When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 17

CLAW Museo

I blink once again for the nth time as I feel like I am dreaming about what I am seeing outside the car right now and look at the guy sitting on the driver's seat currently smiling at me. My heart on the other hand is beating rapidly as if it will come out of its ribcage despite the calm movement of my body.

I smiled back at him as I feel so touched by him bringing me here. I can already feel that my excitement is starting to show on my cheeks as it feels warm together with my eyes.

He then snickers as he lifts his hand and brings it on my cheeks and pinch it lightly that caught me off-guard but somehow gave a different feeling in my stomach that I don't even want to distinguish.

"Are we going there?" I asked trying to make sure that we really are heading to the CLAW Museo just to be sure that I am not assuming just because he parked in front of the huge building.

“Yeah, I figure that you might want to still go here since it is really hard to get tickets from here,” he said.

“And also, since naki-trip ka naman sa pa-contest ko sa iyo and come on! I win over you?! Who would have thought that?! I won over the famous photographer?!” he exclaimed with his hands moving everywhere.

“Ikaw ba naman maglabas ng picture ko na iyong cameraman nakaibabaw sa akin, tingin mo hindi ka mananalo?” saad ko saka napatawa pa na ikinatawa niya rin.

“Syempre alam ko iyong gusto ng crowd na something spicy!” dagdag pa niya.

“Ewan ko sa ‘yo,” saad ko saka inaya na siya lumabas ng sasakyan.

Agad naman ako kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa tapat ng museo saka tinitigan ang nakaka-intimidate na imahe ng museo. Napapalibutan ito ng matatayog na puno ng Narra at sa tapat ng building nito ay ang napakalaking gate na may nakaimprentang “CLAW”.

Napalis naman ang ngiti ko nang mapatingin ako kay Jax na kalalabas ng sasakyan niya at ngayo’y naglalakad papalapit sa akin. Napakunot naman iyong noo niya nang mapansing nakatingin ako sa kaniya.

“Why?” tanong niya nang makalapit na siya sa akin.

“How’d you get a ticket?” I asked back.

He then leans closer to my face smiling.

“Secret,” he whispered and reaches out for my hand and pulls me into the gate, and showed me his ticket.

“Good day—are you Miss Khatalina Maia p-po ba?!” nauutal na tanong noong guard nang makita niya ako sa likuran ni Jaxen.

Napabitaw naman sa akin si Jaxen mula sa pagkakahawa niya sa kamay ko na siya ko namang ikinagalak.

“Ahh, opo,” saad ko saka nginitian siya.

“Pasok, Pasok po kayo!” malugod niyang anyaya sa amin na pumasok na. nginitian ko naman siya nang pagkatamis-tamis saka pumasok na kasunod ni Jaxen na tahimik lang.

I let my eyes look all over the museum. It is exactly what it looks like in the pictures I can find on the internet. It makes sense that it really is hard to get tickets in here.

There are a lot of foreigners as well especially people who seem to be enjoying how they can use some cameras and be able to experience the first cameras used by the owner of the CLAW.

“Khatalina,” Jaxen called my name with a straight look on his face.

I wonder what is with his sudden change of mood today. Does he have an awful mood swing?

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked.

“The CLAW is your competitor, right?” he asked now looking confused.

I smiled at him and nod my head.

“Yeah, but I don’t really consider the CLAW as my competitor. The CLAW is the reason I am in this industry,” I shortly answer which he seems to understand.

I sighed out of relief that I don’t have to fully explain myself.

“So, you have no intention of spying in here that’s why you want to go here?” he asked again.

I then titter.

“What? What the heck are you thinking?! I wouldn’t show my face here if that’s what I am planning,” I said looking at him unbelievably.

“Sorry, I guess I am wrong,” he said as he wanders his eyes around the lobby and rests both of his arms against his chest.

“What do you mean?” I asked as I took a step closer to him.

“I mean, you are already on second, close to the top, where the CLAW sits. What are you planning to do to beat this company?” he asked which I know makes sense.

I then lean closer to him as I raise my toes and move my lips close to his ear.

“I have plans… clean ones. I don’t do nasty,” I shortly answer whispering to his ears.

I noticed the sudden flush of red on his ears and cheeks making me smirk at him.

“Why are you blushing?” I asked trying to make him peeve.

“No, I am not,” tanggi niya saka nag-iwas ng tingin at naglakad papunta roon sa ilang lumang camera ng CLAW.

Muli namang bumalik ang excitement sa aking puso saka lumapit sa kaniya at napakait sa braso niya.

"I want to try his first camera..." I uttered as I dash my vision through the cameras displayed starting from bigger cameras before until to modern ones lined up and waiting to be used by the visitors.

I immediately went in front of the camera at the beginning of the lineup of cameras assuming that it is his first camera.

I felt my cheeks getting warmer as I admire how the camera still looks good despite its age. It looks like it is being well taken care of. I even rub my hand against my clothing just to make sure that my hands are clean and not moist if I will touch the camera.

I even heard Jax's snicker as he probably saw what I just did.

"It's cold..." I utter to myself as soon as I touch the small brown polaroid camera that has a shape of a house roof. I guess this camera is around the 1960s making CLAW around 50 to 60 years old. It also has a strap made out of snakeskin that I never expected.

"Hmm, he probably is already rich since young, don't you think?" Baling ko kay Jaxen na ngayon ay nakapamewang sa tabi ko at nakatingin sa camera na hawak ko.

