Challengers

Chapter 30 : Fantasy Turned Fact

I could feel the beads of cold sweat on my forehead as my eyes fluttered open. It took me a moment to get my bearings back after waking up from a strange dream.

It had been fifteen days pero ngayon lang ako nanaginip nang ganoon ka-vivid habang nandito sa camp. Ang malala pa ay sobrang weird ng panaginip ko ngayon. I was being chased by an alien-monster hybrid and my legs felt so heavy that I could barely run away from it. Worst, I had to defend myself, too, since the monster was swinging a humungous axe toward my direction.

Ang pangit tuloy sa feeling dahil kahit kagigising ko pa lang ay pagod na agad ako.

Napatingin ako sa orasan at napabuntonghininga na lang nang ma-marealize kong 5:00 a.m. pa lang. Pero dahil hindi na rin naman ako makakatulog at baka maaga ring magsimula ang challenge ngayon ay bumangon na ako.

I carefully stepped out of our bedroom so as to not wake Arin up. Medyo natakot pa ako dahil ang dilim sa sala kaya mabilis akong naglakad papunta sa pintuan pero agad din akong napatigil nang makitang wala pang liwanag sa labas.

"Uy, Elix."

Mabuti na lang talaga ay napigilan ko ang pagsigaw nang may tumawag sa akin. It turned out Yena and Brian had also stepped out of their cabin and they were on their way to the camp store.

Yena smiled at me. "Ang aga mong lumabas ngayon."

"Ah, hindi na ulit ako makatulog, eh," sagot ko naman.

"Gusto mo bang sumabay sa amin mag-breakfast?"

Medyo nakakahiya pero dahil natatakot akong maglakad mag-isa ay tumango ako. "Okay lang ba?"

"Of course."

Bumaba kami mula sa kanya-kanya naming cabins at naglakad papunta sa camp store pero napahinto kami sa bandang obstacle course. There were already a bunch of staff moving things around and I had a hunch that I wouldn't like today's challenge. My face contorted even more when I saw some tires, balance beams, and thick ropes being laid out.

Yena and I both sighed, while Brian let out a soft chuckle after seeing our reactions.

"Mukhang physical ulit ang challenge ngayon," he remarked as we passed by the course.

"I hope I can sit this one out," murmured Yena.

"Same," dagdag ko.

Pagdating namin sa camp store ay bumili agad ako ng kape at pandesal. Ikakain ko na lang ang stress ko dahil wala rin naman akong magagawa kundi gawin ang challenge later.

"Mukhang action ang genre today," komento ni Brian matapos kunin ang kape nila ni Yena.

"I hate that one," she muttered.

Naalala ko tuloy noong inatake siya ng hika during paper bracelet elimination. Medyo natakot din ako no'n for her dahil sobrang putla niya that time.

"I think i-e-excuse naman ang mga pwedeng ma-compromise ang health," sabi ni Brian.

I quietly stared at the two. They seemed to be closer than before, and honestly, I thought they looked cute together. Pareho kasi silang kalmado at palangiti kaya parang ang gaan lagi ng aura nila.

I was aware of the absurd rumor about Brian having a crush on me, which I deliberately ignored, but now I was almost certain that it was only a professional admiration as a fellow writer. He was also the type of person who would usually get his actions misunderstood as romantic intentions when in reality, he was just genuinely nice.

Pero simula nang naging mag-partner sila ni Yena sa paper bracelet elimination ay parang lagi nang nakasunod kay Yena ang mga mata niya. Siguro dahil worried siya after ng nangyari, but I could tell that he was looking at her differently.