Behind Curtains

Kabanata 42

Kabanata 42

Keith

Tinakbo ko na ang natirang distansya ng arrival gate at waiting area. I was genuinely squealing nang ikawit ko ang aking mga braso sa leeg ni Keith at hinila siya papalapit sa akin. Natatawa niyang tinugunan ang yakap ko. He let go of the telescopic handles of his heavy trolleys and let his arms wrap around my waist. Mas lalo lang ako na tumili nang iangat niya ako at biglang umikot, bitbit ang buong katawan ko.

Keith Belmonte was a six-foot stud. Saktong isang talampakan ang agwat naming dalawa, kaya kahit gaano ka-konti niya ako kung buhatin ay damang-dama talaga ng suwelas ko ang pag-layo ng mga ito sa semento. Pabiro ko siyang hinampas nang ibaba niya ako.

He was grinning from ear to ear as he stared at me. Sinipat ko ang suot niya habang hinahawi niya ang sumasabog kong buhok na dumidikit sa aking pisngi. Inayos ko ang kuwelyo niyang nagulo ng paghila ko.

"Mukhang oppa, ah..." I teased him. "Akala ko ba galing Manila ka na? Ba't mukha naman na galing Korea, sir?"

"Baliw..." he snorted and shook his head. I grinned at him.

We were standing in the middle of a sweeping crowd. Dahil wala naman silang magawa at palagay kong bahagya rin na naiintindihan ang nararamdaman namin sa pagkikita, ay nahihiwalay tuloy sa dalawa ang pangkat kapag nadadaan sa kung saan tumigil si Keith.

Keith's fellow disembarked passengers speed-walked past us, halatang nasasabik nang umuwi at mayakap ang mga naghihintay sa kanila. Pero kahit na ganoon, kahit na dapat ay abalang-abala na rin sila sa sariling buhay, nababatid kong marami pa rin ang napapalingon at napapatunganga sa amin. Nararamdaman ko ang mga tinging tumitigil sa amin. But right this moment, I don't really mind.

And with how Keith was wearing a white Oxford shirt underneath his deep blue sweater, instead of a plain shirt or graphic tee beneath a nylon hooded parka. It seems he's braced himself for the glances, too. Talagang mukha siyang oppa na mag-ya-yachting.

Ever since Keith was a Benilde frosh, to clothe casually seemed to have stuck. Lowkey, but fresh and on-brand. Iyong tipong sigurado kang mabango, hitsura palang. But I know despite him in basic clothes, and almost like a clone of any hot guys who lurked around BGC, masyado pa rin na malakas ang likas niyang dating para hindi lingunin.

Especially now that it was a romantic holiday, and he seemed to be dressed ready and eager for it, maiintindihan ko talaga kung ba't nabibigyan kami ng pansin kahit na hindi naman kami ang tanging magka-pares na halatang magdidiwang ng Valentine's. It doesn't help too, that Keith looked like he'd always been part of the Hallyu wave even with just his face and body.

Tinulungan ko na siya sa paghila ng malaking maleta niya sa ramp tungong parking lot. We were laughing sadly about how one of his Stitch popcorn keychain getting squeezed in between the elevator doors of his condo was the main reason why he almost missed his flight, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks. Napatigil din tuloy ako, lalo na't bigla siyang tumikhim ng malakas at mas lumapit sa akin.

"Akala ko ba pa-welcome banner at Happy meal lang ang ibubungad mo sa akin, Lala?" he whispered beside me, staring ahead. Napatingin na rin ako sa tinitingnan niya. "Hindi mo naman sinabi na pati ang Engineer mo... ipapambati mo rin?"

Nilingon ko siya at sinimangutan. But before I could open my mouth or even pinch him, Fabian was already in front of us and extending his hand. Nagkatinginan kami ni Keith. He looked at me funny before doing the same.

"Fabian, pare..." Fabian said coolly after one firm handshake.

"Keith Belmonte... pare..."

Gusto kong matawa sa tinatagong ngiwi ni Keith nang banggitin ang huling kataga. Mabilis silang dalawa na bumitaw. Keith's eyebrows moved mischievously when he glanced back at me. I saw him smirk in secret.