Chapter 1: Fake Smile

I never liked the smoke— it is something that would give me grave memories I never wished to remember.

But this time, the thin smoke around me felt so familiar and welcoming, like a heavy blanket on my bed during the rainy days. Everything felt so hypnotizing, from the soothing scent of the lavender, the musical flow of the water, and those orbs like corals I never thought I'd see above the ocean.

It felt like I was on that boat in the middle of the sea, with mild waves below the glistening sunlight, and the glitters of green corals dancing with the bubbles under the water.

"This is how we use the water, bathing together, welcome to Parsua Deltora, my love," he whispered as the warm strips of water gently touched my face.

All I did was stare at him, fascinated with those eyes, and when I noticed that my heart couldn't calm as I looked at him. I tried to avert my eyes away from him, looked down, and wished that I could do something with my drumming heart.

Hinayaan kong bahagyang dumikit ang ulo ko sa dibdib niya at pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko.

He's so handsome!

I've seen a lot of handsome men in human world, but no one could ever made me feel like this. As if my heart was literally burning. Nag-angat na ako ng isang kamay at hinawakan ko na ang dibdib ko.

I couldn't breathe well.

Both of his arms were now around my waist. "A-are you, my fiancé, Sir?" I stuttered.

"Fiance?"

"I mean, mate."

"Yes."

"D-do you have different kinds of oxygen in this world? Nahihirapan akong huminga."

I thought he was going to give me a simple answer, but when he lifted my chin and met my eyes— I couldn't see any color corals, but an emblem of burning fire in red.

"I can do something about it," he said before he opened his mouth and revealed his fangs.

And when he was about to tilt his head and bent down on my neck, I quickly pushed him. "W-wait! Kakagat ka agad? Hindi puwedeng mag-usap muna?"

Madali siyang kausap dahil agad nawala ang pagniningas ng mata niya at bumalik iyon sa pagiging berde. "As you wish."

Saka lang siya napalingon sa paligid. "What are these?"

Eksaktong may lumaglag na dalawang pera at dumikit iyon sa buhok at dibdib niya. Kinuha ko agad ang dalawang perang iyon sa kanya.

"My money. Puwede ba tayong umahon muna?"

"You can do whatever you want."

Tumango ako sa kanya at naglangoy na ako sa dulo para umahon na. Nagtungo ako kung saan nakatayo ang aking salamin na siyang nagpapakita ng sarili kong repleksyon.

I should explain to him everything. I am at his mercy. He might be calm right now, but I can't expect that he'll be like this for the next few hours.

I just had my first step away from the water, when I noticed that he was already behind me, naked. I quickly closed my eyes when I saw his naked reflection in the mirror.

Halos sampalin ko nang ilang beses ang sarili ko sa nakita ko— that was more than nine million! Ibalik ko na lang kaya?

Ilang beses akong umiling sa naiisip ko. Kezalli Lanoire, just focus on your goal!

Nanatili akong nakatalikod sa kanya habang pinakikinggan ko ang bawat hakbang niya. But when I took a peek as he walked slowly towards that small table with his folded white towel, I bit my lower lip, sighed, and even stomped one of my feet frustratingly.

Naangat ko na ang isa kong kamay at sinimulan ko nang kagatin ang ilang daliri ko. "Yummy talaga, Kezalli!"

Hinayaan ko muna siyang ayusin ang tuwalya niya sa baywang.

"You can ask me anything and I will not force you do to something that you don't want or are not aware of. We'll take it slow." He said as he approached me with that weakly knotted towel around his waist.

I know that he was not happy about what I did with the mirror, and before it became the source of his anger, I should weave a good story to gain his sympathy.

Ano na lang ang laban ko sa kanya kapag bigla siyang nagalit sa akin?

"A-about the mirror, my place was too dangerous, I was on the ground floor of my apartment and the ceiling might collapse. Kaya I decided to sell the mirror because it was more safe there than inside my apartment. Baka mabasag, hindi tayo magkikita."

He stopped walking and he was just standing in front of me— still with the dripping hair and exposed chest. Bahagyang nakatabingi ang ulo ko at halos hindi ako makatingin sa kanya ng diretso.

"I can understand."

"And about that sudden water. . . I was just cleaning the mirror, I don't know if it happened to reach you that day. Everything was an accident."

"I can't remember anything about water bursting from the mirror."

I sighed in relief. Mukha pa naman siyang istrikto.

Nag-aalangan akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. He has that small smile on his lips. Should I trust that smile?

"What else?" he asked.

"Why is the mirror inside your bathroom?"

"So, my water will welcome you. Do you prefer it inside a dark dungeon with monsters?"

Mariin akong umiling na may nanlalaking mga mata. He smiled. "I will never let you experience that."

Napahinga ako nang maluwag. Parang mabait naman yata siya. "What do you want?" he asked.

