{CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: LESSON ONE, GUNS}

Dianne's POV

We walked down the hallway patungo sa elevator. Ivy lend me some comfortable clothes for training. The rest were already ready na para bang alam nilang may training once they enter this building.

Ivy pressed the 17th floor, the training floor to be exact. It were they train once they have a gang fight.

We entered the room at bumungad sakin ang malaking empty room. The walls are covered with white ngunit kapansin pansin ang ibang sira sa paligid dala na rin siguro ng matitinding training nila Ivy paminsan-minsan. Pumasok kami sa loob at inilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid.

There are weapons placed on the table in front of us. A knife, different kinds of guns and calibers of its bullet plus the swords. It's amazing to see this dahil parang ang astig mo na. The others snatched their guns from the table at tsaka pinaglaruan sa kani-kanilang mga kamay. I was just looking at them, amazed.

My parents never let me handle these things. They say that it's too  dangerous. Eto kasi mismo ang dahilan ng pagkamatay ng aking Kuya. Its a long story down there at masyadong masakit para sakin so maybe, hindi ko muna ikukwento sa inyo...sa ngayon.

"What are you waiting for, Dianne? Choose a weapon."

Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa mga bagay na nasa aking harapan. I picked the gun with the oldest model. Mukha kasing madaling gamitin at matutunan. The gun looked like the gun of the polices at normal lang ang hitsura. Plain black, of course.

Napailing si Ivy. Inilapag nya ang kanyang baril pansamantala at tsaka inagaw yung akin.

"Use this. Masyado ng old school yang napili mo. Denise, throw this one."

Ibinigay ni Ivy kay Denise yung napili kong baril bago nya ito itinapon sa malapit na basurahan.

I looked at my new gun. Mukhang mas bago ang model kesa dun sa napili ko. Pasensya naman kasi, hindi naman ako marunong tumingin ng ganito.

"First lesson, you need to know how to shoot with a gun. You probably know how to use it, right?"

"Obviously."

Umalis muna sina Denise sa loob ng silid kaya natira kami muna ni Ivy sa loob. Magpapahangin daw muna yung tatlo. We entered a hitting room na may mga tirahan para sa baril. Ivy let me wore glasses and soundproof headphones para hindi ko marinig ang putok ng baril. Safety first.

I held the gun in front of me at hinawakan ni Ivy ang aking mga braso para tulungan akong maka-aim ng tama.

"Shoot inside the 7th ring. You can do it."

May sampung bilog sa papel na nasa harapan ko. Ibat ibang kulay, ibat ibang bilang. For now, I should shoot to the 7th.

I aimed and focused myself bago diniinan ang gatilyo ng baril. Medyo nanginginig pa nga ako dahil after all, this is my first time shooting and handling a gun. A real gun.

"That's 8th. Again."

Tsk. Oo nga naman, may butas dun sa ikawalong bilog. Napailing ako before starting over again.

"Take your time Dianne. Focus and concentrate more."

Ipinakit ko ang isa kong mata para matignan ng maigi ang ikapitong bilog. At three, pinutok ko ang baril.

"Good. Now, the fourth."

Grabe naman tong si Ivy, masyadong seryoso. Good thing na-aim ko naman ang ikapitong bilog. Now, mas lumiit ang bilog dahil ikaapat na. Pano pa kaya kapag mismong bullseye na ang ipatira sakin nitong Ivy na toh? Edi dapat gitnang-gitna!

Muli kong inilagay saking harapan ang baril. I tried my best not to shake my arms para madaling makatira sa tamang bilog.

In the count of three, I pulled the trigger.

"Wrong. That's the sixth. Hit the 4th Dianne, again."

Mahirap din palang bumaril. Akala ko, basta mo lang ipuputok ito then boom, patay ang kalaban but when it comes to training, pukpukan pala dapat.

It took me a minute before pulling the trigger. It comes in the third circle. Kanina kulang, ngayon sobra naman. Jusko.

I looked at Ivy with a pleasing face.

"That's good. Atleast naungusan mo ang ikaapat ng bilog. Practice more, Dianne. Pagbalik ko, I want you to shoot the bullseye.

Napalunok ako. Shemay, eto nga ba ang sinasabi ko. She'll let me hit the midpoint of this paper with circles in front of me. Dun nga sa ikaapat na bilog eh, nakailang ulit ako. Paano naman po ang bullseye diba?

Ivy walked past me at pumunta sa pintuan but before she got back, nagsalita sya ulit.

"And oh, may time limit."