Love Inconvenience
So, I skipped Halloween.
When September started, the Christmas feels did, too. And then, in November it was halloween—where it got weird because there'd be some kind of Santa and creepy pumpkins cross-over, y'know?
On the brighter side, though, our sales were still good during spooky November. Apparently, many wanted to be Corpse Bride. And being a bride, you wanna have gorgeous flowers when you strut down the aisle. And being a corpse bride, you wanna have the flowers pitch black.
This was a late evening at Daily Bloom, and the first time I stayed this late with Auntie in the store. We also had Julio here for some help, because darn I didn't know November rush was a thing until now. But this is New York and everyone scurried, only it felt detestable as the last month of the year approached.
"Auntie, we ran out of black roses. Do you want me to paint on the white ones?"
Tumawa si Julio at tinapik ang balikat ko nang daanan ako. "You're crazy."
I rolled my eyes and made face. It was actually a serious question, though. We really didn't have black roses anymore.
"Paparating na ang in-order ko, Snooki. There will be no painting to happen."
"E 'di bummer." Umupo ako sa highchair at pumangalumbaba sa countertop ng cash register. "Boss, 'di ka pa po pagod? You should go home. I'll stay."
"Maglilinis pa rito. Tutulungan ko na kayo."
I hopped out from the chair and immediately yelled to call Julio. He got out quickly from the cold room. "Ihatid mo na si Auntie. I'll stay a little longer."
Auntie sighed. Tinanggal na rin naman niya ang apron niya at hindi na tumanggi. Halatang-halata sa kanya ang pagod. The old gal needed to rest, she'd been busy because the preps for her wedding next year had started already.
"And, Snooki? While we're gone, don't paint," tukso pa ni Julio.
"Oh, shut up!"
That kid!
After seeing them go, I went back inside the store and began cleaning, so when Julio comes back we'd have less to clean. Especially with the workbench of Tonette. It was chaotic and covered with all things flowers. She was always organized and clean, and the table being in disarray was one proof that flower boss was indeed tired.
Nililinis ko ang table ni Auntie nang marinig kong may pumasok sa store. Kumunot ang noo ko. I knew we had our door sign flipped to Closed many hours ago.
So, I yelled, "Sorry, we're already closed! Please come back tomorrow! Have a great night—"
Natigilan ako nang sumilip sa pinto ng cold room iyong pumasok sa store. Like usual, he's still in his corporate attire.
Tumalikod kaagad ako at para ayusing mabilis ang bangs ko. My hair was tied up in a bun, but it had become messy over time. I didn't have time to fix myself because there was so much to do.
"Akala ko busy ka?" mahina at nahihiya kong tanong. Bumalik na ako sa paglilinis nang pumasok siya, and while I was hoping he wouldn't mind the strayed locks of my hair.
"Yes, busy."
Umupo siya sa upuan ni Auntie, habang ako naman ay nakatayo at inaabot iyong kabilang parte ng mesa para punasan.
"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" Pinaglalaruan niya sa kamay iyong gunting habang pinapanood ako.
"Uuwi na rin pagkabalik dito ni Julio."
Patago at paulit-ulit kong inaayos ang buhok ko. Ayokong mag-ayos ng sarili sa harap niya, ano!
"Yo, don't clean!" suway ko nang kunin niya ang isa pang cloth para magpunas.
"Why?" he asked and innocently put down the cleaning cloth. "Ayaw mo? We can go home sooner."
"Uwi ka na. Rest."
"I'll only go home if you will." He shrugged with a playful smile on his lips.
"Bakit, nasa 'kin ba ang paa mo?" I pouted and averted my gaze to the ceiling. Sana pakiligin niya ako. Kekeke!
"No, not that."
"Oh, e ano—"
"Puso ko."
Kumindat pa siya, and that's when I lost it! I growled like a tiger cub and he only got more amused.
Hindi talaga ako sanay na ganito siya pero gustong-gusto ko. Nakakaiyak, pero deserve ko 'to! Char.
Hinipan ko ang humaharang na buhok sa mata ko. He stood behind me. And without warning, he drew my hair tie off. Napapataas pa ang balikat ko dahil sa kiliti, pero pinipilit kong hindi magmukhang affected.
