Chapter 20: Weapons

"YOU need to be careful using this." Raji handed me a knife. "It's either you cut your enemy or you cut yourself," he ellaborate. "Now. . ." He created a small distance between us and motion his hand. "Come and stab me."

I didn't give it any second thought as I grip the knife tightly and charge towards Raji. I push the knife to where I am aiming at but he easily dodge it and turned to my right side.

Hinawakan niya ng ganoong kabilis ang braso ko kung saan nakahawak ang kutsilyo.

"Arghh!" daing ko nang malakas niyang tapikin ang kamay ko. Binalot ng tunog ng nalaglag na kutsilyo ang buong training room at mga mabibigat na paghinga ko.

Napasapo ako sa kamay na tinapik ni Raji.

"Again. Grip tightly. You need to fight and defend as the same time," he strictly said like a terror teacher. "Huwag mong hayaang makalapit sa 'yo ang kalaban o bigyan sila ng oportunidad para patayin ka. Your enemy will not wait for you to be ready. They will kill you if they have a slighest chance."

Malakas akong napabuga ng hangin at tagaktak ang pawis na tumatalunton sa noo ko pababa sa leeg.

Almost 1 hour of training with Raji feels like a hundred years to me.

"Wala bang pahinga 'to?" reklamo ko.

Naitaas niya ang kilay. "No more rest. Kanina ka pa nagpapahinga."

Namilog ang ilong ko sa sinabi niya. "I'm tired! Look at my horrible face," paawa ko pa kay Raji.

Nangunot ang noo niya at bumuntonghininga. "Okay. 5 minutes."

"10 minutes," I negotiated.

"Tsk."

When I heard the losing sighed of Raji, I immediately ran towards the sofa and sat comfortably like a princess. I wiped the beads of sweat that running down on my neck and back.

"Spoiled," rinig ko pang bulong niya na ikinangisi ko.

Well, I always win. Raji will always have that side. I consider him as a brother, a nagging brother to be exact but a sweet one.

"Here." Inista niya sa gawi ko ang bottled water na ikinagulat ko at napaayos ng upo, agad ko namang nasambot 'yon.

"Muntik ng matamaan ang mukha ko!" giit ko.

"Danger will not always favor you, it's unexpected," he smirk. "And if you want to take down your enemy, create an oppurtunity to have a chance to win."

I know he's right. Danger will always find me whether I like it or not.

"Where's Agon?" pasimpleng tanong ko, pag-iiba ng usapan.

"Doing something." He sat comfortably beside me, wiping his sweat on his face and neck.

"Something what?" I curiously asked.

"You know, curiousity kills the cat."

"Bakit ba? I just wanted to know."

"Do you like him?" hindi ko inaasahang sambit niya.

My eyes widened to his unexpected question. Masyado ba akong halata?  Bakit ba walang nakakatas sa mata ni Raji? Tsk.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and look at directly to his eyes.

Ano pang magagawa kung hindi ako aamin? Halatang-halata naman talaga ako sa nagdaang linggo.

"Yes. I like him," I answered frankly.

Napansin ko agad ang pagkabigla sa mukha niya pero panandalian lang 'yon. Maybe Raji didn't expect me to tell the truth immediately. Napalitan 'yon nang pagkamangha sa mukha niya at napailing na lang.

"Let's continue," aniya sabay tayo at lumapit sa mesang napupuno ng mga armas.

He silently pick a gun as well as me and aim at the target.

"You respect him so much," tukoy ko kay Agon habang kinakasa ang baril while looking at my target, hindi binabalingan ng tingin si Raji.

"Beyond words."

I heard him answered as I pulled the trigger. Sunod-sunod kong pinaulanan ng bala ang target.

I've learned so much these past trainings, iyon talaga ang masasabi ko. Magaling magturo sina Raji, Nick and Ardeen kahit na minsan ang dalawa ay wala kang makukuha kun'di kalokohan.

Idagdag pa ang hirap kapag si Agon na ang magtuturo. Kahit maliit na detalye ay wala talagang mintis sa kaniya.

"Impressive. Madali ka naman pa lang turuan," biglang usal niya habang titig na titig sa target ko.

"Do I look dumb to you?" Without a warning, I throw a punch to him but he dodge it like a pro. Sinipa ko ulit sya pero nailagan niya ulit. I launched a series of punches again aiming at his chest. "Of course, I can catch up to what you are teaching!" giit ko.

I didn’t hesitate to charged at Raji again, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks, but he deflected them all with a practiced ease, hands on his pocket.

Mayabang!

He countered with a low sweep that made me hit the mat hard, but instead of staying down, I rolled and kicked his feet. Hindi niya inaasan na gagawin ko ang ginawa niya sa 'kin.

Nangasim ang mukha ko ng mapansin ang natatawa niyang mukha. Agad kong kinuha ang maliit na kutsilyong nakalatag sa lamesa at walang pasubaling tinapon 'yon kay Raji hoping that knife will stab him.

"Wala akong sinabing bobo ka." He chuckled and catch the knife using his hand.

Ngayon ay siya naman ang umatake sa 'kin gamit ang kutsilyong tinapon ko sa kaniya. Salag at iwas ang ginawa ko sa ginagawang pag-atake ni Raji.

A minute after, I noticed that his attacks are more harsher than usual that I would end up to a hospital bed in one month if ever he hit me with those punches and kicks.

Sinabayan ko ang bawat atake ni Raji ngunit nasasalag niya pa rin 'to.

I took a step back when he punched directly at me that I managed to block it using my arms, feeling the sting on it. The pain vibrated on my system.

"Argh!" I grunted when Raji hit my leg that me stumbled again on the mat.

Nakaiinis! Why Raji always doing that kick?!

"Opps, sorry," asar niya at ngumisi.

I'm so determined to attack him that I get on my feet quickly. Katatayo ko pa lang ay pinaulanan niya agad ako ng suntok na magaan ko lang na iniiwasan.

I picked one of the dagger and throw to his direction to divert his attention. Pansin ko agad na natuon ang atensyon niya sa pag-iwas and I took that oppurtunity to kick his feet forcefully that made his butt kissed the smooth floor.

Nang iangat niya ang tingin sa 'kin ay sumalubong ang kutsilyong nakatuon sa leeg nito.

"I won," nakangising deklara ko.

"You're much way better than I thought. You're getting better," Raji commented and put his both hands in the air signaling that he lose. Raji shot me wide a grin, acknowledging the improvement that I made.

As I stood in the middle of the training room, heavily panting, sweat glistening on my forehead while looking down at Raji, I said confidently with the smile of triumph on my face, "I'm always better. I'm always improving."

Raji clapped his hands, signaling the end of this training for today. Nilahad ko ang kamay para makatayo siya at malugod niyang tinanggap 'yon.

“That’s enough for today. You performed admirably,” he said and smile. “You’ve come a long way, but there’s still more to learn, a room for improvement.”

That day ended and my body aches like hell feeling the sore of heavy punches that Raji launched but these pains are all worth it.