28 Shocking revelation to Marc

Marc struggled to comprehend. "I use a voice changer. I've been playing this game since I was four," he persisted. Kayden's confession about his age left him momentarily stunned. "You started at four and now you're how old?" Marc's surprise was evident. The silence lingered as Marc processed this revelation. Meanwhile, Kayden understood he needed time to wrap his head around the situation but initially didn’t want to disclose his age. Finally, Marc broke the silence, a mix of confusion and curiosity in his tone. "So, you were the same coach all along. But why keep it a secret? We've been at this for nearly a year!" Kayden explained, "I wanted it to be fun. Playing together without you knowing was more exciting." Marc nodded, realizing his intention behind the secrecy. He appreciated the joy it had brought them both, even if it left him momentarily baffled. Realization struck him hard. "Wait, if you were four then when you started and judging by your voice you are around 6-7, I've had a six-year-old as my coach for almost a year!" Puzzled by the situation, Marc questioned Kayden about the voice changer and his parents' allowance for gaming at such a young age. "Where did you even get the voice changer? Shouldn’t you be in school at your age?" Kayden responded calmly, "I'm smart, that's how. Making a voice changer wasn't hard for me. I tested it while playing with you and kept improving it. Didn't you notice any changes in my voice? Moreover, my mom allowed me to play the game knowing fully well it wouldn’t affect my academics." Marc felt a mix of astonishment and admiration for Kayden's ingenuity. Despite feeling slightly deceived, he couldn't help but appreciate the skill and creativity the young boy possessed. He felt like Kayden might be acting a bit too smart, even if he didn't say it out loud. It made him feel uncomfortable, like something wasn't quite right. "I don't think making a voice changer is that easy," He thought, considering how quickly Kayden had made one. He couldn't shake the feeling that Kayden might be underestimating how hard it actually was. They both stayed quiet for a while, and Kayden respected that Marc needed some time to think. When Kayden suggested visiting Marc one of these days, Marc got worried. "I'm not sure, Kayden. Hospitals can be tricky, and you're still a kid. What if something goes wrong?" Kayden tried to confuse him. " I'll be really careful. I just want to make sure you're okay." Marc hesitated, feeling unsure. "I appreciate that, Kayden, but I'm not sure if it's safe." Kayden tried to act like he understood. "Okay, I get it. But if you change your mind, I'll be there for you." As they talked about it, Marc struggled with the idea of letting a kid visit him in the hospital. He was worried about things going wrong and wasn't sure if it was a good idea. Unaware of the potential risks, he disclosed his name. "I'm just in the hospital for a bit. I'll head home after a few days or probably today. By the way, what's your real name? I'm Marc." Kayden, alarmed by Marc's casual revelation, felt a surge of concern. 'Marc's not cautious enough. What if I wasn't who I said I was? There are many bad people out there.' "You should be more careful," Kayden cautioned. "Sharing your name with strangers is risky. Smart people like my brother could use it to find out more about you and trick others." He reflected on his gaming buddy's trust in him. 'What if this is another trick with the voice changer?' As a young child, Kayden understood the importance of safeguarding personal information from strangers. He worried about the potential consequences of Marc's openness and his belief in him, especially if he turned out to be using the voice changer again. Amidst this uncertainty, Kayden urged caution, recognizing the dangers of revealing sensitive details to someone they hadn’t met in person. Marc wasn't thrilled about getting advice from a kid. "Alright, but can you at least tell me your name?" Kayden replied in a gentle tone, "I can't reveal my name just yet, sir. For now, you can think of me as the one who played the game with you. Maybe things will change when we meet face to face." He expressed gratitude, saying, "I had fun playing because of you. Normally, I'm not that interested in many things which was why my mum gave me the permission to play this game at times mostly on holidays." Marc grappled with self-doubt. Being outplayed by a kid in a game made him question himself. He hadn't felt so invested in something for a while, especially due to his gaming skills. It struck him that he hadn't encountered such a clever kid since his own brother. The situation left him pondering and feeling uncertain about his own abilities. Naturally, Axel was widely known as the smartest kid in his family. So, he could take it. However, he was duped by a kid again after all this time. It was just too sad. “Hey, mister Marc. Where were you hurt? Is it a serious injury? I really wish I could visit you?” Kayden just couldn’t shake off his desire to see him. He might be a little direct, but he was sweet. Marc felt a strange tug at his heart. Kid never talked to him with such a sweet voice. “My injuries aren’t that serious. You don’t have to visit me. Just stay at home.” “Oh. My sister and I have been home all day. We’d love to play outside. Can you take us out?” He tried to confuse him again. Marc smiled. “Didn’t you just tell me not to trust people easily? Why are you asking me to take you guys out? Aren’t you worried that I’m a human trafficker who would kidnap and sell you away?” “You can’t sell us away. My sister and I could’ve sold you away instead.” Marc couldn’t bring himself to laugh. ‘Kids these days are just no fun!’ Marc thought. “You shouldn’t say that. Mom’s going to say you have no manners if she finds out!” Kendra said beneath the conversation her brother was having with frown. Although they believed Marc wasn’t exactly smart, there were things you just should not say. “Oh. Okay. I’ll stop, then.” Kendra was pleased that Kayden admitted his wrongdoings. “We have to sleep now, mister. Let’s stop playing.” Kayden’s mannerisms took a turn for the better, with a subtle hint of respect. Marc probably took on too many hits earlier. He cheered up instantly when he heard Kayden’s respectful tone. “Alright. Sure. You should hurry up and rest.” The twins knew more about Marc after they quit the game. He might be a dummy, but he was pretty friendly. Marc was pumped. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt close to him when he heard his voice. He could rival his brother’s sharp tongue, though. None of it mattered. Marc enjoys his chats with him. He was even toying with an idea. ‘Should I meet up with him after I recover? ‘ Though he still doesn’t know his name, he plans to do so when they meet.