Chapter 58: Boat and Plans

"Should I go first?" I asked Tobias while tying the knot of his white linen tunic.

Hindi naman ito mahirap ibuhol pero bakit lagi na lang ito malapit nang matanggal sa tuwing nakikita ko si Tobias? Minsan ay gusto ko rin siyang tanungin kung bakit hindi na lang siya maghubad.

He was lazily sitting, hands behind his back, pressing on the fairy's bed, his body was a little bit inclined while one of my knees was between his legs, his hair was still messy, and his eyes were still dazed as if he couldn't understand me.

I helplessly closed my eyes. This king was trying to seduce me again! Hindi na kami puwedeng abutin ulit ng gabi dahil baka magta-tatlong araw na kami rito!

"Stop that, Tobias!"

He chuckled. "What?"

Hinampas ko ang braso niya. Muntik niya pa akong hapitin sa aking baywang nang agad na akong humiwalay sa kanya at lumapit ako sa gilid ng kama para ayusin iyon.

Nakapamaywang na ang isa kong kamay sa aking baywang habang minamasahe ko ang aking noo. I could see the wet stains on this bed.

"May washing machine ba dito? Should I wash this first?"

"I don't understand you, Kezalli, but you can let the pixies clean this—"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "No . . ."

He laughed. "We are the king and queen of this kingdom, Love. And it's our duty to make an heir. And they'll be delighted that we've done it here. Come here, will you tie my hair?"

I sighed but I nodded. Bumalik ako kay Tobias, sumampa ako sa kama at sinimulan ko nang itali ang mahaba niyang buhok.

Unlike my messy bushy hair, even if I ran my fingers through Tobias's hair it wouldn't get stuck. Napangiwi ako na kahit ganoon lang ang gawin ko ay tila sinuklay ko na iyon.

"Anong shampoo ang gamit mo, Tobias? Magkaiba ba tayo?"

"Shampoo?"

I rolled my eyes. "Something you'll put in your hair?"

"Oh, I think we have the same shampoo."

"Eh? Parang hindi. Bakit mukha akong bruha?"

Tobias looked over his shoulder. "No."

Nagkibit-balikat na lang ako. Saglit lang din akong nag-ayos, nagpalit ng pangkaraniwang kasuotan na inihanda na rin ng mga maliliit na diwata, bago ko hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ni Tobias. "Let's go."

Nauna na akong maglakad habang hila ko si Tobias. "Follow me, okay?"

He nodded with a small smile on his face. "You're so silly, we can casually walk outside."

Hindi ko siya pinansin. I peeked outside the petal and when I noticed that there were no pixies flying in the air, I slowly pushed the petal giving us a slide. Binitawan ko ang kamay ni Tobias at tumalon ko roon, dahilan kung bakit dumulas ang katawan ko pababa.

I suppressed my laughter and looked over my shoulder to see Tobias, but he was still there, on top of the flower, with that expression of annoyance. I even saw the small movement of his lips. No way.

"Tobias! Hurry up!" I mouthed.

I thought he'd use the petal slide, but he summoned a water form, he stepped on it and allowed it to send him to the ground.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko. I buried my face in his chest and laughed silently there. Of course, why would the elegant King Tobias Caesar Le'Vamueivos use a petal slide?

"You're so unfair!"

"I love you, but god damn it, Kezalli, I am not taking that petal slide."

"Would you like to grow bigger now?"

I took a chocolate cookie inside my pocket with a white handkerchief that covered it. I divided it in half and offered it to him, but Tobias held my wrist and pushed my hand to feed him.

It didn't take too much time for us to grow bigger. I held my forefinger in front of my lips and gestured for Tobias to be quieter. I couldn't help but giggle when I saw the different sleeping positions of the exhausted pixies that had partied all night with all those musical instruments. Some were hugging each other, sprawled on their stomachs, side-lying, sitting while sleeping with murmurs, and lying on their backs. My eyes widened when I saw one pixie that was about to fall from slipping on a petal. I hurriedly ran towards it, with my hands pressed together, but the flower was so low that I even lost my balance trying to catch her. As the pixie fell into my palms, I felt Tobias's hands around my stomach, my body hanging as I awkwardly looked over my shoulder to grin at him.

"Thank you," I whispered.

Tobias shook his head— a little bit annoyed.

We decided to visit the Floating City, even with the masks on, his citizens could easily recognize him with his clothing.

Kahit inayos ko na ang pagkakabuhol niyon ay hindi maipagkakaila na si Tobias ang kasama ko. Sinabi na rin sa akin ni Claret na bihira lang sa mundong ito ang nagdadamit ng katulad ni Tobias, tanging sila dalawa lang daw ni Haring Dastan at ang ilang haring kilala niya.

