Episode 26: Jaden's Revenge
Jaden sat on the bench, rolling the ice pack over his ankle. Ethan thought he won today.
He was wrong.
Leo plopped down next to him, smirking. "So, what's the plan? You gonna trip him back?"
Jaden exhaled. "No."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "No?"
Jaden's eyes stayed locked on the field, cold, unreadable. "I'm gonna outplay him so bad he wishes he never stepped on this pitch."
Leo whistled. "Damn. Remind me not to piss you off."
Jaden barely heard him.
Because across the field, Ethan was still smirking.
Fine.
Tomorrow, that smirk was gone.
The Next Day – The Payback Match
Coach Vance called the players in. "Today's drill—full-field scrimmage. I don't care how you win. Just win."
Jaden stepped onto the field.
Ethan was on the other team.
Perfect.
The whistle blew.
Jaden locked in.
The Statement Goal
Fifteen minutes in, Jaden hadn't touched Ethan once.
He didn't need to. Not yet.
Instead, he let Ethan get comfortable. Let him think he was controlling the game.
Then—Jaden struck.
Ethan turned with the ball—Jaden was already there.
He picked his pocket clean, spinning away before Ethan even realized what happened.
One quick one-two pass.
A sprint down the wing.
The keeper rushed out—Jaden didn't hesitate.
A chipped shot—perfect.
The ball dropped into the net.
Goal.
Jaden didn't celebrate.
He just turned and walked past Ethan.
Ethan's face was stone cold. No more smirk.
Good.
Breaking Ethan Completely
The game continued.
Jaden didn't need to foul Ethan.
He just beat him at every turn.
Every touch, every pass, every dribble—Jaden made sure Ethan knew he was better.
By the end of the match?
Ethan was furious.
Coach Vance blew the whistle. "Done. That's it."
Ethan stormed off.
Leo jogged up beside Jaden. "Damn. That was personal."
Jaden smirked. "He started it."
Leo laughed. "Yeah, well, you fucking finished it."
Jaden didn't respond.
Because deep down, he knew Ethan wasn't done yet.
This wasn't just about football anymore.
This was war.