Written by the Moon

40~ TALK

Hindi pa man ako makapagsagot, mariin na ang titig sa akin. Nakita ko ang bahagyang paglaki ng mata nito kaso nagrelax din agad. I pursed my lips before answering.

"I'll join now."

Hindi ko na hinintay pa ang ibang sasabihin nila. Forest eyes still remained on me for a while before it turned to Zaf.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako. Ayaw ko man dito, wala akong magawa. I don't get why I can't refuse Sham on this. Siguro, gusto ko lang makita si Forest? Or I just care for Sham? Or both?

Hindi na rin ako makapagpili ng area kung saan ko gusto. Everybody has akready occupied most of the area. Kaya nandito ako, sa tabi ni Forest.

With a few stroke of my emitting light, I created a bow and arrow. Nakita ko pa ng bahagya ang pagkamangha ni Zaf. Forest looked impressed whioe the others are already used to seeing me like this.

I slightly adjusted my bow as the others are starting to draw. Si Zaf nagpaturo na kay Forest. Hindi man ako nakatingin sa kanila pero alam kong halos magkayakapan na sila. I swallowed hard with my thoughts. Hindi ko na dapat isipin pa ang mga ganitong bagay.

I draw the arrow and let go of it. And as expected of me, it hit the target. Mark bowed to me exaggeratedly as if I'm a queen. I rolled my eyes at him.

I took another draw and hit the target again. The release of each arrow was like the freeing of my overwhelming feelings. Napupuno na ako dito kay Forest at Zaf. Kaya bawat bitiw ng arriw, may sama ng loob.

I just have to keep my cool. Wala ako sa lugar o posisyon para magreklamo. Sino nga ba naman ako? They can have their love floating around the air.

Kumuha ako ng isang palaso. Sa higit ng aking pagposisyon nito sa pana, hindi tuloy natamaan ang target. I sighed as I dropped my bow. Nararamdaman ko ang pagbilis ng t***k ng aking puso at paghinga.

Napakurap na lamang ako nang magsalita si Forest.

"You okay, there?"

I licked my lips before nodding.

"Yeah."

"Are you sure?"

Napatingin ako sa kan'ya. There was... concern. Something that I was not used to for a while. Hindi ko na kase iyon nakita muli at ngayon na nakita ko ulit, nabagohan ako. But the fastening of my heartbeat told me that I miss it so much.

"S-sure," napaiwas ako ng tingin.

"Do you want to have some rest?"

"I'm fine, Forest."

It even wonders me that he's talking to me now. Napailing na lamang ako sa sariling inisip.

"You know, I offered you my bow. Do you want it for a change?"

I was about to answer him. Actually, deny his offer again but Zaf interrupted.

"I'd like to borrow your bow and arrow too."

Forest chuckled as he looked at Zaf. Tiningnan ko ng mabuti ang mata nito na nakatitig kay Zaf. It's full of adoration that I justvhad to look away or I'll just hurt myself.

"You don't want to borrow it, Nav?" Tanong sa akin ni Zaf.

"Hindi na,"

Umiwas na ako sa kanila. They were too sweet to look at. Ako ata ang lalanggamin dito at hindi sila. I sighed as I took my bow again and draw for the nth time. I hit the target this time.

Ginawa ko 'yon ng ilang beses at tumigil din nang gusto namang magpaturo sa akin ni Tiana. She called for me to teach her but I know that's not her intention. Kanina pa ata niya napansin na nag-uusap kami paminsan-minsan ni Forest.

"Ask your questions," sabi ko nang tinuruon ko siya ng tamang posisyon sa paa at kamay.

I can't believe she's pretending that she ahs forgotten archery. Napailing na lamang ako.

"Comportable kaba do'n?"

I pouted.

"You don't have to worry."

"Pwede tayong magswitch kung gusto mo."

"Hindi na."

"Bakit?" She asked slowly. Like anticipating an answer she doesn't like.

"Masayang kausao si Zaf,"

She furrowed her brows at me.

"Liar."

"She's nice,"

"Alam ko 'yan. Ang sa akin lang naman huwag mo namang saktan nang gano'n ang sarili."

"Hindi ako nasasaktan, Tiana."

"Hindi mo man sabihin, alam ko."

"What? Are you reading my mind?"I chuckled lightly.

"I can read your face."

I rolled my eyes.

"Marunong ka namang mag archery ba't kapa nagpaturo?"

Umalis ako agad sa kan'ya. Tama si Tiana. At mukhang hindi ko iyon kayang aminin. Hindi ko aaminin na naapektohan parin ako kahit kita naman sa pagmumukha ko. I just sighed as I went to my area back.

Pagkabalik kos aking posisyon mukhang naghihintay pa si Fotest sa akin. I gave him a raised brows before I picked up my bow and arrow.

Ramdam ko tuloy ang nerbyos dahil sa titig nito sa akin. Kahit may ginagawa ito, nagagawan parin niya ng paraan na makalingon sa aking direksyon. Hindi ko alam kung sasaya ba ako dito o kakabahan.

Akala ko mag momove on pero parang wala parin atang progress. I just ignored him and continue to draw more arrows.

Hindi nagtagal mukhang hindi niya ata mapigilan magtanong sa akin.

