Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Chapter 10 Chapter 10

Myla’s POV

I couldn't tell how long I remained on the bench, but I sat there long after Blake had walked away, long after the silence bore into me.

Long after I realized how easy it was to feel everything you want at once, then lose it all in a flash.

But when my thoughts grew heavy and my eyes heavier, I pushed myself off the bench and completed the short walk back to my room.

I got there in less than five minutes with the door opening up for me as I walked through.

I avoided any eyes, not even searching for Kyle's as I plopped down on the bed face down.

I forced my eyes close, trying as hard as I could to push away the dark thoughts even as they kept coming.

I shut my eyes tight, swinging my legs around and turning from side to side.

I couldn't help but remember Blake's words, his dark expression, how he felt so much like I did.

It burned up in me till I stopped fighting it and turned on my back, facing the bunk ahead of me.

I counted the lines and whatever else my eyes fell on, trying as hard as I could to distract myself.

I kept at it till a loud sound came breaking through my mind.
It was more like a sharp alarm cutting through the air.

Then a voice boomed from the speakers, “Up!”

My eyes snapped open and my body reacted before my mind could catch up.

My muscles hurt as I pushed myself upright on the bed and looked around.

The room was bright as always with the others jumping down and getting ready for the day like they didn't mind being woken so lousily.

Weirdos.

For a second, everything felt normal though, but as I closed my eyes and rubbed my head, last night came flooding back.

The bench. The stories. Blake.

My chest tightened slightly, but I shut it down just as fast.

No. Not now.

I swung my legs off the bed and stood up, ignoring the faint heaviness that still sat in my limbs.

Around me, others were already moving out, some arranging their beds while most had something on and were flooding out.

They talked among themselves lightly and that's when I realized I hadn't seen—

“Morning, sleepyhead,” a familiar voice called from behind me and the smile spread out on its own.

Speak of the devil indeed.

“Hi, Kyle,” I said in a mock excited tone.

He chuckled and sat on the other side of my bed.

“Where did you go last night?” He asked and I realized I didn't tell him.

I immediately worked myself to get a proper answer for him as I couldn't tell him anything about my talk with Blake.

Then it dropped on me.

“And where did you go too?” I asked with a smirk and he raised his two hands in the air.

“Serious much,” he chuckled. “Alright, keep that then. Let's get ready for morning workout, don't wanna be late like last time,” he added with a smirk.

And I immediately remembered my little interaction with Derek the other day and grimaced.

“Right.”

He chuckled and walked over to his personal wardrobe which opened up to a personal room for him to change and all.

We all had that.

I changed into a simple black top and black shorts with a pair of white canvas. All from the bag the lady gave me.

By the time I stepped out, Kyle was already waiting for me.

“Come on, let's go,” he remarked.

I shook my head but followed him as we hurried out and met up with the rest of them.

We made it through the remaining walk in silence as no one else really spoke to us and we walked together.

Few minutes later, we arrived at the training ground which was already set.

Groups stood in their rows, similar pattern as the last time.

Everything felt exactly like yesterday. Like nothing had changed.

And maybe, nothing had.

“Line up!”

The command came again, louder this time.

We moved into position almost immediately and I took my place without thinking, keeping my shoulders straight and eyes forward.

“Today, we don’t repeat mistakes,” the instructor’s voice rang out.

A pause. Then—

“We improve them.”

A few people shifted beside me. But I didn’t move a muscle.

“Pairs!”

I was taken back by the instruction and when I noticed people standing face to face in twos, I turned to face the obvious option, Kyle.

But I barely had time to process before someone stepped in front of me, pushing Kyle away.

“Hey!” Kyle yelled but he didn't say a word, just brought out his hand to signal our pairing.

Derek.

My stomach dropped as my eyes found his cold and bored expression .

But I didn't want this.

“We are pairs,” he muttered under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear.

And my jaw tightened. “Is this even allowed? You are not on my level,” I complained as I watched Kyle partner with someone else.

He kept glancing back at us, sending daggers through Derek's back.

But Derek didn't as much as notice.

“Yes, morning workouts have no levels,” he replied and looked me up and down once. Then he scoffed lightly. “Just try not to slow me down.”

I felt something twitch in my chest. I wanted to tell him how I didn't invite him or how he's invading my space.

But I let it go, refusing to react, I didn’t give him that satisfaction.

