I Have Questions

Ride Home

Gail

It was a chilly September night. I couldn’t stop shivering as we walked around and scanned the parking lot for a white sedan. Anton must have sensed that I couldn’t handle the cold air. Without saying a word, he draped his denim jacket over my shoulders, rubbed his palms vigorously, and covered my ears. It felt weird and comforting at the same time to be this close to him again.

“There, do you feel better now?” He asked as he lead me to the car, and I nodded. He opened the door for me, and I went inside. I patted the dashboard and said, “Hi, Rabbit. Long time no see.” Anton, using a comically miniature voice, replied “Thank you for naming me, master!” This made me smile. The child inside this man is still present, after all.

Anton turned the engine on and spoke (using his normal voice) “Alright, mademoiselle. Our voyage will include a trip to Cinnabombs, we’ll get our loot, and return to the motherland. Shall we get going?” I laughed and cringed at his speech. “Whatever. Start sailing, captain!”

I looked outside the window as Anton drives, not one of us saying a word. Drive You Home by Jackson Wang was playing, the perfect background music.

We have many memories in this car. Rabbit was his dad’s gift to him for his 20th birthday. He used to pick me up at home before we go on our dates, he accompanies me during grocery trips. One time we also had a fight inside this car, but we also made…

”Gail? What does Auntie want?” Anton tapped me on the shoulder. I was so immersed on my trip to the memory lane that I didn’t realize that we were already at the drive thru of Cinnabombs. “Oh, um. 1 box of cinnamon rolls with walnuts. 4 pieces please.”

How long was I in autopilot mode? Anton handed me a bigger box than I expected. It was the 8-piece box. I gave him my payment. “Nope.” Anton grinned proudly. “What do you mean by ‘nope’? I’ll pay for that, that’s for Mama.” He smirked as he maneuvered through the streets.

“Well, you can pay me in another way. Tell me anything. How is Auntie and Arsenic?” Arsenic was my beagle. She was the sweetest dog, and every time Anton visited our home, our little old lady would jump on him and constantly lick his face until I take her away from him. That’s where our inside joke “death by arsenic” came from.

“That’s not fair, you paid for my cake at Kintsugi’s, and now the cinnamon rolls. Well, Mama is fine. Aside from her constant body aches, she’s doing well. Arsenic, however, died last year. Old age.”

He looked at me with sympathetic eyes. “I’m sorry, I hope she’s happy in doggy heaven.” I smiled slightly. “Speaking of Arsenic, what were you doing in that interview, by the way?” He shook his head as he changed lanes.

“Simon the director is my friend’s brother. He was the one that was scheduled to be interviewed, but he had an emergency meeting at the last minute and begged me to be his substitute. So there.”

The traffic was heavy, almost static. It looks like we’re stuck talking for hours. “How is uncle, by the way?” “Well he’s in a better state now, but of course he still misses mom. He’s still yearning for his soulmate.” Anton pointed at the Sequoia building. “You see the Sequoia building? Our office is there. I work as a wedding photographer now.” I felt my heart burst with joy and pride. I patted his shoulders. “Wow! I am so proud of you!” He, in turn, gave me a shy smile. “What kind of photographer doesn’t have his own graduation photo?”

I tilted my head to the right. “But, you graduated, right? How come you didn’t have a graduation photo?” “Dad had a slight accident during our photoshoot. The chair he was standing on fell while he was fixing the clothesline rope. I had to bring him to the hospital. A few sore muscles, but he’s fine.”

My phone rang and I felt a sense of danger. I tried to ignore it. It rang again. “I think you should answer it.” Anton suggested. I took a deep breath and pressed the button. “Hello ma? Yes, yes. We’re on the way home, the traffic was horrible. I’m…with Anton.” Anton glanced at me at the sound of his name. “Okay, bye ma. Thank Anton for your cinnamon rolls. Go to sleep, don’t wait for me okay? Bye, I love you!”

I sighed as I hung up the phone. Anton looked worried. “Is Auntie mad? Tell her we’re near.” I gave him an assuring look. “It’s gonna be fine. We have cinnamon rolls.” Just then, I had a sudden curiosity attack. It’s the kind of curiosity that will keep you up at night. “How is Cara, by the way?” Anton nonchalantly answered, “No idea. I’d like to believe she’s doing well. Haven’t had communication with her since we broke up.”

Wait, did I hear it right? “What? Why?”

“We’re here.” Anton slowed down as we approached my house.

Standing in front of the gate, weighing 144 pounds and wearing red pajamas with a fiery glare and both on hips, was my Mama, Consuelo Lopez. I sank into my seat and hid my face with the box. Before alighting from the car, Anton said, “I meant every word I said during the interview, Gail.” He took my Mama’s hand to pay respect and opened my door. I looked as he cruised the streets until he was gone.

Mama s*****d my hip. “It’s already 1 AM! Abigail, are you dating Anton again?” I handed her the box of cinnamon rolls. “Ma! No, we’re not dating! He bought these for you by the way.” She clucked her tongue as she opened the door. “Abigail. May heaven forgive me but if that boy makes you cry again, I would have to dash to his house. Understand?”

I hugged mama from the back. “I love you, Ma.” She turned around and stroked my hair. “I love you more. Go to sleep, we’ll eat these tomorrow.”