Dandelions in the Wind

38

"So you just woke up one day and decided, 'Oh, today I'm gonna marry David,'" hindi makapaniwalang turan ni Georgia habang nasa loob ng opisina ni Charlotte. Nakaupo siya malapit sa mesa at may hawak na kontrata, nakasalubong ang kanyang kilay.

Napabuntong-hinga na lang si Charlotte, nakatingin sa screen ng laptop at tumitipa sa keyboard. "It's not what you think, Georgia. David only suggested the idea," seryosong paliwanag nito. "One of the conditions to access his trust fund, which was entrusted by his grandmother, is that he must be married." Saglit siyang tumingin kay Georgia at ibinalik ulit ang atensiyon sa screen.

Agad inilapag ni Georgia ang hawak na papeles sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Trust fund? Marriage for convenience? Why do I feel like I'm one of the cast in a badly written soap opera?" sarkastikong turan nito sabay turo sa sarili. "Ganitong mga plot ang mga napapanood ko sa soap opera. Huwag mo nang simulan sa fake marriage at agawan ng yaman."

"Maybe you should try to stop watching those trashy TV shows," suhestiyon ni Charlotte.

"Hey! Leave my trashy soap operas alone! It's my guilty pleasure!" pagtatanggol ni Georgia, nagbibirong inilagay ang kamay sa dibdib na parang nasaktan.

Saglit napasandal sa upuan si Charlotte, umikot ang mata at napahalukipkip. "Have you seen the news where a guy married his rice cooker?" tanong niya kay Georgia habang napalingon. "Or a woman married her life-size doll?"

Napakunot-noo si Georgia, hindi makapaniwalang sambit nito, "Rice cooker? Life-size doll?" Napaakbay siya sa kinauupuan at hindi maiwasang matawa, ang tawa'y umalingawngaw sa buong opisina. "You know if you're trying to make a knock-knock joke, you better stop. You're really bad at it. Mas bagay sa'yo maging bossy at strict, okay? If our employees find out about your silly jokes, they will never be scared." Tumatawang tudyo ni Georgia sabay pinahid ang luha sa gilid ng kanyang mata.

"I'm not trying to make a joke! For heaven's sake!" iritableng sagot ni Charlotte.

"Okay, okay, calm down," pagpapakalma ni Georgia bago pa mapikon ang pinsan. Pinigilan na lang tumawa kaya kinuha na lang ang kontrata, nagkunwaring binabasa habang binubuklat ang pahina. "What's a rice cooker and life-size doll got to do with your soap opera marriage?" hindi na napigilan ni Georgia na mang-asar sa tanong.

"Compared to my soap opera-inspired life as you put it, my life is more normal than getting married to a rice cooker. And f.y.i., it's real and it's on the news, so yes, marrying a life-size doll exists in reality. So why does my marriage sound so absurd?" Napakumpas ng kamay si Charlotte sabay napabuntong-hinga. "Aren't you supposed to be my lawyer discussing my NDA contract with David and not questioning my personal choices?" kunsumidong wika nito.

"Oh, believe me, I can multitask. I can draft contracts while pondering the absurdity of your life decisions," bwelta ni Georgia. "So, what's next? A reality TV show?"

Napaikot ng mata si Charlotte. "Very funny. But no, David and I just have an understanding. It's more like a business arrangement."

"Okay, fine, I got you." Napabuntong-hingang turan ni Georgia at sinimulan basahin ang kontrata. "I'm going to support your soap opera marriage no matter what. You're still my baby sister after all," malambing na saad nito.

Lumalim ang dimples ni Charlotte nang ngumiti. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. You're always my big sister even if you act like a toddler sometimes."

"My babysitter is probably right. I am a drama queen," nakayukong turan ni Georgia habang nakatingin sa kontrata.

"Your girlfriend Tracy told you that?" tanong ni Charlotte at nakatuon ang paningin sa screen ng laptop.

Napatikom lang ng labi si Georgia habang binabasa ang kontrata. "You have no idea," makahulugang sambit niya at may pilyang ngiti na sumilay sa labi. Saglit na binalot ng katahimikan ang opisina. Abala si Charlotte sa kaniyang laptop habang si Georgia naman ay maingat na binabasa ang kontrata.