Chapter 5: Kael's Gaze Locked on Me

"Seraph, are you okay?" Evelyn's voice came from behind my bedroom door, laced with concern. It was past nine in the evening, and she just returned from her club activities.

"I'm feeling much better," I said, opening the door and offering Evelyn a calm smile. Sleeping had indeed helped soothe my emotions.

"By the way, my friends from the club gave me two invitations to a match at the Eagle Club. Let’s go together," Evelyn said, patting my shoulder before pulling the invitations from her bag. "It’s a match between Kael and Daniel. Daniel is from another club in town and is pretty strong too."

A match with Kael! That was something I did not expect of Evelyn! Only God knows how difficult it was to buy these tickets if you just think about how popular Kael was!

Suddenly, I thought back to last night...

Kael’s broad, muscular chest, the intense scent of his cologne, and his scorching body heat were all etched deeply into my mind. My heart began to race, and that strange ringing in my ears returned, though not as severe as when I had seen him earlier that day. Still, it left me uneasy.

What was wrong with me? Was I really falling for Kael?

No, we were just a one-night thing. Why would I just keep thinking about these things?

I decided to relax. I needed to expose myself to new experiences. And I had no reason to refuse Evelyn. I looked at the black invitation in my hand and hugged her. "Thank you, Evelyn. I really need this."

The next evening, we arrived at the Eagle Club’s arena. It was my first time there. Even when I was dating Lucian, I had never been. He had always said he was worried about my identity being exposed, afraid I couldn’t handle the attention. Now, I realized that was just his way of manipulating me.

The arena wasn’t large. It was circular, with seating for about two hundred people surrounding a square ring enclosed by black ropes. The overhead lights shone directly on the ring, highlighting the fighters’ movements. The place was buzzing with noise, and Evelyn and I struggled to find our seats—in the farthest corner of the audience.

As soon as we sat down, I felt someone’s gaze on me. Following it, I saw Kael. His deep brown eyes were fixed on me. Kael was about to fight, so he wore only a loose black robe that revealed his muscular chest and the golden hair that covered it. He was like a walking hormone magnet, drawing the eyes of every girl in the room. But now, his gaze was locked on me.

My heart tightened as if someone had gripped it. Was he really looking at me? Could he recognize me? His gaze was so intense, making me feel like his prey. But that couldn’t be. We were in the darkest, most crowded corner of the arena. From the ring, we must have looked like a sea of ants. If he could spot me, didn’t that mean he was extraordinary?

The ringing in my ears returned, and my heart raced again. This strange feeling was back! I stared at him, and he stared back, but soon, Kael was called away by his friends.

Evelyn leaned closer. "Seraph, was Kael just looking at us?"

I quickly shook my head. "No way. We’re in the farthest corner. How could he see us?" Even someone with the best eyesight couldn’t pick me out from two hundred people. Besides, I was so ordinary. I wore a blue shirt, black jeans, and black-framed glasses—a simple, plain outfit that stood in stark contrast to the other girls, who had dressed up for the match.

Vivienne, for example, wore a pink crop top, a miniskirt, and had her hair styled in loose waves. Her figure was stunning, with a well-endowed chest. The moment she entered, all the boys’ eyes were on her. Her three friends were similarly dressed, exuding a fiery, bold style.

Vivienne walked straight to Kael.

Kael was talking to her! And Vivienne even tried to wrap her arm around his waist, but he pushed her away. Still, their closeness made my eyes sting.

The match began. Kael removed his robe, revealing his chiseled upper body and black boxing shorts. His muscles were incredibly defined—his arms, chest, abdomen, and even his legs were powerful and solid. He was like a mountain, his muscles radiating a primal, irresistible charm. It reminded me of last night’s passion, when his powerful body had pinned me down, completely conquering me.

The thought made my body heat up. The girls around us screamed and cheered for him. Kael was the Eagle Club’s top fighter, and his opponent, Daniel, was the best from another club. I rarely watched boxing, only catching glimpses on TV. I had expected it to be brutal, but watching it live, I found it surprisingly captivating.

Daniel was a massive, muscular man, his arms bulging like they carried boulders.

When the referee signaled the start, Daniel struck first with a jab, but Kael didn’t falter. He dodged, defended, and countered with precision and strength. While Daniel fought with raw speed and power, Kael remained calm and composed, methodically dismantling his opponent’s attacks.

Soon, my initial nervousness faded. Kael’s confidence was overwhelming, as if the match were just a game to him—and he was in complete control. Despite his size, Kael was remarkably quick, his reflexes sharper than Daniel’s. It was astonishing.

"See that, Seraph? That’s one of Kael’s signature moves. It’s not your typical bob-and-weave. He dodges attacks effortlessly, finds his opponent’s rhythm, and then strikes with a knockout punch!" Evelyn said excitedly.

As if on cue, Kael landed a side punch, swiftly shifting his head to avoid Daniel’s counter. He followed up with a powerful backhand. Each strike seemed effortless, yet it left Daniel staggering. The once-arrogant giant was now on the defensive, retreating to the ropes. Kael didn’t let up, delivering a rapid series of punches, each one landing precisely on target. By the end of the first round, Kael had secured a dominant 10-7 victory.

The crowd erupted in cheers. Amateur matches usually had five rounds, each lasting three minutes, but since Kael and Daniel were the top fighters of their respective clubs, their match was extended to ten rounds.

After a one-minute break, the second round began. Daniel was more cautious this time, throwing a quick jab before retreating into a defensive stance. Kael, however, changed his approach. Instead of waiting, he pressed forward aggressively. He used a combination of forward jabs and right hooks, forcing Daniel into a defensive position. Daniel tried to counter, but Kael dodged every attempt.

It was clear to everyone that Kael was gaining momentum, while Daniel was losing his edge. Unsurprisingly, Kael won the second round.

By the fifth round, Kael seemed to lose patience. He seized an opportunity, delivering a powerful hook to Daniel’s jaw. Daniel collapsed to the ground. Just sixteen seconds into the round, Kael had won by technical knockout. Daniel couldn’t continue, and the victory belonged to Kael.

The crowd rose to their feet, cheering wildly. Evelyn and I joined in, unable to contain our excitement. Kael was surrounded by his teammates, and Vivienne was the first to rush over, throwing her arms around him. She pressed her voluptuous body against his, and Kael didn’t push her away.

Watching them, I felt a sharp pain in my chest, as if I couldn’t breathe. Why did seeing them together hurt so much?

At that moment, Kael looked up at me again. His eyes held a hint of joy, as if he wanted to share this victory with me. I felt a jolt, like an electric shock, and quickly turned away. In that instant, a wave of bitterness washed over me. But reason told me Kael couldn’t have seen me. It must have been my imagination.