NEW LIFE : A SECOND CHANCE

Kyle jerked his head to the side, and Sayuri let his cheeks go. She smiled at the kids, and said, "Don't mind him. He may look different, but he's the same 'Abang Rex' that you knew back then. On the inside."

Before Joseph or Lianne could say anything, two girls came by their table.

Both were looking excited, though one actually looked a bit embarrassed and was gently tugging on the sleeves of the girl in front.

"I'm sorry, but are you Kyle Smith? You are, aren't you?" the girl gushed.

Kyle frowned, and instantly, everything around them became rather cold as he stared at them.

The girl gulped but pressed on, seemingly not affected by his displeasure. Her friend, however, gripped her arm now.

"Please, can we just take a picture together?" the girl pleaded, as she put her hands together in a begging pose and took a step closer.

Kyle's eyes narrowed and this time, he didn't hold back his displeasure. The cold, killer aura flashed out, and the girl was so flustered that her hands trembled and she dropped her phone.

Sayuri reached over, putting a hand on his arm and leaning on his back, as she faced the girls and said, "I'm sorry, but Kyle is a very private person. Please leave."

This time, the friend could pull the trembling girl away and she quickly picked up her phone before both of them practically ran out of the place.

Kyle retracted his aura and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.

He gulped, thinking about how he must have scared his kids with that display.

The problem with the killer aura is that it could not be focused on one straight line that only the person he targetted would feel it. They would get it the worst, of course, but those in the vicinity would still be affected.

He had been so annoyed at being accosted like that, more so because she interrupted his time with his kids.

This opportunity was so hard to find, and they were already starting to loosen up when that idiot had to ruin it.

He turned towards his kids, expecting them to be staring at him in fear.

Then, he paused in shock.

Lianne was looking at him with intense curiosity while Joseph had stars in his eyes.

"That. Was. Awesome!" he said, leaning forward, "I thought that only happened in novels! How did you do it?!"

Suddenly, the image of Xing Han flashed through Kyle's mind.

It was the exact same reaction Xing Han had many years ago. With that thought, Kyle couldn't help but smile, and this time, it actually looked natural.

Joseph just couldn't believe that the block of wood in front of them was the grungy Abang Rex from before. There was a complete 180-degree change from that scruffy guy to this handsome one, and from an introvert to this confident man.

"Tell me, Abang Rex," Joseph said, "How do you become this cool and cold manly man?"

At those words, Kyle felt his heart being twisted in pain.

How could he have forgotten this?

Kyle had felt an affinity towards Xing Han because the latter reminded him so much of his son. How the father would often berate him for not being what the father had deemed to be a 'man'.

It wasn't that Joseph was effeminate, but he wasn't exactly 'tough' either.

Now that he was 13, Kyle remembered how the father was being more strict on him regarding this. Kyle had often argued with his spouse about this, but it only made things worse.

He sighed inwardly.

"There is no such thing as 'manly man' or whatever," Kyle said slowly, "Each person is unique and different in their own way."

Kyle could see the disappointment in his son's eyes, so he added, "But if it's something you, yourself, want to be then I don't mind helping you."

The spark in Joseph's eyes came back.

"However," Kyle said, "It's not about me making you a manly man - whatever that is - but rather, I can help you workout to gain muscle, and confidence."

Kyle remembered how his son pestered his father about going to the gym but the latter always refused. His reasoning was that he wanted his son to focus on studies rather than be a muscle-bound idiot.

"You work out?" Joseph asked, staring at Kyle and trying to see the muscles through those clothes.

Sayuri grinned and took out her phone. She flipped through some photos and then showed the phone to the kids.

"Oh.Em.Gee," gasped Joseph, "Seriously?"

"Yes, that's him at 12 and this," Sayuri said, flipping through the phone more, "Was a few years ago."

She put her hand at the side of her lips and whispered, "And trust me, he hasn't lost it either."

"Just what the heck are you showing them?!" Kyle hissed, taking the phone from her hand.

His eyes went wide open.

It was a picture of him, half-naked, in that promotional poster for John Wick 4. The same picture that Ellen had displayed for the entire nation to see.

Flipping through her phone, was a folder with his pictures on it. A lot of it.

He guessed that the 12-year-old picture she had shown them was of him, completely wet in the fountain during the graduation ceremony.

"Why do you have my pictures in your phone?" Kyle asked Sayuri.

"Hey! That's an invasion of my privacy!!" Sayuri said, pouting, "And why can't I have your pictures in my phone?"

Kyle opened his mouth to say something, then realised something.

For this 'Get the Kids' mission, Sayuri was supposed to be 'more than a friend' but not a girlfriend, so of course, wouldn't such friends have each other's pictures? It was the perfect cover-up to their relationship, to convince his kids.

Kyle was impressed.

When did Sayuri have time to do all of this? Truly, her ninja skills were phenomenal.

"You're right, sorry," Kyle said.