Chapter 9: Visitors

"If you suffered enough in that world. Allow me to give you memories, you will not beg for food, a warm bed, or clothes, and do things out of your will. You will never suffer again. I will give you everything in my power. Lahat lahat, mahal ko. . ."

Tobias said those words with his softest voice, his hands gently cupping my cheeks, and his eyes begging for me.

Tila napaso ako at agad humiwalay sa kanya. I took two steps backward as I shook my head in front of him.

Life has been tough for me, but I never allowed anyone to witness how vulnerable, tired, and weak I was on the inside. I kept trying to keep those high walls to everyone and made them see how tough, bright, and full of life I was.

I shouldn't let myself look like that in front of him. I don't want him to see that side of me. I am not that miserable Kezalli. I may be poor but I kept trying to smile and laugh at everyone— because I am a tough girl.

"You are. You are my tough, human girl." Tobias said.

Mariin akong humawak sa ulo ko at mas umatras ako mula sa kanya. Itinuro ko siya. "Stop reading my mind!"

"I am sorry."

When he stood up, I started to panic. "Please, don't come near me."

But Tobias didn't listen to me, sa halip agad ko siyang nakalapit sa akin, gusto ko siyang itulak at saktan, ngunit natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong nakakulong sa mga bisig niya habang pilit akong pumapalag sa kanya.

"Leave me alone! Stop reading my mind! I just got surprised--" hanggang sa tuluyan na akong umiyak sa dibdib niya.

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Tobias sa halip ay hinayaan niya akong umiyak sa dibdib niya habang hinahaplos niya ang likuran ko.

Why did that scene slip into my mind? Everything happened years ago before I left the human world. I was already surviving, and everything was about to go on smoothly.

I was about to hit my head to stop myself from thinking about those years when Tobias stopped my hands. "Shh. . . you are fine now, Kezalli. You are with me."

He kept telling me his sorry, kahit wala naman siyang kasalanan. "Shh. . ."

Hanggang sa tuluyan na rin akong yumakap sa kanya at hinayaan kong maramdaman ang marahang haplos niya sa akin. Halos hindi ko na mabilang ang minuto ng itinagal ng yakap namin sa isa't isa.

Si Tobias mismo ang siyang nagtanggal ng yakap ko sa kanya at marahan niyang pinunasan ang mga luha sa pisngi ko.

"I hate it when someone sees my tears." Pilit akong yumuko sa harapan niya.

"I can't see a single tear." He said seriously.

I laughed, tiptoed, and kissed him. "I love it when you kiss me." He calmly said.

"I hate you for being calm. How do you do that?"

Hindi siya sumagot at pinagpatuloy niya ang pagpunas sa luha ko.

"Do you know why I am desperate to have the money and return?" I saw how his jaw tightened.

"Because human world is still my world, Tobias. I haven't fulfilled my goals there. Ilang taon akong pilit nabuhay at nakipagsapalaran sa mundo ng mga tao, at kung iiwan ko na lang iyon, mawawala ang lahat nang pinahirapan ko. I felt like I abandoned all my dreams, wala man lang akong napatunayan. I don't want to use Nemetio Spiran as an escape because I was a weakling woman in human world who couldn't even achieve something."

Hindi nagsalita si Tobias. Tumingkayad ako at marahan kong hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi niya. "Can you understand me?"

"But I don't want you to suffer again. I should burn that world." I gasped. Nanghina ang mga kamay ko sa pisngi niya at ibinaba ko na iyon.

Mariin akong umiling sa kanya. Magiging dahilan pa yata ako ng human instinction dahil hindi lang ako nakabayad ng mga utang.

"No, it's not like that. I will not suffer again! Makakakuha na ako ng trabaho, makakapag-ipon na ako. Magtatayo ako ng negosyo, makakabayad ako ng mga utang, at maibabalik ko ang museum nina lolo't lola."

Hindi na muli siya nagsalita. "Tobias, dahil sa sandaling tuluyan ko nang iniwan ang mundo ng mga tao, para na lang akong babaeng sumuko na sa buhay at nag-asawa na lang nang mayaman. I want to accomplish something in human world. Dahil wala akong karapatang humawak ng responsibilidad sa mundong ito, kung nagawa kong takbuhan ang unang responsibilidad ko sa mundo ng mga tao. Allow me to become a better human, before I become your Queen and wife, Tobias."

