Artemis' POV
The only people present in the training grounds are my brother, Lolo Marco, me plus the excited dog sniffing the whole place.
That person is running late. Is he doing this on purpose?
We were all silent. Waiting for the signs of his presence. Bababa na sana ako ng ring nang lumabas ang asong nakaikot na sa loob. He jumps at the door.
Jared walked inside the place like he owns it. I looked at their direction. Their faces void of emotion. He pet the dog bago pumasok sa loob ng ring.
They knew it all along? Of course they know!
"Did you bring the tissue I ask for?" He is calm, here I am I don't know what to feel.
"I don't. Bumili ka kung gusto mo." pagtataas ko ng kilay dito.
"Choose any weapon you like." he pointed at the weaponry.
I choose the dagger. He did not move an inch. He will fight with hand to hand combat. Alright.
Lumingon ako sa direksyon nila kuya. Like they are waiting for us to start.
Ako na ang unang umatake. Since dalawang dagger ang hawak ko. Binato ko sa kanya ang isa. He is fast. Saka siya nagsimula ng isa na lang ang hawak ko.
He tried to kick, I block it with mya hands. His freehand almost punch my gut. I deflected his kick. I stab him on the left shoulder. Nahawakan niya ang pulso ko, letting the dagger fall, I catch it with my freehand. Nasugatan ko ang hita niya.
"She is a fast learner." sabi nito kila kuya.
Sabay kami ng galaw. Mukha kaming nagsasayaw sa ginagawa namin. He jabbed a punch landing on my tigh. Makikita to kapag nagshorts ako. Tinuko ko ang kamao ko sa sahig ng ring.
Lucian barked an angry one.
"Your mother will be fine" sabi nito sa aso at tumahimik na ito.
Mother?!
I give him a flying kick pero nahawakan niya ang paa ko. I use the other one to kick his face. Tumama ito sa panga niya. Crush pa naman ito ng mga babae sa school.
He spit blood on the ring mat. Boys will never know the word clean.
Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo. He tripped me but I manage to dodge using my reflexes. I will never be sorry for hurting him.
I pick up with his pace. Swinging the dagger I found an opening on his abdomen. It's a trap he really left it open. Naitutok niya ang dagger sa leeg. A little blood wont be bad. I kicked his legs for him to lose his balance. My tricks don't work on him.
"I like you..." is he toying with me? We continue to parry. Exhuastion is setting on me pati sa kanya. We both have wounds and cuts already. Bruises forming on my arms and legs.
"Anger ate you otherwise you could have control yourself."
"We protect others to live for us."
"...So much I am willing to risk my safety."
His and my late friend's words echo in my head.
My eyes glow. I see him shocked pero nakabawi agad. All of the techniques that my brother teach me is used and blocked. Pagod na din ako.
I'm not giving into exhaustion.
Ginamit ko ang technique na tinuro sa akin ni Papa. At first hindi ko alam kung paano ieexecute.
I found his weakness. Anger.
"I bet somebody beat you already..." panunuya ko dito.
"Why do you say so?" tanong noya pabalik.
"I know one..." nakangisi kong sagot. "Him." pointing my dagger at that very person. Si kuya.
I caught him off guard. I kicked his knee, making him kneel saka ko nilock ang brasong may dagger sa leeg niya. Kaso hinila niya ako kaya nabitawan ko ang dagger at bumagsak ako sa harap niya, pinning me down on the floor.
"Told ya." he speak too soon.
Inumpog ko ang ulo ko sa mukha niya. Dumugo ang ilong niya. I also know how to play dirty.
He glared at me. I smiled sweetly with sarcasm.
Lolo Marco clapped. He gave us a towel. "Bravo!"
"Biruin mo babae pa ang nakatalo sayo apo."
Nabingi yata ako sa laban. I turn to their direction. Dati gusto kong makilala ang apo niya pero pinagsisihan ko na.
That jerk is his grandson all along.
Binigyan ako ni kuya ng tubig. Ibinuhos ko ito sa ulo instead of drinking it. Saka pinunasan ang mukha ko.
Ginamit ko na ang banyo sa second floor. I took a bath ang change my clothes.
Bago ako makalabas ng kwarto ay nakita ko si Jared sa hamba ng pinto. He closed it bago lumapit sa akin.
"I'm sorry." he quipped scanning me for bruises and cuts.
"It healed already." I fix my things and get ready to go home.
Kinuha ko na ang gamit ko para ibaba. Aalis na ako nang hilahin niya ang kamay ko. Bumalik ako sa kanya.
He is hugging me, my back on his chest.
"I miss you..." he whispered "I thought I would lose you noong nakidnap ka."
"You are a reaper..." I mumbled
"I choose death before," pinaharap niya ako sa kanya "now I choose to live."
His words that night. Choices.
"You have your vow, and your rules." humiwalay ako sa kanya.
"You think that kiss is to shut you up?" he smiled, bitterly "I meant to do that for a long time."
"Why are you telling me all of this?"
I retorted back.
"I've been looking for you." he answered "I vow to protect you and only you..."
Bigla kong naramdaman ang heartbeat niya.All the longing and sadness he feels. My eyes dilated.
Mate
"I-I need to go." nagmamadali akong lumabasa ng kwarto iniwan siya doon.
BINABASA MO ANG
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