Pursue Her Heart

CHAPTER 17

AUSTIN was awakened by the noise coming from his phone. Nakapikit ang mata na inabot niya ang cellphone na nasa nightstand saka sinagot ang tawag ng hindi tinitignan kung sino ang tumatawag.

“Who’s this?”

“Esquivel, you’re really…”

Austin ended the call when he found out it was Lorenzo.

Pero muling tumawag ang kaibigan niya.

Groaning, Austin forced himself to open his eyes and answered the call. “What?” he asked in a grumpy voice.

“Umagang-umaga bad mood ka na naman.”

Austin clicked his tongue. “And whose fault is it?” he asked. “Anong sasabihin mo?”

“Let’s hang out. All our friends will come.”

Tumaas ang kilay ni Austin. “Arellano will come?” he asked.

“Of course.”

“Oh, really?” Hindi naniniwala si Austin. Kilala niya si Izael. Sa kanilang magkakaibigan, ito ang nagmamay-ari ng isang pinakalamalaking farm industry sa bansa. Kaya hindi nito maiwan ang farm nito.

“Yes, he will come,” said Lorenzo in firm voice. “Promise, mamatay man ang kapitbahay namin kapag nagsisinungaling ako.”

“Gago. Dinamay mo pa ang kapitbahay niyo. Maawa ka naman,” sabi ni Austin habang naiiling.

“Pupunta ka ba?” tanong ni Lorenzo.

“Sige.”

“Great! The same place.”

And the call ended.

Austin let his phone drop on the bed and closed his eyes again. Muling nakatulog si Austin at paggising niya, tanghali na. Mataas na ang sikat ng araw.

Austin yawned and climbed off the bed.

He bathed and put on his casual clothes and his Rolex watch.

Later, while Austin was stepping out of his room, he called his assistant, Lester.

“Boss?”

“I’m not going to the office today. Just comply with everything I need to sign. I’ll sign it tomorrow.”

“Copy, Boss,” Lester said.

Pinatay ni Austin ang tawag saka lumabas ng sariling apartment. He locked the door and rode in the elevator.

Binati pa siya ng guwardiya nang lumabas siya ng gusali. Tinanguan niya lamang ito saka tinungo ang sasakyan na nakaparada sa mismong harapan ng apartment kung saan siya nakatira.

Pasakay ng sariling kotse si Austin nang makatanggap siya ng mensahe mula kay Lorenzo.

‘Change of plan. Nag-aya si Chris sa condo niya na lang daw tayo mag-inuman.’

Austin only replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

Pinaandar niya ang makina ng kotse saka ito minaniobra palabas ng parking lot.

Austin drove towards Christopher’s condo. Sa isipan niya, nagtatanong si Austin kung ano ang nakain ni Christopher at nag-aya itong uminom. Isa pa naman ito sa kuripot sa kanilang magkakaibigan. Actually, lahat naman yata sila kuripot maliban kay Emerson. Galante ang isang ‘yon.

Pagdating ni Austin sa condo ni Christopher, nakita niya ang mga kaibigan na umiinom ng beer. Tinanggihan niya ang beer na inalok ni Rhett. “Hindi pa ako kumain.” Aniya. “At isa pa, hindi ako pwedeng uminom.” Aniya. Naalala niyang hindi siya nagpaalam kay Mia na iinom siya.

Tinignan ni Austin ang oras sa suot na relong pambising. “Alas diyes pa lang ng umaga. Lasing na ang isang ‘yan.” Sabi niya at itinuro si Christopher na nakasandal sa sofa habang may hawak na bote ng beer.

“Brokenhearted.” Sabi naman ni Rowan at tinungga ang bote ng beer.

Kumunot ang noo ni Austin. “Paskong-pasko broken hearted?”

“Well,” Rowan shrugged. “He’s not like you.”

“What happened?” Zayden asked who had just come in. Kinuha nito ang beer na inalok ni Christopher.

Rowan made a gesture of a broken heart, then pointed to Christopher.

Habang si Austin naman ay binata ang ilang kaibigan na naroon na sa condo ni Christopher saka siya nagtungo sa kusina. Tinignan niya kung ano ang pwedeng mailuto. He saw instant noodles in the cupboard, eggs and some canned goods. Then he also looked at the freezer. May mga frozen food doon.

“Hindi ka kumain?” tanong ni Zayden na kapapasok lang sa kusina. May hawak pa itong beer na kalahati na nag laman.

Umiling si Austin.

“Do you know how to cook?” nakataas ang kilay na tanong ni Zayden.

Muling umiling si Austin.

Napailing naman si Zayden. Kilala niya si Austin. No matter what the occasion was… hindi ito iinom ng alak hangga’t hindi ito kumakain. And as a good friend, he won’t stand on the side seeing a friend being starving. Alam niyang hindi marunong magluto si Austin.

Ibinaba si Zayden ang hawak na bote ng beer saka kinuha ang apron. “Let me cook for you.”

Austin smiled. “Thank you, bud.”

Tumango lang naman si Zayden saka itinuro ang pinto ng kusina. “Leave me alone.”

Nagtaas ng kamay si Austin saka lumabas ng kusina. Zayden is a chef, so he should listen. May-ari ito ng chain of restaurants. And those restaurants come from Zayden’s own hard work.

