Chapter 3: Jack
Richard huffed and puffed, his lungs burning as if he'd just swallowed lava. His shirt was drenched, sticking to his skin like it had fused with his soul.
"Holy shit... I'm dying."
He bent over, hands on his knees, sweat dripping onto the pavement. The morning sun wasn't even at full power yet, but he already felt like he'd been roasted alive.
Why the hell did he think 100 push-ups, curl-ups, pull-ups, and a 3KM run would be easy?!
"Damn... when was the last time I even ran?" He wiped his forehead. "Probably back in high school PE?"
His legs trembled as he tried to stand upright.
A familiar voice called out.
"Hey, Richard! What's up with you? Why are you suddenly jogging?"
Richard turned to see Nina, his next-door neighbor, standing at the gate. She had a plastic bag in one hand, probably full of soft drinks and snacks, because unlike him, she wasn't making life harder for herself.
He forced a weak smile. "Eh... new hobby."
"Hobby? You're acting weird. Don't you usually just hang around at the repair shop?"