Chapter 55: Table

I was the guest when the pixies invited me into this realm, but when Tobias invited himself inside this blue tulip, I suddenly felt like the host who needed to serve her guest. He didn't even wait for me to offer him a seat; he sat comfortably on the small wooden chair in the most effortlessly seductive way. I couldn't tell if he was doing it on purpose or if he was genuinely unaware of how attractive he was.

Like who wouldn't?

Bulag lang ang magsasabi na hindi ulam itong si Tobias.

Malaki ang pasasalamat ko at naturuan na ako ni Claret na sarhan ang isipan ko kung sakaling hindi ko nais marinig ni Tobias ang mga iniisip ko.

Halos magkagulo na nga ang mga maliliit na diwata habang naglalakad siya sa gitna ng mga bulaklak kanina. Ikaw ba naman ang makakita ng hari na kaunti na lang hubad na? Tila biglang nakalimot ang lahat na katulad rin siya ni Pryor na may lihim na galit sa kanila.

Looking at him right now, leaning his back on his seat with legs crossed, arms resting lazily across his lap, and eyes filled with curiosity as he looked around, with his soft, long hair teasingly sliding from his shoulder to his bare chest, I couldn't help but get distracted.

Kapag ganyan ang susundo sa akin kapag bigla akong nawawala sa palasyo, lagi na lang ako magpapadala sa mga diwata ng Deltora.

Hindi ko na maintindihan ang emosyon ko sa mga oras na ito. Hindi ba ito ang kagustuhan ko? Ang magkaroon na kami ng oras sa isa't isa? Bakit ganito na lang kaba sa dibdib ko?

Dapat ay masaya akong sinusundo niya ako ngayon.

I remained standing in my position as I awkwardly watched Tobias look around, but when his eyes fixed on mine, I almost jumped with this stubborn heart that had been hammering so fast the moment he appeared in this garden.

Idagdag pa na hindi ko rin gusto na malaman niya na may ideya na ako sa tradisyunal na sayaw dito sa Deltora.

Pero tangina, guwapo talaga . . .

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

I nodded.

Nabalot ng saglit na katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Hindi siya agad nagsalita at nanatili kaming magkatitigan, bigla akong tumalikod at tumama sa aking mga mata iyong cabinet na napupuno ng iba't ibang klase ng inumin ng mga maliliit na diwata.

I anxiously took a few more steps in front of the cabinet, one of my fingers was pointing at the cabinet to distract myself from his gaze. "Wine or tea, Your Majesty?"

"Wine will do," Tobias calmly said.

I nodded without looking at him.

I suddenly remembered the wine that the pixies mentioned. They told me that it was Tobias's favorite. Nasaan na nga ba iyon?

Nakailang hakbang pa ako pakanan hanggang sa makita ko na iyong pamilyar na bote na ipinakita sa akin ng mga diwata kanina. Kinuha ko na iyon, pansin ko na tila may punit sa pangalan niyon ngunit hindi ko na iyon masyadong inisip pa. Siguro'y palatandaan na iyon ang ibibigay nila sa akin. Kumuha rin ako ng baso bago ako humarap kay Tobias na tahimik na nanunuod sa akin.

He took the glass and allowed me to pour him the wine. Habang ginawa ko iyon ay pilit akong nag-isip ng katanungan. "Tapos na ba ang paghahanda sa pagdiriwang?"

Tumango siya.

Nang matapos ko nang lagyan ng alak ang baso niya ay pansin ko ang pagkunot ng noo roon habang nakatitig roon. I even saw how he smelled it. I bit my lower lip.

Maybe I got the wrong wine? Hindi ba iyon ang paborito niya na sabi ng mga diwata?

"B-baka nagkamali ako, Tobias. Papalitan ko na lang—" I was about to take his wine when he drank it.

I gulped as I watched Tobias's throat move slowly. And before I knew it, he had already finished his glass. But what took my breath away was the way he glanced at me from the corner of his eye, as if he was still watching my reaction.

