I was sweating like a mad pig.
This man has been throwing a ball that is as heavy as a metal towards me for about fifteen minutes now.
I was about to snap. Literally, in half.
"One more catch young lady!" His words were laced by his bad breath.
Finally, the last one!
I mustered up my last remaining strength and caught it knowing it was my last one.
"One more time." He shouted, I felt the ball hit my chest again.
Okay, now this one's the last one.
"Again!"
Again? Seriously?
"One more time!" That's what he'd said for the millionth time now! But I didn't have enough strength to tell him I needed a break. ASAP.
This strange burly and bearded man made his self known to us as Mr Conroe. He had beady eyes that were just as savage as his soul.
We spent the last hour with him sweating our butts off. He made us jump, squat, kick, shove, pull and made us do pretty abominable things with our bodies.
He made me reach to parts of my body I didn't know we had to reach.
We rarely used the pool, I felt so heated up I felt as though it would have been a better option to drown in the nearby pool.
But he was quite relentless.
Right now he's with Shawn again and his going harder on him than he was on me.
"Is that what you call a pushup? My six year old daughter could do better than that!"
Shawn's face was red from exhaustion, I could tell that he was on the verge of giving out. I hope he didn't because if he did he'd have to start all over again.
"I can't take anymore. Sir." Shawn pleaded.
"Do it!" He screamed at his face. "I'm a perfectionist, and if I don't get perfection, I get violent."
Funny, I thought he was already being violent.
"No, Mr Conroe. I really can't..." He said breathless.
Mr Conroe paced around him like a caged lion.
"There's no room here for fear, ego, modesty and definitely no room for quitting. If you're a quitter just walk right out that door. Walk out and don't come back."
Shawn and I looked at each and psychologically agreed to quit. We stood up and limped towards the exit.
"Where are you two going! Get your butts back here." We groaned.
"No, no. We're good for the day." Shawn puffed.
"Are you a quitter?"
"No, but I am tired."
"Young lady!" I gave him a quick glance and shook my head, before turning to limp off with Shawn.
Why did he care so much about us leaving anyway? He should just make like Elsa and 'let us go'.
"You two quitters should at least sign off before you leave." He said finally giving up as he saw that we really aren't returning.
"And boy'o," he called Shawn. "good luck with your sissy music." He gave his yellow smile again before going off to torture more people.
We both looked at each other before going back to the car. We remained silent the whole ride back to the hotel. We just didn't have the strength to speak.
We shuffled into elevator and we remained pin drop silent.
"That was some guy, huh?" Shawn broke the silience.
I crossed my arms and refused to utter a word.
"Clumsy, what's wrong?"
"Nothing is wrong with me. What gave you that idea?" I said with sarcasm.
"I know it wasn't all great but--"
"Wasn't all great? It was horrible Shawn. Is this what I get for trying to be adventurous? Joint pains and body odour? I'm such an idiot!"
"It's not bad to be adventurous sometimes. It wasn't your fault, Clumsy."
"Of course it wasn't my fault, it's all your fault."
"Woah, I didn't force you to come."
"Yeah, like you'd go on your own if I didn't tag along."
"Clumsy."
"Shawn." I said walking out of the elevator.
"Clumsy," he said grabbing my arm just before I reached the door. "Okay, I admit. It's my fault, I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
Our breaths were heavy, it was the only sound to be heard in the empty hallway.
"I'll make it up to you. How about tomorrow, after the shoot. We'll go out for dinner."
"No."
His eyes shone with sadness and a hint of pain.
"I mean no as in, I hate eating in public." I said, looking down. As much as I didn't know much about him, I didn't understand why I became so vulnerable to his sad eyes.
"How about a movie?"
"I don't see the point in that when you can watch one at home."
"Then your place at ten."
"Eight." I said, cringing at the thought of a man at my place after ten."
"I'll have to move some things around, but eight it is." He smiled. "I'll bring popcorn."
"I'll bring my... apartment?" I said and then inwardly face-palmed myself for saying something that stupid.