Wounds and Sunflowers

Prologue

"Bakit sunflowers? Pwede namang roses, or tulips, ah? Mas common kaya ang mga 'yon."

"I just wanted something unique," sagot ko, just like my usual answer everytime he ask me about it.

I cannot already count how many times he asked me that question since I started my business. And that is my usual answer everytime, but it seems like he isn't convinced that it was only the reason. Malay ko ba sa taong 'to, napakakulit.

But this time, dinagdagan ko na ang sagot ko.

"And besides, I'm not a copycat  like you."

He crunched his nose due to disapproval.

"Kailan pa ako naging copycat?!"

"When your brother started a coffee shop, then a month later, nakita mo na lumago iyon agad at nagpatayo ka rin ng sarili mong shop pero nalugi agad."

"Hey, that was three years ago! And pinilit lang ako ni mommy na magsimula rin ng business kaya nagawa ko 'yon!"

"But she didn't tell you to copy your brother's business." I said with a hint of tease in my voice, dahilan para dumilim ang muka niya.

"It's because wala akong maisip na iba noon!" He tsked. "Back to the topic, so why sunflowers? And cut that shit, I know there's something more behind it."

"Wala."

"Anong wala? Don't make me a fool, Lairon! I can see something in your eyes everytime na ito ang usapan natin and I wanna know what it is!"

"Baka muta."

"Tanginamo! Seryoso kasi! I've been asking the same question for the whole three years, come on, sagutin mo na ngayon!"

I heaved a sigh because of annoyance.

"Kasi pwede ko rin pagkakitaan ang mga buto nito."

"No! Aside from that!"

"Fine. It's my favorite flower."

Nabuo ang katahimikan pagkatapos ko iyong sabihin. The whole 5 minutes were eaten by silence. He was just staring at me with no emotion on his face, nabitawan pa nga niya ang isang sachet ng sunflower seeds na kinakain niya kanina. It's my product.

After the whole 5 minutes, he finally bursted into uncontrollable laughter.

"P-Putangina, kaya pala ayaw mo sabihin kasi interesado ka rin pala sa mga bulaklak!" Nahihirapang sabi nito habang halos mamatay na sa kakatawa.

I hissed. Ganiyan din ako nang malaman kong interesado siya sa mga bulaklak, pa'no ba naman eh roses daw at iyong pink pa ang favourite. Kaya ayaw ko sabihin na pati ako ay interesado rin dahil pagtatawanan din ako nito at aasarin na araw araw.

Noong high school kasi kami, nalaman ng lahat ng classmates namin na sobrang interesado siya sa mga bulaklak, and mga babae lang raw ang ganoon kaya napagkamalan siyang bakla.

"T-Tangina, akala ko pa naman may deep reason, 'yun pala ayaw lang sabihin kasi baka mapagkamalan ding bakla!"

"Shut up."

"Hayss, akalain mo nga naman. Sunflower pala ang favourite flower ng dakilang Lairon, akala ko flowers ng mga babae."

Binato ko siya ng ballpen at ito' y natatawang inilagan naman niya. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at itinuro ang pinto ng office ko.

"Out. Get out. Madami pa akong gagawin."

"Ayoko nga." Maattitude na sagot nito at humiga sa black couch na nasa mini leisure space ng office ko.