Flower Language
"Halika na, Snooki, at mahaba pa ang byahe natin."
"Eh, ayaw ko pong tumabi kay Archer sa unahan ng sasakyan!"
"Bakit, Snooki?"
"Eh, nag-kiss po kasi kami kagab—shocks!" Napatakip ako sa bibig. Tila nagulat si Auntie pero mabilis siyang nakabawi. I sighed. I guess it's okay to tell now. "Ang awkward po kasi after. Umuwi na po siya agad pagkatapos niya akong ihatid."
Ngumiwi ako, lalo pa noong hilahin ni Auntie ang maleta ko at naglakad palabas ng apartment ko. Sumunod naman ako kasi maleta ko 'yon, e.
"O, e ano bang gusto mong gawin ni Archer?"
"Gusto ko isa pa—ouch! Antonette?!" Pinisil niya kasi ang tagiliran ko. "Char lang naman po, e!"
Pero 'di nga, I didn't know how I should react when I see him. We kissed last night! And it was only a few hours ago, so, fresh pa sa puso't isipan ko! Ni hindi nga ako nakaidlip man lang dahil sa nangyari. At hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako dinadapuan ng antok dahil doon!
"Auntie, anong gagawin ko?" I sobbed dramatically. "I mean, papansinin ko po ba siya? May dapat ba akong sabihin? Kami na ba agad?"
"Aba'y lumuhod ka na at mag-alok ng kasal," wala sa mood na sagot ni Tonette.
"Grabe, luhod agad?" Pakiramdam ko ay namula ako. Napatigil si Auntie at sinamaan ako ng tingin, sinabayan pa niya ng kurot sa braso ko.
"Snooki, iyang isip mo!"
I narrowed my eyes in confusion. "Huh?"
Hindi ako pinansin ni Auntie. Nakababa na kami sa unang palapag, and my heartbeat expectedly went batshit crazy!
When we went out of the apartment complex, the morning sky was still dark. Should I go pretend that I couldn't see him without the sunlight? Or should I sport a Sleepy Snooki instead?
At ang tanging makakagising lang sa 'kin ay isang halik. Kekeke!
I saw Archer and Uncle Benj talking while they waited for us. Along with them awaits a black Ford SUV.
"Auntie, ikaw na lang po sa front seat. 'Di pa talaga ako ready!" pagmamakaawa ko na naman. Pinipigilan ko pa siyang humakbang. Nakita ko kasi na naka-white shirt lang si Archer. Eh, kahinaan ko nga 'yon!
"Stop overthinking, Snooki. Halika na!" Binawi ni Auntie ang kamay niya para tanggalin ang pagkakapit ko. Matapos no'n ay tumawag na siya ng tulong. "Archer! Ilagay mo na itong maleta ni Snooki sasakyan para makaalis na tayo."
Nang lumingon si Archer ay pumikit kaagad ako at sumandal sa balikat ni Auntie. Kunwari pa akong humikab para epek.
"Snooki!" Auntie wiggled her shoulders, but as a part-time Koala, I didn't budge, not even an inch.
May sinabi si Archer kay Auntie pero hindi ko naintindihan. Kahit ramdam ko na malapit na si Archer sa 'kin ay 'di talaga ako nagmulat para sumilip. Papanindigan ko talaga 'to!
"Mabigat ka, Snooki. Umayos ka ng tayo!" reklamo ni Auntie. I heard Archer laughed. Hmp!
I was almost bare in my cable-knit cardigan and sweatpants. It wasn'tenough to battle the cold, that when the wind blew, it got to me and tingled myskin a little. I wrapped my arms around myself because: self-love.
Si Archer, naka-shirt lang kahit sobrang lamig. Kailangan niya rin kaya ng yakap? Hmm, free naman ako.
Maingat akong nagmulat. Isang mata pa lang ang nakabukas ay nakita ko kaagad si Archer, kaya napapikit ulit ako!
"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.
"Snooki!" bati noong babae pagkababa ko ng sasakyan. "I'm Mrs. Boyers!"
I knew it! I beamed and gave her a hug. "It's so nice to finally see you! Wow! This place is amazing!"
"I told you so." She laughed softly. "The farm had been waiting long enough for you to see."
"I'm finally here now. Would you tell me tips and tricks in floristry? Maybe even some of the top secrets so I could level up and outrun Auntie Tonette?" I kidded with a giggle. Auntie just groaned.
"I will. I hope you'll love Sunsworth, Snooki. Tonette and Julio had been here a couple of few times. But it's nice to showcase the aging farm to new faces." Her smile passed over my shoulder. Sinundan ko ang tingin niya at nakitang papalapit na sina Uncle at Archer.
