CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
WALA akong makita dahil nakapiring ang mga mata ko. Nasa max level na ang difficulty ng training namin. Ilang minuto na akong nakatayo rito sa arawan habang bitbit ang sniper ko. Kailangan kong matamaan ang mga latang nakasabit at gumagalaw habang nakapiring. Asan ang hustisya!?
I already shot two of the eight cans. I could hear the clinking of the cans whenever they would hit each other. To make the situation worst, they are swaying really fast. I have to calculate when will I pull the trigger and the speed of the bullet. Sa sobrang hirap ng pinagagawa sa akin, gusto ko na lang matulog.
Not far from here, I could hear Felicity and Kingston having a duel. Shin's firing with me here on the ground. Mafi is having her alone time at the training room with Gio who has been slacking off these days.
"Come on, Nyx! You can do it!" Shin cheered for me. As if that helped. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakadapa at nag-inat. Narinig ko pa ang tunog ng buto ko. Kanina pa pala ako nakadapa rito.
I went back to what I am doing and focused my ears on the cans. I pulled the trigger and boom! Three down, seven more to go.
"Yey!" Shin applauded. I'm happy I have a support system here with me. But I get distracted everytime he says something.
Muli kong ibinalik ang atensyon ko sa mga bwisit na lata. Nang mainis ako dahil hindi ko mahuli-huli 'yong tinatamaan ko ay bara-bara na lang akong bumaril. I fired multiple times on where my gut feels say I should fire.
"Woaw!" Shin mumbled. Napaupo ako mula sa sahig at pinakinggang mabuti ang paligid. Wala nang sumasayaw na lata. Wala na akong naririnig na tunog mula sa target. I diffidently removed my blinds and peeked at the cans only to see nothing.
"Did I just—"
"Yes! That was amazing! Paano mo nagawa 'yon?" Tanong niya sa akin habang masayang nakangiti. Agad nagsalubong ang kilay ko. Bakit kapag masyado akong seryoso sa pagbaril eh wala akong natatamaan tapos kapag bara-bara lang, natatamaan ko? Dapat siguro hindi ko masyadong inaasinta.
"Good job, Ms. Lucas. Well done," Mr. Wilson said. I immediately got up and regretted doing so. Nangalay ang kalahati ng katawan ko sa tagal kong nakaupo at nakadapa sa sahig. Pinagpagan ko ang sarili ko saka kumuha ng maiinom.
Last last last night, the Headmaster dined with on a sumptuous supper. He told us some announcement about the upcoming events. He informed us that we only have one month left for the trainings. At the new year's eve, our parents would join us on a celebration. Pagkatapos no'n babalik kami sa Capitol kasama ang iba pang mga players mula sa iba't ibang distrito. Ipapakilala kami sa publiko at mami-meet namin ang baliw na governor.
"How's practice?" Tanong ni Gio nang magkita kami sa main hall.
"Awesome," I casually replied. I washed my hands before going to the dining hall.
"Nakita n'yo ba kung paano natamaan ni Onyx lahat 'yong lata?" At heto na naman sila sa kanilang kwentuhan. And their topic is no other than me.
"Oo nga eh. Kapag nagbarilan kayo, ikinakasa mo pa lang 'yong baril mo patay ka na," pang-aasar ni Felicity. We all laughed at the dumbfounded Shin.
"Hoy! Nag-improve naman na ang reflexes ko! I can just dodge her bullets," depensa ni Shin sabay demonstrate ng gagawin niyang pag-ilag.
