Chapter 16

The elimination round for individual event had just started. We're all eight in the game, 4 SHS, and 4 College. There will be 5 sets for this round and were given 3 arrows. The first four to get the highest score will move to the semifinals.

We're still standing behind the waiting line and we finally heard two whistles. We headed to the shooting line, 25 meters away from the target, we then picked our bow. We placed one foot on each side of the shooting line, standing straight and tall, with our head up and our shoulders down and loose. We now raise our bow arm towards the objective.

Our arrows are still in the quiver. We must hear one whistle to finally start shooting. And after a minute we heard one blast. Sabay naming hinugot ang isang arrow and we released it so soon. We're just given 20 seconds to shoot per arrow.

I hit the outer red, so I scored 7 points on my first shot. Tsk, I really am not in my best condition this time.

"Go, Greg!"

"Fight, fight, fight, Sky!"

"We love you, Sky!"

"Aim the gold, Ben!"

"Laban, SHS!"

"I love you, Lucas!"

"Fight, College players!"

"Win, Kevin!"

Almost all the students are now extremely chanting our names, holding some cheer stuff. Yeah, this time, parang mas ginanahan akong maglaro.

On my second shot, I hit the outer gold and it is equivalent to 9 points.

"SKY!" and there, I finally saw Veia with Sun, smiling over me. They're both raising the cheer poster Veia has made. And, honestly, masaya ako.

The first set is done. The instructor made 3 whistles since the end of arrows to be scored has been shot, we then approach our target and observe which score zones our arrows have hit. The instructor has said that it's time for us to say our score.

Nauna kaming SHS sa pagsabi ng score.

"5, 2, 1," Ben said.

"4, Miss, 4," Greg said.

"6, 4, 5," said Harry.

"7, 9, 10," I uttered and everyone screamed! I just shook my head, smiling. Mabuti na lang at nakabawi ako agad. I really am so grateful to those genuinely supporting me. They're my source of perseverance and strength.

And, then it's the College players time to reveal their score.

"6, 3, Miss," Kevin said.

"8, 5, 6," said Lucas.

"5, 6, 5," Caron said.

"6, 1, 3," said Anderson.

We heard two whistles from the instructor, so we went back to the shooting line and started the second set.

I scored, 8, 9, 9.

We heard four consecutive whistles. The last set had just ended. "STOP SHOOTING AND PUT YOUR ARROWS BACK IN YOUR QUIVER!" the instructor said.

From the screen, we've seen our scores.

Senior High School

Ben Lopez - 50 points

Greg Sayon - 60 points

Harry Buenavista - 70 points

Sky Abellera - 97 points

Tertiary

Kevin Flores - 81 points

Lucas Martin - 76 points

Caron Manalo - 52 points

Anderson Green - 54 points

"The following archers will move to the semifinals," the instructor said. "Harry Buenavista and Sky Abellera of Senior High School, Kevin Flores and Lucas Martin of Tertiary level."

"Congrats," Ben and Greg said in a chorus before they went out of the area.

"For the semifinals, the two archers with the highest score will compete for the championship!" the instructor uttered again before he gave us two whistles.

We then positioned ourselves at the shooting area. For this round, we're given 3 sets with 3 arrows and again 20 seconds per arrow.

After more than 6 minutes, the semifinals ended. Ben scored 57 points, Kevin scored 87 points, Lucas scored 107 points, and I scored 105 points. It's me and Lucas who will compete for the final round, again! It's been three consecutive individual events in archery that Lucas is my opponent for the championship. Natalo niya ako last year, and I feel like matatalo na naman ako.

Akala ko masaya na ako, pero hindi pala. After seeing Veia and Sun holding each other's hand I feel down again.

Sh*t! It's so hard to control my emotion!

"Good luck, Abellera, this time, tatalunin na naman kita," Lucas said and I just nodded as an answer that made him looked at me with knitted brows. "So, magpapatalo ka? I didn't know Abelleras are now losers."

"Shut up, Lucas, focus on the game," I replied.

He laughed, "ipapahiya kita sa mga fangirls mo, Sky," he said.

"Go on, it won't bother me anyways."

"Stop acting cool, Sky."

I am about to give a reply, but the instructor already gives one blast. It's time to release the arrows. This time we're given 5 sets with 2 arrows for 40 seconds at 50 meters away from the target. The archer who got the highest combine score will have two points and the lowest will have one point. The first one to get 7 points will be the winner.

"Sh*t!" I couldn't stop myself to cuss when I missed an arrow! Ngayon pa na championship na!

"Talo ka na, Abellera," Lucas said.

Tss! Let's see.

For the first set, I scored 10, 0, while Lucas scored 7, 10. Sige, lamang ka sa ngayon. He got the 2 points this time.

On the second set, I scored 9, 9, and Lucas scored 7, 8. We both have 3 points now.

On the third set, I scored 9, 10, while Lucas scored 7, 7. So, I am now leading with 5 points while Lucas got 4 points.

On the fourth set, I scored 9, 7, and Lucas scored 10, 7. This time, he got the two points, so we're now tied with 6 points each.

On the last set, both our arrow hit the gold. He was the first one who shots his second arrow and he scored 8. Sh*t! I need to hit the gold one more time so I can have the 2 points!

I was about to release my arrow when someone shouted my name, "you're not gonna shoot the yellow ring, Sky, find the right position, you're aiming the outer red. Tsk! You will lose for sure!" she said with knitted brows.

With a surprised face, I looked at her. Actually, what she did is prohibited, so where did she get her guts to shout it out? Amazing!

But, it seems like I am not seeing the Hillary I used to know.

"Is that Hillary?"

"OMG? She looks so pretty!"

Indeed! Bakit kaya biglang nagbago 'yong physical appearance niya? Her three inches below the knee skirt before is now three inches above her knee, her blouse is fitted, exposing her perfect body figure, bun hairstyle, that light makeup-damn, so not Hillary Aeiou Madrigal.

"Hit the gold, Sky! Bring home the triumph!" she uttered again.

"17 seconds!" the instructor said, then I focus myself back on the game.

"Was that your girl, Sky?" Lucas asked.

Still looking at the target, I replied, "no."

"Oh, sayang! She's a hot chick, Sky."

"Sky! Release your arrow! The time is running!" I heard Hillary shouted. Impatience, tsk, tsk. Coach Erika has been telling her to stop what she's doing, but she seems giving no care at all.

"You can give her to me," Lucas uttered again.

The instructor reminded again, "8 seconds left!"

I smirked and said, "she isn't a thing that should be given to anyone. She's a jewel..." I looked at Lucas, "...that only a champion can own," then, I released my last arrow.

"HOOOOOH!"

"HE HITS THE GOLD! CONGRATS, SKY!"

"YEEEES!"

"WE LOVE YOU, SKY!"

"For the individual event in Archery, the winner is Sky Abellera! Congratulations!" coach Erika announced.

I was about to look for her, but everyone started to run through me and asks for a picture. Wala na akong nagawa kun'di ang ngumiti riyan, ngumiti rito.

Ito na lang siguro 'yong maibibigay ko sa pagsuporta nila sa'kin. I am so grateful to these people.