When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 6

An animal lives in its appropriate habitat. Habitat provides everything a certain living thing to live such as food, mate, and shelter.

"Pwesto na" saad ni Tristan saka uminom pa saglit ng orange juice.

I then put my script down on the thick glass rectangular table sitting on Jaxen's patio. My eyes then darted at the gloomy atmosphere of the sky. It was a little dark, not too much that it looks like it will rain.

We started positioning ourselves for the scene we have to act on. Tristan and the others were sitting on the chairs behind me and Jaxen waiting for their turn while watching at us.

But when this animal was put into a foreign place, it would completely shock. This is where the adaptation nature of living things comes into play... The animal must learn how to protect itself.

Jaxen then started walking in my direction as the others stayed in their places watching us. He was wearing a white oversized shirt matched with baggy pants with two stripes on each side of the legs running from its waistband through the hem.

"Ready?" he asked as soon as he was a foot away from me.

Focused yet disturbed by an unfunny heavy feeling in my stomach, I nod.

"Action!" Karen shouted.

To live, it has to adapt. To adapt, it has to discern the place. Understand its characteristics, find foods, and look for possible beasts lurking.

"Shannel," Jaxen stated already getting into character by calling me by the protagonist’s name.

"Wow. You've never been this pretty, Tate," Jaxen stated almost breathing it out from his nose already getting into character.

I then started to roll my eyes as it was written in my script holding crutches.

"Ano nangyari sa'yo?"

"Wala props lang 'to," sagot ko saka umaerte na maglalakad palayo sa kaniya.

Jaxen then smiled widely and winks at me. I was then stunned and realize that l compared to his character, he doesn't have a dimple like Sett. Either way, he really is still attractive...

"What? Gwapo ko 'no?" he asked still acting.

A wolf that is used as a symbol of noble traits and somehow used to symbolize power. Liked by everyone as with its appealing ferocious appearance.

We then continued acting until he was about to lift me up but Tristan cuts him off.

“Wait, wait, wait!” sigaw niya saka napatayo pa at hinarap kami ni Jaxen.

“What?” tanong ni Jaxen.

"You guys... are a little awkward... " turan niya saka napakamot sa sentido at namewang dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko.

"Really?" tanong ulit ni Jaxen.

"Mag-practice nga kayo ng titigan," suhestiyon ni Karen dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya. Nakangiti lang siya sa amin na para bang kinikilig saka itinaas-baba pa iyong kilay niya.

"Why would we do that?" I asked.

"You guys aren't even staring into each other's eyes," sabi pa ng isa naming kaklase.

And a hyena which was extremely called a skilled hunter. Much intelligent than some might think.

Tinignan ko naman si Jaxen at ganoon din siya sa akin. Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago siya tinignan direkta sa mga mata niya. He then takes a bit more closer step to me staring directly into my eyes.

Both hyena and wolf are drastic fierce veneers. When left on a battlefield, which will likely win?

For the past years of meeting new people with different colors, whether it is dark or not, I became more used to only show a neutral face and a calm mindset. Staring at this guy, who gives me an indisputable uncomfortable feeling, I think I can handle this.

He looks at me intently clenching his jaw as if he was challenging me. With people around us watching, waiting for the outcome, I can't afford to lose on someone new to us and out of nowhere keeps on challenging me.

Our classmates grow quiet watching us.

I then take a step closer to him as I heard his silent take of in-depth breath. Only a few inches of space are in between us. I can already smell his mint-like cologne making my heart beat a little faster than usual.

He then leans closer to me leaving a tiny space between our noses. That is when I heard Hannah's alacritous voice yelling "Khajax, Jaxina, I ship!" enough to make me feel that I was about to p**e. I bet some of our classmates inside Jaxen's were already here on his patio watching us as I heard new voices.

"Ang matalo ililibre ulit kami," sigaw ng isa pa naming kaklase.

"I can do this until my eyes dry out," Jaxen said as he moves more closer letting our noses touch followed by their screams.

"You guys have good chemistry," one commented.

I noticed the corner of Jaxen's lips raise as he brings his lips close to my ear.

"You can't win over me," he whispers confirming the competition between us.

Being too similar in nature does not create good compatibility and only repels one another. It only is a matter of circumstances. Depending on the situation, both hyena and wolf can win against one another such as the hyena outsmarting the wolf...

"Pfft," pigil na tawa ko dahilan para muli siyang tumingin sa akin with a full confusion written all over his face.

Muli akong lumapit sa kaniya saka siya binawian. Inilapit ko pa iyong mukha ko hanggang sa magdikit ang aming mga noo. His confused expression then changes to shock.

I smiled at him in a flirty way as I bring my lips close to his ear too. I then lift my hand and rest it against his chest.

"I already did," I whispered and kissed him on his cheek.

"KYAAAAAHHHHH!!!" maingay na tilian ng mga kaklase namin.

Lumayo naman na ako sa kaniya saka nilingon sila Tristan.

"Sino ngayong awkward?" tanong ko sa kanila dahilan para mapangisi ako.

