When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 30

I bit my lips after putting on lipstick as I finish preparing myself. I put my hand on my chest as I can feel the nervousness beating rapidly in my chest. I let my hands slowly stroke my burgundy brown wide-leg slacks that fits perfectly from my waist to my thigh paired with the beige square-neck tube top and a cropped burgundy blazer. I also curled my pitch-black straight hair.

To be honest, I don't really have the time to think about my outfit today because I am nervous as hell last night preparing for our proposals as I tried to check for every flaw of our project. I really want to impress the CLAW. Also, I stand as second to the CLAW so, I don't want this to fail.

With my company's effort, we managed to get a chance to meet the CLAW for our project. I hope that he'll approve the project we have been preparing for months. So far, if this goes on, this will be my biggest project for this year and the most special as this has been my dream for so long.

I took a breath out and shake both of my hands as I took another glance at my reflection in the mirror. I hurriedly went out of my room and went straight outside for my car. Good thing, I already put all the stuff that I'll be needing here in my car last night or else, I will surely forget something out of nervousness.

I started driving out of my gate and called Kimberly on my phone on the phone holder and put the call on speaker the moment she answered my call.

"Ma'am, are you on your way?" She asked instantly.

"Yeah, how about you guys?" I said still looking straight on the road.

"Si Sir Zeke nalang po ang kulang at ikaw," she answered.

I nod my head even though she can't see me.  I bit my lip again.

"I can feel your kaba mula riyan hanggang dito, Khat," natatawang saad ni Kinberly kaya naman napatawa ako.

"Bakit, kayo ba, hindi kinakabahan?"

"Not as much as you," natatawa niyang sagot. Narinig ko namang napatawa rin iyong ibang executive officers kaya naman nangingiting napapailing ako.

Kalaunan ko narin namang ibinaba ang tawag at agad narin aking nakarating sa Ethereal dahil maaga pa naman at wala pang traffic. It's Monday morning but I decided not to go to school and emailed my professors that I will be absent for the day as I feel like no matter if my offer will be accepted or not, I will not function well later in school.

I went straight in front of the elevator and press the button. Ilang segundo lang ay bumukas rin ito at bumulaga ang imahe ni Zeke na nakasandal sa pader ng elevator habang ang kaniyang kanang kamay ay nakapamulsa sa kaniyang slacks at iyong kaliwa niyang kanay ay hawak-hawaka ng phone niya.

Pumasok na ako sa elevator saka tumikhim para kunin ang atensyon niya dahil mumhang hindi niya ako napansin at nakatingin lang siya sa phone niya. Iniangat naman niya ang tingin niya at napaayos ng tayo nang makilala ako.

"Good morning," bati niya sa akin saka ngumiti.

"Morning," bati ko sa kaniya saka ngumiti.

Napaiwas naman na ako ng tingin sa kaniya at tinitigan nalang iyong numero na nagaasabi kung nasaang palapag na kami ng building.

Ngayon ko lang ulit siya nakita matapos iyong nangyari noong kaarawan niya. Hindi ko alam kung umiiwas ba siya o masyado lang talagang taliwas lately iyong busy schedules namin.

"Are you excited or nervous?" Tanong niya saka pinatay iyong phone niya at ibinulsa.

"Both," sagot ko saka sumandal sa pader.

"We can do this," sabi niya saka nilingon ako at itinaas iyong fist niya habang nakangiti kaya naman napangiti ako at nakipag-fist bump sa kaniya.

Keeping distance probably helped him feel a little lighter from what happened. I guess I don't have to worry anymore if there will be an awkward atmosphere between us.

"Oh, ayan na pala sila!" Saad ni Mrs. Santos na president ng Ethereal.

Sabay-sabay naman nila akong binati ng good morning at ganoon din ako sa kanila. Lumait na si Zeke kay Mrs. Santos at ako naman ay kay Kimberly. Nilingon ko naman sila.

