The Smiles Of Antonette
"How old are you, Tonette?"
"I'm sixty-two, Snooki."
"Ah, tanda na," I whispered. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagtatanggal ng tali sa mga bagong delivered na bulaklak.
"Ako'y tigil-tigilan mong bata ka!"
Hala, narinig pala? Tinaas ko ang pareho kong kamay for defense. "Hey, why so grumpy? You're acting like your age, Tonette."
Dumating si Julio para dalhan kami ng pagkain ni Auntie. Yes, isinasama ko na ang sarili ko sa narrative because I think I'm Auntie's favorite employee and she doesn't want me hungry and unfed.
"Hey, Snooks!" He gave me a nod as he walked past me. He's cool like his curly hair and brown eyes.
I nudged my flower boss. "Eh si Julio, ilang taon na po?"
"Twenty."
"Twenty... what?" I pursued.
"Hindi twenty-one, Snooki. Twenty."
I sighed. Tinapik-tapik ko ang pisngi ni Auntie. "Matanda ka na nga po talaga."
Hinawi niya ang kamay ko at sinungitan ako ng tingin. Ngumuso tuloy ako at nagbalik sa trabaho.
We were arranging dried flowers. I loved it because the colors rangedfrom pastel to muted colors.
Like now, I have in my hands preserved hydrangeas in aqua blue. I picked some of white tall-stemmed lagurus to arrange them together in a gold-colored flower wrap that I varnished with eco-friendly glitters myself. After arranging it inside the wrap, I sealed the beauties in and tied a thin strip of tweed around it with love. As a result, it's was a Snooki magic!
Smiling, I displayed my own kind of magic in one rack in the display room. All the preserved flower arrangements in this tiny rack were arranged by me. Auntie Tonette had this idea to let me do this so I could have something to do. I had no proper training so I just curated based on what was beautiful to my eyes, and Auntie loved it—she just won't say it because she's shy, but I knew she very well did.
"I am... the bomb!" I announced to my audience of flowers, giving each of them a finger gunshot gesture, 'cause I was also their boss.
Every flower was unique. Maliit na arrangement lang ang ginagawa ko. Sa loob ay may bilang ng stems na umaabot hanggang walo. Gusto ko itong maging bulaklak na p'wede mong ibigay on random days to create cute happenstances, or if you just wanted to make someone smile.
Snooki Magic was not extravagant as it was curated to be sweet and blissful. Pwede itong ibigay sa crush mo, friend, nililigawan, iniirog, at fling—ay wag pala fling! My magic was only reserved for ceaseless love. Kung gusto talaga ng para sa fling ay sa ibang shop na lang bumili! O kaya iyong mga gawa ni Auntie. Kekeke!
"Snooks, I'll be off somewhere at dinnertime. Gusto mo bang mag-sara ng shop nang mas maaga?" alok ni Julio pagkadating niya sa tabi ko.
"'Di na! Kaya ko nang isara ang shop nang mag-isa, I swear."
Si Julio kasi ang tumutulong sa amin ni Auntie sa pagbubukas at pagsasara ng Daily Bloom. Sa gabi ay hinahatid niya muna si Auntie sa apartment building niya at saka bumabalik para tulungan ako sa pagsasara. Mas nauunang umuwi si Auntie dahil kinabukasan ay siya naman ang gigising nang maaga para magbukas ng shop. At saka may bike kasi ako, alangan namang iangkas ko si Auntie roon! E 'di na-flat na gulong ng bike.
"Are you sure? Aren't you going to ask where I'll be tonight?" He chuckled.
"No, Julio." I rolled my eyes. "Kaya ko na nga. Legit."
"Alright." He raised both of his hands. "Legit, then."
Kung saan pumupunta si Julio sa kalagitnaan ng araw ay bahala na siya. Auntie seemed fine with this arrangement, and I didn't want to meddle with it anymore.
Nang dumating si Uncle Benj ay kinamusta niya ang bike ko. I got soft, kasi he really gave it to me na.
Eh iyong pamangkin niya, pwede na rin kayang niyang ibigay sa 'kin? Kekeke!
