New York Adjective
"Girl, walking out is just for teens venturing on immature love. Leave it to them, aight?"
"'Di mo alam ang naramdaman ko, Snooki."
I blew a helpless sigh. "How'd you feel po ba? I mean, what even happened?"
We're at a park near Auntie's fitness studio. Dito kami pinapunta ni Uncle Benj dahil dito sila namasyal pagkatapos ng zumba ni Auntie. And I had met with my flower power boss being grumpy like Jerry. It was hard to take her seriously, though. Not when she's wearing a neon-coloured outfit, and a floral hairband that sits atop her crowning glory!
Hindi sumagot si Auntie kaya sinilip na lang ng mata ko sina Archer at Uncle na nag-uusap sa hindi kalayuan sa amin. Unlike me and Auntie, they're too smiley. It's a storm here from where we, the women, were!
Hinihintay kong tumingin si Archer sa akin, kasi miss ko na siya, pero nagtatawanan na sila ngayon ni Uncle. Parang gusto ko tuloy tsumismis sa pinag-uusapan nila.
Binalikan ko ng tingin si Auntie dahil hindi na niya ako sinagot. So, I opened a topic. "Nagselos ka po, 'no?"
"Hindi!"
"Ah, nagselos na naman nga." Tumango-tango ako sa sarili.
"Alam niyan ni Benjamin na tipo siya ni Josie! Tapos ay doon pa siya pupwesto sa harapan noon nang manood siya? Aba, iba na 'yon!" tila hinihingal na kwento ni Tonette.
"Oh, wow. So, we're first-naming Uncle now?" Napahawak ako sa dibdib at nakabilog pa ang labi ko para OA.
"Pero hindi ako nagseselos, Snooki," depensa niya. Tumawa ako at napailing. Sure. "Ang sa akin lang naman ay nasasangga ako ni Josie kanina. Gusto na yata akong itulak palipad sa kabilang borough gamit ang puwet niya sa sobrang kembot! Ang masama pa ay wala namang puwet!"
"Tonette, that's not nice. We are a member of Girl Power Society. And the goal of our advocacy is to lift women up! Butts or no butts."
I cracked. Namumula na si Auntie pero tinatawanan ko lang siya. And because I had an nth sense, I felt Archer glance our way, because maybe I caught his attention by the charming echoes of my laughter. But I couldn't look back yet because Tonette was being hilarious!
"Eh pero 'di ba, Auntie, magaling ka ring kumembot? Dapat hinamon mo na ng showdown si Aling Josie. Taob 'yon!"
Inismiran lang ako ni Auntie. Natatawa pa rin ako pero si Archer naman ang tiningnan ko. Hindi na siya nakatingin dito at nag-uusap na ulit sila ni Uncle. Aw, saket, ang tanong ko ay baket?
"Auntie, 'di naman sa sinasabi kong masama ang loob ko sa inyo ni Uncle, pero nasa gitna rin kasi kami ng date ni Archer." Ngumuso ako.
"Alam ba niyang date 'yan?" Ngumisi si Auntie. "Ika'y gumising."
Aba't! Nagkagat-labi ako sa panggigigil. "Opo naman, yes! Siya kaya ang nagyaya. I swear, I'm not even kidding! Some days, I'm the most beautiful I can even make the unswerving Archer swoon!"
Pabiro akong umirap. Pagkatingin ko sa gawi nina Archer ay saktong lingon niya rin. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang itikom niya ang bibig at nagtago ng ngiti. Umiwas siya sandali ng tingin para tumango kay Uncle, mabilis din naman niya akong binalikan ng tingin. This time, he couldn't contain his smile. Napakagat tuloy ako sa labi at nahihiyang ngumiti pabalik.
My heart was pounding like crazy! Kanina lang ay magkasama kami, and I was dead confident. Now, I crumbled! It was his happy eyes and silly smiles that rendered my defeat.
Shet na malagket! Puso niya'y sa akin i-magnet!
"—kaya dapat sa Biyernes ay nakapag-empake ka na," sabi ni Auntie. Oh, she's saying something pala?
Tumango na lang ako.
Hindi ko na maintindihan ang nangyayari sa paligid. Ang alam ko lang ay naghuhulihan kami ng tingin ni Archer at nagtataguan ng ngiti.
Nanghihina na ako pero 'di ko na napigilan, nahihiyang kumaway na ako sa kanya. Pagkatapos ay inayos ko ang buhok ko sa likod ng tainga. Lumaki ang ngiti ni Archer at napailing. Uncle Benj followed the direction to where Archer was looking at—me.
