When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 25

"Oh yeah, you have a good relationship with your employees!"

Mrs. Grayman exclaimed as she then raises her champagne flute that is filled with beer instead of champagne looking proudly at me. Her thick lips with mauvy pink lipstick stained her champagne flute as she places it on top of the high table. She then looked at the governor beside her which then whispered at her and followed by their loud and prideful whole laughs almost filling the whole room.

I bit my lips as I let my gaze scan the whole room with unfamiliar faces confused with what are they doing in the party that is meant to celebrate our company's ranking attainment. This party is again hosted by Mrs. Grayman who’s now getting drunk with her companions. I smiled at her as she seemed to be enjoying the party. Mrs. Grayman treat me almost like her daughter which made me smile at her image. I don’t know how thankful I am that I met her.

“Why aren’t you talking with the guests?”

I then turned at the guy who walks slowly behind me holding his wine glass in his right hand. He’s wearing a deep navy-blue suit and tie that matches his pale skin together with his newly cut hair.

“I don’t think they are my guests,” I answered and let the corner of my lips raise.

He then titters as he then takes a sip of his wine. I stared at his Adam’s apple moving as he talks with a cute smile on his lips. I shut my eyes immediately as I noticed that I am staring at him and looked around the room hoping that I won’t see Zeke. I am not ready to see him again…

“That’s just how she really is. I guess she wants you to know who are the people you should be with so, she invites people you haven’t heard and seen before,” he uttered as he gulps down all the remaining wine in his wine glass. He then licks his lips as a little number of wine sips out of his lips making him laugh out of embarrassment.

I then press my lips hard against each other trying to stop myself from laughing at him and tried to get the wine steward’s attention and ask for tissues and good things, she carries one and handed it to the guy who’s still laughing.

“S-sorry. Oh, that was embarrassing…” he said as he wipes some part of his suit that got wet from his wine.

“Eedrix!”

We both look at the familiar voice that just shouted. It was Mrs. Grayman who’s smiling widely at us while walking in our direction.

“Pumunta ka!” she exclaimed and hugs the guy beside me.

“Of course! You invited me, hinding-hindi po ako makakahindi,” the man said as he hugs Mrs. Grayman back and smiled at her.

Mrs. Grayman then looks at me and walks closer while pulling the guy closer.

“Khatalina, this is Kinn Eedrix Gage who’s been pursuing me for years to introduce to you,” she introduced the guy laughing. She’s clearly drunk already.

I looked at Kinn whose face is currently rubescent and the take one beer for a steward that walked past him.

I then took a sip of my drink and smiled at Mrs. Grayman.

“Why just now?” I asked.

“Well, he’s busy just like you so, whenever you’re available, he isn’t,” she replied and look back at him.

“Malakas na pala loob mo lumapit sa kaniya. Then go, introduce yourself,” she said. She immediately waves at us and said that she’ll be looking for a guy to entertain her too leaving us both laughing.

“Anyway, just like what she said, I am Kinn Eedrix Gage. You can call me Kinn, Eedrix, Mr. Gage, or if you feel a little wild, you can call me Daddy,” he introduced and winks at me which he then followed by drinking his beer, making me part my lips stupefied. 

He then laughs as he offers his hand for a handshake. I then titter and shakes his hand.

“Okay, Zaddy,” I said kidding making him shake his head and gesture me to go to the huge balcony of the room.

I then followed him to the balcony and am welcomed by the cold breeze of air. I looked at the freckles of light coming from the cars and buildings in the city under the dim light of the crescent moon. I took a deep breath.

“Congratulations,” he said as he raises his glass.

I smiled at him and moved my flute with him, waiting for the clicking sound of our glasses and taking sips.

“Thanks,” I said and bit my lips as I appreciate the quenching sip that my drink did to me.

“You’re still a student, right?” he asked making me look at him and raise my eyebrow.

“Why, aren’t you a student as well?” I asked as I assume that he’s just almost the same age as mine.

“Yeah, college freshman, just like you,” he said as he took another sip of his beer.

