Blood of an Arrow (UNDER REVISION)

UNO

"Cherry" I uttered in annoyance as the arrow hit the inner red-scoring area of the target's face.

I am totally not happy with that result.

I positioned myself again to shoot. Sa pagkakataong ito ay isang malalim na hininga ang aking pinakawalan. I straightened my torso, with my collarbone parallel to the arrow. I then gripped the bow handle but did not squeeze it. Itinapat ko ito sa aking target and with my bow arm straight, I raised it to a point that my arm is parallel to the ground, while simultaneously drawing the string back to my anchor point with my shooting hand.

"Bull's eye"

I grabbed my towel and headed upstairs.

With archery, it is always about direction. Nakamamanghang isipin na ang simpleng pagtutok at pagbitiw ng palaso ay makapagdudulot ng kasiraan.

Just then, I saw my father wearing his white gown. May sarili siyang laboratoryo sa bahay, self-employed but earns quite enough that can feed a village for days.

He's wearing his usual safety spectacles na hindi pa rin niya tinatanggal. A blue pin in the left upper side pocket of his coat. His hair is unlike any other geniuses, it is neatly brushed up and not disheveled.

"cómo fue tu práctica?" My dad is of Spanish origin but nagtagal na siya dito sa Pilipinas. He usually speaks in Spanish.

"It was fine, Dad." My father and I, we are close. We bond na parang magkabarkada but of course, we keep the formality and respect. Hindi rin naman ako madaldal kaya we talk regarding relevant things only.

If only any other father out there is like him, no child would ever want to rebel. Ang isang simpleng pagkumusta, pagpuri at pagpapakita ng pagkamangha sa abilidad at kaalaman ng isang tao ay kailanman hindi nakakasakit lalo pa't hindi nakababawas ng iyong pagkatao bagkus ay sumasalamin ito sa iyong pagkataong kumikilala sa kakayahan ng iba. Piliin nating maipakita ang ating sarili ng hindi nakasasakit ng kapwa.

He tapped my shoulder and messed my hair, it was his way of saying he was proud of me.

"That's good, son." Ang kaniyang ngiti ay pawang nagpapahiwatig ng kalungkutan. Hindi ko alam kung para saan ang kinukubling emosyon na iyon.

He turned around and headed towards his lab while I went up.

Looking back at how things were, of every little detail I could grasp. There's only one thing I plan to do. Do good.

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"Jacobean Age, Ma'am." The one with blurry glasses answered. She is wearing a big bow to complement her braided hair. Ang kaniyang buhok ay umaabot hanggang baywang at kakulay ng kanyang mga matang itim.

"Yes, The Jacobean Age of English Literature coincides with the reign of James 1 from 1603 to 1625. During this time the literature became sophisticated, somber, and conscious of social abuse and rivalry. The Jacobean Age produced rich prose and drama as well as the King James translation of the Bible." Our class must have been cursed to have a professor that looks like an old hag.

Social abuse. Rivalry.

"Anyone who can name a writer from that age?" she asks as she fixes her collar.

"Shakespeare and Jonson." She's waving her hand but shouted her answer. Of course, the typical Dana she is. She's so modest, yes! Note my sarcasm here. But for all I care, I don't even know her family name.

"Well, yes. Although Shakespeare rose in the Elizabethan Age that coincides with the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1." she roamed her eyes on four corners. "Who can give me another name?"