Ulyana watched Rowan's retreating figure silently before sighing softly.
Then she turned back toward Kelvin apologetically.
"Kelvin, please don't mind him," she said gently. "He's… very protective."
Kelvin scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck before letting out a nervous laugh.
"If looks could kill," he admitted, "that one definitely would've ended me."
Ulyana laughed despite herself.
So did Amos and Xenovia.
Even Graham quietly chuckled before straightening his suit slightly.
"I'll go check on Chairman Volkov," he said calmly before slipping out of the locker room.
Meanwhile Kelvin looked back toward Ulyana with a suddenly more shy expression.
"You really were my childhood crush though," he admitted awkwardly.
Ulyana blinked.
"…Huh? Really?"
Xenovia gasped dramatically.
Amos looked genuinely surprised too.
Kelvin rubbed the back of his neck again looking almost embarrassed now despite being one of the city's most famous athletes.
"Yeah… um."
He pointed lightly toward her.
"We went to the same middle school before you transferred to boarding school for high school."
Ulyana studied his face carefully.
Still nothing.
Which unfortunately made Kelvin laugh harder.
"You probably don't remember me."
"I'm trying to!"
Kelvin smiled sheepishly.
"I was short. Nerdy. Terrible at sports."
That definitely did not help narrow things down.
"But one day," he continued, "you watched me batting during PE and told me I should actually try because I'd probably be good at it."
Ulyana's expression softened slightly listening.
Kelvin gestured around the locker room afterward with a grin.
"As you can see…"
He shrugged. "I did."
Then suddenly, it clicked.
Ulyana's eyes widened completely.
"Wait—" she pointed at him in shock. "You're little Kelie?!"
Kelvin immediately looked embarrassed.
"…Yeah."
Ulyana gasped loudly. "Oh my God!"
She looked genuinely stunned now as she stepped closer to properly look at him again.
"I always wondered what happened to you!"
Xenovia's jaw dropped too.
"KELIEEEE?!" she practically screamed.
Kelvin laughed helplessly while rubbing the back of his neck again.
Xenovia looked him up and down dramatically.
"Oh my God you were SO short!"
The entire locker room burst out laughing immediately.
"And now look at you!" Xenovia continued in disbelief. "Towering over everybody!"
Kelvin laughed harder while Amos shook his head amused beside her.
"Yeah," Kelvin admitted sheepishly. "Puberty eventually stopped bullying me."
Ulyana still looked genuinely shocked.
Because now that she looked closely, she could absolutely see traces of the awkward little boy she remembered encouraging years ago.
Just now trapped inside the body of one of Silvercrown's most famous athletes.
"I'm genuinely really happy for you," Ulyana said warmly to Kelvin afterward. "And I hope we stay in contact."
Kelvin smiled immediately hearing that.
"You helped shape the team we are now," he admitted honestly. "Seriously."
Ulyana laughed softly. "I think that's giving middle school me too much credit."
"Nope," Kelvin replied confidently. "I'm serious."
Then Ulyana sighed quietly. "I should probably go find my boyfriend and see if he's calmed down."
Kelvin immediately looked guilty again.
"…Is it okay if I come?" he asked carefully. "I want to apologise properly."
Ulyana nodded.
So together, the group headed down toward the VIP parking area beneath the stadium. When they finally arrived, Rowan was leaning silently against the side of the black luxury car.
Brooding.
Very brooding.
Meanwhile Graham stood nearby clearly attempting emotional damage control.
"Chairman Volkov," Graham was saying patiently, "perhaps we should explore breathing techniques before assaulting professional athletes."
Rowan did not react. He simply stared downward at his hands.
Still holding Ulyana's jacket.
The moment Ulyana saw him, her expression softened slightly.
Kelvin stepped forward immediately afterward looking genuinely remorseful now that the adrenaline of the game had worn off.
"Chairman Volkov," he began carefully, "I'm really sorry."
Rowan remained silent.
Kelvin continued quickly. "I genuinely didn't know the team was going to dump that cooler on her. If I did, I would've stopped it immediately."
Still silence.
Kelvin looked increasingly nervous.
What he didn't realise, however, was that Rowan's anger had already shifted inward.
