When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 35

“Khatalina, come on, late na tayo sa double date natin”

What?

I immediately take off the dress and put my clothes on.

“Double date?” I asked still putting on my yellow ochre blouse.

“Yeah, I want you to meet my girl,” he said as it is followed by his footsteps starting to fade out of the room.

“W-wait! Sinong date ko?!” hindi niya na ako nasagot dahil nakalabas na siya ng kuwarto kaya naman lumabas na ako saka kinuha iyong gusto kong dress pati narin iyong ibang pinagkukuha ni Eedrix.

Agad namang dumapo ang tingin ko kay Eedrix na prenteng naghihintay sa labas ng fitting room. Nakasandal lang siya sa pader habang iyong dalawa niyang kamay ay nakapamulsa sa ngayon ay suot niyang itim na fitted jeans at suot niyang oversized black shirt na naka-tuck in pa iyong front part sa pants niya. Nakayuko lang siya at hindi gumagalaw na para bang tulog at hindi namalayang nakalabas na ako. Naglakad naman ako pabalik sa kaniya saka siya marahang tinapik sa balikat dahilan para mahina siyang mapapitlag at mapaayos nang tayo.

His eyes then slowly opened as his brown eyes met mine. He then brushes his hair up away from his face as he leans his head against the wall staring at me.

“Come here, babe,” he said with a raspy voice making me feel a little… nervous?

“We’re going on a date, babe?” I asked not bothering to move closer.

A faint smile then appears on his lips as he took a step closer to me. He then stretches out his hand close to mine and holds my wrist.

“Yeah, with the real couple, babe,” he said as he whispered the word “babe” and winks at me.

I then smiled at him and move my hand up to his palm and grasp onto it tightly. His eyes grew wide shortly but manages to release my hand and wrap his arm around my shoulder. He then moves his lips close to my ear.

“Let’s go, babe,” he whispered.

A smirk then escapes from my lips.

“Oh, tara na. She’s on her way to the restaurant,” Christoff said as he pins his gaze at us and immediately walks out of the boutique with paper bags in his hand which I assume carries the dresses Eedrix and I tried earlier that I didn’t even notice was taken from me.

“Babe, doon ka na sa sasakyan ko,” Eedrix said as he opens the door and gestures me to go out first together with the faint goodbyes of the employees of the boutique.

“I brought my car with me, babe,” nI said as I walk past him.

He then walks out of the boutique after me and walks together with me.

“It’s fine, pakuha mo nalang sa bodyguards or drivers mo or something,” he said as he pulls me in his car’s direction.

I then titter making him furrow his brow as he gets his keys from his fitted pocket. Sinenyasan niya naman ako na sumakay na sa shotgun seat. Hindi naman na ako nag-inarte pa saka ni-text iyong driver ko para kunin iyong sasakyan ko. Agad din naman siyang umikot para sumakay narin sa sasakyan niya.

“I didn’t know you two know each other,” I said referring to Christoff.

“Well, now you know, babe,” he said as he looks at me which his gaze then drifted down to who knows where.

He then becomes silent as he scoots closer to me and reaches out for my seatbelt. Napaupo naman ako nang maayos saka pinanood nalang siyang isuot iyong seatbelt sa akin. Ramdam ko iyong init ng kaniyang katawan at panlalamig ng kaniyang mga kamay nang mabilis at saglit itong dumampi sa aking balat. Nakapako lang ang kaniyang tingin sa seatbelt hanggang sa matapos siya at biawan na ito.

“Thanks, babe,” hinginging pasasalamat ko sa kaniya at pinigilang matawa sa pamumula ng mukha niya.

Nginitian niya naman ako saka umayos na siya ng upo at sinuot na rin iyong seatbelt niya. Agad niya nang pinaandar ang sasakyan saka sinundan itong sasakyan ni Christoff.

"Do you remember when we first met?" He asked suddenly breaking the iceberg between us.

"Yeah? When you were wasted?" I said which is then followed by a titter.

He then snickers not removing his gaze on the road.

"I remember Mrs. Grayman saying you want to meet me since before, is that right?"

He then bit his lower lip as he nods his head.

"Yeah..."

I then stared at him for seconds before I manage to put my gaze back on the road.

"Because you are known and really, your works are just impressive. Walang halong pambobola, I think you are better than the-- oh yeah, you owe me-- sorry," hindi matuloy-tuloy niyang saad dahilan para mapatawa ako at mahina sitang hampasin sa braso niya.

