Behind His Curtain (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 04

"So, you're... a photography student?" hindi ko na kayang kagatin pa ang sariling dila.

Dustin merely nodded and asked if there's a chance na maayos pa ang toilet at sink niya. God. I still can't move on from my reaction earlier! Para akong tanga na gulat na gulat makita ang isang sulok ng kuwarto niya na puno ng litrato at maliliit na designs ng camera!

Promise, I haven't came in here to say na his room was familiar, it's just that... may iilan akong nakikita na study table na puro photography designs ang mayroon. I don't think this is the same place but it looks like one!

And maybe I was astounded to the realization na kung bakit hindi kami magkakilala noon pa: we will hate each other's differences. But don't get me wrong! I don't hate him now... naisip ko lang talaga 'yung isang possible reason bakit hindi kami magkakilala o nagku-kumustahan kung magkapitbahay lang kaming dalawa.

"Maayos pa naman." inalis ko ang tingin sa kama niyang sobrang laki! "Pero sabi mo kanina ay wala kayong ibang gamit. This pump helped but it wouldn't be enough. You have to hire a plumber para mas sure."

"Dad will get mad."

"Bakit naman?" tawa ko kaunti. "Barado ang banyo ng anak niya, sinong magulang ang magagalit doon kung hindi mo sadya?"

But from the way he looked away, I know what I said is not true. Pero nagpatay-malisya ako dahil baka kung ano-ano lang naiisip ko. Kaya pala sa baba siya gumamit ng banyo dahil sa problema niya sa sariling banyo. And I don't know why he's holding himself back from having it fixed.

Mayaman naman sila, kaya nila magtawag ng talagang gagawa, ah?

"I don't... trust anyone that... easily." he bit his lip at humalukipkip sa pader. "We're actually flying to Korea this Wednesday..."

"Wow! Korea! South Korea?" Tumango siya. "Hindi pa ako nakapunta, obviously, pero sa mga drama na nakikita ko, maganda raw."

"Yeah..."

Natahimik kami at walang may balak basagin iyon. Inikot ko ang mata at na-realize na hindi ko siya masyadong natanong kung saan ba siya nag-aaral. I was just curious! To meet someone who loves someone I usually don't do oftentimes!

"RST graduate ako... Ikaw? Anong year mo na?"

"Third..." he answered. "Sa RST din."

"Wow! Again! Look! Sa RST ka rin pala, eh!" yumuko ako para magtagpo ang mata namin pareho. "Maganda na ba sa RST ngayon? Hindi na ako nakakabisita, eh?"

"Yeah..."

"Small world, Dustin! Small world!" proud kong sabi. Akalain mo 'yun! Doon din pala siya nag-aaral at magtataka na sana ako kung bakit hindi ko siya nakikita e tapos na pala ako! "Mukhang passionate ka naman sa ginagawa mo, right? I know I can't look closer sa mga pictures mo pero siguradong magaganda..."

"Bolero." Tawa nito pabalik.

"Hey! It's not pambobola if I know it's not!" pinagkrus ko ang kamay at napalingon sa bintana kung saan umugong ang tawanan mula sa baba. "Kumain ka na ba?"

Kahit nakatalikod, alam kong umiling siya. "Bakit hindi muna tayo bumaba? Samahan kita. Mukhang marami pang pagkain."

"How about my bathroom?"

Ah. "Look. The more I want to help, wala akong experience sa plumbing kaya baka mas lalo lang may mangyari. My request is you, or we, find someone who knows how to work in here."

"I don't know anyone..."

How could you not be? "Maybe... I know some. Marami na akong naging kaibigan so baka isa sa kanila. Do you want me to ask them if they can help?"