Infernio Academy 1: Touch of Hell

Chapter 26: Dubious plan

⪼ S H A I A L A

"Five more laps to go!" Sigaw ng trainer at agad na pumito ng malakas kaya mas binilisan ko pa ang pagjojogging. Fifty laps around the oval is very exhausting. Gustong-gusto ko nang humiga rito para maibsan man lang ang pagkapagod ko pero parang sa iba ay wala lang. Of course, they are used to this. Pero ang hirap lang kasi isipin na bugbog na nga ang utak mo sa morning classes tapos ganito naman ang aabutin tuwing hapon.

At the mere distance, I saw Denver drinking from his bottled water while keeping his track. Akala ko ba bawal pa uminom? Madaya ang isang 'to. Bigla naman siyang napatingin sa akin saka hinagis ang iniinuman niya na agad ko namang nasalo. "Uminom ka. Huwag mong titigan lang." 

"Bawal 'to ah?" 

"Ano ang pwede? Ma-dehydrate?" He spat back. Seems like he's doing this for so long so he doesn't mind breaking those kind of rules. May point siya kaya naman patago na akong uninom.

"Psst, catch!" I threw him the bottle and he caught it swiftly kahit pa diretso lang ang tingin niya sa daan.

Not gonna lie, Denver and I grew closer. Or maybe for me. But he's still the annoying jerk that I know, but he has a heart. There are times that I enjoy talking to him because he listens well. Nakakainis lang ang mga sagutan niya minsan pero alam kong tinatandaan niya ang bawat kwento ko. 

Habang hawak ang bote ng tubig na hindi ko alam kung saan ko ilalapag, mas binilisan ko pa ang pagjo-jogging parang makatapos na. Ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas ay pumito na ang trainer namin, hudyat na tapos na ang unang parte ng training. 

Napahawak ako sa magkabilang tuhod ko dahil sa sobrang pagod. Hingal na hingal ako, walang binatbat rito ang workout routine ko sa bahay at gym. 

"Twenty minutes break. Wanna eat?" It was Denver who spoke and he's squinting his eyes with all the sweat and blinding sunlight. Nagpunas siya saka pinatong ang isang kamay sa bewang na para bang naiinip sa sagot ko.

"Who the heck eats right after burning calories?"

"Me?" His answer pushed me to scan his figure and he seemed to notice. "Yeah, I look like someone who doesn't have abs. Who cares about that? It will melt anyway, like a chocolate." Tinalikuran na niya ako at nagsimulang maglakad.

Denver Williams is such a mood.

"Tara na! The cafeteria makes the best Quesadilla every Saturday." He chuckled.

For someone who's really conscious about their physique, I can't believe I'm eating tacos filled with cheese and meat, and all that calories, after that intense training. Plus this chocolate drink Denver got for me. He said he like it better than iced tea or coffee. Ako naman wala ng nagawa, kontra kasi siya nang kontra.

"Sarap kumain 'no? Huwag ka magdidiet." Sabi niya pagkatapos ubusin ang pangalawang order. 

"This will be the last time I'm gonna eat with you, tataba ako kakakontra mo." Inirapan ko siya. But heck, this combination is so weird yet good. I'll introduce this to the cousins, for sure magugustuhan nila 'to.

"Kaya mo?" Biglang tanong niya kaya inangat ko ang ulo ko.

"Kaya ko ang alin?"

"Kaya mong maging lister?" Napangisi ako sa naging tanong niya.

"Of course I can." 

Actually I'm not sure, I have doubts because I know I'm not yet capable defeating any of them since they train longer than me. Ako, kakasimula ko pa lang. But with hardwork, I know I can do it. Or maybe I can. Right? Should I claim it already.