Chapter 52 Shooting Range

ARES

Time has passed; it’s been two days since I left. I am starting to get worried about Kianna. I don’t know what happened to her when I left. I wanted to know how she felt when she knew I was gone. How did she feel? Is she looking for me?

Boom! Bang! Pop!

I was startled at the first shot. I wasn't prepared to hear the pistol vibrate through the large viewing glass walls. It was louder than I had anticipated, even though I thought I had braced myself for the sounds of gunshots.

On a peaceful gloomy Monday, a mix of families, couples, and friends was in the crowd, shooting at various targets with various guns. I never considered how much fun it would be for families to go to the OC Indoor Shooting Range in Batangas. I simply didn't realize how enjoyable shooting could be until that moment. I've never been here before. My friend suggested this to me because all I wanted to do was do something to temporarily forget about my problem.

A friend of mine named Dave entered the room while toting a .22 rifle and a case holding two pistols. We entered the shooting range while wearing our hearing and eye protection, and we quickly located the lane that was designated for us. As they rolled beneath my feet, the shot casings on the ground surprised me.

Before we entered the lane to begin our actual shooting session, Dave taught me the fundamentals of a pistol and how to grip and manage the rifle. Most importantly, Dave taught me the four fundamental safety guidelines for weapons. I was astounded by how many internal mechanics were operating at once as soon as my finger released the trigger.

The .22 rifle was first up. I wasn't confident enough in myself to start with the .45 pistol. The rifle is tucked under my shoulder as I position myself in the booth. The more Dave told me about how to use the gun, the more my mind was racing as I tried to recall everything. Aiming towards the middle of the paper target, I finally simply went for it. I intended to strike the paper, but I instead struck the right shoulder up top. I had to refine my aim a little.

The heavy shooter, the semi-automatic Smith & Wesson M&P45 pistol, came next. There would be a difference with this. I experienced a slight adrenaline boost as Dave handed me the pistol. As I got ready to fire, I felt a new sense of power and duty wash over me. As I tried once more to recall all David had told me about how to handle the pistol, a million thoughts were racing through my head.

“This is the slide. Keep your thumb on the side of the frame or you might get a slide bite.”

“Never put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot;”

“Your thumbs should be aligned, one on top of the other, so you have a good grip on the gun;”

BANG!

“Holy crap!” I exclaimed as I felt the heavy recoil of the pistol push back into my hands. I made the mistake of closing my eyes, and I flinched as the sound of the shot vibrated through my ear protection. I felt the vibration of the shot go through my whole body. This was a lot more powerful than the .22 rifle.

I then shot a 40-caliber handgun, which I found to be considerably simpler to wield and manage than the .45-caliber weapon. The handgun was a perfect weight, size, and weight for me to obtain a decent grip while still being light enough for the recoil to not overwhelm me. I had a great time hitting all the various areas of the target, no pun intended. In an attempt to perfect my nonexistent aim, I was shooting for the target's center. I was improving with each shot.

I was curious about other people's opinions on guns before we ventured out into the lanes. I questioned one of the staff members about their biggest challenge when dealing with a rookie shooter or someone who had a strong anti-gun stance.

When Tobi claimed that the media had stigmatized the pistol by connecting it with crimes and criminals rather than sports and family traditions, the other two workers nodded in agreement.

“My cousin used to be deathly afraid of guns and wouldn’t even want to look at one,” said Dave. “One day, I was able to get her in here and she shot her first .22 that day. She loves shooting now and realized there was nothing to be scared of. The gun was just a tool, not a weapon.”

Dave said and grabbed his phone to show me a video of his cousin and shooting her first .22. She is amazing. I wonder if Kianna would also like to try this.

“Hey man, are you alright? What’s going on? A few days ago, you were still very happy. Why do you look so down today? Did you fight with your wife?” Dave asked.

I didn’t mind him and just watched the video on his phone. When the video ended, it suddenly went next to a video. I didn’t mind it and handed him his phone. I walked towards the lane, but then he suddenly stopped me.

“Well, well, well! Am I right? Oh, come here, bro. Let me show you something I took in the restaurant a few days ago! You don’t know how cool that beauty is! They are both freaking hot! Unfortunately, I forgot to ask their name. But you know what? I became their knight in shining armor that night!” he said and showed his phone in my face.

I was so annoyed by what he was doing, so I grabbed it and said, “I’m warning you. I don’t like to see such a mess! I’m married!”

“Of course not, bro! I just want to share it with you because I treat you as my brother! What are you thinking about? I’m also a gentleman! I help them really!”

