SHOW ME

"Like this?" I muttered with one eye closed.

"Open your two eyes, Lena," Luca instructed from behind me. "Keep the bow steady. Remember what I taught you. Only let go when you're ready."

Easier said than done.

My bow was drawn. My goal was to hit the round straw target on the opposite wall of the training ground. Red concentric circles were painted on the target. Landing on any of them was more than good enough, but I specifically aimed for the smallest circle in the middle.

It was my first time, and I was determined to show Luca that I was a prodigy.

I took a deep breath.

Confident that my aim was perfect, I let go.

Unfortunately, I let go of the wrong thing. I loosened my grip on the bow instead of the arrow.

The wooden bow bounced back on the string and smacked painfully against my face.

"Ow!"

"Lena, are you okay?!" Luca rushed up to me, inspecting my face. "Oh, no. Your face is a little red."

It could've been worse. Luckily, with my current strength, I hadn't drawn the bow to its full capacity. Had I done it, the pain would be unbearable. My nose was throbbing. But the redness on my face was probably due to my embarrassment. I wanted to die on the spot.

You are such an idiot, Lena! Prodigy, you say? What a joke!

"I'm fine," I muttered. "It just… slipped."

"Right." Luca sounded like he was trying his best to suppress a laugh, now that he was done inspecting me and certain I was okay.

I rubbed my face in frustration. "It's true! I'll try again," I said stubbornly.

I collected the bow and fitted the arrow on the notch. With a firm grip on the bow using my left hand, I raised it in front of me. I drew back the string with three fingers on my right hand, resting it against my right jaw as I tried to keep it from wobbling too much.

Right hand, Lena, I thought. Let go with your right hand, not your left.

Please, please… don't embarrass yourself this time.

I let go.

The arrow jumped and dropped pathetically to the ground a few feet in front of me.

At least I didn't hurt myself this time.

"Nice. But you need to pull it back harder," Luca commented.

"I know." I grabbed another arrow from the pile beside me and fitted it again.

"Take your time. You can do it," Luca coaxed.

I didn't take my time, partly due to the frustration that was building up.

The arrow made it farther, but it was still far from the target.

"Ugh! Why is it so hard?!"

"It's not," Luca said. "Here, let me show you."

Without warning, his arms came up from behind me and fitted a fresh arrow to my bow while I was still holding on to it.

Like… like… he was embracing me from behind!

Oh. My. Heavens.

His left hand encircled my hand that was gripping the bow, and his other wrapped around my fingers that were on the string. Then, he raised the bow forward, guiding me along with his movement.

"Okay, now we're going to draw."

His breath tickled my ear when he spoke. That's how close he was! Like a real, breathing shadow attached to my body. I could feel the heat of his body against my back… against my arms… against my hands, as he pulled back the string. His fingers were grasping the string itself so the action wouldn't hurt me, but they were loosely cupped over my own hand.

"Keep your elbows straight, parallel to the ground… Keep it steady… relax your grip on the bow, Lena. Not too tight…"

Excuse me, how can I relax?!

My entire body was electrified. My hands were trembling. Not from the physical effort, but because of our physical contact. Being enveloped in Luca's arms, his warmth, was driving me insane. I could barely focus.

"Pull it back a little more," he continued. "I'm going to let go of the string now, okay? Try to keep it in the same position…"

I willed myself to follow what he was saying. His right fingers relaxed a bit, so that it was my own strength that was keeping the string drawn. But he still didn't take his hand off from mine, just in case I slipped.

"Look down the arrow and try to keep it aligned with the target…"

I was only looking at his huge hand that had completely enclosed my own in the bow grip.

"Now, when you let go of the string, don't force it too much. Just let your fingers slip backward…"

What was I supposed to do again? Let go of the string?

I let it slip through my fingers mindlessly, 'accidentally' brushing against Luca's hand in the process.

Whoosh!

It worked, apparently. The arrow flew straight forward and pierced the outer edge of the target.

How? I have no idea. I wasn't focusing at all.

"Great job, Lena! I knew you could do it!"

And just like that, the warmth disappeared as Luca pulled away.

I could finally breathe again. Can a person forget how to breathe?

"Uh, thanks, I guess," I muttered.

"Again. On your own this time," he said, grinning at me.

Luca was looking very pleased. And completely oblivious. Was I really the only one feeling that way? Feeling that kind of tension? The sparks… did he not feel them too?

It annoyed me a little.

Now that I'd gotten the feel of how to do it properly, it was easier for me to practice my archery skills as the hour passed. I ended up hitting the stone wall behind the target more times than the actual target. But at least I was getting better.

I found it better compared to the sword and unarmed lessons. I liked that I didn't have to react on the spot. Aiming at a target from afar didn't feel as hectic. I could sneak up on an enemy, and bam!

Of course, Luca said, I would never have to use it on the battlefield. He agreed to teach me archery only because I wanted to. It's a useful survivability skill in hunting. It's not like I'll be stranded in the middle of nowhere where I had to hunt for my own food, but it was a good skill to have, nevertheless.

I was having fun. I like watching Luca retrieve the arrows every time I run out. I was constantly staring at him whenever he wasn't looking. The memory of his touch was forever burned into my brain, which I kept revisiting, even during practice.

I wanted more. Like tasting chocolate for the first time. One time is never enough.

"Luca?"

"Yes?"

"Can you hit the middle mark?"

"I can."

"Show me how it's done, then," I said, handing him the bow.

"Okay."

The difference in our skills was evident. It only took him about two seconds to aim before shooting. The arrow stabbed the innermost red circle loudly.

"It's easy at this distance," he explained. "It's very near. And the target's not moving." He casually shot a couple more arrows, all landing within the same circle.

"Show off," I muttered.

"You asked me to show you," he said, laughing.

I mustered up my courage.

"I know… but can you really show me?"

"I just did. What do you mean?"

"Like… what you did earlier, you know, guiding me and everything," I said, forcing my voice to appear calm. "It helped a lot. I just want to get the feeling of how you aim and have the arrow land on where you want to, you know…"

Please stop asking questions. Please say yes… I begged him in my mind.

"Oh. Of course."

Yes!

Lena, you are evil, a tiny voice in my head said as Luca approached me.

I squashed that tiny voice into nonexistence.

I bit down on my lip to stop my giddy smile from showing. This time, Luca took full control of the bow and arrow as he guided my hands. The small hairs on my body stood up when Luca's familiar warmth descended on me. I breathed in his scent. I was getting used to it now.

Yes, this is it. This is exactly what I want. I could never get enough of him.

To my shock, he leaned his head down so it was almost pressing my right cheek. That side of my face burned up. I side-glanced at him. His face was focused as he attempted to look down the arrow from my perspective.

"Align it with the target…" he breathed.

Oh my…!

If I just turned my head… ever so slightly to the right… I could kiss him.

My heart was beating out of my chest. Breathing got hard again.

He noticed none of it, though. "This is perfect. You'll be the one to let go, alright?"

Of you? No way, I thought foolishly.

I tried to concentrate on the target. It seemed to be perfectly aligned.

Whoosh!

The arrow hit the spot between two of Luca's previous arrows.

"I did it!" I exclaimed.

"You did it!"

I turned around excitedly to face Luca.

But he was still leaning over, his head level with mine.

Our eyes met. We both froze, my face inches from his.