Pursue Her Heart

CHAPTER 8

“YOU KNOW WHAT? I saw someone the other day. He was having a date with a beautiful lady,” Nakangising saad ni Rowan.

Nasa isang VIP Room silang magkakaibigan at naisipang uminom. It was just part of their bonding. Hindi naman sila umiinom to the point na hindi na nila kaya ang kanilang sarili. But sometimes, they wasted. Pero minsan lang naman.

“Oh, really? Sino naman ‘yon?” tanong ni Izael. Pero may ideya na siyang kung sino. Rowan took a picture of Austin and the girl. Though the girl was wearing heavy makeup, namukhaan niya ito.

Austin looked at Izael. Looks like Izael was not busy. Himalang nakarating ito ngayon. Izael doesn’t like the city.

“It’s someone.” Rowan looked at Austin. Kaya naman napatingin ang lahat kay Austin.

Habang si Austin at tahimik lang naman na umiinom.

“What?” tanong ni Austin nang mapansin niyang nakatingin sa kaniya ang lahat.

Tumayo si Rowan saka lumipat sa tabi ni Austin. Inakbayan niya ito. “So, how’s your date?”

“I…” Hindi alam ni Austin kung ano ang sasabihin niya dahil kay Rowan.

“Don’t deny it.” Mabilis na sabi ni Rowan kaya natahimik si Austin.

“Anong pinag-uusapan niyo?” tanong ni Emerson na kararating lang. Simula ng mag-asawa ito, lagi na itong nahuhuli kapag may mga usapan silang ganito. Ito ang nahuhuling dumating pero ito ang nauunang umalis.

Jefferson gave Emerson a drink.

“Thank you,” Emerson said, taking the wine-filled glass.

“We’re talking about Austin. May date siya noong nakaraang araw.”

Emerson looked at Austin. Austin was also looking at Emerson.

“I didn’t tell them anything,” said Emerson, shaking his head. Totoo naman ‘yon at wala siyang pakialam kung maniwala sa kaniya si Austin o hindi.

Austin sighed and didn’t say anything.

“What are you thinking?” Rhett asked.

“Iniisip niya si Mia.” Sagot ni Izael para kay Austin.

Kumunot ang noo ni Austin. Paano nalaman ni Izael ang pangalan ni Mia?

“Who’s Mia?” Zayden asked as he took a sip of his wine.

“Friend of Emerson’s wife. Siya ‘yong maid of honor sa kasal ni Emerson at Audrey.” Sagot ni Lorenzo at sumandal sa kinauupuan.

“That’s her,” Rowan interjects. “She’s the date of Austin I was talking about.”

“Woah. You like younger ladies?” Nakangiting tanong ni Christopher kay Austin.

“Tumahimik nga kayo.” Inis na wika ni Austin. Pinaikot niya ang hawak na baso saka inubos ang laman nito. His faced darkened as he looked at Izael. “How did you know Mia?”

“Woah. Woah. Easy, pare.” Wika ni Izael nang makitang masama ang tingin ni Austin sa kaniya.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Austin.

Izael raised his hands. “Wala akong ginagawa. I just found out about Mia because I bought one of her paintings.”

Nawala madilim na mukha ni Austin. “Painting?”

Tumango si Izael. “Kakilala ko ang maya-ari ng Gallery Studio kaya naman nakilala ko rin si Mia—”

“One more time, her name comes out of your mouth. I will tear your mouth.” Austin threatened.

Izael quickly zipped his mouth.

Natahimik naman ang mga kasama ni Austin sa loob ng VIP Room. Ngayon lang yata nila narinig na nagbanta si Austin sa mga kaibigan nito.

Rowan immediately did something funny to break the awkward atmosphere.

Rowan clinked his glass to Austin. “You seemed different from usual.”

Umiling si Austin. “Huwag mo akong pansinin.” Aniya. Inilapag niya ang hawak na baso saka sumandal sa kinauupuan. He closed his eyes and Mia’s image appeared in his mind.

Austin opened his eyes. Naisipan niyang i-text si Mia.

‘It’s me. Austin.’

‘What’s the matter? Need something?’

Austin shakes his head. Kahit malamig ang pagtugon sa kaniya ng dalaga, napangiti na lamang siya.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Why are you asking?’

Natawa na lang si Austin. They were both replying to each other’s messages with a question.

Kapagkuwan biglang nagpakita ang mensahe ang kaniyang ina.

‘Bring Mia with you on my birthday. I want to meet her.’

Austin sighed. ‘I will, but I can’t promise she will come.’

‘Then make her come. I want to meet my future daughter-in-law.’

‘Mom, hindi ba pupunta naman ang parents niya?’