“Stay back!” I shouted to him as I watched the video. There are a lot of men in the video, and there are two girls, but I can’t see their faces — Wait, it’s Kianna’s voice! She is threatening the man in front of him. “What is this video about?! When did it happen?!” I pulled him and grabbed his shoulder and started shaking him. “Tell me!”

“Alright — alright! Calm down, man! Relax. Stop shaking! I’m dizzy. It happened after I met you last time. Why are you so excited to know? Did you like those girls? I thought you were faithful to your wife—”

He wasn’t able to finish his words when I suddenly threw his phone in his face and it landed on his forehead. “God damn, Dave! Darn it! My wife is in it!”

“Your wife? Hey, hey, hey… Bro, which one?” he asked.

“Sh*t! Where did I put my phone?!” I looked for my phone in my pocket but I couldn’t find it. It must be in my car.

“Bro, answer me! Which one?! If it is the short hair one, I will curse you for the rest of your life! That short hair is my type! And you know what? She looks like someone I know — I’m not sure about it, but she really looks like someone I knew before,” Dave added.

I didn’t answer him and rushed toward the parking lot. “Where is my f*cking phone?! Ah, I hope it’s in the car!” I opened my car and luckily it was really here in the passenger seat. “Yes, here it is!” I turned on my phone and there were a lot of missed calls. Most of it is from my wife, Kianna. Kianna must be very anxious. Sucks! I knew this would happen! I shouldn’t have left her alone.

I dialed her phone number and called her. While listening for the ringing sound, I took a deep breath and composed myself.

Buzz — Buzz — Buzz — Buzz — Buzz

-

A wind blew toward Kianna, making her hair sway in a different direction. Her phone suddenly rings, but she doesn’t want to answer it since she is receiving a lot of harassing calls from Nathan’s fans. But her phone didn’t stop ringing, so she didn't have any choice but to pick it up.

“Hello,” Kianna answered.

There was a moment of silence on the other line before someone talked, “Hello… Ho-hon?”

Kianna’s eyes widened. Her heartbeat started racing. It’s the voice she's been longing to hear. “A-Ares?”

“Yes, it’s me…” Kianna can hear Ares weeping. “Hon… I miss you so much! It is my fault. I should not have talked to you like that. Listen to me, I—”

“I also… Miss you very much!” Kianna sighed heavily, letting her head drop. Tears welled up in her eyes. “Ares, where are you? Come and pick me up. I’m here at the school right now. Can you pick me up later after class?”

“Okay! I’ll be right there to pick you up! Wait for me!” Ares said before dropping the call and immediately rushed towards the shooting range.

“What are you doing in such a hurry? Have you made it up with your wife?” Dave asked when he saw Ares.

Ares picked up his bag and his coat. “Yeah. Um, I'm going to pick her up right now.”

“Huh? Wait! Why are your eyes so red? Did you cry, bro?" Dave immediately looked at Ares, but Ares looked away.

“No! It’s just — there’s sand that entered my eyes when I went outside. I didn’t cry!”

“Wow, you did cry! Oh, my God! HAHAHAHA! Who would have thought that Ares France Vuertalejo would cry?! I should show your men how their boss cries like a baby—”

Ares suddenly grabbed Dave’s neck and said, “Shut up! Asshole! Do you need to say that so many times?”

“Okay, chill! I was wrong.”

“Why didn’t you drive my wife home when you helped her with those hooligans?!”

“I’m sorry! I didn’t know that one of those girls was your wife. But I don’t know who your wife is. The long hair or the short hair?”

Ares was caught off guard by Dave’s question. “The long hair one. The prettiest!”

“That’s great! That’s great, bro! We almost became rivals in love. God is great!” Dave suddenly hugged Ares while whimpering.

“Get off me, asshole! Your saliva is all over my clothes! I will pick up my wife later! Don’t get me wrong again!”

Dave held Ares' hand and started acting cute in front of him. “To be honest, I have a crush on short hair! Can you ask my sister-in-law to help me make an appointment for dinner so that I can express my love to her friend?!”

“Fine! Just let me go!” Ares shouted.

“Bro, I will make it up to you and to my sister-in-law!”

Ares was about to go when he looked back and said, “Don’t forget to keep my identity guarded! I am just a simple employee now.”

“Well, I would not help you if you would not help me too. I would be like— Hey, Ares, do this and do that! — Do you still want a promotion?! — Clean this up! — Never mind. You are dismissed to go home with your wife! — Good work today!” Dave started laughing while acting to be Ares’ boss.