Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 29

Without the help that his biological grandfather wanted to give him as bribe for the years they weren't able to support him, masked in the pretense of helping him succeed, Nikolai did it on his own.

He topped the Architecture Licensure Exams. Without the help of anyone else.

Of course, he'd be busy after that. He has his own dreams and I'm doing my best to support him in any way that I can. Pero akala ko ay sa mga bandang una lang iyon, pero parang habang patagal nang patagal ay nadadagdagan nang nadadagdagan ang responsibilidad niya.

I glanced at the wall clock in his room. It's getting late.

Is this one of those nights? Sinilip ko ang tahimik kong cellphone at nakitang wala pang ibang mensahe mula sa kaniya. The last text he sent me was earlier this evening, simply telling me that he's doing fine and then asked about me.

Ayaw ko naman siyang abalahin. I want to ask Ashriel about him instead but that's out of the question because the man's clueless about this.

Nang makaramdam ako ng antok ay agad akong tumayo at tumalon-talon para maalis iyon. Susubukan kong hintayin siyang makauwi bago ako matulog.

Wala akong tiwala sa sarili ko na hindi ako makakatulog sa kama kaya lumabas ako papunta sa kusina at nagtimpla ng kape para sa sarili.

Hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko sa pintuan dahil namamag-asa ako na pauwi na siya.

Pero walang kahit anong tapang ng kape ang kayang labanan ang pagod ko at hindi ko napigilang makatulog. Nagising nalang ako na nasa malaking sofa, at sa likod ko ay si Nikolai na nakayakap sa akin.

He's probably too tired to even reach his room.

I smiled sadly. Umusog ako para bumaling sa kaniya at maglaan ng kahit kaunting oras para tingnan siya nang ganito kalapit. Kahit hinawakan ko na ang pisngi niya ay hindi pa rin siya nagigising dahil sa lalim ng tulog niya.

It turned out it really was one of those nights that I do not get to see him.

Tapos, ganito kaaga, hindi pa siya gising... ako naman ang kailangang umalis. It was so hard to remove his arms wrapped around me but I had to do it.

My schedule's packed for the day and judging from the number of missed calls from Kit, I think I am running late.

"Didn't you get enough rest? Beauty rest is important!" frustrated na salubong sa akin ni Kit.

I rolled my eyes, "I know, I know. It was tough sleeping alone."

"Sinasabi ko na nga ba, pahamak talaga 'yang Nikolai na 'yan! Hay naku!" Nahihila niya ang buhok ko habang sinusuklay niya ito kaya napapadaing ako.

"Calm down, Kit. He's just busy. He has work."

"An architect in his own firm! That's his work! Ang dami kayang babaeng pwedeng umaligid d'yan, Miss Gemini."

I giggled, "I have no control over that, my baby's good-looking. Besides, Nikolai would never do that to me."

She pulled out her phone, and made me look at a photo of Nikolai with another girl with him. "That's in his office," sabi ko.

"Yes! With a girl! Na masyadong malapit sa kaniya!"

Hilaw akong ngumiti at isinantabi ang pait na umuusbong mula sa kaibuturan ng kaluluwa ko. "Again, Nikolai wouldn't do that to me. It's work."

Kahit hindi na sumagot si Kit ay nakikita ko sa salamin ang pag-iling niya. Pagpatak ng tanghali ay tsaka pa lang ako nagkaroon ng oras para tingnan ang cellphone ko.