Something That Glitters

26 // Cold-Ground Tiptoe

Cold-Ground Tiptoe

"As a holiday gift, and for being the best lizard ever, I'm giving you extra crickets!"

One character development I most loved about myself this year was that I wasn't panicky around crickets anymore. I mean, okay, I only scaredy-skipped at least five times now compared to my previous record of thirteen, so how's that? If that wasn't bravery then perhaps nothing ever was.

Cornelia flicked her tongue three times as a gesture of thanks. Oh, and also, this was the year I learned the chameleon language, so I technically also became a multilingual. Darn, I was on a roll with these achievements, baby!

I flipped our store sign to Closed as it was lunch hours. Auntie went out with Uncle to eat. That's why I was alone and wouldn't be able to handle an influx of customers in parallel with some urgent admin tasks.

Most of our chores were to arrange the pre-ordered flowers. Dahil malapit na ang holidays, bumuhos ang trabaho. We were still accepting walk-in customers, but only until all the pre-arranged flowers for the day were sold.

I was busy on the store's laptop, responding to clients' emails and doing inventory. Nasa countertop ang laptop at nakatayo ako habang nagtatrabaho. My legs went numb from sitting so much this morning! Anong oras ba babalik 'yong dalawang matandang nag-date?

"You're alone?" Kasabay ng boses ang katok sa pader na kahoy na naghihiwalay sa small office at sa display area.

"Hmm?" Tumaas ang dalawa kong kilay. I was still busy composing emails but I answered Archer, "Yup! The oldies were out for lunch."

It was several days after Elon had left the city—thank God! Pero hindi na natuloy ang something fun namin ni Archer because of the holiday rush. He was busy at the hotel, and we were busy here at Daily Bloom.

Madalas pa rin naman siyang pumupunta rito kahit busy pero hindi nga lang nagtatagal. Usually, he was here at lunch hours. Kung working lunch naman siya, sa gabi siya nandito tapos sabay kaming uuwi.

Shet, label na lang talaga! O kaya, go na sa singsing. Char.

"Wow, you're really busy, huh?" nangingiti niyang komento. I just looked at him for one good sec, then I was working again.

"Uu. Bakit, ikaw ba?"

Now, what materials are we low on now, hmm? Let's see. Let. Us. See—

Pinatong ni Archer ang baba niya sa balikat ko pagkapuwesto niya sa likuran ko, at ang mga kamay naman niya ay gumapang sa magkabila kong baywang. His breath was on my neck, briefly rubbing his nose on me. Taking his time, he angled his face up to me and left almost zero distance between his lips and my jaw. My whole body's gotten stiff, making me feel intoxicated in each passing second. He chuckled at my reaction, and his laugh was as inebriated as I was.

"You can continue working, Miss Henilza. Ignore me here. Hmm?"

Umirap ako at sobrang nakikipagtalo sa labi ko na 'wag ngumiti. Pinilit ko ang sarili kong magalit kasi busy talaga ako.

"Kasi, Archer. Nagtatrabaho kaya ako."

Busy ako. Busy ako. Focus. Focus!

Ano ba namang labi 'to? Akin ba 'to? Bakit hindi ko makontrol?!

"Two minutes lang po. I promise." Sinilip niya ako para ipakita ang halakhak niya, at naramdaman ko na naman ang init ng hininga niya sa leeg ko. Hindi ko kayang pigilan 'yong kiliting pinaparamdam niya kaya umiirap ako tuwing nagtatangkang lumabas ang ngiti ko.