[Chapter 12]
"Tara!" Agad akong bumangon sa pagkakahiga ko sa kama ng marinig ko ang malakas na boses ni Mariele mula sa labas ng pinto.
Naglakad ako papunta sa pintuan at binuksan ito. Sinalubong ako ng nakangiti muka ni Mariele.
"Let's go play something sa labas!" Itinabingi niya ang kanyang ulo na para bang itinuturo ang labas. Saglit kong nilingon ang orasang nakadikit sa pader. It's only 8 o'clock in the morning.
"Tara na! Magbihis kana tapos hintayin kita sa baba." My eyes were glued on her back until i can't see her anymore.
Nagtataka man ay sumunod nalang ako. Nagsipilyo at naghilamos ako bago nagbihis ng damit. I put my hair in bun, I choose a white shirt and paired it with a black cotton jogging pants. Hindi ko alam kung anong laro ang sinasabi ni Mariele that's why I chose to wear a jogging pants. I checked myself in the mirror before heading downstairs.
"Let's go!" Tiningnan ko si Mariele at napataas ang dalawang kilay ko ng makita kong naka jogging pants din siya. Hinila niya ang kamay ko palabas ng bahay.
"Hindi ba sasali si Matilda?" I asked. She shook her head and gave me a smile.
"She's too old to join us." Sabi niya kasabay ng kanyang halakhak. "Just kidding, she chose to prepare for our breakfast."
Tumigil kami sa paglakad. We're at the back of the house where a huge field of grass can be seen. I saw two target vectors in distance. I know it's called target vectors because Brando used to have one on his house. I look at Mariele with confusion.
"What? We're going to play here." She proclaimed and shift her gaze to the target vectors. "I mean you, hindi pala ako kasama." She laugh.
"Hindi ako marunong, saka wala akong hilig sa ganito." Ngumuso sa akin si Mariele.
"First time is the best experience. Hahanap hanapin mo daw ang first time sabi nila." Kumindat siya sa akin.
"Kaya let's go and play! Tuturuan naman kita." Lumapit siya sa isang lamesa at may kinuha. Sumunod ako sa kanya. I'm not a good learner and how did she even know how to use this thing?
"Wear this." She take my arms and put something on it.
"What is this?" Tanong ko habang pinagmamasdan siyang ilagay ang bagay na hawak niya sa kamay at braso ko.
"It's arm guard and glove. Arm guard will protect you from abrasion when you release the arrow. While this Glove naman ay para hindi masugatan ang kamay mo when you hold the string." Paliwanag niya na siyang ikinamangha ko. Ni wala nga akong alam kahit isa sa mga gamit na isinusuot niya sa kamay ko.
"How did you know all of this?" I ask when she finished putting the equipment on me.
"I told you that Sir Carver's parents keep me when i was a little right? Well tinuruan nila ako dahil isa sa hobby nila ang archery, madalas akong manood sa kanila kaya ayun tinuruan nila ako." She said while smiling widely. I can see how she adores them so much in her eyes. They might treat them as their family that's why Mariele and Matilda adores them so much. But where are they? They're not in this house and why does Mariele and Matilda chose to serve their son instead of serving them?
"Where are they?" Tanong ko. Her smile completely fades and look away.
"Alam mo ba si Sir dapat ang kasama mo ngayon. He was the one who told us to bring out those target vectors from the stockroom." She went to the table behind her and take the bow. She place it in my hands at mahina akong itinulak sa gitna.
"Where is he?" Inilibot ko pa ang tingin ko sa paligid para hanapin si Carver. Did he just informed me last night that i am now using his surname? That i am now Mrs. Noir and now he wants to play with me in something i didn't even know how to hold correctly?
"Something came up from his business and he needs to go. Kaya naman he told me to teach you dahil pagbalik niya ay maghaharap kayo sa isang Match." She held my hand and place it correctly to where it should be positioned. Muli siyang tumalikod para humarap sa lamesa at may kinuha.
"Ang matatalo ay may consequence daw—alam mo ba kung anong consequence?" She wave the arrow infront of me and gave me a weird smile.
"Ano daw?"
"You're going to give him.." Itinabi niya ang ulo niya sa akin at bumulong ng mahina sa tenga ko.
"..your body." Lumayo siya sa akin at binigyan ako ng isang malaking ngiti. Kumunot lamang ang noo ko at napailing. She loves to mess with me. Unti unting nanlaki ang mga mata ko ng mag sink in na sa utak ko ang sinabi niya.
"M-my body?!" I repeated in surprise. Humagalpak siya sa tawa at napahawak pa sa kanyang sikmura.
"W-what a—omygod your reaction!" She said between her laughs. Ni hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi niya dahil sa matinding pagtawa niya. Umiling na lamang ako sa kanya at kinuha ang arrow sa kamay niya.
"Gosh kung nakita mo lang yung reaksyon mo." Tatawa tawa aniya habang pinupunasan ang luha sa mata niya. I just made her produce tears of joy.
"Okay let's start." Dalawang minuto bago niya sinabi iyon. Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko at iniharap ako sa kanya kung saan nakatagilid naman ako sa target vector.
"You must keep a relaxed grip on the bow handle." Ipinatong niya ang kamay niya sa kamay kong nakahawak ng maigi sa pana.
"Place the arrow on the shelf of the arrow rest." She takes the arrow in my hand and insert it to the bow.
"Position your fingers on the string with your index finger above the arrow and two fingers below. The string should sit in the last crease of your fingers." Marahan akong tumango sa sinasabi niya na ikinamamangha ko. It seems like she's a professional. Para bang gamay na gamay niya ang bawat gagawin.
"Do not grip the arrow with your fingers. Pull back the string using your back muscles." My eyes landed on her who's now too focused on teaching me. "Pull back the string so that the index finger of the pulling hand is under the chin, and the string touches your nose and lips."
"Using your dominant eye, look down the arrow and align it with the target." Why the thought of Mariele lying to me about her past are flowing inside my head? Bakit sa tuwing seryoso siyang nagsasalita ay para bang ibang tao siya? Hindi ko alam kung paranoid lang ba ako because of my past or I'm just looking for a hole that my fear can use to enter my system again.
"Relax your grip on the string and allow your fingers to slip backward." Pumitik siya sa harap ko dahilan para makuha niya muli ang atensyon ko. "Now, release!"
My fingers immediately released the strong and arrow. The arrow landed perfectly on the white color part of the target vector. Ibinaba ko ang braso ko at nilingon si Mariele. She was smiling and saying something that I can't hear.
Who are you? Are you lying to me? Why am i doubting you? What the hell is wrong with me doubting someone who showed me nothing but her wide and innocent smile?
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Kimonokun
BINABASA MO ANG
Chase of Death
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