"It's fine, I already accepted their professionalism," paninigurado ko sa kaniya sa kabila ng kaunting sakit parin sa puso ko.

Nangunot naman ang noo niya kasabay ng pag-awang kaniyang mga labi.

"May I know what exactly happened-- only if it's okay for you to share tho... we're not close..." He asked still not sure what he's saying.

Ikinuwento ko naman agad sa kaniya iyong nangyari at panay iyong reklamo niya habang nagmamaneho. Kahit papaano ay gumaan iyong pakiramdam ko nang kaunti dahil sa mga reklamo niya at natatawa na lang ako.

"No, seriously, don't settle for less. Gaya nga ng sasabihin ko sana kanina, for me, mas deserve mo sa top 1 kaysa sa the CLAW na 'yan," he said now seriously looking on the road.

"The CLAW build the industry well, we cannot just go over their spot," saad ko sa kabila ng napakaraming pagtutol ko sa isip ko sa sinabi ko.

"Yeah, they build, hindi natin mapagkakaila iyan pero palaos naman na rin sila. I feel like they are just on that spot because they are 'legendary'," he said as he slowed his car down in front of a huge barbeque restaurant.

There are a lot of black motorbikes parked in front of it as well which made the restaurant scream for a barbarous image because of the loud music inside.

"A different world of you, I guess?" He said as he parks his car and looks at me with a leering look on his face.

I then raise an eyebrow at him.

It is.

"No, it's not," I denied.

He just titters as we unbuckle our seatbelts and jump out of his car. Christoff did the same and walks closer to us smiling.

I looked up as the sky started turning gray making us run inside the restaurant before the rain started pouring. We are then welcomed by the booming metallic noise coming from the huge speakers. Loud yelling of some customers wearing all black with their sleeve tattoos and long beards.

"Nah?" Pang-aasar pa ulit ni Eedrix dahilan para samaan ko siya ng tingin.

Inilibot kong muli ang paningin ko saka dahan-dahang huminga.

The whole restaurant has this gloomy yet lively atmosphere paired with the alcohol and smoke smell that will surely stick in my office clothes. I then look at Christoff with his gray shirt and black pants making me the only person in this room with a different color palette. I am wearing a silk button-down yellow ochre long sleeve which I rolled up to my elbows, tucked in front, and paired with light blue high-waisted jeans. I am the only one who is wearing a bright color.

A hand then scooped my waist making me jolt from the sudden touch and look at Eedrix. He then laughs as he noticed that I was surprised and move his hand to my wrist.

"Tara, naghihintay na girlfriend ni Christoff," he said as he pulls me in the crowd.

I can feel the sweat and warm bodies of the crowd as we go through them until we stop at a big round table where Christoff is comfortably sitting on the ruddy tuxedo couch with his legs spread apart and both of his arms resting on the couch.

"Where's your girl?" I asked as I sit on the couch.

Tumabi naman sa akin si Eedrix at sinenyasan ako na umusog palapit kay Christoff at ganoon din naman siya na umusog papalapit sa akin.

“Restroom. Are you excited to meet her?”

I then smiled at him as I nod. I then felt my stomach’s growling making me look at the menu board and reach out to it. Both Eedrix and Christoff titters making me look at them.

“What?” I asked.

Eedrix then scoots closer making our shoulders touch. He then took the menu board from my hands and put it back on the table. He then moves his face closer to mine sideways and pointed out Christoff who is just scanning the whole restaurant with his eyes as if he’s looking for his girlfriend.

“It’s his treat,” he whispered.

I then look at him.

“Yeah? Does that limit me to looking on the menu?” I asked.

He then shrugs as he lifts his hand now pointing to a woman with hair curlers on her head and a bandana wrapped around her head. She’s carrying trays in both of her hands.

“Ito na iyong order niyo, Christoff,” banggit noong babae nang ibaba niya na iyong mga pagkain sa table namin.

“Thank you, Belinda. Have you seen my girlfriend?” hinging pasasalamat at tanong naman ni Christoff.

The woman shrugs at him and immediately turns her back at us. My gaze drifted to the food and Christoff’s worried face.

“Do you want me to look for her in the restroom?” I asked making him look at me as if I am an angel who just give him the greatest gift of his life.

He nods his head with a smile on his lips making me titter and stand.

Inayos naman na nila Eedrix iyong mga pagkain sa lamesa. Hindi ko nalang pinansin iyong paglakas ng gutom na nararamdaman ko dahil sa naamoy ko na iyong pagkain namin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad papalayo sa table namin.

