Chapter 4 - Rivals

Hazel's POV

Pumasok kami sa loob ng bahay ni Hestia. Nakito ko si Tito Harlequin at Tita Amelia.

"Good Afternoon po." Bati ko sa kanila at niyakap nila ako.

"Good afternoon din sayo, Stella."

Let me explain. Tita Amelia and my mother know each other, after all ninang ko siya.

"How's your life here at the Philippines?" Tanong sa akin ni, Tito Harlequin.

"It's alright, though you can't really avoid those people who only knows how to be rude." I said.

"Oh, Ace, Aldrin, and Luis come sit here. Hestia you go upstairs and freshen up." Tita Amelia said while leading the way.

"Ummm... Aunt Amelia, pwede ako mag-archery? It's really been a long time nung nag-archery ako eh. Can I? Plsss?" I said with my puppy eyes.

"Para ka paring 7 years old sa kilos mo." Sabi sa akin ni tita. "I gave you the permission, since the three of them are here. I think they can escort you there."

"Thank you!" I hug her and she caressed my back.

"Ace, Aldrin, Luis can you?"

"Of course, I will! I want to see her ability." Sabi nung isang lalaki tapos humarap sa akin, "Hello, I am Aldrin Francisco. Nice to meet you." Then he kisses my hands.

"Gross." I said and I heard the laughter of the other two.

"Me too. I am quite interested. By the way, I am Luis Anderson. Nice to meet you." He shake my hands.

"Well, what can I do? Wala naman akong magawa sa loob." And last but not the least, Mr. Ace.

"Glad to hear that." Natutuwang sabi ni Tita.

"Tara na!" Sabi ko habang excited.

"Parang bata." Sabi ni Ace.

"Well, bata pa naman talaga ako. Hindi pa ako 18 so definitely bata pa ako." Sabi ko habang nakatalikod sa kanya.

" Interesting ka kamo, Ms. Veroda." Sabi sa akin ni Luis.

"Paano mo nasabi?"

"Hindi nakakapag-usap ng ganito kahaba si Ace sa kahit sinong tao. Kanina mo pa siya kinakausap na parang wala lang, mga tao ngayon hindi na makakapagsalita 5 sentence palang nasasabi. And the when Aldrin kissed your hand, you said it's gross, pero pag ginawa niya yun baka kiligin pa ibang babae." Sabi ni Luis. Heartthrob ba tong mga to?

"Hindi ako yung mga taong yun eh. Hindi lahat ng tao ganun ang tingin sa inyo." Sabi ko naman sa kanya.

"By the way paano mo nakilala si Hestia?" Tanong naman ni Aldrin said.

"Lets say that we are childhood friends."

"Paanong hindi ka namin kakilala?" Tanong sa akin ni Ace at doon ako napatigil sa paglalakad.

"It's been 10 years since nakita ko sila. Hestia hates me at first but she cried when I left. That's the funniest thing I've seen, Hestia crying so badly." I said while remembering the past.

Naglakad kami ulit at nakita na namin ang field Kung saan pwede ka mag-archery.

"Marunong ka ba nito?" Tanong sa akin ni Luis.

"I'm not weak as you." Then I smirked.

"Hahahha! Aldrin, a girl just burn you." Sabi ni Luis na parang nang-aasar kay Aldrin.

"I did not! I am just saying the truth." Sabi ko sa kanila.

"I am not weak you know. Let's have a match then?" Finally, meroon na akong kalaban after 10 years.

"Fine." Then I grinned.

"You are suspicious." Sabi ni Luis sa akin.

"Am I? But thanks for the compliment." Sabi ko naman.

"But there is one problem." Sabi ni Aldrin. " Hindi ako marunong mag-archery. Kasi more on soccer and tennis ako eh." I bite my lower lips since mali ako ng akala.

"Ummm.... How's this?" I raised one of my eyebrows. "Let Ace play with you, if he lost I will become your slave for 1 month if you lost you'll admit na mahina ka pala."

"Why would you drag someone here? Kung gusto niya lang ako papayag pag hindi edi hindi. Bakit mo pipilitin ang taong hindi ayaw naman?" Sabi ko. "Baka matalo ko pa siya."

"Are you trying to provoke me?" Sabi ni Ace, parang offended ah.

"Bakit na provoke ba kita?"

"Sige pero once I win you will become my slave for 1 year." Wait! Ang daya! Sa kanya one year sa akin 1 month.

"Fine but I also have one condition when I win, you will buy me 1 whole mansion." Sabi ko naman, well I love my apartment but this is a rare opportunity so dapat gamitin na.

"Deal." And then he smirk.

"3 arrows lang ang pwede gamitin. So galingan mo." Sabi ko at nagfocus na sa target ko.

Nagstart na at ginawa ko ang proper posture then bitaw. Ginawa ko yun hanggang maubos 3 kong arrow, ang score ko is 10-10-9 over all 29.

"Shall I go?" Ace said and I nodded.

He scored 10 each para sa una at pangalawang tira, I'll bet all my life here, if 10 to then I'll be his slave.

He start preparing, tumira siya at 9 points! What?! Sino ngayon panalo?

"Damn it!" Sabi niya na parang pabulong pero rinig ko naman.

Kung iisipin mo ang mga nangyari kanina, mukhang binigyan niya ako ng handicap. Hindi niya inayos ang posture niya based naman sa kilos niya sa mga tira niya before mukhang professional siya. Papalagpasin ko tong pagkakataong to pero hindi na sa susunod.

"So sinong panalo sa inyong dalawa?" Tanong ni Luis.

"None. Since tie naman kami, walang kondisiyon ang dapat ifavor." Sabi naman ni Ace.

"Next time I'll beat you, hindi mo na ako kailangan bigyan ng handicaps, I'll be on full force so then you can't beat me." Sabi ko tapos tumalikod na.

"Yare dun?" I heard Aldrin said.

"She is interesting, I want to know her more." Narinig ko din si Ace na sinabi ito.

"Ang weird niyo dalawa. Tara na baka andun na yung 3."

'Anybody can win unless there happens to be a second entry.'