Basket of Keen

Chapter 5

“Let’s do this” I said to myself and fetch all my things.

“What did you do to your hair?” Dex exclaims when I enter the shop.

I just colored my hair again, what’s the matter with that? Is it that bad? When I look myself at the mirror it matches my skin tone though.

“Pangit?” tanong ko sa kanya at napailing naman siya sa akin.

Ilang linggo na rin ang nakalipas simula nung pumunta rito yung teenager na iyon, hindi ko na nga analala kung anong pangalan nun.

“Hindi naman pala eh bakit kung makareact ka jan eh parang guguho ang mundo?” tanong ko sa kanya.

Napairap lamang ako sa kanya kasabay ang pag sindot ko sa kanyang tagiliran. Napahawak naman siya rito at tiningnan ako ng masama, natawa lamang ako sa kanya at naglakad lakad sa shop nang pumasok may roong pumasok sa loob ng shop.

Magsasalita na sana ako nang makita ko kung sino ang pumasok rito. Anong ginagawa niya rito? Bakit siya nandito?

Tiningnan ko lamang siya habang inililibot ang kanyang mata sa loob ng shop hangang sa lumapat iyon sa akin at dali dali siyang lumapit sa akin. Napatingin lamang ako sa blankong ekspresyon sa kanya, hindi ko mabasa sa kanyang mga mata ang gusto niyang ipahiwatig.

“Zyreah, can we talk?” tanong niya sa akin.

Tiningnan ko lamang siya hangang tiningnan ko si Dex. Nakita kong nakatingin rin siya sa akin and he nod to me.

“Maiwan ka muna namin Dex, ikaw nang bahala rito.” Bilin ko sa kanya at hinila ang lalaking kumausap sa akin papalabas ng shop.

Ano na naman bang kailangan niya. Hindi ba nila ako tatatantanan? Klaro naman ang usapan namin hindi ba? Pero bakit parati pa rin nila akong dinidistorbo?

Pumasok kaming dalawa sa loob ng kanyang sasakyan. Nakaupo lamang ako habang nakatingin ng deretso sa salamin ng kanyang sasakyan.

“What do you want?” malamig kong tanong sa kanya.

May roon siyang iniabot na envelope na kulang puti at napatingin lamang ako roon at hindi ko tinangap.

Pathetic.

“I’m not going, just send my greetings to him.” Malamig kong saad sa kanya at saka ako lumabas ng sasakyan niya.

Maglalakad n asana ako pabalik ng shop ng hilain niyang muli ang aking kamay. Napatingin lamang ako sa kanya ng blanko, agad niya namang binitawan ang aking braso at tiningnan ako ng maayos.

“Until when?” he ask and I rolled my eyes to him.

“Until when? Tsk” I repeat his words. “Isn’t it clear? We had a contract aren’t we? This surely will answer your question though. You’re intelligent enough to understand it, I need to go.” I coldly said to him and walk away.

Tsk, why is he acting like this?

Naglakad ako pabalik ng shop habang hinihilot-hilot ang aking ulo, nakita ko naman si Dex na -sumalubong sa akin na tila ba nag-aalala sa akin, napangiti naman ako sa kanya. This silly guy always thought that something might happened.

“Walang may nangyari wag kang mag-aalala.” Saad ko sa kanya at naglakad sa mga bulaklak at iniayos ang mga iyon.

“Pero bakit mukhang iba ang aura mo?” tanong niya at napatigil naman ako sa pagaayos at napangiti ako sa kanya saka ko siya hinarap.

“If a sheep will be chase by a wolf would you be happy as a shepherded?” I ask him and tap his shoulders.

Naglakad ako papunta sa bulletin board para tingnan ang schedule at nakita kong may order pala ng flower si Katrina this coming Saturday. Katrina is an event organiser, siya rin ang event organiser nung kasal nila Paisley at ang mga bulaklak na ginamit ay galing rito sa shop ko. Katrina is a good friend of mine when we were in college, I didn’t expect that she’s also a local in this city.

“I wouldn’t be happy but it is a cycle of life, you will lose one of your sheep.” Napatigil ako nang marinig ko ang sagot niya. Napangiti naman ako nang marinig ko iyon.

Surely, people has different perception.

Napalingon ako sa kanya at napangiti. I can’t deny he is intelligent enough to answer my questions even though it’s just an expression.

“Well that’s your perception and I respect it.” I said to him.

“Z, I wonder what is love for you?” he ask out of nowhere.

I was shock, I never ask by that since then but why I am uncomfortable answering it?

“Why? Is it because you have a feelings for me?” I bluntly ask him and nervousness runs to his face. “Am I right, Dex? You know I hate love? But do you love me?” I ask him and he laugh at me.

“Of course not, I’m just curious. You’re in the right age, you have a business and I haven’t see you dating someone since I worked here.” he answer and I smirk at him.

“Why? Do I really need someone to be with? We are all going to die afterwards do I really need some love? Life is short to be stressed with so let’s enjoy it.” I answer to him.

He give me a long pause while trying to understand what I said to him.

“Dex, in perception of humans weren’t the same so try to respect it like I respect yours.” I advice him and he nods to me.

Dex is 2 years younger than me, even though you were decades been living in this world but it doesn’t defines your maturity and understanding. Maybe your age seems to be young but your maturity and understanding is way older than your age and it goes in the other way half.

He is about to speak when someone enters our shop so I move my eyes towards the door and it shocks me familiarizing the face of the person who enters the shop.

“Ah hello I am looking for a flower to—“ her words cut and runs towards me. “—Mizzy, I didn’t expect to see you here, are you also buying some flowers?” she excitedly ask me.

Did she still notice me even though my hair color was different?

“Did you change your hair color? I love it is it blue still? I love the color it really match your tone and with your black lipstick.” She compliments.

How annoying

I shortly smile at her and give Dex a sign to move this girl out of my way. He seems to get it when he comes near to the annoying teenager.

“Ah Ms. I am Dex, one of the stuffs of this shop what may I help you?” Dex ask the annoying teenager.

She really gets me sick.

I saw her sweetly face Dex, doesn’t she has all the sweet charms isn’t she?

“Ah I’m Talisha I am finding for a flower for –“ she said.

I didn’t mind them as in I slowly walk inside our house. She really gives me chills whenever I saw her.