(Part 5)

Ezekiel gulped stepping back.

"Why in the world are you here?!" a woman yelped exasperated. Beside her two 8-9 year old young girls and a 6 year old young boy stood behind a middle aged man.

Jolting in fear, the bouquet in Ezekiel's hands fell. He again stepped back. "I…!" he stuttered looking sideways however, the woman yelped again, "I asked why in the world are you here?! Can't you hear me?!"

His heart beating fast, Ezekiel stuttered, his hands trembling, "I- ca…me…" he spoke however, the woman turned around to face the man, "Take him out… throw him out! I don't want to see his face! Why the hell is he here?! This son of a devil! What is he doing before my son?! He's a murderer! I'll kill him if I see him a second longer here!!"

"Mother…" the little boy grabbed her clothes trying to calm her down which was the least possible solution in her current state.

The man looked up at Ezekiel helpless, "Leave… Ezekiel." he simply said.

 Ezekiel wide eyed, took his hand to collar bone which trembled lightly walking away. "I was all because of him… my child, my dear Eisen… is in this state just because of him and here he is just leaving! From five years! He is like this from five years!!" she glared at Ezekiel crying and trembling.

Ezekiel clutched his fists. Suddenly his phone rang. Taking his phone out and reading the name, he switched it to silent. "I'm…" he spoke however, the woman pushing the man aside, stepped forward slapping Ezekiel's face harshly, "Just leave!!"

His phone falling starkly answered the call. Ezekiel stunned looked at the ground baffled.

"Aleena!" the man grabbed her as the young boy looked at Ezekiel nervous as the girls started crying.

"Leave me! I'll throw him out! Now he has the audacity to talk back to me?! This daredevil!!" she shouted struggling out of his grasp.

Taking the chance she pushed Ezekiel back, "Go away!"

"Ghk!" he winced painfully after getting hit by the wall's corner.

Soon nurses and staff surrounded them. Helios who had called and was listening to the entire conversation stood up bewildered.

"What's wrong Helios?" Poseidon asked nervously.

Hanging his phone he whispered, "Ezekiel is in trouble."

Poseidon wide eyed stood up pulling his drip.

"Don't!" Helios warned turning it off and gently taking it out of the cannula. Poseidon rubbing his hand took his gear bag rushing out after Helios.

Up to their surprise Layla called baffled from behind, "Poseidon?! Helios?!"

Helios turned around, "Mother…" "It's Ezekiel, we have to go!" he told.

Karin clutching her shirt confused looked at Layla.

Layla tracing their apprehensive expressions replied, "Go."

Helios and Poseidon smiling at Layla and Karin nodded at each other rushing out of the hospital.

_____

"And he doesn't even sign his new contracts. Moreover, he always dozes off in between meetings. Laze's around day and night. Always tries to evade paper work…" and on and on Little Bubble went with Raees's complains.

Rauf twitching his brow looked at Raees upset and wordless at the same time.

"Oh come on~! How could you say that Bubble?!" Raees asked innocently and offended at the same time, "How mean of you!"

Excuse me?" Bubble narrowed her gaze, "I am mean? What had you thought about yourself than boss? To think you'll shift all the blame on me and brother Aram who are working day and night, I am speechless on this behavior of yours." she scolded.

Raees puffing his checks glanced at Rauf who didn't talk to him looking away while Aram scratched his temple smiling awkwardly. The four of them taking a scroll around the gardens. Alan seated inside the pavilion could trace their figures from far.

"What is it? Little Alain ?" grandma called.

Alan looked aside smiling, "Nothing grandma…"

"How can it be nothing? You are continuously lost in thoughts. You have lost weight too while you are continuously frowning silent beside me." Grandma noticed.

"Is that so…?" Alan asked, her shoulders dropping and expression turning serene.

"Now tell me, what's troubling you?" Grandma asked grasping her hands tight and caressing them lightly, "I'll listen to it all. So just speak and let go of all your burdens."

"Even if I don't tell her anything she already knows…" Alan thought furrowing her gaze, "After losing my senses and skills, I went to America and searched long and hard for that person. I was broken, afraid and aimless, I just wanted to find him no matter what." she told, "I searched day and night. Left and right, in places which weren't even named, only to return back empty handed at the end. I carried on this senseless search for two years straight even I am surprised of myself. Despite that, in the meantime, I regained my strength, went over my fears and stood back up on my feet again."

