Thieves Of Olympus

54

CYRUS

I feel pressure and anxiety.

I almost fell off a horse but managed to balance my body. Mabagal din ang pagbitaw ko sa mga palaso.

I can feel bullets of sweat on my forehead, palms, nape and back. Malamig ito kasabay ng papintig ng puso ko habang umaasinta. My breathing feels slow and ragged. The galloping horse made me anxious while pulling the bow string.

My companions presence puts an invisible weight on my shoulders. Lalo pa't tinitignan nila ang bawat palasong pinapakawalan ko.

Why did I made a bet in the first place?! Mali ako ng desisyon na ginawa.

Bahala na! Para kay Dad... Kay Mom... at sa bago kong kapatid!

The old man from the tribe is so used to this. Kumpara sa akin na baguhan pa lang at kahapon lang natuto. I can't see the target sa liit at layo niyo. Idagdag pa ang takbo ng kabayo. It is me against myself, the old man and the wind direction.

"Shit!" bulong ko noong makita kung gaano kabilis ang kamay ng matanda sa pakuha ng palaso.

Timing, balance, agility, eye and hand coordination, and accuracy. He completes all of it to perfect mounted archery.

"You can do it, Cyrus!"

"Go for the gold Kiddo!"

"Ovgiin khümüüsiin khuvid!"

"Batzorig! Batzorig!"

Halo-halo ang mga naririnig ko. May boses babae at lalaki. The languages mix inside my head. English at Mongolian. Whistles and claps. Anna cheers me from our spot. Alistair nods at me when I turn around the horse for another target.

Apollo's words appear in my head. He thought me archery when I was three. I started from a small bow, and short distance. Until he gave me my own bow for my tenth birthday. Ayaw pa ni Mom pero pumayag din siya noong pumunta na ako sa camp kasama si Dad.

"Picture your target before you aim. When you're sure of the it pull the string and let go."

"The bullseye, son. Always the bullseye."

"Keep your eyes on the red dot."

Then comes Anna's words... Her taunting words that burned my desire to protect them... Rosaleen.

"...coward..."

"You're protecting my friend with that sloppy archery of yours?"

"Poor you, she might die first in the battlefield..."

I let my sixth arrow and... bullseye!

Umikot ako paharap ng kabayo. Sinabayan ko ng galaw ng katawan ko ang pagtakbo nito. I relax may back, stretch my arms and put another arrow. I pulled the string without aiming at it. I picture the board is close to me... not far but closer. The red dot larger than the others.

Move with the horse.

Aim.

Pull.

Let go.

Another bullseye.

Nasasabayan ko na ang bilis ng matanda. He looks at me. Sabay kami sa paglagay ng pangwalong palaso sa pana. The fifteen year old girl gives up and enjoys the competition.

Batzorig—the old man—stares at me as he pulls the trigger.

Ang yabang! Baka pumunta sa gitna iyong palaso.

I know he is the pride of the tribe. But I am Apollo's son! I give him a smirk as I pull the bow string. Hindi lang ikaw ang marunong pumana.

It hits the center.

The crowd cheers and applause. The desire to get my father's golden bow is already there. Along with the realization of believing in myself. Not being a coward like they say.

"That bow will be mine!" I said loudly. Wala akong pake sa mga nakarinig at nakatingin.

Lakas-loob kong inikot ang katawan sa kabayo. Just like a habit... A muscle memory... I aim, pull the bow string and fired the last arrow.

Umayos ako ng upo sa kabayo. Hindi ko na nakita pa kung sa gitna napunta ang huling palaso. Hinawakan ko ang pana at humawak sa tali ng kabayo. Bumalik ako sa pwesto namin. Tahimik ang dalawa pagbalik ko. They look like they saw a monster sa itsura nila.

Anna's eyes are glistening with tears. Alistair's eye grew a fraction. Bumalik din ito sa dati at ngumisi.

"Alam ko na. Talo tayo... It's fine. Ako na ang kukuha ng pana," malungkot kong sabi. Bumaba na ako ng kabayo.

Tumingin sila sa akin. Ngayon ay may pagkagulat at pagkamangha sa mga mukha nila. Sinunggaban ako ni Anna ng yakap kaya natumba kami. She is crying on my shoulder.

"What did I do?" taka kong tanong.

Alistair smirks at me, "You did it."

"I made her cry! Natalo kami. Iyon ang ginawa ko," nakokonsensya kong sagot.

"Stupid!" iling nito sa akin.

"Kala mo kung sinong matalino!" pagpaparinig ko.

"Paano ka nagustuhan ng girlfriend mo ha?" pangiinsulto niya.

Nakasalampak pa din kami ni Anna sa lupa. She is wiping her tears with the sleeve of her clothes. She smiles proudly at me. Kahit papaano napagtiyagaan at natiis niya akong turuan. Kahit naiinis na siyang hindi ko magawa ang gusto niyang ipagawa.

Her tear stained cheeks is red ganoon din ang ilong niya. Nauna akong tumayo sa kanya at tinulungan siyang tumayo.

"Stop crying okay? Bawian mo na lang ako sa camp. Do whatever you like," alo ko sa kanya.

Hindi pa din siya umimik. Inabutan siya ni Alistair ng tubig. Even the murmuring audience stopped. Parang my mute button ang lugar at hindi ko sila marinig.

This is weird. They should be celebrating but they are not.

Lumapit sa amin si Batzorig kasama ang kapartner nito. He offered his hand for a shake. Wala akong maintindihan sa mga sinabi nila sa akin. Para akong nakikipagusap sa ibang nilalang.

"Bayar khürgeye! Chi sain khiilee!" he pats my shoulder.

"Ta shagnalaa bidnees ilüü khürtekh yostoi!" his partner said shaking my hands too.

It feels odd pero ginawa ko na lang. For playing fair and respect as a competitor.

Binatukan ako ni Anna. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"Sorry na nga 'di ba!" pagalit kong sagot.

"Look at the board!" pinihit niya ang ulo ko para makita iyon.

The last arrow. It went straight to the center. Katabi ng isa pang palaso. It made a dent at the arrow head of the previous one.

I won the competition.

I really did.

TRANLATIONS:

Ovgiin khümüüsiin khuvid — For the tribesmen!

Bayar khürgeye. Chi sain khiilee — Congratulations! You did well!

Ta shagnalaa bidnees ilüü khürtekh yostoi! — You deserve the prize more than us!