Something That Glitters

11 // Golden Love

The bottles and chips went into my bike basket and off I went back home, straight in front of Auntie Tonette's door. Mula sa ilalim ng pinto ay kita ko ang bukas na ilaw sa loob.

"Auntie! It's me, your employee of the day every day, Snooki." I knocked on the door using my elbow.

"What?" I heard her confused distant voice. She's probably in her kitchen. Tonette liked to cook, like, a lot.

"Can I come in? You're cooking again, aren't you?"

Auntie yelled something inaudible. I still waited behind her door, with Mr. Beers et al. on my hand. Well, I just couldn't come in without permission! She might have a boyfriend over, I couldn't risk my innocent eyes.

Nang binuksan ni Auntie ay tila hinihingal pa siya. Oh, bless her old heart.

"So, what are we having?" I asked, beaming.

"Hindi naka-lock ang pinto, Snooki." Inilingan ako ni Auntie. Naglakad siya papasok at sumunod ako. "Kung bakit ba 'di ka na lang pumasok na bata ka."

Nilingon niya pabalik ang mga hawak ko. Nagtaas-baba ako ng kilay.

"Tara, Auntie, sa rooftop tayo. Inuman!" I said giddily, waggling my shoulders. Itinaas ko pa ang mga hawak kong goods.

"Gabi na, pagagalitan tayo ng may-ari ng building."

Sinundan ko si Auntie sa kitchen area niya. Sabi na, e! May mabango akong naamoy mula sa labas pa lang.

"Huh? Eh 'di ba, kayo po ang may-ari?"

"Oo, kaya pagagalitan kita, Snooki."

Nangiti ako. Nilapag ko ang mga hawak ko sa countertop para masundot ang tagiliran ni Auntie. "Yie, si Auntie! Nagfe-flex ka lang na ikaw ang reyna ng apartment complex na ito, e!"

Nilipat ni Auntie ang niluluto niyang fish something sa plato mula sa pan. Tamad niya akong tinanong, "Naghapunan ka na ba?"

"Yas! Ready na po sa inuman. Sige na kasi, Auntie! Ngayon lang 'to, I swear!"

I wasn't an alcoholic, to my defense. I was just really bored. And I wanted to socialize but I didn't have anyone except Auntie. Well, I did have friends who lived here in New York, but if I hung out with them then I'd defeat my purpose of living here incognito.

"Let's go na, sis! Closed naman ang Daily Bloom tomorrow, Auntie."

"May kliyente akong kakausapin bukas, Snooki. Umaga iyon, baka hindi ako magising."

"'Di yan! Magigising ka po no'n, syempre, di mo pa time! Tara na, Auntie."

Luminga ako para hanapin ang coat niya. Nakasabit iyon sa likod ng pinto. Tumakbo ako para kunin iyon, at pagkabalik naman ay ipinatong ko 'yon sa likod ni Auntie. I smiled sheepishly.

"Pwease?"

I made fish lips and sported a shy kitten eyes. Auntie sighed and nodded as if agreeing was her only choice. Dumila ako nang magwagi. Yas! Walwalan na diz!

It was my first time going to the rooftop. Sa balcony kasi ako nagsasampay after kong maglaba. Yeah, I knew what everyone else was thinking! I could do my own laundry, you know!

And after how many years—because Tonette took forever to climb up the stairs—we're finally settled on the rooftop. With blankets and pillows on the ground, and us under the undiscovered skies.

"We are two lovely ladies in the morning. And tonight, we drink beers," I announced. Itinaas ko ang hawak kong bote para sa unang tagay. "Cheers, Auntie!"