The gentle hum of a V12 Vantage Aston Martin accompanied the sleek and swift drive down to the underground parking lot. The car came to a smooth halt upon reaching the designated VIP space. The engine was switched off, and moments later, the driver's door swung open, revealing a pair of black Nike sneakers stepping onto the ground.

A tall figure emerged from the vehicle, standing at an impressive six feet. With a nonchalant gesture, he closed the door behind him and walked leisurely towards the elevator, his steps deliberate and composed.

Adorning a bucket hat, the upper half of his face remained shielded from prying eyes, while a black face mask concealed the lower half-a part of his attire that had gradually become integral to his identity.

He wore a well-fitted, classic navy blue crew-neck T-shirt, crafted from soft, high-quality cotton. The simplicity of the garment allowed the focus to shift to the subtle details that elevated his look.

Layered over the T-shirt was a lightweight, unbuttoned denim shirt, adding a touch of casual flair to the ensemble. The denim shirt featured a faded wash and subtle distressing, exuding a laid-back charm.

Paired with the top half, he wore dark wash slim-fit jeans that hugged his frame in all the right places. The jeans showcased a clean, tailored aesthetic without sacrificing mobility. The slight fading and strategic whiskering added a touch of ruggedness to the otherwise refined look.

On his feet, he sported white leather sneakers, featuring minimalistic design and clean lines. The sneakers provided a sleek and versatile foundation for his outfit, effortlessly merging comfort with style.

Fixated on his destination, his gaze remained unwavering as he boarded the elevator alone. With a tap of his finger, he selected the desired floor and casually leaned back as the elevator ascended noiselessly, barely noticeable.

Soon, the elevator chimed, announcing his arrival at the designated floor. Without hesitation, he swiftly disembarked, navigating through the seemingly deserted surroundings until he spotted his destination-an office.

Raising his hand, he knocked twice on the door. A voice from within granted him permission to enter, prompting him to waste no time. Stepping inside, he was promptly greeted by a voice.

"Ah, Aahil Tafida. It's a pleasure to have you here."

The man that entered the office, now named Aahil, reached out to remove the black face mask, unveiling his face.

His facial features are finely chiseled, adding an attractive and masculine appeal to his overall appearance. His warm and inviting smile effortlessly draws people in, revealing a perfect set of pearly white teeth that enhance his captivating charm. As his lips curve upward, subtle dimples appear on either side, further enhancing his charismatic grin.

His complexion boasts a rich, warm shade of brown, which exudes a healthy and radiant glow. The smooth texture of his skin showcases his diligent skincare routine, leaving it blemish-free and remarkably well-maintained. His complexion is complemented by a well-groomed beard, meticulously trimmed to a length that mimics a stylish five o'clock shadow. The beard frames his jawline with precision, adding a touch of ruggedness to his otherwise refined features.

His eyes, set beneath well-defined eyebrows, are deep and expressive. The enchanting shade of brown within his eyes is akin to the hues of a deep mahogany, possessing a captivating allure. They hold a glimmer of curiosity and kindness, reflecting a genuine and caring nature.

The short, curly hair on his head adds a playful and youthful vibe to his overall look. His dark, tightly coiled curls effortlessly frame his face, accentuating his attractive features. Despite their seemingly untamed nature, the curls are well-maintained, exuding an air of natural elegance.

"Dr. Asher. Pleasure to see you again." His voice came, a soft grumble that did nothing to hide the emotion underneath it, not that he wanted to anyway.

Dr. Asher, a seemingly older man no doubt in his early sixties, narrowed his gaze, at the younger ma. His gaze was knowing, as he pinned it on the man. "Something about your tone tells me otherwise."

Aahil simply offered him a smile that showed he was right, unbothered to correct him as h traipsed further into the office, taking a sea opposite the doctor as he gestured.

On making himself comfortable in the air, Aahil reached out to take off the bucket ha, revealing a neatly trimmed mass of hair, done to perfection. He then reached out to keep the ha, as well as the face mask on the tale between them.

"You wanted to meet?" His voice came yet again as he went straight to the point, never being one to beat around the bush.

