Behind Curtains

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Nearer

Para akong nahahamugan nang makitang imbes sa passenger's seat ako igiya, Gerry walked towards the backseat door at iyon ang binuksan para sa akin. I immediately stopped walking behind him when he did. Napatigil ako sa harap ng sasakyan at napalinga sa paligid.

Hindi ko na napigilan. Siya agad ang hinahanap ng isip ko. I even squinted my eyes to check if Sir Killian was sitting at the driver's seat. 

Seeing as the engine was already running when I arrived, I half-expected he'd climb out of it once he saw me approaching. Tulad noong huli. But that did not happen. Walang Sir Killian ang lumabas mula sa sasakyan.

My confusion and uncertainty must've been too obvious, because Gerry's voice sliced through the hallowed silence like he clearly understood my current predicament.

"Nasa loob na po siya ng sasakyan, Ma'am Lagdameo," aniya at sumulyap sa pinagbuksan. "At mukhang umiidlip po..."

I blinked. Umiidlip?

"Tulog?"

Tumango naman si Gerry at agad na tumabi nang madalian akong naglakad patungo sa bukas na pinto. Pagod na pagod ba? Gerry was already by the tail lights when I got closer, giving me enough space to comfortably bend forward and stick my head in. Subalit, imbes na mapanatag, the scene inside only confused me more.

Sir Killian had his eyes closed. Breathing steadily as half of his body leaned onto the leather seats. It did not take a keen look to confirm that he he had already sunk into deep slumber. Pero kahit na ganoon ay nakasimangot pa rin siya. Naka-krus ang mga braso at nakakunot ang noo, animo'y hindi party ang dinaluhan.

Bahagyang tumagal ang tingin ko, before I finally slid beside him without any thought at narinig nalang ang pag-sara ng pinto nang naayos ko na ang aking pag-upo. I glanced at his side for a while again and decided to settle with sitting closer to the door as Gerry started the engine.

Before I could scoot farther, though, ay napigilan na niya ako sa pamamagitan ng paghigit sa aking pulsuhan. Hinila niya ako sa kanyang tabi na tila roon ako nararapat pumwesto. Sa higpit ng hawak niya sa akin ay hindi na ako halos makakurap sa talim noong titig na ipinataw niya.

I grinned at him beyond the lingering reek of expensive whiskey that clung onto his jacket. I was about to open my mouth when he beat me to it.

"You had fun?" namamaos niyang tanong. Gusto ko nanaman matawa.

I stopped myself from blurting out a grin when he started searching my face. His eyes were red and shifty. Halatang nahihirapan nang mag-pokus sa ginagawa. Actually... realizing that he was too drunk tonight made me worry. 'Yon nga lang hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang makaramdam ng aliw mula roon.

Sa pagkakaalam ko ay hindi naman niya nakaugaliang uminom ng sobra para umabot ng ganito. As far as I've observed, Sir Killian was a responsible drinker. At sa pagkakaintindi ko rin ay hindi pwede ang maging sobrang lasing sa mga ganoong klaseng kasiyahan, dahil importante ang lahat ng panauhin kaya importante lang ang laman ng magiging usapan.

Hindi pwedeng magpakita ng kahinaan at maging barumbado at baka mawalan pa ng tiwala sa paghawak ng negosyo. Or maybe because today was a special personal event kaya nagka-ganito si Sir Killian at hinayaan ang sariling mag-let loose? Tutal ay birthday niya naman kaya hinayaan siyang magsaya...

Tuloy ay hindi masyado ako nakokonsensya sa kawalan ng ganang makipag-usap ng matagal.

"I've been calling you since noon," aniya. "Were you... too busy with the preparations?"