Challengers

12 : 'Race' My Heartbeat

The writers were getting excited as Ms. Hanna started explaining the challenge, while I was grimacing at the idea.

"It is a race to raise someone's heart rate," she said. "With wrist-based monitors, we will measure two challengers' initial heart rate, and the one with a bigger jump or increase in heart rate loses."

Basically, you had to raise the other challenger's heart rate to win. They also said that only words could be used to fluster or make the opponent's heart flutter, but they could also request for a minimal physical contact. Of course, consent was a must.

Bago sumalang ay itatanong ng staff kung okay ang challenger sa physical contact. If one of them said no, then automatic na wala. Kapag pareho namang okay sa kanila ay may tig-isa silang turn para ro'n pero kamay lang ang puwedeng hawakan.

Most of them were already beaming, looking around to find their targets, but some were clearly uncomfortable, including me.

Miracle na nga na nakakausap ko ang teammates ko at iba pang writers dahil mas sanay at gusto ko talagang mag-isa, but for this challenge, we had to interact with other writers other than our respective teammates. Idagdag pa na awkward ako sa mga taong hindi ko naman nakakausap. The only team I could probably be at ease was green team.

The challenge would take place after lunch kaya bumalik ang bawat team sa kanya-kanya nilang cabins para mag-strategize

"So, anong plano natin?" tanong ni Arin habang nakatingin kay Zion.

It kind of miffed me when the two automatically looked at him when asking for our plan of action. Parang naging de-facto leader tuloy siya kahit hindi naman.

"Well, we just need to target the ones who are either uncomfortable with you, or those who like you," he remarked. "Wannie likes you, right?"

Roi flinched when Zion looked at him. "Luh."

"Kunwari pa 'di niya alam," singit ni Arin.

"I-challenge mo ang red team through Wannie. Ikaw, Arin? How about Oliver from white team?"

"Huy, gagi, baka ako 'yung matalo! 'Di ko kaya makipagtitigan sa gano'n kaguwapo."

"May crush siya ro'n, baka atakihin 'yan sa puso," ganti naman ni Roi.

"Okay, we don't want that."

"Excuse me, guwapo siya, okay, pero hindi ko siya crush!"

"Si Cenon na lang ng blue team," suggested Roi. "Mahiyain 'yon eh, for sure kakabahan 'yon kapag pinili mo."

Zion held his chin between his thumb and forefinger. "Hmm, that may be a good move. Sige, siya na lang ang i-challenge mo."

Sabay-sabay naman silang napatingin sa akin kaya medyo napaatras ako. "W-what?"

"You know who to target, right?" tanong niya.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Bakit parang alam na agad nila kahit wala akong idea kung sino ang tinutukoy nila.

"Sino?"

He curiously looked at me as if I just asked a stupid question. Medyo nakaka-offend pero sinubukan kong manatiling kalmado. I tried recalling people whom I could beat in this challenge, and someone suddenly came into mind.

"S-si Brian ba?" mahina kong tanong.

Brian was a fan, but I wasn't sure if that was enough reason for me to win. Madalas kapag nakita mo ang idolo mo ay magpa-panic ka at ma-o-overwhelm, but Brian seemed to be not that kind of fan.

Zion's lips curled into a cunning smile. "Correct. I think you can win against him quite easily."

"Oohh, sabagay," sabay ngisi rin ni Arin.