Bumalik si Austin sa may living room. Bahagya pa siyang nagulat nang makita si Emerson. Akala niya hindi ito pupunta dahil may asawa ito.

“Pinayagan ka ng asawa mo?” gulat na tanong ni Austin.

“Bakit makikita mo ba ako rito kapag hindi ako pinayagan ng asawa ko?” balik naman ni Emerson.

“It makes sense,” napatango si Austin saka umupo sa tabi ni Emerson.

“How about letting Emerson pay our bills today?” Austin asked, grinning, and pointed to the empty case of beer. “Siya itong may asawa, eh.” Dagdag niya na sinang-ayunan naman ng mga kaibigan nila.

Emerson snorted. “Mukha niyo, ah. I have a wife to spoil. My money was for her, not for you.”

Their friends cheered, teasing Emerson.

“That’s my friend,” said Rhett, and clinked his beer to Emerson.

“Yeah, when you get married, you should prioritize your wife,” sabi ni Izael na kanina pa tahimik.

Emerson thumbs up to Izael.

Lorenzo looked at Izael. “Parang ngayon ka lang yata napalayo sa farm mo, Arellano.”

Izael shrugged. “I gave myself a vacation.”

“Paid vacation?” Pagbibiro ni Jefferson.

Natawa naman si Izael saka napailing.

Later, Jefferson’s attention shifted to Austin. “How about you, Esquivel? I heard you were dating someone.”

“Baka iba naman ang narinig mo?” Balik ni Austin saka tumingin kay Christopher. Tahimik lang ito at patuloy sa pag-inom ng alak. Mukhang broken hearted nga talaga ang kaibigan niya.

“Who’s the lucky girl?” Jefferson asked.

Austin narrowed his eyes at Jefferson. “I won’t tell you.”

“It’s my wife’s best friend,” sabad ni Emerson.

Austin showed his fist to Emerson.

Emerson just grinned.

“Maghihiwalay rin lang kayo.” Biglang sabad ni Christopher.

Austin looked at Christopher. “Don’t curse me, bud,” he said.

Hindi pa nga siya nakawala sa “fake dating zone” nila ni Mia tapos sinusumpa naman siya ni Christopher na hindi malayong mangyari dahil na rin sa totoong relasyon nila ni Mia. Pero hindi niya hahayaan na hiwalayan siya ng dalaga.

Natawa naman si Lorenzo. “Mukhang in love ka talaga, Esquivel. Namutla ka pa.”

Austin rolled his eyes. “Shut up.”

Christopher sighed. “Not all people in love will stay together. Look at me, I love my girlfriend, but she still broke up with me. She told me I was holding her back.”

“Have you really held her back?” Emerson asked.

Umiling si Christopher. “I told her I would support her in everything she does, but she blames me for ruining her career. Then she cheated. She told me she was only with me because of my money.”

“Your ex was stupid.” Deretsang sabi ni Austin. Napailing siya. “Nakikita naman kung gaano ka kabait sa kaniya pero niloko ka lang. It was already enough if she blamed you, but cheating was another story.”

Rowan comforted Christopher. “Don’t worry makakahanap ka pa ng ibang babae na kayang magsakripisyo rin para sa ‘yo. Iyong magmamahal sa ‘yo ng totoo.”

Rhett applauds. “Best speech of the year.”

“So, let’s get wasted.” Sabi ni Christopher. “Sagot ko lahat ngayon.” Aniya sabay tungga ng bote ng beer.

Maya-maya pa ay pumasok si Zayden sa living room na may dalang pulutan. Inilapag nito sa center table ang pulutan at tumingin kay Austin. “Luto na ang pagkain mo.”

Mabilis na tumayo si Austin saka nagtungo ng kusina. Kumain siya ng agahan at masasabing tanghalian na rin niya ‘yon. Habang kumakain, tinawagan niya si Mia.

“Hello.”

“Camille, what are you doing?”

“Thesis.”

“Oh, I thought you were free.”

Biglang naalala ni Austin ang halik na pinagsaluhan nilang dalawa ng dalaga. Hanggang ngayon ramdam niya pa rin ang malambot nitong labi. Napahawak siya sa sariling labi. He remembers every move of their lips that night. And wanted to do it again.

“Austin?”

Austin came back to his reverie.

“Bakit ka napatawag?” tanong ni Mia.

“Oh, I am at my friend’s house. I called you to ask if I can drink?”

Natigilan naman si Mia na nasa kabilang linya. “Why are you asking me? Hindi ko naman hawak ang katawan mo.”

“How I wish you held my body.” Mahinang sabi ni Austin na hindi naintidihan ni Mia.

“Anong sinasabi mo?”

“Nothing. So, can I drink?”

Natawa si Mia. “Austin, hindi ko hawak ang katawan mo. You can drink if you want and not if you don’t want to. Bakit mo pa ako tinatanong?”

“Well, you’re my girlfriend. As your boyfriend, kailangan kong magpaalam sa ‘yo kung may gagawin ako, to avoid misunderstanding.”

Natigilan si Mia. Austin sounded like they were in a real relationship. And even she was nearly deceived by it. Napabuga siya ng hangin. “You can do whatever you want. May gagawin pa ako. Bye.”

When the call ended, Mia took a deep breath. Camille Baltazar, don’t get involved with your fake boyfriend too much. Otherwise, if you fall too deep, it would not be easy to pull you out.