When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 24

Dorothea

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Bumaba naman na muna ako ng hagdan saka ko sinagot ang tawag. Nakita ko naman si Jaxen na lumingon sa akin at nakitang nasa may tainga ko ang phone ko kaya hindi siya nagsalita at ibinalik ang atensyon sa TV na ngayon ay cartoons na ang ipinalalabas.

“Hey…” bati ko nang masagot ko iyong tawag.

Napakamot naman ako ng noo ko nang salubungin ako ng maingay na background music na paniguradong nagmumula sa celebration ng kaniyang kaarawan ngayon na hindi ko naman alam kung saan ginaganap ngayon.

“Ate!” tawag naman sa akin ni Dorothea.

“Happy birthday, Dorothea—”

“Kausapin ka raw po ni mama! Bye!” putol niya sa sinasabi ko kaya naman napalunok ako bilang pagtitimpi lalo na at baka busy lang si Dorothea sa party niya.

“Right…” utal ko nalang at pinakinggan iyong kabilang linya.

“Anak? Birthday na ngayon ni Dorothea. Natanggap na namin iyong ipinadala mo,” saad naman ni mama.

“Ahh, ganoon po ba? Kumusta naman po?” tanong ko naman.

“Okay lang, masaya naman si Dorothea saka iyong mga bisita niya. Iyong sobra, ipinambili ko nalang noong laptop ni Dorothea,” sagot naman niya.

“Hmm…”

“Oh, siya. Aasikasuhin ko na mga kapatid mo, anak. Ingat ka riyan,” saad niya saka agad ibinaba iyong tawag at hindi na ako pinagsalita pa.

Napahinga naman ako sa bibig ko nang mailayo ko iyong telepono ko sa tainga ko saka naglakad papunta sa couch at inilapag iyong phone sa tabi ng mangkok ng lugaw na hindi ko na nagalaw sa lamesa.

“You okay?” dinig kong tanong ni Jaxen nang makaupo ako sa tabi niya.

“Yeah…” sagot ko nalang saka inabot iyong lugaw ko saka sumubo nang pagkarami-rami para lang mawala iyong nararamdaman kong lungkot.

Naramdaman ko naman na gumalaw siya at lumapit sa akin kaya naman napalingon ako sa kaniya at nasalubong iyong mukha niyang pagkalapit-lapit na sa akin. Napakurap naman ako nang ilang beses habang nakatitig sa mga mata niyang seryoso lang na nakatingin sa akin.

“Why don’t you just show what you’re feeling? Why do you have to hide it?’ he asked still staring directly into my eyes.

I then blink once again.

“Hide? I don’t hide,” I answered and put my gaze back at the rice porridge and continue eating it.

"Really, huh?" He uttered which was then followed by me feeling his breath in my neck sending thousands of electrifying sensations down my spine.

I refrain myself from looking at him as I know that my nose will kiss his if I turn my face back at him. This guy won't catch me in one of his games playing again.  I'd rather be one of the spectators than be in his pool.

“Bakit naninigas ka riyan? Kumusta pakiramdam mo?” he asked still not moving away from me.

Napalunok naman ako saka dahan-dahan siyang nilingon leaving an inch space between our noses and lips. I then let my eyes slowly glide upwards meeting his eyes which are looking straight into mine as well.

I don’t know why I suddenly feel nervous but somehow, I still manage to never break our eye contact. I’m not gonna lose in this. Specifically, not with him.

"Magpapahinga na ako," saad ko saka inilapag iyong mangkok ng lugaw ko sa lamesa at akmang tatayo na pero bigla akong napaupo ulit nang hilahin niya ako paupo dahilan para tignan ko siya nang masama.  

“I’m curious,” saad niya habang seryoso paring nakatingin sa akin kaya naman pinangunutan ko naman siya ng noo.

“With what?” tanong ko saka naupo ulit at hinarap siya.

“So, what I was saying earlier before you get knocked out is that—wait, sino ba iyong kasama mo kahapon?” he asked na parang naguguluhan pa.

