Challengers

08 : Nerve Test

We were given cheat sheets where the price of food, souvenirs and other stuff were listed. Fortunately, marami kaming nakuhang coins kaninang umaga. Simula rin ngayon, wala nang schedule for the challenges at bibiglain na lang kami, which was quite worrying.

"Gusto n'yo ba ng kape?" tanong ni Arin. "Bibili kami ni Elix."

Roi and Zion nodded. Agad kaming naglakad ni Arin papunta sa camp store sa tabi ng Main Cabin, the largest one in the camp, kung saan naka-set up ang iba't ibang klase ng snacks: branded chocolates, potato chips, pasta, fragrant coffees, soft drinks, freshly baked breads, sweet desserts, and other mouth-watering food. Kung wala kang self-control, for sure mauubos ang coins mo sa lugar na 'to.

"Hmm, so one bronze coin for four cups of coffee," Arin muttered. "Ang mura ha, in fairness."

"Maybe they know that most of us drink coffee like it's water."

She chuckled. "Yeah. Parang 'di ako mabubuhay kapag walang kape."

Sa ngayon, mayroon kaming four gold, four silver, and seven bronze coins. Mukhang mayaman-yaman naman kami dahil sa apat na gold coins kaya okay lang gumastos para sa kape na worth one bronze.

I saw Zey approaching the pavilion, too, and she smiled at me, so I did the same. Kasama niya ang isa niyang teammate from the Orange team, si Pia. I remembered the time Zey and Ina bumped into Zion and me. Kapag naaalala ko 'yon, parang and-drain na agad ako dahil nai-imagine ko ang energy ni Ina.

"Bibili rin kayo ng food?" tanong ni Zey.

"No, kape lang," sagot ko naman.

They both snickered. "Kami rin."

Sabay-sabay na kaming pumila at napangiti na lang ako nang maamoy ko ang kape. Arin and I carried two each and went back to our cabin. Naabutan naman namin sina Roi at Zion na may sinusulat sa whiteboard na nasa living room.

"Ano 'yan?" asked Arin as we put the coffee cups on the small, round table at the middle.

"Sinulat namin lahat ng teams," Roi replied.

"We should know our enemies," Zion added.

We stared at the table they did and I was surprised they remembered almost everyone. I mean, there were 60 people here.

Medyo nahilo ako nang basahin ko lahat ng pangalan. Sa totoo lang, iilan lang sa kanila ang nakakausap ko pero kilala ko naman halos lahat, especially those I find interesting.

"Tao ka ba talaga?" Arin muttered, looking suspiciously at Zion who was checking if he got all the names correct.

"Last time I checked, yes," he retorted.

"Hoy, may ambag din ako," reklamo naman ni Roi.

"For sure mga dalawa o tatlo lang ang naidagdag mo."

Bago pa makasagot si Roi ay binago na ni Arin ang topic at tinanong niya kung anong team ang kailangan naming bantayan.

"Well, Green's the leading team," I remarked. "And we're the second. I guess they are our rival?"

"Still too early to say that," Zion returned. "Other teams have potential to take over our position, too."

"Wow. Parang sure na sure kayong dalawa na nasa upper tier tayo, ah," komento ni Arin at sabay kaming napatingin sa kanya.

"I think we're the most balanced team," Zion said. "Hindi naman malayong nasa itaas talaga tayo."

I felt the same. Kung pagbabasehan ang genres na sinusulat namin, we could already cover almost everything. When it comes to physical strength, we have Roi. Deducting would also be easier if Zion and I help each other. Then we could leave the romance stuff to Arin.