Because now that the adrenaline had faded Rowan felt genuinely unsettled by how close he had come to seriously hurting someone over what had ultimately been a harmless celebration.
Finally, after a long pause, Rowan sighed quietly without looking up.
"All's forgiven, Cap."
Kelvin visibly relaxed instantly. "Oh thank God."
That finally pulled a small reluctant smile from Amos while Xenovia laughed softly beside him.
Even Graham looked relieved the situation had deescalated without Rowan committing aggravated assault in a VIP parking lot.
Things eventually settled onto a much lighter note afterward.
After Kelvin and Ulyana explained their middle school connection properly, the group ended up taking another photo together.
This time Rowan actually smiled genuinely in it.
A real smile, not the composed public one he usually wore.
And Kelvin survived the interaction.
Eventually Rowan looked toward Xenovia and Amos.
"Let's go get dinner," he offered calmly. "My treat."
Xenovia looked thrilled immediately.
Meanwhile Graham had already stepped aside and begun organising everything before anyone could even respond.
By the time they reached the cars, he had already secured a private room at one of Silvercrown's most exclusive restaurants.
The second everyone settled into the car, Xenovia burst into laughter again.
"I still cannot believe Kelvin Sparks is LITTLE KELIE!"
Even Amos laughed this time.
"And Chairman Volkov," Xenovia continued dramatically, "you should've seen his face when you threw him down."
She physically wheezed laughing.
Rowan sighed quietly. "Please call me Rowan."
"Okay Rowan," Amos chuckled, "but honestly the way you shoved him had me shaken up and I wasn't even the one covered in sports drink."
It was the first time Amos spoke to Rowan completely comfortably.
He had clearly warmed up to him now that he better understood the man beneath the intimidating reputation.
Meanwhile Rowan remained noticeably quieter.
Because unlike everyone else, he still genuinely felt unsettled by his own reaction.
"I apologise," he said calmly after a moment. "That you all had to see that."
But the others only laughed it off.
To them, it had honestly been slightly insane but also weirdly endearing.
Especially considering Rowan's anger had come entirely from concern for Ulyana.
The conversation naturally shifted back toward the game itself afterward.
The group excitedly talked about the final innings, the locker room celebrations, and meeting the Bears players while the car drove deeper into central Silvercrown.
By the time they arrived at the restaurant, paparazzi were already waiting nearby after catching wind of Rowan and Ulyana's public appearance together.
Camera flashes followed them immediately as the group exited the vehicle.
Fortunately, staff quickly escorted them inside.
The restaurant itself was stunning.
A three Michelin star establishment called Charcoal located in the heart of the city.
As they entered deeper into the restaurant, Xenovia suddenly paused in shock.
"Wait…" She looked around. "There are VIP rooms here?!"
Ulyana blinked. "…Have I never brought you two to the private rooms before?"
Both Amos and Xenovia shook their heads immediately.
"You knew about this?" Amos asked.
"Yeah," Ulyana replied casually. "Deda loves this restaurant."
That answer alone explained enough. Amos and Xenovia exchanged a subtle glance afterward.
They both understood enough about the Vasily family by now to know there were layers beneath the public corporate image.
Chairman Nikolai Vasily clearly held influence far beyond business alone. Still, they also knew better than to pry.
Ulyana had always been honest with them whenever something truly mattered.
And that trust was enough.
Soon afterward, the group settled into the private dining room where course after course arrived beautifully plated across the evening.
A ten course dinner.
Wine for the adults.
Endless conversation.
And gradually, Xenovia and Amos got to know Rowan and Graham properly beyond the intimidating public reputations attached to them.
To their surprise both men were actually easy to talk to. Partway through the dinner, Rowan leaned slightly closer toward Ulyana.
His voice lowered enough that only she could hear him.
"Graham and I need to meet briefly with a contact nearby," he explained quietly. "We'll only step out for a moment."
Ulyana nodded easily. "Okay."
Then Rowan glanced toward Amos and Xenovia politely.
"Please excuse us briefly," he said calmly while standing. "And please, eat freely."
Xenovia and Amos both nodded, though clearly curious.
Still —
Neither asked questions.
