When Blue Descends

CHAPTER 12

La Cotta Garden

I raised my hand trying not to get dazzled by the sun’s light as soon as I jump out of my car. I was then welcomed by the fresh breeze of air gently swaying with the endless trees surrounding the massive famed La Cotta Garden.

A smile escapes from my lips as I scan the whole garden. Different kinds and colors of flowers are everywhere adding at the diverse saturation of green leaves.

I then stroke my thumb slowly following the brown strap of my digital single-lens reflex camera in harmony with the romantic beating of my heart out of excitement.

My eyes then darted at the sudden slamming sound of a car door next to me. There’s a car parked beside mine. A man wearing rusty orange corduroy pants with khaki suspender clipped in his waist hanging paired with a deep olive green overshirt and a white undershirt inside. It was Jaxen.

He then smiled at me showing off his outfit and walks in my direction.

“You wore it,” he said scanning my body with the dress he sent me earlier.

I then look at myself. I am wearing an olive-green maxi dress running until above my ankles decorated with cute ruffles around my shoulders. It has a slit on the left side of the dress up to the middle of my thighs.

“I did,” I responded and looks back at him. He then offered his hand.

“Let’s start,” he said and waved his small camera.

I then smiled nodding as I took his hand and walk around the La Cotta Garden finding a spot for us to take pictures.

Jaxen created a poll on social media to what theme we should take pictures of and the theme that has the most vote was the Cottagecore fashion. I kind of expected it to be chosen as these days, it was trending all over the internet.

Gusto nga sana sumama ng ilang kaklase namin pero hindi pumayag si Jaxen dahil itong La Cotta Garden ay pagmamay-ari ng kakilala niya kaya naman nahihiya raw siya magdala ng maraming tao. I don’t know what’s the point of having this massive garden para lang hindi makita ng napakaraming tao iyong mala-ethereal na theme nito. This place just takes you out of this world… I don’t know that there’s such a place like this here.

We decided to take the spot in front of a small cabin and a small pond.

Agad niya nang inilatag iyong picnic mat saka inilapag iyong mga basket na bitbit niya kanina pa na ikinakunot naman ng noo ko.

“Daming props, ah? Ayaw patalo?” natatawang kumento ko sa mga bitbit niya na ikinangiti niya.

Hinanda ko naman na iyong camera ko habang hinihintay siya matapos sa pag-set up ng props niya. We decided to make each other are subject. I will be his and he will be my subject.

“Tagal naman,” pang-aasar ko sa kaniya dahilan para lingunin niya ako at samaan ng tingin.

“Sino mauuna?” tanong niya nang matapos na siya mag-ayos saka hinarap ako at namewang.

Napadako naman ang tingin ko sa magulo niyang overshirt kaya naman lumapit ako sa kaniya.

“Ikaw… mamili…” sagot ko saka inayos iyong overshirt niya saka nginitian siya. Naramdaman ko namang nagulat siya pero agad din naman siyang naka-recover saka tumikhim.

“Ikaw muna subject,” sagot niya saka inabot iyong camera niya.

Tumango naman ako saka ibinaba muna iyong camera ko na nakasabit sa leeg ko saka pumwesto sa picnic mat.

“What pose?” tanong ko sa kaniya saka inilagay ang kamay ko sa maliit na bulsa ng dress ko para kunin iyong hairpin na iniregalo niya sa akin noong nakaraan.

Inabot ko naman sa kaniya ito na siyang ikinakunot ng noo niya nang abutin niya ito.

Yumuko naman siya sa harapan ko saka inangat iyong mukha ko nang gamitin niya iyong hintuturo niya paangat sa baba ko. I then stare back at his eyes. He lifted his hand gently moving some curled strands of my hair and pins it at my back with the hairpin.

“You look good with any kind of hairstyle, curled or not,” he said which was then followed of his cheeks blushing.

Napangiti naman ako sa kaniya pero agad din naman itong napalis nang tulakin niya ako pahiga dahilan para manlaki nang bahagya ang mga mata ko. Umibabaw naman siya saka itinukod iyong kaliwa niyang kamay bilang suporta sa kaniya saka ako ni-picture.

“So aggressive,” I commented and laughed the moment I recovered from his action.

A faint smile appeared on his lips with his cheeks still blushing. I then raise my hand and place it to his cheeks gently pinching it making him flinch.