"Wait. Do you know how to do that?" I asked, my cheeks flushing red!
"First time," he confessed.
Kinakagat ko ang labi ko para hindi lumaki ang ngiti ko. Hinahayaan ko naman siya kasi gusto ko rin naman. Ang hinhin ng galaw niya, parang sobra sa pag-iingat. Hngg~
He tried to scrape my hair to tie it in place, but he struggled because his grip was too loose. And every time a strand of hair escaped, he'd inaudibly cuss but quickly stop midway because I'd laugh at him.
"Look at me, please," he said. Hawak niya ang magkabila kong balikat para maharap niya ako sa kaniya.
"Uy, okay na," sabi ko kahit 'di naman talaga. Buti na lang guwapo 'to!
Natatawa talaga ako kasi seryoso talaga niyang tinitingnan ang buhok ko. May mga maiikli akong buhok na 'di kayang isama sa tali, kaya ikinawit na lang niya iyon sa tainga ko.
"There. Done," he said. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa ginawa niya sa buhok ko. Nang magkatinginan kami ay namula na naman siya at humakbang paatras.
"Thank you, Sir Archer," I emphasized the address while giving him a playful look. "Never in my life have I imagined a guy like you would do something like that for me."
Bumalik siya sa pagkakaupo at hindi na naman makatingin sa 'kin.
"Uwi na tayo?" he asked again instead. I let out a soft chuckle.
"Mamaya pa nga po ako. Ikaw, uwi ka na."
I was discarding all the excess stems in the trash bag, and he watched me like he wanted to take over.
"I worked all day," he said. Pinaglalaruan na naman ang gunting. Masugatan ka dyan, e.
"Not surprised. You are a work-machine or whatever. Alam ko na 'yan." Tinatali ko na ngayon ang hawak kong trash bag.
"So, we should go home and do something fun."
Kinilabutan ako bigla at saka naubo nang malakas. Wala akong kinakain, ha!
"Snooki, are you okay?" nag-aalala niyang tanong.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!" Napahawak ako sa lalamunan ko at sinubukang maglakad kahit ubo pa rin ako nang ubo. He caught my elbows to support my stance because I suddenly became wobbly.
"I'll get you some water. Hold on—"
"De, 'wag na!" My voice got a little bit throaty from coughing. "Itatapon ko lang 'to tapos uwi na tayo. Mapilit ka, e."
Iniwan ko siya sa loob ng cold room palabas ng store para itapon ang hawak ko. Mabagal lang akong naglakad kasi may iniisip ako.
Tumigil ako sa harapan ni Cornelia at napatanong sa kanya, "Ano kaya 'yong something fun? Bff, dapat na ba akong kabahan?"
Dumila siya nang dalawang beses. And I knew two meant yes. Kaya kinabahan na nga ako!
"Pero bakit na-eexcite rin ako?" Napanguso ako at mahinang ngumawa. "Ah, bahala na! Lalaban ako!"
Papaalis na kami sa store nang dumating si Julio. Saktong dating niya ay siyang dating din ng order na bulaklak ni Auntie. Nagkatinginan kami ni Archer. He knew I had to help with the flowers.
"Dammit! Can't stand you two anymore! Umuwi na kayo," pabirong asik ni Julio.
"Huh? What?" painosente kong tanong habang kumukurap-kurap at napailing na lang siya.
"Sige na. Get the hell outta here!" natatawa niyang sigaw.
I beamed at him as a gesture of thanks, then I looked back at Archer. Mukhang wala na siya sa wisyo dahil sa pagod kaya hinila ko na siya palabas ng store.
"So..." I started. Nagmamaneho na si Archer at pauwi na kami. "What should we do? You know, uhh... you said something about fun?"
Sobra ang kabog ng puso ko pakiramdam ko tatalon na 'to palabas ng dibdib ko.
He looked amused, very entertained. He primed his lower lip and bit it as he maneuvered the car to turn to our street.
"What kind of fun are you thinking about, Snooki?" he asked in a teasing kinda tone, and his cheeks were pushed up a bit.
