Chapter 5: Nine Million

"I don't think I can stay mad at you, huh?" sabi ng lalaking bampira na namumulsa. Napakalakas ng pandinig niya dahil agad niyang narinig ang ibinulong sa akin ni Tobias.

The woman beside him giggled. "I don't think it's ideal to leave the room, King Tobias."

Tumayo na nga nang tuwid si Tobias. He cleared his throat and casually introduced the two vampires. "Marah and Pryor, they are my siblings."

Yuyuko na sana ako nang bigla akong hawakan ni Tobias, and that reminded me of my position. Ngumiti na lang ako sa mga kapatid niya. "It's nice meeting you."

"So, what's the plan? Are you going to formally introduce her to Parsua Deltora?"

Alam kong ramdam na ni Tobias ang paghigpit ng hawak ko sa braso niya. And when he looked at me, even without shaking my head, I knew that he was already aware of my decision.

I can't!

How can he introduce me as his queen if I still have to learn more things in this world? All I know is his nine—I mean his huge nine million worth of treasure.

"That can wait," Tobias shortly replied.

Sabay umangat ang kilay nina Marah at Pryor sa sinabing iyon ni Tobias.

"Are you sure that you're going out? Isn't it too early?" muling tanong ni Marah.

"Ah, it's okay. Naka-score na siya sa akin," I lied.

"Score?" Pryor and Marah asked in unison.

Kahit si Tobias ay nakatungo na rin sa akin na mukhang nalilito na naman sa mga salita ko.

I closed my eyes in frustration. Aren't we both aware that we're going to deceive the people in this nation about us—consummating our mate thing? Kaya nga umuulan, hindi ba?

Or are they aware that Tobias and I haven't shared our blood and fangs yet?

"Kezalli and her words are still adjusting in this world. Please bear with her for a while."

I awkwardly scratched my cheek. "I am sorry. I'll try to be better."

"Why don't we have a small feast then?" tanong ni Marah.

"That's a good idea."

Sabay nang tumalikod sa amin sina Pryor at Marah. Nang nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Tobias ay deretso lang ang titig niya sa likuran ni Pryor.

Mukhang hindi na napigilan ni Tobias ang kanyang sarili at kinausap na ang kapatid niya.

"Pryor, I am aware that you've returned from your mission for your unknown reason, but aren't you going back?"

"To the woman who's too devoted to gold, treasure, and money? She can even sell me if she wanted to," sagot ni Pryor na hindi man lang lumilingon sa kanyang hari at patuloy sa paglalakad.

I tried to suppress my laughter until I choked. Ilang beses kong tinapik ang dibdib ko.

Was his mission about that woman, or was she just part of it? He was too obvious.

As if Pryor had noticed me, he stopped walking and he looked over his shoulder, his eyes were as sharp as the tip of my arrows.

What is wrong with him?

"Even your queen has a bounty on her head."

My eyes widened in surprise. Natakpan ko rin ang bibig ko sa salitang narinig mula sa kapatid ni Tobias. Ano ang tingin niya sa akin? Kriminal?

Inaano ko siya? How did he know? That Sullivan! Napakabilis maningil!

"Excuse me? B-bounty?"

"Aren't you aware of her debt from Sullivan and the way she used your name freely for money?"

I gasped.

Ito na nga ba ang sinasabi ko. What did Tobias tell me about his siblings that they were not like those families in the human world?

"It isn't a bounty! Pera ko iyon. I worked hard for it . . ." I choked when I said those words. Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko naman talaga pinaghirapan ang perang iyon, and he was right that I just used Tobias' name.

Maybe Tobias is that kind of boyfriend who's willing to give me everything, and Pryor is the typical relative who can see that I am a type of gold digger woman.

"The nine million? Yes. I am aware. Binilang namin iyon ni Kezalli nang dumating siya." Tobias casually said.

"S-she brought human money into this world?" Pryor asked in disbelief.

"Bakit? Hindi ba puwede? Wala naman iyon sa manual."

"What is she talking about?" iritadong tanong ni Pryor.

Pansin ko na nakangiwi na rin sa akin si Marah.

"Why don't we continue this conversation inside one of my libraries?" tanong ni Tobias.

Sa unang araw pa lang ay alam ko na ang paraan ng titig nina Pryor at Marah sa akin. They don't like me.

Nauna na muling naglakad ang dalawa niyang kapatid, nakayuko na ako habang nakaangkla pa rin ang braso ko kay Tobias. "I am sorry."

