Chapter 4

Coach Her fatigue seemed to fade into the background and the exhaustion from school disappeared after receiving the call from the caller ‘coach'. She stared fondly at her phone and smiled, remaining motionless for a moment, before finally snapping back to reality. She placed her phone back into her pocket and ran, charging straight ahead to her new destination, and it wasn't home. She continued running steadily, not stopping even once, as she turned when she reached an intersection, twisting her body to adjust to the change in momentum and balance as she continued to race. As she rushed past the block, dashing past the few people she came across, she didn't falter even once. She was used to this already and even without thinking her body moved on reflex. None of her classmates or even members of her school could see her like this. All sweaty and energetic, yet not slowing down. A different version of herself from what she showed in school. No one attending her school knew of this. It was only her mom as well as a few teachers in school who were aware. None from Orion High passed this route, after all, it was the opposite of the residential area they were all from. Yes, where she was headed was not her house, but… In a way, it could be said to be her second home. She was getting close, just a right turn at the corner and she would arrive. She took the turn, balancing her legs so she wouldn't lose her footing, and slowed down so she would stop directly in front of the place. The building wasn't so fancy, having two floors, the ground one and the first floor above it. The paint used on its exterior was already getting bleached, but that didn't bother Roxanne. She was never one to judge a book by its cover anyway. The metal door was closed, with the [Open] sign written boldly on a board attached to it. She stared at the wide board at the top of the building, reading out the words written. 'PASSION OF LIFE GYM" She said, feeling cringe because of the name. In the three years she had been attending the gym, she still couldn't get used to the name or say it without cringing. However, she had no choice. To enter the gym, it was an unchanging rule for Regulars to always say the name of the gym before proceeding inside. Fortunately, no one she knew was around to see her say such an embarrassing name. She huffed slightly, taking deep breaths and calming herself a bit before finally proceeding into the building. 'I'm in…" She said as she entered the building. If what a person expected when he entered the gym was a bunch of sweaty men, dirty towels, and a bunch of weight sets lying around, then that person couldn't be more wrong. The ground floor was filled with nothing but the standard gym equipment and a few people doing their regular exercises. She smiled at the new faces she saw for that day. One man in particular tried so desperately on the treadmill, moving his huge body desperately as he tried to push past his limits. She shook her head slightly. Having such energy was fine by her, but she was familiar like him. They burn their energy on the first day, and they would never enter a gym until after some time. Some would give up entirely. 'He's only giving it his all now because something must have happened to him? Did he get insulted due to his weight or something?" She asked herself. Well it was none of her business. She turned away and walked toward the Receptionist, who looked her way and gave her a smile since she recognized her. 'Is the coach around?" Roxanne asked the woman. 'Yeah. He's upstairs, doing the usual." She answered. 'Thanks Mary." She said, quickly making her way to the stairs and climbed them in a jiffy. She entered the room on the first floor where she was guaranteed to meet her coach, her personal fitness trainer… Her mentor. Her eyes went around the room as she entered. Unlike the one downstairs, this place was only exclusive to Regulars such as herself. A place not for the usual gym exercises and routines. No, this was different. The entire room was empty, with only soft cushions on the floor as rugs. Fewer people were in the room compared to the ground floor, and they all seemed to be busy with their businesses. Some moved in acrobatic fashions, some did his regular pushup, only this time with a heavy weight attached to his neck and another on his back. Then there was this one who seemed to be meditating, staying transfixed in a single position, refusing to move an inch from where he stood… Upside down. 'Oh, you're here Roxanne. Did you say the name before entering?" A voice came from behind her. She smiled as she heard his voice, one she would recognize anywhere. It was her coach. She turned back and saw him with a towel around his neck, with some gear he carried on his hand, and a wide smile plastered on his face. 'Hey coach. Yeah, I did. Really wish you'd stop making me do that." She said with a soft laugh as she shook her head. 'Never! Not until you realise the profoundness and beauty of it" He said with a wide grin. 'So… Never then?" She replied dryly, raising one of her eyebrows. 'Yep. Never" He smiled. Her coach was a man in his early forties. He had sand brown hair and a spectacular muscular build. He looked surprisingly youthful compared to his actual age. An exercise gourmet, but not one so needlessly and overly obsessive with it. Though Roxanne had to admit, sometimes his passion was a little over the top. Roxanne remembered when she first arrived at the gym. She had just recently moved into town and felt bored just staying home after school. With nothing to do, and a lot to think about, she needed something to distract her from the thoughts which weighed her down. After school one day, she decided to pass a different route home, trying to waste as much of her time as possible. She went through unfamiliar streets and somehow ended up at the ‘PASSION OF LIFE GYM'. Roxanne could still remember how she initially found the name absurd and walked past it, but then came back and stared hard at the name, before finally deciding to give it a try. Something most people didn't know about Roxanne was that she wasn't just your average high school girl, who was interested in boys and makeup. Ever since she was young, she had a never ending passion for one particular thing… Sports! Growing up, her father trained her in various kinds of sports and was in charge of her exercise and daily routine. Even from childhood, she possessed freakish stamina and strength which seemed to even amaze her parents. She trained everyday and honed her skills thanks to her father. However, when he died four years ago, she stopped training and doing exercise altogether. The effects didn't really show on her body since she still had a healthy lifestyle, but the more time passed, the more she itched for the stimulation that only sports give. Nearly a year after her father died, she came across the gym she currently used. Her initial goal when she saw the gym was just to go in and just do a few rounds, but… She ended up doing more than that. Roxanne would have just finished her set and gone home for the day, not even nearing the place again, but she ended up being a regular instead. And it was all thanks to the man standing in front of her. 'You arrived earlier than expected, I'm not done setting up yet" He said to her. 'What can I say? I guess I got a bit excited" She smiled widely. Coach was a man she highly respected and loved, as close to a father to her as anyone can get. After observing her do some sets in the gym, he approached her and talked with her. Of course, she was cautious around him initially, but some time after they started talking, she really felt a strong connection with him. Perhaps in a way, he reminded her of her father, who used to personally train her before he passed away. She left the gym that day with a smile on her face. The next day, before she knew what was going on, she found herself there again, and the day after that, then the one after that day… Until she became a regular. 'Go get changed first" Coach said to her. 'After that you'll be helping me set these up, then we can start" He told her, referring to some tools he kept on the ground and more of them at the corner by the wall. 'Aye aye. Let's do this!" She said, removing her sweater as she walked toward the changing room.