The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

"Good morning, self. Panibagong araw na naman para maging try-hard. Bilang isang Argente, na siguro ang pinakamahirap na task na meron ako sa buhay. Having to cope up with my father's expectations and my mother's annoyingly understanding side, it's not an easy thing to do on a daily basis. I mean, really! "Good morning!" Maligayang bati ni Manang Cecille sa'kin nang makita akong pababa ng hagdan. "Morning," medyo inaantok na sagot ko. Muntik na akong madapa sa biglaang pag sulpot ng nakababata kong kapatid. Nag slide pa talaga siya sa staircase handle. Ang energetic din ng isang 'to, mukhang puro kape nalang ang nasa katawan. "Virgo! Mag ingat ka nga. Lagot ka kay Papa." ani ko sa'king kapatid habang tintulungan siyang makababa ng maayos. Tinawanan niya lamang ako habang sabay kaming naglakad papuntang hapag. Umupo kami sa hapag at agad na natahimik ang madaldal kong kapatid nang dumating ang haligi ng bahay namin, well.. "Where's Nimue?" kuryosong tanong ni Papa habang sumisimsim ng kape. Hindi kami nakapagsalita ni Virgo dahil 'di rin namin alam kung nasaan ang nakatatandang kapatid namin. Walang imik na ngumunguya lamang ako sa bacon na kinakain. "Sorry," patiling ani ni Nimue nang maka dating siya sa hapag. "Natagalan ako sa shower." Sabay lahad ng matamis na ngiti at binati kami ng magandang umaga. Tahimik lamang kami habang kumakain. As usual. Nagsasalita lang siguro kami pag patungkol na sa school, training, hunt or business. Pero as of now, wala pa siguro silang ma isip na pag-uusapan— "So.. Aries," napalingon agad ako sa'king ama at umupo ng tuwid. I take it back, mayroon na pala, and it's about me! Here we go. "Yes, papa?" magalang na sagot ko sa kaniya. Tumikhim muna ito bago nagsalitang muli. "Sasama ka kay Nimue ngayon sa gubat, hindi ba?" Kumunot ang noo ko sa ani niya. I wasn't informed. Naguguluhang nilingon ko si Nimue na nagkibit-balikat lang. "Para saan po?" "Babalik kayo sa hunting. Tapos na ang rookie years mo. You're already 18. You'll eventually start hunting with the rest of the family, might as well begin now." He said with finality. Naguguluhang tiningnan ko si Mama, na tahimik na kumakain. Liningon ko rin si Nimue na kinibitan ulit ako ng balikat at si Virgo na inosenteng nakatingin sa'min habang ngumunguya. Akmang magsasalita ako nang inabot ni Mama ang kamay ko. She's looking at me like she's making me aware, to not do, what she thinks I'm about to do. Hinigpitan niya lalo ang paghawak sa'king kamay. Mukhang na abala si Papa sa nakikita sa kaniyang harapan, kaya nabitawan niya ang kaniyang kubyertos at medyong iritang binigyan ako ng nagtatanong na tingin at masungit na tinaasan ng kilay. I sighed heavily. "Sure papa. Anything for you." I said softly and gave him a smile. It was fake, but I made sure that it won't seem like it was. He nodded and we continued eating. "Hindi pa ba sapat ang buong clan ng Argentes para sa tanginang business na'to?" pinagsisipa-sipa ko ang mga maliliit na bato at kahoy na nadadaanan ko habang naglalakad kaming dalawa ni Nimue sa gubat, papunta sa parte nito kung saan kumakain ang mga deer sa gan'tong oras. "Ang laki-laki ng pamilyang 'to. Is it really necessary to invite me in to this.. cruel lifestyle?!" hindi maipinta ang aking expresyon habang nagrarant tungkol sa pinang-gagawa ng pamilya namin. "At tsaka, this is so old school! Hindi ba dapat illegal na 'to?" "We're licensed, Aries." Ani Nimue habang dahan-dahang naglalakad sa batuhing kagubatan. I groaned at what she said at sinipat siya. We hunt animals. It's sad. It's cruel and it's painful. But that's how it always has been. We live by a code. Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit hindi pa 'to illegal. Sana may tutungtung sa mga gobyerno na gawing illegal, kahit na para to sa businesses at para makapakain ng mga tao. Ang ganitong paraan, para sa'kin, ay hindi tama. Mayroon namang faux-animal fashion. Iyong mukha lang galing sa hayop pero hindi naman talaga? Pwede naman siguro iyon sa Argent Line (Our family's business in the fashion industry). "We hunt to feed, not for greed." I reminded myself of our code. They say we do this for recreation, meat as food and self preservation. To protect ourselves from predators' wrath. To donate the meat to the needy, and keep the skin and other details for embellishments, like balls on the stupid Christmas tree! "Oh come on, hindi ka pa ba nababagot sa kaka-reklamo mo diyan?" inilahad ni Nimue ang kaniyang kamay sakin para tulungan akong maka-akyat sa mataas na bato. "It's the circle of our lives, sis. We hunt, we live. It's what's keeping our family business booming! It had been like that for decades and decades! That's just it-" "Talaga? Hindi ba kayo naaawa sa mga hayop na pinapatay niyo, Ate?" Mahinang boses na ani ko. "Maybe you say that "That's just it" because you don't have a choice for refusal, and that there's no room for refusal." Nakikita na namin ang dalawang usa na umiinom ng tubig sa maliit na lawa. "Naaawa naman, syempre-" napatigil siya sa pagsasalita habang ina-assemble ang kaniyang crossbow. She nudged me to signal me to ready my bow and arrow. Umirap ako at napilitang kumilos. "Wala naman talagang espasyo dito sa dugo nating ang "refusal" at "pity", this is who we are." She said in a low voice. Trying to not get the deer's attention. "But still, thinking that in the end. This is not greed, Aries. Tumutulong tayo para makapakain ng maraming tao. It's... heart-warming, in a twisted way perhaps, pero still." She was aiming her crossbow at the deer, with one eye closed. "Heart-warming?!" medyo nalakasan kong pagkasabi 'yon dahilan kung bakit napalingon ang mga usa. Mabilis naman kaming dumapa upang hindi matakot ang mga ito at hindi tumakbo. "Anong 'heart-warming'?! Yes, we feed people with it, pero 'yon lang ba? It's greed dahil we all know the 'recreation' stuff is just materialistic. Hindi natin kailangan ng fur coats and leather jackets." Reklamo ko sa mahinang boses. "Wala na tayo sa cavemen generation to be wearing animals coats as clothes!" "Yes we don't. But this generation has grown to live with that kind of mindset. Kaya wala tayong magagawa diyan." she aimed her crossbow again at the deer and gave me a knowing look. "To people, it's trendy now, or something. You can tell the measure of their wealth through the consistency and origin of the materials they put on their body. And unfortunately for you, baby sister, people like that." Banta niya sa'kin na parang Nanay na napipilitan. Umirap ako at bumuga ng malalim na hininga habang pinupuntirya ang aking bow and arrow sa dibdib ng usa. "Silver?" Nimue whispered. She's pertaining to my arrowhead. I nodded. "Good. Aim at the chest, para diretso na." Dagdag pa niya. I took a deep breath and glanced at Nimue. She showed me three fingers. Signalling me to shoot on three. When she whispered 'one', nararamdaman ko ang pag nginig ng aking kamay na nakahawak sa'king bow string. Pa ulit ulit akong huminga ng malalim upang kumalma. Pagdating sa 'two' natigilan ako nang may dalawang fawn na lumapit sa mga malalaking usa. They were hugging there parents before sipping with their parents on the pond. "Three." Nimue whispered and was about to shoot, nang pasadyang siniko ko ang balikat niya dahilan para lumiko ang aim niya. Binitawan ko din ang bow string ko at tumama ang arrow sa puno. Nagulat ang mga usa at tumakbo palayo. Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ako ni Nimue. Hinilamos niya ang kaniyang kamay sa mukha niya at bumuga ng hininga. "Why?!" Iritang aniya. Nanunubig ang aking mga mata habang tinintingnan ang mga usa na tumakbo palayo sa'min. "May pamilya sila, Nim." mahinang ani ko. Liningon ko ang kapatid nang hindi siya nagsalita. "May pamilya sila, Nim! How would you feel if they kill one of our own?!" "I know that! You think I don't?! I've been hunting almost half of my life and you think I don't f*****g know that?!" Nanunubig na din ang kaniyang mga mata. She seems nervous. Not for herself but for.. me. I gave her a questioning look as to why she's so upset about this. Marahan niyang tinuro ang kamay sa malaking puno na nasa likuran ko. Bahagya akong napamulagat nang makita ang cctv na nakatutok sa'min. "Kahit ano pang sabihin mo kay Dad ngayon, he's going to send you away, and we won't have a choice." Upset na aniya habang liniligpit ang crossbow niya. Kumunot ang noo ko. "Away? A-Anong 'away'? Saan ako dadalhin ni papa, ate?" Sinusundot ko ang balikat ni Nim habang mabilis kaming naglalakad palabas ng gubat. Nakarating na kami sa labas at sa harap ng sasakyan pero hindi parin sinagot ng kapatid ko ang aking tanong. "Saan ako dadalhin ni papa?" Tanong ko ulit. May nangingilid na na luha sa mga mata ni Nimue. "Camp Silver, Ries. He's sending you to Camp freaking Silver!" Sagot nito habang pinipigilan ang sarili na umiyak. What the f**k is a "Camp Silver" ? “Ano bang dapat gawin ko para magmatino ka na, Aries, ha?" pagalit na ani ni Papa nang makapasok ako sa kaniyang study. "You were given one task for now, Aries, one task!" Napaigtad ako sa pag sigaw ni papa. "Kahit 'yon lang, di mo pa magawa?! I didn't raise you to be a soft coward!" I sobbed silently as I listen to my father scold me. Ayokong sumagot, hindi dahil takot, kundi dahil wala akong masabi. The fact na naawa lang ako dahil may pamilya yung usa ay hindi sapat para mapantayan ang galit ni Papa ngayon. This is not just about that deer's family. It's also about ours. I didn't want to be selfish. Tama si Ate, it has always been like this. All those years before, walang nag reklamo, walang nagdala ng sama ng loob tungkol sa takbo ng pamilyang Argente, ako lang. Kaya naiintindihan ko ang galit at disappointment ni Papa sa'kin. "Ikinakahiya kita," mahinang ani ni Papa pero narinig ko parin siya. I slowly looked up at him with water eyes. "Po?" Mahinang tanong ko sa ama. "You.. are the first Argente.. being sent to that camp." May galit ang mahina niyang pag ani. "This family of elite hunters.. ELITE! Expected to be the best of the bests. Tapos ikaw?! Dinadala pa sa isang training camp?!" he laughed sarcastically at na parang nandidiri ang mukha niya sa'kin. Nahihiyang yumuko habang matuwid paring nakatayo sa harap ng table ni papa. This is hurting me, being belittled by my father is heartbreaking. But I have to face it. This is the consequences of my weakness. I am an Argente. Hindi pwede ang lampa sa pamilyang 'to. "I accept, papa." Napalingon si Papa sakin with his darting eyes. "Oh, of course you'll accept it. Umalis ka sa harapan ko't mag impake ka na. I'm sending you there first thing in the morning." He sounds like he's trying to calm himself down. Marahan akong tumango at naglakad na palabas ng study ni Papa. Naabutan ko si Virgo at Nimue na nagsusubok na sumilip sa maliit na espasyo sa pader at sa malaking pintuan ng study ni papa. "How did it go?" Hindi siguro nila narinig ang pag babangayan ni Papa dahil masyadong makapal ang mga pader sa study nito, pati na rin ang makapal na kahoy niyang pinto na gawa sa Narra. It's almost sound-proof. "Is he sending you there?" Malungkot na tanong ni Virgo. Malungkot ko rin tiningnan ang labing-limang anyos kong kapatid. At tumango sabay ngiti. Akmang iiyak ito nang niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. "'Wag ka ngang umiyak, V. It'll only be for 2 months—" "Kahit na, nag-aalala parin ako sa'yo, Ate." Aniya sa gitna nang mahinang pag iyak. Malungkot na tiningnan ko si Nimue. She mouthed me something. 'Let's talk'. Tumango lamang ako at ihinatid muna namin si Virgo sa kwarto niya bago kami naglakad papuntang kwarto ko. "Let me," offer ni Nimue nang nahihirapan akong mag abot sa malaki kong maleta na nasa tuktuk ng aking kabinet. Tahimik akong naglalabas ng damit sa'king kabinet habang tinutupi naman iyon ni Nimue. Kalalabas ko lang sa cr para sa mga toiletries ko nang magsalita si Nimue. "Be careful out there." She said. Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. She's saying that like something really bad might happen to me... in a camp? "Sure." Medyo sarcastic kong ani. Napataas ang dalawang kilay ko nang pinasalampak na binaba ni Nimue ang tinutupi sa paa nito. At pagalit na nilingon ako. "Seriously, Ries. Di mo alam ang mga pangyayari sa campong iyon. Kaya 'wag mong isipin na magiging malaya ka lang doon dahil hindi! It's scary, and dangerous in there! It's a hard thing to pass a task there everyday. Kaya 'wag mong gawing biro 'to dahil hindi, ha. Hindi!" Naging seryoso din ang mukha ni Nimue na punong-puno na. "Bakit ba kasi? Ano bang meron doon na ganyan ang nagiging reaksyon mo? Sabihin mo para makapag-handa ako para roon." She sighed heavily, after a few minutes, hindi niya ako sinagot. Tahimik lang siyang nagtutupi ng damit. Parang pinipigilan niya ang sariling magsalita. Nimue's always like that. Pag alam niyang ikakahamak namin iyon, mas pipiliin niyang manahimik nalang at mag endure keysa naman sa madamay pa kami. "Nim, ano? May aatake bang abominable snowman sa'kin as soon as I get in there? Sasabog ba ulo ko doon? Mapupungkol ba ako? Ano, Nim? Tell me." Binalikwas ko ang kamay ni Nim dahilan kung bakit nabitawan niya ang tshirt na tinutupi. She looks doubtful. Parang nahihiya siya sa sasabihin. I held her hand, I want to make her feel comfortable. Whatever she may say, I'll never judge her. I'm her sister, I love her unconditionally. She said heavily before opening her heavily lidded eyes. "You're not.. the first Argente in camp." She began. I looked at her in confusion. "I am." She confidently faced me, but behind that confident look, is a vulnerable and ashamed one. My lips parted in shock. "H-how?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. "Paano? How come I don't know about this?" There was worry in my voice. Did Papa send her there too? What did she do? Pinagsalitaan din ba siya ni Papa? God, 'wag naman sana. "I was fifteen nang napadpad ako sa camp. You were still so young, you barely touched anything sharp in the weapon room." She chuckled awkwardly. "Walang nakaka-alam actually. I got there by mistake. Ni wala nga akong record doon. Dad and Mom thought that I was just a reckless teenager and ran away from home, when really... I was kidn*pped and I escaped." Napasinghap ako sa sinabi niya. Kidnap?! How could she keep this from us! From me! I looked at her intently, I just want to listen to her. "The camp was the first place I saw with lots of people. Some of them looked familiar kaya hindi ako nagdalawang isip na magtago doon from the kidnappers." Natigil siya sa pagsasalita dahil sa pag singhot. "I saw Sierra Ledalla. Isa sa mga elite hunters of our industry. She became my friend in camp." Ilang segundo natahimik siya bahagyang umiling. "Besides the point. I want you to be careful of that camp. I was declared a freshie nang pumasok ako doon, by other freshies lang 'din. And the first Friday of the training year, the juniors and seniors declare a.. uh- battle royale, I think." She snapped her fingers when she remembered the phrase pero napailing parin siya dahil pakiramdam niya'y may kulang. "No.. it's- uh—" "The Fall," sabay kaming napalingon ni Nimue sa pinto ng kwarto ko. Hindi man lamang namin narinig ang yabag ng paglakad ni Virgo. "It's called 'The Fall'. And it's very dangerous." "Pano mo nalaman iyan?" Pagalit na tanong ni Nim kay V. "You're way too young to know that!" "Books, Ate. Duh!" Naglakad palapit sa'min si V at umupo sa gitna namin ni Nim. "I didn't hear much. Pero I've been studying 'The Fall' ever since I learned how to throw a blade. It's basically like The Hunger Games, minus the killing of co-hunters. But it's still dangerous." She said. "How?" Naguguluhan ko paring tiningnan ang dalawa kong kapatid. "How come I don't have any idea of all this?!" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko. "You could get stabbed, slashed. Your bones could get broken. Co-hunters can't kill you, but the robotic predators, built in The Fall Dome might. Only for a position." "A position?!" Hindi ma ipinta ang expresyon saking mukha. Lahat ng iyon para lang sa isang posisyon?! "When you win, you'll be the batch ambassador or representative. No one can dare to harm you there, kung hindi, 50 slashes for disrespecting an ambassadress and a council member. You'll be respected. Kapag hindi naman. You'll be treated equally by your co-hunters, like everything is a competition. You could get hurt, again and again, until you just.. die, or give up.. But in a very unpleasant way." Malungkot na ani ni Nimue. Hindi ko parin ma proseso sa utak ko ang mga impormasyong natatanggap. "How did you get out?" Sabay turo ko kay Nim. "Well.. a guy helped me escape. He found out that I wasn't supposed to be there and so he helped me. He bailed me out for a while, just until The Fall ended, we rendezvous in the forest in the mean time. Then bumalik din after." Nagkibit balikat at nagpatuloy sa pagtutupi. Me and V looked at each other teasingly before mocking Nimue for crushing on someone. Kinikiliti namin si Nimue sa tagiliran na agad na nabitawan ang mga tinutuping damit at tinatampal ang mga kamay namin palayo. "He just helped! Ano bang koneksyon doon sa crush crush na iyan?" Aniya habang tatawa-tawa parin. Akmang aasarin pa namin si Nim nang makarining kami ng katok. "Time for dinner," magalang na imporma samin ni Manang Cecille galing sa labas. Napatigil kami sa pagtawa at nag-ayos ng sarili. Bago bumaba sa hapag at dumalo na kina Papa at Mama. The whole dinner was just silent, again. I didn't even try to second the motion what Papa declared. He does everything what he thinks is what's good for me and for our family. And I should respect that. Right? The next day, maaga akong nagising. Actually, hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos. Palaging bumabagabag s'akin ang mga kinukuwento nina Nim at V about the camp. It doesn't sound as bad, but I'm sure I won't want to underestimate that camp. It's a camp for the elite sons and daughters of the great families of hunters. Where they are sent for training. Kahit na marami ring casual people na gustong matuto ng hunting doon, doon parin ang alma-mater ng maraming elite people. Ikinakahiya lamang ni Papa ang pagpunta ko doon dahil ako 'raw' ang pinaka unang nanghingi ng tulong sa paghuhunt. Naturally, the Argentes' hunting skills are like their second skin. But for some reason, hindi ko talaga makita kung bakit parang necessary pa namin pumatay ng mga inosenteng hayop. May skill naman ako, sa useless na rason ko naman ilalabas. Kaya huwag nalang. "You ready, anak?" Nakasilip ang ulo ni mama sa pinto ko habang may ngiti sa labi. I was just sitting quietly on my bed. I'm wearing a white above the knee dress, overlaying it with a dark, army green jacket and a pair of dark brown, mid-calf boots. I was gently rubbing my black leather glove on my right hand. This special glove only has three fingers. My pointer and middle finger, where I usually hold my bow-string. And an additional finger for my thumb. I slightly jumped from my seat when I felt my mom's cold touch on my left palm. She smiled at me and helped me put on the other glove. I was just staring at my mother as she put on the glove. She's always so gentle and sweet. The reason kung bakit palagi siyang under kay Papa. "You'll do great in that camp, my love." She softly said and smiled at me. I smiled back. She picked up my hair brush and pulled me towards my vanity table. She stared at me through the mirror and gently brushed strokes down my wavy, dark brown hair. "It's just