Despite his best efforts to quit smoking, there were still days when Mikey would give in to the temptation and have a sneaky cigarette. He thought he could hide it from the gang, but one day, Draken caught him smoking behind the building.
"Mikey, what are you doing?" Draken asked, his tone stern.
Mikey looked up, startled. He thought he had been careful, but he had been caught red-handed. "I'm sorry, Draken. I know I shouldn't be smoking," he said, his voice filled with shame.
Draken sighed, looking disappointed. "You're right, you shouldn't be. It's not good for you, and it's not good for the rest of the gang. We need you in top shape," he said, trying to reason with Mikey.
Mikey nodded, feeling guilty and foolish. He had let his friends down, and he knew it. He looked at Draken, his eyes full of remorse. "I'll try harder, Draken. I promise," he said, his voice determined.
Draken nodded, giving him a brief smile. "I know you will. You're strong, Mikey. We all have faith in you," he said, patting him on the shoulder.
From that day on, Mikey redoubled his efforts to quit smoking. He began using nicotine patches, which helped to curb his cravings. He also started going on long runs with Draken, which helped him to relax and focus on his health goals.
Slowly but surely, Mikey was able to overcome his addiction to cigarettes. He still struggled with his grief, but he knew that he had the support of his friends, and that he could face any challenge with them by his side.
And whenever he felt like he was losing his resolve, he looked to Draken, who was always a source of inspiration and strength. In Draken, Mikey saw the qualities of a true leader - someone who was kind, compassionate, and willing to support his friends, no matter what. And with that realization, Mikey felt a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ready to face any obstacle that came his way.
