When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 29

Same brown eyes with mine are still staring into me surely turning my cheeks into a halo of rubescent flush. My heart started beating fast together with my stomach fluttering. I bit my lip in the longing that it will later go away.

I flinched a little out of surprise when I felt his fingers carefully pinching my cheeks. I then looked at him. He’s smirking at me with his right eyebrow raised.

“Why are you blushing?” he asks still smirking.

I immediately pushed him away from me but he never went far as we are cuffed together making him titter.

“It’s hot,” I utter as we were escorted to another booth.

My lips then parted when my eyes darted on a big bowl of ramen in which I assume to be around 13 pounds or less which I think is too much for two persons.

“Seriously?! Ang laki naman niyan?!” one of the competitors yelled which is then followed by the other couples.

“Kaya mo ubusin iyan mag-isa?” tanong sa akin ni Jaxen na agad kong inilingan.

“Isang ordinaryong mangkok pa nga lang busog na busog na ako, ganiyan pa kaya kalaki?” saad ko na ikinangiti niya lang.

Hindi naman pinansin ng mga estudyante iyong hinaing noong mga manlalaro at sinabi na lamang na iyong pinakamaraming makakain ang siyang mananalo.

“Hayaan na natin sila manalo sa round na ‘to,” sabi ko kay Jaxen na tinanguan niya lang dahil kakakaain lang naman din namin kanina.

Tinikman nalang namin ni Jaxen iyong ramen saka pinanood iyong mga magkakasintahang naglalandian habang kumakain.

“What’s with that disgusted look?” natatawang tanong sa akin ni Jaxen na ikinatawa ko rin dahil hindi ko napansin na ganoon na pala ang itsura ko habang nakatingin sa magkasintahang kumakain ng noodles habang iyong babae ay todo pacute sa boyfriend niya at mas maliit pa sa daga iyong kagat sa pagkain niya.

“Mas malaki pa kagat ng sanggol diyan,” kumento niya nang makita iyong babaeng tinitiigan ko na ikinatawa ko.

“Dude, I don’t get it why some girls try to act different when their boyfriend’s around rather than showing their real selves? Like, he wouldn’t be your boyfriend if he didn’t like you for you, right? Why bother act like that? Halata namang hindi siya ganiyan kumain,” reklamo ko habang nakatingin parin sa babae na biglang lumaki ang subo doon sa noodles nang tumingin sa kabilang direksyon iyong boyfriend niya.

Napahalakak naman si Jaxen kaya tinignan ko siya.

I get that some girls do that just to impress their boyfriends and stuff but it really just throws me off whenever I see people act like someone else even though it is clear that it is not what they really are. I then pinch the bridge of my nose as I try to calm myself down. It’s not your concern, Khatalina, relax.

“Bakit, ikaw ba, paano ka umarte kapag may boyfriend ka?” tanong niya sa akin.

“That’s not the right question,” I said and look at him.

Tinignan naman niya ako nang nagtataka.

“What’s the right question then?” tanong niya muli.

I then smiled at him.

“If I will even have a boyfriend,” I answered and laugh as soon as I saw his disappointed reaction.

“What’s with the disappointed look?”  I asked.

He didn’t bother to answer my question as he just revoke his gaze and look around us as he shakes his head.

The second round went by swiftly and we then move on to the last round. The last round is quiz bee in which we hammered pretty fast. We didn’t expect that the professor is there when the prize was given to us. I haven’t looked at the prize yet as it is placed inside a black velvet box.

"Laro pa kayo sa iba! Sabi na mananalo kayo eh," aya muli noong propesor na ikinakamot ko ng pisngi.

 "Nako, sir, may meeting pa pong pupuntahan kami ni Kath para sa campaign po namin," dahilan naman ni Jaxen.

"Ahh, ganoon ba? Oh siya, sana ay nag-enjoy kayo! Lalo ka na Khatalina, ha? For sure palagi kang stress at pagod," sabi noong propesor saka nginitian ako.

Napangiti naman ako sa kaniya at nagpasalamat din as I genuinely felt his concern towards what I feel that I never get from my parents. Nagpaalam narin naman siya sa amin kaya naman nilingon ko na si Jaxen.

"May balak ka pa gawin today?" Tanong niya sa akin.

Umiling naman ako bilang sagot.

"How about your proposal?" He asked referring to my proposal to the CLAW.

