Dandelions in the Wind

28

"Can't you knock?!" gulat na turan ni Charlotte nang pumasok si Georgia sa opisina at hindi man lang kumatok. "I swear! You're always giving me a heart attack!" nakasalubong ang kilay ni Charlotte nang pinagsabihan ang pinsan.

"Okay! Okay! I'm sorry!" Napataas ng dalawang kamay si Georgia bilang pagsuko. "I'm only here to give this report." Inilapag nito ang hawak na folder sa ibabaw ng mesa nang magulat sa nakita. "Whoa! Since when did your office turn into a flower shop?" namamanghang saad niya nang mapansin ang mga bulaklak na nakalagay sa flower vase at meron din sa plastic na paso. Sa bawat sulok ng opisina ni Charlotte ay may nakalagay na bulaklak.

Napatikhim na lang si Charlotte habang binabasa ang report na nasa folder. "Flowers make me relax, especially when you barge into my office without knocking," nakayukong tugon nito.

Pinuntahan ni Georgia ang isang kumpol ng rosas na nasa vase. "Who is D.L?" pang-uusisa nito nang tiningnan ang card at umupo siya sa sala. "If you were a vegetable, you'd be a 'cute-cumber.'" Hindi maiwasang matawa ni Georgia sa nabasa. "Charlotte, exactly what year did your suitor hit on the time machine? These lines are straight out of a slum book from the '90s!" natatawang tanong ni Georgia.

Napakagat-labi na lang si Charlotte sa narinig, pinipigilang ngumiti. "It's a complimentary card. It's already written like that," depensa nito.

Inirapan lang siya ni Georgia. "Ganito ang mga nababasa ko sa slum book. I won't be surprised if I find a quote, 'love is like a rosary that is full of mystery.'" Pumunta ulit si Georgia sa isa pang kumpol ng bulaklak, kinuha ang card at binasa ang nakasulat. "Are you a magician? Because whenever I look at you, everyone else disappears."

"Seriously, I'm half expecting to find a message in here asking if he can walk you home from school," natatawang turan ni Georgia. "Can you ask your suitor where I can find the portal for time travel?"

"She didn't write it! I told you, it's free!" tumatawang sagot ni Charlotte.

"She? Nililigawan ka na ng babae?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Georgia.

Napatikhim si Charlotte at iniwas ang tingin kay Georgia. Binuksan ang laptop at sa screen ipinako ang paningin. "What's wrong with that? It's not like we live in the eighteenth century," depensa niya.

"D.L? Is it Dionne?" pagkukumpirma ni Georgia at tumingin kay Charlotte. Nang walang marinig na sagot, agad siyang napatayo at lumapit sa kinauupuan ni Charlotte. "You got to be kidding me, right?" napahalukipkip na tanong ni Georgia.

Sinalubong ni Charlotte ang tingin ni Georgia. "Yes, it's Dionne. We've been dating for more than nine weeks now. I don't see anything wrong with it."

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sa akin sinabi? Why are you keeping it a secret? Ako lang ang nakakaalam sa pagiging lesbian mo, Charlotte. I've known you since you were eight," may bahid na hinanakit na turan ni Georgia. Tinuro pa si Charlotte at napahalukipkip ulit ito.

Napabuntonghininga si Charlotte. "I'm sorry. It's just that you get too protective when it comes to my dates. Ayoko kang mag-alala." Napayuko si Charlotte. "It's too complicated. I don't want to ruin it. I want this, Georgia." Inangat niya ang tingin, nakikiusap ang kanyang mga mata.

"How complicated are we talking about?" interesadong tanong Georgia, napaupo na siya sa bakanteng upuan na nasa harapan ni Charlotte.

"She used to be a casual fling of my brother," mahinang wika ni Charlotte.

Napahimas ng noo si Georgia sa narinig, hindi makapaniwalang konektado si Dionne kay Marcus. "I suppose there's more to come?" panghuhula niya.

"Uhm, she's not usually into serious relationships. That's why I haven't told my brother about us. And now, Dionne wants to give it a try with me; she's ready to commit," pag-amin ni Charlotte, tila nararamdaman ang pagiging komplikado ng sitwasyon.