Challengers

Chapter 31 : Damsel in Distress

Physically-demanding challenges were thrilling for the challengers, but I guess an obstacle course with a lot of twists would make the most competitive people even more enthusiastic.

Dahil nga mukhang ito ang pinakanakakapagod na challenge ay pinag-warm up muna kami for five minutes. Medyo nakakahiya at nakakatawa lang dahil parang pagod na agad ako kahit nasa two-minute mark pa lang kanina. I guess kailangan na talagang tanggapin ng teammates ko na ako ang magiging dahilan kung bakit kami matatalo.

"Walang madadapa, ha!" sigaw ni Ben sa team niya.

"Puwede bang magpa-excuse din kapag ganda lang ang gustong gawing ambag sa team?" biro naman ni Angeli.

"Lugi naman sa mga dalawa ang boys sa team!" Justin from beige team commented.

Nilingon naman siya ni Zey. "Paano pa kaming all girls?"

"Luh, walang effect 'yon kasi may Elix kami!" biglang sabat naman ni Roi.

Nagtawanan ang ilang nakarinig. Paano ba naman ay parang ginawa akong handicap...although that indeed was the truth.

"'Yung bibig, pwede?" I muttered while gesturing at him to zip his mouth.

Umakbay naman siya sa akin sabay ngiti nang nakakaloko. "'To naman 'di mabiro. 'Di ka naman pabigat, Elix, parang 47 kilos ka lang naman."

Umagang-umaga pero nasusubok na agad ang pasensya ko. Buti na lang at medyo funny siya minsan kaya naba-balance.

After naming mag-warm up ay nagbunutan na for the matchups. Zion volunteered for the draw lots, and ended up picking the black team as our opponents. The rest of the normal matchup results were: yellow vs. brown, gray vs. gold, and red vs. purple vs. orange. The four teams with less members had their own matchups: blue vs. white, and green vs. beige teams.

Medyo naawa lang ako sa orange team dahil dalawa ang makakalaban nila. Since fifteen teams kaming lahat ay may sosobra talagang isa at ang mahirap pa ay all-girls sila. Although it would be disadvantageous for them, every team knew not to underestimate them because they had been consistently placing first or second during on the team rankings.

"Alright, gray and gold team, please stand in front of the starting line!" sabi ni Ms. Hannah dahil sila ang nakabunot ng number one sa order of play.

"Shet, kinakabahan ako!" Irina shrieked between her snickers.

'Yung dalawang boys naman ng magkabilang team—Ben and Ernest—ay nag-uunat na ng mga likod nila dahil sila agad ang designated na tagabuhat during the second phase or hero quest.

"Ready, Challengers?" tanong ni Ms. Hannah.

"'Di pa po!"

"Sheeeet, good luck sa mga tuhod ko!"

"Walang sakalan ng leeg ha!"

The excitement and fear were visible on their faces at pati ako ay kinabahan na rin nang sumigaw na ng go! si Ms. Hannah. Halos sabay-sabay din kaming nagsigawan nang tumakbo sina Mari at Becca dahil sila ang unang players sa relay sa mortal quest.

They were neck-to-neck during the tire run and balance beam, pero nagkatalo na noong sa wall climbing dahil medyo nadulas si Becca kaya hindi siya nakabuwelo agad.

"Dali, Mari! Takbo!"

"Beccs! Habulin mo! Kaya 'yan!"

Halos isang segundo lang siguro ang naging lamang ni Mari bago makarating sa endpoint ng relay kaya medyo sabay pa ring nag-start ang next players—sina Ben at Jana.