The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

Kidnap

My second week in camp is almost over, and in fairness, Archer didn't bug me for a few days.

I noticed that the councils were pretty busy about something. Palagi ko siyang nakikita o di kaya'y nakakasalubong but he's even too busy to notice me. Ay, hindi naman ako nag rereklamo. During the whole week, I was just attending training and classes. From how to sharpen blades, and making bullets to various methods of self defense and more physical activities.

"Ah, kapagod!" Pasalampak na umupo si Prim sa couch nang makapasok kami sa cabin.

Pagod na hinihilot hilot namin ang mga kamay at braso namin. "Ba't ba naman kasi mga lalaki ang kalaban natin?! Nakakangalay, ang lakas nila sa fencing!" Pagalit na reklamo ni Grace.

Bahagya nalang akong napatawa nang maalala ko si Archer. He's a sword fighting mentor volunteer, pero iba yung nag mentor samin kanina. He was just watching, nakikita ko sa mukha niya na inaantok siya. But despite his tiredness, minimentor niya parin kaming lahat kahit paano.

Funny because nakatulala lang siya at muntik pang madapa sa sobrang pagod.

After I bathe and did my thing, I wore a simple maroon razorback cropped tank, high waisted ripped black jeans and of course, my boots. Pinusod ko ang buhok ko kasi may meeting kaming lahat. May special announcement daw si president.

"Hello again. Siguro as of now, you're all sick and tired of seeing my face again and again." Chandler was pertaining to the freshmen. Hindi naman, Chan. Gwapo ka naman, okay lang iyan.

"Anyways. Kung na notice niyo man o hindi, the council has been.. pretty busy," Mg eyes unconsciously settles on Archer who's seats apart, beside the stand that Chandler was standing on.

He was looking at me and as soon as I faced him, pasimple niyang inilayo ang tingin. Sus.

"— We, Camp Silver, was honored to be guested by three very special guests. The royals," napamangha kami sa sinabi ni Chandler. May royal families na pupunta dito? I mean, tatlo lang naman ang sabi nya, pero still!

"Yes. The message was clear that the three wanted to be here, and they will. In three days we are hosting a welcome party to the duke of Sussex, England, prince of the Arab Emirates and the countess of Spain. Therefore, we will be having.. a ball." Pasimple akong napamulagat. A ball?! Really?! Where we wear fancy clothes, again?! Mygad akala ko ba puro training training lang ang gagawin dito sa campo, bat may pa ball ball pa?!

Lumapit ako kay Chandler dahil pinatawag niya ang mga batch ambassadors. He gave us the invitations and I immediately distributed it to every freshman.

It was indeed a welcome party. Like a royal ball. The theme was long gowns for girls and suits for the guys. We were asked to contact our families if we wanted custom gowns and suits for ourselves pero may naka distribute naman daw na mga gowns na pinabili ni Chandler sa lahat ng changing rooms ng every batch.

I was staring at the invitation as I was walking back to our cabin. Tinititigan ko ang pangalan ni Archer.

'Archer Theodelle S. Delluna, head of venue production'

Wow, so he designed the venue. This better be good.

"Hey," napaigtad ako nang bigla nalang akong nilpitan ni Pierce at kinausap.

Nagtaas ako ng kilay, "Ano, crush?" Pagbibiro ko. I don't have a crush on him anymore though.

Napatawa ito. "Sige iparinig mo iyan ka kuya," kinunotan ko nalang siya ng kilay at hinintay siya na magsalita ulit.

"Pupunta ka?" Hininaan namin ang paglalakad for some reason.

"Isn't it required?"

"Yeah, pero hindi ka naman pipilitin kung ayaw mo," napatango tango lamang ako. So what's his point?. "So pupunta ka ba?" Tanong niya ulit.

"Oo nga."

Napatango tango lamang siya bago tinapik ako sa balikat at nagpaalam na may gagawin pa daw ito.

Weird.

Ever since naging.. uhm.. close kami ni Archer. Pierce has been very different. Noon he was so quiet and mysterious. Sarcastic siya sakin, hanggang ngayon ganiyan parin naman siya pero iba iyong noon na ugali niya eh. Parang naging comfortable na siya.

As soon as I arrived in my cabin, tinawagan ko kaagad si Virgo at Nimue. I want to invite them!

"Hi ate!" Napapikit ko nang marinig ang matinis na boses ng nakababatang kapatid. "Napatawag ka po?" Then her voice became soft.

"Busy ka, V?"

"Uhh.. hindi naman po. I'm just playing mini golf with my friends dito sa bahay, o siguro mag bo-bowling kami mamaya," I heard laughs from the background noise, looks like she has friends over. "Why po?"

