The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

Sir Archer

Have you ever felt suffocated, every passing second, minute, hour, thinking that someone you love and care so much could be in so much trouble and you can't do anything because you're not sure and you don't want to ruin things for them? Yeah, Virgo's two days in and still no news of how she's doing. That's what I'm feeling right now as I peel a potato for breakfast.

Sawa na kasi na ako palagi nalang naggagasto si Archi sa diner eh marunong naman akong magluto. I made mashed potatoes, and gravy. Iyon lang. Nabusog naman ako doon kahit papaano. Since Chandler's back and I'm no longer as busy as I was before, I decided to take a jog outside the camp. Malapit lang. Sa likod ng camp, where the boundary ends, I hiked around the forest.

I was listening to an upbeat music with my airpods when suddenly, I bumped into someone. I was so ready to fight for my life when I realized it's Prince Jed. Well, he didn't really bump into me. I just felt his presence. Oa lang ang "bump".

"Looking good." He looked at me from head to toe. I'm wearing a rust colored sports bra and leggings active wear set. "What brings you here?" Aniya habang hinihingal at sumasabay sa jog ko.

I took off one of my airpod to pay my respects to the Prince. "Jogging.. duh." I chuckled awkwardly, ano pa ba? Hindi ba obvious?

"I can see that. But why outside the camp? Isn't it much pleasant if you jogged around inside?" Tanong niya habang bahagyang humihingal.

I chuckled. "Then why are you here if it's more pleasant inside, huh?" He chuckled and slightly shook his head.

His deep chuckle filled my ears then awkward silence.

We stopped by a big boulder. We couldn't find a way around. It was surrounded by old, big, fat, trees. It was moldy and it looks really really vintage.

"Hmm. Babalik nalang siguro ako. Ikaw?" Napahawak ako sa beywang habang bahagyang habol parin ang hininga at tiningnan ang apple watch ko. Hindi ko pa na reach ang km count na goal ko sana ngayon.

Umiling siya at tiningnan ng maigi ang bato. "Can you climb?"

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa tanong niya. "Yes, but sir. We can't climb that thing. Baka mapahamak ka pa." He smirked. "And besides, it could be someone else's property." May nakita kasi akong mga wire walls sa gilid na natatabunan ng mga vines at lumot at maraming mga damo't puno.

"Are you concerned because I'm a prince or because you have a crush on me?" Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Crush?! Ano ako, teenager?.. Well technically I am pero adult na iyong age 18 noh!

Agad akong umiling. "Oii hindiii ah.. Uhm, sige. Mag ingat ka, Jed. Babalik nalang ako." Pero hindi ko kaya. Natatakot ako para sa kaniya. Mukha naman kasi siyang palaging sinusundan ng yaya o ano. Iyong aura niya parang pati pag hugas ng kamay ay inaalalayan pa siya.

Naglakad lang ako palayo ng ilang hakbang at pinapanood siyang nagsusubok na akyatin ang bato. Nagulat naman ako nang maliksi niyang naakyat ang bato. Nag-alala lang naman pala ako sa wala.

"Come on. The air feels so good up here." Bahagyang sigaw niya sa'kin habang nakapikit ang mga mata at ninanamnam ang hangin.

Napangiwi ako. "Alam mo ang oa mo. Mag ingat ka diyan ha!" Tiningala ko siya para makita ko siya ng mabuti.

Napahagikhik naman siya sa sinabi ko. "Are you sure you don't have a crush on me, Miss Aries?" He said with a devilish smirk plastered on his face.

Agad naman akong napangiwi. "Ano ka ba, you're a freshie and I'm your ambassadress, ibig sabihin parte ka sa responsibilidad ko. Lagot naman ako nito kung napahamak ka at wala akong ginawa. Prinsipe ka pa naman." I crossed my arms in front of my chest and raised a brow at him.

"It's not that bad, and I'm athletic."

"Are you sure kaya mo pabalik dito?" Napatawa naman ito at napailing sa sinabi ko.

"Stop talking to me with privilege next to my name. Princes can be adventurous and reckless too, you know?" He sighed heavily and turned around. "Why can't people just act normal around me?" He playfully said.

Napamulagat ako nang bigla nalang siyang tumalon sa kabilang dulo ng boulder at nakarinig ako ng malakas na tunog na nahulog. Nag-alala ako bigla. Shemay, makakatay talaga ako ng butler neto pag may kahit isang daplis na sugat na dadapo sa balat nito!

"Jed? Jed, okay ka lang?" Bahagyang sigaw ko nang natahimik siya. "Jed! Naknamputcha, buhay ka pa ba?!" Nagmamadaling inakyat ko ang bato. Nasugatan pa ako dahil hindi nakakapit ang paa ko sa parte ng bato na inakyatan ni Jed. Pero maliit lang naman yun, sa siko lang.

Nang makaakyat ako sa taas, bigla akong nanginig. f**k! I hate heights! Umupo ako nakahawak ang dalawang kamay sa bato. Nilingon lingon ko ang kabilang baba ng bato at hinanap ang prinsipe pero hindi ko siya nakita. I groaned in annoyance before attempting to jump down. Pero nang pa tumakbo na ako pababa, at nakaland ang mga paa ko sa sahig, bigla naman akong na out balanced at nadapa.

Punyeta naman, Aries.

"Oh, geez. Be careful." Mabilis akong napalingon kay Jed nang hinawakan niya ang mga braso ko at inalalayan akong makatayo.

Agad kong tinampal ang dibdib niya. "Don't scare me like that!" I got even more annoyed when he just laughed at what I said.

Inirapan ko siya at ipinalibot ang tingin sa paligid. Maraming puno. Very old trees. There's a weird dark stain on the stone ground in the middle. It looks like a dried up pond or something and there's a dark red stain beside it. I walked closer and realized it was dried up blood. Animal blood, it had a bolder color than human blood. Moldy na rin ang sahig at bato.

"Hey," napalingon ako kay Jed. "Look what I found." Napakunot ang noo ko at tiningnan ng mabuti ang binigay niya sa'king arrow.

It's a wooden arrow. Ang luma luma na neto. Nilulumot na nga. Sinuri ko ng mabuti ang arrow. The body is hardwood, so is the arrowhead. It doesn't have a tail, or maybe it did, kasi putol na arrow ang binigay sa'kin ni Jed.

"Is it yours?" I looked at him dumbfounded.

"Bakit naman 'to sa'kin? It looks old. How old do you think I am?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

Nagkibit balikat naman ang Prinsipe. "I don't know. 25?" Napamulagat ako sa hula niya.

"God, baliw ka! I'm 18." Tinalikuran ko siya na gulat ang mukha at naghanap ng madaling paraan para makalabas dito.

Sunod lang siya ng sunod sa'kin habang naghahawi ng mga vines, baka kasi kay madaling malalabasan dito. "What's 'baliw' again?" Inosenteng tanong niya.

Ngumisi ako. "It means, Intelligent." God, he is so going to kill me if he uses that word to others and realizes the true meaning of 'baliw'.

Napatango-tango naman ang moko at tinulungan nalang akong maghanap ng malalabasan.

"Let's just climb back up the boulder. How hard could it be?" Akmang aakyat siya ulit nang pinigilan ko siya. "Ako na." Hindi naman siya umangal sa pag vovolunteer ko.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago umapak sa umbok na bato. Okay.. okay.. steady lang Aries. I took another step and vóila, I didn't fall. And another. And another... and goddamn it! On my fifth step, the stupid piece of the stone broke as I put my foot against it.

And when I fell, good thing the Prince caught me. Hindi ko mapigilan ang mapatitig sa kaniya. Aries! Nakakahiya, nagpapabuhat ka pa sa prinsipe! Bumitaw ka, wala kang karapatan! Ultimo lotion nito hindi mo ma reach! Magpabitaw ka!

And so I did.

"You can put me down now." I awkwardly said and looked away. That felt weird. Oh my God.

He cleared his throat and spoke. "You're not my type.. b-by the way."

I awkwardly smiled and was about to climb again when I heard a blow of a whistle.

"Naku! Mga batang 'to. Anong ginagawa niyo diyan?" Tanong ni manong guard ng camp. Pano ba napadpad 'tong si kuya dito? Shuta, may daan pala palabas dito? Nakita ko si manong guard na dumaan sa gilid ng dalawang malaking puno. Hindi siguro namin nakita dahil sa mga vines.

"Bawal kayo dito. Lagot." Inalalayan naman kami ni manong guard palabas. At nang malapit na kami sa may gate ng camp. Bumungad agad sa'kin ang nag-aalalang Archer.

"Maryosep kang babae ka! Saan ka ba galing ha?" Nag alalang tanong niya sa'kin at niyakap ako. Ba't ba parang ang oa naman ng reaction ng isang 'to?

"I just went jogging. Bakit?" I smirked

"I went to your cabin and Primrose said you went out without telling where you're going.." Nilingon niya si Jed na kasama si manong guard pabalik sa camp. Nanliit ang mata nito. "You went jogging with Jed?" He raised a brow at me at nagtiim ang bagang nito.

I chuckled. "No. We just bumped into each other." His brows remained raised so I rolled my eyes jokingly and asked him to walk with me to my cabin.

I showered and changed clothes. Uhaw na uhaw naman ang isa at nanghingi pa ng quickie. Jusko naman po, kailan ba ako naging malibog? After that.. ehem.. quickie. I fixed myself up and readied for my class. Which is his class.

"There are specific types of mosses that can either be poison or medicine. For example..." hindi matanggal sa isip ko ang gwapo niyang mukha na naka glasses at nakasuot ng lab coat. Mukhang noon pa talaga, gustong gusto niya nang maging chemist.

