When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 5

Dear Shannel Tate Omieron-Garcia,

Hi. s**t, I don’t know what to say. I am literally writing whatever comes to my mind. Don’t get me wrong, I want to write you a love letter because clearly, you haven’t gotten any. So, it will be the first love letter you’ll ever read, right? Let me spray some sweet perfume in here so you can almost smell my sweetness and feel how much of a loving person I am.

Anyway, I wrote this love letter because I know that I am incapable of saying sweet things to you since, for the past four years that we know each other, we remain enemies and the only thing that I mastered doing around you is being an “asshole”. If you are reading this, I probably failed to talk and express my feelings.

How about let’s turn our relationship into a lover’s relationship? You know, just like those cliché stories that you probably watch on television.

Just like what I told you last time, I never love someone before—well, romantically. I bet you thought I have tons of girlfriends, huh? No, I don’t. Those girls just keep on clinging to me. Don’t worry, I already got rid of them—I did not kill them, okay? I talked them down and asked them to accept my decision.

You know what? Maybe, that is also the reason Revi is mean to you. I never bring a girl home. Well, technically you were in my house last time because we have to do the poster but still, you are the first girl to go in here.

I never think of someone else like this. I never thought of someone else every time I have to sleep. I always thought about you. If you are fine, what are you doing, have you eaten anything, are you with another guy?

I might go insane if I will keep this long.

Shannel, I love you.

Time flew so fast I can’t even remember when does this feeling start. All I know is that when I got it figured out, all I want to do is just to be by your side. I want to make you feel special. I want to make you feel worth it. I’ll wait until you are ready.

I will always be by your side and will always protect you no matter what happened.

You should be grateful that Sett Octavion Garcia loves you. We can have a very talented kid who can do sports, music, and art!

Sooo? Just let me know what can I do—no, I’m the one who should figure it out.

I don’t know what to say anymore. Is this sweet? Should I add candies to this letter to make it sweeter?

Argh, whatever. I am just gonna end it like this.

P. S.

I like, adore, admire, appreciate, respect, worship, and love you.

From Your Confident Future Boyfriend.

My eyebrows automatically furrowed as soon as I finish reading a letter that was given to Shannel, my role, by Sett which will be acted by Jaxen.

I hurriedly placed my palm in my arms as I felt goosebumps all over me just by reading that cheesy love letter from that novel. I guess every man has their own corny side no matter how hard they try to hide it, it will always show to the one they love... I don’t think I will have this side in me even if I fell in love though…

"Zyliania?"

My heart almost skipped a beat as I heard my second name being called with the knock at my car's window. I then rolled down my window to ask him why.

"Hindi ka papasok?" tanong niya habang nakaturo sa nakabukas nang gate ng bahay niya.

"Ahh, sorry. Papasok na. Thank you," saad ko saka akmang itataas na ang bintana kaso bigla niyang hinarang ang kamay niya dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko sa kaniya.

"What?" I asked.

"Hindi mo ako isasabay?" balik na tanong niya.

"Huh? Isn't this your house?" I asked pointing at a huge house in front of us.

"It is. Kaso, nakakatamad maglakad eh," he said pointing at the wide ground in front of his house.

His house is almost as big as mine. I wonder if this house is titled to his name though?

"Not yet but soon"

Napakunot muli ang noo ko at nabaling ang tingin ko sa kaniya pabalik.

"Huh?" natatangang turan ko.

"Wala," saad niya saka naglakad papunta sa kabilang side ng sasakyan ko dahilan para buksan ko nalang iyong pinto sa kaniya.

Agad naman siyang sumakay hudyat para paandarin ko na iyong sasakyan ko papasok sa gate.

We were just quiet as he sits and an aromatic faint mint envelope my car. It was somehow... comforting. It gives me some weird feelings in my stomach. Damn, there really is something with men's perfumes that always gives me this feeling...

"Okay na rito," he said.

I then parked my car and was about to open the door when I felt his hand on my right wrist. I then stopped and look at him.

"Zyliania, nabasa mo naba iyong novel?" Tanong niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

Why does he have to stop me from getting out of my car just to ask me that?

"Don't call me Zyliania," I told him not answering his question.

"Oh, why, may naalala ka?" He asked.

I saw the corner of his lips slightly raises.

"Why do you care?"

"Is it personal? Perhaps, your ex-boyfriend used to call you that name?" He teases.

This is what he wants, huh?

I know he's just teasing me. I won't step down to his level.

"Tara na," I said calmly then get out of my car and so does he.

"Tagal niyo naman?" Salubong ni Tristan sa amin saka inakbayan ako.

"Miss me?" I asked looking straight at his eyes can't help smiling.

"Yeah," he answered and winks at me making both of us laugh almost inaudible. It is just a thing that we normally do in our class, flirt with one another. We have been in a blocked section since junior high school kaya naman kumportable na kami sa isa’t isa. May mga nadadagdag lang at umaalis.

"Anyway, thank you Jaxen sa pag-recommend ng place mo for us to practice," baling ni Tristan kay Jaxen.

"Oo nga, ang laki ng bahay mo Jaxen!" Hannah commented widely smiling as her gaze keeps running around the house.

Hmm, I still wonder if this is really HIS house like he bought this with his own money? I am just curious about him because he seems to be fine as if got it all.

"It is just named to me. I didn't really buy this," Jaxen tells Hannah that answers the question lingering in my mind for a while now.