‘Sabi ni Camila na hindi mahilig si Mia sa mga party kaya sinabi niyang hindi pupunta ang anak niya. Spoke to Mia. Papuntahin mo siya sa birthday ko. Kapag hindi mo siya napapunta, kalimutan mo ng anak kita.’

Austin’s mouth felt open. Hindi siya makapaniwalang sasabihin ‘yon sa kaniya ng kaniyang ina. Napailing na lamang ang binata saka pumayag na lamang sa kagustuhan ng ina. It was useless to argue with his mother because his mother would enforce what she wanted.

Tinignan ni Austin ang suot na relong pambisig. It’s time to pick up that little girl. He thought.

“I have a wife to pick up at school. I’m leaving first.” Paalam ni Emerson. Tumayo na ito.

Tumayo na rin si Austin. “Aalis na rin ako. May gagawin pa akong importante.”

“Austin, it’s Friday today. We're supposed to get wasted,” said Jeff.

Lorenzo pointed to Austin. “Naiintindihan naman si Emerson na aalis na dahil may asawa na ‘yan pero ikaw, wala ka pa namang asawa.”

“Kung hindi pa ako aalis ngayon baka hindi talaga ako magkakaroon ng asawa.” Ani Austin na ikinatawa ni Emerson.

Napatanga naman ang mga kaibigan nila.

Austin ignored his friends and left.

Mabilis ring tumalilis ng alis si Emerson bago pa man siya gisahin ng tanong ng mga kaibigan nila ni Austin.

Emerson met Austin in the parking lot of the bar.

“Anong gagawin mong importante?” tanong ni Emerson.

Austin showed his key. “May susunduin akong importanteng tao.”

“Except your parents, sino pa ba? Girlfriend mo?” nakangising tanong ni Emerson.

Ngumiti lang si Austin saka sumakay sa kotse nito.

Napailing na rin si Emerson saka sumakay sa sariling kotse.

Austin drove to Mia’s school and texted her that he was outside the gate and waiting for her. Hindi nagreply sa kaniya ang dalaga pero maya maya nakita niya si Audrey na lumabas at sumakay sa kotse ni Emerson na nasa mismong harapan ng kotse niya.

Pagkatapos umalis ni Emerson at Mia, lumabas si Mia ng school.

Ibinaba ni Austin ang bintana ng kotse saka nagbusina kay Mia.

Pinigilan ni Mia ang ngiti na gustong kumawala sa kaniyang labi saka seryosong sumakay sa kotse ng binata.

"You seemed unhappy to see me,” Austin commented.

Ngumiti si Mia ng peke. “Hindi naman. Ang saya ko nga, eh.” That’s the truth though. Sino bang hindi sasaya kung susunduin ka ng crush mo? Pero syempre hindi niya ipapakita ang tunay niyang nararamdaman.

Tumikhim si Austin. “From now on, I will send and pick you up at school. Huwag ka ng tumanggi.” Sabi niya nang akmang tatanggi si Mia. “My mom wants to…” cultivate our feelings first.

Tumango si Mia. May pagpipilian pa ba siya. Her parents will come home this weekend. Siguradong gigisahin siya ng tanong ng kaniyang ina.

“Fine. Since we are friends, then alright.” Sabi ni Mia. Ano ba ‘tong napasok niya? As long as there was no marriage, she was fine with everything. “Our fake relationship would remain. We will act in front of our parents, but we don’t have to act when we are alone. And if we like someone, we should end our fake relationship.”

“Deal,” Austin agreed.

Anyway, marami namang araw kung saan gagawin ni Austin ang lahat upang mahulog ang loob sa kaniya ni Mia.

Austin started the car’s engine.

“My mom wants you to go to her birthday party.” Sabi ni Austin habang humaharurot ang sasakyan.

Tumingin si Mia sa labas ng bintana ng kotse. “Sinabi sa akin ‘yan ni mommy noong tumawag siya nitong huli pero sinabi kong hindi ako pupunta.”

“Will you come for my sake?” Austin asked.

Mia frowned. “Bakit naman?”

Austin bit his lower lip, and he looked cute when he did that. Mia looked away before she was tempted to kiss him. Gustong batukan ni Mia ang sarili. Ano bang pinag-iisip niya?

“Well, isipin mo na lang. Kailangan nating ipakita na maayos ang relasyon nating dalawa. If my mom sees that we are not in a good relationship, she will push me to another blind date again.”

Tumango si Mia. “Same to me. Sige. Pupunta ako.”

Ngumiti si Austin. “Thank you.” He glanced at Mia.

Mia smiled inwardly. Though they are in a fake relationship right now, and they wouldpretend to be loving in front of their parents, even if it was a pretense, she would be happy.