Chapter 54: Blue Tulip

All I did was close my eyes, smile a little, and allow these silly pixies to cover my body as their fluttering little wings, the glitters in the air, and the small tickles on my skin overwhelmed me.

In a moment, the pixies turned my body into a small one, with their little wand, they dressed me in a long green and touch of white long gown with a leaf-like design, green shoes, bushy hair filled with colored flowers, a necklace with a vine-like design, and rings on all my fingers. 

Since I was the only one who didn't have the wings to fly, just like how Pryor chased us, some pixies were carrying me. 

Napapaisip na ako kung saan kinukuha ng mga pixies na ito ang mga isinusuot nila sa akin. Dahil sa tuwing nagpapakita rin sila sa akin ay iba't ibang klase ng kasuotan ang suot nila.

"Do you have a budget for your costume? Does the Finance Department of this kingdom give you funds for your extravagant dresses?" I asked jokingly.

I wasn't expecting that I'd received a better reply from them since it was a joke. I knew that everything these pixies did was magic, talk of love, gossip, decorations, performances, and beauty. For sure, everything is just the wave of their little wands. 

Pero napatingala ako nang may sumagot sa kanila. "Prince Rosh gives us funds!"

"Huh? Like money for your dresses?"

"Prince Rosh provides us with expensive stones! In exchange for his wardrobe."

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Hanggang sa ilang beses akong napatango. Bukod sa mga pixies na ito na laging magaganda ang kasuotan, may nag-iisang bampira akong napansin na kailanman ay hindi ko rin nakita na nag-ulit ng kasuotan.

While Tobias wore his usual white long linen suit with a poorly tied knot, exposing his chest— hari na parang laging malapit nang mahubaran. Rosh is an epitome of overly perfect royalty in his suit. Hindi ko yata minsan nakita na gusot o hindi ayos ang kuwelyo niya. Lahat lagi nakabutones at kung may maliliit na bato sa kasuotan niya, hindi maaaring may mawawala kahit isa.

I didn't even see him wear the same royal suit, maybe his training suit?

"Wow. Sana all, Rosh. Unlimited wardrobe," natatawang sabi ko.

"Before he had a lot of tailors responsible for his suits, but all of them ran out of ideas for the prince's outfit. And now that he discovered that we, pixies, who are in love and very dedicated to dressing up, he gave us duties to dress him up."

"Oh, kayo pala ang stylist ni Rosh."

Sabay-sabay ngumiti at tumango ang mga pixies sa akin.

It's the reason why Rosh had a good relationship with them. Kahit kasi hindi aminin sa akin ni Tobias, ramdam ko na hindi rin niya gusto ang mga pixies bilang mga kaibigan ko, bagay na pagkakasunduan nilang dalawa ni Pryor. 

Tobias never forbade me from meeting these pixies, but the moment I saw these pixies inside our study room, I knew that they were trouble.  They might have helped me during my escape from Pryor, but I had been informed why these little creatures had never been Tobias's favorite.

It was Tobias who already told me that the performances and beauty that the pixies provide in the kingdom is one of their pride, but he'd expect no other than that.

I suddenly remembered when I caught Tobias one time. It was one time that Rosh, he, and the other princes of the prophecy who volunteered to help had a quick break from all their responsibilities for the preparation of the Water Festival.

Tobias thought that I was not looking, and I wouldn't notice it, since he was too casual walking beside me, with his hands behind his back, his little smile, and few words for me. I stopped when I noticed a small flower with a different color from all the red ones on the flower bed, but when I looked over my shoulder to call him, I saw how his eyes threatened the little pixies who volunteered to join us.

Nakaangat na iyong isa niyang kamay na parang titirisin na niya iyong maliit na diwata. Sa halip na pigilan siya ay agad na akong tumalikod. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang sarili kong pagtawa.

When I heard one of the pixies squeal with a muffled sound, as if trying to silence herself, I innocently called out for Tobias. It was at that moment I realized that it wasn't just Pryor; King Tobias was also a bully.

"Can you look at this flower, Love?" I asked without looking at him.

I was slightly bent over, my hands resting on my thighs as I stared at the small flower.

"Do you want it?" Tobias gently whispered. His hand brushed near my cheek as he picked the flower for me.

Tumayo na ako nang tuwid. Pansin ko na sa tagiliran niya ay tila naluluha na iyong mga pixies na inaway niya.

"A-are you okay?"

Saglit kumunot ang noo ni Tobias sa katanungan ko, pero agad rin niya naintindihan iyon, lumingon siya sa pixies na lumilipad sa tagiliran niya.

Tobias quickly masked his face with his friendliest smile. The pixies smiled sweetly at me and shook their heads.

And that was the day that I also realized that Tobias, known as the king with his friendliest smile—a mask that everyone knew was too dangerous to be an enemy—could be someone who could be cold and even ruthless. But when his eyes were on me, they always had that soft gaze and love that assured me he'd never leave an open door for an escape.

