Something That Glitters

22 // Flower Language

"Good morning, beautiful," he said to my ears with a soft chuckle.

Hala, kami na nga! Tinawag niya akong beautiful, e. Kekeke.

Pinakiramdaman ko lang at sinigurado na wala na siya sa harap ko saka ako nagmulat. Habang nandoon siya sa likuran ng sasakyan at inaayos ang maleta ay pumasok na agad ako sa backseat, sa tabi ni Auntie.

"Good morning, Uncle!" I greeted Uncle Benj, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

"Hello, Snooki. Good morning!" Uncle smiled. Ngumiti akong nagtataka.

"Uncle, you're gonna drive po?"

"Yes, yes..." Tumawa siya. Pumasok si Archer sa frontseat at tinuro niya ang pamangkin. "Hindi raw nakatulog ito, e."

Nangiti at umiiling na umiwas si Archer ng tingin. "Just drive, Uncle."

Napalunok ako. Pakiramdam ko, namula na naman ako. The butterflies last night never left my soul! It felt as if they're always there, sometimes flying, sometimes sleeping—just waiting to get reactivated at awkward cheesy timings!

Nagkukwentuhan silang tatlo habang nasa biyahe, habang ako ay nagkukunwari pa ring tulog. Pero dahil sa sobrang galing ko, nagkatotoo na nga ang antok ko. Nagmulat ako para silipin sila—okay, si Archer—sa rearview mirror.

He was listening to Uncle talk, but he might've felt my stare that he caught me looking at the mirror. Nangiti siya, kaya agad akong pumikit ulit. Pinandigan ko na lang talaga kaya itinuloy ko na sa tulog ang antok ko.

After a while, I hazily woke up to an old OPM music. I looked around, and beside me was a sleeping Tonette. In front, were the two men, still wide awake and into a light conversation. This time, it was Archer who was driving.

May liwanag na sa ulap nang tumingin ako sa labas. Wala na ring matatanaw na city buildings sa dinadaanan namin. We were completely in a beautiful rural area, and in the middle of a vast ocean of green fields with a blissful blue sky hovering above.

I was sure that from the bird's eye view, the SUV would seem like a moving dot, traveling a rocky country road in a green landscape, leaving butter-colored dust up in the air as we disturbed the rough path by the stir of the wheels.

I peeked at the driver through the mirror. Nag-abot na naman ang tingin namin sa salamin. Uncle Benj was talking to him, but he smiled at me and mouthed, "Good morning."

Naalala ko na naman kung anong ginawa ng labing 'yon kaninang madaling araw!

"Hey, eyes on the road, mister!" sabi ko na lang. Tumawa si Uncle.

"Yes, ma'am." Tumango si Archer at napangisi pa nang ibalik ang tingin sa daan.

"Archer, you have a different boss now, huh?" Humalakhak si Uncle habang ako ay naghahanap kung saan ibabaling ang tingin!

While my eyes dashed to look away, I saw Archer's lips again. And on cue when he bit it and softly chuckled. He answered Uncle, "Yeah."

Not long after, we finally reached a flower farm. Bago namin mapasok ang area ay nakuha ko ang pangalan ng lugar na nakapinta sa kahoy na arko. The lovely place was named Sunsworth Flower Farm.

Natanaw ko na may tila nag-aabang sa amin sa tapat ng isang cabin. Umabante iyong matandang lalaki para senyasan si Archer kung saan paparada. Sa tabi ko naman ay ang nakangiting Antonette roon sa babaeng matanda. It must be Mrs. Beth Boyers!

Sa likod ng cabin tumigil ang sasakyan. Bumaba kaagad si Auntie para bumati sa matandang babae. I only knew Mrs. Boyers was slightly older than Auntie.