His Little Distraction ✔️

6

They all watched me walk out of Gally's hut. No comments, just stares. Mostly furtive glances, not daring to look.

Gally patted my shoulder and pointed in a direction. I nodded and parted ways with him.

The place I headed to now was the kitchen. I couldn't let myself be pampered, especially after Gally kindly brought me food.

As I entered the kitchen, a large-built teenage boy greeted me there.

"Ah, nice to meet you, Greenie. My name is Frypan. Did you enjoy the food?"

I nodded slightly, he didn't ask for my name, and I didn't feel the need to bother introducing myself, "thank you for making it. Where's the dishwashing area?"

"Eh, you don't have to bother. Go to your training, and I'll do the dishes for you."

"No, let me do it myself. It's the least I can do to help out in the kitchen."

Frypan shrugged, "really? Well, it won't take long, so you don't have to feel awkward. But if you insist, it's back there, behind the exit door."

Again, I nodded and walked past him. There was nothing to discuss, and I didn't intend to stay here for long. So I quickly finished washing the dishes. Then, I went to another place, as mentioned by Gally when he explained the job training I received while in the Glade.

He considered me unlucky, and honestly, I agreed with him.

"Finally awake, Greenie? You made me waste my time, which I could have used inside the Maze to map the area."

I was greeted by the brusque voice of a teenage Asian boy with black hair styled with gel, keeping it standing and neat.

And I couldn't believe his last sentence because Gally had already told me that secret.

But still, I apologized to him; I acknowledged that lateness was unforgivable and couldn't be left unaddressed. I would have been equally annoyed if I had to wait for so long.

"Sorry, I still need to have breakfast."

The teenage boy nodded slowly, "well, okay. Let's start with introductions then. My name is Minho, I'm the leader of the Runners. Will you be okay after what you saw last night?"

"Are you going to make me run straight into there?"

Minho shook his head, "not really. I need to gauge your speed first. We'll start with a proper warm-up; I don't want you to cramp later. After that, we'll jog around the Glade for a bit. Then I'll take you into the part of the Maze near the entrance; we'll run around that area at different speeds on each lap."

I nodded while trying to memorize the sequence of exercises mentioned earlier.

After a brief warm-up, for about fifteen minutes, we completed just one lap of jogging around the Glade.

Minho then led me to the entrance of the Maze.

"Don't you remember your name yet?" he asked as we started our first lap in the Maze.

"I have remembered."

Minho glanced back slightly, "why didn't you say so earlier?"

I shrugged, "did you ask for my name earlier? No, right?"

Minho seemed to be trying to remember, then scratched the back of his neck. It seemed he realized he hadn't.

"Alright, what's your name then?"

"My name is Riley."

"Riley, huh?"

"Why?" I sensed hesitation in Minho's tone.

Minho shook his head slightly, "it's nothing, really. But, are you aware your hair is a mess?"

I scowled at him, "just so you know, this is my natural wavy hair. It's hard to manage!"

"Hey, I'm just asking. I didn't mean to offend you or anything. And also, if you need hair gel, you can ask me."

Was he promoting his hair gel?

"No need, besides, it would look weird if I put gel on my hair."

"Alright then. We'll increase our speed in the next lap, be ready."

I could only endure the first three laps. I was already out of breath, and my stomach felt sore. Minho was nowhere to be seen, and I, who tried to run, felt like a zombie.

I stopped and stepped aside, taking cover behind the ivy plants, avoiding the scorching sun.

I heard footsteps running back from where Minho disappeared. Was he coming back to check on me?

And it seemed my guess was right, as I heard him calling my name.

"Riley? Where are you? Riley?"

Either because I was too small or these ivy plants were too dense, my body seemed completely hidden.

Minho stopped in front of me, unaware of my presence.

Once again, he shouted, "Riley?!"

I, still panting, could only produce a sound that truly resembled a zombie, "I'm right here...."

Hearing my voice, Minho jumped backward, crashing his body into one of the walls, "ouch!"

I pushed aside some ivy so that enough of my face was visible from behind them, "are you okay?"

Minho stared at me in disbelief, "are YOU okay?"

I could only weakly nod, "Minho, I don't think I can walk anymore," I complained to him.

At first, Minho still looked heavily shocked, but gradually his face softened, then turned into bursts of laughter.

"Ahahaha! What's with you? Seriously, how can someone fit and get buried behind these Ivy vines? Ahahaha!"

Although I also found it amusing, I was too weak to react, "stop laughing and take me back to the Glade. I don't want to crawl myself back there."

Minho stood back up, although still struggling to contain his laughter. He pulled me gently and let me climb onto his back, carrying me out of the Maze.