"They are fine, Love..."

Tobias took my hand and kissed the back of it. Our hands clasped, and we trailed along the small path between the beds of flowers.

"Now I realize that you're sometimes scary..."

"Am I? Did I ever once scare you? You are a fearless woman, Kezalli."

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad at hinarap siya. Binitawan ko ang kanyang kamay at sa halip ay tumingkayad ako ay sinapo ang magkabilang pisngi niya. Mas yumuko si Tobias sa akin upang higit na mapagbigyan ang kagustuhan ko.

Nagtilian ang mga pixies na nakasunod sa amin. "Promise me not to become a bully like Pryor, okay?"

He smiled. I didn't know if he could understand my words, but all he did was nod. "Yes, everything for you."

My lips prodded when I noticed how his long hair glided from his shoulder to his chest. "You grew your hair already."

"Would you like to cut it again?"

I shook my head. "Maybe after the Water Festival. Baka magulat ang iyong nasasakupan."

And then we laughed together.

Bumalik ang alaala ko sa kasalukuyan nang dumadaan na kami sa ibabaw ng Floating City, kahit nasa maliit akong kaanyuan ay malinaw ko nang nakikita ang mga nilalang na naroon.

I saw Tobias, Rosh and the other princes of the prophecy. Nagtilian ang mga pixies nang mapansin din nila si Tobias kaya mas binilisan na nila ang paglipad. Pinili pa nilang dumaan sa mas malayo. Hindi naman kami napansin ng mga iyon dahil tila abala ang mga ito sa kanilang mga kausap, ngunit nang higit na kaming malayo at lumingon akong muli  sa ibaba, pansin ko rin ang pagtingala ni Tobias sa kalangitan na may nakakunot na noo.

Did he notice us?

When we arrived at the familiar garden, there was a huge flower waiting for us. Unlike the first flower where we drank tea, this one was bigger, and it could accommodate more pixies inside.   

Two pixies sighed in relief when we landed in front of the giant blue flower. "Is that a tulip?"

They nodded.

One of the pixies, named Samantha, a familiar face who's always by my side, whistled in front of the tulip. One of the petals of the giant blue tulip moved slowly, and there was shaking around us as if there was a sudden earthquake. I could see the flying pollen of flowers, the glitters from the excited fluttering wings, and even insects bigger than me.

Why do I have this feeling that I am playing with them?

One of the blue petals bent slowly and turned into a giant slide. Since most of the pixies had wings, all of them flew happily to get inside, but as someone who was a stranger in this world, I started to crawl, one of them was kind enough to throw a vine for me to hold onto to climb up. I even saw young pixies who didn't have wings yet, they were happy with the petal slide. They were sliding and climbing repeatedly.

Nagtataka na nga ako kung bakit ang bilis nilang makaakyat habang hirap na hirap na ako. Minsan ay nasasagi na rin nila ako kaya hindi na ako makarating sa dulo. 

"Behave, everyone! Stop sliding! The Queen is climbing up! She's the queen!"

"The queen!"

Natigil sa pagdausdos ang mga bata at kapwa na sila nakadapa sa petal habang nakatitig sa akin. "Let's help the queen to climb up!"

And then end, the young pixies pushed me up as I climbed happily with them. Napuno ng tawanan namin ang malaking bulaklak habang sabay-sabay nila akong itinutulak. 

When I finally reached the top, I felt a sudden tiredness all over my body. I was slumped on the petal floor, but I couldn't help but brush the sudden tears gliding down my cheeks. My chest tightened— but there were smiles on my lips as I cried so much in front of them.

Magkasunod ko nang pinupunasan ang pisngi ko ng mga braso ko habang walang tigil sa pagpatak ang luha ko.

Because I knew it, now I realized why even though Tobias had the power to stop these silly pixies from bothering me, he'd allow them to constantly visit me because these innocent pixies were Tobias' way to help me relieve my robbed youth and innocence.

Tobias wanted me to play— to enjoy this silliness, to see life differently, but colors, flowers, dances, magic, dressing up, and talk of love. Tobias wanted me to enjoy those things that I never experienced.  

"Why is the queen crying?"

Ibinuka ko ang mga braso ko sa mga nagtatakang diwata sa akin. "Hug me."

Sa pagkakataong iyon, hindi lang ang madalas na mga diwata ang mga yumakap sa akin kundi pati na rin ang maliliit na bata. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata.

"I can't wait to see you and have you alone, My King."

Matapos kong umiyak ay pinaupo na ako ng mga diwata. They gave me tea, biscuits and cakes. And then we started talking about my performance at the Water Festival.

"I heard that Queen Raeliana made a water dance."

When I said those words, the pixies looked dreamily as if they could imagine the dance of the queen.

"It was the most beautiful dance that we ever witnessed. The water is dancing with her! And she's very beautiful like you! Do you have your own unique dance?"

