When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 27

He didn’t even part his lips to answer me but he decided to take a few more steps closer to me making the buckle of his belt touch my stomach. He then let go of my arm and lowered his face to my level.

“I hate what I saw,” he said with all emphasis.

I blinked twice at what he said.

"I hate what I heard..." He added.

"Where?" I asked.

He then bit his lips together with his eyes lowering down his gaze to my lips for a second. Making the corner of my lips raise for a bit.

Does he want to kiss me?

He then stared back into my eyes and just look at me for a good 6 seconds before he took a step back, stands straight, and take a sigh. He shakes his head as he closes his eyes and massages his temple.

"What's wrong? Headache?" Tanong ko at ipinalis na lamang sa isip iyong kanina lang na kakaibang pakiramdam sa tiyan ko.

"Nothing," he said as he waves his hand and gestures that I can now go which irked me a bit.

"Tsk," I utter as I grip onto my bag and turn my back at him annoyed but then wasn't able to walk as Jaxen pulls my bag close to him making me lose my balance and fall into his arms.

My eyes immediately darted into his eyes as my hand gripped on both of his shoulders. I felt his warm hands on my waist as the lower part of our body touched.

“I…” he utters looking straight into my eyes.

I then furrow my forehead telling him to continue with his words.

“Go out with me,” he said which is then followed by his cheeks glowing rubescent.

“Huh? Kanina lang hindi mo ako kinakausap tapos ngayon inaaya mo akong lumabas?” natatangang tanong ko sa kaniya saka bumitaw mula sa pagkakayakap niya.

“I mean, later, after class? Only if you’re not busy,” he added and clasp his hands to one another.

I then smiled at him sweetly.

“Sabihin mo muna anong problema mo?” saad ko sa kaniya saka nginitian siya nang pagkalawak-lawak.

“I’ll tell you later,” saad niya saka ngumiti sa akin pabalik na siya namang ikina-disappoint ko.

“Bakit hindi pa ngayon? Tayo lang naman nandito?” tanong ko.

Ngumiti naman siya saka humakbang ng isang beses papalapit sa akin.

"Because I want--"

Hindi natuloy ni Jaxen iyong sasabihin niya nang makarinig kami ng katok sa pinto ng kuwarto at makita ang isang professor na nakasilip sa pintuan.

"Oh, Khatalina, ikaw pala iyan!" Pansin sa akin noong professor kaya naman automatic akong napangiti sa kaniya saka siya binati.

"Good morning po..."

"Bakit hindi kayo sumali sa festival sa labas? Wala naman ata kayong klase?" Tanong niya saka tinignan niya iyong tahimik kong katabi.

"New student? Oh, are you the student that beat Khatalina on Mr. Ramon’s last quiz bee?” tanong niya kay Jaxen.

Narinig ko namang napatawa nang maikli si Jaxen saka tumango samantalang ako naman ay napaawang ang labi at naalala na naman iyong araw na nag-transfer si Jaxen at hindi mapigilang mamula sa hiya dahil sa napakadaling bagay ba naman niya ako natalo, sa pangalan lang naman ng ilang taon ko nang propesor.

“Yes, Sir, that’s me. Jaxen Caztillano po,” he proudly introduced himself to the aged professor who’s now laughing looking at us.

“So, meron na nga talagang kalaban si Maia? Aba, sige nga, maglaban nga kayo roon sa labas,” aya noong propesor para naman marahas akong mapatingin kay Jaxen at mukhang nabigla rin naman siya sa sinai noong propesor.

Cypress University Festival 20**

I raise my hand to bush my hair up away from my face as I feel the heat licking my body. If I am an ice cream, I am already melted by the heat. I smiled when I felt that my hair stayed brushed up showing my whole face.

I then look at the guy beside me who’s looking at me with his face red and beads of sweat are forming in his temple.

“It’s the first time I see you all brushed up,” he commented as he wipes off his sweat and look at the busy people around the campus.

“All brushed up?” saad ko dahil para bang aso ako na sinuklayan sa pagkakasabi niya.

