Chapter 21: Nick's turn

THE moment I opened my eyes, the morning sun welcomed me through peeking between the curtains of my windows, casting long streaks of light across the floor. I squinted my eyes and closed it again, feeling the tiredness of my body and aching muscles.

For a moment, I let myself sunk deeper into sleep but as I collected my thoughts from yesterday's happenings my eyes finally opened.

I need to train!

I forcefully got off my bed and grunted for the sudden pain. Bugbog sarado ang buo kong katawan at parang gusto ko nalang manatili sa malambot at kumportableng kama.

I managed to get up and take a quick shower to refreshen my system. Hindi ko inisip ang sakit ng buong katawan, pati kaluluwa ko na yata ay nagrereklamo sa sakit.

Kahit na linisan ko rin ng maigi ang katawan ngayon, I will end up sweaty after this day.

My body is still sore from yesterday's intense training with Raji, but I wholeheartedly welcomed the ache. This is a reminder that I'm improving, I'm learning and getting stronger.

Pero walang-awa talaga ang isang 'yon! Barbaric behind those silent attitude!

Someday I will win in just one swift move, maghintay lang sya. I will send them to hell kneeling.

Today’s training was going to be different. Nick's been a playful one eversince but he was like a monster if pushed beyond his limits.

Magaling magturo si Nick at mabilis kong natututunan lahat ng pinapagawa niya kapag kami ang magkapartner. His calm and relaxed posture during teaching is so good kaya naging magaan ang pagtanggap ko ng impormasyon tuwing may tinuturo siya.

I found Nick already there, stretching and warming up inside training room. Today was going to be a tough session, I could feel it through my veins.

We have been training together and each time we met in this room, we were getting more intense.

Parang sasalang yata ako sa pangmalakasang olympics nito!

At first, Nick's been gentle to me pero isang araw na lang ay biglang malalakas na suntok ang ginagawad niya sa 'kin. And to my surprise, Agon's been ordering him to be hard on me.

"Good morning, babe," he greeted and winked at me while doing his streching.

Napangiwi ako. "Morning has been hell to me, walang good sa morning."

"Morning will be good dahil nakita mo ang gwapong pagmumukha ko. Look at me closely, babe, you will be in good mood and enlighten your dark world after seeing this handsome yet sexy creature in earth."

Nangasim ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya. This narcissistic man, tsk. Mapupuno na naman ang tenga ko sa mga self-proclaim title na lumalabas sa bibig niya at pagtitiisan ko 'yon ngayong araw!

I ignore Nick's delusional statement and do the streching before we fight. Feeling the tightness of my shoulder, I started a warm-up routine—boxing, a series of footwork drills, and basic stretches.

Nang mapansin ni Nick na tapos na ako sa streching ay inayos na niya ang sarili at may kinuhang mahabang box. Nilagay niya 'yon sa lamesa at agad na binuksan 'yon.

Bumungad ang mga espadang gawa sa kahoy, mahahabang stick at iba pang mga armas na gawa sa kahoy.

Nick's expression turned serious and faced me. When he was focusing, I'm really amazed how he turned his aura more different than usual. It was like he was transforming into different person each time. Parang kakaiba, parang hindi siya bigla ang nakilala kong Nick, or maybe it's me all along? Hindi ko pa siya masyadong kilala.

I know there's a complete different version of Nick behind those silly jokes and happy personality.

"We’re fighting using this wooden sword " he announced, pointing the weapons in the box.  "You’ve made impressive progress. The four of us noticed it. You've been Raji and Ardeen's favorite combat partner."

I was happy yet disappointed at the same time, I wish Agon too. Biglang may dumaang lungkot sa sistema ko pero agad kong inalis 'yon sa isip ko. I need to focus.

"Here's your weapon," biglang ani Nick na ikinalaki ng mata ko ng inihagis niya ang sandatang gawa sa kahoy sa pagmumukha ko. Napansin ko ang pilyo niyang ngiti pagkatapos.

"Seriously? Why you and your friends love to throw things on my face? Paano kung hindi ko nasasalo agad 'yon?" naiinis na turan ko na may nananaas na kilay.

Ipinagkibit-balikat 'yon ni Nick. "It runs to our handsome face."

"Kapal," I commented.

Puro yata kagwapuhan niya ang bukangbibig ngayong araw—no scratch that, all the time.

"Set aside the jokes for today. Are you ready?" biglang seryoso niya.

"Always," I answered.

"This training is not about how you fight but to survive in tough times," Nick started. "Hold your weapon and attack me," he commanded.

I held my wooden sword firmly and without giving a second thought I attacked him. Nick gracefully evaded my strike leaving me behind, because he is in my back right now, he took the chance to hit me on my arm to disarmed me.

"Argh!" daing ko at nabitawan ang hawak na espada.

"Be more careful with your blind spot, babe. Enemy will took chances if they have. Get your weapon," Nick said, his voice was calm as the sea. "Highten your senses all the time. Collaborate it with your move. You can't use your eyes all the time, don't be too dependent in your sight. You have your hearing and feeling senses," sunod-sunod na puna niya.

"Got it!" I nodded and get my weapon on the floor and adjusted my fighting stance as I blow a quick breath.  I attacked Nick with a quick and controlled strike.

Nang nasa likod ko na siya ay naramdaman ko ang papalapit niyang hampas at sinalag 'yon ng hindi nakatingin sa kaniya.

When I finally met his eyes, Nick was smiling like a proud mentor.

"Good. Disarm me if you can."

Walang ano-ano'y pinaulanan niya ako ng atake. My eyes widened slightly. Malalakas na hampas ang nasasalag ko at napapaatras sa bawat pag-atake.

Gusto ko sanang magreklamo pero alam kong hindi ko madadaan sa paawa 'to.

"Let’s see how you handle this," Nick said, swinging the sword towards my head.

I ducked and immediately countered with a kick aimed at his knee. Nick blocked it gracefully and attack me again. I leaped back and dodge another strike coming from him.

I observe the way he move and attack. I need to create an opening to disarm him quickly. I need to make an unpredictable move to surprise him and lose his focus.

When he was about to attack, nagkunwari akong maa-out balance. I smirk when a sudden concern showed on his face that made him to loosen up.

"Got yah!" I evilly smirked and laid my back on the mat as I kicked his weapon forcefully. "You loose, sucker!" tawa ko ng tumalsik ang wooden sword ni Nick sa malayo.

I leaved him surpised that he was unable to process it for a moment. Nang matauhan ay pumalakpak ito. "You got me there, babe. You're one of a kind."

"I just did what you said," I smiled proudly.

Naagaw ng pansin namin ang pagpalakpak ng kung sino at napabaling sa may sofa.

"Wow! What an intense battle!" Ardeen commented, pretty impressed on what he saw. Prente siyang nakaupo habang pumapalakpak.

Nakasuot siya ng gula-gulanit na sleveless shirt at itim na pang-ibaba. Mukhang siyang pulubi sa mga kalsada na nanghihingi ng pera pero mapapansin pa rin ang kutis porselana nitong balat, puting-puti daig pa ang kulay ko. Kapansin-pansin din ang kulay dilaw na buhok nito.

Ano 'yan? Mukhang sisiw!

Nick gave him a proud smile. "Of course! I'm the most reliable and handsome mentor. All thanks to me, Jeyk improved a lot," pagyayabang niya. "I'm the expert here, a decades of experience," dagdag pa niya habang nakataas ang noo.

Nangasim ang mukha ko, heto na naman siya. Inirapan ko siya at iniwan, saka diniposito ang sarili sa sofa sa sobrang pagod nang maramdaman 'to.