The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

Corny

"Can you stop that?"

He kept on rubbing his thumb against my bare back! We're slow dancing to a soft, slow song. Napilitan akong tumayo at makisayaw because of the stupid bet.

"Close na kayo ni Montecarlo?" Napakunot ang noo ko sa biglaang tanong niyang iyon.

"Who? Marami akong kilalang Montecarlo." Like Prim, Gracey.. Skye.

"Slate ba 'yun?" He looked away when I looked at him suspiciously.

"Why?" I narrowed my eyes at him. Is he jealous?

He scoffed before biting his lower lip and looking at me. "I'm not jealous."

I pouted. "Wala pa nga akong sinasabi."

"I know you're going to."

"How would you know?" I almost squealed when he dropped me on his other arm. You know sa mga romantic movies where the girl is leaned back on the guy's arm and the guy bends down to look at them. That's it! And it's making my heart race!

"Because I like you." Inilapit niya ang mga labi niya sa mga labi ko. My sight is to die for. With the lighting, his devilish smirk, flawless visuals. I almost closed my eyes when our lips almost touched but he quickly pulled away and stood me back up again.

I consciously looked around. He just chuckled and continued swaying my hips softly to the beat of the music. Gosh this man, pa fall!

"If you were a Transformer, you'd be Optimus fine." He said in his deep voice which made me laugh.

He stared at my smile and smiled back. "I have another one. If you were a vegetable, you'd be a cute-cumber." What the heck that was so waley! Mas lalo lang akong napatawa. Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa bailkat niya. Mas lalo lang ako natatawa pag tinitingnan ko siya.

Tumatawa na din siya at biglang nagpakawala ng mabigat na hininga. "Do you have a band-aid?" Napakunot ang noo ko habang nakangiti parin. "Because I just scraped my knee falling for you." I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling so widely.

What with this man and his words?

A few songs later. It was time to eat. Kinuhanan na ako ng pagkain ni Archer. Nang inilagay niya ang plato ko sa lamesa namin. He gave Slate a slight nod with a serious look. Napailing nalang ako at nagsimulang kumain.

Archer was watching me as I eat my food. Well not really, just glancing from time to time. From the other table. He looks like he's thirsty for me.

Tumayo ako para kumuha ng dessert. I was at the dessert table when someone bumped into me. Kunot noong nilingon ko ang matangkad na lalaking ito.

"Sorry," he scratched the back of his neck. "My butler really likes dessert." He pointed at his butler. Probably the one who pushed him.

Wait, isn't this Mohammed Jed? The Prince? Ba't siya tinulak ng butler niya? And why would his butler tell him, the Prince, to get HIM food?! Hindi ba dapat ay kabaliktaran?

"I'm—"

"Jed. Yeah, I know." I smiled. I got nervous. Shucks ang gwapo. Pakiramdam ko mamahalin ang bawat apak nito sa mundo at wala akong karapatan.

He chuckled with his deep voice. I was about to grab the last mini banana split, when he also grabbed it and our hands touched. Napamulagat ako slight at mabilis na inalis ang kamay ko.

"Ay, sa'yo na." I blinked. "I mean. You can have it." And gave him a smile.

He stared at me for a quick second before the side of his lip shot up. "No, no. Sa'yo nalang." May accent pero what?! Lahat ba silang mga royals dito, marunong magtagalog?!

"Yes, marunong akong mag tagalog. My butler's filipino. He taught me" he smiled at me and replied like he just read my mind.

His smile looks rare. Like he haven't smiled that genuinely in a long time. Or it's probably just me.

Akmang ibibigay ko na naman sa kaniya ang banana split nang may malalim at seryosong boses na nagsalita mula sa likuran ko.

"I have a banana split, sweet. You can have it." Archer snaked his arms around my waist and showed me the bowl of banana split on his hand.

I saw how Jed bit the insides of his cheeks and glanced at Archer's arms around my waist. Napatango tango ito sa sarili at nag offer ng kamay kay Archer.

"Jed." He simply said. Archer obviously knew but he responded as a sign of respect.

"Archer. Nice to meet you, your highness." Archer gave him a smile with authority.

"Please, just Jed." Tumango na lamang si Archer. These tall men are caging me awkwardly in front of a dessert table.