Sabi niya kasi sa'kin noon. Gustong gusto niyang magpatayo ng sariling parmasya at gumawa ng mga epektibong mga gamot. Matalino siya, at mukhang alam niya ang ginagawa habang gumagawa siya ng mga poison galing sa mga venoms, o gamot na galing lamang sa mga natural at hilaw na materyales na nahahanap sa mga kagubatan.

His lab coat hugged his body so well. Makisig siya, maganda ang built, matangkad din. The sleeves of his lab coat was not as wide but not as tight either. It was perfect at nakikita mo ang hubog ng mga braso niya. Under his lab coat he's just wearing a dark grey v-neck shirt and faded pants.

Nagpagawa pa siya ng activity sa'min. Hindi naman akong pwedeng umangal. Hawak ang mga tongs, pinag hahalo ko ang moss sa venom na bigay ni Archer sa'ming lahat. Sabi niya, with the right amounts of moss and venom, we can concoct a poison that can kill within 3 seconds or less. Our challenge is that we have to figure out the ratio between the two.

Naka lab coat ako at may gloves, hair net at safety goggles. Archer's walking around the room and observing the other freshies. Napalingon ako ng palihim nang may tumawag sa kaniya. Ang landi pa naman sa pandinig. Lumapit naman si Archer at tinulungan siya sa kailangan nito. Habang nag eexplain si Archer, nakahawak lamang sa baba ang babae at nakatitig kay Archer na para bang nahuhumaling ito sa bawat pitik ng mga mata ni Archer.

Hindi ko na mapigilan. Mukhang hindi naman nakikinig ang babae kaya tinawag ko na din siya.

"Sir Archi, patulong." I said confidently and raised a brow at the girl who looked at me with an annoyed face.

Archer excused himself and went to me. Hindi umalis ang titig ng babae sa'kin habang yumuko si Archer para mapalapit sa'kin.

"Really? Archi?" He said with his deep voice. Uminit ang pisngi ko sa sinabi niya. Tumikhim ako at tinuro ang scale.

"It looks crooked... sir." Medj nailang akong tawagin siyang sir, pero sir naman ang tawag sa kaniya dito basta't mentor mode siya. Ayoko namang maging bida bida at mag first name basis kami ngayong may klase.

"Hmm.." he went and adjusted my scale and once it was all done, he gave it back and pinched my cheeks. "I like it when you call me 'sir'. It.. kinks me." Napamulagat ako sa binulong niya. Kininditan niya ako at ngumisi.

"5 more minutes, pick up the pace!" Aniya habang naglalakad na siya papuntang harapan ng klase.

"Sir! Ako patulong!" Napalingon ako sa babaeng tumawag sa kaniya. Akmang lalapit siya nang may tumawag na naman na iba.

"Sir, I'm having trouble with this." Ay englishera pa.

"Sir Archer. Patulong naman po." Ano ba 'yan pati bakla, nahuhumaling sa kaniya. Gwapo ba naman.

I just rolled my eyes when he got this confused face dahil sabay sabay silang lahat na tinawag siya.

"Gosh, this Argente. Ano ba, is she seducing Sir Delluna? Wala na bang class ang mga Argente ngayon?" Narinig kong chismis ng kaklase ko sa likod ko.

Huh, bobo niyo ah. Obvious ba? May class ako noh. Kung wala edi sana nasa cabin lang ako ngayon. Hahahaha joker.

"I know right? Akala ko ba matalino siya? She's probably making excuses to seduce Sir Delluna. I mean it was just a crooked scale, ang papansin! The audacity!" Kinuyom ko ang mga kamao ko. Hindi ko na napigilan at napataas ang boses ko.

"Archer, halika nga rito." Natahimik ang lahat sa sinabi ko. Nanatiling seryoso naman ang mukha ko at tinaasan ng kilay ang gulat na si Archer.

He gulped and was about to come to me when the gay guy called him again, and the other. Kita ko na ang pagka irita ni Archer dahil sa gulo. Naningkit na ang mga mata ko at akmang niya nang bumukas ang pinto ng room at may sumilip na ulo.

"Sir Archer-"

"What?!" Napaigtad kami sa frustrated na sigaw ni Archer.

"S-sorry. What is it Paige?" Pagbawi niya. I even heard Jed's scoff while looking at Archer with his pissed off face when he accidentally shouted at Paige. He's sitting on the chair beside me by the way.

Paige gulped. "Uhmm, sir. Y-your father's outside." Natigilan ako at dahan dahang liningon si Archer na wala nang emosyon ang mukha.

He exhaled through his nose. Umigting lalo ang panga niya at bahagyang pumikit at nilingon ako saglit bago naglakad papuntang pintuan.

"Nobody leaves this room, until I get back." He said in a stoic voice. He was announcing it to the whole class but his eyes were on me. "Got it?"

Everyone answered except for me. I just gulped and nodded at him. "Good." He said then exited the room.