I could feel how my knees weakened by that simple gesture from his—as if he was just trying to test me with his gaze and silent seduction without even touching me or speaking a word. And he was damn good at this!

My innocent hands trembled around the wine bottle, and I almost stepped back when Tobias placed his wine glass on the table and turned to look at me. Lazily, he rested one elbow on the table and leaned his left cheek on the back of his hand. His white linen suit slipped down from his shoulder, exposing his left arm, adding how his long, tousled like bed hair followed with his every gentle movement.

Tobias Caesar Le'Vamueivos fuckingly looked ravishing.

"Will you remain standing, Love? Or would you like to sit? Join me."

I snapped back to reality and forced a smile before placing the wine bottle on the table. And then, I noticed Tobias's eyes roaming over my body. That's when I realized I was wearing a different dress—something unlike what he was used to seeing me wear back at the palace.

I took the seat across from him.

Hindi tinanggal ni Tobias ang pagkakahalumbaba niya sa harapan ko. Mariin akong napapikit habang ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko— napailing ako.

I could feel the heat all over my body!

Maybe because this was the effect of not being intimate with him after all our struggles? Kung tutuusin ay nabibilang sa daliri ang panahon na nagkaroon kami ng oras sa isa't isa, ang ilan pa ay pilit lang isiningit dahil sa dami ng kanyang gawain.

I might have some memories of us being intimate and I knew that this wasn't the first time that he made me feel like this, but this tension between us right now felt more intense . . . as if when I tried to suppress this emotion further, I'd gone crazy again and I'd drain him.

But I knew that this was his plan all along— to punish me, for me to beg, to ask for forgiveness for hurting this deliciously half-naked king that I chose to hurt and leave.

Kumuyom ang dalawang kamay kong nakapatong sa aking mga hita sa ilalim ng lamesa habang pilit na sinasalubong ang mga mata ni Tobias.

I wouldn't be surprised if he could see how I tried my best to hide my eyes that were turning red— as if there were glitches and my fangs that were showing right before him.

"How are you while I was busy with the preparation for the festival?" he innocently asked, he looked delighted with my inner struggles.

Nagsisi ako na hindi ako kumuha ng baso. Tila gusto ko rin uminom ng alak, lalo na sa paraan ng pagtitig ni Tobias at doon sa posisyon niya na malapit na mahubaran.

Hindi ko na napansin na nag-angat na ang isa kong kamay at wala sa sarili kong napaypayan ang sarili ko. Mariin nang nakahawak ang isa kong kamay sa lamesa na tila anumang oras ay mawawalan ako ng panimbang.

I started to feel dizzy.

"Ang init . . ."

Nag-angat siya ng kilay. Itinigil ko ang pagpaypay ko at pilit kong inaalala ang katanungan niya. "Ah, yes, I spent most of my time with Claret. I learned a lot from her."

"Hmm . . ."

Buong braso ko na iyong inilagay ko sa lamesa at mas itinuon ko na ang katawan ko roon para higit na alalayan ang sarili ko. Pansin kong nakatitig na ako sa leeg ni Tobias, sa dibdib niya at maging sa kanyang balikat.

Napangiwi ako dahil ganoon pa rin ang posisyon ni Tobias sa harap ko.

Parang luluhuran tapos malapit nang isubo. Bakit hindi na lang kaya ito maghubad at diretsuhin ako? Ang galing niyang mang-akit. Alam ko na hinihintay niya na lang akong kumalabit sa kanya.

Huminga ako nang malalim. If he was expecting that I'd bite first, then I'd do my best to control myself— kahit tila mababaliw na ako.

"What is your favorite part about the Water Festival?" I mustered all my strength to ask him this question.

"Hmm . . . maybe all of it? The preparation, the actual event, and the accomplishments after it. All."

"O-okay."

"Sino ang nagsabi sa 'yo na narito ako?"

"I will always find you."

Marahas na akong tumayo. Kapwa nakatuon ang dalawa kong kamay sa lamesa at mariin kong sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. "Let's go home. Hindi ba at sinusundo mo ako?"

