Dandelions in the Wind

45

"Can you please turn off your phone?" aburidong pakiusap ni Charlotte habang nasa loob ng boardroom at nakaupo sa tabi ni Georgia.

Napabuntong-hiningang hinaplos ng hintuturo ni Georgia ang screen ng kaniyang cellphone at napairap kay Charlotte. "I'm waiting for the exciting part; the guy is going to tell her that he had a brain transplant," reklamo ni Georgia nang nabitin sa kaniyang pinapanood.

Kunsumidong napainom na lang si Charlotte ng malamig na tubig nang magsalin sa baso. "Seriously, brain transplant? How's that even possible? I can't imagine how you can survive watching that show," dismayadong saad ni Charlotte at itinuro ang cellphone.

"Uhm, it's a soap opera, anything is possible, duh?" mataray na tugon ni Georgia at napasandal na lang sa kinauupuan. "It's my guilty pleasure, I don't care how ridiculous it can be. I'm paying for a monthly subscription, so I can't miss the episodes," pagtatanggol ni Georgia sa inaabangan na palabas. "Why don't you relax? I've been hearing your sighs every three minutes. Relax, okay? We'll just have a meeting with David to sign agreements with your future husband who happens to drag his cousin all the way from the States just to be his attorney and set up Samantha to have a date with your ex," tudyo ni Georgia habang sinisipat ang bagong pintang nail polish na kulay pink.

Napaikot ang mata ni Charlotte at napahalukipkip. "Oh my god. You're really hopeless!" Napailing na lang na sambit ni Charlotte nang malaman pinagkakagastusan pa talaga ni Georgia ang pinapanood. "Well, thank you for making my anxiety worse than ever." Tumayo si Charlotte at piniling maglakad-lakad sa loob ng boardroom para mabawasan ang nararamdamang kaba.

"Samantha is probably average looking? Uhm, boring? I guess? She doesn't have social media accounts, pero nakita ko na picture niya sa isang event, malayo ang kuha at malabo, pero mas maganda ka, okay," pagpapalakas-loob ni Georgia, "if you converted a straight woman like Dionne, then you're far more attractive," walang anumang turan ni Georgia, kinuha ang folder na naglalaman ng kontrata at binuklat ang mga pahina.

"I don't think she's boring," hindi kumbinsidong tugon ni Charlotte. Nagpunta sa bintanang salamin at piniling tumayo para pagmasdan ang matatayog na gusali. "I just think it's weird," walang lingon saad ni Charlotte habang nakatingin sa labas ng bintana.

Tumingin si Georgia sa dako ni Charlotte at inilapag sa mesa ang hawak na folder. "Sounds like a deflection. You know, people often hide their true feelings behind skepticism."

"And you think I'm hiding something?" Napalingon si Charlotte kay Georgia. "My emotions are perfectly fine, thank you. It's just... I can't picture Dionne with someone like Samantha." Binawi ni Charlotte ang tingin at itinuon sa labas ng bintana.

Napasandal si Georgia sa kinauupuan at mahinang inikot ang swivel chair. "Maybe because deep down, you still see Dionne with you."

Isang malalim na buntong-hinga ang narinig kay Charlotte. "We're over. She made that clear," mahinang sagot nito.

May narinig na katok mula sa pinto. "Come in!" tugon ni Georgia at napatayo. Pumasok ang sekretarya na si Sarah at pormal na nagsalita, "Mr. David Martin is here, and Miss Samantha Emerson." Tahimik na umalis si Sarah nang makapasok ang mga bisita.

"Hey! Charlotte!" masiglang bati ni David na eleganteng nakasuot ng blue Armani suit. Agad lumapit si Charlotte at nag-beso na may kasama na rin yakap. "Hey! Glad to see you!" magiliw na bati ni Charlotte.

Kumalas si David sa pagkakayakap at lumingon sa kaniyang katabi. "This is my cousin Samantha." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Charlotte habang nagsasalita. "Sammy, meet my girl, Charlotte." Tumingin din siya sa kinatatayuan ni Georgia na nakatulala. "And meet her cousin, Georgia." Sabay tinuro ni David.