"Heard you're back in the country." Lamented the doctor, crossing his fingers and keeping them on the table. "Wanted to hear it from you firs but knowing you, you wouldn't. And the next thing I know, you'll be flying out again."

"What can I say?" Aahil huffed out a breath, shrugging his shoulders slightly. "I'm a busy man." Or so he likes to claim in situations like this.

The doctor could only nod, not taking the sarcasm behind the younger man's tone or perhaps, just choosing to ignore. "I'm sorry to take up your time but it's important I speak to you in person." He reached out to pick a folder.

Aahil's gaze shifted to the folder, no doubt knowing it belonged to him. He wasn't sure if he did a good job hiding it, but his heart skipped a beat for that moment, fear threatening to swallow him whole. It wasn't like he's unaware of what's written there, in all actuality, he knows even before he came to the hospital in the first place.

However, being in that position made it even more real if that's possible.

Dr. Asher reached his index finger to his glasses that had started to slip off, before flipping through the pages of the folder again. On finding the page he wanted, he halted, his head lifting to meet Aahil's gaze.

"-Your recent result has returned, and I'd say it looks better than the last time." If Aahil didn't know better, he would've held onto that statement and started to jubilate. However, he knew there was something more coming, and he was right. "It's too early to celebrate though. I wouldn't recommend straining yourself again, else it'll become a permanent injury. And if that happens..."

"I wouldn't be to play again." Aahil concluded, upon noticing the man's hesitation. His tone was calm, and blank when he answered even though deep down he was otherwise.

Dr. Asher nodded slowly, confirming the sentence. He then flipped the folder close, resting his hands on it. "There's a high possibility of you not being able to play again." He further explained, and to Aahil, it was like having the truth smack him right across the face.

It was the harsh reality he didn't want to accept. He didn't want to accept really.

He kept his lips sealed, his mind racing with thoughts, none of which are pleasant. His life suddenly flashed before his eyes, and he could see the tears of work he had out in going down the drain.

'Is there really no cure for this?' he wanted to ask, but refrained from doing so on knowing he wouldn't get the answer he wanted.

He had already done everything he can, which led to that position. He had hit a blank screen, and the possibility of overcoming it seems to align well with those against him.

"-I can understand that for someone in your profession, a leg injury is bad. But, do not lose hope. Take it easy, and I repeat, don't strain yourself. If that happens, you might be able to play again."

"What's the rate?" Aahil could only grumble out, his eyes pinned on the older looking doctor.

The man sighed, his shoulders slumping if possible. "it's low." He couldn't give him the exact number, it would be too much.

He may not be that close to Aahil, but upon treating him over the past few months, he'd like to believe they'd grown close. At least, enough to understand how hard this is for him.

He expected Aahil to insist on getting a number actually. But, much to his surprise, the younger man only nodded, drawing his bottom lip between his teeth for a split second before he sighed, and slanted his lips into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Alright, thank you. I'd get going now."

The doctor didn't stop him, knowing the last thing the younger man would want is to get out of that suffocating office. So he offered him a mod in acknowledgement. "I'll let you know when something comes up. For now, take it easy, okay?"

"In shaa Allah." With that statement, Aahil pushed himself on his feet and exited the office after donning his bucket hat and face mask again.

He did the same thing he did when he arrived there, avoiding any possible interaction that would drag attention to him. The last thing he needs is for information about his visit to the hospital to the out in the open like that.

The minute he stepped out do the elevator and was striding towards where his Aston Martin was parked, his phone pinged. Slipping his hand into the pocket of his pants, he pulled out the device and read the message that came through.

-Chairman wants to see you. Said you aren't answering your phone. Drop by as soon as possible.

Kimura.

He locked the screen upon reading the message and arrived at the location where the vehicle was parked. For a moment, he contemplated ignoring it, but he knew those people well enough; they would seek him out sooner or later. He'd rather deal with them now than later on.

Making an impulsive decision that he hoped not to regret, he hopped into the car and revved the engine back to life. The engines awakened from their brief slumber with a soft hum.