a training camp. Walang laban iyon sa isang matapang at malakas na Argente, like you." She raised my chin up when it unconsciously starting lowering down when I heard the word 'matapang'. Napalingon kami ni Mama sa pinto nang marining namin ang katok ni Manang Cecille. Nasa labas na raw ang camp bus and is waiting for us. She finished up my hair and slightly tapped my shoulders. Inilapit niya ang kaniyang mukha sa'kin. Ipinagtapat niya ang mga mukha namin. My Mama is beautiful. Her soft and youthful features makes me want to think that's she's a vampire for looking this radiant at her age! "I'm proud of you, love." She said which made me smile. "You keep making us proud, okay?" Napatawa ako sa pambobola ni mama and managed to nod after. Habang pababa ng hagdan I saw my father, Nim and Virgo, standing beside our humongous house doors. I nodded at my father as a sign of respect and he just nodded back. I gave my sisters a smile and V gave me a tight hug. "I'll miss you, Ate." She said. "Don't forget about me the whole summer!" Dramatic na ani ni Virgo na ikinangiti ko. Bumitaw lamang ito sa yakap nang tinapik na ni Papa ang balikat niya. He fixed his suit and looked at me professionally. "Don't disappoint me again, mi hija." He said with finality and I just nodded. "I'll miss you too, Papa." I sarcastically said and went to the bus. Inilagay na ng mga kasambahay ang mga maleta ko sa bus trunk at dire-diretso ang lakad ko sa loob. I couldn't see it from outside, dahil siguro tinted. Pero marami nang halos ka edad ko ang naka sakay sa bus. They were fascinated as they roam their eyes at the exterior of our mansion. Some were murmuring about me. Dahil siguro nakakapanibago para sa kanila ang pag punta ng Argente'ng tulad ko, sa Camp Silver. I held on my jacket and looked for a seat when the bus started moving. Muntik na akong madapa kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ng isang makisig na kapit. I looked at the person who held my arm to balance myself from the moving vehicle. He has airpods on and he was looking at me seriously. He looks like he could be my age. He has a tight jaw and a messy, curly hair. He's wearing a jacket over his hoodie and black pants. Kumunot ang noo niya nang tinitigan ko lang ang mukha niya. God, he looks surreal. "Ano, uupo ka ba o hindi?" Medyo masungit niyang tanong. "S-saan naman ako uupo?" Pabalik kong tanong. "Sa upuan, saan pa ba?" Binitawan na niya ang braso ko at kinuha ang backpack niya na nasa tabi niya. Ipinatong niya ito sa kaniyang paa at tahimik na ihinilig ang ulo sa glass window ng bus at ipinikit ang mga mata. He doesn't look familiar. Akala ko ba common na ang mga mukha sa Camp? I've been introduced to all of our co-hunters, pero hindi ko siya makilala. Well maybe I forgot. Lumilingalinga muna ako sa paligid bago tumikhim at umupo sa tabi niya. Mariin ko siyang tinitigan sa mukha. His side profile looks divine! His slick and well-defined jaw is overwhelming! His aristocratic and proud nose! Mula sa kinauupuan ko, nakikita ko ang mahaba at makakapal niyang pilik-mata. Makapal din ang kaniyang kilay pero medyo magulo. His lips are naturally red and it looks addicting. I saw how his adam's apple adjusted as he swallow his saliva with his eyes closed and brows slightly furrowed. Bahagya akong napa-ubo nang bigla nalang niyang binuka ang mga mata at nilingon ako. I immediately looked away and pretended like I wasn't shamelessly staring and praising his god-like features. "Stop staring. 'Wag mong sabihing tititigan mo lang ako sa buong limang oras na byaheng 'to?" Masungit na aniya and closed his eyes again, resting his head on the window of the bus. I awkwardly smiled and looked away. Nilabas ko ang aking airpods galing sa inner pockets ng aking jacket and connected it with my phone. Isinandal ko nalang ang ulo ko sa built-in neck pillow ng bus seat. And I let oblivion take me to my unconscious state.