Nahiya ako lalo! Lalo na noong nagkatinginan sina Archer at Uncle. Isang tango lang ni Uncle ay biglang naglalakad na sila palapit dito.
Para tuloy gusto kong magtago sa likuran ni Auntie! I felt like I was coursed back in time, circa high school, and at a scene where my silly crush of the week was headed my way and I didn't know what to do!
"Snooki, are you constipated?" asked Auntie.
Tumango na lang ulit ako.
Ginala ko ang tingin ko sa paligid, basta hindi ko lang masalubong ang gawi nina Archer. Pasimple akong lumakad para pumunta sa likod ni Auntie. Nakatingala ako at kunwaring nalilibang sa sky habang sumisipol.
Mahinang tinampal ni Auntie ang puwet ko. I jolted a little. Ngumiwi ako. "Tonette!"
"Ano bang nangyayari sa iyong bata ka? Hindi mo yata pinakikinggan mga sinasabi ko?"
"Hindi nga po." I sobbed without tears, lips frowning real mad. "Auntie, nandyan na sina Archer!"
"O, eh ano?" kunot-noong tanong niya.
I frowned some more. "Nahihiya na ako, Auntie!"
Tumaas ang dalawa niyang kilay at ngumiwi na parang may sinabi akong kasinungalingan. Kulang na lang ay sabihin niyang weh.
"Okay, okay! Slight lang! Pero I'm still feeling shy."
"Bakit?"
"Pumapalag na siya, Auntie!" Humawak ako sa laylayan ng damit niya at saka ngumawa.
"'Di ba ay iyan naman ang gusto mo? Bakit ka nahihiya?"
"Eh kinikilig nga po kasi ako, Auntie! Baka 'pag nagpaalipin ako sa feelings ko, mas palagan ko siya. 'Di ko na alam kung saan kami pupulutin kung nagkataon!" ngawa ko ulit.
Mabagal lang ang lakad nina Archer at Uncle, pero dahil sa panic ko ay feeling ko mabilis lang silang nakarating dito. Si Uncle Benj ay lumapit kaagad sa pakipot na si Antonette, habang si Archer naman ay sa tabi ko. 'Di ko siya agad tiningnan. Pakipot din ako, e.
Natawa si Archer. I bet he realized I was not being me! Nahiya ako lalo. I was never embarrassed, I was always confident! He's so not good for me, he's breaking my strong persona. Char! Break me more, go!
Binaba niya ang mukha para bumulong sa tainga ko, "Uncle Benj said we should go for a walk."
Lumayo ako sa kanya at natawa na naman siya. I looked up at him, medyo nagtatampo. I sighed. "Okay. But I'm a bit hurt because nautusan ka lang pala. Pero alam mo namang sasama pa rin ako, kaya let's go!"
I flipped my hair at nauna nang maglakad. 'Di ko rin naman binilisan para naman makahabol siya kaagad sa 'kin. Kekeke.
And when Archer finally caught up, diretso lang ako ng tingin, like I was examining the park more than enjoying the view of it.
"Uncle plans to propose to Auntie," he shared out of the blue.
Natigilan ako kaagad. I eyed him incredulously. "What?! Really? No way!"
He chuckled, and I was already grinning at this time. Hindi ako iyong pakakasalan pero I felt ecstatic! More so when Archer confirmed it with a nod.
"Wait... is Uncle proposing back there?"
"No, not yet. Uncle wants to go with you and Auntie to New Jersey. He'll propose at the flower farm."
My hand flew over to cover my parted lips, and my brows creased of mushy feelings. "That is going to be so romantic!"
Dapat na talagang pakasalan ni Uncle si Auntie, nang mabawas-bawasan na ang selos noon sa katawan. And also because, hello, they were decades in the making. It was already about damn time!
Ito tuloy, habang naglalakad kami ay iniisip ko na kung anong mangyayari sa proposal ni Uncle. Imagine being asked of marriage in the sea of flowers and under the pastel skies. Shocks, I think I'll cry!
"I can't believe they're going to be married. I mean, alam kong pakipot si Auntie, but I'm sure that it's a yes for her!"
"You're really happy for them, huh?" Archer smiled.
"Of course! Tonette is my New York Auntie slash oldie bestfran," I answered and he laughed. Nagpatuloy na pati ako sa pagshe-share, "While Cornelia is my favorite New York lizard slash favorite co-worker. And you, Archer Marsden, you're my New York crushie."
"Do you really need to say New York before everything?" He chuckled.
"Yes, it's my new adjective now." I shrugged.