"Why? I can give you more than nine million, Kezalli. All of this empire's worth."

Gusto kong maiyak sa sinabi ni Tobias, lalo na nang saglit natigil sa paglalakad sa unahan ang dalawa niyang kapatid pero hindi na lumingon sa amin.

Why do I have this feeling na parang nabudol ko si Tobias? Nine million lang naman ang kailangan ko pero gusto niyang ibigay lahat.

Mas lalo akong yumuko at bumagal ako sa paglalakad. "Do you want me to carry you? Are you tired?"

Agad akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya at umiling ako. "No. I can walk."

"Sobra ko bang isinagad?"

Mas marahas kong sinalubong ang kanyang mga mata. "Huh?"

Ano ang pinagsasabi niya?

"I'll try to do it better next time, Kezalli. I am sorry, it was my first time," dagdag ni Tobias habang alalang-alala siya sa akin.

And then I realized what he was trying to say.

Alam ko sa sarili kong halos hindi na magawang ipinta ang mukha. He was talking about the ribbon on my back! Pilit kong pinagmasdan ang mukha niya kung sinasadya niya ba akong maipit sa sitwasyong ito, but he looked irritatingly genuine!

I looked helplessly at his siblings, and they were already eyeing us with those creased brows. Hindi na sila ngayon titig na titig sa akin, kundi sa kanilang hari na parang hindi nila inaasahang magsasalita nang ganoon.

And what's more? Tobias had that concerned look without even realizing how his words sounded to anyone.

Hindi ko na napansin na nakahawak na ako sa likuran ko na parang masakit iyon. I was trying to touch my tied ribbon!

"Aren't you going to postpone this meeting, brother? Bakit hindi na lang kayo bumalik ni Kezalli sa inyong silid?" tanong ni Marah.

"No, it's fine."

Gusto kong biglang hilahin ang buhok ni Tobias at pagalitan siya nang paulit-ulit nang mga oras na iyon pero pilit kong pinakalma ang sarili ko.

Is he really innocent, or is he just trying to toy with me?

When Marah and Pryor turned left before we could even reach the intersection, I quickly pulled Tobias' hand, and I pushed him against the wall. Marahas kong inihampas sa pader ang isa kong kamay at nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya.

I saw how Tobias arched one of his brows in amusement. He casually tilted his head to glance at my arms, but he stayed glued to the wall, waiting for my words on his amused face.

The maids were giggling with thick mattresses on their arms, chatting with one another when they were caught off guard at the sight of their king and queen. They dropped their mattresses in surprise.

Tobias was just lazily watching them before he crossed his arms and uttered his words with authority.

For the first time, I heard him talk like a king; it was just a few words, but the power and authority were screaming. Ibang-iba sa paraan ng pakikipag-usap niya sa akin.

He was always amused, willing, and even fascinated by the way he looked and spoke to me. It was like his voice every time he uttered a word for me was music.

"Make it quick; your queen and I are having our conversation," utos ni Tobias sa mga tagasunod.

Halos mangatal ang tuhod ko at ang biglang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso ko nang masaksihan ko kung paano siya humarap sa iba kompara sa akin.

Ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng pisngi ko at nag-iwas na rin ako ng tingin sa kanya.

Nanatiling nakahawak ang isang palad ko sa pader at pinapanood ko na ang nakayukong mga tagasunod na nangangatal pa sa pagkuha ng mga puting tela sa sahig. At nang sandaling halos yakap na nila ang makakapal na puting tela ay lakad-takbo na ang mga ito para iwan kami ni Tobias.

And when we were alone, with Tobias' expert hand, he gently tilted my head to meet his eyes again. "Finish where you left me, My Queen."

Handa na akong bumawi sa kanya dahil sa hantaran niyang mga salitang iyon kanina, pero ang makitang ganoon si Tobias sa iba ngunit sa akin ay halos ibigay na niya ang lahat, halos hindi na ako makabawi.

Where were we?

How could I possibly tease this man? If he was already showing all his cards.

"Marah was right. I don't think it's a good thing for us to leave our room."

He chuckled. "If this is one of your tricks again, Kezalli, I will not have it. If you're worried about Pryor, I can cut his sharp tongue for you."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya at umiling ako. "No. I don't want to be the reason for you to have a conflict with your brother."

Kinuha na ni Tobias ang kamay ko at marahan siyang humalik sa ibabaw niyon. My eyes mellowed when his lips touched my skin.

