Behind His Curtain (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 27

"You know, I'm not here for nothing, right?"

Sinulyapan niya ako gamit ang pagod na mukha. "Tripod lang 'to, I can manage."

But still. Lumapit ako at tinanong kung hanggang anong taas ba ang gusto niya da tripod. At first, he hid the small ball where he kept adjusting and adjusting but his camera kept lolling around. "Is it okay?" tanong ko nang in-adjust niya na ang camera.

He merely nodded and looked away. Tiningnan ko ang camera niya bago nilingon ang audience, o ang buong venue. He already recorded the arrival of the newly wed and tumakbo kami sa tapat ng stage para naman sa pagpasok nila, habang ang lahat ay nakaupo na sa respective tables, ay makuhanan niya uli.

"I don't know this place so I don't think dapat iniiwan mo 'yung mga gamit mo sa stage." turo ko sa likuran namin. "Ako na ang maghahawak."

"Henry, I've been doing this for months, walang nawala."

"Kailangan ba muna may nawala para tigilan mo na?" that came out bitterly. I know once we're together, babalik at babalik kami sa nakaraan nang hindi namamalayan. "Nag-request ka mismo sa boss namin at ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko, okay?"

"Puro... lens lang naman ang nandiyan." then he returned his eyes in front.

True enough, tumunog iyong mga nasa loob pagkabuhat ko at maingay na sinuot sa braso ang tote bag. I'm wondering why he has to hide his camera things in this... thin and fragile bag. Surely, puwede siyang bumili ng mas bulky at mahal na bag.

I glanced at the catering tables and nodded at the people behind. Hindi ko alam kung bakit malalaki ang tingin at ngiti nila sa akin. Probably wondering why I'm stuck here.

"Bakit ang tagal?"

Nilingon ko ang at nakita na parents ng bride iyon. Her mother is wearing a flowy white dress while her father's wearing the same top I do. Tiningnan ko ang iilan at sa ilang buwan ko sa ganitong trabaho, mapa-reception o birthdays, madali mo na madi-distinguish ang mga taong excited sa program o excited na kumain. And half of the guests are looking peckish already.

This is boring. Mas gugustuhin ko pa na nasa likod ng catering tables, natatakam sa mga courses ng mga pagkain, pero nakakausap ang mga kasamahan. Nagkalat lahat ng mga kasama ko pero ni isa ay walang malapit sa kung nasaan kami.

Dustin dropped his straps and I grabbed it. Hindi na naman siya tumingin sa akin kundi binalik lang sa leeg ang nahulog kanina.

A small, relieved smile formed in my face. Hindi naman sa ine-expect na mapayat siya pagkatapos noong gabing iyon but... he gained some weight but not too big. He looks the same like those times where we're still together. Pero medyo nawala na ang pagkaputi niya and based on what he said earlier, siguro... laging on field ang events niya kaya umitim kaunti.

"Ilang buwan ka na nagtratrabaho?"

It escaped my mouth before I even realized it. Gulat na naman pareho ang mukha naming dalawa pero kinalma ko ang sarili. Buong akala ko ay sa isip ko lang tinanong iyon! Bakit... lumabas nang may tunog?

"Ha?"

"W-wala." I shook my head.

Silence enveloped us for a while and the couple is still nowhere to be found. Babatukan ko nga 'yun kapag magkakalapit kami mamaya. "Just a month after I graduated." he answered.

I can feel my throat drying up. Hearing him for the first time, like we're just strangers and never shared a history. Toughen up, Henry. You're a man. You can't show your weakness for the nth time again.

"Wow." mahina kong sagot. "Good for you."

"Dad doesn't approve of it; you were right before, Henry." please. "But... I promised na I'll prove him wrong."