Going Astray

I was drenched in practically sizzling sweat standing under the hot summer sun. But even so, I felt safe and comfortable knowing that my dad is watching me up from the sky (no, he's not dead); also because I was at the archery range, my second home.

Armed with a quiver full of arrows and a bow, a lethal combination when carried by a child of the archer god, I focused my eyes on the faint red bull's eyes of the target. I drew my weapon and shot it. Smooth and flawless, as expected. My lips curved into a smirk,

I tried for the second time, but a voice made me involuntarily scream and jerk my hands, straying the arrow's coarse. With that, I heard a distant yet shrill scream. Oops. Even without looking, I could sense that the voice came from someone with an arrogant demeanor, a smug expression, and intentions of annoyance. I felt a hand on my shoulder, and on impulse, I slapped it away.

"Don't touché me!" I yelled, putting on my signature angry face.

"What?" he said with fake innocence, "I was trying to get your attention. It's not likte I'm trying to harass you."

I rolled my eyes. My blood boils, and it wasn't because of the heat. I despised the guy. His curly brown hair. His eyes. His smile. His personality. The sword he turns into the ultimate death machine. His everything. Somehow it all made me freeze.

"I see you're trying to impress Artemis," he smiled, and I tried not to look. If I was starting to have feelings for him, than Artemis wouldn't be very impressed, would she? That's why I try to shield my heart, and made my chest an impenetrable wall. I'm never falling in love.

"Well, you can't impress her if you keep injuring people."

"Technically, I didn't do that. You made me jerk, making the arrow stray coarse, making it your fault."

"If you responded when I called your name, I wouldn't have grabbed your shoulder. Very un-huntress like to be rude."

"Well, I didn't want to waste my voice on you."

"You're talking to me right now."

I made the mistake of looking into his warrior-like eyes. My angry face grew soft. The impenetrable wall became permeable. All this made me mad. I couldn't be feeling this way.

"Leave," I said.

He looked sincerely hurt. At the same time, I felt hurt, making me regret being so hard.

Love. I remember an Aprodite girl say, it makes even the hardest heart soft. Maybe it feels right sometimes, and it's human nature, but it has so many aggravating side effects. Pain. Suffering. Sacrifice. Tragedy. Aphrodite makes it so dang complicated. That's why I want to be a huntress so badly. But this guys is ruining my plans.

"Just tell me that your hate me," he said, "then I'll back off from your life forever. You won't even know I exist." His tone was so true and pained, I felt a pang of guilt. Why is love doing this to me?

I flashed back on the fun moments we had. He'd joke. I'd punch him. He'd laugh. Our times at the beach. Training. Campfire sing-along. Bliss.

I thought about my ultimate goal to become a huntress to avoid heartbreak. Would that make me truly happy? Satisfied? "I'm sorry," I said. My guilt showed through.

Then he smiled, and I let myself look. I let my wall of protection be demolished and let him penetrate.

"Good," he said, surely pleased.

"Good," I said back.

"Wanna take a break? I have illegal stash of coke," he offered.

"Sure!"

"Sure."

Before I even joined the hunters, I was already going astray. And for once, I didn't mind.