บท 23: Shooting Range

"Never mind," I told Hamza and Borce dismissively, waving away the topic that had occupied our conversation. We continued to chat and enjoy ourselves as the sun gradually dipped below the horizon. Soon, darkness enveloped the surroundings, signaling the end of our gathering. I paid for the food and drinks, and we bid each other farewell, heading towards our respective homes.

Arriving home, I found my mother waiting for me in the living room, her gaze filled with concern. She didn't ask where I had been or why I was late, but the tension between us was visible. Ignoring the heaviness in the room, I smiled and greeted her, trying to brush off the strained atmosphere that lingered from our recent conflict.

Silence prevailed as we sat at the dinner table, our plates filled with steaming food. Not a single word was exchanged throughout the meal, yet the unspoken emotions hung heavy in the air.

Finishing my dinner, I retired to the living room and turned on the television. My annoyance grew as my father finished his meal and joined me, instructing me to switch to the news channel.

"Dad, these crappy news are so boring," I complained.

"Just wait until they're over, then you can watch whatever you like," he replied calmly.

"Fine," I grumbled, complying reluctantly.

As I waited for the news to conclude, drowsiness threatened to overcome me. However, just before I drifted off, something caught my attention amidst the mundane news broadcast:

"Today, at 2 PM, the police made a startling discovery—a Gigantic Weed farm belonging to the notorious Krasniqi family. This revelation could mark the downfall of the feared mafia organization. Numerous suspects have been arrested, and a manhunt is underway for the mastermind behind it all, Adem Krasniqi. And with that, we conclude today's news. Have a pleasant evening. Goodbye!"

"This is perfect for me! Now he won't be able to decline my offer, otherwise he'll lose a shit ton of money!." I pondered to myself, reveling in the satisfaction of my newfound advantage.

Overwhelmed with anticipation, I hurried to my room, a grin etched across my face. Bafflement painted my father's expression as he called after me.

"Ey Dionis, I thought you wanted to watch TV?"

"No, you can watch it as much as you want!" i screamed through my room.

Then I immersed myself in reading, devouring books to refresh my knowledge, all the while bubbling with anticipation. Sleep evaded me that night, consumed by a potent cocktail of eagerness and excitement.

The next morning, I arrived at school looking like a sleep-deprived zombie. As soon as the final bell rang, I wasted no time and dialed David's number.

"Did you buy the gun?" I inquired eagerly, while walking home from school.

"Yea, bought it without running to any problems" he assured me.

"Excellent! By the way, how did you find this guy?" I probed further, forgetting I asked the same question yesterday due to my lack of sleep.

"It was actually pretty straightforward, boss. I just went up to my grandpa and asked if he knew any of his old war buddies. So, I hit the streets, going door to door, trying to convince those bastards to sell me their guns. But damn, none of them wanted to budge. I ended up traveling all over the fucking country, visiting like six veterans until, finally, one of those old fools decided to sell it to me," David explained, going into all the nitty-gritty details.

David was so reliable, it made my job way easier. Satisfied with his response, I issued the next directive.

"Damn bro, you really impress me. Anyhow, deliver the two guns to Eman as soon as possible, and tell him to contact me immediately upon receiving them."

"Thanks Boss it means a lot and the job will be done don't worry," David acknowledged, and i ended the call.

Returning home, I went to the kitchen, grabbed a pack of chips and sat down in the living room, eagerly awaiting Eman's call. After what felt like an eternity, my phone finally buzzed, and I swiftly answered.

"Dionis are you crazy!" That was the first thing he said when I answered the call.

"Huh? Why?" I feigned confusion, reaching for the TV remote and turning off the television.

"You gave me two fucking guns. What the hell am I supposed to do with these?" He sounded genuinely distressed.

Chuckling, I replied, "Grab one and blow your fuckin' head off hahahah, Nah, but seriously hide them somewhere in your house."

"Your not funny dumbass. Sigh fuck, alright I'll do that but why can't you hide them in your house?" Eman questioned, irritation seeping into his voice.

