TIMES

"Searching for the meaning of life and one's true calling is impossible and pointless when destiny is involved and always comes up with plans of her own" this saying held true for everyone at least it seemed so.

"Grey work on your core" said Coach Michael, at this point we were all very nicely built with nice muscles and abs but that made no difference to Coach Michael.

"Coach, if I knew the training would only become more intense I would have never agreed to participate in the AGC" said Grey.

"Well too bad for you" mocked Coach Michael with a grin.

"Same here" chimed Enri, "Why are your ideas always so bad Hyla?" asked Enri.

Wiping my sweat, I smiled, "I did not force you guys, you clearly followed my bad example" I said laughing.

"Less talking more working" said Coach Michael as he interrupted us. "I expect much from the three of you so do your best" he said befo0re looking around the gym, "Has any one seen Jeffrey?" he asked.

"No idea." We all said at the same time.

"I don't understand how I ended up with such a carefree person who always disappears" said Coach Michael, "This is all your fault Hyla" he said.

"How?" I asked.

Not saying anything Coach Michael walks out in search of Jeffrey. Since Jeffrey joined, every day Coach Michael is always searching for him because he hides away from exercising so much that it had even become the talk of the building. Yesterday alone, coach Michael chased Jeffrey all over the building it was so funny all the other coaches had a good laugh at his expense but that still did not affect Jeffrey at all when he talked to the ladies he was even more shameless than Grey.

…

"What do I do about this boy?" wondered Coach Michael as he searched the building.

Coach Michael slowly searched the building as he got lost in old memories.

"What are you doing Clinton?" asked Coach Michael as he entered the gym.

"Nothing" replied the young man called Clinton with his hands behind his back as if hiding something.

This was Clinton Coach Michael's first student who he treated as his second family. Clinton had been with Coach Michael since he was thirteen and two were like father and son, Clinton was an orphaned boy who used to leave on the streets and was taken by Coach Michael when he first started his own small gym. The Clinton right now was twenty-three, the two has been together for almost ten years, before he started to train under the guidance of Coach Michael and became a star in the world of athletes. The two who became stars, Coach Michael as a brilliant Coach with out of the world training regimens which pushed athletes to the point of breaking and Clinton as the athlete with the most potential since he made his debut in the world of athletics.

All of that was at least until today, Coach Michaels birthday. The one day of the year he now hates the most.

"What are you hiding behind you?" asked Coach Michael with a smile.

"Nothing" said Clinton with a huge smile on his face, "Don't ask me it's a surprise" said Clinton as he took huge strides to leave the room.

"You know I don't like surprises" said Coach Michael as he left.

"You'll like this one" in his gruff voice said Clinton laughing.

"ok"

…

"I bought the building" said Clinton suddenly.

"When? How?" asked Coach Michael.

"It's from the money I was paid for being the brand ambassador of the new sporting brand clothes" said Clinton with wide smile.

"That's my boy" praised Coach Michael.

"We have to travel in two months in preparation for the AGC once more" said Clinton, "but how do you like the present?" he asked with a weird boyish grin on his face which was way out of place if someone was to look at his bulging biceps.

"This is awesome" simply replied Michael as he laughed. "There's no need to think about the AGC, now we should celebrate" he said.

"Fantastic idea" Clinton said as he walked behind Michael with a smile on his face but if someone was to look well they would notice a bit of sadness and weariness in his eyes.

The both of them went about talking and chatting loudly as they celebrated, Michael was completely lost in having fun, the whole night was filled with loud voices and cheerful banter as they partied.

"Clinton, have you spoken to Coach Michael" asked the doctor.

"I've not exactly found the right opportunity to talk to him yet" said Clinton with a downcast expression as he looked at the doctor.

"There's no right time dear boy, it would be best if you found a way to tell him and make it quick because it does not look like you have a lot of time" said the doctor sternly.

"I will doc" Clinton replied as he left the office.

Three months ago, Clinton found out that he had tumor in his brain and it was far too progressed by the time it was discovered and there was practically zero chance of the surgery being successful and was advised by the doctors to cherish the time he left.

His life now being cut short so suddenly he found it hard to tell Michael about it and continued to act as if everything was normal. Normally Michael always accompanies him for his checkup but something came up last minute and he had to leave for another city leaving Clinton to go for the checkup this time which led to Clinton finding out about it all alone.

"Michael, can we talk?" asked Clinton as he entered the house.

"Sure, what's the problem?" asked Michael as he went through the profile of the people who registered at his gym without raising his head.

"I'm sick" said Clinton suddenly as if he was afraid he was going to lie again.

"What?" asked Michael as he put down the files in his hands asking, "is it a cold or something?" asked Michael.

"it's a tumor" he replied with his head staring at the floor.

"What? how is that possible?" asked Michael surprised and shocked.

"it's in my brain, I found out three months ago, remember when you suddenly had to leave to talk with the Coach of the Basketball national team when we were at the hospital, that's when I found out" said Clinton in a low voice, at this point one could tell how weary and sad he was by just hearing him speak.

"Why didn't you tell me anything?" asked Michael, he knew that being angry would not solve the problem. "It does not matter we can get it treated, so don't worry" said Michael optimistically.

"No" said Clinton.

"Don't tell me you don't want to get treated Clinton" said Michael sternly.

"it's not that, it can't be treated because it has progressed to far and I found out about it too late" said Clinton with tears in his eyes.

"How was it even possible for us to find out about it late?" wondered Michael as he began to go over everything again to see if there was anything he had missed but no matter how many times he went over things he never found anything that indicated such a thing, it was as if it appeared from thin air.

"it was because of the chronic headaches I had been having the week before the checkup that prompted me to take the necessary tests" said Clinton.

Michael just stood there with his mind completely blank as he did not even know where to start as he found himself lost in thought.

"No, don't worry we'll figure something out" said Michael as he tried to reassure himself as he was finding it hard to accept the truth.

"There's nothing we can do about it" said Clinton, "I've already consulted a number of doctors who specialize in the field" he said sounding listless.

"No, we'll make consultations with people in the Europe" said Michael unwilling to give up.

"Michael, there's nothing you can do and it's not your fault" Clinton said as he tried to console Michael. The two who had lived together for almost ten years were as close as brothers and he knew it would be harder for Michael to accept the truth.

"What do we do?" asked Michael shaking.

"Nothing, I've got only about two months left and I won't be able to participate in the AGC this time" he said laughing. The man who dominated the AGC three years ago was now standing at a crossroad leading the same way.

The both of them just ended up looking at each other but even in that silence one could tell that they were both communicating.

Two months later the news of Clintons death was all over the tv stations but Michael never explained anything regarding the athlete's death and just like that Coach Michael began to distance himself from the rest of the people around him, it took him a year before he slowly started mingling with society again, he left the gym in the hands of his employees.

…

"Blue, have you been able to deduce when we should be expecting another attack?" asked Hyla.

"Not yet but it should not be soon" said Blue, "He should try to gather more information first before making another attempt" he said after thinking.

"hopefully that should provide us enough time to make a plan" said Hyla as he adjusted his bag on his back as he bent down to tie his shoe laces.

Boom!

Hyla's mind was hit with a sudden boom like that of a subtle booming sound as he almost fell over as his senses were jumbled up.

"Hyla run" screamed Blue.

"What?" asked Hyla who found it hard to regain his balance before he was hit by another boom.

"Move, he's near" screamed Blue with worry rooted deep in his voice as he warned Hyla.