So I cleared my throat and secretly nudged Archer. He got the hint and spoke.

"Excuse us.. Jed. My girlfriend craves some alone time, if you don't mind." Jed just chuckled and looked away. Asking help from his butler. He nodded and gestured his hand to show us that we can go.

"Girlfriend? Really?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko kay Archer nang makabalik na kami sa upuan ko. Ninakaw niya ang pwesto ni Slate. Kanina lang din sila nawala ni Ares.

Umirap lamang ito. "Doon din naman papunta 'yon." He whispered, but I heard him. He was looking away like he's embarrassed, so I pretended that I didn't catch what he said.

The next day. I was assigned by Chandler to tour the royals. They're freshmen. Kahit ano pa ang edad mo, if it is your first time in camp, you are automatically considered as a freshman. As long as you are physically and mentally ready and strong.

Maaga akong nagising , naligo, nag toothbrush at nagbihis. I wore a natural makeup look on. Light washed mom jeans, a plain white cropped razorback top, and white sneakers. I put my hair on a messy bun and head out of the cabin to meet the royals at the mini park.

Muntik na akong mapasigaw sa gulat nang bumungad agad sa'kin ang pagmumukha ni Archer. Ang aga aga!

"You're touring the royals are you?" He handed me an iced coffee. Tinanggap ko iyon at sumisimsim sa glass straw and nodded.

"Sama ako." He casually said.

"You don't have to, ang aga aga pa. You look tired." Kagabi kasi, matagal siyang na off duty sa gym kasi siya yung head ng venue. Hindi siya basta bastang maka alis dahil baka may masira kapag hindi ibinababa ng mabuti ang mga mamahaling gamit na nandoon. He also helped clean the venue. The reason why he didn't get the other part of our bet.

He shook his head lightly. "May kape naman. Sige na, samahan kita." Pangungulit nito.

Tumango na lamang ako. Hindi naman ako makapagpigil sa kaniya. Hindi ko din naman masyadong kabisado ang mga areas dito, ang mga basics lang na kailangan nilang malaman, mas mabuti na rin namang may malaman silang ibang mapasyalan dito, sa laki ba naman ng kampong 'to, kaya plus na si Archer as my assistance guide.

"Hey guys!" I smiled at them who's seated in a round table sa mini park. Napakunot ang noo ko nang nakita ko si Isaiah na katabi ni Miss Vida. Jed has his head on the table, probably still sleepy. Nik has a coffee on his hand while conversing with Vida and Sai. Napalingon naman sila sa'kin at bumati, except for Jed who probably fell asleep.

Chandler told me to tour them early in the morning. Dahil marami pa silang dapat gawin. They're not like us who are very open to this kind of industry. They're just aspiring. Requirements mo lang naman para ma approve ang admission letter mo sa camp silver is that you have to be at least athletic. Be keen in battles, maybe agility? Passion about weapons and hunting. And then again, be strong, physically and mentally.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Naunahan na akong tanungin si Sai ni Archer.

Akmang sasagot na ito nang kurutin ni Vida ang tagiliran niya. "Gusto niya akong samahan kasi annoying siya." Napatawa ako slight sa accent nito, ang cute.

They seem pretty close. Pangiti-ngiti lamang si Sai at inaasar si Vida.

Inaya ko na sila na mag simula. Kiniliti pa ni Nik ang bandang tenga ni Jed para magising ito dahilan nang pagkairita nito.

As we walk around the open field, nilapitan ako ni Archer at may binulong.

"I know you're wondering. Vida and Sai has been best friends since.. forever. Sai's mom was Vida's teacher in archery and self defense in Spain. That's how they met, they were probably 7 and 8 when they met?" Napatango tango ako. Kaya pala mukha silang close. Kasi close naman talaga sila. May nakikita lang talaga akong kakaibang emosyon sa mga mata ni Sai tuwing kausap nito o nakatanaw ito kay Vida. Or it's probably just me.

"So.. this is the archery station. Sinong mahilig sa archery dito?" I asked them.

Tumango lamang si Jed habang inaantok parin ang mukha. Si Vida naman excited na itinaas ang kamay pero ibinaba ito ni Sai at sinabihang, "Weak ka naman diyan, eh." Pang aasar lang nito. Si Nik naman, he chuckled at the two and went to the glass cabinets where the weapons are.