I tilted my head. Napangiwi ako sa mga naiisip ko. I had this idea, but I never thought that I'd perfect it with just a few practices. Lalo na at ilang araw na lang ay Water Festival na.

"Puwede ba na mag hiphop na lang ako?"

They all looked puzzled. "Hiphop?"

I shook my head. Parang magiging kasiraan ako sa Water Festival ng Deltora, kasiraan ako sa daang taon na tradisyon. But I could wear white mask, hindi ba uso naman sa kahariang ito ang maskara?

Hiphop? White mask? Jabbawockeez?

Napangiwi ako. Baka bigla na lang ako itakwil ni Tobias at paulit-ulit akong i-trash talk nina Pryor at Marah.

"No. It's just a dance from the human world, but I knew a dance but I am not that confident . . ."

"Can we see?"

"But I'll describe it first. Come, ibubulong ko."

Mas lumapit sa akin ang mga pixies at ipinaliwanag ko sa kanila kung paano ko iyon gagawin. Kaiba ko na mukhang hindi pa kumbinsido na magagawa ko, sila naman ay handang-handa na magsimula at maghanda ng mga kakailanganin para sa akin.

It took them only a few minutes before they prepared everything. And when I started to show them some of my dances, I saw similar expressions when they were telling me about Queen Raeliana's dance.

The pixies were busy with their teas as I continued with my practice. Halos hindi ko na nga naramdaman ang oras dahil sa pagsasayaw ko. Huli nan ang mapansin ko na hindi na sila nanunuod sa akin at kumpol kumpol na sila.

"It will not stand?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano ang pinag-uusapan nila?

"Ano ang hindi titindig?"

Kapwa sila humarap sa akin at tila may itinatago. "You dance is beautiful, Queen! The king will love it!"

Ngumiti ako. "Thank you!"

Muli nila akong ibinalik sa pagiging maliit nang matapos kong mag-ensayo ng sayaw. Patuloy kami kami sa pag-uusap, paghigop ng tsaa at pagkain ng iba't ibang tinapay. They even gave me a wine that they heard was Tobias's favorite.

I'll give it to him when I get home.

Magpapatuloy pa sana kami sa pag-uusap nang kapwa kami natigilan nang may marinig kaming pamilyar na boses.

"Kezalli, let's go home."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng mga pixies at napatayo sila sa kanilang mga upuan. Dahil makukulit ang ilan, nagtakbuhan sila sa parte ng bulaklak na siyang nabubuksan.

Because some of them hadn't seen Tobias up close, the other pixies were excited to see the king. The petal slowly opened, and the little pixies almost pushed each other to take a peek.

Halos magkapatong-patong na ang ilan sa kanila at nagkakatulakan pa ang iba sa ere. Tumayo na rin ako para makisiksik at makisilip dahil impit na tili lang naman ang naririnig ko sa mga hindi pa nakakakita kay Tobias nang malapitan.

Tumingkayad pa ako at nanghahaba ang leeg para masilip siya.

At kaya naman pala  . . .

How could these innocent pixies bear to see their king in that linen robe? It was usual for Tobias to wear a similar style with its iconic weakly tied knot. He often changed the knots with different colors—sometimes red, gold, purple, or blue—but this time, it was different.

Dahil iyong pagkakatali ng kasuotan niya, hindi na lang iisang hila; masagi lang si Tobias, tanggal na ang buhol na iyon.

His long hair was loosely half-tied, messy but sexy, with his overly exposed chest, timid steps, and gentle voice. Everyone looked at him dreamily as he walked through the garden, filled with colors—but he stood out in his pure white linen suit. 

The wind blew, the petals swirled around him, his loosely tied hair danced, and his suit felt like teasing every one of us. I pushed everyone in front of me, I faced all of them with my arms wide. "Tama na ang tingin!"

"Kezalli . . ." tawag ulit ni Tobias.

I looked over my shoulder, irritated. Bakit kaya hindi na lang maghubad itong si Tobias?

"Why don't we bring the king inside the blue flower?"

"No—"

But I was cut off when a shadow covered all of us, kapwa kami napatingala at ang unang tumama sa aming mga mata ay ang katawan ni Tobias. He was looking down at us.

Ilang beses akong napalunok.

"King Tobias!"

Everyone kneeled in front of him, and I was the only one who remained standing.

"Leave us," he said.

In the end, I just found those pixies leaving me behind as they hurriedly flew away and slid on the petal.

Before I knew it, there was a visitor inside the blue tulip, and I was his host. He was calmly sitting on a small chair and a wooden table, his legs were crossed casually as he looked around, arms lazily across his lap with his tilted head looking around.

I was anxious. I didn't want him to know that I was already aware of the dance tradition. 

"So, this is where you play with your friends."

I nodded. "Wine or tea, Your Majesty?" nag-aalangang tanong ko.

"Wine will do."