The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

Legality

"Gracey!" Tawag ko sa atensyon ng kaibigan habang hawak hawak ko ang braso ng nakababatang kapatid.

"What's up?" Napatigil sa paglalakad si Grace at kunot noong binalingan ang kapatid ko na nakayuko lang.

"Can you clean her up please? Kulit kulit ng batang 'to, nakipag spar sa mga batang freshies." Masama kong tiningnan si Virgo. Her reason for doing that? Dahil hinahamon daw ito ng kasamang freshie sa pag ca-cannon ball sa lake. Itong kapatid ko naman, mukha lang inosente pero mas palaban pa sa palaban. Hindi natatakot ng away, siguro kamatayan pa ang may takot sa kaniya. Ayan tuloy, may pasa siya sa bandang leeg, panga at may sugat sa braso at tuhod.

Yes, okay lang kay Grace na ipagamot ko kapatid ko sa kaniya. She's a medic expert in camp.

Bumuntong-hininga nalang ako habang naglalakad papuntang klase ko. Hawak ko ang backpack ko nang may maagipan ang mga mata ko. Long time no see, ah.

"Pers!"

Mukhang nagulat ko si Pierce nang lumingon siya sakin. He gave me a nod, smiled and walked towards me.

"Saan ka?" Tanong niya habang may hawak na test tubes sa dalawang kamay.

"Nandito," pilosopong ani ko, na pabiro naman niya akong inirapan. "Hinde, may klase ako sa history ngayon. Ikaw ba?"

He sighed heavily and showed me the test tubes. "Doing my brother's bidding." He chuckled.

Napatawa din ako. Bihira ko nalang nakakasama si Archer. Naging busy kasi siya sa chemistry. He's an amazing chemist. He's a teacher here and he's pretty smart and passionate about his concoctions.

"On July 15th, 19–" napaigtad ako nang mahulog ang pisngi ko sa palad habang nag sasalita ang history teacher namin. Nakatulog pa nga.

Mygad, I hate history.

Napalingon ako sa tagiliran ko nang may nag abot sa'kin ng papel na pinilo. Katabi ko pala ngayon si Pers.

"Have you seen Virgo?" The note said.

I gave Pierce a questioning look and he just conversed with me using his eyebrows, urging me to answer. Nagtatakang sinulat ko ang sagot. Nang ibinigay ko na ang papel sa kaniya at nabasa na niya, bigla nalang niyang kinunot ang papel at parang na fu-frustrate na ikinamao ang kamay at tinakpan ang bibig, he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. When he glanced at me, I just raised a brow. Ngiting aso lang ako bigay niya sa'kin bago awkward na ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan.

After history may assignment kami ni Pierce. Gagawa daw kami ng brochure about the history of the elites. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kaming dalawa ang ginawang pair ni Miss Beatrice, sabi naman ng iba dahil siguro malapit ang mga Delluna sa Argente noong unang panahon. Palaging nag tutulungan, pero nagkataon ay naglaho lang din naman iyon.

"Aray!" Binato ko ng libro si Pierce na naglalaro lang ng play station habang ako naman ay nag gugupit gupit ng mga construction paper para sa brochure namin. Nandito kami ngayon sa cabin ng tatlong Delluna.

"Pag ako natalo dito, at kasalanan mo. Naku, hinding hindi na talaga kita papansinin." Aniya habang naka tuon parin ang atensyon sa tv.

I scoffed and rolled my eyes away from him and focused on cutting the pieces of construction paper. After a few minutes and I FINALLY finished, binato ko si Pierce ng unan.

"Hoy! Ikaw naman magdikit neto! May idea na ako, ikaw na mag dikit." Nang hindi niya ako pinansin, pasalampak na umupo ako sa couch sa tabi niya. Binalingan niya lang ako saglit bago umusog palayo sa'kin.

Kumunot ang noo ko at umusog palapit sa kaniya pero umiwas na naman ito. I giggled and grabbed the console from his hands.

"Hoy—" akmang aabutin na niya ang console na hawak ko't nakataas ang mga kamay ko para hindi niya maabot, nang biglang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad ang dalawang Delluna.

Napamulagat si Sai habang si Archer naman ay naghuhubad ng lab coat.

"Uuyy, ano 'yan?" Mapang-asar na ani Sai.

Kinakabahan na lumayo agad sa'kin si Pierce. "Siya nung nauna, kuya." Pagsusumbong niya na parang bata.

Archer was emotionless, mukhang pagod.

"Nagluto ka na ba, Pers?" Lunch na pala, nakalimutan ko. And speaking of, hindi pala ako nakapag breakfast! Lagot.

Umiling lang si Pers at pumunta sa project namin para mandikit. Archer's gaze went to me. His eyes softened.

"Kumain kana?" Malambing na tanong nito habang umupo sa tabi ko sa couch at inihiga ang ulo sa mga binti ko. He grabbed my hand and purposely placed it on his cheeks. "Baby I'm tired, comfort me." He pouted like a baby.

Napaubo lamang si Sai na ikinatawa ko. Umiiling na hinahaplos ko ang pisngi ni Archer.

I cleared my throat before answering his question. "No pa."