He didn't say anything more, so we just quietly walked. This time, I was actually enjoying the cool breeze on my face, really feeling it in. I liked the cold, honestly. And it's getting colder and colder because Christmas was only a few months away. I loved Christmas.
"Snooki..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you already have a Manila Boyfriend?"
And just like that, I went into a complete halt. I couldn't move anymore because it felt as if all my blood hiked up to my cheeks, and I wasn't sure anymore if I was awake—or was I dreaming the whole time? No, shit!
I slowly looked up at him and asked in a whisper, "Archer, what did you say?"
His gaze fell on his shaky hands, trying to stabilize it but only to fail completely. He was nervous, but I could tell that he's trying so hard to brave his fear.
"By any chance, do you have—"
My phone rang. I got it from my pocket and quickly rejected it. I smiled shyly at Archer. "You were saying?"
"Snooki—"
Then, my phone went off again! Of course, I rejected it without hesitation. Why the heck would anyone call me at this time of the day? Ugh.
"Answer it, Snooki. Baka emergency." He amusingly smiled.
"Huh? 'Di 'yon! Psh!" I waved my hand dismissively. I sweetly smiled and fluttered my eyelashes. "You were saying, though?"
Tumawa lang siya. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba iyon sa mata ko o dahil nag-ring na naman ang phone ko. Like, what the heck?
"Answer it. I'll just ask some other time." He flashed me a playful smile.
Nooooo!
Tumango na lang ako at nag-excuse ng sarili. Asar na asar ako nang sagutin ko ang tawag! It was just Elon. It was never an emergency whenever he called!
"Why the heck are you calling me? I don't wanna talk to you."
"Woah, chill, Sis! I'm just checking up on you." He laughed on the other line.
Umirap ako. Hinanap ng mata ko si Archer. Naglalakad na siya pabalik kina Auntie. Siguro ay tinawag na siya dahil mismong si Uncle Benj ay nakatingin sa pamangkin niya.
"O, ano? Are you telling me na ba why you called, or should I just hang up on your annoying arse?"
"Relax, Sourpuss Henilza!" I could feel a smirk lurking in his tone. It's aggravating! "Never mind. Anyway, I might visit New York soon, and I'll need a place to crash."
"So?"
"I need your place."
"My place doesn't need you—"
"What bribe will you accept, then?" he added immediately.
Ugh! I stomped my feet and started to pace back and forth. "Wala! You know, you just ruined my love life, and I hate you for it! I'm calling a reservation for you in hell when I hang up."
He guffawed. Annoying! "Come on, Sis, don't joke around. You don't have a love life."
"Yeah, I don't. Do you have an idea why?" Tinapat ko ang labi ko sa mic ng phone, so I could yell and he'd hear it loudly that his ear bones, or something, would fall apart. "It's because you called!"
"Yeah, alright, bye." He laughed before hanging out. Was he kidding me? Just like that? Not even an epilogue or something? I'd definitely punch him on the gut the first time I see him! Sobrang malakas, at mga one hundred times.
I hadn't lost my mood completely. But I was so wounded I knew I looked like a walking potato with a dark cloud over my head, raining on me ominously.
Nagbalik lang nang kaunti ang sigla ko nang matanaw ko na sina Auntie. Nakatalikod kasi sila sa gawi ko ngayon, at naisip kong manggulat. Si Auntie sana ang target ko, kaso baka atakihin sa puso. Next ko ay si Uncle, kaso baka atakihin din. Old people were no fun! So, wala tuloy akong choice kundi si Archer. Hays.
Hmp. Sige na nga! Kung gusto ba ng tadhana, e. Wala na tayong laban dyan.
Gone was the moping me as I grinned and stealthily moved into position. I was behind Archer, but still with a distance, as I secured momentum. I guess because there's a lot of passersby that the three of them hadn't noticed me yet.
Or maybe because they're into a conversation that could easily make or break me.
"Snooki is, uh, how do I put it—" I heard Archer say before he stopped, struggling to find the right words.
"Aggressive?" supplied Auntie. Oh, you try, Tonette!
What was this? I really wanted to jump into the conversation already, but I also kinda wanna hear where this was going. Para kung babasagin ni Archer ang puso ko ay bibili na agad ako mamaya ng glue. Konting dikit lang tapos laban ulit!
"No!" mabilis na bawi ni Archer, apparently, taking my side. Aw, such a cutie. "Snooki is—she's scary."
What?! And here I really thought we were onto something! That hurt very much, sir!
I was prepared to penetrate their sneaky inner circle, but Archer spoke again and it felt like the time had stopped.
"She is, because she's making me feel things I never thought I would. And I want more of it."