Something That Glitters

8 // The Smiles Of Antonette

The Smiles Of Antonette

"How old are you, Tonette?"

"I'm sixty-two, Snooki."

"Ah, tanda na," I whispered. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagtatanggal ng tali sa mga bagong delivered na bulaklak.

"Ako'y tigil-tigilan mong bata ka!"

Hala, narinig pala? Tinaas ko ang pareho kong kamay for defense. "Hey, why so grumpy? You're acting like your age, Tonette."

Dumating si Julio para dalhan kami ng pagkain ni Auntie. Yes, isinasama ko na ang sarili ko sa narrative because I think I'm Auntie's favorite employee and she doesn't want me hungry and unfed.

"Hey, Snooks!" He gave me a nod as he walked past me. He's cool like his curly hair and brown eyes.

I nudged my flower boss. "Eh si Julio, ilang taon na po?"

"Twenty."

"Twenty... what?" I pursued.

"Hindi twenty-one, Snooki. Twenty."

I sighed. Tinapik-tapik ko ang pisngi ni Auntie. "Matanda ka na nga po talaga."

Hinawi niya ang kamay ko at sinungitan ako ng tingin. Ngumuso tuloy ako at nagbalik sa trabaho.

We were arranging dried flowers. I loved it because the colors rangedfrom pastel to muted colors.

Like now, I have in my hands preserved hydrangeas in aqua blue. I picked some of white tall-stemmed lagurus to arrange them together in a gold-colored flower wrap that I varnished with eco-friendly glitters myself. After arranging it inside the wrap, I sealed the beauties in and tied a thin strip of tweed around it with love. As a result, it's was a Snooki magic!

Smiling, I displayed my own kind of magic in one rack in the display room. All the preserved flower arrangements in this tiny rack were arranged by me. Auntie Tonette had this idea to let me do this so I could have something to do. I had no proper training so I just curated based on what was beautiful to my eyes, and Auntie loved it—she just won't say it because she's shy, but I knew she very well did.

"I am... the bomb!" I announced to my audience of flowers, giving each of them a finger gunshot gesture, 'cause I was also their boss.

Every flower was unique. Maliit na arrangement lang ang ginagawa ko. Sa loob ay may bilang ng stems na umaabot hanggang walo. Gusto ko itong maging bulaklak na p'wede mong ibigay on random days to create cute happenstances, or if you just wanted to make someone smile.

Snooki Magic was not extravagant as it was curated to be sweet and blissful. Pwede itong ibigay sa crush mo, friend, nililigawan, iniirog, at fling—ay wag pala fling! My magic was only reserved for ceaseless love. Kung gusto talaga ng para sa fling ay sa ibang shop na lang bumili! O kaya iyong mga gawa ni Auntie. Kekeke!

"Snooks, I'll be off somewhere at dinnertime. Gusto mo bang mag-sara ng shop nang mas maaga?" alok ni Julio pagkadating niya sa tabi ko.

"'Di na! Kaya ko nang isara ang shop nang mag-isa, I swear."

Si Julio kasi ang tumutulong sa amin ni Auntie sa pagbubukas at pagsasara ng Daily Bloom. Sa gabi ay hinahatid niya muna si Auntie sa apartment building niya at saka bumabalik para tulungan ako sa pagsasara. Mas nauunang umuwi si Auntie dahil kinabukasan ay siya naman ang gigising nang maaga para magbukas ng shop. At saka may bike kasi ako, alangan namang iangkas ko si Auntie roon! E 'di na-flat na gulong ng bike.

"Are you sure? Aren't you going to ask where I'll be tonight?" He chuckled.

"No, Julio." I rolled my eyes. "Kaya ko na nga. Legit."