Challengers

22 : The Worst Challenge

We were given a free time in the afternoon, and I opted to lounge in the living room while the three went out. Hindi ko alam kung saan nila nahuhugot ang energy para makihalubilo sa iba pagkatapos ng challenge. Idagdag pa na sobrang init sa labas. I'd rather stay inside.

Naglabas na lang din ako ng ballpen at notebook para isulat ang scenes na naiisip ko para sa story dahil sa weekend pa puwedeng makuha ang gadgets namin.

I was jotting down some thriller scenes after experiencing the horror house and murder mystery challenge, but hesitated midway. Would it make sense in a romance-adventure type of plot? Pero kung pagbabasehan ko naman ang mismong mga nangyayari sa show na ito, I guess hindi naman weird ang kalalabasan.

Pagkatapos kong magsulat ng ibang scenes ay lumabas ako sa porch para mag-stretch ng mga tuhod at paa dahil maghapon na akong nakaupo. As someone who has a sedentary lifestyle, parang paglalakad na lang ang form of exercise ko.

I saw Yena from their cabin's porch, so I meekly waved, to which she returned with the same energy.

"Ikaw lang din mag-isa sa cabin n'yo?" tanong niya habang nakaupo sa gilid at may hawak na mug ng kape.

I nodded. "Nakipag-socialize sila."

Yena gasped in return. "Even Zion?"

"Mm."

"I didn't expect that."

Kahit ako ay nagulat noong sinabi niyang lalabas siya kanina. I thought he was the type who would prefer to be by himself, but then I realized he could also easily be the center of the attention if he wanted.

"Umalis din sina Les?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Yup. Sinamahan siya nina Brian at Lan sa camp store para kumain."

I chucked at her answer. "Wow, may bodyguards."

"True," she snickered. "Ayaw na niya kasi ulit kumain nang mag-isa dahil one time, may writers na umupo sa table kung nasaan siya tapos ang dami raw tanong sa kanya."

Knowing how shy Les could get, I could imagine the horror on her face after people she didn't even talk to started bombarding her with questions. That must have been uncomfortable.

Isa rin 'yon sa mga ayaw kong mangyari sa akin dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin, lalo na kung isang beses lang o hindi ko pa sila nakakausap kahit kailan. It would be easier if I could tell them that I didn't want to entertain them, but that might come off as rude.

"Buti sinamahan siya nung dalawa," I commented.

"Bored na rin sila, eh," she answered. "Saka mga tsismoso. Gusto nilang malaman kung sino 'yung tumabi kay Les that time."

This time, ako naman ang natawa. "Even Brian?"

"Right? I thought he's not that kind of guy, pero ang bilis pala ma-curious sa buhay ng ibang tao."

It was kind of funny to think Brian as someone who likes to listen to gossips, but then again, he had become close with Lan who could easily pull someone in his own pace. I was also quite happy that Yena and I could now talk comfortably with each other. Among all the participants, I wanted to get close to her because I thought we had the same personality and we could relate well to each other.

"Speaking of the devil," she murmured while looking at the path from the camp store.

I followed her gaze and saw Brian running toward their cabin.

"Why are you here already?" asked Yena. "Saka nasaan na sina Lan at Les?"

He was trying to catch his breath before answering. "We forgot to bring coins—!"