"Don't you want it colored differently? I have just the guy to do it, Snooki," said Uncle.
"I'm fine with it as black, Uncle Benj—"
"Naku! Iyang batang iyan ay puro itim. Akala mo'y paboritong anak ng kadiliman," singit naman ni Auntie.
Napahagikhik ako. Ayaw kasi talaga ni Auntie sa mga itim kong damit, e ayaw niya rin namang ipahiram iyong kanya. So now, we're in an impasse.
"Alright, alright." Humalakhak si Uncle tapos ay lumambing ang boses. "Have you already had your lunch, Tonette?"
Nagtaas ng kilay si Auntie. Pinapanood ko siyang gumalaw. Ang dating maingat sa mga bulaklak ay ngayo'y gumaspang ang pagkilos na tila ayaw noong tono ng boses ni Uncle. Aba, aba! Ano 'yan, Tonette?
"Sabay kaming kumakain ni Snooki ng tanghalian, Benjamin."
Napatigil ako sa ginagawa at nag-peace sign kay Uncle. Luh, bakit ako sinasali sa usapan ng matatanda?
Humalakhak si Uncle. "Ayaw mo bang sabayan kita kahit ngayon lang, Tonette?"
"Walang kasabay si Snooki."
Napangiwi ako at umiling nang mabilis. "'Di, Auntie! Okay lang po ako. Sabay na kayo ni Uncle."
"Sayang iyong dinala ni Julio—"
"Kaya ko iyon lahat, Auntie! Dontcha worry!"
Nangingiti talaga si Uncle sa ginagawa ko. Hmm. Mukhang may something talaga, ah? But fine, I'll support these old lovers. Tsaka para na rin magka-utang sa akin si Uncle Benj at babayaran niya ako ng gwapo.
"Halika na, Tonette," yaya ni Uncle.
Nangisay ako sa kilig. Iba kasi ang tawag ni Uncle kay Tonette! Patago kong pinisil ang side-fats ni Auntie, at nagpigil lang siya ngisi kasabay ang pag-irap. Naku! 'Di na lang kasi magmana sa 'kin!
Bumulong ako kay Auntie, "Go na kasi! I mean? Girl, si Uncle Benj na 'yan! Kung single lang ang lola ko, naku! Sinasabi ko sa 'yo, Auntie..."
Tiningnan niya si Uncle Benj na naghihintay na sa storefront. Umiirap niyang tinanggal ang kanyang apron at itinuro ako.
I beamed, kinuha ko ang hintuturo ni Auntie at binigyan iyon ng loud smack. Nangati iyong daliri niya kaya nagpunas siya sa balikat ko.
"Ikaw bata ka! Ayusin mo ang trabaho mo, ha. Do more of your magic thing." Kinaway ni Auntie ang kamay niya nang 'di malaman kung ano ang tamang term.
"It's Snooki Magic! Auntie, you are disappointing me." Umiling ako.
"Babalik din ako kaagad."
"Kahit naman tagalan mo, Auntie. I'm already excellent here. Landi landi rin minsan, girl!" Pinalo ko ang pwet niya para igiya siya sa labas.
Inasikan ako ni Tonette pero I knew her very well already. Kinikilig lang iyan. Akala mo nama'y hindi sixty-two years old ang balat!
Nang lumabas si Auntie ay lumawak ang ngiti ni Uncle Benj dahilan para sumingkit ang mga mata niya. Hinampas naman ni Auntie ang braso niya at tsaka naunang maglakad.
Aww! They're lovely. But also, nakakainis pala! Like, talo pa nila ako na young adult na walang minamahal at nagmamahal! Bakit naman ganito?
"Cornelia, buti na lang nandyan ka. Mag-isa rin sa buhay at walang nagmamahal," I said to my favorite chameleon. Dumila lang siya. I sighed.
Now that I was all alone in the shop, I figured it was time for my internal monologue.