"Will you and Nim be free in three days?"

"I think so, why?"

"There's a ball and—"

"Yes yes yes yes! Yes! Big yes! Yes, I'm coming and kahit ayaw ni ate Nim, I'm going to drag her there if I have to!" Excited na ani ng kapatid kaya napatawa nalang ako.

I told her that I'm going to send them two invitations. Pagkatapos sa tawag, bigla nalang akong naantok. Kaya natulog nalang muna ako ng saglit. Hapon na din naman at wala akong klase.

When I woke up, it was the next day! Well sort of, madilim parin, and I looked at the time, it was still 4 in the morning at nagugutom na ako. I didn't eat dinner last night.

Bahagya akong napamura nang wala na kaming stocks ng food sa ref at sa pantry. Sa kakakain na talaga iyon ni Prim, magaling kasi si Grace magluto, inaabusa naman ni Prim ang pinsan sa pagpapakain sa kaniya.

Dahan dahan akong lumabas dahil tulog pa sina Prim at Grace. Maliwanag naman sa labas dahil sa lamp posts. Tahimik nga lang. All I can hear is my footsteps and the crickets.

"f**k," malutong na mura ko nang may maalala. "Asan pa nga ang food stocks dito?" Naiiritang nilabas ko ang phone ko, baka may na save ako na mapa ng campo... pero wala!

I looked around, baka may mini map dito or ano, pero wala talaga! Nandito na ako malapit sa cabin ng mga boys. Medyo malayo na sa cabin namin. Sa laki ba naman ng campong 'to ang hirap hanapin ang daan.

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang mahagip ng mga mata ko ang isang cabin na tila bang nag didisco ang ilaw sa loob. I narrowed my eyes on the last names that were carved on the doors.

Delluna, Delluna, Delluna

This is Archer's cabin right?

Wala sa sariling naglakad ako papuntang pinto at kumatok. Napa mulagat ako nang na realize ko ang ginawa ko at akmang aalis na ako nang bumukas iyon. Bumungad sa'kin ang isang gwapong lalaki na matangkad.

Napataas ang mga makakapal niyang kilay. May nakasuot na headphones sa leeg nito at may hawak na controller. He pushed his gray hair back, bumagay iyon sa maputi niyang balat.

"May kailangan ka?" Tanong nito.

"Uhh. Si A-Archer?" Shet nauutal ako! Ano ba iyan! Ang gwapo ba naman kasi, sinong hindi kakabahan sa harap nito? At ba't ko ba hinanap si Archer ulit?!

He pouted and pointed at Archer who's sitting on the couch with a slice of pizza hanging on his mouth. He's really focused on what he's playing. Pierce and Chandler was playing too. Very focused.

Pinapasok ako nung guy kaya I awkwardly stood there while waiting for them to finish. Nang matapos sila, napaigtad ako nang sumigaw si Archer at Chandler. I guess they won.

"Bobo mo, Sai. Bat moko iniwan dito?!" Reklamo ni Pierce saka nagbigay ng bente pesos kay Archer at Chandler.

"ChanCher lang sakalam." Napahagikhik lang ang dalawa habang kinokolekta ang pinustang pera.

Mahina namang binatukan ng guy si Archer.

"May naghahanap sa'yo oh." Aniya sabay pasalampak na upo sa couch at kumagat sa pizza niya habang nakatingin sa'kin.

Archer's gaze went to me and I saw the shock in his eyes. He immediately stood up and went to me.

"Bakit? Okay ka lang?" May pag aalalang tanong niya. Kumunot lamang ang noo ko at inilahad ang palad sa harapan niya.

He looked at my hand, then at my face, confused as hell. Pero hindi ko sinabi, ewan ko kung bakit. My heart is beating so fast, looking at his cute yet handsome face up close. Baka mautal ako!

Tumaas naman ang dalawa niyang kilay nang parang may narealize. Mabilis siyang pumasok sa kwarto niya at inilahad sa'kin ang... punit kong bra!

Mabilis kong tinago iyon sa likuran ko.

"Stupid! I need a map of the camp!" Malditang ani ko sa kaniya. Pigil naman ng tatlo ang pagtawa sa likuran kaya nahihiya ako sa ginawa niya. Napakabobo!

He snickered. "Bat hindi mo nalang sinabi agad?"

"Eh ayon na nga, sinabi ko na. Now I need a map.." medyo demanding na sabi ko. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay while his arms are folded in front of his chest.

He's topless for f**k's sake! Napalunok ako, trying to stop myself from looking down. Ugh! Keep it together Aries!