Hindi pa rin siya nagsalita at nanatili siyang nakatitig sa akin. "I can't just give up my unfinished goal in the human world, escape, and find an easier route. I don't want to feel like, I came here and quickly embrace all these luxuries because I don't have the ability to make my life comfortable in that world. I want to be here with you, Tobias, not because I was saved from the human world, but because I crossed here with a life fulfilled, ready to face another life with you."

Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin dalawa. I know that it's hard for him to understand, dahil ibang-iba ang mga mundo.

I shouldn't be insisting on this because as a king like him, to be a great leader is one of the most important things, at walang-wala ang mga sinabi ko sa kanya. "I'm sorry, King Tobias. I promise not to bring this up again—"

I was interrupted when he bent, cupped my face, and gave me a soft kiss on my lips. "J-just come back for me."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Y-you agreed?"

He nodded.

"Pumapayag ka talaga? Babalik ako sa mundo ng mga tao? Tatawid ako sa salamin na iyan?" itinuro ko ang salamin na may bahid pa ng kalmot ko.

He nodded again. "I will ask Sullivan to give you ten times the amount of nine million. Pay all your debts, use it for our water district in the human world, anti-dengue campaign, and what else?"

Umawang ang bibig ko sa narinig sa kanya. Ilang beses akong napakurap sa harapan niya. He remembered it all?

"Oh, my gosh, hindi ka lang talaga madulas, Tobias. Galante ka rin!" yumakap na ako sa kanya at halos sumabit na ako sa katawan niya. He wrapped his arms around me.

"When it comes to money, you always hug me like this."

I laughed. "But I am fine with your nine million, Sir. Baka hindi ko na kayanin kapag ginawang ten in. . . million."

He chuckled. "Are you feeling better now?"

I nodded, and then he kissed my neck before he put me down. "But don't worry, Sir. Saka na ako babalik sa human world after helping, Claret."

"What is sir?"

"Tawag iyan sa mga may-ari ng water district, ambassador ng dengue campaign, at may nine million sa human world. Sila iyong binabati ng sir, umaga na po. . . mali pala, good morning sir pala dapat." Natawa ako sa sarili kong sinabi habang nakatitig lang sa akin si Tobias.

"Should it be good morning like someone who needs to receive a greeting from lower disciples?"

Ngumisi ako at umiling sa kanya. "I'd like to use the other one for you, sir." I leaned closer to him and whispered. "Sir, umaga na po. . ."

Pinagtaasan lang ako ng kilay ni Tobias. He tilted my face with his forefinger below my chin. "That's not going to happen, my love, because the next time we do it again, we'll stay until the morning comes."

Namilog ang mga mata ko at bahagyang umawang ang bibig ko. "Okay, Sir. Pag-uwi ko na lang, para pasalubong ko sa 'yo. Kumakain ka ba ng banana chips? Dadalhan din kita."

He smiled at me before he kissed my cheeks. "What are you going to do with this?" itinuro niya na ang mga nakakalat na pera.

"Let me fix it."

"Do you want me to help you?"

"No. It's okay. Ikaw na nga nagpautang sa akin nito."

Inuusod ko muna ang nakatambak na pera sa isang parte ng sofa bago ko iyon tinapik nang ilang beses. "Maupo ka muna, Mahal na Hari, aayusin ko lang ang pera ko."

Tobias seated at the edge of that long sofa, casually crossed his legs as he watched me count my money again. And he already has that iconic position of his every time he watches me, his chin at the back of his hand, elbow on the armrest, and his straight face.

Naupo muli ako sa sahig, binilang at itinali na ang mga pera ko. Hindi na nagsalita si Tobias pero ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin. Hindi naman kasi talaga siya madalas magsalita, at kung magsasalita man siya ay napakadulas.

"There! Okay na."

Tumayo na ako at ibinalik ko muna sa vault ang pera ko bago ako nagmadaling bumalik sa sofa. "Thank you. You are really a kind-hearted king."

I was about to jump on the sofa and sit comfortably when he pulled me and found myself on his lap.

Now that he has a new haircut, mukha na siyang madulas na bad boy. Hindi na bagay sa kanya iyong kalmadong mukha, parang inaasahan ko na ang salitang kneel lagi sa kanya.