"Woy, wala ah! Ikaw kaya dyan!" I answered... nonsensically. Darn it!
His car engine died in front of our apartment complex, and all we had inside the car was a booming awkwardness. Not until I heard his seatbelt retract.
Tinanggal ko na lang din ang seatbelt ko. I clicked my tongue as an attempt to lift the shy spirit away.
"So... movie?"
"So, that's your fun," he uttered more to himself while nodding.
"If I tell you what's fun for me, your heart rate would skyrocket to heart attack zone!" I grimaced and got out of his car.
Tumatawa siyang sumunod sa akin at humabol ng tanong, "Your apartment or mine?"
"Mine!"
Para nasa akin ang upperhand. Siguro naman papasok na siya sa apartment ko, 'no? Nakatabi na ang mga underwear ko. Or unless...
Pagkabukas ko ng pinto ay nagtaka ako dahil nakabukas na ang ilaw. I scanned my place, and I was having a hard time remembering if I had it on before I left this morning.
Nasa pintuan pa ako at nasa likod ko si Archer, nagtataka. Hindi pa rin ako pumasok, lalo na noong nakarinig ako ng kaluskos mula sa kitchenette area.
"Do you have someone—"
"Shh!" I quickly hushed Archer. "May magnanakaw yata! Do you know how to fight?"
"What?"
"Shh! Never mind. I can fight. I got this!" Without looking at him, I tapped his shoulder. "Dyan ka lang."
"Snooki..."
"Shh!" I hushed him for an umpteenth time. Do I need to use my lips? This gwapo was being loud!
He sighed. Hindi ko siya pinansin. Kinuha ko ang walis tambo na pina-ship ko pa mula Pinas para gawing weapon. I slowly sneaked my way in the apartment.
This right here was nostalgic. It brought back memories of when I was living in a condo with Saige, and I had to shoo roaches away so she could use the bathroom. I've never killed, it just wasn't in my blood. I only loved because it was easier. But I mean, I didn't love bugs, that's just—psh!
I grimaced when the door behind me shut loudly. I glared at Archer for being such a guy-in-movies-that-gets-the-entire-gang-killed!
"Hmm? What'd I do?" he genuinely asked, his eyes were purely innocent and unaware.
"'Wag kang maingay—"
"Snooki? Nice. You're finally here!" said a very familiar voice he was literally a family!
Napanganga ako at unti-unti ko siyang nilingon. "Elon?!"
"Yo, Sis." He smirked. "You have a small place, by the way. But it's cozy, so—"
"What the frickin' hell are you doing here?" I bellowed. Nanlalaki ang mata ko, itinaas ko pa ang hawak kong walis.
"Woah! Easy, easy!" Elon reflexively crossed his arms for shield. "That how New Yorkers welcome a family?"
Sinilip ko si Archer sa likuran ko. My chest heaved but I brought the walis down. Wala na! Hindi na tuloy ang movie! Kakainis naman.
"You're not supposed to be here, Elon!" I rolled my eyes at my flower-blocker brother. Ugh!
"I am. Lolo Gustin's mansion elevator broke."
"You came all the way here in New York just to tell me that the mansion elevator broke?!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Well, shit," I muttered. Napahilot ako ng sentido habang nakapikit. If anyone wanted to know how a person would look like if he wasn't using his brain, I could hand them my brother for free.
"I'm buying a new one here. You know, as Christmas gift?" He laughed. "Relax, Sis! Besides I'm only staying here tonight. I'm meeting a friend tomorrow morning in Chelsea."
He looked past me with a smirk on his face. I knew he was giving Archer a challenging stare. Hinarangan ko tuloy ang view niya at sinamaan siya ng tingin.
"You and your boyfriend can do things some other night."
"Elon!" I chastised. Nilingon ko si Archer and mouthed a quick apology.
"It's okay. We've met," said my brother casually. He tapped my shoulder and left me puzzled more than ever.
"What? How?" I asked the air, apparently. Binalingan ko si Archer. "Paano?"
He softly chuckled and didn't answer me. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Waaait! Paano muna?" I sucked in my cheeks to make fish-lips and kitten eyes.
