Dandelions in the Wind

4

Tumatawa si Charlotte habang nagsasalita, kinuha niya ang isang basong juice at eleganteng ininom. "I swear some people can be a bit annoying when promoting their beliefs. Do you know I was accused as a slave trader at the party? I felt like I live in the 1840s." Nakaupo si Charlotte sa bakanteng upuan na nasa harapan nina Marcus at Dionne. "Their beliefs can be so extreme. He said that riding horses is a form of slavery." Napailing na lang siya. "If my horse hated me that much, he could always throw me off. I wouldn't complain."

"It's true. One time, Charlotte was thrown out by Spartan, her pet horse. It almost broke her ankle. She didn't get mad, she even wanted to cuddle it like a child. The horses are too spoiled by her," tumatawang pagkukumpirma ni Marcus kay Dionne.

"What about you, Dionne? Are you picky when it comes to food?" magiliw na tanong ni Margaret.

Umiling si Dionne. "I'm not particular about food."

"Great. It's good to know. I'm not against them, I just think it's rude to force your beliefs on someone else; it's a bit annoying," nakangiting tugon ni Charlotte. "How did you two meet? Did my brother tell you any of his cringey one-liners?" pabirong turan ni Charlotte na nakangiti at tinapunan ng tingin si Marcus na may kasamang pag-irap. "I always told Marcus to stop doing that. It's cheesy."

"Actually, I never heard him say that. He always told me that I'm too direct. And he's really nice, we met at the exhibit. He bought a lot of paintings from one of our artists," magiliw na kuwento ni Dionne.

"The truth is, I only bought the paintings because I wanted to see you personally," pag-amin ni Marcus at bahagiyang namula ang pisngi.

"Do you have any brothers and sisters? Any children from a previous relationship? Any ex-husbands?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ni Charlotte. "Ouch!" Napangiwi ang magandang mukha nang maramdaman ang marahang pagsipa ni Marcus sa ilalim ng mesa. Tinapunan ng masamang tingin ang kapatid at pilyang tumawa si Charlotte.

"Don't mind her. She's only kidding," turan ni Marcus kay Dionne.

Ngumiti si Dionne habang hiniwa ang strawberry cake gamit ang tinidor. "I work at an art gallery. No siblings, children, or ex-husbands, as far as I know."

"Since when have you become interested in artworks?" may pagtatakang tanong ni Margaret kay Marcus. "Di ba mahilig ka sa kotse o business-related things regarding your restaurant?" Marahang kinuha ni Margaret ang table napkin at banayad na pinunasan ang labi.

"Since he met a beautiful woman that he likes," dugtong ni Charlotte.

Bahagyang namula ang pisngi ng dalawa. Pakiramdam ni Dionne ay biglang uminit ang paligid kahit na maaliwalas ang veranda at presko ang hangin.

"Stop teasing your brother! You're embarrassing him. Look, he's getting all the peaches in his face," malumanay na pagsaway ni Margaret.

Nakangiti namang kinuha ni Charlotte ang juice. "I know right?"

"Dionne works at the Flavell Museum; that's where I met her," saad ni Marcus.

"Oh?" tipid na tugon ni Charlotte. Mistulang nakaamoy ng mabaho nang hinaplos ng daliri ang ilong at hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ni Dionne ang bahagiyang pagkunot ng noo ni Charlotte.

"Charlotte, it's near your office, right? Have you ever been to Flavell Museum?" tanong ni Marcus.

"Not that I'm familiar with. Maybe I'll visit someday? If it's okay with Dionne?" wika ni Charlotte at dahan-dahang pinaikot ang hawak na tinidor sa ibabaw ng cake.

Napakagat labi si Dionne sa narinig. "S-sure, just let me know." Saglit na tumama ang kanilang paningin ni Charlotte at unang umiwas si Dionne. "The gallery is always busy during holidays, but during weekdays, it's usually free. I'll give you a tour," nakayukong saad ni Dionne.