Capes 1: Charge

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Every one of them was chasing down their breaths after an exhausting training with their mentor. They were so tired that they didn't want to get up from lying down on the ground.

"Kaya niyo pa ba?" natatawang tanong ni Argo pero hapong-hapo na rin siya dahil sa sobrang pagod.

"Grabe," sagot ni Sana. "Hindi ko in-expect 'yon, ha?"

"Sinabi mo pa," dagdag ni Mona. "Ikaw ba, Klein? It looks like you're not tired at all. Anong sikreto mo riyan, ha?"

Napakunot naman ng noo ito saka napakibit balikat.

"How about you, Lockey?" tanong ni Nadiya.

Natuon naman ang atensyon ng binata sa babaeng kasamahan. "I'm good..." sagot nito saka bumitaw nang malalim na hininga. "But it seems like we all passed it naman, 'di ba?"

Hindi sila nakasagot dahil saglit lang ay naglakad patungo sa direksyon nila si Corporal Lance. Mabilis silang kumilos nang makita nila ito. They just stood up all in order and wait for their mentor to stand in front of them. Kahit ramdam pa rin nila ang pagod ay hindi na nila iyon ininda.

"Good job on the first day of training, everyone," he started. "I've seen some made mistakes in choosing what kind of defense they should do and what kind of offense they should take. I'm not concerned yet, but in the next few days, I'm expecting more. Is that clear?"

Sumaludo ang anim na trainees at sinagot nang sabay-sabay ang kanilang mentor.

"Good to know that. For now, the training with me is over. See you on our next schedule."

"Yes, sir," all said in chorus.

As soon as their mentor turned around and left the area, bumagsak muli ang mga katawan nila at nagsiupuan sa lapag. Saglit lang din naman ay dumating sina Malcolm at Simon upang i-check ang mga bagong salta sa academy.

"Kamusta ang training, guys?" tanong ni Simon. Sumagot naman isa-sa sa kanya ang mga kasamahan ni Lockey. "Keep up lang, guys. And it was a good thing na si Corporal Lance na agad ang una niyong naging mentor dahil sa training na ibinungad niya sa inyo."

"So, mas may lalala pa ro'n sa ginawa naming?" tanong ni Sana.

Natawa naman si Malcolm. "You're just at the beginning of a wild adventure here in CAPES. For sure, mas kaabang-abang pa ang mga susunod niyong gagawin."

"Gosh," Nadiya said, still chasing her breath. "Parang hindi ko na kaya 'to."

"Giving up isn't the answer," Klein interjected.

Napakunot naman ng noo si Nadiya. "I know, and I don't mean it."

"Whatever," Klein said. "I'll go take a shower," he added and leave.

Sumunod na rin naman ang iba at naiwan ang tatlo sa field. Hindi naman na naiilang si Lockey sa mga kasamahan. Sa tingin niya, Madali lang naman talaga pakasamahan ang mga ito. May iba-iba nga lang personalidad, pero sa tingin niya ay makukuha naman niya ang loob ng mga ito. Hindi lang sa ngayon dahil kakakilala lamang nila ang isa't isa, pero sa isip niya darating ang araw na ang pagkakaiba-iba nila ay siyang magiging dahilan para magkaisa.

"You know what, you're in a good batch of trainees," sabi ni Simon. Pinatong pa nito ang kamay sa balikat ng kaibigan.

"I agree," dagdag ni Malcolm. "On our batch, kung saan kami nagkakilala rin ni Simon, there were some divisions. Me, Simon, and Aurea were one of those... good ones. Well, ako na naman 'to, so why wouldn't call us like that, right?"

Simon chuckled, shaking his head.

"Anyway, may mga nakasama pa kami noon, pero wala na sila dito sa CAPES."