Nagulat nalang ako nang bigla itong tumayo. Hinanda ko na ang sarili ko sa sermon nito na parang tatay ko siya pero hindi, pumunta siya sa ref nila at naglabas ng mga ingredients.

"Ikaw Aries, ah. Ba't ba hindi ka kumakain sa tamang oras?" Ani Archer habang nag tatadtad ng patatas. Magluluto daw siya ng kaldereta.

"Oo nga Aries. Dapat kumakain ka sa tamang oras, para maging malusog ka. Dapat hindi ka nagpapagutom kasi pakakasalan ka pa ni Archer." Walang kwentang ani Sai at napatingin naman ang dalawang mag pinsan sa isa't isa at tumawa ang mga baliw.

Inirapan ko lang sila at linapitan si Pierce sa paggawa sa brochure namin.

"Ano ba 'yang ginagawa niyo?" Umupo si Sai sa gilid ko. I'm now in between Pierce and Isaiah.

"Brochure, obvious ba Sai?" Masungit na ani Pierce.

"Sus, si insan, selos parin. Hindi nga pwede 'yon!" Pabirong binatukan ni Sai si Pierce na masama ang tingin sa kaniya.

My forehead knotted. "Anong hindi pwede?" Pakiki chismis ko naman.

Natigilan si Pierce at dahan-dahang itinuon ang tingin kay Sai. He conversed with him using his brows again. It's so annoying. Kaya I sighed and eased them before going to the kitchen to accompany Archer.

My boyfriend, teehee.

"Hi boyfriend." Pabirong ani ko at niyakap si Archer mula sa likuran.

He's washing the other veggies.

"Hi girlfriend kong uhaw na uhaw sa'kin palagi." I threw a punch on his side.

He groaned in pain but I didn't even hit him that hard.

"Daddy chill!" Aniya with a squeaky voice. I laughed so hard because that sounded so ridiculous coming from him and his baritone voice.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto at natapos na din sa pagluluto si Archer. Naghanda ako ng mga plato at kubyertos para maka kain na kami. I have self defense training with Archer at 3. It's already 2:15.

Habang kumakain, andaming kinukwento sa'kin si Sai. Palaging inaasar si Archer noog kabataan nila.

Aniya'y sa sobrang kulit daw ni Archer at sa sobrang takaw ng pool. Hindi daw siya napilit na lumabas ng pool kasi sabi nito baka agawin daw ni Sai. Kaya ayon, nakapag tae siya sa pool. Putcha kadiri.

Pulang pula na ang mukha ni Pierce sa kakatawa, hindi daw niya alam 'yon kasi hindi pa siya pinanganak noong mga araw na 'yon. Si Archer naman, pulang pula na ang mukha sa hiya.

"What the hell! Shut up already, Sai! Gusto mo bang e-expose ko din kayo ng countess mo?" Archer threatened.

Biglang natahimik si Sai at masamang tiningnan si Archer.

"Usto mo flying K?"

"Flying kiss?"

"Hindi, flying kick. Gusto mo? Bibigay ko sa'yo kung uunahan mo 'ko." Hindi parin ako makapaniwala na mas matanda ng isang taon si Sai kay Archer pero mas angas ng dating ni Archer kay Sai.

Tumawa lamang si Archer. I chuckled as well. Itong mag pinsan talaga.

Napatigil sa pagtawa si Archer nang biglang mag ring ang cellphone nito. I was busy with my kaldereta but I noticed how Pierce and Sai looked at Archer with concern.

Archer gave me an apologizing look before excusing himself and answering the call.

"Bakit? Anong meron?" Pabulong na tanong ko.

"Wala, mama lang niya siguro." Sai cleared his throat and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Diba Pers?" Sabay siko nito kay Pierce.

Tumango lamang si Pierce at nagpatuloy nalang kami na kumain.

"Put your weight on your feet when you kick. It'll hurt more." Nahihingal na ani Archer.

I fixed my pontytail and exhaled sharply.

"What?! No! It'll hurt you more." He's my partner again. This time he volunteered. Pumayag naman na ako dahil training lang 'to. Marami siyang alam tungkol dito. Senior nga.

Umiling ito. "What's the point in practicing self defense kung maaawa ka lang sa kalaban mo?" Inirapan ko siya.

"Come on, Argente. Akala ko ba dugong magagaling kayo?" He mocked. Those words literally irritate for some reason and so I gave him my all.

Tinuhod ko ang tiyan nito. Napaigik si Archer sa sakit sabay tawa.

"That's.. good. Do that again, but harder." He said in a low voice.

I raised my brows. Harder, huh?

We did another round and when I was about to knee his stomach, he caught my knee and pushed it back so hard, making me lose my balance on my other foot and almost fell on my face! Good thing he caught my shoulder and held me up.

"Weak." Aniya na ikina-irita ko.

He's always like that pag natatalo niya ako. Sabi niya, hindi daw porket mahal niya ako ay magiging exception ako sa mga dapat kong paghirapan na matutunan. It's understandable. I don't want to be treated like a princess. I want to work hard as much as others are. Hindi porket ang layo ng maaabot ko sa buhay dahil sa family background ko ay lalaki na din ang ulo ko.

