labarina na satinnan🤣😭😭
So, this is what suspense feels like? Haba Aminu Saira ya da haka? 😂
My friend said I'm getting a taste of my own medicine for what I do to my readers. To em Aminu Saira is at the top of wicked writers food chain, at the very top! Ni kuwa ina can qasa😂
Ko ba haka ba???
Love, Jannah Mia ❤️