Alex woke up early the next morning, He felt eager to start the day and decided to go on a jog. As he stepped outside, a cold breeze brushed against his face, sending a shiver down his spine. He began to run, pushing himself through the chilly air. His breathing increased as he traveled.
As he ran, the rhythm of his feet hitting the pavement matched the hurried beat of his heart. His breath became labored, but Alex pushed on, determined to go a little farther than he ever had before. After about three and a half miles, Alex slowed down and brought his run to a stop. He wiped the sweat from his brow and straightened up, enjoying the view around him.
It was at that moment he spotted a stall set up along a busy roadway. A bright sign read, "Mike and Cindy's Fresh Farm Vegetables." A smile spread across his face as he walked towards the stall, the vibrant colors of freshly picked vegetables catching his eye.
"Good morning!" he called out, his voice cheerful and friendly.
Mike, the man behind the stall, looked up first. "Look, honey! Our first customer of the day!" he exclaimed, his excitement contagious.
Cindy joined him, smiling warmly at Alex. "Good morning! I'm Cindy, and this is my husband, Mike.
"Hi, I'm Alex," he responded, extending his hand for a handshake. Mike shook it firmly, offering a friendly nod.
"Nice to meet you, Alex!" they both said in unison.
Cindy motioned for Alex to come closer as she began showing him the produce they were selling. There were bright red tomatoes, crisp green lettuce, and fresh carrots. Alex took a moment to consider what to buy. He wanted to surprise Harrold and Mia with a nice home-cooked meal later. After selecting a few vegetables, he made his purchase and thanked Mike and Cindy before heading back home.
Once home, Alex put the vegetables away and quickly jumped into the shower. The warm water felt great against his skin as it washed away the sweat from his jog. After changing into fresh clothes, he was ready to head to the gym.
The bus ride to the gym went smoothly. He sat quietly, looking out the window, watching the city pass by. When he arrived in front of the gym, he looked at the entrance. A wave of emotions washed over him. He thought about how if only he had started training sooner, he could have been more prepared. Incidents with Tyler and Logan might have gone differently, and he wouldn't have ended up in the hospital.
Shaking the feelings off, Alex softly said to himself, "No time like the present," and strolled towards the entrance.
As he opened the door, he was greeted by the receptionist, David, who he had met the last time he was there. "Hey, Alex! Welcome back!"
Alex flashed a smile and asked, "Is Sebastian in?"
David smiled and replied, "Yeah, he's in his room, like usual. Always training."
"Thanks!" Alex said, feeling a surge of excitement as he made his way to the back part of the gym where Sebastian was.
As he got closer, he heard the rhythmic sound of punches hitting a practice pad. The sound reminded him of the first time he came here, flooding him with memories. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door.
"Come in!" Sebastian called out, his tone booming.
Alex opened the door and walked in. As soon as Sebastian saw Alex, a big smile broke across his face. "Hey there, champ! How are you feeling?"
Alex rubbed the back of his neck and looked down while saying, "I'm good... really looking forward to training with you again."
Sebastian nodded confidently. "I bet! Listen, I heard what happened to you. I'm sorry you went through that."
"It's okay. I'm doing much better now," Alex replied.
"Good. Well, let's make sure it doesn't happen again. I don't want you looking for trouble, but I do want you to be ready if it comes looking for you. Understand?" Sebastian's tone was serious yet encouraging.
With a smile on his face, Alex replied, "Yeah, I understand."
They began their training, and Sebastian focused on getting Alex comfortable with throwing punches at the heavy bag. He taught him about form and technique, correcting his stance and movement. They laughed and pushed through their session, and as they transitioned to meditation and breathing practices, Alex glanced over at Sebastian.
"Harrold told me about my father," Alex mentioned casually.
"Oh…" Sebastian paused, looking contemplative.
Alex continued, "I'm glad he did. He also told me you knew him."
Sebastian let out a chuckle. "Knew him? Haha! We were like brothers—thick as thieves—until…" He paused, shaking his head with a smile. "I'm glad he talked to you. Your father was a great man, and I'm proud to have known him."
Alex opened his mouth to ask more but stopped himself. He wanted to know what had happened, but he didn't feel it was the right time to pry into old wounds. So instead, he changed the subject. "Hey, I'm planning on cooking for Harrold and Mia tonight. Mia wants to meet you. Would you please join us?".
Sebastian chuckled. "Sure, kid! I'd love to."
"Great! It'll be around 8 o'clock. Is that fine?" Alex asked eagerly.
"Works for me," Sebastian confirmed.
They finished their training session with a few cool-down stretches , both feeling accomplished. As they wrapped up, Alex felt content, grateful for the support and knowledge Sebastian provided.
"See you later, Sebastian!" Alex called out, heading back toward the exit with a renewed sense of purpose.
"See you, champ!" Sebastian replied.
Alex walked out of the gym with a smile on his face, feeling better than he had in a while after the training
Outside, Alex made his way to the bus stop, Training had boosted his spirits, and the thought of cooking for Harrold and Mia filled him with anticipation. Today was a new beginning, and he was ready to embrace whatever came next.