"You brought reinforcements, huh?" said the man who was with Beth a while ago. He smiled at me, too.
"Snooki, this is Elias, my husband," pagpapakilala ni Mrs. Boyers sa asawa. "I'll let you meet our kids later."
I curtsied at Elias. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Boyers, the king of Sunsworth."
He laughed and shook his head. "Thank you. But Beth is both the King and Queen of this flower farm."
He lovingly looked at his wife, to which my heart fluttered, and I reacted with, "Aww."
I nudged Tonette and playfully whispered, "'Di ka inggit?"
Umirap si Auntie. At nakumpirma kong inggit nga siya. Malakas akong natawa kasi wala siyang nasabi. At mid-laugh, I saw Archer looking at me, amusedly.
Uminit na naman ang pisngi ko at mabilis akong nagtikom ng bibig. He sure stared at me lot! I felt intensely self-conscious. Baka mamaya ay may muta pala ako! Darn, that would be terrifying!
"We have prepared four separate small cabins for each of you," said Beth. "Unless you have other preferred sleeping arrangements?"
Mabilis at nagkataong sabay kaming umiling ni Auntie habang nahihiyang nakangiti. Naka-ekis pa ang kamay ko at iyong kay Auntie naman ay kumakaway para tumanggi.
Nagkatinginan kami ni Auntie at pareho kaming namumula. Sa likuran naman namin ay may dalawang lalaking nagpipigil ng tawa!
"Oh, no, no!" nahihiyang sabi ni Auntie. "We'll use four different cabins, if it's alright with you."
"Of course! We host guests all the time, we're not new to this," she kindly replied. "I'll let you settle in first, so all of you can rest a little before we start the day."
Kinuha ko mula kay Archer ang maleta ko at ako na ang humila roon. Nauna akong maglakad sa mga kasama ko. Nakasunod lang ako kay Mrs. Boyers patungo sa cabin na tutuluyan namin.
Dalawang magkalapit na log cabin na nakatapat sa dalawa pa ang dinatnan namin. I entered one right away, and the inside was as small as an average-sized bedroom. It felt cozy that it reminded me of the vacations I had with my cousins because we'd all stay in just one room that the place felt so small. Suddenly, I missed them.
Beside the door was a window. Pagkasara ko ng pinto ay hinawi ko ang kurtina noon para masilip ang labas. Nakita ko na iyong katapat ko na cabin ang pinasukan ni Archer.
Inayos ko ulit ang kurtina at isinara para makapag-ayos na ako ng gamit. The interior of the cabin house was cozily rustic. The walls were wooden, of course, and the ceiling had an intricate wood carving design of various flowers surrounding a hanging light.
The room had one bed in the middle, one dresser, a bedside table, and a door at the corner that most probably opened to an en suite toilet and bath.
Hindi na ako nagbago ng suot na damit. Nag-ayos lang ako ng sarili, siniguradong walang muta, at saka nag-toothbrush. I even sprayed a bit of perfume before going back out again.
Ready na rin sina Auntie nang makalabas ako. Isang babae naman ang sumundo sa amin para dalhin kami sa isang malaking cottage house. Pagdating namin doon ay sinalubong kami ng magarbong breakfast na hinanda ni Mrs. Boyers.
"Come in, come in!" nakangiting bati ni Mrs. Boyers. Tumabi sa kanya iyong babae. "This is my daughter, Bella. Her older brother, Colton, is—where is your brother?"
Bella looked around. "Might be at some shed. I'll call him later."
Mrs. Boyers nodded. Tapos ay iginiya na niya kami sa breakfast table. I immediately smelled the cinnamon, coffee, and eggs. They prepared a variety of breakfast, and I was more than willing to eat all of it!
Pumwesto ako sa tapat ni Auntie at nakasunod naman sa akin si Uncle Benj para sana umupo sa tabi ko. Pero narinig kong nakiusap si Archer sa kanya mahinang boses.
"Uncle, will you let me sit beside her?"
Dahil narinig ko iyon ay napalunok ako at kunwari'y naghahanap ng unang kakainin sa mga nakahain sa mesa. Ayoko siyang sulyapan kasi baka iba ang mauna ko. Super char!
Tinapik ni Uncle ang balikat ng pamangkin niya bago umupo si Archer sa tabi ko.
"Snooki, good morning!" bati ni Uncle pagkaupo naman niya sa tabi ni Auntie na patagong umismid. Pinagseselos niya ba si Tonette?
"Good morning to you, too, Uncle Benj!" I grinned. Umiwas ng tingin si Auntie saka kumuha ng itlog at naglagay sa plato niya. Nice, choice, Tonette!