“Pakialam mo?” pang-aasar ko sa kaniya.

Sinamaan niya naman ako ng tingin na ikinangiti ko lang saka kinuha ang isang unan na naririto sa couch at niyakap ito saka ipinatong ang ulo ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya.

“He’s the vice president of my company, why?” I asked back.

"Oh, really? Is he great?" He asked making me lean my head against the couch staring at my chandelier with my eyebrow raised.

"You gay?"  I asked.

Narinig ko naman siyang nasamid kaya naman napatawa ako nang mahina.

"You seem interested in my vice president, huh?" I added as I gently close my eyes.

"A bit... Because I saw you kissing him yesterday" he said casually which made me choke in my own saliva.

"What?! Kissing him? He's the one that forced his lips against mine," I explained.

"Really?! What did you do?" Hindi makapaniwala niyang tanong.

"I told him that I am not interested," I simply answered.

"That's it? Is it enough to keep him from doing that again?" He asked.

I then sit straight and look at him.

“Well, if he did that again, he’ll be out the Ethereal,” I said.

He just looked at me without showing any response.

“Is that all?” I asked as I try to stand but he refuses as he holds my hand again pulling me to sit on the couch.

“I… I wanna talk about...” he said almost whispering.

“About what?” I asked.

“If… w-what did you feel…” he said as his eyes started moving around the house together with his cheeks growing rubescent.

I then smiled widely as I am already hinting at what is he trying to ask together with my face starting to warm up with the anticipation of hearing his words regarding what I assume to be about the play.

"Feel about what?"

"You know..." Saad pa niya saka hindi parin nakakatingin sa akin sa likot ng mata niya kaya naman napapangisi ako.

"Yes?" I said trying to fool him which was then successful as he looked at me with his eyes wide.

I then look at him as I act curious about his reaction.

"Oh, what do you mean 'yes'?" he asked which sounds like he's disappointed.

"Yeah?" Paglilinaw ko sa sinabi ko na mukhang naintindihan niya naman at tumango-tango saka tumikhim at muling nag-iwas ng tingin.

"About our kiss?" Mabilis niyang tanong saka inabot iyong unan at binato sa akin nanang pagkalakas-lakas dahilan para magulat ako at samaan siya ng tingin.

Hindi naman ako gaanong nasaktan kaya naman tinaasan ko siya nang kilay at tinitigan. Namumula na siya kasabay ng kaniyang tainga at hindi makatingin sa akin.

"You wanna know what I felt when I kissed you?" Paglilinaw ko sa tanong niya.

Tumango naman siya saka napatikhim at sinubukang ayusin ang itsura niya waiting for my answer making me refrain myself from smirking and move closer to him only to catch him off guard. His eyes are full of curiosity snd excitement together with his eyes quivering.

"It's...." I started as I then bit my lips with the smile trying to escape from it.

I then felt his warm body with his chest starting to move up and down faster than normal.

I then bring my lips close to his ears as I am just planning to tease him but then I jolted when I felt a sudden pair of warm hands on my waist sending thousands of cold unusual feelings down my spine. I bit my lips even harder. I feel like my sickness heated me pretty damn well as I revoke from moving closer to him but he holds my back as he then brings his lips closer to my neck.

"I know what you're trying to do," he whispered with his voice almost breaking husky.

I then looked at him with the most innocent look I can give.

"What am I trying to do?" I asked whispering.

"Tsk," I heard him utter a tsk as he places his hand on my face and push me away from him.

He grabs my bowl of rice porridge and stands.

"Tease me, right?" He answered not looking at me then went straight to the kitchen not even waiting for my response.

I then laugh.

"Affected ka naman," I whispered standing and started walking in the stair's direction.

"Your lips are soft though..." I whispered to myself and laugh.

Agad naman napalis ang ngiti ko nang maalala ko iyong email ko sa laptop nang makapunta ako sa harap ng kwarto ko.

