Behind Curtains

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

Half

Nung sinabi ni Sir Killian na magpapa-Iloilo siya, my mind immediately took me to planning a whole week of sleeping in. And scheduling another round of deep cleaning his entire unit, wherein I can finally take my time at hindi na mag-aalala sa oras ng pag-uwi niya.

Kaya hindi ko mawari kung papaanong naisip ni Sir Killian na maglalaro lang ako, buong durasyong wala siya.

Hindi ko rin mahinuha kung anong layunin niya sa pag-sama sa akin dito, gayung hindi rin pala ako mag-lilinis man lang. And for some reason, I feel like I am being treated like a pet, too.

Booked in the same room as my amo; slept in the same bed as my amo;

fed as much and as well as my amo; and shared almost the same privileges as my amo.

 A scenario that was all-too familiar that I am beginning to think that that was the root cause of my being on edge. Although this time, I was with hefty pay for every hour, and I was experiencing perks far more luxurious than before.

Still, I know despite the gaps in differences, I needed to do something inconsistent, to preoccupy my musings.

"So sa Pilipinas ka nga lumaki, pero sa international school ka naman grumaduate ng highschool?" I asked him, nililibang ang sarili habang hinihintay ni Sir Killian si mayor.

He nodded curtly.

"Kaya mas nag-e-English ka, kesa Filipino?"

He chuckled at my inquiry.

"Yeah, you can say that..."

Napaisip nanaman ako.

Nasa isang private room nanaman kami, sa isang exclusive restaurant na si Mayor daw ang nag-suggest. We both had big breakfasts this morning, kaya umiinom nalang siya ng kape ngayon. As I did.

Naka-tatlong tasa nga ako. And was now regrettably, undeniably very much high on caffeine.

"Pero sa ibang bansa ka nag-college and post-grad, kaya hindi kayo panay sa mansyon...?" tanong ko nanaman.

"That's right," tipid niyang sagot.

Jumpy, unfocused and feeling a bit chatty, I was asking whatever questions that popped on top of my head. I did not even think to take precaution for the repercussions that my questions might lead to.

I was wired. I haven't had this much coffee in months, kaya't hindi ko na matantya ang magiging kahinatnan ko mamaya.

"Kung ganoon, kailan ka bumalik dito... sa... Pilipinas?"

He paused and cocked his head to the side, squinting at parang binibilang pa ang sagot.

"Around... last year?"

"Ba't ka nag-desisyong bumalik?"

Kumibot ng kaonti ang kanyang labi. He raised an eyebrow.

"Dapat ba... hindi nalang?"

Napakurap pa ako ng ilang beses para lang ma-absorb ang biglaan niyang pag-code switch. He openly smirked, taking a sip of his own coffee, as he took in my reaction. 

In the end, napahagikhik nalang ako. A daily observant of this man's seriousness, I knew that that out of the norm response was somehow his indication to move the conversation away from that specific topic.