Jake's face broke into a wide smile as he looked at Leon. "You know, son, I think it's time for me to come out of retirement as your agent," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "I'll start making some calls, see if I can get you some tryouts with some top teams."
Leon grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "It's an honor to have the great Jake Blake coming out of retirement to be my agent once more," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Jake chuckled, and the two of them burst out laughing. "Hey, watch it, kiddo," Jake said, playfully ruffling Leon's hair.
Thapelo looked at Leon with wide eyes, her face alight with excitement. "Does this mean you're going to be a famous footballer, Leon?" she asked, her voice full of wonder.
Leon grinned, his eyes shining with confidence. "Yeah, I will be," he said, his voice full of conviction. "And when I am, I'll take you to Disneyland and buy you all the Barbie dolls you need."
Thapelo squealed with delight, bouncing up and down in her seat. "Yay, Leon! I'm going to be the sister of a famous footballer!" she exclaimed, her face beaming with pride.
Mmathapelo smiled, watching her family with a warm heart. She knew that this was just the beginning of a new journey for Leon, and she was excited to see where it would take him. Her expression turned serious as she looked at Leon, her eyes shining with a mix of relief and pride. "Leon, I'm just proud to see you finally back up and not a depressed mass anymore," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "I was scared, sweetie. I was scared you might do something stupid like you cousin Johnny and...and take your own life." She says with her eyes start watering.
Leon's face remained calm, but inside, he felt a slight pang of guilt. He thought to himself that she wasn't wrong. The real Leon had been in a dark place, and he had indeed taken steps towards ending his life. But he wasn't the real Leon. He was just a soul that had somehow possessed Leon's body, given a second chance to live life anew.
Leon pushed the thoughts aside, not wanting to dwell on the complexities of his situation. Instead, he smiled at his mother, trying to reassure her. "I'm okay, Mom," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "I'm going to be okay."
Mmathepelo nodded, her eyes still shining with tears. "I know you will be, sweetie," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You just need to take care of yourself, okay?"
~~
A week had passed since Leon's conversation with his family, and he had been diligently working on his fitness, doing morning runs to boost his stamina and agility. Meanwhile, Jake had been busy trying to secure tryouts for Leon with various clubs, but so far, none of them were interested. As Jake sat in his office, staring at the phone in frustration, he couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. Every club he had contacted had rejected Leon, citing the severity of his injury and the doubts about his ability to recover fully.
"Not even worth considering," one agent had said. "He's a risk, Jake. A talented player, yes, but the injury is too severe. He'll never be the same player again."
Jake sighed, rubbing his temples. He knew that Leon's file didn't paint a promising picture. The injury had been severe, and many doubted that he could ever regain his former level of performance. Just then, Leon walked into the room, his face glistening with sweat after a morning run. "Any luck, Dad?" he asked, his eyes hopeful.
Jake shook his head, trying to hide his disappointment. "Not yet, son. But I'll keep trying. We'll find a way, okay?"
"Okay," Leon said, nodding before turning to head out for his evening run. As he left, Mmathepelo walked into the room, a concerned expression on her face. "Any luck, Jake?" she asked, her voice soft.
Jake shook his head, his frustration evident. "No, nothing yet," he replied, his tone short.
Mmathepelo's eyes locked onto Jake's, her gaze piercing. "Maybe you should call Mike?" she suggested, her voice gentle but firm.
Jake's expression darkened, and he shook his head. "No way. I don't want to see that bastard," he said, his tone cold.
Mmathapelo's eyes softened, but her voice remained resolute. "I know there's still bad blood between you two, but this is bigger than your petty feud. Leon is finally back to his old self, and I don't want to see him in a dark place again. You need to put aside your differences and do what's right for your son, Jake."
Jake looked up at her, his eyes searching for a moment before he finally nodded. Mmathe
apelo smiled and leaned to kiss him on the cheek. "I'll go cook dinner. You take care of this, okay?"