"I am."

I gulped. He didn't even move, but I straightened myself. I turned around and stepped closer to the petal that opened for the exit and entrance. I thought Tobias was already behind me, but when I looked over my shoulder, he was still sitting, now with his back leaning on his chair again.

"Would you like to go home soon?" he asked, amused.

That was my last straw as I bit my lip and helplessly shook my head. A silly tear fell on my cheek as I gazed at him. I frustratingly wiped it with one of my arms.

I knew that this was his way of getting back at me. He wanted me to struggle my way into him again—in his arms, warmth, and those kisses that I had been asking for days.

"No, please, stop teasing me, Tobias. I knew that it was my fault but—"

"Come."

When Tobias held out his hand, I saw a tentacle of water around the chair's legs that pulled his chair to face me, as if welcoming me as I took more steps. And when he took my hand, Tobias quickly pulled me, and before I knew it, I was sitting on his lap, my legs were parted as both of his hands guided me.

My hands trembled as I cupped his face, his head tilting up to meet my gaze. He wore a lukewarm expression, yet there was a triumph in his eyes as if my hunger—eyes burning in crimson red, fangs begging for him—satisfied him.

I parted my mouth and tilted my head and when I was about to bite his neck, Tobias avoided me. "T-Tobias . . ." I sound defeated.

He gently caressed my cheek.

"You don't have the right to bite me first today, My Queen," he whispered.

Before I knew it, Tobias had lifted me and placed me on the table. "Lie down."

I gulped and nodded.

Tobias was already towering over me, now with his eyes and fangs similar to mine. He held one of his palms in the air as if there was a platter on it until I noticed a circled and spinning water like a blade. When it moved I thought it was about to cut me, but I felt the sudden movement on the table as if it was getting shorter. Mas bumaba iyon nang bumaba hanggang sa umabot na ako sa tuhod ni Tobias.

I looked at the open space of the blue tulip above us, but I saw moving water, like a bubble, enveloping us.

"T-Tobias, tell me what to do. S-Should I undress for you?"

At first, he looked determined to make me feel frustrated— to dominate me without letting me bite, but I saw how he sighed. He slumped himself on his chair, massaged the bridge of his nose, and looked at me between the gap of his fingers. "Come, bite me now, Love . . ."

But this time, it wasn't a bite that I wanted to give him, I got up on the lowered table, slowly placed my hands on his legs and kneeled before him. Nawala ang pagkakahawak ni Tobias sa noo niya at natigilan siya sa ginawa ko.

I was about to pull the loose knot of his linen suit when one of his hands stopped me. Tobias quickly disappeared into his seat and the water materialized in front of the cabinet.

"Fuck."

Natulala ako habang nangangatal si Tobias sa harap ng cabinet at sunod-sunod nang nababasag iyong mga bote roon na tila may hinahanap siya.

Iyon lang ang unang beses na narinig ko si Tobias na sunod-sunod na nagmumura habang iritable niya nang sinusuklay ng mga daliri niya ang kanyang buhok.

"T-Tobias, what's going on?"

Napapapikit ako sa naririnig kong pagbagsak ng mga bote sa sahig hanggang sa may makita si Tobias. Itinapon niya ang taklob niyon at mabilis niyang inubos ang laman ng bote.

He quickly threw the empty bottle without wiping his lips. That was the last time I saw him far away from me inside that blue tulip, as I found myself again on that same table, about to lie down again, elbows pressed against it. Tobias was kneeling, legs parted with me in between, his hands cupping my cheeks, and his lips claiming me with kisses full of hunger. "Fuck, love, open your mouth. Move your tongue."

And I followed. I obeyed. I gave in because that was what I wanted—to offer myself to him.

I was gasping for air when his hands found the laces of my dress, he tilted his head and gave a gentle bite on my ear. And then he whispered. "You better make me happy right now, Love, or else I'll kill all the pixies in this kingdom."