I couldn't help but get scared. I am starting to love his lips. Every time he kissed me on the back of my hand, I am starting to long for the way his tongue traveled on my cheeks, and I am starting to get worried that my dreams in the human world would suddenly disappear just because I got attracted to this man.

Ang mga kapatid niya pa lang ay nakikitaan ko na ang pag-ayaw sa akin, paano pa ang mundong ito?

I slowly raised my other hand. I saw how Tobias' green eyes widened in surprise when the back of my hand caressed his cheek until I cupped his face.

Hindi ko alam kung saang anggulo ako tititig. Sa mga mata niya ba? Sa ilong niya? Sa mga labi niya, kahit saang parte ng mukha niya ay nakapagpapatulala.

"Sino naman kasing babae ang aayaw sa 'yo? Gosh, you are so handsome, King Tobias. Nakakapagmura, you don't look real."

He smiled before he touched both of my hands. "For the first time, I got happy when someone praised my face."

"Huh? Wala bang pumupuri sa 'yo?"

With Tobias' quick movement, I just found myself above him, legs wrapped around his waist, and his arms carefully carrying me. "You know, I have this brother who is known for his great beauty. As his twin who lives with him, even when I grew up faster than him, it's hard to attract anyone's eyes."

"Huh? If you're already this handsome, what more . . ." I trailed off. May mas guwapo pa kay Tobias?

He chuckled. "He's never been known as handsome in this world—creatures in Nemetio Spiran know him for his beauty."

"Beyond handsome?"

He smiled. "So, as someone who threatened his king and pushed him against the wall, what could be the queen's wants?"

Mariin akong pumikit bago ko mas inilapit ang mukha ko sa kanya. This time, I pressed my forehead against him.

The moment I entered this world, I had a plan to return to the human world. But before I return, I promise to fulfill my promise to Divina and her beautiful mother, Claret.

I was still young back then when Claret visited me; matagal man ang taong nagdaan, alam ko sa puso't kaluluwa ko na hindi ako matatahimik kung hindi ko siya matutulungan.

I'd fulfill and help her with this mission, not just with my ability to use arrows—that I still need to be awakened, but also the other abilities that I might have discovered. I knew that there might be a risk, but I'd taken so much time and effort that it would be a waste if I didn't continue this journey in this world.

This is a different world—at hindi lang sa akin umiikot ang mundong ito. Divina asked for my help; Claret might be somewhere out there, and here I am, with the knowledge of this world, yet I felt like I had spent most of my days playing here—flirting.

Napangiwi na ako sa iniisip ko.

"Let's return to our room, King Tobias."

His right brow arched. "Are we going to deal with your ribbons?"

I smirked. "Hmm . . . and then I'd like to deal with your nine million."

He chuckled.

Hindi ko na napansin ang bilis ng pangyayari para kaming hinipan ng hangin ni Tobias, at ang tanging narinig ko na lang ay ang paglagabog ng pinto ng silid namin at ang pagbagsak ng katawan ko sa kama.

He was pulling his lazily tied linen clothing until it slid to his waist; he spread my legs while he was kneeling between them. "To be honest, I've been confused with your definition of nine million, my love."

"Ako rin, minsan nalilito."

This time Tobias laughed. He sexily brushed his hair up with his defined chest, abs, and arms as if he really had a membership in one of the most expensive gyms in the human world.

Bigla na lang niyang hinawakan ang baywang ko at lumutang ang katawan ko.

I found myself lying on my stomach on the bed. I didn't hear the sound of my dress ripping, but instead a sharp noise, like a knife being used. I forced myself to glance back, and my eyes widened as I saw Tobias's sharp claws slicing through my clothing.

His green eyes had shifted to a possessive crimson, fangs bared and nails sharpened. One hand tried to brush back his long hair while the other lingered near his face, his tongue trailing along the side of his fingers.

Was it wrong that I teased him for days? He looked so hungry.

I closed my eyes, buried my face in the pillow, and took a bite of it. Laban lang, Kezalli! Mukhang isasagad niya yata.

When I felt how his broad chest lowered down on me, as his solid body grazed on my bare back, how his expert hands pulled my dress away, I heard him whisper with tiny bites on my ears, and his palms that found my chests.

Dumiin ang pagkakakagat ko sa unan. "But now, My Queen, allow your king to clearly define that nine million for you—since it's always been yours."