"Beauty, I'm a professional fitness instructor. I admire your determination, and so I thought of giving you some guidance in these three days I'm here. I hope that you will continue and follow all of it even after I've left."
"Really?" she blurted almost without reservation, which was opposite her earlier behavior.
"Haha, yes, of course. Hmm." He laughed again but calmed down abruptly as he looked at Grand Daddy's strict face.
Lunch went well with no more mishaps. Beauty was very silent the whole time. The elders and Lionel talked about a lot of things. They enjoyed the conversation with him.
"Beauty, I will write some instructions for you. Also, later, I will show you some good and effective physical exercises to help you reach your goal. Remember, determination provides results. So you must follow them relentlessly with determination. Surely, you'll see the changes in your body as you continue. I can't promise when it might happen. It all depends on you. I'll meet you at 4 pm, same place at the beach."
He left, thanking the elders and winking at Beauty, teasing her more. This made her lower her head again, making him laugh as he left.
Grand Mommy went along with Beauty to the beach due to the latter's insistence. Lionel didn't mind seeing them both. He gave her a piece of paper with all the rules she must follow to reach her goal.
She read them one by one and felt unsure if she could follow the third, fourth, up to the fifth rules.
1. Eat well with carbohydrates like rice or sweet potato before exercising.
2. Eat less meat and more fruits and vegetables with rice or sweet potato.
3. Food not allowed: French fries, burger, carbonated drinks, and snack goods.
4. Don't eat before going to sleep at night aside from dinner.
5. Avoid processed food like bread, ready-to-cook processed meat like canned goods (aside from tuna), sausages, bacon, etc.
6. Sleep early and rest well to avoid stress.
7. Do the exercises for an hour at 9 in the morning. Repeat after 3 in the afternoon.
8. Drink a lot of non-carbonated and non-alcoholic fluids during and after exercises.
9. Do not overexert yourself. It won't help. It will only bring stress to your body with no gains.
10. Remember to follow obediently everything above.
NOTE: DETERMINATION PROVIDES RESULTS
She usually brought snack goods in front of the computer while playing or checking emails. This made her doubtful to comply with such strict rules. She then reminded herself of the email she sent her parents, giving her the courage to do it resolutely.
"This is the proper way to do sit-ups. Observe well and follow me." Lionel showed her the proper way of doing other exercises as well, like jumping jack, wall push-ups for ladies, stretching, etc.
"Don't jump that way; you'll strain your ankle. Inhale and exhale properly." He monitored her actions if it was done properly to avoid straining her muscles.
"Grandma, these are the list of food Beauty can eat, how much, and what to prevent so that you can monitor her well. OK, go back home now. See you tomorrow at 9."
Two mornings after, at the beach, Beauty started whining, "aargh, my body aches so much. Lionel, please help me stand up. When will these body aches end? You told me yesterday they might be gone today, but they're not." She was really having body sores for two days already.
"Are you giving up now? I can't tell when your body will stop aching, but it surely will as long as you continue. Remember, determination provides results."
"Can I eat even a little meat or junk foods?" asked Beauty.
"NO", both Lionel and Grand Mommy answered.
"Oh, don't you even try. Good thing I'm the one doing the buying and preparations of your food," Grand Mommy scoffed at Beauty.
"Have mercy on me," cried Beauty.
"Determination provides results. Remember that. Don't make my efforts to waste, girl," Lionel reminded her jokingly.
Lionel then continued his vacation spree while guiding her. He went to his swimming every day. Grand Daddy also brought him sight-seeing around the island. He ate Grand Mommy's cooking every meal until he left. This was their way of thanking him.
Grand Daddy bought a bathroom weighing scale to monitor her weight. She followed the rules and exercises with firm determination.
A month had gone by when she was about to weigh herself on the scale. She crossed her fingers behind her and resolutely stood up on the scale. Slowly, she looked down and shouted, "I lost 6 Kilograms, Grand Mommy, Grand Daddy."
Recalling the phone number Lionel had forcibly given her, she thought of sending him a message about her progress. (Hey, guess what! I lost 6 kilograms. Thanks.)
He replied with a 'congratulations' cake and a thumbs-up emoticons. He also encouraged her to continue.
She felt a bit closer to Lionel, not feeling very shy with him anymore. Lionel also treated her like his student, scolding her when needed. For her, this was really something to celebrate. Lionel was the first man outside her family that she felt open to communicate.
"Let's have a celebration for Beauty's splendid success, which are losing 6 Kilograms and gaining a good friend, Lionel," Grand Mommy declared.
"Nice, what am I going to buy? Make sure the food won't make her fat again." They all laughed after hearing what Grand Daddy said.
The elder lady prepared three big boneless fish (marinated in salt, vinegar, basil leaves, and other spices), and then she covered each with aluminum foil and grilled them. She also served rice, sweet potatoes, and fruits. They ate by the beach and invited some neighbors to celebrate. Her parents, also, came for a visit that day and went back two days after as not to miss their jobs. As she lost weight, her self-confidence grew. Her happy demeanor slowly came back.
One day, her brother sent her a message to her phone:
(Sis, what are your future plans for your studies? What do you want to take up in college? I will try to help financially, but I can only provide a little. Leyla and I are planning to get married anytime this year. Maybe by November.)
(Bro, I'm not sure. I want to study in a good culinary school, but I know it's expensive. I know all of you would support my every decision as long it was good for me, but I know we have limited funds. Also, just save your money for your wedding with your childhood sweetheart. I don't want both of you to be affected because of me. I will think of a way. Don't worry.)
In the end, she placed such thoughts aside and remembered her laptop. Ever since she started exercising every day, she seldom opened her computer to avoid being tempted to not follow the rules. The laptop might be sulking by now if it had sentience.
She checked her emails first before playing games. By the way, she only used emails or text messages, for she didn't have so many friends to chat with. At this time, she was thinking that MAYBE some of her friends or former classmates remembered her, enough to send even one message.
"As if I have friends." Those girls just befriended her so they could cheat by copying her answers. Some even tried to get her test papers during examinations, but her refusal made them angry and left her.
Unknowingly, there was a certain email from a certain boy that's been waiting for her to open. It would shake her heart and led her to a new road for her career and life.