Cayden's Crusade

Just Another Bully

Tarquin's bloodied face hit the floor as the complex was filled by the army recruits' cheers.

It's the first day that our trainings were put to use. Rangers versus the Armies in the boxing ring. The first fight was Tarquin against one of Thanos' minions. And Tarquin fell right to his face in less than five minutes. Thanos' laugh is the loudest as they made fun of Tarquin's face.

I wanted to punch Thanos' idiotic face. Laughing at other people's defeat, making fun of them, he is nothing but just a bully and it annoys me because I can't do anything about it but watch him continue doing it because of that stupid No fighting with the Armies rule.

Walang naka schedule na fight from our team this morning so we have the option to just watch the fight or continue with our training.

"Training na nga lang tayo", sabi ni Alouette.

"No", I told her. "We should watch how they fights and observe kung ano ang strengths and weaknesses nila".

"I hate watching the armies beating those rangers",  sabi ni Zinny.

"I know but we need to stay and watch para malaman natin kung paano natin sila talunan when our turn comes", sabi ko.

"She's here", sabi ni Cassius at may itinuro.

It was the girl. She was observing the fights, her face still looking bored.

"Don't mind her", sabi ko sa kanila. "Focus on the fights".

And focus we did. Walang nanalong rangers, but we noticed and learned something that could let us win.

Clovis, who was good at drawing draws the attacks the Armies used and it was pretty predictable kaya ginaya namin at gumawa nang mga blocking moves against sa mga ito.

We have agreed na sa bunkhouse lang namin ipraktis ang mga ito. Element of Surprise daw sabi ni Clovis.

"Kawawang Tarquin", sabi ni Zinny. We were having our lunch sa pantry. Tapos na ang fighting matches since every morning lang naman ito para balik na naman sa training after lunch though we have option to train instead of watching the fights in the morning.

"Oo nga", sabi ni Chava. "Siya lang yata yung grabing bugbug ang inabot. Yung iba nga pasa lang at black eye nakuha, pero siya, may putok pa labi niya tapos yung kilay niya may sugat din".

"Bakit kaya siya yung paboritong ibully nina Thanos?", tanong ni Aloutte.

"Baka may nagawa siyang kasalanan",  sabi naman ni Naila.

"Saka yung mga teammates niya, walang kwenta. Hindi man lang siya tinutulungan", obserba ni Clovis.

Tiningnan ko si Tarquin. Nasa tabi lang siya kumakain. Iisang table lang sila nang mga kateammates niya pero hindi ni isang beses ay hindi ko nakita na kinakausap siya nang mga ito.

"Maybe because they hate his guts", sabi ko. "Kung ibang tao pa yan baka matagal nang sumuko, pero siya, hanggang ngayon andito pa rin."

We went back to the complex to continue training. Training exercises na naman ngayon. We focused on mastering our weapons while the other teams focused on their fighting skills. Probably to prepare kapag sila na naman ang sasabak sa loob nang ring.

Natapos ang araw at excited na kaming umuwi sa bunkhouse para magpraktis nang blocking moves sa mga attack na nakita namin sa mga Armies kanina.

"I really think na may hindi tinuturo sa atin yung trainers na alam nang mga armies", sabi ni Clovis.

"Asa ka pa", sagot ni Brick. "Syempre, Army rin yung trainers natin kaya for sure,  mas gusto nila mas maraming alam yung mga recruits nila."

"May point ka dyan, Brick", sang-ayon ko.

"Buti na lang naisipan natin yung plano kanina----", napatigil si Clovis. "Hala, naiwan ko yata yung libro na dinrowingan ko".

"ANO!", lahat kami napatigil.

"Saan mo ba naiwan?", tanong ko.

"Dun sa may bench malapit sa shooting range".

"Ano ba yan,  babalik na naman tayo eh malapit na tayo sa bunkhouse oh", reklamo ni Chava.

"Magluluto pa ako", sabi naman ni Holden.

"Ako na lang kukuha, umuwi na lang kayo tapos mag-isip kayo kung ano pa pwede natin idagdag na mga moves", sabi ko sa kanila.

"Salamat,  Cayden", sabi ni Clovis na tuwang-tuwa sa pag volunteer ko.

Dali dali akong bumalik sa training complex. Kinakabahan ako at baka may ibang nakakuha nung libro. Pauwi na rin ang ibang teams, maliban kay Tarquin na kaharap pa rin ang punching bag at sinusuntok ito. Parang hindi alintana ang natamong sugat at pasa kanina.

Tumakbo papuntang shooting range na medyo may kalayuan pa since nasa dulo ito nang complex. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag nang makita kong nandoon pa rin ang librong dinrowingan ni Clovis kanina.

Nakapatay na ang ibang ilaw sa loob nang complex. Kinuha ko ang libro at naglakad palabas nang complex. Then I heard groans, kasabay nang pagbagsak nang isang bagay.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid, mga punching bags lang ang nandoon. Then there it was again, groans then a sound of something dropping to the floor. I followed the sound hanggang marating ko ang punching bag na sinusuntok ni Tarquin kanina. Sa unahan nito ay ang boxing ring na. Nasa loob na sa ring si Tarquin, his body down on the floor. May kasama siya, nakatayo, hinihintay siyang bumangon.

"Get up!",  the voice was authoritative.

Dahan dahang tumayo si Tarquin. Sinipa niya ito sa paa. Tarquin groaned and fell down.

"Get up!", utos uli nang isa. Hindi ko makita mukha niya dahil nakatalikod siya sa akin.

I would have thought na si Thanos ito ngunit kulay itim ang uniform nito. Ibig sabihin, ranger din.

Tatlong beses. Tatlong beses na paulit ulit na tumayo si Tarquin at tatlong beses niya ring itong sinipa sa paa. Tatlong beses ko ring narinig ang ungol ni Tarquin kasunod nang paglagapak nang katawan niya sa board ng boxing ring.

"Get up!", sabi niya uli.

Tumayo uli si Tarquin, umatras siya, unti unti umikot hanggang ang likod na ni Tarquin ang nakikita ko. Natatabunan niya ang kasama niya sa loob ng ring. Ungol. At natumba na naman si Tarquin. Sigurado akong sinipa na naman siya nito.

I could now see the assailant's face. Nakaharap na ito sa akin, hindi na natatabunan nang katawan ni Tarquin na nakahilata sa sahig nang boxing ring.

I was shocked. It was her. The Girl who sits at the back of our classroom. Gone is her usual bored look. She looked amused na nakikitang nahihirapan si Tarquin.

I got out of the complex na hindi makapaniwala. Hindi makapaniwala na hinayaan ko lang si Tarquin na mabugbug nang babaeng yun. I was disappointed with myself. And most if all, I was disappointed with the discovery and realization that the girl, as mysterious as she is, is just another bully.

Hi guys! Are you disappointed to learn na ganung klase ang bagong classmate nila?

No worries, you'll get to know the real her. Just keep on reading!
😀

xoxo
vampig30