Pursue Her Heart

CHAPTER 13

AUSTIN’S MOTHER’S BIRTHDAY was not held in their own mansion. Instead, it was held in a luxury hotel owned by Austin’s friends. Ayon kay Austin, pribado raw ang mansyon nila kaya hindi pwedeng pumunta ang ibang tao roon maliban na lang sa kanilang mga kamag-anak.

Mia looked at the luxury hotel in front of her. The birthday party was tonight. It was all due to respect. That’s why she came. Mas gugustuhin pa niyang matulog na lang sana kaysa ang pumunta sa ganitong party.

Napatingin si Mia sa dalang regalo. It was her painting. The frame, canvas, oil paint and everything she used in this painting was expensive. Ginamit niya ang perang napagbentahan niya sa huling painting na ipininta niya.

Yes, the last painting. The painting that Austin bought for a half-million. Binibiro lang naman niya noon ang binata pero hindi niya akalain na totohanin nito ang biro niyang ‘yon. Pero sa yaman ni Austin, siguradong barya lang ang kalahating milyon para rito.

“Ate, ano bang regalo mo? Picture frame ba ‘yan?” tanong ni Charles. His face showed curiosity.

Ngumiti si Mia. “Oo, picture frame nga.” Sagot niya.

Hindi na niya sinabing painting ang regalo niya.

Austin had mentioned before that his mother loved nature, so she painted a scene of nature. Though it looks cheap, she made an effort. It's all the thoughts that count. Hindi nga niya alam kung magugustuhan ng ina ni Austin ang regalo niya.

“Ma, mabait ba ang kaibigan mo?” tanong ni Mia saka yumakap sa braso ng ina.

“Oo naman. Mabait ‘yon. Mukha lang masungit pero mabait.”

Napahawak na lamang si Mia sa sariling batok saka inakbayan ang kapatid.

Pumasok sila sa loob ng luxury hotel saka nagtungo sa venue.

Sa labas ng hall, nakita na ni Mia si Austin at mukhang may inaantay ito.

Automatikong gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Austin nang makita niya si Mia.

“Tita. Tito.” Bati niya sa magulang ni Mia.

Johan nodded his head, and Camila smiled at Austin.

“How are you, bud?” Austin asked Charles as he messed up his hair.

Charles looked at Austin and pried away his hair. “Kuya, huwag mong guluhin ang buhok ko. I spent three hours making it.”

Natawa si Austin.

“Ate, your boyfriend was bullying me.” Pagsumbong ni Charles sa Ate Mia nito.

Napailing na lang si Mia. Tumingin siya kay Austin. “Don’t bully my brother.”

Nagtaas lang naman ng kamay si Austin na para bang sumusuko. Napatingin siya sa hawak ni Mia. “Give it to me.” He took the gift from Mia. Then he held Mia’s hand.

Nagkatinginan si Johan at Camila.

“What do you think?” Camila asked.

Umiling si Johan. “Austin’s eyes held with sincerity while our daughter looked distant.”

Napabuntong hininga si Camila. She was helping her daughter overcome her fear. Though Mia looked tough on the surface, deep in her heart, there was a buried fear that she would explode anytime it was triggered. As a mother, she hopes her daughter will find a good man to marry.

Pumasok si Austin at Mia sa loob ng hall na magkahawak ng kamay. Hindi naman nakaligtas sa mata ng dalaga ang tingin ng ibang tao lalo na ang mga babae kay Austin. Hindi naman niya masisisi ang mga ito. Austin was a handsome man. It’s no wonder that he could attract women’s attention.

Ramdam rin ni Mia ang mapanuring tingin ng ibang tao sa kaniya pero wala siyang pakialam sa mga ito. Hindi naman ang mga ito ang pinuntahan niya sa birthday party na ito.

“I’ll introduce you to my mother.”

Mabilis na tumigil si Mia sa paglalakad kaya pati si Austin ay napatigil rin.

“Bakit?” tanong ni Austin.

Ngumiti si Mia. “Baka pwedeng mamaya na.” Bigla kasi siyang kinabahan.

“Kinakabahan ka ba?”

Tumango si Mia.

Austin smiled. “Don’t worry, mabait naman si Mommy. Gusto nga rin ka niyang makilala.”

Bago pa man makasagot si Mia, may lumapit sa kanilang mag-asawa. The man looked like Austin, so Mia assumed they were Austin’s parents.

Binati ng magulang ni Mia ang bagong dating. The Camila greeted her friend “Happy birthday.”

