Challengers

07 : Second Day

An unfamiliar sound blared from the speakers inside our cabin. I tried covering my ears with my pillow but the music was so annoying that I had no choice but to get up. Pareho kaming nakasimangot ni Arin pagbangon namin.

We went outside of our room and the two guys were walking with their eyes half-closed. Mukhang pugad din ng ibon ang buhok nila.

After a few seconds, huminto na rin ang tunog at pag-check namin sa orasan ay 7 A.M. pa lang. Grabe, hindi ko akalaing gigising ako nang ganito kaaga. Kapag bakasyon pa naman, madalas tanghali o hapon na ako nagigising.

"Good morning, losers," Zion greeted and we all glared at him. Nagising ang diwa naming tatlo.

"Sinuwerte ka lang," Arin grumbled as she combed her hair with her fingers.

"Well, it's a game of luck," he retorted.

Hindi ako nakatulog nang maayos dahil hindi ko rin matanggap na nanalo siya kagabi. Ang hirap pa namang matulog kapag masama ang loob mo. Isa pa, late din ako kadalasang natutulog kaya hirap na hirap ako kagabi.

Nagsimula namang mag-exercise sa labas sina Arin at Roi, at pinanood ko sila mula sa porch. Nagg-gym pala kasi si Roi at gusto niyang maging fit pa rin habang nandito. Ganoon din si Arin. I had lived a sedentary lifestyle and exercising was just too tiring for me.

Nakaupo ako sa bench na nasa bandang bintana at dumungaw naman mula ro'n si Zion.

"Hindi ka nag-e-exercise?" tanong niya.

"No," sagot ko. "I like brain exercises more than the physical ones."

"I see."

Lumabas din siya at akala ko ay sasabayan niya sina Arin at Roi pero nagsimula siyang maglakad. I almost snickered after remembering him almost getting lost yesterday. For sure, maliligaw siya.

The cabin on our right, the green team, went out and joined the others who were exercising. Tulad ko ay nasa porch lang din si Yena at nagngitian ulit kami. I wanted to talk to her but I couldn't.

Bigla namang may nag-announce kaya natigilan ang lahat. I thought it was about a challenge but instead she explained the uses of the coins we just collected.

Basically, this would be our money. Starting today, we would use these coins to pay for our food, to acquire hints or for other services.

"Every morning, there will be a coin hunt, and it will end at 8:00 A.M. That is all. Good luck, Challengers! All the best!"

Napatayo ako at agad na tumakbo para maghanap ng coins. This time, I'd make sure to find at least one.

Napunta ulit ako sa gazebo at nagsimulang maghanap doon pero pagdating ko ay nandoon na ang ilang members ng ibang team: si Dean ng yellow team, Brian ng green team, at Wannie ng red team.

I tried looking for the coins in the pillars and benches but to no avail. Napunta naman sa side ko si Brian at naghanap siya sa tabi ko.

He was wearing a simple white shirt and jogging pants. Halos kasintangkad niya siguro si Roi. Despite his quiteintimidating physique, he looked kinda shy.

"I'm a fan of your works," he suddenly said, prompting me to look at him.

He continued looking between the woods of the bench's back rest as if he didn't say anything. I wondered if I just misheard what he said and was about to ignore it, but he suddenly turned his head on my direction.

"You're a good writer," he added.

For a second, I was flustered. Oo, nakakatanggap ako ng compliments from readers pero through messages and comments. Roi was the first one who told me in person that he was a fan and then . . . this guy.