June 2004

Few days before graduation, the seniors were allowed to make use of the whole school under the supervision of several teachers. Dean, Seth and Roman passed the idea to get their hands on sports and chose to just sit around, chatting about pointless things; wrestling, where to go after graduating high school, etcetera.

From afar, whilst listening his two friends chatting about what happened on WWE Raw show they watched last night, Roman was actually busy watching the boys versus girls soccer game that currently took place. Actually, he was busy staring at the girl assigned as the goalkeeper. At times, he winced at how rough and quick the boys were kicking and heading the ball to score goals in this supposed 'for fun' match, pitying Kaitlyn who was miserably trying her best to shun the ball away from hitting the nets or even rolled over the white line.

"Hey, Ro! Are you even listening to us?", Dean nudged Roman on the shoulder.

It was already a while ago when Dean along with Seth noticed that their buddy was not even interested in their conversation, evident by how bothered and intense he looked while his eyes never left the soccer field. It did not take a scientist to figure out that he was worried about Kaitlyn, who looked like she was playing dodgeball on a national level instead of a school friendly one.

"Uhh... Sorry guys, I was..."

"Basically unable to take your eyes off Kaitlyn? Yeah, we can see that", Seth cut off the flustered Roman.

"I mean, look at her! Don't you guys think they're being too harsh on her, and why is she even being a goalkeeper? Can't she be in another position?", he pointed out, his eyes were squinting in resentment.

The final whistle was blown and Kaitlyn huffed in frustration for causing her team the loss; a 7-3 at that. She hated being a goalkeeper. She was always assigned to the goalkeeper position. To be honest, she would love to be a striker instead of just waiting like a statue at the goal post until opponents decided to show up with a ball at their feet, or head. It was not like she could not run fast. She knew her potential. For quite a build body like her, she could run as fast as the more desirable skinny girls.

"Good job, loser! You can't even do something right with all the excess baggage you brought with you today!", the blonde and blue eyed athletic female captain named Kelly pointed her finger on Kaitlyn's shoulder, deliberately pushing the latter backward. Even Kaitlyn's other teammates standing behind Kelly were giving her disgusted and mocking looks towards her.

"I- I'm sorry. I d-didn't mean to"

Kelly clicked her tongue, got up on Kaitlyn's face and spoke through her gritted teeth, "Go to the locker room this instance or you're gonna pay!"

Kaitlyn knew that either way, she was going to pay the price. This wasn't the first time she was going to get tormented by these girls. From day one, she knew she was never welcomed when joining the soccer club. She wished AJ was here to defend her like always but unfortunately, she was at her writing club's farewell party in some classroom. Knowing this would be her one against all tussle, Kaitlyn reluctantly followed the group, figuring she would take it just one last time as she was going to graduate high school in a few days anyway. She always wanted to run away but she just couldn't bring herself to do so.

She held her head down all the way to the locker room, trailing behind these girls. Not only they were good at sports but they were also smart. They never raised their hands on her. Instead, they used their mouths. The good old verbal takedown where she was told she was nothing but trash and should go kill herself always worked.

They knew how little of a confidence and faith she had on herself and they always picked on her looks and her built body. To them, she never fit their standards and she was only got accepted to the soccer club upon their sports teacher's recommendation. God forbid her to ever join their clique.

Just before Kaitlyn and the cool girl entourage could enter the locker room, she felt a hand slid under hers, fingers interlocked, and pulled her away from the girls.

"Roman?", Kaitlyn muttered quite loud in confusion, making the others turned, only to see her and whoever the boy was quickly fled the scene, but Kelly wouldn't let them especially Kaitlyn go easily.

December 2020

AJ walked in the kitchen to get her a carton of milk to accompany the remaining of her chocolate chip cookies in the living room later when she saw Roman crouching in front of her opened refrigerator, seeming to be rummaging the lower compartment.

"What are you looking for, big guy?"

"Apple. Don't you have apple?", he replied, eyes still searching for now the identified apple.

AJ slapped her forehead, "Oh damn it. Sorry Roman, I was never the one in charge of buying fruits and what not. But I got some cookies and cream ice cream in the freezer if you want some", she negotiated.

Before he could reply, Kaitlyn entered the scene, bringing litter of wrappers and small boxes of what was left of the food they consumed earlier to be dumped in the trash. Realising her presence, he closed the fridge and got up. With the cheesiest smile plastered on his face as he looked at his wife, he announced, "Ah, found it!"

"What? Your apple? But there is no apple!", AJ muttered in puzzlement.

Roman pointed at Kaitlyn, "There, the apple of my eye!", he said while making his way to her, only to passed by her and went back in the living room.

AJ approached Kaitlyn at the door after finally getting her milk, "Wow, I haven't heard something so badly ridiculous yet so corny stuff in a long time. Tell me, how more lame could your husband be, Kait?"

"That's his way of diverting things when he didn't get what he wants, AJ. To avoid the embarrassment, he says", she air quoted the last sentence. It was no longer peculiar for her to see that act from her husband. After all, to her, Roman was still the heroic yet timid guy she knew 16 years ago; he stood up for her in front of the girls who used to torment her but yet couldn't put words out properly when trying to ask her out back then.

"I think him doing that is way more embarrassing", AJ stated before she left with her drink.

"Same page, buddy! Same page!", Kaitlyn shrugged, proceeding to carry out what she walked in the kitchen for in the first place.

Meanwhile, a noticeably tired Seth just went out of Amy's bedroom before AJ, who was just out of the kitchen, stopped him by the arm.

"She's still sleeping?", she asked with concern in her eyes.

He squeezed her hand in assurance while giving her that big known smile, nodding to her question.

"You should get some sleep too. You look like you won't make it to New Year's Eve", she nonchalantly demanded.

A low chuckle escaped from his lips as he made his way back to the bedroom he just got out from, complying with the woman's order.

There. We obviously know Roman is going to end up with Kaitlyn; we'll see the continuation of them in the next chapter. Also, next chapter is full of confessions. From who to whom? Tell me who do you think and what do you expect in the next chapter! Thanks for reading!