"Kabataan nga naman"

Nagulat naman ako sa narinig ko saka napaupo dahilan para magkabanggaan kami ni Jax ng noo at tuluyan siyang mapaupo sa lap ko. Inilibot ko ang mata ko saka nakita ang isang matandang babae at isang matandang lalaki na magkahawak ang kamay na naglalakad palayo sa amin.

"We're taking pictures!!!" Halos mabingi naman ako sa sigaw ni Jaxen doon sa dalawang matanda na napatingin ulit sa amin at iiling-iling na lumapit sa isang bench sa kabilang side ng pond.

Sinaway ko naman siya at sinabing huwag nang pansinin iyong matatanda na ikinatango naman niya.

"Now, would you mind?" Baling ko pa sa kaniya.

"What?" Tanong niya pabalik saka ako nilingon.

Ginalaw ko naman iyong hita ko bilang sagot kaya naman agad siyang napatayo at humingi ng sorry.

"Hah, first take, perfect na," pagmamayabang niya habang nakatingin sa camera niya.

Napairap naman ako saka tumayo at nilapitan siya pero agad naman niyang iniwas iyong camera para hindi ko makita. Tinignan ko nalang siya nang hindi makapaniwala saka inabot iyong camera ko na nakalapag lang sa tabi ng picnic basket.

"So, tapos kana mag-take ng pictures? Ako naman, okay?" saad ko.

Tumango naman siya saka inabot iyong bitbit niya kaninang picnic basket saka kumuha ng saging dito at kinain. Tinaasan naman niya ako ng kilay.

"What image do you want from me?" Tanong niya.

"The opposite of you," sagot ko saka lumapit sa kaniya at inagaw iyong saging na kinakain niya dahilan para mapakunot ang noo niya.

Kinagatan ko rin naman iyong saging saka siya nginitian na siyang ikinangiti niya nang malapad. I then put the banana on top of the basket and took a step more closer to him.

I heard him took a deep breath as he bit his lower lip as if he was trying to stop himself from smiling. I then look at his overshirt and reach out to its button making him flinch again. I started unbuttoning his shirt until I reach its middle part and left it buttoned revealing his undershirt. I then took his suspender and cling it to his right shoulder and let the left part hanging down to his thighs.

Lalayo na sana ako sa kaniya pero hinawakan niya iyong kamay ko dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kaniya at tignan siya nang nagtataka.

"Mukhang sanay ka mag-unbotton ng damit ng lalaki ah?" tanong niya nang seryoso lang.

Tinaasan ko naman siya ng kilay at mahinang napatawa.

"Of course," sagot ko nalang at kinindatan siya saka kinuha iyong props niyang sigarilyo saka inabot sa kaniya. Kinuha niya naman ito saka isinubo nang hindi sinisindihan at pinangunutan ako ng noo dahilan para mapangiti ako.

"Wow, Leonardo ang datingan," saad ko saka napatawa. Naiiling naman siyang napatawa.

"Tara," aya ko sa kaniya saka hinatak siya papunta sa tapat ng maliit na cabin malapit sa amin saka sinenyasan siyang maupo sa may hagdanan sa harap.

Tinitigan ko naman siya saka napakamot sa pisngi. He looks good but something is missing.

Ipinantay ko naman ang mukha ko sa kaniya saka hinawi iyong buhok niya at medyo ginulo. Bumilis naman ang t***k ng puso ko nang mapansing napalapit pala iyong mukha ko sa kaniya at halos isang pulgada na lamang at magdidikit na iyong ilong namin.

My eyes then darted to his eyes which are staring almost into my soul creating a weird sensation in my chest almost burning. I was about to take a step backward when both of his hands landed at my hips causing me to land on my knees and find support through his chest. I felt his chest moving up and down rapidly than normal making me bit my lips.

"Sh*t," I heard him uttered between his breath as he helps me to stand.

"What pose do you want me to do?" He asked as if nothing happened.

"W-whatever you want," I said ignoring the slight twinge in my chest.

I then started taking pictures of him nang makita ko iyong marahang pagtango niya. Tahimik lang siya na sinusunod iyong posing recommendations ko dahilan para hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng awkwardness sa pagitan namin. Hindi ko namang kasalanan na mapatabi sa kaniya pero bakit parang ako pa ang nahihiya?

I unconsciously bit my lips as I feel my cheeks being warmer.

"Ms. Khatalina!!!"

Napahinto naman ako sa pagkuha ng litrato ni Jaxen nang marinig ang isang pamilyar na boses ng isang lalaki sa likod ko. Nangunot naman ang noo ni Jaxen nang mapatingin siya sa taong pinanggalingan ng boses.

