David walked down the stairs and stepped into the living room.
Skywhite was sitting on the couch, leaning back comfortably like he had been there for a while. The moment he noticed David, he turned his head slightly.
David stopped a few steps away.
"Oi," he said casually. "How are you?"
Skywhite smirked a little.
"I am good and you?" he replied.
David shrugged.
"I'am great."I see gift isn't with you "he said". Skywhite shook his head. Nah she had something to do.
Divine suddenly leaned forward from where she was sitting.
"Good timing!" she said with a mischievous grin.David smirked slightly.
He wasn't too worried about Skywhite. Unlike most people, Skywhite at least did basic training sometimes. He wasn't completely out of shape, so the routine probably wouldn't be too hard for him.
Skywhite noticed the look on David's face and narrowed his eyes.
"What?" he asked suspiciously.
David shrugged.
"Nothing. Just thinking you might actually keep up."
Divine immediately burst into laughter.
"Haha! Keep up?"
Skywhite placed a hand on his chest dramatically.
"Wow… the disrespect this early in the morning."
Mmeso shook her head, though a small smile appeared on her face.
"Well," she said calmly, "you'll find out soon enough."
Divine grabbed Ada's hand and ran toward the yard excitedly.
"Come on! Let's go!"
Skywhite sighed as he followed behind them.
"You people are insane," he muttered.
David walked beside him, still slightly amused.
"Too late to back out now."
The morning air was cool and fresh, the sun casting long shadows across the yard.
And in that yard…The yard was already set.
A small open space behind the house, packed earth slightly worn from repeated use. A few simple training tools lay around—ropes, a tire, a pull-up bar fixed between two metal poles.
Officer Chibueze stood at the center, arms folded, watching as they stepped out.
David took his position without a word.
Mmeso stood a few steps away, calm and composed as always.
Divine and Ada moved to the side, already stretching lightly.
Skywhite looked around once, taking everything in.
"…This is it?" he said.
No one answered.
Chibueze simply gestured.
"Warm-up. Ten laps."
David didn't wait.
He took off immediately.
Mmeso followed right behind him, her pace steady and controlled.
Skywhite hesitated for half a second—then ran.
By the third lap…
His breathing changed.
By the fifth…
His pace slowed slightly.
By the seventh…
"Okay… this is more than basic," he muttered under his breath.
David glanced sideways at him but said nothing.
Mmeso kept her rhythm, not even looking affected.
From the side, Divine cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Don't die on us yet!"
Skywhite shot her a look mid-run.
"I'm… fine!"
"Push-ups," Chibueze said the moment they stopped.
No rest.
David dropped immediately.
Mmeso followed.
Skywhite stared for a second.
"…We just finished running."
No response.
He sighed and dropped too.
10… 15… 20…
David's arms started to burn.
He gritted his teeth, pushing through.
Mmeso's pace slowed slightly—but her form stayed clean.
Skywhite hit 18…
Paused.
Collapsed halfway.
"…Nah," he breathed out, lying flat on the ground. "This is illegal."
Divine burst out laughing.
"Haha! That's it? Already?"
Ada tried to hold her laughter but failed.
Skywhite raised a hand weakly.
"I was not informed this was military training."
David rolled onto his back beside him, breathing heavily but smiling slightly.
"Told you… just survive."
Skywhite turned his head toward him.
"…You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
David didn't answer.
But the smirk on his face said everything.
"Up," Chibueze said calmly.
No shouting.
No pressure.
Just one word.
And somehow… it carried weight.
David forced himself up.
Mmeso stood straight again.
Skywhite groaned.
"…I regret coming here."
But he got up anyway.
From the side, Divine leaned toward Ada and whispered,
"He's not lasting ten minutes."
Ada giggled softly.
But her eyes shifted toward David.
He was tired.
Clearly.
But he kept going.
And standing there, under the rising morning sun…
With sweat, laughter, and quiet determination mixing in the air—
Something was changing.
Not just strength.
Not just endurance.
But all of them…
were slowly being prepared for something bigger.45…
46…
David's legs nearly gave out.
But he forced himself down—
—and back up.
47…
48…
Mmeso's breathing finally lost its rhythm, but she didn't stop.
49…
David clenched his jaw.
"…50."
He dropped flat on his back, chest rising hard.
Skywhite didn't even land properly—he just collapsed sideways like his body disconnected mid-command.
"I see the light…" he whispered. "Tell my people… I tried…"
Ada laughed, covering her mouth.
Divine clapped once, excited.
"Finally!"
Skywhite slowly lifted his head, face full of suffering, and looked at Chibueze.
"Sir… Uncle…" he said weakly. "I thought you said 50 squats…"
He raised a trembling hand and pointed at Divine and Ada.
"…they did 10… and stopped…"
Divine snapped immediately.
"Excuse me? We're beginners!"
Ada nodded quickly. "Yes! Basics!"
Skywhite let his head fall back again.
"…Then transfer me there…" he groaned. "I was placed in the wrong department…"
Mmeso shook her head slightly, a faint smile slipping through.
"You followed us."
"I followed blindly," Skywhite corrected. "That's different…"
David let out a tired laugh.
"By who?"
Skywhite didn't even hesitate.
"All of you… together… as a group…"
Chibueze stood with arms folded.
"No one forced you."
Skywhite closed his eyes.
"…I trusted the process…"
Divine burst out laughing again.
The tension faded into quiet recovery.
Breathing.
Sweat.
Muscles burning.
Then—
The gate creaked open.
Heads turned.
Footsteps followed.
Confident. Familiar.
Gift walked in.
Her eyes scanned once—then locked onto Skywhite lying flat on the ground.
She raised an eyebrow.
"…Wow."
David pushed himself up slightly, a grin forming.
"Gift."
She glanced at him.
"So you survived."
"Barely," David replied.
Her gaze returned to Skywhite.
"I leave you for a few hours…"
"…and you're already down."
Skywhite opened one eye slowly.
"…Babe…" he said weakly. "They pushed me past my limits…"
"You're still breathing."
"Not comfortably."
Divine ran up.
"Gift! You came!"
"Of course," she said casually. "You think I'll miss this?"
Ada giggled softly.
Mmeso walked over next.
"You're early."
Gift shrugged.
"I heard he was training," she said, nodding toward Skywhite. "I had to confirm."
Skywhite lifted his head slightly.
"…I was doing well… until peer pressure…"
"No," Gift replied. "You were doing average."
"That's still progress…"
David shook his head, smiling.
"And you're the one that told him where I was."
Gift didn't deny it.
"Obviously."
Skywhite sighed.
"…At least you came to support me…"
Gift folded her arms.
"I came to observe."
"…That hurts."
A small laugh escaped Mmeso.
Even David smiled.
Chibueze looked at them all, then spoke calmly.
"Break time is over in five minutes."
Skywhite froze.
"…There's more?"
No one answered.
He slowly closed his eyes again.
"…I need a new life…"
Gift tilted her head slightly.
"Stand up."
There was a pause.
A long one.
Then Skywhite sighed deeply…
"…Okay…"
He pushed himself up slowly, legs shaking.
"…But if I collapse again… I'm blaming all of you…"
And just like that—
The yard filled with life again.
Voices.
Energy.
Movement.
No chaos.
No danger.
Just people—
Training.
Laughing.
Pushing each other forward.
And quietly…