The Mistaken Bride

chapter 24 - her aim

"You aim and use your shoulder strength."

She squinted her eyes. Nasa shooting range sila at kasalukuyang tinuturuan ng tiyuhin sa pagbaril. Last week ay tinuruan siya nito sa basics ng baril. Mga klase ng baril at pag load sa mga ito gayundin ang pagkalas. Little did he know she knew that already. She's two steps ahead. Bago pa man ito pumayag na turuan siya ay nagawa na niyang mag-research at magtanung-tanong. She doesn't come unprepared. She also watched videos on basic shooting. She's too eager to learn. Kapag wala ang tiyuhin ay nagpapraktis siyang mag-isa. She's using pellet gun. Though the feels are totally different than using a real gun, it served its purpose: aiming and making sure it hits the target. Her uncle is not in the mood of wasting precious time.

May natanggap itong tawag kamakailan na kailangan nitong lumipad patungong Romania. Ayon sa tiyuhin, it's urgent. Iniisip niyang anumang oras ay kakailanganin ng tiyuhin na umalis. Kaya naman siya nagsimulang mag-aral na mag-isa. Iyong mga napanood niya ay sinusubukan niyang gawin gamit ang pellet gun. She even bought one that felt and looked like a real gun, minus the real bullets and the sound it made. Ang nakukuhang allowance mula sa mga magulang ay ipinambili niya ng ilang gadgets na makakatulong sa training niya. Mula nang matanggap ng tiyuhin ang tawag ay nararamdaman niya ang pagnanais nitong makaalis agad. Ngunit nagdadalawang isip itong umalis.nNatatakot ang tiyuhin na baka anong pagkakamali ang magawa niya and she might end up shooting someone. Or worst, he's afraid she might kill someone. She's not going to disappoint him.

Mula sa pagsipat sa lata na siyang target niya ay tinanong niya ang tiyuhin. "Tito, why are you still here? Are you afraid I might kill someone?" She felt him flinched a little. Ang mata niya ay nananatiling naka-focus sa anim na lata. Nakapatong ang bawat isa sa isang bilugang tubo. Her goal is to shoot the cans. May dalawang medyo may kabataang lalaki na naroroon para kunin at palitan ang mga lata.

"What makes you think of that?"

"Oh c'mon. I've known you for a while for me to know what's going on that hard head of yours."

"Shut up and start aimi---"

Before her uncle finish his sentence, she aimed for the first can. Bulls eye. She looked at him and grinned like a kid.

"Tss. Pure luck, young lady." Umismid pa ang tiyuhin.

Ang isa sa dalawang binatilyo ay hindi makapaniwala na nakatingin sa kanya. Alam ng mga ito na dalawang Linggo pa lang ang lumipas simula ng mag-aral siyang bumaril.

"Pure luck, huh? Aw. You hurt my ego, Tito." Dramatikong hinawakan niya ang dibdib at kunwa'y nasasaktan.

He squinted his eyes. "I don't need your dramatics!" Singhal nito sa kanya. "Just hit the target!"

She laughed instead of fearing him. "Watch me." She started firing the gun. Ni hindi siya kumurap man lang.

Five bullets. Five remaining cans. Lahat ay bulls' eye. She smirked at Tito Marco. "You were saying?" Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay.

He tsked. "Don't be over too confident, young lady. That's just because it's in a still position. Let's see where your arrogance will take you." Naroon ang pagbabanta sa tingin nito.

"You just don't trust my capabilities. I get it. But you know I've been experimenting lately. Sooner or later, you'll be leaving. So I've been studying on my own." Hinarap niya ang dalawang binatilyo. "Toss the cans everywhere!"

Nanlaki ang mata ng dalawang lalaki.

"Are you nuts?!" Hinawakan siya ng tiyuhin sa braso.

"Nope." Muli niyang binalingan ang dalawang lalaki. "Now!" Muling sigaw niya.

Ang dalawang binatilyo ay nasa mga mata ang hindi pagkapaniwala. Hindi pa rin kumikilos ang mga ito. Hanggang sa sinenyasan ng Tito Marco niya na ihagis sa iba't-ibang panig ang mga lata. They toss the cans everywhere. Dinagdagan din ng mga ito ang mga lata.

This time, she used two guns. She started firing the guns. Nanlaki ang mata ng tiyuhin nang unti-unting bumagsak ang mga lata na puro may tama niya. All of it has holes in the middle. Ang pagkagulat ay rumehistro din sa mukha ng dalawang lalaki.

"Guys, don't be so obvious in admiring me." Inalis niya ang suot na ear muffs. Pakli niya sa nakikitang pagkamangha at hindi pagkapaniwala sa ginawa niya. They even had their mouths open.

"You haven't failed to amaze me, young lady." Ani ng tiyuhin. Naroon sa mga mata ang pagmamalaki.

She grinned wide. "Of course. I learned from the best."

Umiling ito. "This is on you. I know you've been training on your own," tinitigan siya ng tiyuhin. "And I'm just wondering why you have to that. I am training you but seemed that is still not enough for you. Supposed to be, I only have to teach you the basics."

Ngumiti siya. "I know. It's just that, personally, I think it's better to be more than just the basics. You should know me better than just being mediocre."

Ngumiti ang tiyuhin. "You're just like your father. He hates being just average. Spoken like a true Robinson."

May tumikhim mula sa likuran nila. Yumukod ang bagong dating kay Marcus. He looked like those huntsmen in the movies. Blonde and with bow and arrow. But not the old ones. "Sir." Tinapunan lang siya nito ng tingin at bumalik sa tiyuhin.

"Tyrone. What is it?"

Nilingon siya nito. Tila ba pinapahiwatig na umalis siya. At na hindi nito maaring sabihin ang pakay nito habang nasa tabi siya ng tiyuhin.

She arch a brow. If this man can think she can dismiss her by looking at her like that, he can think again.

Sa gilid ng mata ay nakita niya ang pagngisi ni Marcus. "It's okay. She's my niece."

Bumaling itong muli sa tiyuhin. "I don't think so, Sir. This is highly confidential."

Tinitigan niya ang tiyuhin. If only for him, aalis siya. But the fact that he said it's okay for that man to say what he is for while she's here warmed her heart. "It's fine, Tito. I'll just practice inside." Bago pa man makasagot ang tiyuhin ay tumalikod na siya. She's about to open the door nang magsalita si Marcus.

"Just go home directly. Wait for me there."