"But still... ang yaman mo!" bilib na sigaw ni Andrew.

Nakita ko namang kinayan ako ni Pauline saka itinapik iyong tabing upuan niya kaya naman agad akong naglakad palapit sa kaniya para tumabi.

"Iyong tatay ko ang mayaman," natatawang sabi ni Jaxen.

"Bakit, ano ba trabaho ng tatay mo?" tanong naman ni Pauline.

"Hindi pa ba tayo magsisimula?" tanong naman ni Tristan na hinatak na si Jaxen paupo sa tabi niya.

"Oh sige, magsama-sama na iyong sa props, sa story line, tsaka mga artista!" ganadong-ganadong saad ni Fritzylle.

Nagsitayuan naman na kami saka naggrupo-grupo. Si Tristan ang mag-lead sa grupo namin, si Fritzylle naman sa story line, at si Hannah sa props.

"What part magsisimula?" tanong ni Jaxen kay Tristan. Ni hindi man lang niya iyon tinapunan ng tingin nang tinanong niya si Tristan at naka-glue lang ang paningin sa script.

"Summarize lang love story ni Sett at Shannel," sagot ni Tristan.

Hindi ko naman mapigilang kilabutan dahil makakapares ko pa talaga si Jaxen at love story pa.

We started reading out our lines as we agreed that we will start practicing our acting after lunch.

As I can see in that novel, Unintentionally Yours, its protagonist, Shannel was deeply in love with Sett's best friend, Haunth. She's the type of girl who's adamant in pursuing his guy which makes us way different.

"This is so not me..." I whispered.

Tristan then snickers who's sitting beside me reading his script. He probably heard what I said. Argh, what a shame...

"Really? Paano ka ba kapag nagkagusto sa lalaki?" he asked almost inaudible.

I then looked at him with an oblivious look on my face.

He then gasps. "Don't tell me you haven't fallen in love yet?" he asked with his eyes wide and lips separated.

I then scratch my cheeks as I feel it flushed.

"I just don't think I am someone like Shannel when it comes to love," I said.

"Paano nga ba magmahal ang isang Khatalina Zyliania Maia na owner ng successful Ethereal?" natatawang sabat naman ni Karen.

Napatawa naman ako nang bahagya saka napako ang tingin sa makapal na papel na hawak ko.

"I bet she's the type of girl who doesn't confess"

My gaze then raised darting at Jaxen who's staring directly at me.

"Sabagay, halata rin namang wala kang interes pa makipagrelasyon, ano?" baling ni Tristan sa akin na ikinatango ko nalang.

It's better to shut up. Baka mamaya ano pa masabi ko.

Agad kaming nag-focus sa pag-aaral namin ng lines hanggang sa oras na ng tanghalian.

"Khatalina, hanggang anong oras ka?" tanong sa akin ni Karen.

"Uhm, free ako today so okay lang kahit anong oras," sagot ko.

Her face then lit up as she holds my hand and pulls me into the kitchen.

"Help us cook our lunch then," she said then later laughs.

Tristan, Jaxen, Karen, and I were the only ones in the kitchen. The two other groups are assigned for our snacks and dinner.

"Kami na magluluto ng spaghetti, kayo na ni Jaxen sa... corn fritters?" saad ni Tristan na walang pakundangang nakatingin at kinakalikot ang refrigerator ni Jaxen.

Tumango nalang ako kahit hindi niya naman ako nakikita saka lumapit sa kitchen counter para kumuha ng mga ingredients. I did not bother to look at Jaxen who did not bother to look and talk to me as well. I really have this weird feeling whenever his around me. Weird and a little... uncomfortable.

Jaxen put a huge clear bowl in front of me, a knife, and a cutting board together with the ingredients for the batter. I guess I am working on slicing the ingredients...

I then reached out for the knife and the cutting board and take the corn first to cut its side and to separate the kernels from its cob.

"Nakakatakot ka naman humawak ng kutsilyo," rinig kong kumento ng katabi ko na busy asikasuhin iyong ground beef.

Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at hinawakan nang mabuti ang kutsilyo pati narin iyong mais para maiwasan 'tong dumulas sa kamay ko.

"Tsk," he utters.

Hindi ko na sana siya papansinin at itutuloy ang gagawin ko nang maramdaman ko iyong prisensya niya sa likod ko.

He then grabs my hand that was holding the knife almost hugging me from the back. I jolted with his sudden touch as I felt his breath in my neck.

I then looked at him. He was looking straight at our hands as he was guiding my hands to cut the corn carefully.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

Napahinto naman siya saka napabaling sa akin dahilan para magkabanggaan ang mga ilong namin.

"Tinuturuan ka?" Seryosong balik na tanong niya sa akin.

"You can teach me nang hindi ako hinahawakan," seryosong sabi ko naman sa kaniya saka hinatak iyong kamay ko mula sa kamay niya saka marahang itinulak iyong mukha niya palayo sa akin.

Hindi naman siya nagsalita at napakamot sa tainga niya dahilan para mapansin kong namumula ito.

"Just... be careful. Ayoko lang na may masaktan dito sa bahay ko. Lalo ka na at kilala ka," he coldly said looking annoyed.

"Pfft..."

Kinagat ko nalang ang dila ko nang marinig ko ang pagpipigil na tawa ni Tristan at Karen. Napatingin naman ako kay Jaxen na nakatingin na sa ginagawa niya.

God damn it, I'm starting to hate this awkwardly feeling that I have towards him...