"Okay guys," Coach Lee bellowed from the front of the gym as the students hardly recovered from the intense combo kicking. "Before we end off today's training, let's do some physical training."
The class groaned loudly, sounds of panting still travelling around the room as everyone shifted restlessly about their position. Seeing how they were always so proactive, this is a first.
"Now now, if I hear one more complaint, I'll add an extra set," he warned strictly, to which the class immediately kept quiet and complied. I heaved a huge sigh, my body already close to shutting down after the past two hours. The thing about physical training is that the intensity varies with the types of exercises one does, and not knowing that intensity makes my stomach churn.
"Coach Lee is known for his extreme workouts, so don't expect to keep up," Donghyuck whispered from my right, a smirk plastered irritatingly on his face. He made it look like that heated exchange yesterday didn't take place at all. I rolled my eyes and intended to rebut, but another voice stopped me.
"You should know best to ignore him by now," Youn raised from my left, "I can't believe you thought of replying."
I felt a glare shooting past my vision, followed by a smirk from the other side. Great, I'm stuck between then again.
"Everyone on the ground, we'll start with mountain climbers," Coach Lee hollered as the sound of the speaker turning on echoed deafeningly around the gym. "Don't stop until you hear a buzzer."
With a press of a button, an automated countdown started and everyone got into position. I tightened my hairband and placed both hands on the mats, shoulder-width apart as my knees lifted off the ground in a push-up position.
*3, 2, 1, begin!*
I lifted up my knees to my chest as fast as I can, steadying my breathing with my pace. It wasn't long until the buzzer sounded and our coach yelled out loud, "Crunches!"
I flipped onto my back and started the set, exhaling out each time my elbows touched my knees. My heart was punching against my chest each time I took a breath, but I was too focused to even acknowledge it. Maybe I can take this.
Beep! "Russian twist!"
I stopped midway and began twisting to my sides, keeping my feet levitating off the ground. I was starting to feel the burn in my abs, but I pushed it away and tried to shift my attention to my motion.
Beep! "Push-ups!"
There was a short lag in my mind as I followed everyone into the push-up stance, beginning the workout with huge huffs of air. The time seemed to be passing slower as my muscles tensed up with each set. Keep it together, it's only the first set.
Beep! "Leg raises!"
I collapsed onto my back and pulled my legs perpendicular to the ground, before lowering them again. The ache in my lower abdomen was almost unbearable, and fighting the temptation to just drop my legs to the ground was torturing.
Beep beep! "First set done! Now take a 30-second break and we'll start the next."
I laid on the ground motionless, heaving deep breaths of air and letting them out slowly. Stitches started to form on my sides as I tried hard to subdue them, to which they went away eventually. A taunting voice raised on my right.
"Wow, you can't even take the first set? So weak..." he laughed out loud, but I dismissed his words like a gust of air. That's not going to faze me.
The second set started almost instantly and we all got to our feet on command. I took a glimpse of Donghyuck, who had his hands placed on his knees and eyes fixated on the front, his back moving up and down with his deep breathing. He's trying so hard to hide his fatigue.
"Begin!"
The room was filled with huffs and puffs as everyone focused their energy on the workouts, trying their best to keep up with the tempo. I, too, tried to sync with the upbeat music that resonated out of the speakers, but my endurance was holding me back as I started slowing down.
"You can slow down, but never stop!" Coach Lee hollered from the front as we transitioned from lunges to burpees as if calling me out for stalling a little. My sweat dripped profusely down my forehead as I struggled to keep up, my knees squeaking from squatting down too fast.
Just as I jumped back up, the buzzer sounded and everyone dropped like grapes to the ground. I laid sprawled on the floor, catching my breath quickly before the last set started. I don't even think I can keep up anymore.
"You know, you can give up if you can't take it." A comment flowed through my right ear as if reading my exact thoughts, but my mind switched sides instantly. No, I can't show him my weak side again.
"Give up? That's not in my dictionary," I exhaled, turning my head to him with a grin. He smirked in return, but a scowl soon took over as he stood back up. I followed suit, and both of us exchanged strong glances before turning our attention to the front. Okay, final set, let's give it my all.
Beep! "Mountain climbers!"