"..please.." mahinang boses na dagdag ko. I even pouted so he'd oblige.

He just smiled and pinched my cheek. "Wala akong mapa eh." Inirapan ko nalang siya at akmang lalabas na nang hinawakan niya ang kamay ko.

"Saan ka ba pupunta? Sasamahan nalang kita," aniya.

I hesitated pero gutom na talaga ako. Ayokong naman makikain dito, hindi ganiyan kakapal ang mukha ko. So I just nodded.

Nilingon niya si Pierce. Pierce immediately handed him his hoodie. He's a few inches away from me. My back also a few inches from the door. I can smell his perfume. Makes me want to drop my eyes closed and just devour his smell.

But of course, I didn't.

Nagpaalam muna siya sa kanila kaya nauna na akong lumabas at tinapon kaagad ang punit kong bra sa pinakamalapit na basurahan na nakita ko.

"Luh, ba't mo tinapon, sayang naman." Reklamo nito nang nakita niya akong tinapon ang bra.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "It's already torn, ano pa bang panggagamitan noon?" Binilisan ko pa ang paglakad pero umaabot naman ito dahil sa tangkad.

"Pwede naman iyon pang memory capsule." Pabirong aniya saka ko siya tinampal sa braso nang tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Sandali nga!" Pigil niya sa'kin.

"Ambilis mong maglakad, alam mo ba ang daan?" Paghahamon nito. Napatigil ako kaagad sa paglakad. I felt him bump on my back, so I glared at him and he immediately distanced himself.

"Hindi, kaya nga nandito ka diba? Dalhin mo ko sa food stocks. Bilisan mo, nagugutom na ako." Reklamo ko and I looked away with my arms crossed on my chest.

"Sa diner nalang ta'yo, arat." He held my wrist lightly before pulling me towards the diner. Nagsitayuan ang mga balahibo ko nang magkahawak ang kamay namin. So as soon as we arrived, I immediately took my hand off of his.

He took the same seat we had the last time we were here. He was reading the menu when I remembered something.

"I don't have my wallet with me."

He just raised his brows at me and glanced back to the menu. He smirked and said, "Sus, ako bahala. Di mo 'ko kilala?" May pagmamayabang na aniya sabay turo sa sarili.

Inirapan ko lamang siya at sinandal ng likod sa upuan habang binabanggit niya ang order sa employee.

Oo nga noh? Pwede naman pala dito ako kumain, ba't pa ako naghanap ng food stocks?

And again, marami na naman siyang inorder na para sa'kin pero bahala na. Nagugutom na talaga ako.

"Busy ka ah." I pointed out when we started eating.

He glanced at me and there was humor in his eyes. "Bakit? Na miss mo ko?" He smirked.

I cringed. "Asa ka." Napatawa lamang ito.

"Kuwentuhan mo nga ako. Ang tahimik mo naman." Aniya nang tahimik lamang ako habang kumakain parin.

Gutom na kasi ako. Hindi na ako nakapag concentrate sa nanlibre sa'kin.

"Ano naman, wala akong chika." Sabi ko naman habang pinapanitan ang broiled potato ko.

"Just.. tell me about yourself." He casually said. I stopped what I was doing and narrowed my eyes on him. He gave me a 'what?' face and I just looked away.

"Any reason?" I raised a brow.

He fake frowned for a sec. "Nope.. No reason at all," he said then rested his elbow on the table, and his chin against his palm.

I stared at his face for a quick second, getting pretty hazy in his eyes.

I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily before I continued eating.

"Come on! Just the basics. Like, your name? Age? Favorite color? Ganoon lang!" He urged.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Aries Laurel Argente. 18, born on April 11th. I'm not into soft colors, so darkened shades of colors will do-"

"Like?" He cut me off which made me confused but I just answered him anyways.

"I don't know. Maroon, army green, royal blue. Whatever." I looked down on my plate and finished eating.

After the little eating and interview sesh sa diner, hinatid ako ni Archer sa cabin ko. Sa labas lang siya malamang!

I shooed him. "Go, papalabas na yung araw."

He chuckled and turned his back on me. Akmang papasok na din ako sa cabin nang magsalita uli siya.

"Pupunta ka ba sa ball?" He licked his lower lip before asking and cleared his throat.

I looked at him up and down. "Bakit ba andaming nagtatanong sa'kin niyan?"

Kumunot agad ang noo nito. "Sino?" Biglang nagbago ang tono ng boses nito. "'Wag mo nang sagutin, ako yung naka una!" Depensa nito.

