Through Painted Eyes and Pastel Tears

Chapter 6: Dark Blue

It's been a year, and three months with Jazz. And what could I say? No one's complaining. We do fight sometimes, but none of the big stuff. We do make it up before we even head to bed. She's introduced me to her dada, her siblings love me, and so does my family. They're all in with her. My mom even lets her help in the kitchen and even asked her if she could help with the catering business. Turns out, Jazz has talent in cooking.

I've also shown her around in the office, introduced her to Art, James, Lea, the whole crew. She also takes me to her gigs, events. Her production company even hired me to be the photographer in one of their launchings.

Everything's been going pretty great for us. In fact it's been so great that she's-

"Toto, san ko pwede ilagay tong guitars ko and drums?" She said, hauling in her guitars and a bag holding her crash and ride. Yes, we've moved into a one bedroom condo together. Huge activity area, wide space, bigger balcony, bigger kitchen.

Toto's my nickname at home, I resented it. But somehow, she's made it bearable.

"Activity area, baby." I was already setting up some posters and moving my work desk in our shared activity area. Everything was already fully furnished, all we had to do was move in, and add in our personal touches.

"Mmkay." I jogged up to her, smiling as I took the bass drum in from the hallway into our place. "Thank you." She smiled, looked up at me and gave me a little kiss on the cheek.

"We're really moving in together, huh?" She stood in the middle of the activity area, setting her stuff down and looking around.

I stood behind her and held her in my arms in a hug, slipping my hands inside the sides of her open plaid shirt, her gray tank top almost drenched in sweat. I planted a kiss on the crown of her head, dark blue locks on it. She's changed the color of her hair. I like it.

We were all set up and I was already making coffee for work. I'm half way through my story already. I know, right? It's been over a year with Jazz and I haven't finished my story yet, nor am I ready to present it. I just can't draw a conflict from anywhere in my brain. I've been so happy lately with Jazz. I have, however, written several short films, short stories and poems. Direk Art loved them, but he still wants to see this story about color.

The alarm rang, she checked her phone. "Babe, got to go na, for work? Remember?"

She was referring to this band's launch party, they're called "Love Out Loud." Her production company signed them a few months ago. She took her keys from the shelf by the door and was already checking her phone.

"Oh.." I sat in front of my laptop on the desk beside the sliding door that leads out to our balcony. "Take care, hmm?"

"I love you. You sure you don't want to come with me?"

I was already deep in thought, bothered. Who wouldn't be? Her ex is the band's vocalist. She's always reassured me that they've both had closure. But, I don't know. It's making me feel uneasy at times and I'm a little glad that after the band's launch she won't be working with them any longer. She produced their debut album, and we agreed on it that that's the last she'll be working with the band.

"Hoy." She walked over to me and slipped her arms around my shoulders, leaning her chin on my shoulder. "Sabi ko I love you."

"I love you too, Jazz. Don't worry, I'm okay with it." I said, and lied a little. "Last naman na yan diba?"

"Oo nga, Tommy. Don't you trust me?" She pulled away then stood beside me, leaning down to plant a kiss on my forehead.

Oh, Jazz. I trust you, not him. And that's exactly what I told her. "I trust you nga, babe. I don't trust your ex though."