"Hooyah!"
The training still went on. Today the task was carrying a 100 kg log. One log for eight crews to bring it up to the steep hilltop. The path wasn't even. Instead , it was covered by rugged , rough rocks obstructing them throughout the journey. The closer they were to the peak , the more formidable the climb became. No matter how much fatigue and exhaustion may have loomed , they all were committed to accomplishing it.
"Huff..."
Tarn panted heavily , but the hand still held onto the log tightly. If only he knew , he would follow Phi Yai advice , so he wouldn't breathlessly gasp for air like this. That advice was , before joining the boot camp here. Tarn and Yai planned for physical training together , and Yai included the carrying rice sack uphill in their session.
However Tarn refused to do this part it wore him out. He assumed it wouldn't be as heavy as recklessly , knowing he had to share its weight with many people , resulting in... Tarn himself now , who was exhausted to death at this very moment
"Tarn..."
Came the voice of Phaya , causing Tarn to wrench himself and regain his wits. Tarn shouted back.
"I'm okay."274Please respect copyright.PENANA7FPattvkbf
"Even if you're not , you have to. We're almost there." Roared Yai from the front
The high mountain always defeated his nong , but diving deep in the water was his thing. He had never been shaken by it. Tarn gritted his teeth as he strived forward . He thought of Luang Phor's face and kept stepping ahead with shaky legs. Never back down!
Finally , conquering the mountain top almost brought manly tears to his eyes. Even though he was thirsty like a dry up well , there was no water to drink.
All were suffering from dehydration and loss of electrolytes , and some even experienced heat stroke. Fortunately , they were given the primary medical treatment and were allowed to rest for one hour while the rest stretched their body to warm up. Their trainer intermittently came and sprayed water on their faces. Phaya asked Tarn
"You alright?"
Tarn nodded and gave a hand gesture to signal 'yes' even though he was so bone tired that he could barely swallow his saliva. The throat was drought stricken and the water from his trainer didn't help at all. Nevertheless , he kept fighting on , not going to wave the white flag to disgrace for being the son of a great ex police officer or Luang Phor would complain about it
A week had flown by , and one of Chart's friends resigned , saying he couldn't stand it anymore. To this moment , only thirty five men remained out of the initial fifty , and within a few days , all the men would be bound to The Hell Week
"Phaya , are you sure you can do this?"
Today's session was floating and treading water. Regardless of the fact that Phaya had previously trained to swim for one to seven miles , he still did not seem to be water based activity friendly. Phaya almost drowned many times. And with both hands and feet tied , Tarn wasn't sure if Phaya could handle it.
Phaya nodded with full determination glistening in his eyes. Tarn twirled around to take the dry box , then plunged into the water. After that , Phaya was thrown down. The tall figure flipped his body and started to stroke forward. Tarn was floating nearby , unblinkingly observing Phaya
Phaya dove into the water propelled forward. He emerged to the surface , inhaled , and dove back underwater again. This stroke was called butterfly , which Phaya had practiced for the entire two months before joining the training so he could easily breeze through it
Phaya dove down under the surface again...
My precious... I shall reclaim it...
GAG!
That voice....
Tarn furrowed his brows , watching Phaya. The tall figure was underwater longer than usual , but before long , Phaya ascended from the water to gasp and strive forward... When it was time to dive back in , he inhaled deeply again before submerging underneath the surface
'What is your entitlement to deprive her from my presence?'
Again... He couldn't be more confident than this. That voice...
"GAGA!"
Phaya emerged from the water ,drinking a gulp from choking , panting. Tarn noticed the frailty from Phaya and converged to help , but Phaya fluttered his head and kept swimming on. The time that Phaya swooped back into the water , that voice resounded into his auditory sense again
'A man of your kind always torments her soul , i shall not let her suffer again! I shall reclaim her!'
Who... who is her....?
"GAG!"274Please respect copyright.PENANAAqLQYModtj
"Phaya , are you sure you can do this?"
Tarn repeated his question. Phaya swallowed his saliva down his throat and carried on with the eye that cast an unyielding determination. He would never let anything impede him , even that monster! Phaya concentrated his mind , inhaled deeply again , and descended into the water. He kept swimming until he reached the shore. After the trainer blew the whistle , Tarn hurriedly untied Phaya , strode up to the bank , and waited for the other frogmen
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Phaya nodded in affirmation to Tarn yet Tarn's distress still lingered. The unwell expression played across Phaya's face , yet Tarn chose to put off his doubt for later. It took Phaya longer than usual to rise above , and he seemed to lose his peace of mind after that. There must have been something. Tarn stood firm in his conviction.
The evening
Everyone readied themselves to rest , including Tarn. He uttered a quick prayer and paid homage to the pillow three times before stealing a glance at his friend , who as also doing the same ritual. Tarn finally asked the question eh had put off in the afternoon.
"Phaya , is there anything crossing your mind?"
Taken aback by that word , Phaya responded to Tarn's gaze and wavered his head
"No." He said before collapsing his body on the mattress274Please respect copyright.PENANAw6ui6kSOvr
"But i know you do... You can share it with me , mate."
If he told the truth...Tarn would think that he must have been crazy.
"I also have the top secret. Only few people knew it , but i'm telling you." Phaya squeezed his eyebrows 274Please respect copyright.PENANAwv6je3ZQRF
"What for? I don't want to know."274Please respect copyright.PENANABVyKsApibQ
"You don't really? But mine was something so supernatural."
Phaya looked at that face perplexedly. Tarn lifted a wry smirk to the corner of his mouth and walked up to sit on Phaya's bed. He laid his eyes on the tall figure who tucked himself under the blanket , then bowed down to whisper in his friend's ear.
"Are we just the air filling the room to them?" Muttered Khem while the rest curled their lips into laughter
All the attention gathered on these two close friends breathing into each other's ears side to side. Everyone else shook their head amusingly in their corner , didn't want to interrupt the good time , so they might have missed some big scenes
"Khun Khem , do you know if the air didn't consist of just Oxe..."274Please respect copyright.PENANACLb9LnR7Ws
"Zip it nerd. I don't want to attend your science class right now."
Khem cut circuited before Singh could begin his lecture about loads of his experiments to them. To be frank , even after a million times ,a person like Khem could never understand such an intricate thing. Psst. Kehm swiveled to Yai , standing with his arms crossed and both eyes prying on the two
"You're Tarn's long time friend. Has he never done something like this to you?"
Yai shook his head
"If he did , i'd definitely kick his ass." How dare you ask that? Ewww274Please respect copyright.PENANAebBUFbJQlX
"So , why they...?"274Please respect copyright.PENANAPmaMNeYhqU
"If you want to know , go ask them yourself. But one thing is for sure , they are friends. Stop your absurd imagination on them."274Please respect copyright.PENANADLWlGFPJfa
"We can't help it. They really take a GOOOODDDDD care of each other." Chart lifted his face and gave a mischievous remark. Khem nodded to support that idea274Please respect copyright.PENANApdma44C3Fd
"I don't see anything strange." Interrupted Singh , and everybody gave an unimpressed look
Only you didn't understand such a thing , Singh , you dumbass
274Please respect copyright.PENANAOxpLBokiyr