Mariin naman akong napapikit.

"Ms. Khatalina! Ako 'to, si Arnold!" sigaw pa noong lalaki kasabay ng tunog ng d**o na natatapakan niya tanda na naglalakad siya palapit sa akin.

Muling bumalik sa akin ang tingin ni Jaxen na tila nakikiramdam.

Hinarap ko naman si Arnold saka pilit na nginitian.

"Arnold, ikaw pala," saad ko na ikinangiti niya.

May hawak-hawak siyang camera na nakasabit sa leeg niya iyong strap at mukhang nagpi-picture rin siya. Sa dinarami-rami ng lugar na pwede niyang puntahan bakit dito pa?

“Opo, good thing nakita kita rito! Can you judge my photographs?” masayang saad niya sa akin iyong camera niya.

Nagkatinginan naman kami ni Jaxen. Napakamot nalang ako sa noo saka nginitian si Arnold at tinignan iyong mga kuha niyang larawan.

Iniwasan ko agad na mapakunot ang noo at mapangiwi nang makita ko iyong mga kuha niya. His photograph quality wasn’t bad, it is just the way he takes angles at his subjects.

“Pfft,” rinig kong pagtitimpi ni Jaxen ng tawa. I then bit my lips trying not to laugh.

Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin kaya napatalikod siya sa amin saka hinawakan ang bibig na para bang nagpipigil ng tawa. Napatikhim naman ako saka tinitigang mabuti iyong isang litratong kuha niya ng isang matandang babae kanina na kasama ng matandang lalaki kaninang napadaan sa amin ni Jaxen. She was drinking from a wine glass and the way the picture was taken is right at the moment of the wine coming in to her mouth in a very unflattering way. It makes the grandma’s teeth look bigger and her face look crooked.

“What do you think?” tanong niya.

“Uhm… what’s your goal… in these shots?” I asked trying to be calm.

He then looked at me proudly and smiled so wide that I can see his silver tooth. Arnold is three years younger than me and has been visiting Ethereal to impress me and my photographers. We already told him that he needs to study more but then he just won’t get what we’re trying to tell him. I don’t want to ruin his passion though…

“My goal? I want to show people the power of a photograph,” he answered confidently.

“Very powerful! Yes!” sabat naman ni Jaxen na nangingiti-ngiting tinatanguan si Arnold dahilan para halos magliwanag sa kinang iyong mga mata ni Arnold.

“T-talaga?” masayang tanong ni Arnold kay Jaxen.

“Oo, keep it up!” natatawang sabi ni Jaxen saka nag-thumbs up pa.

Hinawakan ko naman sa braso si Jaxen saka sinenyasan siyang manahimik na dahilan para mapatawa lang siya. Ibinalik ko naman na kay Arnold iyong camera niya saka nagpaalam na siya na kukuha pa raw siya ng maraming pictures.

“Sino ‘yon? Maniligaw mo?” natatawang tanong ni Jaxen saka ihinawi iyong buhok niya palayo sa mukha niya.

 “Ewan ko sa ‘yo,” naiiling na sagot ko saka inaya na siya na bumalik doon sa mga gamit namin.

“Should we eat?” tanong niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

“May dala ka bang pagkain?” balik na tanong ko.

“Ikaw may dala ka?” balik na tanong niya rin sa akin.

“Wala,” sagot ko saka nailing-iling pa.

“Ahh, wawa,” pang-aasar niya.

Naupo naman ako sa picnic mat saka hindi siya pinansin at nahiga nalang habang tinitignan iyong mga kuha kong litrato. Tanging mga tunog ng iilang mga ibon at tunog ng mga dahong tinatangay ng hangin ang naririnig ko dahilan para hindi ko maiwasang makaramdam ng pagka-relax. Pinatay ko na ang camera ko saka inilagay sa basket saka tumagilid para panoorin si Jaxen sa kung ano mang pinagkakaabalahan niya ngayon.

I then rest my head against my right arm as a pillow and just waited until his image slowly fades and turns into pure darkness…

“Stop… c-crying!” I shouted with gritted teeth while pinching my arm.

“K-Kathalina…” Kimberly’s voice uttered behind my office door.

I did not bother to respond as I can’t even stop myself from crying. I am sitting here on the floor with my hands wrapped around my head beside the huge window of my office. I then bring my palm to stop the river flowing down my eyes.

“I… hate this…” I whispered between my trembling lips.