They simply watched Rowan and Graham leave the private dining room together before the doors shut behind them.
And then immediately Xenovia practically lunged across the table.
"WAIT."
Ulyana already sighed knowing exactly what was coming.
"I thought you were into Hak!" Xenovia whisper shouted dramatically. "And what happened to Grayson Pierre?!"
Amos looked significantly calmer but no less serious. In a very older brother sort of way, he studied her carefully before asking, "How exactly did this happen?"
Then after a pause, "And the age gap?"
Ulyana laughed softly into her drink, "You two are terrifying."
"Answer the questions, Yan," Amos replied calmly.
So eventually, she did.
Honestly.
Ulyana explained everything that she reasonably could.
How she and Rowan had grown closer recently.
How unexpectedly easy he was to talk to.
How respectful and careful he had been with her from the beginning.
How their families approved of the relationship. And how Rowan was formally courting her.
The only thing she deliberately left out was the growing instability within the underground world surrounding their families.
The less Amos and Xenovia knew about that...
The safer.
Still, by the time she finished explaining everything, Xenovia looked completely emotionally invested.
"Oh my God," she whispered dramatically. "He's actually courting you."
Amos leaned back thoughtfully afterward.
"And you like him."
It wasn't phrased as a question.
Ulyana hesitated briefly before softly admitting, "…Yeah."
And somehow saying it aloud made it feel far more real than before.
Ulyana sighed deeply before continuing.
"Okay," she began carefully. "Yes, there's a ten year age gap."
Xenovia nodded dramatically like she was mentally taking notes.
"Grayson Pierre is history," Ulyana continued firmly. "Completely done with."
"Good," Amos muttered immediately.
But then Ulyana dropped her head directly into her hands.
Xenovia immediately pointed. "Oh no."
"Okay," Ulyana groaned. "This is where things become complicated."
Amos narrowed his eyes immediately. "That's never a good sentence."
"You know how Hak was raised by his uncle?"
"Yeah?" Xenovia answered cautiously.
Ulyana slowly looked up at them. "…Rowan is his uncle."
Silence.
Then simultaneously —"WHAT?!"
The private dining room practically shook from their reactions.
Ulyana just nodded weakly. "His uncle," she repeated quietly.
Xenovia looked like her soul had temporarily left her body.
Amos blinked several times processing the information.
Then Ulyana continued softly, "…And you know how Hak would disappear for work for long periods and completely break my heart?"
Both of them nodded immediately.
"Well…" she sighed tiredly. "After all of this started developing…"
Her cheeks warmed slightly from embarrassment. "…He confessed his feelings to me."
"WHAT?!" Xenovia practically yelled.
"Girl, why didn't you CALL ME?!"
"Because," Ulyana groaned dramatically, "I had to return to work immediately afterward and I was already incredibly confused!"
She dropped back into her seat. "My feelings are a mess."
Amos looked genuinely stunned now.
"Wait," he said carefully. "So you liked Hak first…"
"Yes."
"But now you're developing feelings for Rowan too?"
Ulyana quietly nodded.
Xenovia placed both hands over her face.
"Uncle and nephew…" she whispered weakly.
Amos leaned back slowly. "This sounds like a terrible fictional drama."
"Shut up," both girls snapped simultaneously.
Amos immediately raised his hands in surrender while trying not to laugh.
Eventually Amos looked directly at her and asked the question both he and Xenovia were clearly thinking.
"So what are you going to do?"
Ulyana immediately sighed. "I don't know."
For the first time that entire night, both Amos and Xenovia were genuinely speechless.
Ulyana dropped back against her chair dramatically.
"This is insane," she admitted helplessly. "Because Rowan… he's so good to me."
She paused.
"And so is Hak."
Another groan escaped her. "My heart is literally a mess."
That finally made Amos and Xenovia laugh again.
"Uncle and nephew is CRAZY," Xenovia said while laughing into her drink.
Ulyana nodded weakly. "I know."
"Like genuinely unbelievable," Amos added.
"I KNOW."
Ulyana covered part of her face. "Wish me luck."
"Pfft," Amos scoffed lightly. "And then Kelvin Sparks confessed his childhood crush too."