I spun from where I was standing. In one twirl, I was reminded that I was surrounded by all these beautiful flowers. I was the one in the middle yet I looked like a mold of mud! How would I be noticed if looking at the foreground was far more pleasing than seeing me in the background?
Everything here is all flowers, flowers, flowers! And they're all pretty, they all bloom.
Ugh! It sucks to be human. If I am to be reincarnated, I'd like to be a flower instead. Tapos sana si Archer maging bubuyog. Omg! Napatakip ako ng bibig.
A customer came right in, so, I smiled. While he took his time viewing the flowers, I waited patiently.
One thing that I liked and disliked about working in a flower shop was that you get to see people exert effort to give appreciation to other people through flowers. I liked it because it's an act of love, and love was always a beautiful thing. And on the other side of the spectrum, I didn't like it because I didn't have a jowa.
It was always my family, friends, or colleagues who gave me something nice, but never a jowa. Reply-an ko na kaya iyong mga nag-chat sa akin three years ago? Hindi pa naman siguro huli ang lahat, 'no? Kung married na sila, e 'di masaya. Kung may single pa rin, e 'di ako ang magpapasaya. Napakadali.
"Do you have any more of these?" tanong noong customer na nakaturo sa rack ng ginawa kong mini-bouquets. Auntie called it posy, or tussie-mussies.
"I'm sorry, but that's all we have for today, Sir."
"When do you think you'll have more?"
My eyes twinkled. Wow, someone really liked what I made?
"We can make more for you, Sir. If you would just fill out a form right over here."
Dinala ko iyong customer sa counter para bigyan ng request form. I was secretly patting myself on my shoulder for a job well done. Auntie would be so proud, especially when I tell her what I saw the customer had written. He ordered for a hundred more arrangements of my magic!
"Thank you, Sir. Daily Bloom will just contact you for the quotation within three business days."
"Perfect! Thank you so much."
I was really giddy even after he left and even after a lot more customers came in. 'Di ko alam kung isandaan ba ang minamahal noong customer o kung para iyon sa party, basta I was ecstatic!
Binuksan ko na ang ilaw sa storefront nang dumilim na ang ulap. Habang walang customer ay dito ako sa labas nagbantay at para hintayin na rin si Auntie. Kung ano ba naman ang lunch na kinain nila ay ewan ko na lang talaga kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa sila!
Customers come and go, and in between each of them, I started to make the flower arrangements already so that we'd reduce our lead time.
Tumigil lang ako noong closing hour na. Inilipat ko ang ibang bulaklak sa cold room mula sa display. I did a quick inventory on which flowers we were running low on. If Julio was here, I'd do a detailed report, but I was alone so I'll just catch up tomorrow. After that, pinakain ko muna si besfran Cornelia bago inasikaso ang mga naka-display na halaman sa storefront.
Isa-isa kong binubuhat ang flower pots papasok ng shop, and it was easy-peasy. What wasn't easy was moving the display rack at the storefront to get it inside. It was metal and really heavy!
Kaya pala nagdadalawang isip si Julio kanina. Eh pero ayoko rin namang makasagabal sa lakad niya. I'll just suggest to Auntie na palagyan namin ng gulong itong rack para madaling igalaw.
But for now, I'll suffer. Arghhh!
That was me struggling, by the way. I turned into a she-Hulk, but like, a weak one.
Ngayon ay sinusubukan kong iangat ang isang gilid ng rack at plano ko itong hilahin na lang. I tried to move but it made an irritating, screeching sound. Napangiwi ako, but I didn't exactly have any other choice, did I?
"Snooki..."
Hummina hummina. Hnggg~
"Is Julio out?" Archer asked, suddenly lifting the rack all by himself toward inside.
I dreamily followed him, my eyes beautifully batting. I so love the city and my life right now.
Pagkalingon niya sa akin ay agad kong inayos ang mukha ko. I snapped back to reality as quick as a wink.
"Ah, oo. May pupuntahan daw. Napadalaw ka yata? Sarado na ang shop." Sa heart ko, wide wide open, you want?
"I was looking for Uncle Benj. Ihahatid ko siya sa bahay." He scanned the place. He sighed when he stopped and closed his eyes. "Where are they?"