"We already started it. I sent an email na for a meeting with the CLAW," nakangiting sabi ko sa kaniya nang makaramdam ako ng excitement.

"That's great! It seems like you are really looking forward to meeting the CLAW," he said smiling.

"Yeah, I just hope na tanggapin niya iyong proposal ko," saad ko saka ngumiti despite feeling nervous about it.

"Should we go home?" Tanong niya.

"Ikaw ba, wala ka na bang gagawin?" Tanong ko pabalik sa kaniya.

"Wala na," sagot niya habang umiiling.

Inaya ko naman na sya na pumunta na sa parking lot pero pinigilan niya ako maglakad papalapit sa sasakyan ko nang makarating na kami roon.

Inabot niya sa akin iyong itim na kahon na premyong natanggap namin kanina. Simabihan niya akong buksan ko iyong kahon at bunga naman ng kyuryosidad ko ay ginawa ko rin.

Bumungad sa amin ang dalawang bracelet na pang-couple rin. Simple lang iyong disenyo ng bracelet at may maliit na puso sa gitna na gawa sa silver at nakatali sa maliit na itim na tali.

Napanguti naman ako sa cute noong bracelet kaya kinuha ko iyong mas malaki nang kaunti roon kaysa sa isa saka inabot kay Jaxen iyong box saka ibinuka ang palad ko sa tapat niya.

He then lifts his arm and moves it closer to mine facing his wrist upwards. I then put the bracelet around his wrist but after putting the bracelet on him, his hand grabs my hand and holds it as he later then intertwines our fingers.

My eyes then darted into his beautiful eyes confused.

"Let me help you with yours too," he said staring directly into my eyes as well with a minimum expression on his face.

I then smiled at him and gently nods my head as I face my wrist up and him unclasping his fingers to mine as he reaches out for the bracelet and put it on me.

"Ayan, so... tayo na?" Tanong niya na ikinabigla ko naman.

Seryoso parin siyang nakatingin sa akin kaya hindi ko matantya kung seryoso ba siya sa sinabi niya kaya naman napatawa nalang ako saka binawi iyong kamay ko mula sa kaniya.

“So, babaliwalain natin iyong pag-ayos sa issue na ginawa ni Pauline?” tanong ko saka tinaasan siya ng kilay.

Humakbang naman siya papalapit sa akin nang hindi parin nagbabago iyong ekspresyon ng mukha niya kaya naman napaayos ako ng tayo.

Yumuko naman siya sa akin saka dahan-dahang inilalapit iyong mukha niya sa akin pero agad ko naman siyang pinigilan sa pamamagitan ng pagtulak ko sa noo niya gami iyong hintuturo ko.

Hindi naman siya nagpatinag at hinawakan niya nang mahigpit  iyong wrist ko saka iyong balikat ko at dahan-dahan akong tinulak hanggang sa bumangga ako sa pader. Hindi naman malakas at hindi rin naman ako nasaktan pero bumilis lang iyong t***k ng puso ko mula sa pagkabigla.

“Then gumawa ulit tayo ng issue,” he said as he then lowered his face close to mine and lean his forehead o mine making my heart flutter.

He closed his eyes with his eyebrow starting to knit together making me make the same expression.

“W-what really is your deal?” I asked to stutter as I remember his cold actions earlier.

He then opened his eyes with an emotion I don’t want to acknowledge in his eyes staring again into my eyes. He pressed both of his hands on my side enclosing me with his arms and the wall.

“Who…” he started but then bit his lips as he revokes his stare and looks around.

I am going to be honest with myself. I can’t help but feel a little attracted by his actions which makes my heart beat even faster and my face get warmer. I then bit my lips. I… don’t want this…

He looks back at me and his eyes darted immediately in my lips drawing a rubescent halo over his cheeks. His Adam’s apple moves up and down then takes a long deep sigh.

“Who?” I asked.

“Who is he?” he continued as he moves his gaze up to my eyes. I noticed his jaw clenching as his breathing went out of its usual rhythm.

I squint my eyes as I am getting a hint already of who is he referring about but I kind of want to play a little bit more with him.

“Which ‘he’?” I asked making an innocent look.

“The guy…” he answered as he scratches his nape.

“Dude, which guy? Ikaw lang naman ang halos kasama ko buong araw na lalaki?”