My family's crooked but I have to stable. I can't let other's think na pera lang ang alam ng mga Argente. We're gifted, special, talented and smart. Nabubulag lang talaga sa pera.

"Workout bukas?" Tanong sa'kin ni Archer habang hinuhubad nito ang muscle tee na suot at pinupunasan ang pawis nito.

Wala sa sariling napatitig ako sa pandesal niya habang umiinom ng tubig.

"Ibang workout na naman ata ang iniisip mo, eh." He smirked before grabbing his water bottle and drinking on it.

I just made a face and he laughed at me. Napatingin na naman ako sa cellphone niya na nag riring na naman.

I really don't want to interfere. It seems so serious dahil palaging nagiging blanko ang mukha nito. Sai said it's a family thing at ayokong maki alam. I know how the Delluna's value their connection with their famillies. Because back then, the last Delluna, didn't have one.

"Sino 'yan?" Hindi ko na napigilan na magtanong. Pagabi na at naglalakad na kami papuntang cabin ko. Habit na niyang ihatod ako araw araw.

May pag aalinlangan sa mukha niya. "You don't have to answer if—"

"It's just my dad. Always bugging me. You know.. dads. Haha." He chuckled awkwardly before clearing his throat. He's such a bad liar and I can read him perfectly.

"You know you're a terrible liar, right?"

And then he sighed in defeat.

"Ayokong malaman mo dahil hindi naman importante 'to." He said na parang natatakot.

I opened the door to our cabin dahil naka lock parin. Baka hindi parin natatapos sa training o klase sina Prim at Grace.

Inilapag ko ang mga gamit sa couch. Akmang aakyat na ako para makapagbihis nang hinila ni Archer ang kamay ko. Nakaupo na pala siya sa couch, legs apart and gently pulling me towards his lap.

I sighed in relaxation. He always makes me feel calm and secure. Sa mga kamay niyang nakayakap sa'kin. Pakiramdam ko walang masama ang mangyayari. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng mga challenges sa buhay, kaya lang naming malagpasan in a blink of an eye.

He's my home after all.

"Baby?" He asked, ever so sweetly. He's rubbing his thumb against my belly, naka sports bra lang ako.

"Hmm?" I snugged my head back against his neck. He kissed my shoulder. And again. And again. And again. I chuckled.

"May sasabihin ka ba? Or nagpaparinig ka lang?" Natatawang ani ko. As he kiss my neck and nape, I chuckle at the tickling sensation.

He chuckled back and held my chin, making me face him to the side.

"You know I love you right?" He carefully said with so much emotion in his eyes. "How about you? Do you.. love me?" He looks so vulnerable.

I stared at his face with love in my eyes. I can't say it. But I know I already do. I don't why I can't say those damned words. I do, Archer. I love you too. Pero bakit parang pakiramdam ko may iba ka pang sasabihin bukod doon? I showed him my love for him through my eyes, that I hope he can see.

He smiled lovingly at me and planted a soft kiss on my lips.

"I know." He whispered in between our lips.

He made me sit on his lap but this time, I'm facing him.

He placed his forehead against mine. His eyes are closed and there's a soft smile on his lips. He looks contented, na para bang ayaw na niyang umalis sa posisyong ito. He hugged my waist firmly and I hugged him back on his neck.

"Baby you're like lightning in a bottle.." he sang in his deep, slurred voice. Bahagya pa akong napaatras sa gulat.

He can sing? And damn that good.

"I can't let you go now that I got you.." he opened his eyes and kissed my nose.

"All I need is to be strucked.. by.. your.." he kissed my cheeks and then my chin.

"Electric love." He said shortly before kissing me softly.

And that soft kiss became torrid and I ended up in my bed. Archer locked the doors sa baba, so looks like makikitulog na naman ang magpinsan sa cabin ng ibang pinsan nila. Sorry Prim and Grace!! Labyu!

After the love making. Nahihingal na napahiga ako sa dibdib ni Archer. This guy made me go top! Masunurin naman ako.

"I hate it up here." I was still so out of breath.

"You were amazing, love. 10 points." Pabirong natawa naman si Archer at tinampal ko ang dibdib nito.

Akmang gugulong na ako papunta sa bed nang niyakap niya ako nang mahigpit. So I had no choice but to stay on top of him. I sniffed his neck and placed a soft kiss. He softly groaned at that.

"Don't arouse me or you'll be against a wall this time." He threatened. I juct chuckled.

After a few moments of silence, akala ko nakatulog na si Archer pero nagulat ako nang hinagod niya ang kamay sa buhok ko.

"Akala ko tulog ka na?" I said in a sleepy voice.

"Mas tunog tulog ka pa sa'kin. Matulog ka na." He pushed my head against his chest when I looked up at him.

My eyelids were heavy and I could only feel Archers hands on my head. He's softly humming a lullaby and I can feel myself getting sucked by oblivion.

"Babe?" He saif softly. I was too sleepy to answer so I just hummed.

"My dad wants to meet you." I hummed in agreement, not even realizing what I just agreed to!

"Tomorrow."