Behind His Mask

Chapter 13

"Ayaw ko nang.. mag-inom." Wyndell laughed at Riley when his words were separated with a hiccup.

"You're drunk." She stated with a laugh at parang bata naman itong umiling sa kaniya.

"Noooo.. I'm not drunk." He denied kaya napailing na lamang si Wyndell tapos ay nangalumbaba siya as she looked at the man sitting beside her.

"Do you like me?" She asked at kaagad namang tumango sa kaniya si Riley.

"Yeah." Sagot pa nito habang tumatango at may malapad na ngiti namang puminta sa labi niya.

"Why?" Tanong niya at ngumuso muna ang binata bago ito nagsalita.

"Hmmm.. Just because..." A hiccup cut his words off. "Do I need a reason to justify my feelings?" Tanong nito tapos ay sumubsob ito sa lamesa tapos ay iniharap nito ang mukha nito sa kaniya. "You're the one who stole my heart... Dapat ikaw ang nagpapaliwanag." Dagdag pa nito kaya hindi niya mapigilang mapatawa tapos ay pinisil niya ang pisnge ng binata.

"I didn't steal anything." She stated at muli namang ngumuso sa kaniya si Riley.

"But you did stole my heart." Pagpupumilit nito tapos ay pumikit ito. "And you stole it when... I least expected it.. You little thief." Dagdag pa nito kaya pinanggigilan niya ang pisnge ng binata. "Ouuuchhh.. Stooooop." He demanded like a child and she couldn't stop herself from giggling.

"You're such a kid." Komento niya at sumimangot naman si Riley.

"No.. I'm not... I just like acting like one.. And somehow.. it became a part of me.. It became a habit." Pagpapaliwanag nito kaya pinagkrus niya ang kamay niya sa lamesa tapos ay inilapat niya ang pisnge niya roon habang nakaharap sa binata.

"Why?" She curiously asked at lumapat naman ang kamay ng binata sa pisnge niya, and his thumb started caressing her cheek.

"Because my friends don't get mad.. Naiinis lang sila.. But they don't get mad." He stated and Wyndell didn't speak after that. She wanted to hear more, and she got the trick from her sister. And not long after her silence, Riley did continue speaking.

"I didn't have a happy childhood." Panimula nito. "I was watched twenty-four seven... I understood naman kung bakit.. I was forced to mature early.. I don't want to talk about it though.." Pagpapatuloy nito and Wyndell held the hand that's on her cheek.

"Okay." She replied and Riley smiled.

"Sasabihin ko rin sa'yo ang nakaraan ko.. Not now.. pero soon." Anito at pinagsiklop nito ang kamay nilang dalawa, then the man pulled her hand closer to his lips as he planted a kiss on the back of it.

They stayed silent after that. Wyndell couldn't even hear the buzzling noises around them, as well as the sound of the music. She just stared at Riley's face habang nakapikit ito. Hindi niya alam kung natutulog ba ang binata o kung nagpapahulas lamang ito dahil sigurado siyang may tama na ito ng alak.

"I don't like this dreadful mood. Let's go out?" Napakurap siya ng ilang beses nang biglang magsalita si Riley at umapo ito ng maayos kaya umayos din siya ng upo.

"I don't want to drive. Hindi kasing lakas ng loob ng ate ko ang loob ko na kaya niyang magmaneho kahit pa nakainom na siya." Aniya at tumawa naman ang binata tapos ay tumayo ito.

"Let's take a walk." Anito kaya nagpahila na lang siya rito patayo at sabay silang naglakad palabas ng club.

"Hindi mo ba babayaran 'yung ininom natin? And are you okay? Hindi ka na lasing?" She curiously asked at umiling naman si Riley.

"Ililista na lang nila 'yun sa pangalan ko. I don't bring cash." Paliwanag nito tapos ay lumingon ito sa kaniya. "Hindi ako lasing, naliliyo lang ako kanina." Dagdag pa nito at nagtaas naman siya ng kilay rito.