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BRIANNA

I can lie to anyone but I can't lie to myself. The truth is ayaw ko lang makontrol ulit ng nararamdaman ko. I don't want a distaction either. But three words linger behind my head.

I. MISS. HIM.

I don't need another distraction. Not these missions... Not the coming war... Only him.

"Hiyah!" I manoeuvred the horse for the nth time. I keep shooting arrows at puro bullseye lahat iyon.

"Very good!" palakpak ng isang mongolian. Kanina pa nila ako pinupuri dahil mabilis daw akong matuto.

I smile at him, "Thanks!"

On the other hand Cyrus struggles to shoot an arrow while riding a horse. Alistair has a knack for riding a horse but not firing arrows. He slowly gallop in circles. Cyrus almost fell off the horse again.

"Ayaw ko na! Ayaw din naman sa akin ng kabayo, eh." reklamo niya sa amin, "Is this what you want me to learn?"

"Yes."

Alistair and I answered together. He gives me a thumbs up for putting the idea of mounted archery into action. I want to test his skills as an archer not just try this for fun. May special ring talaga sila para dito. Because it is part of their culture.

"One more time! They let us have another couple of hours to practice," mando ko sa kanya. "Do you want me tell Rosaleen that you're a coward?" pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

"Tell her! She wouldn't mind," he snorts at me. Kailangan pa niya ng guide para lang mabalanse ang sarili niya sa kabayo. Paano siya sasakay ng Pegasus niyan?

"You're protecting my friend with that sloppy archery of yours?" I pushed through adding fuel to the fire.

Alistair watches us as he gallops around on his horse. Natutuwa siya sa pangiinsultong ginagawa ko kay Cyrus. In fact, part ito ng pagtulak ko sa kanya para ganahan pa siya.

"Poor you, she might die first in the battlefield. Leaving you heartbroken." I mocked, "Then she'll get reincarnated and forget everything about you," I laughed at his angry face.

"You—at least I don't get ignored!" he shot back.

"I ignore him for a reason," I smirk at him. Hindi ako magpapaapekto sa mga sinasabi niya. "At least we'll both live and see each other eye to eye..."

"Rosaleen won't forget me! Hindi. I know that." he argues angrily.

Get angry Cyrus. Ride that horse and pull your bow string at me!

"Then, come and get me Cyril Russel!" I made the horse stand on it's hind legs and it neighed before running. I shoot an arrow dahil may target board sa likod ng ulo niya. It went away slightly from the center.

I mockingly smile at him.

Naging seryoso siya at pinatakbo ang kabayong sinasakyan. I purposely put my head in front the target board for him to aim at me. Madaming natakot sa ginawa ko pero wala akong pake. If this is what he needs then I'll push him to his limits. Slowly but surely, he pulls the bow string and releases an arrow... and bullseye!

One...

I keep counting hanggang sa nakailang ikot kami. Sometimes he misses a shot but most of the time it was at the center.

Six...

I tried teasing him by purposely shooting his arrows putting mine in the center. He gets annoyed but he is focused.

Thirteen...

We are both sweaty and tired. I keep dodging and firing against his arrow. He keeps pulling the string and shooting them. I made sure I taunt him and put my head in line of his sight.

Saka ko lang napansin na madami nang nanonood sa amin. They were amazed and terrified by what we are doing. Alistair has his own world of feeding the horse some hay. Pinapainom niya din ito ng tubig.

Last arrow.

I slowly gallop around him. He is panting and dizzy. "Giving up already, son of Apollo?" taas noo kong tanong. I give him a side-eye and look at him seriously, "Shame on you if you miss that arrow."

He grits his teeth. Pinatakbo ko ulit ang kabayo palayo sa kanya. He follows me around like a mad dog. Looking for the right timing. He aims and shoots behind my head.

I gave him a grin and shoots at the target far from me. Nakita kong papunta pa lang ang akin sa target board noong maramdaman ko ang hangin galing sa palaso. It passes beside my left ear, cutting pieces of my hair and hits the board.

Nakanganga pa ang ibang turista at residente. They went silent and holding their breaths. Parang nagslow motion ang pagtama ng palaso sa target board. Alistair's eyes went to the arrow too. Watching it's trajectory and direction.

Bullseye.

He splits the arrow on the center.

"Gaikhaltai!" one shouted. Some of them whistle. The others give an applause na parang nanonood sila ng epiko sa tiyatro. Where in Cyrus and I are the hero and the villain.

"I.. did it?" he looks bewildered.

"Yes. You did." nods with a smirk on his face.

Ako na ang nagbayad para sa mga oras na nagamit namin pero tumanggi ang may-ari. He and his wife does not want to accept it. Tumanggi siya at tinuro niya ang ring na ngayon ay may pila na. They all want to try it. I negotiated to pay half of it pero dinagdagan ko ito ng patago.

Napagkatuwaan pa nilang magkarera gamit ang mga kabayo bago kumain. Biglang nawili sa horse back riding ang dalawa. Inaya nila ako but I choose to stray a little and stare at the Mongolian terrains. Somebody said I looked like a female warrior riding a horse.

Ayaw kong ipagmalaki kung sino ang magulang ko. Proud pa din naman ako kahit anong mangyari. I uttered my thanks and ride back to the stables.

Ako na lang pala ang hinihintay nila para kumain ng hapunan. We ordered and ate in silence.

Naging maingay ang kinakainan namin nang marinig kong may gaganaping mounted archery competition sa lugar. They were talking about the grand prize noong tumayo ako.

"Anna, saan ka pupunta?" Cyrus asks.

Hindi ko siya hinarap at maglakad paalis sa lamesa namin, "May aalamin lang ako."

"Won't her head become bigger when you know too much?"

"May memory card siya sa noo 128GB kaya okay lang."

Nadinig ko ang pag-uusap nila hanggang sa lumapit ako sa may-ari. We talked for a bit until she told me about the competition's mechanics and prize. I smile at her saka bumalik sa upuan.

"So?" tanong nila.

My eyes light up staring at their puzzled faces. "Looks like luck is on our side," I grin at them.

TRANSLATION:

Gaikhaltai - Amazing

Thieves Of OlympusTahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon