"Yah, Emerald Hans... I can't believe na nakalimutan mo na agad na may pinsan ka at tinanggap mo ang offer ni Haow na magturo sayo ng archery at horseback riding." Puno ng pagtatampo na sabi ni Franco when they arrived at sabihin sa kanya ni Francis ang nangyari.
Sa dinami rami ng sinabi sa kanya, yun lang ang tumatak sa isip niya.
"He offered first."
"Of course, siya lang ang nandito eh. You should have think about me first bago ka umoo."
Hindi naman mapakali si Haow ng makita niyang nagkakatampuhan ang magpinsan dahil sa pag-offer niya ng tulong kay Emy. He was bound between taking back his offer and not. In actuality kasi, he really wants to teach Emy for his personal reason.
"Para kang bata, Franco." Sabi ni Lie Chen. Sinamaan siya agad ng tingin ni Franco. Then nilapitan niya si Haow at pinaningkitan ng mga mata. Singkit na nga siya ay mas lalo pa tuloy siyang naningkit.
"Hoy, Haow, anong ibig sabihin nito ha? Nawala lang akong saglit, magiging trainer ka na agad ni Emy?"
Agad namang napakamot sa ulo niya si Haow. "That's not it. Nagkataon lang na nandito ako when Chief said she needs to train with the horseback and archery."
Napahinga ng malalim si Emy.
"Franco, you are being childish and reasonable."
Aangal pa sana si Franco but she stopped him.
"Fine. You teach me the archery and Haow will teach me horseback riding. Okay ka na ba?"
Franco opened his mouth to speak pero wala naman siyang maisip na sasabihin kaya isinara na lang niya ulit iyon.
Tinawanan naman siya nila Lie Chen.
"Shut it."
"Kakahiya ka, Franco. Mas mature pa sayo ang pinsan mo." Sabi ni Liu Fu.
"Anong sabi mo?"
Franco started to chase after him.
"Wag kang papahuli sa akin at makikita mo yang hinahanap mong maturity ko."
The rest was laughing habang napailing na lang si Emy. Mukhang lumalabas ang pagkaisip bata ni Franco kapag kasama niya ang mga kaibigan niya.
***
Pag-uwi nila ay nagtatampo pa rin si Franco sa kanya. Akala niya ay mapapaamo na ito ng ioffer niya na siya ang magtuturo sa kanya ng archery pero hindi pa rin pala.
She thought about ignoring him pero nilapitan siya nila Shantal at kinunsensya siya.
Hayyyy...
Wala tuloy siyang nagawa kundi ang amuhin ito. Luckily, she knows how to do so.
After dinner ay nilapag ni Emy ang isang sword sa harapan ni Franco.
"You and I... at the training field now." Umalis na siya agad at nagpunta sa training field. This one is different from the one in front of the chief's house. Nasa loob siya mismo ng bahay nila Lie Zhang.
Everyone was surprised at what she did but Franco suppressed a smile atsaka mabilis na sumunod sa kanya.
"I am pissed at you so I won't hold back." Franco said.
Hindi siya sumagot. Well, this her chance to put into use what she had learned recently. Let's see how it will fare against Franco.
They begin at seizing up each other. Then out of the blue, they attacked each other.
"Yah, Emy... This is not what I meant when I told you to make peace with Franco." Shantal said habang nakatakip ang mata niya.
Natawa lang sila Feng at Francis. Sanay na silang dalawa. Last time, nagkatampuhan din ang dalawa dahil kay Lucy. And to make peace, Franco challenged Emy in a duel.
Emy was, of course, lost but they've been closer than ever before.
Since they are using real swords this time, they are both making loud sounds unlike noong ang gamit lang nila ay wooden swords. No one is holding back among the two.
Emy was already on par with Franco because she's using more strategies against him. Malakas man ang mga atake ni Franco but she can make sure not to be hurt by applying what she had learned from the books she had read. Of course, it was countless. Some are already practiced by her before. But some are still a concept in a book.
"Emy, are you trying out new things again while fighting me?" Manghang sabi ni Franco. Last time was the same too. She was using new techniques against him but because of one misused of attack, nabitiwan niya ang wooden sword niya that caused her defeat against Franco.
"Don't worry it won't be the same as before."
Franco smirked. "Make sure of it, Emy."
He threw heavy blows on Emy at halos mapaatras ang dalaga dahil dito. But on his last attack, Emy used her swiftness and dodged him.
She switched her sword from her right to left at saka itinutok sa leeg ni Franco ang espada niya. Bago pa makabawi ang binata, she kicked his swordshand that caused him to let go of his sword.
"How's that new technique of mine?" Emy asked while sneering at Franco.
Hindi naman makapaniwala ang binata. Emy used her left hand to attack. That is something even he can't pull off right away.
"You can even use sword on your left hand?" Tanong ni Lie Chen.
"I have been practicing it recently. Ngayon ko pa lang siya ginamit."
And because of that, hindi siya tinantanan nila Franco at Lie Chen.
***