"I want to get all my money."

Itinuro ko sa kanya ang pera ko na lumulutang sa malawak niyang paliguan at sa mga nagkalat sa sahig. "Is that really important for you?"

"That will make me happy."

He nodded.

He was watching me when I quickly went to the door of his bathroom and locked it. I grinned at him. "I don't want to share it with anyone."

That's when Tobias helped me picking up my money inside his bathroom. Hawak ko ang itim kong bag habang inilalagay ko ang pera ko sa loob. Abala naman si Tobias sa pagkuha ng pera ko sa mainit niyang pool gamit ang pagkumpas lang ng kamay niya.

He's kind naman pala.

When I glanced at him again, busy with my money, I felt a pang in my chest, because I knew right at that moment that he couldn't be mine. I might be here right now, but I promised myself that I'd return to the human world where I truly belonged.

He's kind, gentlemanly, handsome, and a king. Sullivan was right, I don't have a quality of a queen. Pera lang ang mahalaga sa akin. Tobias will find a better woman than me. And with that handsome face? Imposibleng walang magandang babae ang mas babagay sa kanya.

I glanced at the mirror, thinking about my possible escape. Maybe not now, but later.

At dahil narito na rin ako, kailangan ko na lang tumupad sa pangako ko kay Divina. I should help her mother.

Sobrang bigat ng bag ko nang makuha na namin lahat ni Tobias ang pera ko. "Ibibilad ko na lang ito sa araw para matuyo."

"I can do something about that."

Tobias lifted his hand and with a quick wave of it, the water from the money flew in the air like strips of ribbon, until it shattered and sprinkled in front of my face.

Lumawak ang ngiti ko sa mga labi nang makitang tuyo na ang nine million ko.

"Thank you!"

At sa tuwa ko, tumalon na ako at yumakap sa kanya.

He chuckled. "I think I should give you more of it." Kusang yumakap ang mga braso niya sa akin.

Sugar daddy Sullivan who? Sugar daddy Javan who? Sino pa iyong isa? Thaddeus ba? Mayroon din akong sugar daddy, green eyes pa.

Para akong tumama sa lotto nang marinig iyon mula kay Tobias.

At dahil hindi matibay ang pagkakabuhol ng tuwalya sa baywang niya, nalaglag iyon sa sahig. "Ops, I am sorry."

I awkwardly pulled myself away from him, averting his view, but with half-opened eyes. Of course, I am still curious with the front view, hindi ko kasi masyadong nakita kanina.

"It's okay. I should call a servant to properly—"

"No!" nanlalaki ang mga mata kong nakatingala sa kanya.

Ipapakita niya sa iba ang 9— ang nine million ko?

When I heard a knock on the door, I quickly kneeled in front of him, still with my eyes closed while trying to grab the towel. Nang makapa ko na sa sahig, unti-unti akong tumayo, pero dahil madulas ang sahig, muntik pa akong matumba.

My right cheek bumped accidentally on his— "Oh my gosh, I am sorry."

He gasped. "Keza---" but he didn't finish my name.

Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko. Ang mariin kong pagpikit para hindi niya hantarang makita na nakasilip na talaga ako. At nagsisimula nang mangatal ang dalawa kong kamay nang tuluyan na akong tumayo, nakatingin sa pool ang mga mata habang mariing binubuhol ang pagkakatali ng tuwalya niya.

"You're a strange girl."

Saka ko lang sinalubong ng tingin ang mga mata niya nang masiguro ko na buhol na ang tuwalya niya. Pansin ko na ibinaba na niya ang isa niyang kamay na parang nakahawak na sa kanyang noo, pero nang mapansin niya na nasa mukha na niya ang atensyon ko ay muli siyang ngumiti sa akin na parang walang nangyari.

If my first impression of him was his too kind, which was something different when the mirror was still between us, now I felt that everything was too dangerous about him.

Parang sobrang bait niya na nasa loob ang kulo.

Inilahad niya ang isa niyang kamay sa akin. Dahil kinakabahan ako sa kanya at nahihiya, tinanggap ko iyon.

He walked ahead of me, but our hands were clasped together. Habang ang isa kong kamay ay hawak ang bag ko na may nine million. But before we could even leave that bathroom, even with the thin steam inside it, I noticed something on the other side of the whole place.

A wooden stand— and there was a white robe hanging on it.

Nanliit ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa likuran ni Tobias— so the king knows how to play dirty.

Of course, he'd bargain his biggest asset. Dumiin ang hawak ko sa itim na bag habang hila ako ni Tobias nang tuluyan na kaming lumabas, at napapatulala ang bawat nilalang na nakakasalubong namin sa pasilyo.

Sino ba naman ang hindi matutulala? Ang kanilang hari ay nasa paliguan lang pero lumabas na bitbit na babae. And I looked completely different from them.