He then slowly nods his head slightly pouting.

"Probably, it is an animal skin plus the camera. Back in the day, just by owning a camera is already pricey how about more of putting on a strap made out of snakeskin?" He said making me nod and stare at the camera.

"Let's try it," I said as I pull him in front of a huge painting of a guy in a suit with no face assuming that it is CLAW.

"What if CLAW is a woman?" Jaxen asked as he puts his arms on his chest and lean on the wall behind the 25-foot tall painting.

I then smiled as I place the camera close to my face with the strap hanging on my nape.

"Then that would be much better," I answered as I close my right eye and peek through my left eye in the viewfinder.

I then adjusted the camera as I am looking for a good angle for him.

"Really? Why?" He asks looking like he's surprised.

"What do you mean why? Girl power!" I answered and smiled.

He then laughs and shakes his head making me grab the chance to take a picture of him. The paper immediately went out but the image is not yet showing since it has to develop first for seconds.

He then pointed at the section where there is a picture and there is a huge canvas where you can paint whatever the picture is displayed. I then put the camera back to its place and promised that I’ll be back and try all the other cameras.

My eyes immediately darted at my hand that Jaxen just grabbed as he pulls me closer to the painting section.

“Your turn,” he said as he sits on the high chair and grabbed the paints on the side.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa kaniya saka tinitigan lang siya sa mga pinaggagawa niya. May sinuot pa siyang painter’s hat dahilan naman para hindi ko mapigilang mapatawa nang bahagya. Kumuha naman siya ng isang malaking paint brush saka tumingin sa akin.

“You can paint?” tanong ko naman sa kaniya nang nakangiti dahil gusto ko rin matuto mag-paint.

“Yeah, a little bit,” saad niya saka umayos na ng upo.

“What am I gonna do?” I asked.

“Mag-pose ka,” natatawang sabi ni Jaxen na ikinawang ng labi ko.

“What the actual f*ck, Jaxen?” natatawang saad ko dahil mangangawit ako panigurado kung kailangan kong mag-pose para sa kaniya.

Napahalakhak naman siya saka tumayo at iniabot sa akin iyong high chair niya kaya naman kaagad ko itong kinuha at naupo rito. Tinitigan niya lang naman ako kaya naman napahinto ako sa pagtawa.

“Seryoso mo naman, bro. Akala ko ba you paint ‘a little bit’?” pang-aasar ko sa kaniya na ikinangiti niya saka sinampal pa ako nang pabiro kaya naman napatawa ako.

I am trying to make him smile because he’s been with me since the day started and never leave me just to make sure that I feel better so, I want to return the favor for also giving me one of his tickets here in CLAW’s museum.

He then lifts his hand and tilts my head up by pushing my chin gently upwards with his index fingers making me look straight into his eyes. He then moves his hand into my hands and both raise it for me to touch my cheeks.

Ngugmiti naman siya nang pagkalapad-lapad saka napahalakhak sa itsura kong nakahawak sa magkabilang pisngi. Agad konaman siyang sinamangutan at sinamaan ng tingin pero mukhang hindi niya napansin dahil namumula na siya sa katatawa at tinalikuran na ako para pumunta siya roon sa tabi ng mga pintura. Mayroon namang lumapit na staff sa kaniya saka binigyan siya ng isa pang upuan na mauupuan niya.

Naupo naman na siya saka naghalo ng mga paint. napalibot naman ang tingin ko sa ilang bisita ngayon lalo na iyong mga banyaga na ngayon ay papunta na sa elevator at marahil ay pupunta na sila sa second floor. If ever, kami nalang ni Jaxen ang maiiwan dito sa baba na bisita.

“Psst, pretty lady, focus on your artist!” dinig kong tawag sa akin ni Jaxen kaya naman napatingin ako sa kaniya at tinaasan siya ng kilay.

“Hindi ba baliktad? You should focus on your subject?” tanong ko sa kaniya saka ipinatong ang siko ko sa isa kong tuhod dahil nangangawit na ako.

He just titters and focuses on mixing colors.

I can’t help but stare at his image who’s seriously looking at his canvas but then I almost slip off the high chair when his eyes suddenly darted at me. He’s now staring at me intently as he moves his eyes down from my eyes to my body. I noticed that his Adam’s apple moves up and down creating a faint smile on his thin lips.

“I’m not even naked in front of you and you’re already smirking,” pang-aasar ko ulit sa kaniya.

Pfft—I don’t know why I suddenly have the urge to tease him every second.

Agad naman niyang iniwas ang tingin niya at nag-focus sa ipinipinta niya kaya muli akong napatawa.

“Epal,” saad niya na lalo ko pang kinahalakhak. Hindi narin naman niya napigilang mapangiti at napailing pa kasabay ng pamumula ng kaniyang mga pisngi.

“Bakit parang kasalanan ko?” biro ko pa.

Napansin ko naman na nangingitingiti rin iyong isang staff na pinapanood kami na kanina ring nag-abot ng upuan kay Jaxen kaya kinagat ko nalang ang labi ko para hindi na ako matawa pang muli. I somehow feel ecstatic thanks to him. Although we’re still in a silent competition, I feel like he’s more genuine than Pauline… I hope so.

“Is that him?! Is that CLAW?!”

Halos malaglag naman iyong puso ko sa narinig kong sigaw ng ilang tao dahilan para halos hindi ako makagalaw mula sa kinauupuan ko.