(A WEEK LATER)
Midterm exams were coming up. The first exam was a week away.
I had already covered the portions once so I wasn't too worried, thanks to all that studying I did everyday...
Everyone was studying.
Daniel was studying with Jay.
Daniel, Duke, Jiho, Mira, Zack, and Yui were studying at the library, so were Jace, Euntae, Woong, and others.
Even Dan was studying at the store.
Soon enough, the exam day dawned upon us.
The questions were relatively easy to answer.
I was confused over a few questions but I attempted them all regardless. Better something than nothing...
.
.
.
"The top student for midterms is Daniel Park"
I was tied at second with Jay.
Both of us had gotten one answer wrong.
I felt a little guilty though because I had a few additional question banks and CDs to refer to that brother had bought me at the beginning of the school year.
Many questions discussed there were for the test so it was easier for me to answer, and everyone didn't have that opportunity😟.
Maybe next time I could offer to share them with someone else.
.
.
.
Now that the exams were over, I could resume the morning exercise I had paused (to get some additional time in the morning for revisions).
I felt the need to work out a little more. All I did was run for maybe 3-4 miles and a few squats.
I wish I had a workout buddy.
I slacked off when it was just me because I didn't have enough discipline😓. That was something I needed to work on.
The next day, I took a different route, one that seemed longer.
I hadn't been in that area before. I memorized the path I took so I that don't get lost.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Euntae and Jace there. I didn't at all expect to run into them.
"Good morning!" They called out, seeing me.
"Morning to you too!
Were you working out?"
"Yeah"
Anyone could tell they have been working out. Their well-built bodies were proof that they did.
Ohh, maybe they could help me form an exercise routine!
Should I ask for help?
They wouldn't be too bothered, would they?
Well, let's just try...
"Hey, do you guys think you could help me with something?"
"Yeah, but what?" Jace asked.
"I've been thinking about working out for some time, can you tell me what you two usually do for a workout a day?"
"We do 100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10 km run every day", Euntae said like it was nothing.
"You do?😮"
"Yeah. We've been doing it for about two years now."
"Oh, okay..."
Goodness, that's a lot!😳
"You can join us if you want.
It might be difficult at first, but you'll get used to it if you try enough", Jace offered.
"You don't mind?"
"Nope. So you've decided to join us?"
"I think it'd be a good idea, so yeah.
I do"
"Alright then. We could start- oh, we'll be going to the retreat tomorrow.
Then, we'll start after we're back, okay?"
"Okay!
I'll get going then. Bye!"
"Bye"
__________________
(THE NEXT DAY)
It was time for us to go to the retreat.
I got off of work for a few days.
The manager wasn't so keen on the idea but in the end, I promised to work a few extra hours later and he was convinced.
We got on the bus.
The last seats were already taken. I sat in the middle. Jasmine took the seat next to me.
Each department got their own bus so the bus wasn't so crowded.
I usually feel nauseous if I was inside a vehicle for too long, but since I nodded off on our way, it didn't matter. I didn't even realize how long we were on the bus before we reached our destination😅.
The instructors had been waiting for us.
They started by checking our bags.
I couldn't believe how many of my classmates tried to smuggle booze and cigarettes in.
We were asked to hand on our phones too.
We soon changed into sweats.
It was recreation time and everyone started playing games.
After that was the talent show.
The beauty department danced, Duke did a rap, the practical music department did a band concert.
And after wrapping up the event, it was time to sleep.
.
.
.
I woke up at 5 AM.
It had become a habit to wake up early in the morning.
I was the only one who did, so I got quite a lot of time to get ready before everyone was up.
We went rafting today.
And in the evening, we lit candles and there was a speech.
Everyone was so moved, we all teared up.
The last night of the retreat was passing.
We were about to go to bed when I heard a loud BAM on the door.
I opened the door and saw Zack.
"Hey, is Mira with you?"
"No, she said she was sharing the room with Zoe and Yui."
"Yeah, but they said she wasn't there..."
"Could it be she's outside for a walk or something?"
"She was with me, and she said she was going straight to bed"
"Ohh. Maybe we should look around. I'll look for her too. Let's go"
We were looking for Mira when I noticed Zack rushing out through the front door.
Something was wrong. I caught a glimpse of his expression.
It was panic.
'Mira going missing, and Zack panicking, oh my god, is she in trouble?!'
I saw Daniel coming after him.
"Daniel, what's going on?"
"Zues, our instructor, is a wanted criminal.
I made a call to the police and Zack heard me and rushed out"
"Oh no! Mira has been missing for a while. Could it be-"
"Let's go search for them. Call some others too"
We gathered some of our friends and went out searching for them.
.
.
.
When we found Zack in the warehouse with the cops, he was beating Zeus with two broken arms.
Zeus got arrested right away.
Won Bin, one of the other instructors, helped stop him, we heard from Mira. Zack was seriously injured he passed out and had to be admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Thankfully, it all ended with that.
________________________
We were back and I started working out with Euntae and Jace the next day.
I adjusted my schedule accordingly.
The first day, we ran 10 kms, and then were supposed to do the 100 pushup 100 squats part.
I didn't know how to take a pushup properly, so I had watched a Newtube video tutorial.
Pushups were usually for men, I was told.
I wasn't so keen on gender stereotypes in general.
But it wasn't wise to start with 100 right from day one.
So I stopped at 25.
It wasn't perfect, definitely, but I somehow completed it.
Then I did 25 sit-ups and 25 squats.
Euntae and Jace went ahead and completed 100 of them each.
They told me that if I keep up and be persistent, I'll be able to do that too one day. I certainly hoped so too.
It didn't hurt much right then, but the problem started the next day; rubber legs.
I couldn't even walk properly.
But Euntae persisted on keep going. He said that the pain would go away after a few days and that I mustn't stop or give up.
I was amused at how strict he got when it came to exercise.
He was better than any gym coach.
"Thanksgiving is coming.
I'll be going somewhere so we won't be able to meet then.
But don't slack off, you should workout from home." His instruction was clear.
"I will"
Hope you like the chapter. Thank you for reading.