Pursue Her Heart

CHAPTER 7

ONE SUNNY MORNING, Mia woke up early. May lakad siya sa araw na ‘to kaya kailangan niyang magising ng maaga kahit weekends.

Mabilis na hinawakan ni Mia ang damit ni Charles upang pigilan ito sa pagtakbo. “Huwag kang tumakbo. Baka masagi mo ang mga naka-display na painting. Wala tayong pambayad.” Aniya.

Napanguso naman si Charles pero nakinig siya sa Ate Mia niya.

Pumunta si Mia sa opisina ng may-ari ng Gallery Shop. Dito niya binebenta ang mga painting na nagagawa niya.

Ngumiti si Daisy na siyang may-ari ng Gallery Shop nang makita niya si Mia na pumasok sa loob ng opisina niya. “Kumusta?”

Mia smiled. “I’m fine.”

Napatingin si Daisy sa batang kasama ni Mia. “Kapatid mo?”

Umiling si Mia. “Hindi. Anak ko.” Pagbibiro niya pero nakangiti siya.

Natawa na lang si Daisy.

Mia gave her wrapped painting to Daisy. “This was my latest painting.”

Kinuha naman agad ito ni Daisy saka tinanggal ang nakabalot na papel rito. Her mouth gaped when she saw the painting made by Mia. She thumbs up. “You’re really good at this.”

Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Mia. “Talent.” Pagmamayabang niya.

“A client is looking for a gift for his mother. Mabuti na lang at may painting ka.” Ani Daisy. Tumingin ito sa staff nito na abala sa pagpupunas ng mga painting. "Pakitawag si Mr. Esquivel.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Esquivel?” Kumunot ang noo ni Mia. Was it him?

Maya-maya pa ay pumasok si Austin sa loob ng opisina ni Daisy. Nagulat pa siya nang makita si Mia.

“Camille?”

Mia looked away when Austin called her by her full name. Naalala niyang sinabi nito na endearment nito ‘yon sa kaniya. The way Austin called her name was sweet.

“You two know each other?” Daisy asked.

“Yes.”

“No.”

Magkasabay na sagot ni Mia at Austin kaya naman nagtaka si Daisy. Tinignan niya ang dalawa. She could see the awkwardness in Mia while Austin was looking at Mia with…affection?

Nagkatinginan si Mia at Austin.

Mia looked away.

While Austin walked towards Mia. “Really? You don’t know me?” tanong niya saka hinawakan ang kamay ni Mia.

Mia tried to pull back her hand, but Austin tightened his grip.

Mia went poker face. “Let go.”

“Ayaw ko.” Sabi ni Austin saka pinagsiklop ang kamay nilang dalawa ni Mia.

Mia felt her heart beating so fast.

Napapangiti na lamang si Daisy na kanina pa nanonood sa dalawa. Halatang may lovers quarrel ang dalawa.

Pero si Charles ang nagpahiwalay sa kamay ni Austin at Mia.

Tinapik kasi ni Charles ang kamay ni Austin at masama ang tingin niya sa lalaki. “Let go of my sister.”

Napangiti na lang si Mia.

“And who’s this little buddy?”

Charles crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not a little buddy.” Sabi nito kay Austin.

Natawa naman si Austin saka ginulo ang buhok ng bata. “You must be Camille’s brother?”

“You asked the obvious question, Mister,” said Charles.

Mabilis na tinakpan ni Mia ang bibig ng kapatid. “That’s not how you talk to your Elder.” Aniya. She gestured to her brother to keep quiet.

“Anong ginagawa mo rito?” tanong ni Austin kay Mia.

“Namamasyal.” Ngumiti si Mia ng peke.

Austin put his hands in his pockets, leaned toward Mia, and whispered. “Don’t smile if it’s fake.”

Mia’s smile faded, and she was a bit stunned because of Austin. When she started to smile, no one could distinguish her fake smile. Ito ang unang beses na may nakapagsabing peke ang ngiti niya.

Umatras na lamang si Mia palayo kay Austin.

Ngumiti naman si Austin saka humarap sa may-ari ng Gallery Shop. “Do you have a new painting?”

Tumango si Daisy saka iminuwestra ang kamay kay Mia. “She gave me a new painting to sell. It hasn’t displayed yet.”

Austin looked at the painting. He looked at Mia, and then he looked back at the painting. The painting depicts nature.

“How much is this?” he asked. He doesn’t need to think twice. His mother loves paintings that depict nature. At hindi na niya alam kung ilang painting na ang collection nito.

Bago pa man makasagot si Daisy, naunahan siya ni Mia.

“Half-million. Since it wasn’t displayed yet. You’re the first person who saw this painting. Kaya naman mahal.” Ani Mia. Pero nagbibiro lamang siya.

Daisy’s eyes widened, and she looked at Mia.

Mia smiled at Daisy.

