Jack Of All Trades | COMPLETED

Chapter 08

For days, everything was normal.

Loki and I spent so much time together than usual. We weren't as violent as before but we were always at each other's throat, wala pa rin may nagbago. We only act civil whenever Isa sees us but when it's only his eyes and mine, we go back to being the playful chaotic duo showing our unexpressed hatred through our egos whenever we compete in about almost anything.

Ngayong araw, napagpasiyahan namin ni Loki na pumunta sa burol kung saan kami nag-target practice noon. Loki told me that his family has been hauling firearms even before he was born, which explains why they have so many.

"Pangit ng stance mo," I commented.

Loki looked my way before sticking his tongue out. Tsk, bata talaga. Who would've known I'm two years younger than him? Parang ako na nga 'yong mas matanda sa'ming dalawa, e.

Loki aimed his arrow in front of him, gripping the end with a fragile hold as he straightened his poise, holding his breath until he eventually let the arrow fly to its target.

Outer circle. Not bad.

Lumingon si Loki sa gawi ko, may ngising panalo na sa mga labi niya.

Tumawa ako. "You know, I can do better."

He smirked. "But not with a bow."

"You'd be surprised."

"Okay, then," humakbang si Loki papalayo sa lamesa kung saan nakalagay ang bow at quiver niya. "Take the stage, Asti."

I grinned. Wala talaga akong kinalaman sa archery. I've never even held a bow in my entire life. I just bluffed so I could try it for the first time. Hindi naman 'to iba sa barilan.

Ready. Aim. Release. It's as easy as that.

Hindi ako tinatantanan ng mapaglarong ngisi sa mga labi ni Loki.  Mukhang alam niya na nagblu-bluff lang ako pero nae-entertain rin siya na sinusubukan ko 'to kahit walang tulong mula sa kaniya.

I held the middle of the bow with my right hand. It's made of steel, unlike what most show in historical movies. It's also featherweight, almost as if it's not made of steel. Siguro mamahalin 'to. The edges were sharp and the silver body was smoother than any surface I've ever touched.

I took one arrow from his quiver. Nakatitig lang si Loki sa'kin habang sineset-up ko ang sarili ko. His fingers were playing his lower lip while he stared at me in a mixture of humor and amusement.

Tumikhim ako bago umayos ng tayo. I placed one foot before the other, making my body veer to my left. I extended my right arm where I was gripping my bow. My left arm folded as it held the string and the end of the arrow.

Nagpakawala muna ako ng malalim na hininga bago tinutok ang tingin ko sa target. The distance from here and the black and white circular target with points on each color was a good thirty yards. Nagpakawala ako ng buntong hininga bago hinanda ang sarili.

One arrow. I can't mess this up.

Just as I was about to release the arrow from my grip, the tip lousily fell down, leaving me to grip the end of it.

My brows furrowed as a look of disappointment and embarrassment showed on my face. Narinig ko si Loki na humalakhak kaya mas lalong namula ang mukha ko. God, this is so embarrassing...

"What was that?" tawang-tawa pa rin si Loki.

Pansamantala kong pinikit nang mariin ang mga mata ko, nagdasal na sana'y kunin na 'ko ng diyos ngayon. Nakakahiya, ayaw kong tingnan si Loki dahil panigurado manunukso lang 'yon.