“Yeah, I have classes every Monday until Friday,” I answer his question.

“Oh, boo-hoo. I don’t have one tomorrow,” he said as he pouts.

“I can see,” I said nodding and smiled looking back at the city.

“You’re a model, right?” I asked and look at him trying not to scan his body and staring straight into his eyes making him laugh.

“Are you already drunk?” he asked not answering my question making me just shake my head and raise my champagne flute which is almost done.

“Really? You’re already a little bit red,” he said as he moves his index finger close to my cheek.

“Dude, you’re the one who seems drunk,” I said as I push his hands away from my face tittering.

“Oh, no, babe. I have a good tolerance to alcohol,” he said and reaches out for the high chair close to him almost faceplanting to the floor.

I manage to walk beside him and help him sit.

“Yeah, babe. You really have a good tolerance for alcohol you almost kissed the floor,” I whispered making him smirk and scoop my face with both of his hands that caught me off guard.

“You called me ‘babe’?” he asked smiling.

I bit my lips and shake my head.

“I didn’t, babe. Lasing ka na,” I said trying to tease him dahilan narin siguro ng alak na unti-unti narin akong tinatamaan.

I am just going to wait for Kimberly to pick me up or I have to call my driver if she’s not available.

“Let me just rest here…” he said as he leans his head to the high table beside him.

I then nod even if he doesn’t see me as he closes his eyes. I then opened my pouch and dialed my driver instead of Kimberly. She might be busy with her child tonight.

“Ma’am? Sunduin ko na po ba kayo?” agad na sagot ng driver ko at tanong nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko.

“Yeah, please,” sagot ko saka naupo sa katabing upuan ni Kinn.

“Ma’am, to be honest, I am already outside the building,” he said making me furrow my forehead.

“What? Why?” I asked.

“Nakatanggap po ako ng message kanina galing po kay Ma’am Kimberly na sunduin ko raw po kayo dahil panigurado raw po na malalasing kayo?” inosenteng tanong noong driver ko kaya naman napatawa ako.

“…yup, lasing ka na nga po. Sunduin ko na po kayo,” natatawang saad noong driver ko kaya naman binaba ko na iyong tawag.

Sinabihan ko kasi si Kimberly na if ever abutin ako ng dilim at nakalimutan ko siyang tawagan, tawagan niya iyong driver ko at ipasundo ako dahil baka malimutan ko magpasundo o lasing na ako.

Hindi ko naman nalimutang magpasundo pero gusto ko na magpasundo dahil bored na ako rito sa party.

“D-don’t you feel satisfied?”

Napatingin naman ako sa katabi ko na nakahilig iyong ulo na nakatingin sa akin ngayon habang nakapatong parin ang ulo niya sa lamesa.

“With what?” I asked.

“That you’re always on second?” he asked deadpanned.

“Oh, below CLAW? I don’t know…” I answered honestly as I then rest my chin against my palm.

“Have you tried proposing for a partnership to the CLAW?” he asked.

I didn’t hesitate to shake my head as I know that he’s a person I can trust as it seems like Mrs. Grayman wants me to be friends with him. He just seems to be a model as he has a very clean appearance and clear skin as a model.

“I am planning to…” I answered.

“When?” he asked.

“Next month”

“You’re young, is the CLAW the reason why you became a photographer?” he asks as he copies my pose.

“Yeah, you’re young too, who’s the reason why you are a model?” I asked.

He smiled at me as his cheeks glow red.

“You,” sagot niya saka napahilamos nang mukha na para bang… kinikilig siya?

Nginitian ko naman siya saka napatawa nang mahina.

“Cute, really?” tanong ko sa kaniya saka siya tumingin sa akin na namumula parin.

“Yeah… Oh, gosh. Nahiya ako bigla. Para akong batang nag-confess sa crush,” saad niya saka napaiwas ng tingin sa akin habang hinihimas iyong namumula niyang mga pisngi.