"Later on, Rauf called and I came back. I made new friends and I even became a senior. For a moment I thought everything was fine. Things should stay just like how they are. But as soon as Haris and his squad returned after the Asia cup, I saw Liam who had lost his sight. No one knows, how or why? I constantly fear…" Alan instantly looked at her, "You know grandma, I could be wrong too and it could all be useless assumptions as well. But, I am scattered. My identity is one thing. But to find about who I am and where I came from ? To correct all mistakes I once made in my past. To get back what I once lost and to set everything back on the right track along with stepping outside before the world amid that… it sometimes scares me."

"What if things go wrong again? What if those people whom I deeply care for turn their backs on me after knowing everything? Or what if they are unconsciously getting hurt, just because they are acquainted to me? And… what if I am left…" Her hands trembled with her voice fading. Alan smiled fearfully, "I don't know anything anymore. My whole mind is a mess… to think even a platinum ranker's hands would tremble like this. Can you believe it?"

Grandma hearing her stared wide eyed. Her slender white hands shivering over Grandma's wrinkled ones, Alan looked down, her expression hidden. The rabbit which had long hidden himself inside her hairs peeked, hopping out. Grandma smiled, "That's it?" she asked calmly.

Alan sat silent. Grandma raising her hand pushed Alan's chin up, "Just tell me one thing…" she made her face her, "What's the prayer of fear?" 

Alan's expression bleak, he whispered, "I seek refuge with the perfect words of God from his anger and from the evil of his slaves and from the whisperings of the devils and I seek refuge with you, Lord, from their coming to me."

"That's it." Grandma said, "Fear is a part of human, Alain. Let it be over you to protect you from crossing the right path. However, don't let it consume you. Don't think too much about the future and just go on with the flow of present. Who knows, what you have ahead? So why assume needlessly and frighten yourself?"

"The things you want and you yearn for, you'll surely get it my child. However, not right now. Just think of it as a future gift. You'll only get it on your next birthday. To think about what to do next from now is what you should think about. As for fear, the one who created you is right beside you, what's there to fear about?" she assured lovingly.

Alan realized. "She's right… who am I to think, when the one thinking for me is sitting up in the clouds." he thought smiling. Her trembling hands clutched tightly into a fist she glanced at the rabbit, "I have to become stronger. I have to make sure we win the PSL and move on to the world cup. I have to push Rauf and everyone else onward. What's there to be afraid of?" she continued to think. "Thank you grandma." she thanked. 

Grandma shook her head, "There's no need to thank me. Did you forget you would come here several times before? Sometimes complaining about your father or Rauf and the moment the highschoolers discovered your secret and the time you lost your senses for the first time. I was right here doing the exact same thing back then too." she recalled rubbing the rabbit's fur.

"Yes, I remember…" Alan replied, "You supported me the most, Grandma."

"Alain, we are all beside you so don't be afraid. You have gone through this much all by yourself. Standing strong a little longer won't be futile. As for your identity, if the ones who come know and still accept you after that, they wouldn't be your friends then. At that moment, they would turn into magical charms which you have to protect no matter what. Just like Kazuna and the rest." Grandma told. 

Alan surprised wondered, "Magical charms…" "I wonder how they'll turn out be, my cute little juniors. For that I'll just have to wait. Be it aggressive, apprehensive or meek. I won't mind at all." she glanced at Rauf who stood with his father and others, "From this moment on, I would never doubt myself or falter. I am Alan Rex Lorenzo, an asset resting in the shadows. After all, we have a whole world to conquer." she thought confident.

"Such a nice tiny rabbit he is, Alain. Where did you find him?" Grandma asked affectionately playing with him. Alan tracing his sight chortled, "He followed me leaving his home. This little runaway and he isn't even scared."

Grandma enjoying nodded. "And make sure to watch the PSL too. For we'll rock the earth!" Alan beamed.

Grandma nodded raising her head up strongly, "I'll come to the stadium and watch. You don't have to worry about that." she assured.

"Pft! Haha!" Alan laughed over her comment astonished and amused.