Behind His Curtain (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 31

"Seryoso ka ba?"

Isang paa pa lang napapasok ko sa loob ng studio at iyon na kaagad ang sinigaw niya. "I could use some help!" sigaw ko kaunti dahil ang bigat ng dalawang garbage bag na hawak ko.

Dustin took one and I immediately started breathing normally. Siraulong driver, sa kabilang kanto pa ako binaba dahil may isasakay siya uli! So I had to walk, carrying these two whole bags. Noong kinuha ko ang mga costumes ay masaya ako at looking forward to the mga gagawin but because of that...

Anyway, I pushed that feeling away as I have to make this day go smoothly and memorable. Dustin's already eyeing what's inside while murmuring 'God, ang dami nito.' or 'Pang-bata 'tong mga 'to, eh.'

"Don't worry, I didn't pay anything to this." ngiti ko kahit habol pa rin ang hininga. "Kilala ko 'yung nagpapa-renta... but I don't think some will fit us."

"Buti na-figure out mo?" he answered and pulled a Batman onesie. Si Heil kaagad ang unang pumasok sa isip ko na magkakasya lang doon. "Akala ko ba simple lang na fun shoot?"

"Simple lang naman, ah! Dala mo ba uniform mo? Iyon muna gagawin natin!"

Ako naman ang naghalukay sa malaking mga bag hanggang mahanap ko 'yung uniform ko noon sa RST and even my trousers. Hindi lang mga damit o pantalon ang nasa loob; it wouldn't weight a ton kung wala ang mga sapatos o wigs o kung anuman ang binigay sa akin.

"Nasaan 'yung plantsa mo?" I said upon seeing na na-crease ang buong uniform. The trousers, too. Pero hindi masyadong halata.

"Katatapos ko lang din gamitin."

True enough, on his table is his other cloth for backdrop and the green iron is sitting beside it. Tinuro n'ya 'yung uniform at pants niya na nakasabit sa itaas ng printer at napangiti ako. "Ang laki ko pala na tao noon."

He surveyed the cream uniform I'm holding and back to his own cream uniform. "I almost sell it after I graduate."

"Why?"

"Graduate na ako, 'no." Irap niya. Unlike our usual days, he's just wearing a plain white shirt and shorts. Mukhang hindi magbubukas ngayon, ha?

"Ah... Ako rin sana noon. Pero hindi ko alam kung babalakin ng dalawa na sa RST din pumasok. So I kept it away, in a safe place."

"Good for you." iniwan niya muna ako roon para magplantsa. "Titingnan ko anong susuotin mo."

"Susuotin natin!" I giddily explained. "Maraming choices diyan, promise."

"I can't believe this." the disbelief is evident in his tone. Don't worry baby... 13 days from now, hindi na ako mangungulit.

My eyes are focused on ironing my old uniform but I'm racking my brain about what we can do today. Nag-volunteer siya na sa kaniya na 'yung mga gagamitin sa mukha o sa buhok kaya wala nang problema. After this school-theme shoot, formal naman na ang kukunin namin. But it's gonna be two of us.

I can feel my eyes starting to water again. Seriously... kahit sa pagtulog ko ay umiiyak ako. I woke up earlier na basang-basa ang mukha at unan. That letter na binigay sa akin kagabi ay... It should've made me excited... or very much looking forward to it pero...

Handa naman ako, eh. Wala naman na akong maiiwan kapag umalis ako. But to learn na aalis ako sa mismong birthday ko? I don't know why it hit me like a 10-wheeler truck. Maybe birthdays are supposed to be celebrated with happy faces, pero sa 15... Iiyak lang kami. O sila.

I don't know where Dustin get those hangers pero pinakita niya sa akin 'yung mga napili niya and I didn't object anymore kasi iyon lang daw ang malalaki. And I have to look away quickly because seeing that rabbit suit made me visualize him and tightened my pants.