As she left the room, Jake sat alone, staring at the phone for a couple of minutes before finally picking it up and dialing a number. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the call ahead. "Time to put aside the past," he muttered to himself.
After a few rings, Mike answered, his voice filled with surprise. "Jake, is that really you?" he asked, a hint of shock evident in his tone.
Jake took a deep breath, his mind racing with the conversation ahead. "Yeah, it's me," he replied, his voice firm. "We need to talk. When are you free?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Jake wondered if Mike had hung up. But then Mike spoke up, his voice cautious. "I'm free now, actually. What's this about, Jake?"
Jake hesitated, unsure of how to broach the subject. "It's about Leon," he said finally. "I need your help with something."
Mike's tone changed, becoming more interested. "What kind of help?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
Jake took another deep breath, preparing himself for the conversation ahead. "Let's talk in person," he said. "Can we meet somewhere?"
Mike agreed, and they arranged to meet at a local café. Jake hung up the phone, feeling a sense of trepidation. He knew that this conversation wouldn't be easy, but he was willing to do whatever it took to help his son.
~~
About Twenty minutes after the agreed meeting time ticked by, and Jake was about to leave when Mike finally walked into the café. Mike's face broke into a wide smile as he spotted Jake, and he strode over to the table. "Hey, Jake! Sorry I'm late, traffic was a nightmare," he said, his tone friendly.
Jake's expression, however, was less than welcoming. He raised an eyebrow, his irritation evident. "You're late," he said, his voice curt. "I've been waiting for 20 minutes."
Mike's smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Sorry, man. Like I said, traffic was bad. Can I get a coffee?" he asked, signaling the barista.
Jake nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Mike order his coffee. The tension between them was palpable, and Jake couldn't help but wonder if this meeting was a mistake. Mike tried to catch up with Jake, asking about his family and life, but Jake wasn't having it. He cut straight to the point, his voice firm. "Mike, I'm not here for small talk. I'm here for my son, like I said on the phone."
Mike's expression turned serious, his curiosity piqued. "Geez, Okay, what's going on with Leon? Is something wrong with him?" he asked, concern etched on his face.
Jake leaned forward, his eyes locked on Mike's. "No, he's better...a lot better," he said, a hint of determination in his voice. "He wants to play soccer again."
Mike's eyes widened in shock, his jaw dropping slightly. He looked like he'd been punched in the gut, his reaction a mix of surprise and skepticism. Given Leon's past struggles with injury, Mike had doubts about his ability to return to the sport. The tension between them dissipated slightly, replaced by a sense of urgency. Mike's expression turned thoughtful, his mind racing with possibilities. "Okay, let's talk about this," he said, his voice measured. "What makes you think he's ready to play soccer again after that injury?"
Jake's eyes sparkled with conviction as he spoke. "I saw it with my own eyes, Mike. Leon is back to his old self...no, somehow he's even better than before." He paused, his expression serious. "I've seen him play, and it's like he's been reborn."
Mike's skepticism was evident on his face, but he knew Jake wasn't a liar. He raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with doubt. "It's impossible, Jake. Leon's injury was too severe. There's no way he's recovered that quickly." However, Mike's curiosity was piqued, and he leaned forward, his eyes locked on Jake's. "I'll tell you what, Jake. I'll come by in two days to see it for myself. If Leon impresses me, I'll pull every string I can to find him a good team."
Mike's tone was firm, but there was a hint of hope in his voice. Maybe, just maybe, Leon was back, and he was ready to take on the world again. Jake nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I'll make sure he's ready," he said, his voice filled with determination.
Jake stood up, his movements swift and decisive. "I'll see you in two days, Mike," he said, his voice firm.
Mike looked up at him, a hint of surprise on his face. "I just got here, Jake. Why don't we catch up a bit?" he suggested, his tone friendly.
But Jake shook his head, his expression unyielding. "No need, Mike. I'll see you in two days. Make sure you're prepared to be impressed," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. With that, Jake turned and walked out of the café, leaving Mike to wonder what had changed about his old friend. Mike watched him go, a mixture of curiosity and skepticism on his face.