"Eman that's why I pay you every month. I rely on you to handle these matters, so I don't have to burden myself with the details," I explained matter-of-factly.

"Alright, I get it." Eman reluctantly agreed.

"Good, then come and pick me up immediately on your scooter," I instructed.

"Sorry, but I can't right now. I'm hanging out with my friends," He replied.

"Eman, consider it an order,"

"Tsk, I get it. I'll be there in 10 minutes," Eman finally conceded.

Ten minutes later, Eman pulled up in front of my house, revving his 50cc scooter. Hearing his annoying scooter I threw on my jacket and stepped outside.

"Yo stop with the revving retard!" I screamed.

"Haha, alright," he chuckled and turned off his scooter.

"You act like you're driving a lambo or some shit" I teased as I hopped on the back of his scooter.

"Hahaha Where are we going by the way?" he asked, glancing at me through the rearview mirror.

"We are going to the shooting range" I replied.

"Oh shit, what are we gonna do there"

"Shot fucking guns, what else dumbass"

"Ah right my bad" Eman chuckled sheepishly, slapping his forehead.

"Before we go, though, call Darjan and tell him to join us," I instructed.

"Sure thing," Eman said, dialing Darjan's number.

He then turned on his scooter, and we started driving, it was kinda scary to be honest. Eman rode like a speed demon, and despite my initial unease, I soon adapted to the exhilarating ride. Observing the city from the high ground of the mountains, I marveled at its breathtaking beauty.

Finally, we arrived at the shooting range, farther from Trbovlje than I had anticipated. Impatience grew in me as we waited for Darjan, who proved to be frustratingly slow. Thirty minutes passed before he strolled in. Without a second thought, I punched his shoulder, making it soar.

"Ouch! That hurts, boss! Hahaha," Darjan chuckled.

The three of us entered the shooting range, greeted by the attendant.

"Hello, sirs. What kind of guns would you like to shoot today?" the employee inquired politely.

"Get us a Colt Model 2000 and a Ruger P90 pistols, please," I requested.

"Oh, so you guys like vintage guns, huh? Well, here you go, sirs. The total for 100 rounds each will be $150," the attendant informed us.

"Damn, that's a lot," I muttered, reluctantly parting with the cash.

With the guns in their possession, Darjan and Eman made their way to the range, excitement palpable in the air. Eman carelessly inserted a magazine into his old gun and started firing in a hit-or-miss, sideways manner. Seeing Eman's approach, Darjan simulated his actions, thinking it looked cool.

Their actions drew the attention of everyone else at the range. The people around them stopped shooting and turned their gaze towards Darjan and Eman, their expressions a mix of confusion and concern.

Realizing their lack of knowledge and their misguided attempts at imitating black American gangster movies, I swiftly intervened, shouting at them to cease fire and wait until I could find an instructor for them.

It was evident that they were clueless about proper shooting techniques. As I surveyed the surroundings, my attention fell upon a skilled marksman among the other shooters. Formulating a plan in my mind, I decided to approach him for guidance.

"Hi there!" I shouted to get his attention.

"Hello, young man. How are you?" he responded, pausing his shooting, removing his earpieces, and turning towards me.

"I'm well, thank you. This is my first time here, and I was wondering if you could offer me some shooting tips," I asked sincerely.

"Of course. While handling a firearm, you mustn't look..." he began to explain countless tips about guns, but he kept talking without pause, leaving Eman and Darjan waiting for me. I realized I had to cut him off to get to the point.

"Ahem, Thank you. This will undoubtedly prove invaluable. But before I go, would you mind coming over and teaching my friends over there how to shoot?" I asked, pointing at the boys.

"Oh sorry for my rambling, I'm a nerd when it comes to guns hahaha, also ill have to refuse you today young man, I am also shooting here, maybe some other time" he declined politely.

Determined, I reached into my wallet and withdrew $100, extending it to him.

"Well, maybe I can spare some time," he agreed, while grabbing my money and putting it in his pocket

Leading him to Darjan and Eman, they began their practice under his guidance, fine-tuning their aim and technique.