Nais ko pa man maglakad-lakad sa ibaba ng palasyo ay ako na rin ang nagyaya lalo na't higit na kaming umaagaw ng atensyon.

"Gusto ko nang bumalik, Tobias."

"Should I call a priestess to create a portal?"

"I like your public transport."

Tobias nodded.

Pansin ko na dahil marami na rin mga dumadating na turista sa Deltora, higit na mahaba na ang pila ng iba't ibang nilalang na naroon na nais sumakay sa maliliit na bangka.

I held Tobias's hand and we stood together at the last line. May mga nasa unahan namin na agad rin nakilala si Tobias at sinabing mauna na kami sa pila pero agad akong umiling.

"Just ignore us."

Pansin ko na may mga nakakakilala na nga kay Tobias at ang iba ay nais nang lumapit, ngunit sa tuwing lumilingon sa kanila si Tobias ay napapaatras sila. Sa tuwing humaharap naman siya sa akin ay nakangiti.

This double-faced king.

Habang nasa likuran kami, pansin ko rin na tila kinakabahan na iyong dalawang lalaki na nasa unahan namin. Of course, who wouldn't? Lalo na't alam mo na nasa likuran mo ang iyong hari.

Kahit iyong mga bangkero ay napapasulyap na sa likuran ay nagmamadali nang magpasakay upang agad maubos ang pila at hindi na maghintay pa ang kanilang hari.

I awkwardly smiled at them. Kung alam lang nila na hindi naman nagmamadali si Tobias. Mali ba na sinabi ko sa kanya na dito kami dumaan? Did we cause inconvenience to these creatures?

"Are you sure that you don't want to look around?"

Umiling na ako. Haharap na sana ako sa unahan nang sumagi sa sulok ng mga mata ko ang tindahan kung saan niya ibinigay sa akin iyong kuwintas niya. I unknowingly brought one of my hands near my neck as if I could touch his given necklace that I chose to shatter.

"I am sorry. I broke your necklace."

"I can buy you another one. Let's go."

Hinila na ni Tobias ang isa kong kamay at sabay kaming nagtungo sa tindahan kung saan kami pumili ng kuwintas.

"Do you want the same design?"

"Just the same color would be fine."

Agad kaming nakilala ng may-ari ng tindahan. Hindi pa man nagsasalita si Tobias ay agad na itong pumasok sa likuran ng kanyang kurtina at pagbalik nito ay may dala na itong dalawang kahon.

Those were necklaces with the same shade as Tobias's eyes but with different designs.

"These gems are from the known Tree of Prosperity—" Tobias cut him off.

"What?"

The poor owner of the shop blinked innocently, unaware of Tobias's reaction. Hindi ko pa nakakalimutan ang ikinuwento sa akin ni Tobias at ang maitim nilang balak sa punong iyon mula sa Sartorias.

"This is a fine jewel, the most expensive from the legend of the known Tree of Prosperity—"

"Find another jewel found in this kingdom," mas madiing sabi ni Tobias.

Dahil rinig niya sa boses ni Tobias na mukhang hindi na natutuwa, agad itong pumasok muli sa kanyang kurtina, hindi rin naman nagtagal ay may hawak na itong isang kahon na ganoon pa rin naman ang kulay.

"These are the gems found under one of the seas of this kingdom, it is said that these are the collections of jewelry of the princess from the Sunken City of Deltora."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi ng matanda. "Sunken City?" I asked Tobias.

Hindi lumingon sa akin si Tobias at nanatili siyang nakatitig doon sa mga alahas na nasa harapan niya. Pinagmasdan ko ang mga berdeng diamante, kung iisipin ay hindi rin naman malabong mangyari na may lugar ngang ganoon sa kahariang ito. Lalo na't kilala rin ito bilang kaharian ng mga lagusan.

"Would you like to take them all, Kezalli?"

Agad akong umiling sa kanya. "Some Deltora women deserve to have one of these. I am happy with one. Pick one for me, Love . . ."

Tobias nodded. He picked a necklace with a gem carved into a rose. Tumalikod na ako sa kanya, hinawi niya ang makapal kong buhok at inilagay niya ang kuwintas sa leeg ko. "Thank you, Your Majesty."

"Love, I can give you a whole treasure chest, but you choose to have one necklace."

"I have a high-quality treasure chest, Your Majesty—" nang lumingon sa kanya si Tobias ay agad itong yumuko at nangangatal pa.