"Anong pinag-usapan niyo nj Tiana?"

Napataas ang aking kilay.

"Curious?" Napalingon ako sa kan'ya. Nakatingin naman ito sa target shoot niya.

"Bawal magtanong?"

My jaw opened slightly at his words.

"It's a secret you can't find out."

"Why?"

"You're not a girl."

"Was it a girl talk?"

I sighed. Ba't naman nang-uusisa ang isang 'to?

"Doesn't concern you, Fotest."

"If it does, would you tell me?"

"No."

"Fine,"

Lumingon ako sa kan'ya. I looked at him with my confused expression. I wondered how this man continuously questions me.

"You're talkative."

"Does it bothers you?"

"If I say yes, would you stop?"

Natahimik ito sa tanong ko. I draw another bow and let it go. It missed the target. I sighed as I turned to him. He blinked a couple more time and smiled boyishly.

Napalingon ako kay Zafeya na nasa likod niya. I can't see her but she's beeing taught by Markus instead of Forest. Napatingin tuloy ako ng masama kay Forest.

"Would it please you if I stop?"

He knows to play his bets, I see. I took another arrow and positioned it. I pointed to a tree around 20 meters away from us.

"If I hit that birds nest, you'll stop bothering me. But if I hit just below it, you can continue with your nonsense talks."

Lumingon ako sa kan'ya. I saw him narrow his eyes on the birds nest.

"You'd kill the birds of you'll hit the nest."

"We still don't know if I will hut the nest."

Bumuntong hininga ito bago luningon sa akin. He had that hesitating look at me. Is he scared if I'll hit the bird's nest?

Umiling ito sa akin na ikinagulo ng isip ko.

"Deal," he pursed his lips.

I smirked.

"Deal then."

I pointed for the target. Bahagya kong pinikit ang mata para makatama. Kaso, hindi ko alam kung saan tatarget. Now, I'm confused if I should hit the nest or just below it. I felt my stomach giving me roller coaster feelings.

I licked my lips as I thought of which to target. Kung pipiliin ko ang nest, there's a high chance I'll hit it. Kahit saan sa kanila ang pipiliin ko, malaki ang posibilidad na matarget ko 'yon.

Nang maramdaman ko na na tumatagal na at hindi ko pa nabibitawan ang palaso, pumikit na lamang ako. Bahala na. Kung saan nalang. Let the Goddess chose.

I closed my eyes as my fingers freed the arrow. My heart beat went in unity as I the arrow clang to the bow and hit the spot. Nakapikit pa rin ako nang marinig ko na ang pagtama ng aking palaso.

Now, where did it hit? I slowly opened my eyes as I saw the arrow. I swallowed hard as it hit at just below the nest. Napabuntong hininga ako. Ngayon, hindi ko naman alam kung sasaya ako sa resulta.

"I lik the results," banggit naman ng katabi ko.

"Of course," I said sarcastically as I relaxed my shoulders.

"You closed your eyes. So, you let the wind chose?"

Tumango na lamang ako at tinanaw ang lumalayo na ibon. Mukhang ang ibon na 'yon ang nagmamay-ari ng pugad.

"What do you think if the results?" hindi ata ito nauubusan ng pag-uusapan.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Either way, I know I'll still talk to you eventually."

He smirked and I just looked away.

"You hate it, I guess?"

Tiningnan ko siya. Does he think I hate him? He should have known how much I like him by now but I know he must not know of it.

"Neutral. I'm neutral."

"I'm... good."

"Kausapin mo si Zaf d'yan. Nilalangaw na 'yan."

He had this furrowed brows yet still chuckled.

"She's practicing. I don't want to bother her."

"Wow. You don't want to bother her yet you want to bother me?"

He smirked.

"Is it not allowed?"

"Do you have to ask"

"I need a lady's approval."

I rolled my eyes.

"We can talk. Don't be sad."

I did more archery. Hindi na siya nagsalita pagkatapos no'n. Masaya din ako na hindi naman siya nakapagsalita. Napagod rin naman ako kaya umupo na ako kasama ni Sham.

Nakatingin pala ito sa amin ni Forest. She smiled at me then handed me a bottle of water. Mukhang ito na naman ang mag-uusisa sa akin.

"You're really close with Forest."

Umismid ako. Nakita niya iyon at tumawa.

"Hindi naman,"

"Hindi raw," she had that look.

"Nagkakaintindihan kami."

"I admire how civil you are now with him."

Tumango lang ako at nagpahinga na. Nang maramdaman na ang pagod sa katawan, I excused myself already. Matagal na noong huling pag-a-archery ko kaya nangangalay tuloy ang aking nga braso.

I went to inside the mansion and straight to my room. Nang nakapasok na ako sa aking silid, natanaw ko ang isang ibon na papasok sa aking silid galing balcony.

The bird tapped on the small glass window of the door. The wind eventually opened the small window which made the bird flew inside my room. It landed on my bed.

Umupo ako sa aking kama at nakita nang mas malapitan ang ibon. My eyes widened in realization. Ito ang ibon na tatamaan ko na sana ang pugad.

When I noticed there was a note attached on its feet, tinanggal ko 'yon.

Thank you.

F.

To be continued...