I can help but feel like I won the lottery. Simple lang naman iyong pinaglalabanan namin but it is just satisfying na nalinawan na ako na talagang hinahamon niya ako at naipakita ko sa kaniyang hindi ko siya uurungan.

Nilingon ko naman siya na tila nanigas sa kinatatayuan at nanlalaki pa ang mga mata.

Naupo naman ako sa tabi ni Tristan na nakangisi lang na nakatingin sa akin saka inabutan ako ng juice.

"Wanna wash it off?" Natatawang alok niya dahilan para mapatawa ako at baliwalain iyong kinikilig na kumento ng nga kaklase namin.

“Of course,” I answered and sips on the juice.

"Wow, grabe!" hindi makapaniwalang saad ni Jaxen na nakatingin kay Tristan dahil sa sinabi nito.

"Anyway, Khatalina, alam mo bang iyakin iyang character mo?" Tanong ni Pauline na nakakandong kay Karen.

"What?!" Gulat na reaksiyon ko.

Pauline knows that it has been years since I last cried. I have managed to refrain from my emotions for how many years I can’t even cry now even if I wanted to.

"Why, what's the matter?" tanong ni Fritzylle na kararating lang din dito sa patio.

"Hey, Fritz, maghanda na kayo ng miryenda!" singhal ni Tristan saka pinabalik na iyong iba sa loob.

"I don't cry anymore..." I whispered as I lean on the chair.

"Why? Does your ex-boyfriend hurt you that much?"

Napabalikwas naman ako sa gulat nang marinig iyong boses niya sa tabi ko. Hindi makapaniwalang tinignan ko siya saka napailing.

Seriously, napakatsismoso naman nito. Huminga nalang ako nang malalim bilang pagpapasensya sa lalaking ito dahil nasa bahay niya ako at ayoko ng away.

"No, it's not," sagot ko sa kaniya nang mahina para siya lang ang makarinig.

"Then why--"

"Bakit ba gusto mo makipaglaban sa akin?" Tanong ko sa kaniya dahilan para hindi niya matapos ang tanong niya at maiba narin ang topic.

"I just love challenges," he answered simply as he leans comfortably to his chair.

Nilibot ko naman ang mata ko at napansing nagsipasukan na pala iyong iba.

"Umalis na sila hindi pa nga tayo tapos mag-practice," turan ko na ikinatawa nang marahan ni Jaxen.

"Anyway, why with me?" Tanong ko ulit saka inabot iyong juice na inalok sa akin kanina ni Tristan.

"It would be nice to challenge the top student," sagot niya saka kumuha rin ng juice at uminom nito.

Napatango-tango nalang ako bilang tugon saka inilibot iyong mata ko sa laki ng bahay niya.

"You live here by yourself?" I asked trying to make a conversation with him.

"Yeah. It's kinda boring though," sagot niya.

Tinignan ko naman siya na nakatingala lang sa langit.

"I don't have a sibling so I am kind of being spoiled by my parents. It's not that fun as everyone thinks..." Bigla niyang saad.

Just like what I assume, he really is spoiled.

"Why?" I asked saka inabot iyong plato na may spaghetti na nalimutan ko nang tapusin kainin kanina.

Agad na akong kumain nang maramdaman kong muli ang pagkagutom habang nakikinig sa kaniya. It is kind of weird that he is already opening up to me kahit ngayon palang kami naguusap. He does not have to worry though. Hindi ko naman ipagkakalat at mapagkakatiwalaan naman ako.

"Nakaka-pressure rin minsan na mag-isa because everything is expected in you," he explained.

Ibinaba ko naman iyong plato sa lamesa saka tumingin sa kaniya na nakatingala parin sa langit prenteng nakasandal sa upuan.

Just like what I always do when I see him, I can't help but admire his good looks. Even his side profile is just perfect...

"You know what, hindi ako manhid. I can feel you staring at me, aren't you?" saad niya still not moving.

"Yeah, so?" Walang pakialam kong saad.

I don't know why but I suddenly feel comfortable with him.

Napatawa naman siya nang mahina.

"Hindi porket magaling kang photographer, puwede mo nang titigan iyong mga tao, Khatalina," saad niya saka nilingon ako.

Nagulat naman ako. Not because of what he said but because he called me by my name, Khatalina.

"G-ganoon ba? Sorry," saad ko nalang dahil tama naman siya.

"You're so mature," he uttered out of nowhere.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa kaniya.

“Huh?”

“Aren’t you?” balik na tanong niya.

"Why do you think I am?" tanong ko sa kaniya saka ipinagpatuloy ang pagkain ko.

"Your actions," simpleng sagot niya.

Napahinto naman ako sa pagsubo ng spaghetti nang maramdaman ko iyong presensya niya nang malapitan sa gilid ko kasunod nang maramdamdan ko ang mainit niyang paghinga.

"I wonder if may kakulitan ka ring itinatago?" tanong niya.

Napangiti naman ako saka nilingon siya at hindi pinansin ang pagtama ng ilong ko sa ilong niya.

"Figure it out yourself"