“Salamat, Camila.” The woman thanked her and then her eyes settled on Mia. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ng ina ni Austin saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Mia. “You must be Camille, right?”

Tumango si Mia.

Tumikhim si Austin saka inakbayan si Mia. “Mom, call her Mia. Ako lang ang tatawag sa kaniya ng Camille.”

Natawa ang ina ni Austin saka hindi pinansin ang anak. She introduced herself to Mia. “I’m Katrina, Austin’s mother. Kaibigan rin ako ng nanay mo.”

Ngumiti si Mia. Hindi niya alam ang sasabihin niya kaya naman ngiti lang ang maitugon niya.

“You look cute, hija.” Natutuwang sabi ni Katrina saka pinisil ang pisngi ni Mia.

“Salamat po sa pag-imbita.” Mahinang sabi ni Mia. Nahihiya siya sa ina ni Austin. Mukha nga itong masungit pero ramdam niyang mabait ito.

Ngumiti si Katrina. “Magiging pamilya na tayo. No need to be polite.”

Natigilan si Mia at napatingin kay Austin.

Austin looked at his mother. “Mom,” he called.

But Katrina ignored her son. Her attention was still on Mia. “I really like you to be my daughter-in-law, Mia,” she said to Mia, holding her hand.

Napaubo naman si Mia at hinagod ni Austin ang likod niya.

Camila knew that her daughter was uncomfortable with the situation she was in, so she decided to butt in. “Katrina, let’s give them some privacy. You know, a couple should talk so they can cultivate their feelings more.”

Natawa ng mahina si Katrina. She eagerly nodded. “Oo nga ‘no.” Aniya. Bumaling siya kay Austin. “You take Mia to eat.”

Austin and Mia looked at each other.

Naalala ni Mia ang regalo niya. “Tita, I have a gift for you.” Aniya. Kinuha niya ang hawak ni Austin saka ito ibinigay sa ina ni Austin.

“Salamat, Hija. What is this?”

“A simple gift po. It was a painting.”

“Can you paint, Mia?”

Tumango si Mia.

“Wow. You’re a talent, hija.”

“Mom, the painting I gave you yesterday was painted by her, too,” Austin said.

Pasimpleng kinurot ni Mia si Austin sa may tagiliran saka niya ngitian ang binata.

Austin’s face contorted in pain, but he didn’t blame Mia for pinching him.

“Oh, really? Then I want to see it now.” Excited na sabi ni Katrina saka ibinigay sa asawa nito ang painting. “Hawakan mo. I will open it.”

Katrina looked at her son and saw the admiration in his eyes for Mia.

“Tita,” pigil ni Mia. “Can you please open it later?”

Natawa ang ama ni Austin saka bumaling kay Johan. “Your daughter was a bit shy.”

Johan only smiled.

“Okay. I’ll open it later.” Sinenyasan ni Katrina ang anak.

“What?”

Katrina lost her smile. Her son was dumb sometimes. “Pumunta na kayo.” Sabi ni Katrina. She even pushed the couple so they would go.

Austin brought Mia to the banquet table.

Mia looked at the desserts on the table. There was also wine and food.

Kumuha si Austin ng isang mooncake saka ito inalok kay Mia.

Mia opened her mouth and took a bite.

“Masarap ba?”

Tumango si Mia saka kinuha ang hawak ni Austin. Inubos niya ito.

Mia spent her time eating while, sometimes, Austin was feeding her.

There were a lot of people at the birthday party. But Austin never leaves Mia’s side. Kahit pa may kausap ito, hindi iniiwan ni Mia si Austin. Also, Austin took the opportunity to introduce Mia as his girlfriend to the people, asking who Mia was.

“Sira ka ba? Why are you introducing me as your girlfriend?”

Ngumiti si Austin. “Bakit hindi ba?”

“We’re just pretending—” naputol ang sasabihin ni Mia nang subuan siya ni Austin ng mooncake.

“Camille, don’t mention it anymore. I know we are pretending, but don’t think about it. Just go with the flow of our relationship. My actions towards you were real. I wasn’t pretending,” Austin said with a serious voice.

Hindi nakatugon si Mia at napatitig kay Austin. Kapagkuwan nag-iwas siya ng tingin saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Later, Austin undresses his coat and puts it on Mia.

“Mukhang nilalamig ka na.”

“Salamat.”

Austin smiled at Mia. “Girlfriend.” Aniya.

Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si Mia dahil bigla siyang nahiya. Deep in her heart, she was happy to hear that word from Austin, but in her mind, they were just in a fake relationship. But even if they were pretending, masaya na siya.

A short-lived happiness.