I look around the campus too. Watching the busy crowd makes me already tired. There are a lot of senior high school students here while there is only a small amount of college students as we still have classes. Good thing, our block only has one class today so, some of our block mates are surely here at the festival.

“Ano pa hinihintay ninyong dalawa? Sige na at ibandera ninyo ang department natin!” malapad na ngiting saad noong propesor na hindi ko talaga alam ang pangalan.

Matanda na siya na tingin ko ay mga nasa edad 60 pataas at purong puti na ang kaniyang mga buhok, bilugang mukha, nakasuot ng salamin, at higit na maliit kumpara sa aming dalawa ni Jaxen.

“Sige po,” saad naman ni Jaxen at nagpaalam saka niya ako hinila palayo sa propesor.

Hinayaan ko nalang hilahin ako ni Jaxen sa kung saan man niya balak pumunta dahil wala naman akong balak talagang maglaro dahil napakainit ngayong araw at tanghaling tapat na.

“Kuya!”

Nabangga naman ako sa likod ni Jaxen nang mapahinto siya bigla sa paglalakad kaya naman napahawak ako sa ilong kong tumama sa likod niya at marahang hinilot ito.

Tinignan ko naman si Jaxen na nakakunot ang noo sa tatlong babae na nakatayo ngayon sa harap namin. Sa aking paningin ay senior high school students pa lamang itong mga babae dahil iba iyong kulay ng uniform nila sa amin at mukha namang mas bata sa amin.

Iyong isang babae na nakatayo sa kaliwa ay matangkad at morena samantala, iyong nasa kanan naman ay mayroong kalusugan at tamang balat kayumanggi, at iyong nasa gitna ay mayroong yakap-yakap na bento box at kasalukuyang namumula habang nakayuko at nakatingin lang sa kaniyang mga paa. Maputi siya at payat, higit na maliit din siya kumpara sa dalawa niyang kasama.

“Go, kaya mo iyan,” rinig kong bulong noong morenang babae doon sa babaeng nasa gitna.

Muli akong napatingin sa katabi kong walang kaimik-imik. I think he already knows what’s gonna happen.

Dahan-dahan namang nag-angat ng tingin iyong babae at saktong dumapo sa akin iyong tingin niya na ikinalaki ng kaniyang mga mata.

“Khatalina! Oh, my fudge! Totoo nga iyong rumor na dito ka nag-aaral!” sigaw noong babaeng nasa gitna nang makilala niya ako.

Pinigilan ko namang mapakunot ang noo saka siya nginitian nalang.

Rumor? The public already knows about my school though…

“Pst, intindihin mo si kuyang pogi” bulong naman noong isang babae na ikinamula noong babaeng pumansin sa akin.

Agad naman niya inilipat iyong tingin niya kay Jaxen na hawak-hawak parin iyong wrist ko. Hinigit ko naman iyong kamay ko dahil baka mamaya kung ano pa isipin ng mga ‘to at ma-issue na naman ako sa kaniya.

“U-uhm, hi…” bati noong babaeng nasa gitna kay Jaxen saka siya naglakad papalapit pa kay Jaxen.

“Uhh… hello?” tila hindi pa siguradong bati rin niya pabalik.

Kinagat ko naman ang dila ko saka napaiwas ng tingin para hindi ko maramdaman iyong awkwardness ng dalawa. Iyong mga kaibigan naman ng babae ay nagbubulungan habang kinikilig na para bang mga kiti-kiti  habang nanonood.

"N-nag-campaign kayo sa amin noong nakaraan and simula noon ikaw na lamang ang n-nasa isip k-ko," agad na confess noong babae.

Hindi naman ako nag-react dahil never naman akong nag-confess sa mga naging crush ko noon. Hindi naman kasi ako gaya ng ibang babae na kapag may crush ay parang gusto nang mapangasawa crush nila. Iyong akin kasi, paghanga lang talaga. Hindi rin ako nagpapapansin noon sa crushes ko dahil hindi naman din ako ganoon. Isa pa, wala rin naman sa isip ko ang mag-boyfriend ever since I was younger. I was never influenced by my friends who wants their crushes to like them back and be in a relationship with them. Thinking about that, I think it will just ruin the excitement of having a crush if your crush liked you too. However, what happened with my first crush doesn't really reflect with what I am thinking now...