He then looked at me pissed and rolled his eyes muttering, “Never mind”.

Hinablot ko naman iyong braso niya nang subukan niya akong talikuran saka ko naman siya tinignan nang seryoso. Tinaasan niya naman ako ng kilay niya na halaa namang naiinis siya pero hindi sapat iyon para tigilan ko an pagmamang-maangan ko at pakikipaglaro ko sa kaniya.

“Ano bang problema? Kanina ka pa ganiyan?” tanong ko sa kaniya saka nagpanggap na nalulungkot.

Napatawa naman siya na parang hindi makapaniwala sa akin.

“Dude, I’m… confused,” sabi niya saka napalayo nang kaunti at napahilamos sa kaniyang mukha at sinuklay pa ng daliri niya iyong buhok niya dahilan para maging magulo ito at hinayaan niya lang. He still looks good though…

“About what?” tanong ko ulit.

Nilingon naman niya ako saka buuntong hininga.

“It’s not important. Hayaan mo na,” sabi niya saka iniling-iling pa iyong ulo niya.

Hindi naman na ako nagsalita pa at tumango nalang saka umayos ng tayo at sinabihan ko siyang uuwi na ako. Tumango lang din naman siya saka sinundan ako papalapit na sa sasakyan ko. Napahinto naman ako nang maalala kong hindi pala ako nakapagdala ng sasakyan dahil hinatid ako ni Eedrix kaninang umaga. 

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang makita si Eedrix na nakasandal sa sasakyan niya na nakaparada sa tabi ng motorsiklo ni Jaxen. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin at taimim na ngumiti at kumaway sa akin nang makita ko siya.

Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Jaxen na nakapamulsa lang at seryosong nakatingin kay Eedrix. Don’t tell me Eedrix saw na magkalapit kami kanina ni Jaxen? Does Jaxen know?

“Babe!” sigaw na tawag niya sa akin na ikinalaki ng mata ko at dahilan para mapaakbo ako papalapi sa kaniya dahil baka may ibang makarinig sa kaniya.

Napatawa naman siya sa reaksyi=on ko saka napatikom siya ng bibig kaya napangiti rin ako. Narinig ko naman iyong prenteng lakad ni Jaxen papalapit sa amin.

“Your boyfriend?” tanong niya habang seryoso paring nakatingin kay Eedrix.

Umayos naman ng tayo si Eedrix sa tinitigan din si Jaxen nang seryoso. Magkasintangkad lang sila ngunit mas matipuno iyong katawan ni Eedrix kumpara kay Jaxen ngunit pareho lang naman silang attractive sa paningin ko at puwedeng kuning modelo—well, modelo naman na si Eedrix pero paniguradong papatok kapag pinagsama ang dalawang ‘to sa isang cover page ng magazine.

Napatitig naman ako kay Jaxen. I wonder if papayag siya kapag kinuha ko siyang model? Napadako naman din ang tingin ko kay Eedrix na nilingon din ako ngayon. The problem is, it doesn’t seem that these two will get along well dahil sa mood swing nitong si Jaxen.

“Is he?” muling tanong ni Jaxen saka tinignan din ako dahil hind namin siya nasagot sa tanong niya kanina.

“I told you, I don’t have a boyfriend. Saka ayoko pa, hindi ba? I don’t have any plan to have one—unless, I fall in love with someone. Hindi naman mapipigilan iyon,” sagot ko sa kaniya na ikinatango naman ni Eedrix nang dahan-dahan.

“Why is he calling you ‘babe’? I thought ayaw mo na ma-issuekahit kanino?” tanong niya pa ulit.

“Ikaw pa lang naman ang nakakarinig,” s**o naman sa kaniya ni Eedrix.

“I am not asking you,” s**o agad sa kaniya ni Jaxen dahilan para mapaawang ang labi ko.

Itinikom naman ni Eedrix ang bibig niya habang itinaas iyong pareho niyang kamay saka nagtatangis ang pangang lumapit sa akin. Mukha namang nagtitimpi lang siya sa ugali ni Jaxen sa kaniya kaya napakamot ako sa pisngi at tinignan nang masama si Jaxen. Napansin naman ni Jaxen iyong tingin ko sa kaniya saka ako inirapan.

“HATID NA KITA,” sabay na aya sa akin ng dalawa dahilan para mapakurap ako nang ilang beses.

Seriously, what’s with these two?