Behind The Camera

Chapter 28

"There's something wrong with you," Hindi ko pinansin si Silas at nagdirediretso lang sa paglabas ng kwarto ni Siobhan. Kakatulog lang ng bata sa nakakapagod na araw namin kaya yoko siyang maistorbo kung sakali man sa loob ko sasagutin si Silas. "Did something happen to you there? Did you bump into Bertha?"

I wanted to answer that I did indeed bump into monster of an ex-manager but my mood was already ruined by that time, seeing Bertha's face just heightened that anger.

Pumasok sa kwarto ko sa tabi ng kay Siobhan, it's almost midnight kaya pagod na rin ako. Late natapos ang shoot nila tapos pagdating namin dito ay naglaro pa ang bata kahit sinabi kong ipabukas na niya.

Alam kong nakasunod sa akin si Silas kahit na hindi ko siya pinapasok sa kwarto. Kumuha ako ng damit at lalabas na sana nang hawakan niya ang palapulsuan ko. I couldn't walk away so I have no other choice but to talk to him.

"Talk to me, Gio." Nagmamakaawa na niyang sabi sa akin. "What happened?"

"You shouldn't have set up the her new toy. Doble trabaho lang kung kakalasin ko lang din kung dadalhin namin."

He looked confused with what I just said but not once did his hold on me loosen. "Why? Are we going somewhere?"

"I already have plans on talking to my family this week so Siobhan and I will be moving out soon. We'll be out of here soon so you won't have to make adjustments in your life anymore." Linapag ko sa kama ang hawak na damit at pilit na inalis ang hawak niya sa akin. "Mukhang nahihirapan ka na kasi." I said sarcastically.

"What do you mean by that, Gio? Bakit kayo aalis ni Siobhan?"

I rolled my eyes, "I never did say that living here will be a permanent set up. Kakausapin ko lang sina Papa then Siobhan and I will move in with me, within this week din. Don't worry konting tiis na lang, Silas." Tumalikod ako sa kanya para buksan na ang pinto. "You can visit her pa rin naman, hindi ko naman ipagbabawal iyon. Now that we finished talking, can you please leave?" Tinuro ko ang labas. "I'd like to rest now."

Akala ko ay lalabas na siya nang itulak niya pasara ang pintong hawak ko at inipot ako sa pagitan ng katawan niya at ang nakasaradong pinto. "Okay na tayo diba? Bakit kailangan niyong umalis?" For a while, I thought that I saw pain flash from his eyes but it quickly went away.

Tinulak ko ang dibdib niya pero walang effect, "We're not married, that's that. You don't expect me to live with some guy that is not my husband, do you?"

Silas scoffed at unti-unting linapit ang mukha sa akin. He stopped when our noses are brushing with one another. "Some guy, really? Your wording makes it seem like you're living with a stranger." I kept glaring at him, not once showing how affected I am to our close proximity. "Hindi estranghero ang kasama mo sa bahay, Gio. Pamilya mo, kami ni Siobhan."

"Si Siobhan, oo. Pero ikaw?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "You're not my family. Tatay ka ni Siobhan pero hindi kita asawa." I raised my left hand. "No ring, Silas. I can leave whenever I want."

Hinawakan ni Silas ang nakataas kong kaliwang kamay at hinalikan ang daliring kung saan uswal na linalagay ang singsing ng mag-asa. "Should I put a ring on it then? The ring that I got for you has been collecting dust inside my bed side table drawer for 7 years now."

Natigil ako saglit sa sinabi niya. 7 years? That was a year before I won the pageant. He's lying again, halata namang hindi pa siya handa dati.

Nabigla man sa sinabi niya ay hindi pa rin ako tumigil. "As if I'd let you, pagnauto pa ako ngayon edi tatkong beses mo na akong naloko. Hindi naman na ako ganon katanga."

"Can you stop talking in riddles, Giovanna?" I clicked my tongue in satisfaction when I saw frustration on his expression. "Ano ba talaga ang nangyayari? Bakit kayo aalis ni Siobhan?"