He didn't even wait for me to accept.

“Ready,” the instructor called.

Derek didn’t even look at me again.

“Move.”

And I did as did everyone else around me.

Everything happened fast—faster than yesterday. There was no easing into it this time around.

Derek moved like he already knew everything. Like he expected me to keep up.

“You are way too slow,” he called out when I couldn't keep up with what they called a routine strike move.

He was clearly annoyed and I clenched my teeth, adjusting and forcing my body to move quicker as we sparred.

We started with the basics, he went for a strike while I was to block.

I tried my best but ended up on the floor with my arm stinging.

“Wrong move,” he pointed out and I rolled my eyes.

I tried again, but faster this time. Ended up the same way the last did.

“Still wrong,” he pointed out but with a smirk now.

My arms stung slightly from the repeated hits, but I refused to stay down.

We went again, and this time, I struck while blocked.

And he did it effortlessly.

“Come again, harder this time,” he smirked and I grew annoyed.

I went again, faster this time, but he blocked with ease again.

I didn't wait for his remark this time, I went repeatedly, punching, kicking, slapping, but he blocked everything and ended by stepping aside from a strike and letting me fall.

The people around laughed and I felt the heat spread over me.

“Remember, this is just a warm up and not a sparring fight,” the instructor said and I instantly felt it was directed at me.

“Focus more,” Derek said as I stood and faced him again.

“I am,” I snapped before I could stop myself.

Derek paused and for just a second, his eyes flicked to mine.

Then, a small, humorless smirk touched his lips. “Doesn’t look like it.”

Something in my chest burned.

But the instructor’s voice cut through before I could say anything else.

“Change actions!” The instructor called out

Derek turned away from me immediately, like I wasn’t even worth the distraction.

And that somehow felt worse.

We moved over to an obstacle course and this time, I pushed hardest.

I matched his pace at first, forcing my body to keep up even when it started to protest.

I wasn’t going to give him another reason. Not one.

But it didn’t matter, cause he still found one.

But I moved anyway.

Again.

Again.

Again.

By the time the whistle blew finally, my chest was rising and falling harder than I wanted it to.

Sweat clung to my skin and my muscles felt burned out.

And Derek, he didn’t even look tired, barely had any sweat on him.

He stepped back, rolling his shoulders once like it had been nothing.

Then his gaze flicked to me briefly. “You’re barely keeping up.”

And before I could respond, he walked off. Like I didn’t matter enough to stay.

I stood there for a second longer than I should have, breathing heavily and staring around and nothing in particular.

Then—

“Hey.”

I blinked, turning slightly to find Kyle.

He stepped in beside me, handing me a bottle of water without asking.

“You look like you just went to war,” he said lightly and I let out a small breath, taking it.

“Feels like it,” I replied, downing the bottle.

He chuckled. “Yeah, don't know why he did that though.”

I glanced in the direction Derek had gone. “He’s always like that?”

Kyle followed my gaze, then shrugged. “Pretty much.”

A pause.

“Don’t take it personal,” he added with a shrug.

I huffed quietly. “Hard not to.”

Kyle smirked slightly. “Trust me, he’s worse when he actually cares.”

I raised a brow. “That’s worse?”

“Way worse,” Kyle replied with a wink.

And despite the pain in me, a small smile tugged at my lips.

Kyle noticed. “See? Still alive,” he said and I shook my head slightly, taking another sip.

“Barely,” I breathed out.

He laughed softly. “Come on, let's grab breakfast before they drag us into something else.”

We walked together straight from there down to the cafeteria which was already filling up by the time we got there.

It felt… normal.

Kyle grabbed his food like he had done this a hundred times before and I followed, doing the same.

We found a spot and began moving towards it when I let my eyes wander around just for a second—

And then they landed on him. Blake, sitting alone, same as always..Same posture, same distance from everyone else.

Like the entire room didn’t exist.

My chest tightened and before I could stop myself, I lingered.

I saw people moving around me with their lips moving, but didn't get a word they said, cause Blake moved.

Just a little, his eyes lifted and landed straight on mine.

We stayed like that and strangely, it felt exactly like last night.

Quiet. Still. And real.

Then, he looked away without a single expression.

Like nothing had happened between us last night. Like I hadn’t been there.

Something in my tummy dropped.

Last night was just last night.

Nothing more.

Not now, not ever