Paper Crown

Chapter 7:

"Believe in hardwork. Nothing comes at a person who isn't working hard to achieve something..."
-A. Dina

Chapter 7:

=Avery=

I continue to stare at my straight black hair and emerald eyes admiring the beauty of Averianna. Nakakahiya naman sa buhok ko noon na puno ng split ends.

From my eyes down to my perfect trimmed eyebrows, pointed nose and thin red lips. She looks like a goddess. I still can't believe that I actually live in this body now.

"Snap out of it, Avery. It's not yours." I said to myself. Nakasuot ako ngayon ng pantalon na itim at t-shirt na puti. Madaling araw pa lang pero gising na ako. Paano ba naman ito ang napagkasunduan namin ni Mang Julyo. Kailangan kong mas agahan pa kung gusto ko makaabot ng maaga sa tindahan niya lalo na at hindi ako sasakay ng karwahe dahil hindi ako nagpaalam kay Sephora. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko pa rin nakikita yung sinasabing umampon kay Averianna. Gusto kong malaman kung mabait ba talaga sila o hindi.

I carefully walked out of the mansion at naglakad papunta sa likuran nito. Sa tingin ko kasi ay dito ako pwedeng makakuha ng kabayo para masakyan ko.

I summoned a glow-in-the-dark flower to serve as my light while I was tracking my way papunta sa kwadra. I was even more surprised when I saw rats instead of horses.

"What.." you mean rats are there way of transporting?! RATS?!! SERIOUSLY?!! Don't get me wrong. These rats actually look like the bigger version. Kasing laki siguro sila ng isang kotse at mukhang malinis din at walang amoy. If rats will be like these in my past life, everyone will be delighted.

What should I expect? Nasa ibang mundo na ako dapat hindi na ako magulat kung makakita ako ng lumilipad na baboy.

"Paano ba sumakay dito?" paano ba pinapatakbo tong daga na to? Ni walang renda o kaya hawakan. Should I ride then order for it to run? Nauutusan na ba ngayon ang nga daga?

Napakamot na lang ako sa ulo ko at ginawa na lang ang nasa isip. Hindi pa man ako nakakaupo masyado ay tumakbo na ng mabilis ang daga.

WHAT THE HELL?!!! 

I covered my mouth with my hand because I had a feeling that I'll shout  in so much horror. I might awaken the maidservants and guards. My head is already aching and I feel like vomiting already.

"Can you please slow... down?" I said in a shushed voice. I can't even speak louder dahil nasusuka na talaga ako. But to my surprise the rat actually followed my request!

And that my friend is the reason why I wasn't late for Mang Julyo's sword class 101.

                         *------*

"Ahh.. Ang sarap. Yeah. Sige pa. You're actually good at this. Yes, press it a bit harder. Yes. That's right. Ahhh... Heaven." tumitirik pa ang mga mata ko habang nagpapamasahe ako kay Sephora. She's been asking me nonstop kung nasaan daw ako kanina dahil nung puntahan niya daw ako sa kwarto ko ay wala na ako. I told her I was out strolling. Since hindi naman pumasok si Sephora sa weapon store ay hindi niya alam na nakipagpustahan ako para makapagsanay sa paggamit ng espada. I don't actually think she still needs to know tho.

Naalala ko naman tuloy ang nangyari kanina. May galit ata si Mang Julyo dahil natalo ko ang anak niya?? O talagang ganon lang talaga siya???

"You're still a beginner so we will use this." bigla niyang tinapon sakin ang kahoy na espada at dahil hindi pa ako nakakamove-on sa naging biyahe ko sa dagang yun ay natamaan ako sa noo ko.

"Aray!"

"You should have catch it stupid. It's just a simple throw. What a moron." kumunot ang noo ko ng marinig ang boses ni Augusto sa gilid.

Ba't kasali to dito? Kasama ba siya sa training?

I just rolled my eyes at him before preparing a comeback. "Well, this stupid and moron you are talking about actually beat you in a duel, birdbrain."

"Its called luck for you stupid." I laugh sarcastically making him more pissed as possible.

"It's called strategy, birdy. No doubt you don't know what that means. I almost forgot that your a birdbrain." I even stuck my tongue out to annoy him even more. He was about to attack me when his father stop him. I continue stucking my tongue out to him and decided to stop after how many seconds.

"Childish."

Nang umalis na si Augusto ay nagsimula na kami sa training namin.

"Swords are weapon, yes. But the secret so that you can perfectly wield the sword is to treat it as part of your body. Be one with your sword." napatango-tango ako dahil sa sinabi niya. Kahit na hindi ko naman naiintindihan ang sinabi niya. Part of your body? Paano magiging part ng body? "And also, you need to consider your surroundings. You also need to rely to all of your senses not just your sense of sight but also your sense of smell, hear and touch. Now you need to alert all of your senses. Yan ang unang pagsasanay natin." may tinapon itong isang tela at parang alam ko na kung ano ang ibig sabihin niya.

Nang masuot ko na ito sa mga mata ko ay mahigpit kong hinawakan ang kahoy na espada na bigay ni Mang Julyo. May naramdaman akong mabilis na hangin na dumaan sa likod ko kasabay ng isang hampas sa likod ng tuhod ko.

"Mas bilisan mo pa!" I heard him shouted. He looks like he was far away pero napadaing na lang ako ng tamaan ako sa likod.

It went on like that for the rest of the day that I wasn't able to walk straight. It even took me my whole remaining strength to remain seated on the rat because I was really sleepy! My body's tired!

I suddenly want to die.

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archangel_dina