"Announce to the whole empire that I will not accept any invitation and appointment for a whole week. Tell Marah and Pryor that my mate has arrived."

Sabay-sabay yumuko ang mga tagasunod sa sinabi ni Tobias. At halos hindi sila magkaintindihan kung kanino titingin, sa akin na mula sa mundo ng mga tao, o sa kanilang hari na mukhang unang beses lang nilang nakitang lumabas sa paliguan na ganoon ang hitsura.

Ilang beses akong tumango sa mga tagasunod at pilit na ngumiti. "Hello, thanks for having me."

Nang makarating na kami sa loob ng kuwarto niya, saka niya lang ako binitawan. Ramdam ko ang tindi ng kaba sa dibdib ko habang nakasunod ang mga mata ko sa kanya.

He confidently pulled the towel, walked naked in front of me, and picked up his clothes.

I tried to avert my eyes, but I couldn't help but admire him. Hindi niya naman ako sinisita or ipinapahiya. Kaya tumitingin talaga ako kapag hindi siya nakatingin.

I never desired any man in the human world— maybe because I believed with the idea that there was someone waiting for me, but now that I could clearly see every detail of him—the man in my fate, I discovered how to desire.

Ilang beses kong binasa ang labi ko at napapalunok ako habang habol ang paglalakad niya. Naroon lang ako sa may pintuan, bitbit ang malaki kong bag habang kaswal na naglalakad, nagbibihis at sumusulyap sa akin si Tobias.

I heard before that vampires have an urge to be aggressive the first time they see their mates, but Tobias is literally calm.

"Why don't you put your item on the table? Isn't it heavy?"

"Y-yes. . ."

Nagmamadali akong lumapit sa lamesa at ipinatong iyon. Gusto ko nang umupo pero nanatili akong nakatayo.

"Are you nervous around me?"

I nodded.

"Don't be. I will not bite you without your permission."

When I told Divina that I prefer clean-cut men, I regretted it. I like someone with long hair na, but his character is so tricky. Hindi ko pa mahuli. I can't just show him my true colors— I should be calm, a good girl, and obedient.

"Why don't you sit?"

"Hmm, thank you."

Mabilis siyang nagtungo sa likuran ko at pinaghila niya ako ng upuan. "Thank you."

Naupo siya sa harapan ko at pinagkrus niya ang kanyang mga hita. His white robe and its tie were loose as if it was too hard for him to do it.

When he noticed that I was looking at it, he smiled— that smile that gave me goosebumps, because it felt so fake.

"Can you tell me your name?" he asked.

"Kezalli Lanoire Torres."

"I am the current King of Parsua Deltora, Tobias Caesar Le'Vamuievos. I am your mate," I saw how his green eyes blinked into the red but returned quickly to their original color.

"I am aware. I'll try to be your obedient mate," I lowered my head.

This time, he moved on to his chair, and the distance of that small table between us didn't matter. He lifted his hand and placed one of his fingers under my chin to tilt it. "My queen should never bow her head, not even in front of me."

"Oh. . ."

He smiled again. Sumandal siyang muli sa upuan niya habang pinagmamasdan niya ako. "Tell me what do you want. I can give you everything."

"I just want to arrange this properly. May rubber band ka ba or panali?" itinuro ko ang bag ko sa kanya.

Tumayo na ako at binuksan ang bag ko. I should bundle my money properly. Tumayo na rin si Tobias at kinuha niya iyong maliit niyang bell.

Some of his servants entered the room and he asked what I wanted. Tobias locked the room before he handed me the small ribbons for my money.

He was silently watching me as I started counting my money professionally. I even licked my finger to have an effective counting "This is how you do it, Tobias."

Tinuruan ko siyang magbilang ng pera at magtali nito para higit akong bumilis sa pag-aayos ng pera. Sinunod ni Tobias ang lahat ng gusto ko, kaya kapwa kami naging tahimik sa loob ng ilang oras habang nagbibilang at nagtatali ng pera.

Until I noticed that he stopped counting my money. His chin was now leaning on the back of one of his hands. He has that venomous fake smile again.

He looked fascinated, intrigued, and quite challenged and amused.

"I can spoil you with everything, Kezalli. But don't expect me to believe that you're that obedient human girl that will never give me a hard time. Do you think I'll allow you to cross that mirror again, my love?"

I smirked. Ibinaba ko ang perang hawak ko at sinalubong ko ang mga mata niya.

"And do you expect me to believe that you're a kind king with the warmest smile?"

"Even if you believe it or not, either way, you're mine," he calmly said with a smile.

Sumandal na siya sa upuan at pinagsalikop niya ang dalawa niyang kamay sa ibabaw ng nakakrus niyang mga hita.

My brows arched. "Let's see until when you will plaster that fake smile of yours, My King."

And then he smiled. "I'd like to take that as a challenge, My Queen."