Pursue Her Heart

MIA sighed as she was waiting for Audrey at the mall. Audrey was already ten minutes late. Hindi naman palaging late si Audrey pero naiintindihan naman niya ang kaibigan kung bakit ito late ngayon. Audrey was already married. Things were not the same as before. Pagkalipas ng dalawang minuto, nakita na niya si Audrey na paparating at kasama ni Audrey ang asawa nito. Ngumiti siya saka kinawayan si Audrey. Audrey waved back and ran towards her. “Pasensiya na-late ako.” Natawa na lang si Mia. “It’s okay. Let’s go.” Audrey looked at her husband. “Austin was waiting for me. We had a meeting with a client. Go and have fun.” wika ni Emerson saka hinaplos ang buhok ni Audrey. Tahimik lang naman si Mia na nakaayo sa tabi ni Audrey. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin kasi baka mamaya hindi niya kayain ang sweetness ng dalawang nasa harapan niya. “Take care of my wife.” Mia looked at Emerson and nodded her head. “Don’t worry, ibabalik ko siya ng buo sa ‘yo.” Emerson smiled and kissed Audrey on her forehead. Pagkatapos umalis ni Emerson, mahinang nahampas ni Mia ang braso ng kaibigan. “Nakakainggit kayong dalawa.” Natawa ng mahina si Audrey. “Maghanap ka na rin kasi.” Sumimangot si Mia. “Ayaw ko. Na-trauma na yata ako.” Magkaligkis ang kanilang braso na pumasok sila sa escalator at nagtungo sa second-floor ng mall. They planned to have a girl bonding. “Bakit naman?” tanong ni Audrey. “Bakit hindi ko ba nakwento sa ‘yo ang tungkol sa ex ko?” “Oh,” Audrey reacted. She smiled, shaking her head. “Nakalimutan ko na.” Mia lost her smile. “Forget it. Let’s go.” Tumigil silang dalawa sa isang Milktea Stall at bumili ng sarili nilang inumin. Maya maya nagpatuloy sila sa pag-iikot sa loob ng mall. Minsan pumapasok sila sa mga store at kung may nagustuhan sila ay binibili nila. Mabuti na lang at maliban sa school allowance na binibigay ng kaniyang ina, may extra card pa itong ibinigay sa kaniya for leisure. Though her parents gave her an allowance, she earns money through her hard work. She paints and sells it in a gallery studio. By then, she can earn her own money. Nang sumapit ang tanghali, isang lalaki ang lumapit sa kanila. “Martin?” Audrey was confused. “Bakit?” Mukhang kilala naman ni Audrey ang lalaki kaya hinayaan niya ang kaibigan na makipag-usap rito. “Madam, pinapatawag kayo ni Sir Emerson.” Hinawakan ni Audrey ang kamay ni Mia saka tinignan ang oras sa relo na suot ni Mia. Tumango si Audrey kay Martin. “Susunod kami.” Bahagyang yumukod si Martin saka sinabi ang pangalan ng restaurant at umalis na ito. Audrey looked at Mia. “Let’s go.” Natigilan si Mia at itinuro ang sarili. “Kasali ako?” Tumango si Audrey. “Oo. Halika na. Gutom na ako.” Hinila niya ang kaibigan. “Teka lang. Kasama mo ang asawa mo. Ayaw ko namang maging third wheel sa inyo.” Ani Mia. At isa ang awkward kaya no’n. “Ano naman ngayon kung kasama natin ang asawa ko na kumain? Don’t worry, hindi naman kita iiwan sa ere.” Natatawang saad ni Audrey saka hinila ang kaibigan patungo sa restaurant na kinaroroonan ni Emerson. Wala ng nagawa si Mia kundi ang nagpahila sa kaibigan. Nang makarating sila sa restaurant, agad na nakita ni Mia ang asawa ni Audrey at may kausap ito. Nakatalikod ang kausap ni Emerson kaya naman hindi niya makita ang mukha nito pero mukhang pamilyar sa kaniya ang likod ng lalaki. “Hi, Hubby.” Bati ni Audrey sa asawa. Emerson smiled. “Kumain muna kayo bago kayo mamasyal ulit.” Mia politely nods her head. Kapagkuwan napatingin siya sa lalaking kausap ni Emerson. Sandali siyang natigilan nang makita ang mukha ng lalaki. Kaya naman pala pamilyar ito sa kaniya. “Can I sit with you?” Mia asked in a polite voice. Four-seater ang lamesa kaya naman wala siyang choice kundi ang umupo sa tabi ng lalaki. Austin nodded. “Thank you.” Umupo si Mia sa tabi ng lalaki. Napatingin siya sa kaibigan at nakita niyang abala ito sa pagtingin ng menu. Austin picked up the menu and gave it to the girl beside him. “Order anything you want.” He pointed to Emerson. “Siya naman ang magbabayad.” Emerson nodded. “Feel free.” Mia politely nods her head. Tumingin siya sa kaibigan at nakita niya ang nanunudyo nitong ngiti sa kaniya. Audrey even wiggled her eyebrows, teasing her. “Ano?” pabulong na tanong ni Mia. Hindi nawala ang nanunudyong ngiti ni Audrey sa labi nito. Audrey typed something on her phone and looked at Mia. Nagtaka naman si Mia saka tinignan ang cellphone. Audrey sends a message to her. Binuksan niya ang mensahe ni Audrey. ‘Bagay kayong dalawa.’ Mia rolled her eyes. Ramdam niyang namula siya dahil sa mensahe sa kaniya ng kaibigan. Natawa namna si Audrey saka muling nagpadala ng mensahe sa kaibigan. ‘You’re blushing.’ ‘Stop it, Audrey.’ Austin took the menu from the girl beside him and looked at Emerson. They gave each other a knowing look and nodded. Austin called for the waiter. Nang makalapit sa kanila ang waiter, nag-order ng pagkain si Emerson at Austin. Emerson knew his wife, so he knew what to order. But Austin didn’t know the girl beside him, so he needed to ask what she liked. In the end, it was Mia who ordered her own food. Pero hindi siya ang magbabayad. She’s so happy na makalibre siya ng pagkain. Habang naghihintay ng pagkain, abala si Mia at Audrey sa pagcha-chat sa isa’t-isa kahit magkaharap lang sila. Napailing na lang si Emerson. “Baby, why don’t you just talk?” Mabilis na inilayo ni Audrey ang cellphone kay Emerson. “No peeking. This is girls’ talk.” “Fine. Alright.” Emerson nodded. Mia smiled while chatting with Audrey. ‘Mia, namumula ka pa rin.’ Mia looked at Audrey. ‘How’s the candy?’ Napaawang ang labi ni Audrey saka namula nang mabasa ang tanong ni Mia. Tumingin siya sa kaibigan. Mia had a smug looked in her face. ‘Bakit ikaw lang ba ang marunong na mang-asar?’ Audrey didn’t reply anymore. “Are you okay?” Austin asked in a gentle voice to the girl beside him. Mia looked at Austin. She nodded her head and withdrew her gaze. She knew Austin, but Austin didn’t know her. Pagdating ng pagkain nila, tahimik na kumain si Mia at Austin habang ang mag-asawa na nasa kanilang harapan ay nag-uusap. Akala ni Mia kampante siyang makakakain pero hindi pala dahil katabi niya si Austin. Mia had a crush with Austin. Nakita niya ito sa kasal noon ni Audrey. Austin was a handsome man. Mas matanda ito sa kaniyang ng pitong taon, but Mia was attracted to Austin even more. Isa ito sa mga negosyanteng laging napapabalita sa financial news. Austin was Mia’s crush, that’s why she collected some of the business magazines where Austin was featured. Mia never thought that she would eat at the same table as Austin. Audrey didn’t know that Austin was her crush. Otherwise, Audrey will tease her nonstop. Kaya mas mabuting hindi na nito malaman. Maya maya pa ay may tumawag kay Austin. Nasulyapan ni Mia ang pangalan ng tumawag dahil nakapatong ang cellphone ni Austin kanina sa lamesa. It was his mother. Austin excused himself and answered his mother’s call. “Mom­—” “Son, I have a blind date for you.” Austin sighed. “Mom, I’m not interested.” Aniya saka pinatay ang tawag. Natawa naman si Emerson. “Was your mother pushing you into a blind date again?” he asked. “Yeah.” Tumango si Austin. Natigilan si Mia. Napasulyap siya kay Austin. Blind date? Yeah, indeed. A man like Austin, in his age, siguradong tinutulak na ito ng magulang nito na magpasakal este magpakasal. A woman who will become Austin’s wife in the future will be lucky. Ano pa ba ang hahanapin mo sa isang Austin Zyair Esquivel? Successful and financially stable. Tanga na lang siguro ang aayaw kung sakaling mag-aalok ito ng kasal. Though she would do that if he ever asked. Austin would never ask her because he didn’t know her. And there’s no way they will get close in the future. Moreover, Mia was not interested in getting married for some reason. “Ayaw mo talagang makipag-blind date?” tanong ni Emerson. Umiling si Austin. “I’m not interested. At isa pa, busy ako. Wala akong panahon.” “Then you pissed off your mother again.” Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Austin. “My mother was just worried that I would not get married and have children in the future, so she kept on pushing me on blind dates.” Natawa si Emerson at napailing. “I think I agree with your mother, though. You are successful and financially stable, but you lack one thing.” “What?” “Love life.” Natigilan si Austin saka bahagyang natawa. “I’m not interested.” Emerson clicked his tongue. “Tignan natin baka isa ka sa mga tatamaan ng love at first sight.” “I don’t believe it.” “I don’t care. Hindi ko naman sinabing paniwalaan mo.” Ani Emerson saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Napailing na lang si Austin. Emerson was really rude. Kapagkuwan kusang siya napatingin sa dalagang katabi niya. The girl beside him was beautiful, and it was like he didn’t exist because she never looked at him the way the other women looked at him. She’s different. Austin thought, and a smile appeared on his lips.