LUNA

23: Shot

Being in a coven means fire in your pride, honor to your kind. Pero kung ganitong coven lang 'rin naman ang ibibigay saakin— I'd prefer working alone.

Morning trainings should be heaven for me, but the clashing attitudes and personalities can really be distracting. Although walang sumusubok na banggain ako, naiinis parin ako sa mga pinapakita nilang mga ugali.

"Anytime, Sahar"

Drawing a breath in, I placed the bow and arrow on my chest. Aiming it to the target board 20 yards away from my spot. Blanko lamang ang mukha kong tinitigan ng mabuti ang itim na bilog na nasa gitna ng target board.

Witches are around me, eyes watching intently. Inisa-isa kami ngayon ng prinsipe sa palaso at pana sa dahilan na gusto nitong malaman kung gaano kami kagaling pagdating sa mga armas.

Sa totoo lang, hindi ako magaling sa palaso. Bows and arrows are not my best fields cause I always either pull too hard or aim too far. But I didn't let my confidence break apart. Not when all wicked eyes are on me, waiting for me to make a mistake.

Suminghap uli ako ng hangin bago ko tuluyan binitawan ang pana.

The smell of humor made my nose twitched. Walang emosyon kong tinignan ang mga witches na ngayon ay nakangisi dahil sa nangyare.

The arrow went through the white and missed the circles. Not even close to the bullseye.

Pandora gave me a small smile na para bang sinasabi niyang okay lang ang ginawa ko. Nym gave me a thumbs-up. Ryon crossed her arms and gave me a pathetic grin. One that says that she couldn't believe that someone like me can't do a proper aim. Arabella didn't have any reaction. The new recruits, especially the two witches I caught were mischievously grinning at my performance. Eyebrows arched up in a mocking way.

Kumulo dugo ko sa simpleng pang-aasar nila saakin, pero hindi ko ito pinakita.

Zarax, on the other hand gave me a look that indicates that she's disappointed. Nasa tabi siya ng unang prinsipe na ngayon ay hinihintay akong umulit.

Three rounds. Three arrows. That was my first.

Tinira ko uli ang isa, ngayon naman, hindi na ito tumama sa board pa. A mocking scoff from the witches happened and that pulled the trigger in me. Let them be. Let them know how stupid you are when it comes to bows and arrows. Let them belittle you.

My eyes didn't waver. I maneuvered myself with the bow and the last piece of arrow. Didn't care anymore if I couldn't hit the target board.

I aimed and shot.

Used all of my strength as I pulled the string and let it go in one swift move.

The arrow hit the board, but not the center— it did pierce the board and went through until it hit the cement wall of the training grounds.

Sira ang target board at may crack pa ang pader dahil sa lakas kong humila at bumitaw.

Ngumisi ako ng walang magsalita.

"Not really my forte" I shrug sabay nilakad ang mga racks kung saan nakalagay doon ang mga bows and arrows. Mas lalong lumapad ang ngisi ko ng makitang ngumiwi ang iilang mga sentinels ng makalapit ako sa pwesto nila para ibalik ang armas. "Relax, I didn't hit bullseye"