Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Under the Lover's Bridge

Tobias and I continued with our little journey.

As we passed by the series of wooden boats enamored by fascinating items— things I used to collect, it made me remember all my hardships and efforts to bring that old museum back to life.

Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na mag-aaral ako nang mabuti at muling bibigyang buhay ang museleo na iniwan sa akin ng lolo't lola ko. Seeing this floating city made me reminisce my life back then in the human world— how I fought to survive and continued dreaming despite all the cruelty that had thrown at me.

I sighed.

I gently placed one of my hands above my eyes, the sun was about to set, giving us the hues of an orange light as if the wooden boat was floating on mixtures of diamonds and amber stones.

But I knew that we were not even half of our journey.

"When will be the festival?" I asked.

Hindi ako nakatingin kay Tobias kundi sa bawat tindahan na nadadaanan namin. May ilan pa ng mga tindero at tindera na ngumingiti sa akin at tumatango.

Nang hindi siya sumagot sa akin ay saka lang ako lumingon, wala na rin sa akin ang atensyon niya kundi naroon na rin sa bawat tindahan.

He was staring at them as if he was scanning their every item if it was properly inspected by the palace officials. "Tobias."

Napalingon siya sa akin. Ilang beses kumurap at sinalubong ang aking mga mata.

"Again, love?"

Now I realized that he was a real businessman, and it was not just Rosh who was keen on details. It was also him— the king.

"Is this because of that bottle again?" Natatawang tanong ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya at mas pinagkrus niya ang kanyang mga braso. "I should inform Rosh about this."

"I heard the name Naha when the vendor introduced the product. Isn't she the cousin you mentioned? She can't establish a business inside this kingdom?"

He shook his head. "Not that silly item. It's not even approved in Deltora's product standard."

My lips prodded. So this kingdom has also product standards, huh?

Kung sabagay, dapat pa ba akong magulat? Si Tobias na rin ang nagsabi sa akin na masyado silang detalyo ni Rosh sa kahariang ito. Hindi ko lang akalain na maging sa pinakamaliit na produkto ay partikular sila.

I laughed. "Now I am starting to think that you're overly . . ." I purposely trailed off.

Tobias waited.

"Overly?" he asked, raising one of his brows.

Maarte.

I shrugged my shoulders and just grinned at him. His brows creased. "Next week."

"Next week?"

"You asked for the Water Festival. It will be next week."

"When specifically?"

"Whole week."

"Oh . . ."

"There will be endless street performances, a circus in the middle of the forests, water dances, and even more tourists."

Bigla akong natigilan sa sinabi niyang iyon. Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita at nanatiling nakatitig sa akin si Tobias habang hinihintay ang anumang sasabihin ko.

Sabay kumuyom ang mga kamay kong nakapatong sa aking mga hita, at nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. "Does it mean that this kingdom needs an important appearance?"