"You guys ready?" I asked smiling.

The ambiance around us gets alacrity that helped push my nervousness somehow away. We then decided to go to our card and drive to the place where we will be meeting the CLAW. We are 30 minutes early but it was just right for us to discuss a little bit more until the CLAW comes there.

"Buti hindi kayo awkward ni Zeke," saad ni Kimberly na nakaupo sa shotgun seat.

“I thought we will be awkward too but he acted as if nothing happened back when we’re in the elevator,” I said as I maneuver my car to turn left.

“He didn’t say sorry?” she asked.

“He didn’t. It’s fine. Mas okay na iyon kaysa naman maging awkward pa kami,” saad ko habang nailing saka ipinarada na sa parking lot ng isang restaurant iyong sasakyan ko katabi ng mga sasakyan nila Zeke.

Sinilip ko muna iyong restaurant bago ako napabuntong hininga dahil naramdaman ko na naman ulit iyong kaba ko.

Nagsibabaan naman na sila sa kani-kaniyang sasakyan kaya naman bumaba narin kami ni Kimberly sa sasakyan ko at naglakad papalapit sa kanila.

“Kinakabahan narin ako,” rinig kong utal ni Zeke saka ibinulsa ang pareho niyang mga kamay.

Inaya ko naman na silang pumusok sa restaurant para makaupo narin kami lalo na at may mga edad narin ang mga kasama ko.

Gaya ng inaasahan ko, malaki iyong kuwartong kinuha ni Kinberly para sa amin at sa the CLAW. Naupo naman na kami sa kani-kaniyang swivel chair saka nag-set up ng presentation through a projector.

I then let my eyes roam through the whole room. Some of my employees are talking to one another, some are on their phones, some are discussing the proposal, and Kimberly is writing something on her notes.

"I wonder what he looks like," Mrs. Santos uttered.

I then sit down in my seat and listen to their discussion.

"Is he even a 'he'?" Sabi noong isa.

"I'm sure it's a 'he'," sabi naman ni Zeke na siyang ikinapukaw ng atensyon ko.

"Paano mo naman nasabi?" Tanong ni Kimberly na hindi tinapunan ng tingin si Zeke.

"It's announced noon, hindi ba? And every time babanggitin siya, they use that pronoun to him," Zeke explained.

From Zeke's face, my gaze roams to my wristwatch.

"8:23," I mumbled.

It seems like Kimberly heard what I mumbled as she looks at me and then at her wristwatch. Our scheduled meeting is 8:40 in the morning. I then lean on the swivel chair I am sitting on and throw my head back trying to relax my nerves. I then shut my eyes close as I just listen to my employees.

My heart is beating slower than earlier but still faster than normal and my chest feels a little heavy. It is been a long time since I felt this kind of feeling and it didn't turn out the way I prefer it to be.

I shake my head as I am trying to push back the negativity building up in my mind.

Agad kong idinilat iyong mata ko nang makarinig  ako ng mga yabag sa labas ng kuwartong nirentahan namin ngayon dito sa restawrant. Napahinto rin naman iyong mga kasama ko at napalingon sa may pintuan. Napaayos naman ako ng upo nang may kumatok at ganoon din sila Zeke.

Tumayo naman na si Kimberly saka naglakad sa pinto para pagbuksan iyong kumatok. Nahigit ko naman ang hininga ko at tila nag-slow motion ang lahat lalo na ang kilos ni Kimberly nang mahaaakan niya ang door handle at buksan ang pinto.

"Good morning, your teas and coffees are ready. Do you want us to serve it now?"

Sabay-sabay naman kami nila Zeke napabuga ng hangin out of disappointment na iyong staff lang pala ng restaurant iyong kumatok kaya naman kinagat ko ang dila ko para pigilan ang sariling may masabi. Tinignan naman ako ni Kimberly saka tinanong kung papapasukin ba niya sila.

