Dandelions in the Wind

7

Isang dark blue Corvette ang mabilis na bumabaybay sa kalsada ng San Mateo. Tumingin si Dionne sa bintana ng kotse at pinagmasdan ang daan. Makikita ang naglalakihang puno gaya ng acacia, balete, at mangga na maayos na nakahilera sa tabi ng kalsada. May mga palayan na mistulang mga gintong damo na sumasayaw sa ihip ng hangin. Nalalapit na rin ang anihan, kaya ang bawat bukid na nadadaanan ng kotse ay ginintuan ang palay. Kinuha ni Dionne ang cellphone at binago ang kanta sa playlist na maririnig sa kanyang AirPods. Komportableng sumandal sa brown leather seat; mabango ang loob ng Corvette dahil na rin sa air freshener na amoy blueberry. Napaungol tuloy si Dionne nang ipinikit ang mga mata.

"Will you stop that?" boses ni Charlotte ang pumigil sa pagpapaantok ni Dionne.

"You should stop ignoring me and have a conversation." Nanatiling nakapikit si Dionne nang nagsalita. "Not my fault if I get sleepy." Sabay humikab.

Nanatiling nakatutok si Charlotte sa daan at abala sa pagmamaneho.

"Bakit hindi kasama si Simeon? Or Mang Carlos?" tanong ni Dionne.

Napabuntonghininga si Charlotte. "I prefer to be alone when I'm here. No need for them to tag along. Kabisado ko na ang San Mateo; this place is my haven. Halos dito na ako lumaki."

"Are you having regrets that you should have asked them? Now, you're stuck with me." Nakangiting turan ni Dionne.

Bahagyang lumingon si Charlotte. "That depends on how long I can tolerate you."

Pansamantalang humikab si Dionne at tinakpan ang bibig. "Your car is so good." Komportableng uminat din sa kinauupuan. "It makes me sleepy in a comfortable way."

"Pwede ka matulog. Isang oras pa ang biyahe," walang anumang tugon ni Charlotte.

Seryosong napalingon si Dionne sa katabi. "You won't leave me in a desolate place while I'm sleeping or throw my body into the lake?" pilyang ngumiti rin si Dionne.

Tumawa si Charlotte, bahagyang lumalim ang dimples sa pisngi. "Of course not! Do you sleep like a log para di magising?"

Hindi maiwasan ni Dionne na mapansin ang dimples ni Charlotte sa malapitan, kaya sa pisngi lang siya nakatingin at tumawa. "I'm just making sure." Itinuon ni Dionne ang atensiyon sa daan.

"Why don't you like commitment in a relationship?" tanong ni Charlotte, pansamantalang lumingon at agad din ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsada.

"Wow, you really know how to start a conversation. Uhm...we're not going to start throwing daggers if we talk, right?" naaliw na sagot ni Dionne. Tinanggal niya ang suot na AirPods at binalik sa lalagyan.

"Marcus told me. It's fine if you don't want to talk about it. What I said earlier, it's water under the bridge," malumanay na sambit ni Charlotte.

"Is that your way of apologizing?" paninigurado ni Dionne dahil walang halong pagtataray ang boses ni Charlotte.

"Probably?" seryosong turan ni Charlotte at napalingon.

Nagkibit-balikat lang si Dionne. "I can't blame you. You're probably right. You don't want him to get hurt. I also have no intention of hurting someone. Is there a club or community for people like me? I think I should join," pabirong wika ni Dionne habang napahaplos ng buhok at nakatingin sa kalsada.

"A club? What do you mean?"

"You know, for people like me who don't believe in commitment or relationships. It's always been a negative impression. What's wrong with having fun with someone and not expecting too much? It's like telling a person that chocolates are all I can give, and if I give that chocolate, there's always a person who wants more and expects my heart, my soul, and some romantic stuff that I'm obliged to give. That's what I've been telling them from the start. Then they get attached, they want more, and if they can't have it, I end up being the bad person. I just don't get it," mahabang paliwanag ni Dionne.