Behind His Curtain (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 06

Isang langitngit nag nagpagising sa akin.

Sa pagmamadali, muntikan nang maipit ang hintuturo ko sa pagsara at imposible na makakabalik ako sa puwesto kaya bago ko harapin ang paglabas ni Dustin ay nagkunwari akong nagwawalis. Saved by the walis na nasa dulong corner kung nasaan ako!

Pinagpawisan ako sa nakita ngunit isinantabi ko iyon dahil kahit madilim, tila kumikinang ang gilid ng mata niya.

"Something wrong?"

Of course, there is! What happened earlier! Ganoon ka ba kagulat sa nakita mong dildo at nakalimutan mo ang kasalanan kanina?!

"Bakit ka nagwawalis?" tuliro nitong sagot.

"You took so long... in there. Na-bored ako." binalik ko sa gilid iyon at lumapit sa kaniya. True enough, naiiyak siya ngayon. "I know you have something to say."

"Nothing... I-i'ts nothing. Just school stuff."

Naniwala ako pero alam ko na may isa pa. I held his wrist and made him face me again. "Dustin. I'm sorry. Really. Sa kanina..."

"Wala iyon... Nakalimutan ko na nga, eh..."

What did you take from that call na agad mong nakalimutan iyon? "So may nangyari nga? Sino tumawag sa'yo?"

Iling lang ang sagot. "Dustin, hindi ako uuwi hangga't hindi mo sinasabi kung anong bumabagabag sa'yo."

"Sabi ko nga, tungkol lang sa sc—"

"School e gabi na? Who calls their classmate in the dead of night just to break a probable bad news?" diin ko at kuyom ng panga.

"This is nothing for you to w-worry about..." sinubukan niyang kalasin ang hawak ko but he really went weak after that.

I made another scowl and looked at him intently to prove I won't leave until he softened. "Hindi kita pinipilit pero sa lagay mo ngayon, kailangan ko. I offended you earlier and something probably happened on that call and God knows you'll go to bed with that frown in your face."

"Henry, why are you sudd—"

"Just answer me, baby..." hindi ko na nakilala ang sagot ko. "I want to take that frown and uneasiness away from you..."

Alam ko na nakakasakit ang pagkakahawal kaya niluwagan ko iyon at binaba pareho. Sinundan niya iyon ng tingin at nang tuluyan kong bitawan, hinawakan ko ang dibdib. Tangina. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang ganitong kalakas na kabig ng puso.

Silence embraced us and I'm scared he will hear how my heart is going crazy right now that I faked a cough. And it broke his coldness. "My samchon called me..."

Tumagilid ang ulo ko. Samchon? Ano 'yun?

"My... uncle from Korea. He just asked how I am..."

"Bakit sa kuwarto mo pa kailangan sagutin?" I'm hurt, I don't know why.

"It's rude to take it around you..."

"That's your uncle, you just said it! Hindi ko naman papansinin kung sinabi mo na siya lang pala!" singhal ko. "What did he say?"

The way he took a step back made me think I crossed a line. Mas naramdaman ko ang hapdi sa balat dahil doon. "He just... sent his regards. May nangyari sa sumunod na call; it's from my classmate."

I remain staring. I want to kiss that pretty face. "A problem arises kasi... I asked him if his cousin is available for my portfolio but... he has to go back to Italy because of a sudden emergency."

"Portfolio?" I don't get it. "For what?"

"S-school?" he shrugs.

And that was enough for me to calm down. Ilang beses akong napabuntong hininga para tanggalin ang galit sa loob-loob. Dustin is still stiff that I have to pull him again, and bury him under my neck; his breath starts to coat my collarbone like a tattoo.