Tinignan kong muli ang wristwatch ko.

8:33

Tumango nalang ako dahil malapit narin itong oras ng meeting at mukhang kakailanganin namin ng caffeine para mamaya.

"Yes, come in, please," sagot naman ni Kimberly.

Ngumiti naman iyong staff saka niya sinenyasan iyong nga kasana niya sa likod niya na pumasok na na may mga bitbit na tray at naroroon iyong mga ni-order nila. Nilingon ko naman muli iyong nakabukas na pinto.

Ilang minuto na lamang ay oras na ng meeting namin. Bakit kaya at wala pa sila?

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko kay Kimberly na nakatingin din sa akin. Itinuta niya iyong tablet na hawak niya saka ako tumango para tignan niya ang emails ko if mayroon bang email iyong CLAW.

"Here's your coffee, Ma'am," sabi ng server. Nginitian ko naman siya saka niya inilapag iyong kae ko sa lamesa.

Nagsilabasan naman na sila at nagsibalikan na rin sila Zeke sa mga ginagawa nila kanina. I then reach out for my coffee and take a sip out of it. Once again, I look at the time and there is only 2 minutes left.

Kimberly then moves her gaze up to me and shakes her head.

"No new emails from the CLAW," she said.

I then nod slowly and didn't say a thing. I just stared at my coffee until I decided to stand and said that I will be just going to the comfort room.

Dumaan naman ako sa lobby bago magpunta sa comfort room at sumilip sa entrance ng restaurant para makita kung may mga bagong sasakyan na bang papunta rito ngunit gaya ng inaasahan ko ay wala pa rin.

Nilingon ko naman iyong babaeng nasa counter.

"Miss, do the CLAW reserved a different room today?" I asked.

The employee then greeted me and look at her book and slowly nods her head.

"Yes, Miss Maia. It is the room where you and your company are currently sitting in," she answered.

"Hmm, I see. Thank you," I said and walk towards the comfort room.

Napabuntong hininga ako nang makita kong walang ibang tao sa banyo at dumiretso ako sa sink sa tapat ng salamin.

I stared at my image without any thought in my mind. I didn't plan on this outfit but I turned out great with the outfit and my makeup. So do my employees who looked forward to today's meeting with the biggest company and wear their most appealing work clothes.

Napahilamos naman ako ng mujha saka lumabas na ng comfort room dahil baka mamaya ay nandoon na sila.

Nakita ko naman si Zeke na nasa labas ng room namin na nakahalukipkip lang habang nakayuko. Mukha namang narinig niya iyong tunig ng heels ko kaya napalingon siya sa akin saka umayos ng tayo habang ni-tap iyong wristwatch niya.

"It is already 8:43," he said.

"Na-traffic siguro," I said as I am trying to think of a possible reason why is the CLAW late.

"Oh, c'mon. You know why we suggested this place in the first place. Because this is the restaurant that stands the closest to their company," he said as the annoying look started drawing on his face.

"Did Kimberly get any messages or calls from the CLAW?" I asked which he just answered with him shaking his head.

We decided to come into the room and I seat beside Kimberly.

"Should we go back to Ethereal?" Mr. Morado asked, my Chief Operations Officer.

"You all can now go back to the Ethereal to continue your activities. I'll stay a little bit longer here," I announced.

They all looked at me with concerned faces.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"I am," I answered and dismissed them here and directed them to go back to Ethereal.

Nais pa sanang mag-stay ni Zeke pero hindi ko na siya pinayagan at tanging si Kimberly nalang at ako ang natira rito para magjintay pa ng another 30 minutes sa CLAW. Sumunod naman na sila saka nagpaalam.

"Do you think it will happen again?" I asked Kimberly staring at the glass wall with the view of the restaurant's garden.

I heard her sigh and saw her in my peripheral vision brushing her hair up in frustration.

I then nod, lick my lips, and later bite it.

"Yeah, they won't come," I announced.