Is it him? Hindi naman niya alam password ng laptop ko? I then opened my room and open my laptop as it shows my lock screen leaving my lips to move apart as I remember something.

Agad ko na inayos iyong computer saka sinara nang matapos kong kuhanan ng video iyong CCTV footage. Nilingon ko naman si Jaxen na busy sa pagkalikot niya sa doorknob.

“Saan mo natutuhan iyang pagkalikot mo sa doorknob? Kahit noong nakaraan nabuksan mo iyang pinto kahit kinalikot mo lang eh,” tanong ko sa kaniya.

Napatawa naman siya nang marahan at patuloy parin sa ginagawa niyang pagkalikot.

“I used to sneak out of our house before,” he said laughing.

“Oh, really? Pasaway kang bata ka,” kumento ko.

Napatawa rin naman siya saka tumayo na mula sa pagkakaluhod niya at ipinihit iyong doorknob.

Agad naman kaming sinalubong ng liwanag dahilan para mapapikit ako dahil sa pagkakasilaw. Naramdaman ko naman iyong mabilis na paghawak ni Jaxen sa kamay ko saka hinila ako palabas ng central control room at napatakbo kami pataas ng building.

Napalingon naman ako sa control room at nakita kong may lalaking naka-uniform na guard ang nakatayo sa gilid ng pinto at nakapamewang lang na nakatanaw sa amin at mukhang gulat na gulat kaya siguro ako biglang hinila ni Jaxen patakbo.

“I wonder if he knows how to even hack my laptop?” I utter as I reach out for the hem of my clothe and pull it over my head as I then throw the shirt on my desk and immediately go to bed.

I feel hot yet cold. My hands are clammy and I feel my lips as if it is dry despite the numerous times that I licked my lips. I then reach out for my comforter and cover myself with it up to my shoulders. I can’t help but smile as I feel comfortable making my eyes feel a little warm and heavy. I stared at my ceiling and decided to just let my eyelids drift slowly as my vision started turning into a haze.

“Why did you take your shirt off? Hindi ka ba lalamigin? Hindi ba dapat at pawisan ka?”

Napabalikwas naman ako sa gulat nang marinig ko siyang magsalita dahilan para mapatingin ako sa may pintuan at makita siyang nakasandal sa pintuan habang nakahalukipkip na nakatingin sa akin. Agad ko namang inabot iyong comforter at tinakpan iyong katawan ko dahil nahulog ito mula sa pagkakaupo ko.

“I feel more comfortable like this…” I answered and went back to lay on my bed.

“Hmm…”

“Hindi ka pa ba pupunta ng school?” I asked and hug a pillow.

“Nah, aalagaan kita,” he said as he stands straight and walk slowly into my bed’s direction.

“You’re not obliged to do so though…” saad ko saka tumagilid at ipinikit na ang mata ko at taimtim na lamang siyang pinakinggan.

Narinig ko ang mga yabag ng kaniyang mga paa at ni-imagine na lamang kung nasaang parte na siya ng kwarto ko. Naramdaman ko naman na naupo siya sa gilid ng kama ko nang dahan-dahan kaya naman dahan-dahan ko ring iminulat iyong aking mga mata para hindi narin masilaw sa liwanag ng araw na pumapasok sa kuwarto ko. Hindi ko naman gaanong iminulat ang aking mata para silipin lang siya at natanaw ko siyang hawak-hawak iyong phone niya.

Nagtataka man ay iniwasan ko paring mapakunot ng noo at mapamulat saka pinagmatyagan siya sa ginagawa niya.

“I want to take care of you though…” he whispered almost inaudible as if he just said that to himself.

I want to ask why but I bit my tongue and shut my eyes completely. My heart then beats faster as I felt him move even closer to me. I wonder why would he care so much about me considering that he always challenges me especially the first time we met… I can clearly remember how surreal it is for a transferee to immediately make me feel that he knows me.

“…because I just feel bad for what I’ve done…”