City Park - Early Morning
The morning sun was just beginning to peek over the trees, casting golden light across the park. Birds were chirping. The air was fresh. It was the perfect time for... jogging.
Well, for Aslyn, anyway.
Aslyn stood at the park entrance, already in her workout gear, looking fit and ready to conquer the world. Beside her, the rest of the group was in various states of readiness.
Perra was taking selfies. "The lighting is PERFECT! This is going straight to my story!"
Chima had her arms crossed, looking fierce as always. "Why are we doing this again?"
Aslyn beamed. "Because exercise is healthy and fun."
"Fun is subjective."
Amy bounced up and down, wearing a cute headband and holding a water bottle. "I brought snacks! Energy balls! For after!"
Aslyn eyed the energy balls warily. "Amy... what's in those?"
"My secret recipe!"
"That's what I'm afraid of."
Chima leaned toward Aslyn. "Those aren't energy balls. Those are tennis balls disguised as food."
Aslyn stifled a laugh. "We'll save them for later."
Then they all turned to look at Naila.
Naila was sitting on a bench, already dressed in workout clothes, but looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Her face was pale, and her breathing was heavy.
"I made it," Naila said weakly. "That's enough exercise for today."
Aslyn raised an eyebrow. "Naila, you walked 50 meters from the parking lot."
"That's 5,000 steps in my world."
Perra gasped. "NAILA WANTS TO JOGGING? THE WORLD IS ENDING!"
Naila groaned. "I was forced. Aslyn picked me up at 5 AM. And carried me like a sack of rice."
Aslyn looked proud. "I had to seize this rare opportunity. Naila is MOVING. Let's GO!"
***
They started jogging along the park path. Aslyn led the way with a steady pace. Chima ran beside her, trying to look tough but already breathing heavily. Perra jogged while taking selfies. Amy was full of energy. And Naila... was speed walking. Not jogging.
Aslyn looked back. "Come on, Naila! Pick up your feet!"
Naila's face was blank. "This is picked up. I'm not running. Running is the enemy."
Perra snapped a photo. "I need a candid shot. 'Morning run vibes.'"
Chima was panting but trying to hide it. "I'm... so... healthy..." cough cough
Aslyn glanced at her. "Chima, pace yourself. Don't force it."
"I'm... not... forcing..." cough
Amy was sprinting ahead, full of energy. "I LOVE JOGGING! RUNNING IS FUN!"
Aslyn smiled. "Amy, slow down. You'll tire yourself out."
"I'M STRONG! I CAN—"
Amy suddenly stopped, clutching her side.
"...cramp."
Chima laughed triumphantly. "Told you."
***
In the middle of their exhaustion, they heard a familiar sound.
BRUMM... BRUMM...
Lilian zoomed past them on an electric scooter. She was wearing a cute outfit, her hair flowing in the wind, and she had one hand holding an ice cream cone.
"HELLOOOOOO! GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE! KEEP RUNNING!"
Perra almost tripped. "LILIAN?! YOU'RE ON A SCOOTER?!"
Lilian called back. "I SAID 'PERSONAL VEHICLE,' DIDN'T I? THIS IS IT! MEET SLAY-ZILLA!"
Chima was panting heavily. "YOU'RE... JOGGING... ON A SCOOTER?!"
Lilian turned around, riding backwards. "I'M ENJOYING THE MORNING AIR! EATING ICE CREAM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING? RUNNING AND GETTING TIRED?"
Aslyn was confused. "Lil, this is jogging time! Why are you showing off?!"
Lilian licked her ice cream and smiled sweetly. "Because I can. Life isn't just about running. It's about STYLE."
Naila, who was still speed walking, suddenly agreed. "Lilian's right. Life is about... lying down."
Lilian laughed. "EXACTLY! OKAY, I'LL SEE YOU AT THE FINISH LINE! WHILE YOU'RE EXHAUSTED, I'LL BE RELAXED!"
She zoomed off, leaving them in a cloud of dust and frustration.
Chima glared after her. "I... hate... her..."
Aslyn took a deep breath. "Okay, okay. Ignore her. Focus. Keep jogging."
Perra was already posting photos. "But her photo was so good. I'm uploading it."108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIxzhBUJHm
***
They continued jogging. They hadn't gone far when they heard another sound.
KRING... KRING... KRING...
"MOVE! MOVE! DANGEROUS VEHICLE COMING THROUGH!"
They turned around. Alice was riding a bicycle, but not just any bicycle. She was carrying TWO passengers.
