Behind Curtains

Kabanata 52

Kabanata 52

Pay

"May gusto ka pa bang, uh, malaman?" pahabol na tanong ni Christie nang nagsimula na akong magpaalam.

Ningitian ko siya ng tipid at umiling.

"Wala na po muna..."

Tinanguan niya ako at tinitigan. "Okay, so... uhm, may lakad ka nga?"

Para bang naririnig siya nito, my phone started vibrating again.

"Oo, sorry..." I sighed. I needed to explain. Nag-effort siyang pumunta at linawin ang mga bagay sa akin. The least that I could do was stay longer, but I... did not know that our dinner tonight would be this peaceful. 

Even before I decided all this, I was ready to bounce. That was why I double-booked myself. So I'd have a good enough reason not to converse for too long. So I'd have a proper outlet for my devastation.

"I'm going out for drinks with my friends..." I bit my lip. 

The urge to invite her was at the tip of my tongue, but I don't think it's proper. 

Dahil, una sa lahat, hindi ako ang nag-organiza ng inuman. Pangalawa, I wasn't one of the core group who did. It would be weird to have a plus-one. Gayung hindi na nga ako ganoon ka-close sa lahat, 'yong i-pa-plus-one ko pa ay hindi rin nila kilala.

"Oh, okay..." she stared at me again, as if pondering something. "Bukas na pala 'yong flight ko. Wish I could stay longer..."

"Bukas na? Ang bilis naman..." napakurap ako. "Anong oras?"

"Around two in the afternoon. Sasagarin ko 'yong room na ni-book ni Killian," she chuckled.

I just nodded and smiled, weighing on my feet as my phone vibrated some more. I squeezed it against the pocket of my dress. Nahuli 'yon ni Christie. She was sighing as she got up.

"Bukas ba, pwede ka? Just until my flight..."

"Of course!" Napaisip ako sa mabilis kong sagot. May gagawin ako bukas... pero pwede naman na siguro kahit hindi maaga. Ipagpapaliban ko nalang muna.

Tutal, pagkatapos nito ay wala na. This might be the last time I'd see her. And she pushed through with this dinner even though she didn't exactly owe it to me. She combed through her heavy schedule for a favor she can always decline. 

For Sir Killian. 

For my... peace of mind.

"Saan ba ang punta mo? You can ride with me. Malaki 'yong sasakyang prinovide sa akin dito," she suddenly laughed like she had an inside joke about it. "Malayo ba? Much better?! The hotel Killian booked for me's too far from here, e. Nakakabagot, you know? What if mag roomies tayo? Next time?"

Sunod-sunod ang mga katanungan niyang ganoon habang naglalakad kami sa hallway tungong lobby. Hindi naman ako nakakatyempo ng sagot dahil nagpapatung-patong lang 'yong mga tanong niya.

Sabay na kami na lumabas ng restaurant matapos niyang utusan si Sir Killian na i-settle 'yong bill. A part of me wanted to offer to pay for half of it pero bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay hinila na ako ni Christie papalayo.