This room stands as the classroom and the weapon room for archers. Like nung sinabi ko last time when I made my first silver arrowhead here. It was like a greenhouse. Glass hollow ceiling. Walls are dark shades of wooden brown. There is a white board in front and arm-chairs, just like a classroom. Sa gilid naman nandoon ang mga melting pots, weapons, materials at iba pa.

"What's this?" Napalingon ako sa british accent ni Nik. "Does she go here?"

Linapitan ko siya. Archer's with the others, introducing the materials and how to's about archery.

Nik caressed his hand on the engraving on the wooden wall at the back of the bookshelves. I didn't notice this. Ngayon ko lang nakita 'to.

"I found it when I picked up this book." He showed me a thick book about the history of archery.

I small smile made its way on my lips. 'Ofelia A.' That was engraved on the wall.

"She's a founder," curious na nilingon ako ni Nik galing sa pagbabasa nito sa librong hawak. I faced him and flashed a smile. "Which you'll meet and get to know later in the tour." We chuckled and I grabbed his wrist to join the others dahil nang-aaya na si Archer na pumunta na kami sa ibang stations.

After touring them around almost the entire camp. It's now 11pm and we'e entering the history hall sa may gymnasium.

I chuckled to myself when they were also surprised of the sight. That was my reaction when I first came in here too. I went in front. In front of the frames of our founders.

"I know some of you have been curious. So now here we are," I pointed at the frames behind me. They just stood in front me and acknowledging the founders of the camp.

"This is Aurelio Delluna, my ancestor," pagsisimula ni Archer. "Ito naman. This is Joaquin Ledalla." Sabay turo sa frame kung saan nakatuon ang portrait ni Joaquin.

"That frame at the very end, that's Esteban Montecarlo. And last but not the least. This is Ofelia Antoinette Argent." I pointed at Ofelia's beautiful portrait. I saw how amazed they was of my complexion of Ofelia. "My ancestor." I smiled proudly.

They smiled and I just chuckled shortly and went on with the tour.

We had lunch at the diner. Separate kami ng upuan ni Archer sa mga royals. They have their butlers and maidens, kaya I feel like it'll be too crowded if makikisali pa kami, hindi naman kami makarelate sa pag uusapan nila. Puro pang royalty and topic.

Narinig ko pang pinag usapan nila kung iimbitahan ba daw nila ang royal family ng Italy sa birthday ni Vida. Grabe. Sosyal ba naman. Mukha naman silang close. Magkapitbahay siguro? Charot.

"Kanina ka pa tingin nang tingin sa kabilang lamesa, ah? May crush ka sa prinsipe?" Biglaang tanong ni Archer habang nginunguya ang burger nito.

Napatawa ako sa anito. "Ang seloso mo naman na manliligaw." Umirap lamang ito at ngumisi. "Hindi, 'wag kang mag-alala."

Napamulagat ako nang nabulunan ito sa kinakain. "Ako?! Mag-aalala? Sus! Mas gwapo pa ako 'don!" Anito matapos uminom ng tubig. Tinawanan ko lamang siya at patuloy na kumain sa pagkain ko.

Habang hinihiwa ko ang bacon ko at sinabawan ng egg yolk ang fried rice ko. Narinig ko ang pag-ding ng phone ni Archer. Sinilip niya lamang 'yon at mabilis na isinara.

"May itatanong ako. Makinig ka nang mabuti, ah?!" Sabi niya so I nodded and continued eating.

"Do you have a name?" Napakunot lamang ang noo ko at akmang sasagot nang inunahan niya ako. "Or can I call you mine?"

Muntik na akong mabulunan sa kinakain. Malakas akong napatawa sa sinabi nito. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa kilig? O dahil ang tanga naman 'non.

"That is by far! The lamest thing I've ever heard!" I exaggerated. Napalingon na sa gawi namin ang ibang tao sa diner dahil sa lakas ng tawa ko.

Napatawa lang din ito at napailing. "Ngumiti ka naman." Pang-aasar niya. Dumahan na ako sa pagtawa at uminom ng tubig habang nakangiti parin slightly. "What?"

"Of all the curves in your body, your smile is my favorite." He smoothly said while seriously looking at me with an emotion in his eyes that I couldn't name.