Alice at the front, pedaling furiously. Fatimah in the middle, looking terrified. And Wony perched on the back, sitting sideways because there was no room, trying desperately to look elegant.
Chima's jaw dropped. "ALICE?! YOU'RE CARRYING TWO PEOPLE?!"
Fatimah screamed from the middle. "THIS WAS HER IDEA! I JUST FOLLOWED!"
Wony was holding on for dear life. "This is... not... elegant... at all..."
Alice looked proud. "THE BICYCLE IS STRONG! I DID THE MATH!"
"What math?! The math of stupidity?!"
Alice slowed down as they approached. "I WANT TO PASS YOU GUYS! SO YOU KNOW THAT CYCLING IS BETTER THAN RUNNING!"
Naila, still speed walking, observed them. "You're carrying three people. That's not exercise. That's a circus."
Alice looked offended. "HEY! I—"
Suddenly, Alice spotted something across the path.
A VERY HANDSOME GUY. Running and sweating. Looking like he belonged in a perfume commercial.
Alice's eyes went wide. Her mouth dropped open.
"WOW... SO HANDSOME..."
Fatimah panicked. "ALICE! WATCH THE ROAD!"
Wony also looked. "Oh... yes... he is handsome..."
Alice completely forgot she was steering. "Hello, handsome..."
Fatimah screamed. "ALICE, THAT'S A DRAINAGE DITCH!"
Wony finally panicked. "WE'RE GOING TO FALL! THIS IS NOT ELEGANT!"108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pxve94WT1
The bicycle wobbled. Alice was still staring at the handsome guy. Fatimah tried to grab the handlebars. And Wony tried to maintain her dignity.
SPLAAAAAASH!
They crashed into the drainage ditch!
It wasn't deep, but it was wet. And muddy.
Alice sat in the water, which came up to her calves. "Ouch... he was so handsome... wait, where are you guys?"
Fatimah was sitting beside her, completely soaked, with grass in her hair. Her expression was completely flat.
"Alice. I'm going to kill you."
Wony was sitting in the water, her hair a mess, her clothes soaking wet. But she was still trying to sit up straight.
"This is... this is the lowest point of my life."
Alice looked at them, finally realizing what happened. "Wait, you guys are wet? How?"
Fatimah gave her a murderous stare. "BECAUSE YOU WERE STARING AT A GUY!"
Alice laughed nervously. "But he was handsome, right?"
Wony raised a weak hand. "I... looked too. So I'm also at fault."
Fatimah was furious. "YOU BOTH ARE AT FAULT! I'M JUST THE VICTIM!"
Naila, who had been speed walking, finally reached the edge of the ditch. She looked down at them.
"I walked 2 kilometers... and I end up watching you three in a ditch."
Alice looked up desperately. "Naila, help us!"
Naila thought about it for a moment. Then she walked away.
"I'll wait at the finish line. Too much effort."
"NAILA! THAT'S SO MEAN!"
Naila called back without turning around. "I've had enough exercise for today. Walking 2 km + helping you? That's overkill."
***
Chima finally went down to help them out. Aslyn and Perra helped pull them up.
Lilian zoomed past again on her scooter, having completed a full lap. She stopped at the edge of the ditch and looked down.
"OH! A MORNING SWIM? I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A POOL HERE!"
Alice, who was being pulled up by Aslyn, glared at her. "SHUT UP, LIL!"
Lilian laughed. "I'M JUST PASSING BY! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO FELL IN! BYE!"
She zoomed off again.
Wony sat on the grass, completely defeated. "I need to shower... five times... before I can be elegant again."
Fatimah was wringing water out of her hair. "I... I will never ride a bicycle again. For the rest of my life."
***
Later, they all sat on the grass, exhausted. The jogging mission had been a complete disaster.
Aslyn sighed. "Well... that didn't go as planned."
Perra was still taking photos. "At least I got some good content!"
Chima was trying to catch her breath. "I can't believe this. We came here to jog. And we ended up with three people in a ditch."
Naila finally returned. She sat down on the grass, looking as sleepy as ever.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdfBmVj157
Alice was still dripping wet. "But that guy was really handsome, right?"
Wony nodded weakly. "Yes. He was."
Fatimah glared at them. "YOU TWO ARE THE WORST."
Naila looked at all of them. Then she smiled. A small, lazy smile.
"You know what? I'm glad I walked."
Everyone stared at her.
"Why?" Chima asked.
Naila shrugged. "Because I was the only one who didn't end up in a ditch."
They all looked at her. Then at themselves. Then they burst out laughing.
Because she was right.108Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAti3ZiOmu
and then Add to home screen.