Sinalubong naman ako ng napakaraming lasing na tao na nakasuot ng mga itim na damit at panay ang sayawan sa napakalakas ng tunog na ipinatutugtog ng restaurant.

“Excuse me,” saad ko sa isang lalaking nakatalikod na mayroong katangkaran na biglang humarang sa daan ko.

Hindi ko maiwasang makaramdamn nang kaunting pagkainis sa siksikan ng ilan pang lasing na customers. Puro amoy alak at sigarilyo iyong naaamoy ko at idagdag pa iyong matatapang na pabango ng ilang customer.

“Sorry,” hinging paumanhin noong matangkad na lalaking nakasuot pa ng itim na leather jacket na humarang sa daanan ko.

Hindi naman na ako sumagot saka dumaan na sa gilid niya at ganoon din naman siya na nagpatuloy sa pakikibuno sa dami ng tao. Napahinto ako ng paglalakad palayo sa kaniya nang maamoy ko iyong pabango ng lalaki at mabosesan ko siya.

“Jax?” bulong ko nang lumingon ako at sinubukang tanawin iyong lalaking dumaan. Nakagat ko naman ang labi ko at napakunot ng noo dahil bakit naman mapupunta rito si Jaxen?

Nagpatuloy nalang ako sa paglalakad palayo doon sa crowd ng customers na sumasayaw at napabuntong hininga nang makita ko na iyong restroom.

Agad akong tumakbo papalapit dito at agad na pumasok. Mula sa loob ng restroom ay nakagugulat naman na sobrang tahimik rito at hindi man lang naririnig iyong lakas ng tunog sa labas. Inilibot ko naman ang tingin ko sa loob ng restroom at may iilang mga babae rio na nasa harap ng salamin at panay ang ayos sa kanilang sarili. Gaya ng mga customers sa labas, mga nakaitim din sila. Ang isang babae pa ay mayroong hot pink na kulay ng buhok na mayroong shoulder-length.

She’s wearing this black fishnet underneath a black faux leather mini-skirt paired with a black cropped top. Some woman in here looks like they are in their mid-20s to 30s.

“Great, I don’t know what she looks like and even her name,” I uttered.

Tinandaan ko naman iyong mga itsura nila saka lumabas na ng restroom. Mabuti na lamang at magaling ako kahit papaanong magkabisa ng mga mukha. Napabuntong hininga nalang ako nang muling makita ang tumpok ng mga tao na busy pa ring sumasayaw kaya agad na akong nakipagbuno sa kanila para muling makabalik sa table namin.

“Did you see her?” tanong agad ni Christoff nang makarating ako sa table namin.

Napatayo naman si Eedrix at binigyan ako ng space para makaupo muli. Nagpasalamat naman ako kay Eedrix saka naupo sa tabi niya.

“Uhh… I don’t know what she looks like but, tinandaan ko naman iyong mukha nila so, wha does she look like?” I asked.

“She has pink short hair,” sagot naman ni Christoff na ikinaango ko.

“Yeah, she’s there,” sagot ko saka napatingin kay Eedrix na inilapag iyong plato ng lasagna at barbeque ribs sa harap ko.

“Here’s your meal,” saad ni Eedrix.

Nakita ko namang hindi pa nila ginagalaw iyong mga pagkain nila kaya naman hindi ko parin ginalaw iyong pagkain ko kahit pa gutom na gutom na ako.

“What is she doing? What’s taking her so long?” utal ni Christoff na napapakamot na sa pisngi niya.

Sumandal naman sa tabi ko si Eedrix at maya-maya ay inilapit niya sa bibig ko iyong isang fries.

“I bet you’re hungry?” he whispered which is then followed by him smiling.

I smiled back at him and bit onto the fries. I noticed that he blushed for a bit as he grabs a burger and bite big from it.

“You two should start eating na, I’ll call her,” hindi mapakaling saad ni Christoff saka tumayo na at agad naglakad papalayo sa amin.

“Oh gosh, mahal na mahal,” utal ko nang makalayo na si Christoff na ikinatawa ni Eedrix at ikinatango-tango pa niya habang ngumunguya ng burger niya.

“Ano ba ginagawa noong girlfriend niya?” tanong ni Eedrix.

“Nag-aayos,” maikling sagot ko saka hiniwa iyong lasagna ko at napalunok pa ng laway sa gutom.

I was about to take a bite of my lasagna when someone calls me completely cutting me to eat almost throwing me out of my patience.

“Khatalina!”