I dropped down onto the floor once again, withstanding the ache in my calves as I pulled each knee up to my chest consecutively. Keeping count of each set, I managed to hold out barely before going into the next workout.
"Sideward walk!"
My body froze at the sound of the unfamiliar name, looking around desperately as I tried to catch on to what others were doing. Moving my arms and legs simultaneously as I inched to the sides in a push-up position, I tried my best to mimic their moves without being obvious about it, and luckily, everyone seemed to be too focused to notice.
"Half squats!"
One could tell I was incredibly tired because the lag time between each workout was increasing drastically, with everyone already done with four or five sets while I just started on my first. I was reaching my limit, and my brain was this close to shutting down due to lack of oxygen. Gosh, remind me not to lose my stamina again.
"Planks!"
I could've thanked Coach Lee for bringing us back to low altitude, blood rushing back into my head as I got into the plank position. However, this was probably the most torturing exercise yet. My abs started burning the moment I lifted them off the ground, fighting the pain through gritted teeth. It's all about endurance now.
Time seemed to past especially slow during the period of time, the gym remaining silent besides the booming of the boom box. My arms started slipping on the mats due to sweat, and I was extremely close to giving up. But a faint figure at the corner of my eye warned me not to drop.
Donghyuck remained sturdy in that plank position, his perspiration dripping onto his sleeves as he gripped them hard. Pay closer attention, and I could see him trembling all over, although he tried to overcome it with deep exhalations. I cannot possibly lose out to him when he's full of perseverance.
Hold on a little longer, my mind repeated as I burrowed my hands into my sleeves to get a little more friction, gritting my teeth throughout the process. My legs started trembling even more, followed by my abdomen then arms; I could topple like a London bridge if this timer doesn't go off.
5... 4...
Why isn't this thing going off?
3... 2...
My arms are slipping...
1... Beep beep!
The sound of groaning filled the entire gymnasium as the whole class tumbled onto the ground in pain, especially me. I immediately stretched my lower abdomen, feeling the tension ease a little as I relaxed. Never in my entire life have I been in this much pain.
"Good job, you managed to pull through," Youn commented as she stretched her hamstrings and glutes while I smiled lethargically.
"Giving up would just be a cowardly excuse, am I right?" I directed the last three words to the boy standing to my right, his hands on his hips as he rested his weight on one foot. He rolled his eyes upon my comment and I felt a wave of satisfaction flow through me.
Coach Lee dismissed us after a round of cool down, but I couldn't seem to pull myself off the mats. It was like my whole body was glued tight to the ground. Talk about a heavy workout.
"Get up, you're going to stain the mats like this." Youn nudged my shoulder and I rolled over, gazing proudly at my sweaty masterpiece. Now that's the evidence of my hard work.
I finally crawled off the mats just as the majority of the class left, feeling a weird sense of urgency. After packing my things hastily, I was about to leave as well when someone called for me from behind. Seeing who it was, I already knew what he was going to ask.
"Wanna grab supper?" Haknyeon asked for the third time, the same amount of hope in his eyes as the last two times. I gave it a while before agreeing, "Sure, why not?"
He lit up with excitement as he wrapped his sweaty arm over my shoulder, exclaiming, "Okay! I know a great place for a post-workout meal. Let's go!"
He dragged me towards the exit of the gym while I tried to maintain at least a smile on my face. I mean, I should comply with at least one, right? Besides, I was famished.
"Lee Donghyuck, hurry up! It's gonna close soon!" He shouted over his shoulder and my face fell immediately. Oh right, I forgot he was tagging along. I stopped in my tracks, halting Haknyeon as he stared at me perplexingly.
"Three isn't nice, shall we invite Youn as well?" I suggested, peeping over to the girl who was on her phone. Without even thinking, he immediately hollered to the back, "Why not? Shin Youn, wanna join us?"
Youn shot us a sceptical look, questioning rather sarcastically, "Since when did you invite me for supper?" She laughed at his sudden request, to which Haknyeon replied, unfazed, "Accompany our new friend, won't you?"
He nudged me as I smiled cheekily back at her, who replied with a smirk. If I'm gonna survive this uncomfortableness, I should at least have someone I'm somewhat comfortable with. I held my breath as she contemplated for a while, before finally replying, "Fine."