Behind His Curtain (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 30

"Labas tayo? Batangas!"

"No."

I knew he'd say the exact word he just said. Bumagsak ang balikat ko pero nandoon pa rin ang ngiti ko. "Tagaytay? Maganda roon."

"Busy ako."

"Siyempre, kapag wala tayong schedule. Or sa weekend!"

Tiningala niya ako mula sa table at nanliit ako saglit. This work is tiring him too much but not once I heard him complain. "What are you trying to do?"

Malalim akong huminga at hinigit ang upuan na nasa likuran niya. Simula noong shoot namin sa kabilang probinsya ay talagang desidido ako na umalis kami. I was... eager to take him out somewhere... Just like what I did last Christmas. And with that eagerness, I overlooked the reality... the truth na hindi talaga siya papayag.

Kasi kahit hindi pa niya sabihin, flashbacks are just somewhere in the corner, ready to attack him. And I was selfish with that. Again. Hindi na ako nadadala.

"You know what..." I pressed two of my fingers on my forehead and stopped smiling. "Huwag na pala. It's foolish of me to... invite you."

"Buti naman alam mo." shit talaga!

Bakit hindi mo naisip maging sensitive kahit saglit habang nagplaplano? I hold onto his shoulders, eyes drooped on my hand and creased his forehead. "Galit ka?"

"Hindi na tayo bata o walang hinahabol na future para magpakasasa magbakasyon, Henry." singhal nito. "As much as I want to take a vacation, sinabi ko sa'yo na I'm trying to prove someone with what I'm doing, right?"

"Ang dami mo nang clients, hindi pa ba sapat 'yun, baby?"

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. What did I say wrong? "I'm trying to be like Shaira Luna or BJ Pascual."

"Sino 'yung mga 'yon?"

"Pornstars siguro, Hendery." irap nito at niyugyog ang kamay ko paalis sabay balik ng atensyon sa screen.

"Sira ka talaga," iiling-iling kong sabi sabay kuha sa phone. "I'll search them, kala mo ha!"

"Pace yourself."

One thing the two in common is... true enough to his statement, they are the most prominent and celebrated Filipino photographers dito sa Pilipinas! The Luna one appeared on commercial I watched before. I didn't know she's a photographer...

"Don't worry... Kaunting persevere pa... mas hihigitan mo pa sila."

"Thanks. That's nice to hear." I saw his smile.

"I'm sorry again. Hindi na mauulit."

Umalis ako sa studio para magmuni-muni. Before I leave, what I could do to make his way in success easy? Should I contact those people and ask if they are having workshops? Sigurado magugulantang si Dustin doon but he'll still go for it. But saan ko hahanapin? And who knows they will reply?

Maaga pa at habang hindi niya ako tinatawag sa pagprint ay pumasok ako sa kusina. May rice cooker at stove na siya rito. The water is running but you can say from the cleanliness na wala pa siyang naluluto rito. An idea came up in my head but this time, it wouldn't risk him!

"May kailangan na ba akong gawin?"

"Why? May gagawin ka bang iba?"

I grab my bag on the other stool and hooked it on my shoulders. Mabuti na lang natuto na ako na bumili ng mga presko na damit. My other and old shirts are in my luggages pero may mga bago na rin. This navy blue V-neck shirt I have is too comfortable and soft to wear. But in a good way.