"Ah!"
The n on the track fell onto their backs, paralyzed as their bodies finally gave in. They couldn’t move a limb anymore, and even though they were starving, all they wanted now was sleep. The crowds had already dispersed and gone back to their posts.
"We’re... we’re alive." The sa man who had approached Lola during the sprint breathed out weakly. "We’re... we’re still... alive."
It felt like a dream to everyone.
Today, they had gambled with their lives — and who would have thought they’d actually hit the jackpot?
"You all got lucky," soone said from nearby. "Just what were you guys thinking? Trusting that woman with your lives?"
Despite their exhaustion, the n all turned their heads toward the voice. Their eyes landed on Frederick — their colleague, and captain of the Order’s First Division. The n’s faces soured upon seeing that nasty smirk on his face.
"Just get off our backs," one of them said. "We survived, and that’s all that matters."
"I’m just saying." Frederick shrugged indifferently. "She may be the big boss’s lover, but she’s nothing. Once he gets fed up with her, she’ll be tossed aside like trash. I’m saying this for your sake — don’t depend on a woman like that."
He smirked mockingly before walking away, unfazed by the glares of the half-dead n sprawled across the field.
"That bastard..." one of them hissed through gritted teeth. "I’ll kill him soday."
"Ignore him," another muttered. "He’s going to die just like the rest of us anyway."
"I’m more puzzled that I can’t even get angry at him," another said under his breath. "I didn’t feel this exhausted while running. Only now that I stopped... I think I’m dehydrated."
One after another, they murmured their thoughts. Most decided to just leave it at that. They were far too tired for anything unnecessary.
Then Izu — the man who had switched positions during the sprint to move close to Lola — stared up at the sky. His mind drifted elsewhere, ignoring his comrades’ grumbles.
"Trusting her with our lives..." he muttered, unaware he was speaking aloud. "That prick’s making sense, though."
Izu blinked slowly and turned his head to the others. "Why did you guys stop?"
"Because you stopped," one of them answered imdiately. "If anything, we should ask you why you stopped."
This ti, Izu didn’t respond. He studied their curious faces before looking back at the dark sky.
"She’s convincing," he said simply.
Quite contradictory because Lola hadn’t negotiated much at all. If anything, she only said her conditions. Still, there was sothing in her eyes that told him she truly ant what she said.
Izu blinked again, glancing at the others. "Don’t you think?"
Everyone stared at him silently, then laughed. Shaking their heads, one of them said,
"You’re just hungry and exhausted. We all are."
"Let’s not forget we’re still going to be punished... but by her," another added. "Whatever punishnt she’s got for us, I’ll take it — after I sleep."
Without another word, the man who said that shut his eyes and began to sleep right there in the field. Others nodded in agreent and followed suit. Returning to their quarters was too much effort, so they planned to take a "short nap"... which would soon beco a deep slumber.
*****
anwhile...
"Hah!"
Lola collapsed face-first onto the bed. Her body bounced a little from the impact.
Turning her head to the side, she caught sight of Atlas walking toward the bathroom. "I’m too tired."
Although she managed to stay up throughout dinner, the food hadn’t replenished her energy. If anything, it only made her sleepier.
When Atlas walked out of the bathroom, he said, "You were running for an entire day. That’s two full marathons in one go."
"I know." She blinked slowly, trying to lift her finger, but she was too tired to move.
"At least you can still move your mouth," he said. "Don’t force yourself. I’ve run you an ice bath."
"I don’t want an ice bath."
"You don’t have a choice."
Her face soured at the thought. But she knew he was right. A quick dip in the ice bath was exactly what her body needed right now. She could already imagine every muscle aching tomorrow.
"Atlas, the kids?" she asked curiously. "I thought they’d be here."
"I told them to stay away."
"..." Her lips pressed into a pout.
He corrected himself. "They understand you’re tired, so I told them I’d put them to bed later. They watched you run the whole day — they get it."
"Gosh... why did I even waste my day off when I planned to play with them?" she grumbled, already regretting her decisions even though she knew she had just saved a few lives.
Atlas studied her quietly before reaching out to stroke her head. The simple gesture made her blink up at him.
"Are you trying to console ?" she asked.
He shrugged. "It works... on the kids."
Lola pursed her lips, but a faint smile appeared. "It works on too."
Relief flickered across his face, and he gave a small nod. Just as he turned his head toward the bathroom door, where the tub filled with ice awaited, Lola’s voice stopped him.
"Atlas, did you an it?"
He arched a brow. "an what?"
"I an... earlier, when they stopped. You sounded really scary. For a second, I thought you actually ant it."
It wasn’t that he had raised his voice; it was the tone. There was sothing in it that convinced her he ant every word. She truly thought he’d punish those n for obeying her.
Atlas stared at her. "I did."
"What?"
"My words are absolute," he said evenly. "I rarely take them back. Their offense was taking another person’s orders even when they contradicted mine. More importantly, that action put you in the situation I was trying to avoid." He paused. "What you did was challenge my authority."
Lola pursed her lips, fully aware of that truth. "Are you angry?"
"No." A subtle smile touched his lips. "Soone just had to play the bad cop when there’s a good cop. And my position requires a good reason for to allow their defiance."
The two of them stared at each other before the corners of her mouth curled up. anwhile, he gave her a nod. But then, a thought crossed her mind, and her brows moved up.
"Good reason?" Her face twitched as she recalled her own "cute" act earlier. Before she could respond, he spoke again.
"Fem fatale."
He raised his brows and reached for her. In one swift move, she was scooped into his arms as he carried her toward the bathroom.
"Aww, man..." she groaned. "I don’t want to be fem fatale!"
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