"Someone from the palace will send you the payment. Thank you."

"It's a pleasure, my king and queen."

Tumango rin ako sa kanya bago ko hinawakan ang kamay ni Tobias at lumabas sa tindahang iyon. Agad rin kaming bumalik sa mahabang pila ni Tobias, may nag-alok din sa amin na mauna na ngunit kapwa kami umiling ni Tobias.

"You're so beautiful . . ."

Hindi ko na mabilang kung ilang beses ko nang narinig iyon kay Tobias. Hawak niya ang isang kamay ko at magaan siyang humalik doon.

I giggled.

Inaamin ko na hindi ako naniniwala noon na maganda ako sa paningin niya o kaya'y sa munting bata na madalas ko nang nakikita sa alaala ko. Ngunit unti-unti'y tila nagagawa ko nang tanggapin ang mga salitang iyon ni Tobias.

That I am beautiful— salitang kailanman ay hindi ko akalain nararapat sa akin.

"But I like you so much in that fairy dress . . ." nakangiting sabi ni Tobias.

Ngumisi ako. "Thank you."

Mas lumapit na sa akin si Tobias, nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang hapitin niya ang baywang ko at hawakan niya ang baba ko. "T-Tobias, we're in public . . ."

He was about to tilt his head when we heard exaggerated coughs. Sabay kaming napalingon ni Tobias sa mga inuubo na patungo na rin sa pila.

Blair and Seth were walking beside Rosh with his arms crossed. Panay ang ubo nina Seth at Blair habang hindi nakatingin sa amin ni Tobias, samantalang si Rosh ay hantarang nakaharap sa amin na nakataas ang kilay.

"Gumagalaw na ang pila," iritableng sabi niya.

Nanatiling nakahawak sa baywang ko si Tobias at sabay kaming naglakad sa unahan ngunit lumingon din siya pabalik sa kapatid niya. "Blair, Seth, are you unwell? Should I call healers once we arrived? Saan kayo galing?" Tobias asked in his usual innocent and friendly mien.

"Gumagalaw na ang pila, Tobias!" sigaw ni Rosh.

And when Tobias looked in front of us, I saw a glimpse of a grin on his face. I shook my head. Tobias is a literal double-faced king.

"Were you checking the stalls, Rosh? Did you notice something with a peculiar logo?"

Pansin ko ang agad na pagngiwi ni Rosh sa sinabing iyon ni Tobias. "I'll soon abolish it. Don't worry."

"Why? I find it more useful than summoning a priestess and giving us a blessing or a blessed liquid to chug before—" Seth was cut off. He held his hands in the air submissively when Rosh and Tobias glared at him.

"Alright! Maybe I'll ask Naha to develop it inside our kingdom. I don't think we can handle kids yet."

"I never heard any news about your brother claiming their mates. What's wrong with your kingdom?" nagtatakang tanong ni Rosh.

Seth shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know."

We decided to ride in the same boat. Akala ko noon ay pandalawahan lang iyon, ngunit kanina pa pala kami pinaghahandaan ng mga bangkero.

Magkatabi kami ni Tobias habang nasa harap namin sina Rosh, Blair at Seth. Rosh was sitting comfortably with his legs and arms crossed, Seth was leaning his back, smiling, while Blair was sitting straightly, but looking uncomfortable with his arms tightly sealed on his side, na parang sikip na sikip.

I could really see that they had different personalities— a complete mess but a known powerful group in this world.

Huminga ako nang malalim. Alam kong isinama ni Tobias ang mga ito sa bangka upang sabihin ko sa kanila ang nasa isip ko. "I am planning to draw Freya's attention again . . ."

"The same woman who almost killed you?" salubong ang kilay ni Rosh. Hindi na siya nakatingin sa akin kundi kay Tobias.

"Freya is my mission. She is my destined opponent, Rosh. There are still two remaining witches that needed our attention more, those who escaped . . ."

Nawala sa pagkakasandal si Seth. "Did Claret already mention you . . ."

I nodded at him. "Bukod kay Claret ay nagpakita na sa akin ang asul na apoy sa panaginip."

"So, we really have to end it with Freya."

"I need to end it with us," mas madiing sabi ko sa kanila. "And the worst thing, those remaining witches . . . they might be doing the same as how Freya tortured me . . ."

Bigla nang napatayo sina Blair at Seth nang sabihin ko iyon. "As much as I want to make this Water Festival successful, this is the best time to draw her attention, it's a time when she can witness how happy I am."

Napamasahe sa kanyang noo si Rosh. "When is this?"

"When I perform— during my first ceremonial dance in this kingdom."