3
"Bakit ka nandito?" Lito kong tanong kay Atien. Nag-aantay ako sa substitute coach dahil wala si Coach Ces.
He squinted his eyes with a slight frown. "Am I not allowed here?"
I frowned too. Saka ko lang napagtanto na maling tanong iyon. First, he has every right to be here since he's a co-owner of the gym. Second, he's surely here to train.
"What I meant was why are you here specifically. Hindi ba sa labas ka nagte-train? Or may martial arts training ka rin ngayon?"
He nodded and took his duffel bag from a shelf. Nilipat niya iyon sa sahig, sa tabi ng akin. Pareho kami ng bag pero mas maliit iyong akin.
"They didn't inform you? I'm subbing for Coach Ces," he said as he moved some weights from the floor. Hindi kasi nakaayos ang mga ito at nakaharang sa harapan ng mirror.
He effortlessly lifted even the heavier ones. He's wearing a sleeveless gym shirt so I couldn't help but bring my eyes to his arms. They would flex every time he lifts something. Lucky for me because there were a lot of weights that he needed to lift!
"Lia?" He called again.
Napatikhim ako at sandaling nag-iwas ng tingin.
"'Yong ibang mga coach?"
"They're not available for this time slot."
"Si Fico? Diba lahat kayo may license to train?" I asked again, my eyes curiously and unconsciously drifting back to his arms.
He shook his head. "Nasa Ateneo, may class."
"Ah... eh 'yong seryosong pogi? 'Yong boyfriend ni Miara, si Primo?"
"Same with Fico."
"Si Mav? 'Yong macho..."
Nagulat ako nang biglang umayos ng tayo si Atien. He was busy lifting and moving the weights but he suddenly stood upright.
My eyes dropped to the weights on each of his hands. They were large and probably weigh more than me yet he can effortlessly lift them without batting an eye! May oras pa siyang titigan ako!
"You could just say, 'Ayaw ko kay Atien.'"
I chuckled at what he said but immediately got distracted when he bent his elbows, which caused his arm muscles to flex.
Nakakainis dahil hindi ko man lang mapigilan ang mga mata! What's worse is that I'm not even ashamed of staring!
"Nagtanong lang naman!" I said, then copying his frown.
After teasing and mocking each other for a bit, we started training. He guided me through the warm up before sparring. Mas bumuti na talaga ang endurance ko dahil hindi na ako hinihingal pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ng sparring. Noon ay isang round lang talaga ang kaya ko.
"Atien, wala nang tubig," I said as I pointed to the water dispenser beside me.
Atien was busy drinking his water. And if they won't refill the dispenser, I'm really gonna ask from him. 'Di bale nang nakakahiya, kailangan ko talaga ng tubig.
"Why are you telling me?"
I rolled my eyes and walked towards him. "Gym mo 'to, diba?"
He rolled his eyes, mocking me, before going out. Hindi nagtagal ay bumalik siyang dala-dala ang isang gallon ng tubig. He's effortlessly lifting it as if its weight meant nothing!
"You're salivating." Napaigtad ako nang biglang may bumulong.
Sinamaan ko ng tingin si Mav ngunit humalakhak lang siya.