I laughed at his face. Para siyang bata na aagawan ng kendi. As if! Ano ba niya ako?! I'm just his one night stand !

"Yabang! Sino ka ba?!" Pabirong ani ko.

He sighed. "Are you going to answer my question or no?"

"Hmm.." I tapped my chin twice before answering. "No." Tinalikuran ko na agad siya at pumasok na sa cabin, leaving him confused as hell.

"Hey! What do you mean?! No, you're not going to the ball? Or No, you're not answering my question?!" Rinig kong sigaw niya mula sa labas pero binalewala ko lang at napangiti sa sarili.

"Someone's in a good mood." Hindi ko namalayan na gising na pala sila Prim at Grace. I just made a face and went to my closet to grab my towel and took a shower.

We have archery training again today. Kahit marunong na naman ako, hindi naman ako pwedeng mag skip, nirereport nila iyon sa mga parents namin. I don't want my father to be disappointed in me again. Gusto ko ring mag take ng ibang specialties dito aside from archery.

Na didivide kasi ang mga tinuturo nila dito into four. Physical self defense, chemical self defense, hoplology or the study of weapons, and psychological self defense. Kasama na doon ang super advanced techniques like how to focus your eyesight in the dark, to keen your hearing, lip reading, hypnosis, how to make someone unconscious at marami pang iba. Physical lang talaga ang ipinagawa ni dad sa'kin.

I wore a fitted black tank top, cargo pants, and obviously by now you know that I can't go anywhere without my black boots. I asked Grace to french braid my hair, to get it out of my face.

"Pretty." She whispered as she brush my edges neatly. Apaka extra nito.

"Argente! Leg work, come on!" Napaigtad ako nang malakas na pinatunog ng mentor namin ang kaniyang whistle.

Punyeta, ang strikta. For every bull's eye we missed, we run a lap around the field. Ang init init pa naman!

I'm not a lousy shooter, but I'm also not the best. Most of the time, sa inner red circle lang talaga ako nakakapasok.

Hinihingal na tinukod ko ang mga kamay ko saking tuhod. It was sunny. Halos buong araw kami nag t-training. From archery, to physical self defense, to exercises and archery again.

Linapitan ko ang mini backpack na dala ko kanina sa benches under the shade of a humongous tree. My phone's dinging, and I can hear the damn vibration even from afar.

It's Virgo. She sent 24 messages of the same text!

Ganiyan talaga siya, para daw mas mapansin.

From: Virgo Elisse

Dad agreed! Yay! He's sending us there tomorrow at noon. See you!

I just smiled at my sister's text after replying. I looked at the time on my phone. It's almost 5pm! Grabe! The sun's almost down, at akalain mo? Mula pa nung umaga puro lang training. I can actually feel muscles on my thighs and arms now.

Bahagya akong nagulat nang biglang nag ring ang phone ko. It's an unknown number.

Kunot ang noo na sinagot ko iyon. I don't know why either.

"Hell—"

"Nasan ka?" I heard Pierce's baritone voice on the other line.

"Pierce?"

"Hindi, si Lord 'to." Pagbibiro ulit ng kumag. Napatawa ito bago nag seryoso. "Oo nga, this is Pierce. Where are you?"

Napahawak ang isa kong kamay sa beywang ko.

"Alam mo, palagi ka nalang nakikiabot sa'kin. Baka aakalain kong crush mo 'ko ha?!" I joked and smirked when he scoffed.

"Hindi no! Hindi ako pumapatol sa jowa ng kapatid ko!" Napaubo ako sa sinabi niya. Punyeta nabulunan pa nga naman sa sariling laway.

"Anong jowa?! Baliw ka ba?!" Bigla bigla kong depensa. Mas nairita pa ako nang tinawanan niya lang ako.

"Ano ba yan. Ang delayed mo naman palagi, nakakatamad humawak ng phone sa tenga. Saan ka ba?"

"Nasa may archery station. Bakit?" Inipit ko ang phone ko sa gitna ng tenga at balikat ko. I leaned down on the laces of my boot.

"Nagtatanong lang. Ah, sige, ingat ka diyan," akmang aasarin ko siya nang inunahan niya ako. "Hindi kita crush. Di rin kita type no." Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya bago pinatay ang tawag.

I finished tying my laces and as soon as I stood up straight. My eyesight went black. I panicked on the inside. Nagpumiglas ako pero malakas ang humawak sa'kin.

Asan na ba ang mga tao sa paligid?! Normal lang bang makidnap dito?! Jusko, tulong!

Someone massaged a part of the back of my neck and I don't know how the f**k I lost consciousness.

Am I gonna die?! s**t!