Pʀᴏʙʟᴇᴍ Sᴏʟᴠᴇʀ| ˡᵒᵒᵏⁱˢᵐ

8| You know the rules,

After the classes at the academy were over, everyone went their seperate ways. Lexy and Cassy wanted to get some studying done, so they went to the library. Angelina had a little brother and her parents were sick, so it was upon her to pick him up from the daycare. Katarina had a date, though she didn't give them much details.

And finally, Kayden and Julia were left. Today was to be the first time they would work out together, since the boy had promised her to help with building up some stamina.

"Did you do what I told you to?"

The girl nodded with a small whine. "Yeah, I went out every day for two hours to burn some calories. Although I wasn't running and just power walking, my legs really hurt."

"That's normal in the beginning. Keep doing that and your legs get used to it. Come on, let's go."

At nearby fitness studio, Kayden introduced her to the equipment she should use to work out with. Of course, the spinning bike and the treadmill were the most important to build up some stamina and burn calories.

After introducing her to those, he showed her some exercises she could do that would also help her.

Of course, she could do nothing of this without building up some muscles mass before, so he told her that in the beginning it would take some time to see progress, maybe she would even gain some more mass, only that it would be in the right spots.

When Kayden had explained everything to his friend, they went through the training schedule for the weak. It started slow, so she could get used to the routine and would not overexert herself.

While she was getting started on the first set, the blue haired boy watched her with eagle eyes, trying to make out mistakes in her posture and occasionally giving her tips and correcting her.
_

"Thank you for the help. And thank you for bringing me home."

Kayden shrugged. "It's already dark. If you were my sister, I wouldn't want you walking home by yourself either."

The girl blushed furiously and looked down at her feet in an attempt to hide it. But now, due to her embarrassment, she couldn't see were she was going. She nearly crashed into a pole, when Kayden grabbed her arm and pulled her away, directly into his muscular chest.

Hesitantly, she looked up at him, gazing directly into his ice blue eyes. "I..."

"Let's go," Kayden simply said, taking a step back and continuing to walk down the street.

Julia stared at his broad shoulders and let out a sigh before quickly following.
_

The next day, Kayden stood up early as always to get his morning jog done. He put on some sweatpants, a hoodie and put his long hair in a rather messy high ponytail.

As he jogged through the park, he enjoyed the silence that surrounded him. Usually the park was bustling with all kinds of people but now — when it was basically night — only a few mostly suspicious characters were strolling around.

He made his way on the road along the Han River, occasionally spying ducklings and even a few swans.

"I'm telling you, I get the money!"

Kayden halted and took a sip from his water bottle. As he drank, he let his eyes wander around the perimeters, noticing two people standing a few meters away next to a tree.

"You truly disappoint me. It's too late now."

"But Gu-"

"You know the rules, Cas. It's over."

"But I-"

Before he could continue, some other guy came up to them and dragged him away behind some bushes. Kayden's eyes couldn't make out what exactly they were doing to him, but it seemed he was beaten up — heavily at that, before he was left behind.

The other guy lit himself a cigarette. "Get the car and arrange a meeting with our friends from the west for noon."

"Yes, Sir."

The smoking guy let his head fall into his neck, seemingly enjoying the fresh breeze and quiet around him. He lazily took another smoke, his eyes suddenly settling on Kayden.

The blue haired boy simply stared back for a few moments, his fingers playing with the bottle in his hands.

Suddenly, the ringing of a phone broke the silence and forced the stanger to break the intense eye contact. When he looked away from his phone again after the call was finished, the blue haired male was gone.

"Huh."
_

"Oppa, how was your morning run?"

"Like always. I'll take a shower."

"Okay, I'll prepare breakfast," Mira happily chirped, already working on some vegetables.

After they were ready for school, both set out and walked together. Halfway there, they met with Zack and he joined them on their way.

"Good morning, Kayden," Lexi greeted him, a calm smile on her lips as Cassy played with their entwined fingers. "Morning Kayden," Katarina and Julia greeted him, speaking simultaneously.

"Morning."

"Good Morning," a new voice spoke from next to them. The girls jumped, but Kayden had already noticed him before.

"Hey, Eli."

"Hey, I wondered whether you might want to come over for dinner today? You helped me a lot the last time, so I want to thank you with a meal."

"Sure."

Eli smiled at him shortly before going back to his seat. The second he was out of earshot, four curious girls turned eagerly towards him. "What did we miss," Lexi asked.

Katarina grinned from ear to ear. "Yeah, since when are you so close with Eli?"

Cassi suggestively wiggled her eyebrows.

Just when Kayden wanted to tell them to shove off, Angelina entered the classroom, just seconds after their teacher who began the lesson with a sharp look to the red haired. Angelina, upon noticing the looks her friends were giving her seatmate, wondered out loud: "Did I miss anything?"
_

"Hey, come on in."

Kayden followed Eli inside the apartment and kitchen. He sat down next to Yenna, who was babbling to herself in her high chair. Noticing him, she lifted her arms and made grabby hands at him.

Laughing, Eli took her into his arms, rocking her slightly. From there she had a free sight of the blue haired boy who was watching her with eagle eyes.

One hand reached out for him, but he didn't know how to react. He had held her before, back when he helped Eli feed her. Hesitantly he reached out, watching as she grabbed on of his fingers and stuck it into her mouth, gnawing on it like she had before.

"Seems like she remembers you," Eli laughed.

The other boy just continued watching the baby girl curiously. Suddenly she let his finger go but made now made gabby hands at him, wanting to switch while blabbering some incoherent sounds.

"Go on, take her," Eli urged him. "She seems to like you."

Kayden proceeded to take her into his arms, holding her gently like she was about to break between his strong fingers. She snuggled into him and from then on refused to leave his arms. He tried to hand her back when it was time for her to eat but she whined so loudly they gave up trying after some time.

When it was time to leave however, he obviously couldn't take her with him, so he had to hand her back eventually. She rebelled furiously, even managed to scratch him as she tried to claw onto him, but it was of no use, she just wasn't strong enough.

"Thank you for coming by, Kayden. It was really nice. And thank you for helping me with Yenna," Eli thanked him on his way out.

"Of course, thank you for having me."

"Goodnight. Get home safe."

"Good night."