Drastic Waves in Bondi

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

"I know you've been watching them do it earlier so you know how to do it," matabang nitong tugon sa akin. He's not even trying to have eye contact with me. Para bang bored na bored siya, but he has no choice to do what his team leader requested him to do and that's to look after me.

I grunted. "I know, but they made it look so easy."

Ngisi na lang din naman ang itinugon nito. Sumalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi nito. I know we never got to meet and talk to each other like a normal person would, I came to him asking one thing and maybe he's treating me like something else. Valerio's just a dick.

"You still have 16 sets to do," pagpapaalala nito sa akin. "Get on your feet and do it quickly so you would be able to catch up with others."

Napailing ako. "I don't think I would be able to catch up with them."

Nilingon ko ang grupo nila Kuya Emmett. They were paired up and doing another physical activity in which they should just coordinate and help each other if bad situations occur.

"If you want that to happen, better do yours fast," aniya.

Napasinghal naman ako saka ako tumayo mula sa pagkasasamlampak ko sa buhangin. Kinuha ko ang medical kit ang mahigpit kong kinapitan ito. Walang importanteng laman ang medical kit na hawak ko—decoy lamang ito na para kapag ang mismong medical kit na ang bitbit ay hindi mabibitawan o mawawala sa balanse habang tumatakbo.

"I just have a question before I'd start again," aniko saka pagtaas ko pa ng kamay.

Pinatong nito ang mga kamay sa baywang niya saka nilingon ang tingin sa akin at tumango. "What is it?"

"Why do we have to run for like twenty times? Didn't we have to be more look after those who are drowning?"

"You're talking too much," he said. "Think about the answer to your question while you were doing your lapses then tell me what you think about why we're doing it. Now, begin from the start. You shouldn't be resting for too long."

"What?!" angal ko pa.

Wala na siyang sinagot kung hindi ang umiling at pagsabihan akong gawin ko ng tama ang ginagawa ko. Napahugot na lamang ako nang malalim na hininga saka ko ginawa ang twenty sets of running back and forth. But I think it's a good thing that I've got the chance to engage with him personally. I thought this is the only way I could persuade him by joining the training pero kung hindi, that won't happen. I'm gonna make sure of it.

"Focus, Carseldine!" pagpuna pa nito sa akin.

Hindi ko na naman siya pinapansin. Ginawa ko na lang ang unang task na binigay sa akin and I can't wait to finish it. Habang tumatakbo ako pabalik-balik, I know the other trainees are watching me to finish what I was doing. Napapansin ko rin naman si Kuya Emmett na napalilingon sa akin at chini-cheer ako. But the one who look after me kept me on focus.

'Wag daw ako makikinig sa kung anong ingay ang naririnig ko ngayon. That I should just focus on one thing and that's to run back and forth for twenty times. As I'm about to reach the five remaining laps, nagsimulang tawagin ako ni Valerio at pinagmamadali na niya ako. He's just making me want to run so fast na sa huli, nang marating ko ang twentieth lap ko ay bumagsak na lang ako sa buhangin habang hinahabol ang hininga.

But then I've heard them cheering and clapping for me as I've finished the first part of the training which is... ang warm-up lamang.

"Get up," utos na naman ni Valerio sa akin. Hinilig ko ang ulo ko para tingnan siya. Nakaabot ang kamay nito sa akin para tulungan akong makatayo. "You'll do your next training immediately."