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When Ness was ten years old, he was a lively boy, full of energy and vitality. He was beloved by the people in the neighborhood, with his brown curly hair and strands that gleamed in a unique magenta hue. His eyes were a rare color, a blend of deep purple and dark pink.
When his mother became pregnant with her third child, she found herself exhausted, unable to keep up with his fast steps and mischievous behavior. She suggested to her husband that he take Ness with him to the palace, where he worked as a gardener.
On the first day he entered the palace, Ness's eyes widened in awe. The palace was majestic, surrounded by sprawling gardens overflowing with beauty, adorned with vibrant flowers and lush trees that told stories of time. It wasn’t just a workplace, but a magical world that stirred his childish imagination.
Soon, going with his father became a daily habit. He found immense joy in digging and playing among the flowers. He chattered endlessly, telling his father the stories his imagination wove, laughing and singing while digging small holes for flowers.
In the second week, the elderly lady of the palace, Frieda, noticed him. She watched him from her balcony, captivated by his enthusiasm as he hummed childlike tunes while he worked.
One day, she asked his father while sipping tea on the balcony overlooking the garden: "How old is your son, Jairo?"
He replied with a respectful bow: "Ten years old, madam."
She smiled and said, "He's the same age as my grandson."
Her eyes sparkled as she spoke of her grandson, as though the mere mention of him revived her youth.
Jairo placed his straw hat on his chest and said gently, "You must miss him dearly, Madam Frieda."
She nodded sadly, then sighed and said, "Yes... but he'll be back soon."
---
A month had passed since Ness arrived at the palace, and one day, Frieda's daughter-in-law, Bertha, came for a short visit, bringing her son, Kaiser along.
Bertha was a stunning woman, with delicate features, elegant in every detail, her glowing blue eyes and long blonde hair streaked with blue, making her even more unique. She was a famous model, used to the spotlight, but her presence in the palace carried no warmth.
She sat in silence, stirring her spoon in her cup, mixing cream with the hot chocolate without uttering a word. Meanwhile, Frieda smiled fondly at her grandson, Kaiser.
The young boy looked just like his mother, even in his mannerisms.
He stood by the window, watching the garden with focus. His grandmother turned to him and asked: "Are you watching Ness? The gardener's son?"
He nodded quietly before returning to the table.
His grandmother spoke gently: "You can go down and play with him, show him your beautiful ball."
But Bertha interrupted softly, with a hint of disdain: "The boy with the curly hair and his father, the gardener???"
Frieda raised an eyebrow and asked coldly: "What’s wrong with that?"
Bertha sipped her coffee before responding with indifference: "I don't want my son associating with people like them."
The two women exchanged a silent glance, a cold war raging behind their polite words: "People like them?? A man who works as a gardener to support his family and his ten-year-old son???"
Bertha: "I’d rather my son make friends from our society and class..."
At that moment, Kaiser pushed his chair back and left the room, clearly displeased with the entire conversation.
Downstairs, Ness was completely unaware of what was being said about him upstairs. He was engrossed in planting a blue flower, pressing the soil with his small hands in satisfaction.
Suddenly, he felt something hit his head with force. He placed his hand over the spot where it hurt and turned to find a blonde boy glaring at him coldly.
Kaiser spoke in a calm but commanding voice: "Give me the ball."
Ness looked at the ball, then at the boy. After a moment of silence, he stood up and, instead of handing the ball over gently, kicked it hard into his face.
The maid gasped and hurried over to the boy, whose nose was bleeding. In moments, Frieda and his mother were by his side, checking on him with concern.
Jairo rushed in, picking his son up in his arms and taking him to the kitchen. "You’ve caused us trouble now."
But Ness, stubbornly, looked up at him and said: "He threw the ball at me first!"
Jairo wasn’t harsh with his son. He kissed Ness's cheek and patted his head lovingly. He took him to the kitchen and waited there, then watched as the maid entered, asking curiously: "Is he okay?"
The maid nodded and said: "Yes, but he's angry, and his mother is angrier. There was a heated argument between her and Madam Frieda. She threatened to take her son to her sister’s place instead of leaving him at his grandmother's while she went to America for a Hollywood offer."
Ness blinked in childlike shock and asked his father: "Is she going to leave him?"
Jairo looked at his son with tenderness and replied: "Some people do that."
Ness climbed into his father’s arms, wrapping his small arms around his neck, then whispered: "You’re not going to leave me, right?"
Jairo smiled and kissed his head, saying: "Never."
The maid smiled and said: "Madam Frieda refused to punish your son. She said it was just a children’s quarrel and that he is a peaceful child who hasn’t shown violent behavior since he arrived."
Jairo sighed with admiration: "Madam Frieda... truly a golden woman."
---
Ness was watering the roses carefully, holding the watering can that seemed too big for his small body. He was a boy who combined both fullness and slimness. His cheeks were chubby in a cute way, and his lips had been full since childhood, giving his features a touch of childlike innocence.
While watching the water seep into the thirsty soil, he suddenly turned to his right, only to be shocked by the sight of a blonde boy holding a ball in his hands. Ness felt an uneasy tension, searching with his eyes for his father, as if the boy's presence posed an invisible threat to him.
The blonde boy noticed his discomfort and smirked, saying sarcastically: "You look scared."
Ness quickly answered, trying to hide his embarrassment: "I’m not scared... of you."
But in the next moment, before his words were even finished, he felt a strong blow from the ball hitting his head. He lost his balance and fell to the ground, the pain seizing him. His face became covered with dirt, and his eyes filled with tears, but he held himself together and didn’t retaliate. He hesitated to get up, remembering his mother’s warning from a week ago, telling him that any trouble he caused could lead to his father being fired.
kaiser approached him, folding his arms in front of his chest, looking at him with gleaming eyes. After a moment of silence, he said: "Have you ever played soccer before?"
Despite his humiliation, Ness quickly wiped his tears with his sleeve and shook his head.
The blonde boy raised his eyebrows in surprise before saying firmly: "Let me teach you then."
With a confident motion, he turned his back and began walking away, while Ness hesitated for a moment but eventually followed him with cautious steps.
kaiser led Ness to a large field behind the house. The place was completely deserted, which made Ness feel uneasy. He looked around anxiously and then asked: "Why is it empty? This is scary..."
The blonde boy laughed slightly and said proudly: "Because it’s my family’s field. My grandmother had it built specifically for me."
Ness’s eyes widened in amazement, and he couldn’t help but comment: "Amazing... you’re so lucky!"
But the kaiser didn’t seem to care about the compliment, just saying sternly: "Stop talking... let’s start playing."