"Khatalina!"

Napalingon naman ako sa pinanggalingan ng pamilyar na boses na siyang tumawag sa aking pangalan. Nakita ko naman ang isang matangkad at napakaputing lalaki. Itim na itim ang kaniyang buhok at kakulay na ng kaniyang terno at kurbata. Ang kaniyang mahahaba at mapapayat na daliri naman ay nakahawak sa baso ng alak na siyang ikinataas ng aking kilay.

"Eros," bati ko sa kaniyang pangalan nang makalapit siya sa akin at inabutan ako ng apple juice na nakalagay sa isang champagne flute dahilan para mapatawa ako nang bahagya.

"Champagne for the young lady," saad niya saka kinindatan ako at uminom sa kung ano mang alak iyong iniinom niya.

Matanda lamang siya sakin ng dalawang taon ngunit ako ay wala pa sa legal na edad para uminom ng alak kaya naman apple juice lamang ang ibinigay niya sa akin.

"Thank you..." Saad ko saka uminom ng juice na ibinigay niya nang pagkarami-rami dahil nauuhaw narin ako.

Napansin ko namang napangiti siya nang bahagya nang makita akong uminom pero agad niya ring ipinalis ang kaniyang ngiti nang tawagin siya ng kaniyang ama na isa sa mga tumulong para magawa ang proyekto ko. As usual, I didn't plan this party so, I am not familiar with other people in my party. Kimberly invited those people who helped us anyway so I guess, people in here are all good companions of Ethereal.

"Eros, come here quick-- Khatalina, hiramin ko lang itong lalaking 'to ha?" Paalam sa akin ni Mr. Lemor at inakbayan si Eros saka lumayo nang isang metro sa akin.

Napatitig naman ako sa champagne flute na hawak ko saka inilipat ang tingin sa paligid at sinubukang hanapin sa paligid si Kimberly. This drink definitely has something in it, I can feel the heat forming in my body together with my face slowly warming up.

"What's wrong?" I heard Eros' voice behind me making me look at him and saw his father walking back to his friends which is way farther than us.

I stared at Eros's handsome face and manly voice. I have a slight crush on him but I am planning on not confessing. He's actually my first crush but other than that, that just it.

"Nothing," I utter as I walk outside the Lemor's mansion and let the cold breeze welcome me outside.

I can feel tiny goosebumps on my arms but I didn't bother to touch my arms and just let the weird sensation in my body. I then walk into their mini-conservatory garden which is a bit dim since it is already night but lighted up by small bulbs inside it.

"Oh..." I utter in pure disappointment when I saw that it was locked when I was about to hold at the knob of the door.

"You want to go in?" I heard Eros ask behind me.

I then nod my head and took a sip of my apple juice. I saw in my peripheral vision that Eros reaches out for a key under a pot and walk in the door's direction. He then looked at me and titters as I finished my apple juice.

"Khatalina, you know it is a fruit punch, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, sure," I said as I realize that it was the alcohol that's making me feel a warm sensation in my body but also makes me a little sleepy with the cold breeze of air here outside.

"Tara sa loob, aantukin ka niyan," he said as he opened the garden door and holds my hand gently pulling me in.

My lips parted in amusement of their mini-garden.

"Crazy, isn't it?"

"Yeah..." Is the only thing I manage to utter as I roam my eyes around the garden.

I bit my lips as I walk closer to a small fountain wherein there is a statue of a flamingo. I cannot help but smile as flamingos are my favorite animal. They just look so graceful and balanced.

I felt Eros's presence behind me as I feel like he is also admiring the fountain. I was about to look at him when I felt his huge warm hands at my back gently stroking to my waist against my champagne silk dress. I blink at the almost tingling sensation in my stomach as well as the abnormal beating of my heart.

I then turn around only seeing his rubescent face and lips. His eyes then darted down to my lips and bit his lips...