Ngumiti si Austin saka tumango. “Okay.” Aniya saka naglabas ng cheque.

Mabilis na pinigilan ni Mia si Austin. “I’m just kidding.”

“Well, I’m not kidding.” Sabi naman ni Austin saka nagsulat ng amount sa cheque at ibinigay niya ito kay Daisy.

Gulat pa rin si Daisy habang tinatanggap ang cheque. She looked at Mia in disbelief.

Mia looked at Austin. “You’re unbelievable.” Aniya saka tumingin kay Charles. “Let’s go.”

Iniharang ni Austin ang kamay. “Have lunch with me. My treat.”

“Ayaw ko.”

“Then I’ll take back the money.” Akmang kukunin ni Austin ang cheque na hawak pa rin ni Daisy nang pigilan ni Mia ang kamay ni Austin.

Mia smiled. “I’ll go with you.” Aniya. Sayang naman ang libreng pagkain at sayang Kang ibinayad ni Austin sa painting. Ngayon pa lang siya nakabenta ng ganun kamahal na painting niya.

Austin smiled and looked at Daisy. “Wrapped it.”

“Alright.”

“But let’s bring my brother,” said Mia.

“No problem.”

Mia looked at Charles. Bumulong siya sa tainga ng kapatid. “Maging mabait ka. May manlilibre sa atin ng pagkain.”

“Ate naman, we can also eat outside if we want. May pera naman tayo.”

Mia flicked her brother’s forehead. “Masarap ang libre.” Bulong niya saka tinignan si Austin. “Let’s go.”

Kinuha ni Austin ang painting.

Mia looked at Daisy. “Send the payment to my account.”

Daisy made an ‘Ok’ sign. “No problem.”

Nang makalabas sila ng Gallery Shop, sumakay sila sa kotse ni Austin. Then they went to a restaurant. They ordered food and talked about random things while waiting for their order.

“Aren’t you busy? Rich people are always busy,” Mia said, and poured water into the glass. Ibinigay niya ito sa kapatid niya.

“Thank you, Ate.” Ani Charles.

“I can make time for you.” Sabi ni Austin habang nakangiti at nakatingin kay Mia.

Mia rolled her eyes. “We’re just pretending. No need to be serious about it.”

“How can we convince our parents if we don’t act seriously?” Austin asked and looked at Charles.

“Don’t worry, walang pakialam ang kapatid ko tungkol sa bagay na ‘to.” Mia said as she smiled at her brother. “Shut your mouth or I will tear it.”

Tumayo si Charles mula sa kinauupuan nito at pumunta sa likuran ni Austin. “My sister was fierce, Kuya.”

Natawa naman si Austin saka bumulong kay Charles.

Hindi narinig ni Mia kung ano ang ibinulong ni Austin kay Charles pero nakita na pagkatapos bumulong si Austin sa kapatid niya, ngumiti si Charles na parang nanalo ng lotto.

Charles thumbs up to Austin. “No problem, Kuya.”

“Anong sinabi mo sa kapatid ko?”

Austin shrugged. “Wala.”

“Don’t be a bad influence on my brother. Bata pa ‘yan.”

Tumawa ng mahina si Austin saka napailing. “Don’t worry, I won’t become a bad influence on him,” he said with a promising voice.

Nang dumating ang pagkain nila, nagsimula na silang kumain.

Mia was enjoying her food when, suddenly, someone from the other side of the restaurant caused a commotion. Mag-asawa yata ‘yon at mukhang may hindi pagkakaintindihan. They were arguing over something while their son was crying. Nakuha ng mag-asawa ang atensiyon ng mga taong nasa loob ng restaurant.

Nagulat pa si Mia nang biglang sampalin ng lalaki ang asawa nito.

Mia paled seeing that scene. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa kutsara at tinidor.

Inawat ng guwardiya ang mag-asawa at pinalabas ang mga ito.

“Are you okay?” Austin asked.

Umiling si Mia saka nagmamadaling tumayo. Patakbo siyang nagtungo sa restroom ng restaurant. She took a deep breath and looked at herself in the mirror. Parang nakita niya ang sarili sa batang lalaki na anak ng mag-asawang nag-aaway kanina.

When her parents argued before, she often cried. Lalo na kapag sasaktan ng kaniyang ama ang kaniyang ina. That memory of her childhood suddenly became fresh, seeing what happened earlier.

Kinalma ni Mia ang sarili. Panay ang hugot niya ng malalim na hininga. Tinignan niya ang sarili sa salamin. Fear can be seen in her eyes.

“Mia, maayos na ang buhay mo ngayon. Hindi ka na dapat natatakot dahil sa nakaraan. Face your fear.” Kausap niya sa sarili.

Muling humugot ng malalim na hininga si Mia at lumabas ng restroom. Bumalik siya sa lamesa kung saan naroon si Austin at Charles. She acted like nothing had happened.