“Ano ka ba, huwag ka na mahiya. Nakakatuwa kaya na nakakilala ako na taong iniidolo ako tapos model pa,” natatawa kong sabi sa kaniya saka kinurot nang mahina iyong pisngi niya dahil ang cute niyang mahiya.

Mukha namang hindi niya inaasahan iyong ginawa ko pero nginitian niya lang ako at napapaiwas parin siya ng tingin.

“Sorry, cute mo kasi eh,” hingi kong paumanhin sa kaniya pero nailing-iling naman siya at sinabing ayos lang iyon sa kaniya.

“Wala, kinikilig lang ako,” birong saad niya na pareho naming ikinatawa.

“Can I have your number?” tanong niya maya-maya matapos naming mapatawa saka kinuha iyong phone niya sa bulsa niya saka iniabot sa akin.

“Sure, phone pals ba?” biro ko sa kaniya.

“Wow, ano ka, sinauna?” natatawa niyang saad saka humingi ng dalawang tubig para sa amin.

Inilagay ko naman iyong number ko sa phone niya saka nainom ng tubig at ibinalik sa kaniya iyong phone niya.

Naramdaman ko naman nang nag-vibrate iyong phone ko at nakitang tumatawag na iyong bodyguard ko dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko dahil akala ko ang susundo lang sa akin ay iyong driver ko.

“Ma’am, we’re here in front of the room,” saad noong bodyguard ko.

“Bakit kasama pa kayo?” tanong ko dahil nasa private place naman kami at safe rito kaya hindi na ako nagdadala ng bodyguards kapag party ni Mrs. Grayman.

“We have received a tip that a black van has been roaming around the building for the past hour. We just want to make sure that you’re safe, Ma’am,” sagot niya.

Napatingin naman ako sa katabi kong mukhang hindi na kayang tumayo.

“Mr. Gage, makakauwi ka ba nang safe tonight? Or you want me to drive you home with my bodyguards?” tanong ko sa kaniya.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” sagot ni Kinn saka muling nayuko sa lamesa at nakita ko iyong isang glass na naman ng beer sa kamay niya kaya napailing ako.

“I see, I’ll be going out of the room with a friend,” saad ko sa bodyguard ko saka ibinaba na ang tawag.

Inilibot ko naman ang tingin ko sa paligid at sinubukang hanapin si Mrs. Grayman pero ang tanging nakita ko na lamang ay iyong isa sa mga bodyguard niya kaya naman nilapitan ko ito at sinabing sabihan na lamang si Mrs. Grayman na aalis na ako kasama si Mr. Gage na lasing na.

“Tara na,” aya ko kay Kinn nang makabalik ako sa puwesto niya.

“We’re going home, babe?” he asked nang tumatawa. Kanina lang ay nahihiya siya sa akin pero ngayon ay nakikibagbiruan na naman siya.

“Yeah, uwi na kita. Hindi na ako galit,” biro ko sa kaniya pabalik.

Napatawa naman siya nang mahina saka tumayo na at umakbay sa akin. Inalalayan ko naman siya maglakad saka nagpaalam na kami sa ibang bisita at nagpasalamat naman ako sa kanilang pagpunta.

Agad naman kaming sinalubong ng mga bodyguard ko saka nila tinulungan ako para alalayan si Mr. Gage at pinalibutan na kami pababa ng building.

“Do you have any news about the suspicious van?” tanong ko sa kausap ko kaninang si Anthony.

“As of now, hindi pa namin ulit nakikita, Ma’am. Iuuwi po ba natin si Mr. Gage or ihahatid natin sa bahay niya?” tanong niya sa akin matapos ako sagutin.

“Kaya ba natin siya iuwi sa kanila?” tanong ko.

“We can access his address if want po ninyo?” he asked.

Umalis naman sa pagkakakapit sa isa kong bodyguard si Kinn saka lumapit sa akin dahilan para maalerto iyong bodyguards ko. Inakbayan naman niya ako ulit saka inilapit iyong mga labi niya sa may tainga ko dahilan para mapangiti ako nang marinig iyong ibinulong niya.

“Take me home. I wanna get to know you, babe…”