Alexa
Mahimbing nang natutulog si Blue kaya madali akong nakaalis sa yakap nito. I feel thirsty so I went to kitchen to drink. Nagulat pa ako seeing Kate sitting on one of the dining chairs, nagpophone habang kumakain ng iba't - ibang chocolates. She seems stress eating.
"Not yet sleepy or overthinking?" I asked and get pitcher of water from fridge.
"Pwede both?" she said then forced a chuckle.
"Hindi makatulog kakaoverthink" pagparaphrase ko ng sinabi ko kanina at umupo sa tabi niya.
I looked at her intently. There's this sadness in her eyes, seems she's enduring something she haven't gone through before.
She let out a sigh and looked at me. "Ate Alexa, can I invite Aster on devil's birthday?" she asked with a hopeful look.
I didn't know what to say but the kid's eyes are pleasing and I don't have the heart to turn her down.
"Kung okay naman sa ate mo, bakit hindi?" pilit kong pinasaya ang boses ko kahit na nga ba ang bigat sa pakiramdam ko.
Tama nga si Lilac, ang selosa ko o dahil sa naiisip kong nagpakababa si Blue at pumatol sa may asawa.
"Mabuti naman po" masaya ring sabi ni Kate pero parang hindi siya sure kung pupunta nga ba ang ipinaalam niyang tao sa 'kin.
"Do you work at Fuentes?"tukoy ko sa modeling agency ni Aster. We'd talked about some modeling agency before pero hindi ko natanong kung saan talaga siya nagtatrabaho.
"Yes. Actually, she bought the agency where I work" may paghanga niyang sabi at ngumiti bago kumain ng bar ng chocolate. Inalok niya rin ako.
"She really became that big in fashion industry" namamangha ko ring sabi at inabot ang chocolate.
"Sumikat kasi ang isang collection niya a couple of years ago, Shades of Blue" she rolled her eyes nang sabihin ang collection na ipinagtaka ko naman.
My brows furrowed for a couple of seconds and when I looked at Kate ay saka ko lang napagtanto ang sinasabi niya. Ang Shades of Blue ay hindi lang dress and gown collection na ang kulay ay mga shades ng Blue, makikita mo rin dito how it made from sadness sa dating advertisement nito. Though not all because some gowns in the collection represents youth and beauty, I think it suits for debutants.
"Yeah ate Alexa, inspired kay devil ang collection niyang iyon" she frowned and bitterly chewed the chocolate bar she just put in her mouth. "Napakaswerte ng ate ko ano? Iniwan niya na nga nang walang sabi ay hinugutan pa siya ng ideya"
"Gano'n talaga si Aster, she tends to get inspiration on things that hurt her"
"You know her personally?" Kate asked with a curious look, her voice also indicates how interested she is.
"She's my friend's cousin, but it's like 3 years ago nang huli kaming magkasama"
"So you two are in good terms pala. Sana sila rin ni Blue" she sighed at napakunot naman ako ng noo sa kyuryosidad. "Don't get me wrong ate ha. I just want them to be fine 'cause I think dahil kay devil ay mabigat ang loob sa 'kin ni Aster" pagsagot niya sa tanong sa isipan ko.
"They'll be fine. Sasabihin ko kay Blue na kausapin siya" pagbibigay assurance ko rito kahit na nga ba mabigat sa 'kin ang isiping magkikita sila.
Relax Alexa, kailangan 'to ni Aster. Pagkalma ko sa sarili ko. I can't be selfish, it's not easy na maiwan nang walang paalam and maybe Blue's apology will help Aster to move forward nang walang mabigat na nararamdaman.
