Archer
1292 Words
Archer
I groaned in annoyance when I felt someone shook my shoulders. Napamulagat ako nang lumakas ang pagyugyog nito dahilan na muntik na akong nahulog sa upuan ko.
I glared at the person who shook me. And well, s**t. It's the cute guy. And— what the f**k! I was sleeping on his shoulder! Shet nakakahiya!
"Nasaan na ba tayo?" I asked the obvious question, akmang sasabihan ko nalang ng 'nevermind' nang magsalita ito.
"Sa neverland." Pambabara nito habang nililigpit ang mga gamit at nagmamadali na naglakad palabas ng bus. I saw from the window na may sumunod sa kaniyang dalawang lalaki, friends niya siguro, na tinatapik ang likod niya habang sumusuka ito sa mga damuhan sa gilid.
"Ang weak mo talaga, Pers!" Ani ng isa sa lalaki na tinatawanan lang si 'Pers'.
Odd name.
"Bigyan mo nga ng tubig iyan! Demonyo ka talaga, Santo!" Binatukan nung isa si 'Santo' and I immediately looked away when Pers withdraw from his vomiting and glared at his friends. He glanced at me quickly before looking away while drinking his water.
Ang ironic naman. Santo ang tawag sa nung isa pero mala demonyo ang ugali. No offense to him, gwapo naman siya.
I laughed to myself before getting my things and went out of the bus. I looked up at the sign above the big arch.
Camp Silver for Hunters
Napamangha ako sa loob ng campong 'to. It's big, pretty big. There is a line of mini cabins along the sides of the entrance. Parang village lang. There are also cabins on a tree. Tree cabins or treehouses? Sa likurang parte ng mga cabins, where our guide toured us. It's all grass, may mga nag t-training na archers sa may archery station. May nag s-sword fighting, physical self defense, arnis, may nag jojog around the field.
After our guide, who's Penelope by the way, showed us our cabins. I was roomies with three cousins. Mga Montercarlos. Primrose, Gracey and Skye. Such pretty names. Primrose looked like she was a mix of Gracey and Skye. Gracey is a soft girl, parang cottagecore ang vibe, Skye however is such an e-girl. All black outfits. May nose piercing, jet black hair with dark blue strands on her front hair frame. Beautiful features too, as well as Prim and Grace.
"Dibs on the bed na nasa pinakagilid." Bored na ani Skye.
Napahagikgik si Primrose sa sinabi ng pinsan niya. "As expected, kasi mas dim doon?"
Skye smirked. "No. Because walang katabing kama." She said then stood up and went up to the loft style bedroom to put her stuff.
There were even hidden cabinets na kailangan ng fingerprint and eye scan to open. May passcode pa! May safe sa pinakababang part ng cabinet. I decided to open the safe and saw bars of silver! May nakatuping maliit na papel sa gilid nun kaya binasa ko. Malamang.
"Make me proud." Iyon ang nakasulat sa papel. Paniguradong si papa 'to. Haynaku, pressure ba 'ka mo?
"Primrose! You crazy pig!" Napatawa nalang ako sa nag babangayang si Prim at Grace. Inagaw kasi ni Prim ang bubblegum ni Grace at sabi nito ilalagay niya daw ito sa paper bag at ibibigay sa crush ni Grace. Weirdos.
Paakyat ako ng loft bedroom nang nakita ko si Skye na may nilalarong baseball sa kamay habang nakikinig ng hard metal music sa itim na headphones. Nakahiga siya sa kama habang hinahagis hagis ang bola na tumatama sa kisame at pabalik sa kaniya. Sobrang lakas ng music niya! Naririnig ko na kahit naka headphones siya.
"Oi! Baka ma bingi ka diyan." Tinapik ko ang nakapatong niyang sapatos sa kama niya.
Ano ba? Wala naman akong pakealam kung anong gagawin niya. Nasanay lang siguro ako kay Virgo. Mahilig din iyon magpatunog ng sobrang lakas halos aabot na sa kabilang dako ng mundo ang musika.
She popped a bubble that she blew from her gum and sat up. Hinubad niya ang headphones at pinakita sa'kin ang baseball na hawak.
"You play baseball right?" She asked then blinked. "I mean, I don't care. But... same." Umirap siya, tumayo at nilagpasan lang ako pababa.
Huh? Napailing nalang ako at napangisi habang hinahanda ang sarili ko para sa tour na mangyayari mamaya.
Sabay kami apat na lumabas sa cabin at sama samang pinuntahan si Penelope na naka gather sa may sentro ng cabins kasama ang ibang newbies. Then nagpatuloy na din ang tour
Sa left side from the big, grassy field, nandoon ang mga stations. May weapon room, locker rooms, archery station, at iba pa. Sa right side naman, nandoon ang council office, may diner, coffee shop at bar. May isang two story building, I'm guessing that's where some of the classes will be held or something.
Sa gitna ng lahat, may isang malaking building, hindi ko nga alam kung building 'to. Parang muesum na ewan. Sa likuran nito ay ang malaking lake that covers almost half of the camp's width.
Pumasok kami sa building and the entrance was like a hall of fame o museum nga. Sa gilid may mga glass cabinets kung saan nakalagay ang mga ancient na gamit ng mga legendary hunters before us. And up front are five large as hell paintings.
They're looking at the camera fiercely with their weapons painted beside them. They're holding it actually.
Hindi ko masyadong mabasa ang mga pangalan na naka engrave sa silver plaque sa baba ng frame. I was squinting my eyes closely when I suddenly felt someone beside me.
"Aurelio Delluna, Esteban Montecarlo, Joaquin Ledalla, Cassandra Raymundo and.." he paused. Yes it's a 'he'. A handsome 'he' !
I gave him a glanced and I raised my brows in awe. Shocks! Ang gwapo!
"Ofelia Antoinette Argent," he gave me a quick glance before putting his hands in his pocket and faced the frames again. "Also known as the only woman who fought the beast." Nagkibit balikat ito habang sinuklay ang medyo kulot nitong buhok gamit ang mga daliri.
Ofelia. She's family. I heard the Argent surname was revised to Argente for a reason that I couldn't recall.
I quickly looked away when he caught me staring.
"Uhmm.." I felt awkward. Anong dapat sasabihin ko? Thanks? "Only woman? Isn't Cassandra counted?" Hay salamat may naisip ako.
"Counted. But she didn't technically fight it. She baited herself."
"She still fought, with her life."
"Yeah, but she could've fought without losing it." He said in his baritone voice and chuckled like he's.. mocking?!
"What do you care? It's her choice. That's her being a hero." Medyo iritang ani ko. Ano ba naman kasing paki alam niya? Siguro kung hindi niya ginawa iyon, malamang wala kaming lahat sa mundo.
He looked down on me and raised a brow, I also looked up at him. Hinahamon ang titig nito.
"Hmm." Napakunot ang noo ko. He looked away again and pointed at the plaque on the wall on my left. I looked at it as well.
There was a picture of Ofelia holding the trophy, while the other men were wearing a medal, and a key. I believe this was when the government that helped them handed them the gymnasium. I believe it was supposed to be their mansion? But they diverted it into a school, which later turned into a camp.
"You look like her." He said.
Was that supposed to be a compliment?
"Uh, thanks?" I awkwardly said. I get that a lot. Magkamukha naman talaga kami ni Ofelia. I know that.
Should I ask his name? s**t this is so awkward. It was just silent. I awkwardly stood there and played with my fingers. Constantly looking around.
I sighed heavily and was about to ask his name when he handed his hand in front of me and introduced himself.
"I'm Archer, you?"
- Writer