"You always have a lot of funny thoughts in your mind."

"I told you not to read it."

"I couldn't help but get curious every time you make that silly face."

"Silly face?"

"Because every time you look at me, you bite your lower lip as if you're trying to suppress your grin."

"Yummy ka kasi."

"What is yummy?"

I laughed. "Secret."

Humiwalay na ako sa kanya, tumayo at sabay na hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. "Now that we're done with your hairstyle, how about we change your wardrobe?"

"Don't you like it? The way I dressed?"

"Of course not! Hindi ko nga akalain na nakaka-gandang lalaki kapag maluwag ang pagkakabuhol ng tali sa suot mo. It's fine. Let's just try other styles."

When I rang the bell, the maids almost fainted when they saw the new haircut of their king. "Isn't King Tobias so handsome?"

Halos nakasampung tango ang lahat ng mga katulong na naroon habang nakatitig sila kay Tobias.

"I want to change his wardrobe."

"Mahal na Hari, may mga panauhin po kayo, nais lamang iparating ni Prinsesa Marah."

"Now?"

The maids nodded. "Bakit hindi mo muna harapin, Tobias?"

"It's fine. The empire is aware that this month is for my queen. Those visitors must be not aware of the situation—" pero bago pa matapos si Tobias ng kanyang sasabihin ay may narinig akong pamilyar na boses.

"Kezalli?"

Nahawi ang mga tagasunod malapit sa may pintuan nang unti-unting pumasok ang munting prinsesa. "Divina!"

"Wow! You're so pretty naman!"

Kahit mahina narinig kong inulit ni Tobias ang salitang wow na parang sinusubukan na niyang tandaan kung paano gamitin ang salitang iyon.

"Divina!" ibinuka ko ang mga braso ko sa kanya at nagmadali na siyang tumalon at yumakap sa akin.

"I am glad that you're safe! How's Parsua Deltora? I heard you and King Tobias have been busy with your business."

"Business?"

Habang buhat ko si Divina ay lumingon na ako kay Tobias, at nang gawin ko iyon, agad kong narinig ang pagsinghap ni Divina. Namilog ang kanyang mga mata at nagawa pa niyang takpan ang bibig niya na parang gulat na gulat.

"Wow! Ang handsome handsome naman, King Tobias! He looks like someone from the human world!"

Agad akong naalarma sa sinabi ni Divina, lalo na nang nag-angat ng kilay si Tobias.

"What she meant was you have the same hairstyle, not a particular person, King Tobias."

"But King Tobias is handsomer!" dagdag ni Divina.

Napahinga ako nang maluwag. "Of course. Siya ang pinaka-guwapo!"

Hindi lang kami ni Divina ang nagpapaliwanag, dahil maging ang mga tagasunod ay walang tigil sa pagtango para tulungan kami.

Hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Tobias nang makarinig akong muli ng panibagong boses. "Nasaan ang alaga ko? Zen will kill me! Divina? Princess Divina, where are you—"

May sumilip sa may pintuan at nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang makita si Divina na buhat ko. "Princess Divina, come here!"

Ilang beses pang yumuko ang bagong dating na lalaki sa mga tagasunod, at sa akin habang inilalahad niya ang kanyang braso kay Divina. "Let's go. King Tobias and his queen are waiting for us in the library."

"But how is that possible, Prince Seth?"

Divina pointed me out. "She is Kezalli," Tobias walked beside me.

Umawang ang bibig ng lalaking tinawag ni Divina na Seth. "K-king Tobias. . ."

"So, you are the visitor?"

Agad nang inagaw ni Seth si Divina sa akin at tipid siyang yumuko. Bago muling sinalubong ang mga mata ng hari. "Forgive my insolence, King Tobias, but this is an urgent matter."

Ramdam ko bigla ang tensyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa, ngunit agad rin iyong nawala nang magsalita si Divina. "Why don't you have the same haircut, Prince Seth?"

Prince Seth and King Tobias answered in chorus. "No."

Natawa na lang ako bago ko hinawakan ang braso ni Tobias. "We will see you in our library."

Prince Seth nodded before he left the room with Divina. Lumingon ako kay Tobias at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "I guess I am about to enter my first adventure."

He corrected me. "Our adventure."