Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 9

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.