"That's true!" Xenovia gasped dramatically.
"So many confessions," Amos deadpanned. "How exactly are you supposed to choose?"
"RIGHT?!" Xenovia cried. "She has OPTIONS."
Then she pointed dramatically across the table at Ulyana.
"And the worst part is they're actually amazing options!"
Ulyana groaned loudly while hiding her face again as her two best friends continued bullying her affectionately over her increasingly chaotic love life.
Then suddenly—
The private dining room door slid open.
Hak stepped inside quickly, his attention immediately locking onto Ulyana.
"Hey," he said, slightly breathless. "Are you okay?"
The room instantly fell quiet.
"I saw the news about the energy drink incident," Hak continued worriedly. "You hate being cold and wet."
Ulyana looked completely caught off guard.
She hadn't seen Hak in over a week and a half.
"Hak…"
Meanwhile Amos and Xenovia immediately looked between the pair.
Then slowly toward each other.
Knowing.
Very knowing.
Only then did Hak properly register the others sitting at the table too.
"…Amos. Xeno," he greeted more calmly.
"Hi Hak," Xenovia answered carefully.
Amos simply nodded once.
Then Hak lifted the shopping bag in his hand slightly toward Ulyana.
"Uncle Ro asked me to bring you a change of clothes."
Ulyana blinked. "Really?"
Her expression softened immediately. "He's so thoughtful…"
Hak handed her the bag and she carefully looked inside.
Immediately her eyes widened. Inside sat brand new designer clothes—
The exact same outfit she had already been wearing tonight.
Just dry.
Ulyana stared into the bag in disbelief. "How did you even—"
"Uncle Ro ordered it," Hak explained simply. "I just brought it over."
That somehow made her heart squeeze even more.
Then Hak looked at her more carefully.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Ulyana glanced briefly toward Amos and Xenovia before nodding slightly.
"Uh… sure."
She lifted the bag slightly. "I'm gonna change first though."
Hak nodded immediately. "Okay."
-
Ulyana headed toward the VIP bathrooms and carefully changed into the replacement clothes Rowan had sent over.
To her surprise, everything fit perfectly.
Even the undergarments.
She stared at herself in the mirror afterward in disbelief. How did he even know my measurements? That was definitely a conversation she intended to have with him later.
Still, after changing, she felt significantly more comfortable and refreshed.
A few minutes later, Ulyana stepped out onto one of the restaurant's private outdoor patios on the second level.
The city lights stretched endlessly around them.
Hak was already there waiting.
Hands in his pockets.
Quiet.
Though somehow even more distant than usual. Ulyana approached carefully.
Then after a moment, Hak finally spoke. "So…" he said quietly. "You kissed him?"
Ulyana blinked. "You saw the kiss cam…"
Hak shook his head slightly. "I mean after."
Realisation crossed her face. "Oh…"
She looked away briefly. "You saw that too."
Hak slowly closed the distance between them until he stood directly in front of her. His eyes searched hers carefully.
"Was that him," he asked quietly, "or you?"
A pause. "Because it looked like—"
"It was me," Ulyana admitted softly.
That answer visibly affected him.
Hak leaned slightly closer unconsciously while Ulyana instinctively stepped backward until her back lightly touched the patio wall behind her.
The city noise below suddenly felt very far away.
"So…" Hak asked quietly. "What does that mean?"
Ulyana looked conflicted. "I don't know," she admitted honestly. "It just… felt right."
Hak studied her face carefully for several long seconds.
"I mean," he said more quietly now, "what does that mean for us?"
Ulyana immediately covered part of her face with her hands.
"I don't know, Hak…"
Gently, Hak lowered her hands again. His expression softened seeing how overwhelmed she looked.
"I was this close to ending that baseball captain tonight," he muttered darkly.
Ulyana blinked in surprise. "Hak… were you there?"
"I was."
He sighed quietly.
"But not for your date."
Ulyana frowned slightly.
"I had an assignment nearby," he explained.
"I followed them to the stadium."
Then immediately his attention softened again as he looked at her properly.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. "Truly?"
His hand rested lightly against her forehead checking her temperature almost instinctively.
Ulyana looked up at him shyly, "I'm fine," she whispered.