Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Rumored Dance

I woke up early in the morning without Tobias beside me. I lazily got up and remained seated on our bed, staring at his empty pillow, with no signs that he had been there.

Malapit na akong masanay na ganoon ang sumasalubong sa akin sa bawat araw. I knew that it was part of his responsibility to be more involved in this most awaited event of the kingdom, but I couldn't help but feel empty every time that he was not around. Lalo na't unti-unti na rin bumabalik ang mga alaala ko sa kanya.

Now I feel guilty feeling this way. Sa totoo lang ay ngayon lang ulit bumabawi si Tobias sa Deltora dahil halos nasa akin na ang atensyon niya nang mga panahong gusto ko nang bumalik sa mundo ng mga tao.

I sighed. I hugged my legs to my chest and buried my face behind my knees. Claret might be here with her stories and guidance in this world, but I knew that it would always be different if it were Tobias.

Pakiramdam ko nga ay hindi ko pa napagbabayaran ang hirap na ipinaranas ko sa kanya. He just chose to forget everything and continue as a king, I know that I should be thankful for that— he was so kind and considerate, but I couldn't help but feel like everything seemed so easy for me just because I was the mate of the king.  

Hindi ako umalis sa posisyon ko habang iginagala ko ang tingin ko sa paligid. I could see Tobias's usual table, the pile of papers, his quill, books, parchments, and the small flower vase. Even the mirror, that now he could freely leave inside his room even with my presence. Since my memories were starting to return, now I realized that I had spent most of my time inside his room even before I had encountered those witches.

Mas niyakap ko ang sarili ko. "I miss you . . ."

Higit pa akong nanatili sa kama bago ako tumiwid sa aking pagkakaupo. Ilang beses pinilig ang ulo at tinapik ang pisngi. "You should get going, Kezalli. You still need trainings that will help him in the future." Sabi ko sa sarili ko.

I was about to leave our bed and take the small bell to call the servants when I saw a small, folded paper on our bedside table. And when I opened it, I saw the familiar neat handwriting of my mate.

I can't wait to end this Water Festival to spend time with you. I miss you – Tobias Ceasar.

I just stared at his note for a minute. I even noticed how some of my fingers trailed the cursive letters on the scented paper. Tobias had good penmanship.

"Ang guwapo pa ng pangalan . . ." umiiling na sabi ko.

Itinupi ko na muli ang papel at ipinatong sa lamesa. Kinuha ko na iyong maliit na bell at agad nagpakita sa akin ang mga tagasunod. Kung noong una ay pinipilit ko pa si Tobias na huwag nang tumawag ng mga tagasunod dahil kaya ko na naman asikasuhin ang sarili ko, ngayon ay unti-unti na akong nasasanay.

Kapwa nakayuko ang apat na babaeng tagasunod, isa sa kanila ay may hawak ng tuwalya, ang isa'y bagong bote na napupuno ng likido na ipinapahid nila sa aking katawan, ang isa'y kasuotan at ang isa naman piraso ng mga bulaklak.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinayaan ko na silang alalayan ako sa paliguan.

Ang tanging ginawa ko lang doon ay tumayo habang hinububaran nila ako at nang tuluyan na akong walang kasuotan, ay saka lang ako unti-unting humakbang patungo sa maligamgam na tubig—sa lugar kung saan natatandaan ko kung saan ako unang bumagsak.

Ibinabad ko lang saglit ang katawan ko doon bago ako bumalik sa mas mababaw upang higit akong paliguan ng mga tagasunod.

These servants are new ones. Hindi na ibinalik pa ni Tobias iyong mga tagasunod na nakasaksi kung paano ako nahirapan noon habang kinakalaban ko ang aking sarili. Tobias told me that as much as possible he'd eliminate everything that would make me remember how I chose to be vulnerable before.