He slipped out of the parking lot and effortlessly maneuvered his way through the city, knowing the place like the back of his hand.

His mind wasn't fully focused on the drive, but he somehow managed to make it without crashing or encountering any accidents. He would have been bewildered by this fact if it hadn't become the norm for him in the past few months.

Within thirty minutes, he found himself pulling up in front of the club's training facility, prominently displaying its name at the entrance.

CITY UNITED FC welcomed anyone whose gaze graced the building, a stark reminder of whom the turf belonged to.

The exterior of the training facility was a sight to behold, standing as a modern marvel with its sleek and contemporary design. The façade boasted glass walls, providing a transparent and open atmosphere. The high-quality glass allowed abundant natural light to flood the interior, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.

Though it was truly a sight that would leave most people gaping, Aahil was so used to it that it held no appeal for him.

He stepped out of the car and handed the key to the valet, who instantly recognized him and welcomed him with a smile. Aahil reciprocated, although it couldn't be seen as his face mask was still up.

The mask proved to be useful when he spotted a crowd of fans and a few paparazzi outside the building by the gate, constantly snapping pictures of him or at least attempting to.

The distance from the gate to the building provided a buffer zone. Thankfully, they were restricted at the gate, as entry was strictly prohibited for those who did not work there.

Even though Aahil understood where they were coming from, he had no desire for interaction with the press. He always kept it to a minimum, especially now that he wanted none of that.

The moment he stepped foot inside the building, however, he knew he wouldn't like what would happen. For the first time, he felt his heart race at the thought of one Day not being allowed in or no longer being recognized.

Nevertheless, he pushed forward, ready to face whatever would come.

He didn't get far before a familiar face came to welcome him, although there was really no need for it.

"Welcome, AT04," the Club Chairman's assistant offered him a warm smile, one that genuinely reached her eyes. "He's been expecting you."

***

Is it too early to ask how you're liking the book so far?

Should we have daily updates? Omo, I'm not making any promises though. However, feel free to recommend the book to your friends and enemies seff, you guys can keep fighting afterwards. Yawwa, ina godiya😂😭

Bro e be like say I'll pack myself to Hausa novels o😭😂them people are lowkey famous. I mean alhamdullilah but brooooo🥲 wayaga Jannah a mai rubutun hausa.

Make I try and see;

Hafsa yarinya ce mai matuqar kyau, ko kuma ince, haka mutane ke gani. Kyanta bai Kai irin wayennan siraran mata ta take gani a akwatin kallo ba, masu jiki fari kaman hasken futula. Ita dai, bi maana Hafsa, kalar ruwan qasa ne jikin ta. Ga hanci zar ya baje kaman faranti, amma akwai kyau. Gashin ta tsabar tsayin sa, abun daure gashi, Watson ribbon inji turawa, baya iya kamoshi hu daya.

Amma dai, sai dai ace tabarakallah Saboda du wanda ya gani sai ya yaba. Hali ne da ita wanda yasa ta fita ta daban, wato akwai koqarin zama da mutane.

Toh amma kwatsam! Aka samu matsala da ita da wani saurayi Dan firesh boy ta take qauna kamar me, tun daga nan ta dauqi alwakin cewa sai da zama Sanadin rugurguza zuciyar maza bakwai kafin ta yafe abunda da ya mata.

Ku biyoni a guje a wannan labari mai dog on Zango mai suna NICE SANADI!!

*insert one cover with Indian lady and font in red*

LOLL, THAT AIN'T A REAL BOOK PLEASE. I'M JUST KIDDING AROUND. But really, e be like say I'll join this Hausa writing stuff, who knows.

Moving on, today's the last day of our writing class early birds registration. Registration will still be open till next week Sunday so be sure to reserve your spots! Share the news with anyone interested.

Thank you as you do.

Also, thank you for giving this book a chance. I'm honestly overwhelmed by the support I'm getting from yall😩❤️ I labiyu😂 saranghe❤️❤️

Toh, madalla. Na barku lahiya. A huta lafiya na tahi kallon kwana casain.

Love, Jannah Mia ❤️