This always happens. No matter what I do, they will never appreciate my efforts and my sacrifices. They always think that I am just having the time of my life now that I am slowly rising from scratch.

I then stand and wipe all of my tears ignoring my endless sniffing. I walked into my comfort room inside of my office only to look for my reflection in the mirror.

My eyes are red and teary, my nose is a little pink, and my lips were warm and ruddy. My dark brown eyeliner was all smudge together with my mascara.

I wore makeup today because I thought they will be there. Sitting in those chairs aligned in rows happily watching me get on the stage with my diploma.

It hurts.

I just don't want to expect anymore.

I am tired of being patient and understanding them. Kimberly was there anyway, proudly looking at me as if I am her daughter.

"This is the last time I will cry," I announced staring at my reflection.

I took a deep breath and wash off my makeup just so I can feel a little fresher after bawling my eyes out. I went back to my desk and faced the pile of papers on it waiting for me to finish them. It only took me two hours to finish all of the papers that are supposed to be done by me for tomorrow because I thought I will be having dinner with them today.

I guess I'll be celebrating alone again.

Lumabas naman na ako ng office para hanapin si Kimberly.

"HAPPY GRADUATION, MISS KHATALINA!!!"

I was startled by my employees' sudden yell as soon as I got out of my office.

I hurriedly scan the whole production floor, there were balloons everywhere and Kimberly with all the other employees were smiling holding gifts of their own for me while Kimberly is holding a cake saying "You did well, Khatalina!".

I then bit my lips as I felt that my heart beats furiously out of surprise at the unexpected celebration they arranged for me.

" T-thank you, everyone..." I said almost inaudible.

They started handing me their gifts while congratulating me. Some of my models and partners were also here. It is their first time coming on this floor because they were always at the studio.

"A drink?"

I then look in the direction where the voice comes from. My eyes then darted at Zeke wearing a full-on tuxedo making him stand out from everyone else. He was holding two glasses of champagne. He then walks closer to me and handed me the champagne. I gladly took it and thank him. He smiled and raised his hand and pinches my cheek.

"We're all proud of you," he said and holds my hand and bring it closer to his lips.

I then hugged him.

"I know. Thank you..." I whispered to his ear.

Kumawala naman agad ako sa pagkakayakap ko sa kaniya saka niya ako tinulungan ipasok lahat ng regalo sa office ko.

"So, what's your plan tonight?" He asked as he put the last gift on the couch of my office.

"I don't know. I'll probably go out and date myself," I answered and open my huge curtain letting the sunset's light in my office.

"How about a date with your handsome vice president?" He said and was followed by his appealing snicker.

"Libre mo?" Tanong ko sa kaniya na ikinangiti naman niya nang malapad.

"Sure," sagot niya saka hinila na ako palabas ng office ko.

Hindi naman na ako nakapagprotesta pa because knowing him, he wouldn't listen.

"Ako na bahala sa lahat!" Sigaw naman ni Kimberly sa amin nang lingunin ko siya at makita niya akong hila-hila ni Zeke.

"Ikaw mag-drive? Uminom ka diba?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. He then smiled and throw his keys at me.

"Tikim lang naman and I am not yet drunk but I know you want to drive my car," he said and winks kaya naman napangiti ako at nagmamadaling sumakay sa sasakyan niya.

Sumakay naman siya sa shotgun seat. Isinaksak ko naman na rin iyong susi pero agad niya akong pinigilan dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko.

"Seatbelt, Miss Khatalina," he said with his voice suddenly became husky. He leans closer to me and reaches out for the seatbelt and locks it to mine.

Pinanood ko lang naman siya at hindi maiwasang mailang sa sobrang lapit ng mukha niya kaya naman napatingin nalang ako sa bintana.

"Tell me, Khatalina," saad niya saka naupo na ng maayos sa upuan at isinuot iyong seatbelt. Napatikhim naman ako saka pinaandar na ang sasakyan niya.

"What?" Responde ko sa sinabi niya.

"What's your ideal type?" tanong pa niya.

I didn't bother to look at him and just glued my gaze at the way. Nakikita ko naman siya sa peripheral vision ko na nakatanaw sa bintana.

"Not you," sagit ko saka napatawa.

Nanghihina naman siyang napatawa saka nilingon ako.

"I hate you," kumento niya nalang na ikinatawa naming dalawa. Ilang taon niya narin kasi akong tinatanong if pwede niya ba akong ligawan but I just refuse to it nalang because it is not really in my mind right now.

"KHATALINA!!!"