Patalikod siyang naglakad hanggang mabuksan niya ang pinto at makalabas. Nangingiti siya. Wow, he really won't let me sleep soundly tonight, huh?
"Good night, Miss Henilza."
Umirap ako at natatawa niyang sinarado ang pinto ng apartment ko. Ang pag-alis ni Archer ay siyang nagsilbing mitsa ng gyera!
Mahigit isang oras ko yatang inaway ang Kuya ko dahil lang sinurpresa niya ako ng bisita. Super bwisit!
"Tigil na, Sis. I'll treat you at Macy's tomorrow."
"Since when do you shop at Macy's?" Umiirap-irap pa rin ako. Hindi ko talaga mapigilan!
"I just said it, tomorrow," he reiterated like he just made sense. I couldn't believe he's older than me.
"You should've stayed a fetus! Bet you'd look great inside a placenta."
"Yeah?" Nangisi siya habang ngumunguya ng pagkaing ako ang bumili! "I think so, too. Thanks."
I stomped my foot and heedlessly closed my refrigerator door.
The next day, my brother took me out of work after he had met his friend. I also found out that Mom called Auntie earlier to let Elon into my apartment because he'd be surprising me a visit.
Well, no shit, Sherlock. I was surprised, alright.
"You're obligated to buy everything I want, because you robbed me of a movie night moment with my greatest potential love life ever."
We were walking on the way to Macy's. The streets were getting more and more festive now with all the green and red threads of tinsel as mandatory Christmas decors.
"But do you really like him? Archer?" asked Elon without an impish hint on his tone. I was a bit stunned because he was truthfully serious.
"Yeah. I mean, I was never this crazy over a guy before." I shrugged. "So, I guess this must be some serious love kinda situation."
"I know. I think we all know that."
I didn't know if I was ready for a serious older brother version of Elon. Lagi kasi 'tong walang sense. Kaya tuwing susubukan niyang magseryoso, iniirapan ko lang o tinatawanan.
We lined up to the entrance of the department store. Mascots and people in elf's costumes flocked everywhere. As it snowed, Taylor Swift's song Christmas Tree Farm warmed the ambiance of the evening.
Elon was in front of me in the queue. There was a slight hesitation in his eyes as he tried to look at me. His face looked like he was thinking—which was big, like wow, because he never thinks.
"But we like him for you, Snooks. Honestly. We think he's good for you. Too good."
"You speak like you know him well." Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay pero ngumisi lang siya. Kinabahan tuloy ako! "What'd you do?!"
Binalik niya ang tingin sa harap at humakbang nang umusad ang pila.
"We were already talking to Archer online."
Umikot ako kaagad para unahan siya sa pila at pandilatan siya. "What?! Who do you mean by we?"
"All of us? Cousins? Brothers?" Ngumisi na naman siya.
"What the heck?! Baka tinakot niyo, ha!" I was so close to dramatically crying in public with a festive song in blast for random people's entertainment!
"Paano namin tatakutin e sobrang bait ni Archer? Magalang. Mukhang ikaw pa ang dudurog ng puso, e."
Suntukin ko nga ang dibdib niya. Nakakainis na brother! He only laughed at my futile attempt to physically hurt him.
"Before I arrived here, he'd asked me if I already had accommodation because he could fix it for me and I won't have to pay for anything. When I declined, he offered his unlived-in apartment at Hudson Yards."
"Huh? But he stays right across my place."
"Yeah. I guess he prefers unsophisticated living more." He shrugged.
And here I was thinking I'd surprise my family in the future with the fact that I could actually bring home someone special to me. Eh kilala na pala nila ang pumana ng puso ko.
"Don't break his heart, Snooks."
"Why would I?!" I glared. "Crush na crush ko 'yon, 'no!"
"And tell him to invite me to his apartment one day, aight? You know I bring blessings to anywhere I go." He offered his fist for a bump.
I gave him an eye roll and bumped his fist while suppressing a smile. Whatever, Elon.
Never mind my dodged plans, at least, I knew they liked the guy that I liked—or even more than that.