I clicked my tongue and nodded. Napataas din ang kilay ko. "Yeah, where are those kids?"
Feel kong magalit mamaya. May pagagalitan akong sixty-year-old na matandang dalaga.
"Pauwi ka na ba?" he asked.
Kinagat ko ang dila sa loob ng bibig ko para magpigil ng feels.
"Ah, oo. Pauwi na rin. Ikaw ba?" I loved how casual I could talk to him.
"Will you use your bike?" Humawak siya sa batok niya at umiwas ng tingin. "I, uh, can give you a ride home. Doon ko na lang hihintayin si Uncle Benj."
Ah! Gusto kong sundutin ang tagiliran niya at tuksuin siya! He's really shy. This was the best night of my life!
"Sige!" I exclaimed rather too quickly. Kinagat ko kaagad ang labi ko dahil sa kahihiyan. "I mean, yeah, sure, no probs. Psh!"
Pa-cool akong lumabas ng shop para kunin iyong bike at i-park sa loob. Mabilis namang kinuha ni Archer ang sasakyan niya. Hinintay niya akong makapagsara ng shop nang tuluyan bago kami umalis.
Pagkaandar ng sasakyan ay tahimik ako, kasi nagdadasal ako na sana heavy traffic, heavy traffic, heavy traffic!
Pero hindi heavy traffic. Were we even still in Manhattan or what? Bummer!
May traffic pa rin naman, pero hindi ako makapagsalita habang nasa byahe kami. Seryoso lang na nagmamaneho si Archer at hindi nagsasalita. Iniisip ko na lang tuloy na may LQ kami kaya tahimik, ganon.
Napansin ko lang from my peripheral ang mabigat niyang talukap, tila isinisigaw ng mata niya ang pagod mula sa trabaho. I wondered tuloy kung paano siya sa office nila, was he a scorching hot professional in his office? I'd like to see him get strict and all at work.
Pahirapan mo ako, Sir Archer! Keme!
He stopped a block away from my apartment building. May nauna kasing cab na pumarada sa natitirang space sa tapat namin. Niluwa noong dilaw na sasakyan si Uncle Benj, pagkatapos ay inalalayan niyang makababa si Auntie.
Nang mawala iyong taxi ay bumulong si Archer. "Puntahan na ba natin, Snooki?"
Napansin kasi naming nag-uusap pa iyong dalawa. Si Auntie ay may kakaiba at nahihiyang ngiti sa labi habang kinakausap si Uncle. Naku, Tonette! Iyang mga payo mo sa 'kin ay ikaw rin pala ang babali.
"'Wag muna. Let's wait if they'll kiss." I hushed Archer, never tearing my eyes from the two old lovers.
"They won't kiss, Snooki. I had seen them exactly like that for years. Nothing's going to happen."
Ngumiwi ako. "Really? Bakit naman? Hina pala ng tiyuhin mo."
Umiwas siya ng tingin para itago ang maliit na nagbabadyang ngiti sa lips niya. Nahawa tuloy ako at nagtago rin ng ngiti! Shocks, ha?
Now, I was sharing the same smile as Auntie Tonette. Only that she was luckier because I really did think that Uncle Benj was all over her. I didn't exactly know what was going on between them two, but there was definitely something.
Napanguso ako. I got disappointed suddenly. Ang bagal din naman kasi nitong katabi ko, eh! Hmpf!
"Mana ka rin sa Uncle mo, 'no?" hindi ko napigilang sabihin.
Nagtaka ang mata niya. See? He was even so dense! Boy, I was already well aware of your feelings. Just speak up, I definitely won't bite. Unless you wanted me to, rawr.
Tumango pa rin naman siya. "I guess so?"
Umirap ako sa kawalan. Argh! Nanggigigil talaga ako. Ang bagal ng progress namin!
Tapos makikita ko pa na ang saya saya ni Antonette ngayon! What if I'd only receive that kind of love when I reached sixty, too?
Oh, I'm gonna cry at the thought. Archer kasi!