"Si Archer, hindi mo ba babatiin, Snooki?" nangingiting tanong ni Uncle. May mahinang tumawa sa tabi ko.
Napalunok ako at tumingin sa malayo saka bumati, "Magandang umaga sa 'yo."
Parang timang, Henilza!
"Hindi mo yata ginalingan, e," bulong ni Uncle kay Archer na narinig ko naman! Isang segundo pa ay parang may nanipa sa ilalim ng mesa. "Biro lang! Ano raw ang sagot mo? At naghihintay si Snooki."
Nahihiya at nag-aalinlangan akong ngumiti. Ginaya ko na lang si Auntie at kumuha ng itlog. Mula sa gilid ng paningin ko ay nakita kong umiiling lang si Archer sa tiyuhin.
Uncle took that as the opportunity to speak for him. "Snooki, ang sabi ni Archer ay maganda ka raw tulad ng kaniyang umaga."
"Hayaan mo na nga 'yang mga bata!" suway ni Auntie sa kanya. Tumawa si Uncle at saka lang kami tinigilan.
Kabisado ko iyang si Auntie, gusto lang din niyang mabanatan! Patago tuloy akong napahagikhik.
Habang nag-uumagahan kami ay nagkukwentuhan ang oldies. Natutuwa si Mrs. Boyers kina Auntie at Uncle. Mukhang nahimigan na niya ang something sa kanila. At first glance, the easy assumption was that they're married. But Tonette was almost always hustling and rushing to disprove the idea.
We left the cottage house a little while after our breakfast. The Boyers family started to show us around the flower farm. We first walked a flower path near their house, with Mrs. Boyers stressing that they had over a hundred guest couples who proposed and had their hearts full on this very path.
Sinabi niya iyon nang nangingiti-ngiti kina Tonette at Benj. Nahawa tuloy ako sa ngiti ni Mrs. Boyers dahil sa namumulang pisngi ni Auntie. Pero nawala rin iyon nang ako naman ang sinilip niya, tapos ay sinunod si Archer.
"Every promise of marriage that blooms in this farm is an unfailing happy marriage through and through," declared Mrs. Beth Boyers with a sincere smile.
I could only imagine how each proposal had gone here in Sunsworth. But I chose to believe that what Mrs. Boyers said was true, because I'd always wish and hope for all that's best for Auntie Tonette and Uncle Benj.
Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. Medyo mabagal lang kami dahil nagkukwentuhan sila. Nahuhuli naman ako at nakasunod lang sa kanila. Tapos naramdaman kong parang... kulang?
Lumingon ako sa likod ko. Kaya pala! Naiwan si Archer. Nakaupo siya at may pinulot na bulaklak. When he stood up, he saw me and softly smiled instantly. I quickly looked away and pretended to look at the flowers. Hindi pa rin ako naglakad. Syempre, ano! Shy lang ako today, pero crush na crush ko pa rin siya kaya gusto ko na sabay kami. Hngg~
Naramdaman ko ang presensya niya. Halos ipatong na niya ang baba niya sa balikat ko nang silipin niya ako mula sa likod.
Tinago ko ang kiliting naramdaman nang tuksuin niya ako. "Hinihintay mo ako? Hmm?"
I scoffed. "'Di ah! Gwapo ka nga, pero assuming ka rin!"
Humalakhak siya malapit sa tainga ko. Napapikit ako sa kiliti. I could only hope he wouldn't notice the erratic beating inside my chest.
What's happening was crazy, and I knew that it's definitely far from being over. Truthfully, I didn't mind because I liked it so much. Only I didn't know exactly what to do.
Request na lang kaya ako ng kissing scene part two? Char!
"Good morning," he said softly but cheerfully.
"Why do you keep on greeting me? I heard it the first time." Napanguso ako.
"Because you aren't greeting me back." He laughed. "Ayaw akong batiin ng crush ko."
Napalunok ako at umirap. "I greeted you at breakfast a while ago, Archer."
Umikot siya at pumwesto sa harapan ko.
"Yeah, but—" Napatigil siya at natatawang umiling. "Uncle Benj is crazy."
"Ba't kasi 'di mo pinigilan si Uncle," sabi ko, kunwari'y disappointed.
"Hindi na kailangan. Totoo naman ang sinabi ni Uncle," sabi niya habang nagpipigil ng ngiti.
Iniwas ko ang tingin ko kasi nanghihina na ako. Ramdam kong mas rumurupok ang mga buto ko sa tuhod dahil sa gwapong 'to!
I wandered my eyes to everywhere but his face. And that's when he raised his hand, holding a flower. He gently reached for my hand and clutched the flower in.
"A fallen flower for you, Miss Henilza, so you can remember that I have fallen in love with you."
The flower was a purple lilac.