Pursue Her Heart

CHAPTER 26

NAGISING si Mia na nasa living room pa rin silang dalawa ni Austin. Nakaunan siya sa hita nito habang si Austin naman ay nakatulog. Hawak nito ang isa niyang kamay. With her free hand, Mia cupped her chest where her heart was located. It was beating so fast as if she had run for miles.

Mia took a deep breath to calm her heart. Fortunately, before Austin woke up, her heart was already calm.

“Nakatulog pala ako.” Wika ni Austin.

“Wala kang trabaho ngayon?” tanong ni Mia.

She knew that a rich man was always busy getting rich and rich. Kahit nga holiday o di kaya weekend nagtatrabaho ang mga ito. Well, hindi naman lahat dahil hindi naman ganun ang stepfather niya. Every weekend ay nasa bahay ito at kasama sila o di kaya naman ay pinapasyal sila nito sa labas.

“It's weekend, Mia.” Sabi naman ni Austin. “Why would I go to work?”

Nagkibit lang naman ng balikat si Mia saka bahagyang pinisil ang hita ni Austin. “Ang tigas ng hita mo.” Reklamo niya.

Kinuha naman ni Austin ang unan gilid ng sofa saka niya bahagyang pinabangon si Mia upang ilagay niya ang unan sa kaniyang hita. “There. Comfortable?” he asked after Mia lay down again.

Tumango si Mia. Ayaw pa niyang bumangon. She was enjoying the moment, or more so, taking advantage of the situation.

“Camille?”

“Hmm?”

“May tanong ako.”

“Ano?” tanong ni Mia habang pinaglalaruan ang kamay ni Austin.

“Why don’t you want to get married? Pwede ko bang malaman ang rason?” tanong ni Austin. It had been a question in his mind why Mia didn’t want to get married. He wanted to know the reason, so he would know what to do and what he wouldn’t do.

Natigilan si Mia saka napatigil sa paglalaro sa kamay ni Austin. Tumagilid siya ng higa paharap sa tiyan ni Austin. “It’s because of my father. Lasinggero siya. Noong bata ako, lagi niyang sinaksaktan si Mama lasing man siya o hindi. One time, he was drunk again and nearly beat my mother to death. Ayaw kong mag-asawa dahil ayaw kong maranasan ang naranasan ni Mama.”

Mia closed her eyes as she remembered the unpleasant memory that happened, causing her father to die. It’s not my fault. But, contrary to her mind, it was her fault that her father died. Her father died at the hands of a ten-year-old girl, and that was her.

“Not all men are like your father,” said Austin, while caressing Mia’s hair.

Napamulat ng kamay si Mia. Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay saka bumangon.

“Paano mo naman nasabi?” tanong ni Mia sa nanghahamong boses.

“Ako.” Itinuro ni Austin ang sarili.

Mia gave Austin a deadpan look. “Sakalin kita, eh.”

Austin smiled. “My parents raised me to respect women. Don’t worry, after we get married, we’ll go at your pace. I would never hurt you physically or emotionally. And I will never force you to do anything that you don’t like.”

Mia sighed after listening to Austin. “Tama si Mama. Mabulaklakin ang bibig ng ibang lalaki kaya ang daming babae ang naloloko.”

Napatanga naman si Austin sa sinabi ni Mia. “Camille, I’m serious.”

Mia pouted.

Hinila naman ni Austin si Mia kaya napaupo ang dalaga paharap sa kaniya.

“Ayaw mo talagang maniwala sa akin, ah?”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Mia. “Well, I’ve seen many men mistreating their wives. They don’t respect them.”

“Where did you see it?”

“Drama.”

Austin rolled his eyes.

“Don’t roll your eyes,” said Mia. “Though I’ve seen many dramas like that, it happens in real life.”

Austin couldn’t refute it. Totoo naman ang sinabi ni Mia. Though he grew up with loving parents and saw how much his parents loved and respected each other, some people ended up getting separated because of domestic violence. But for the sake of their children, some wives were willing to endure it.

Thinking of it, Austin hates those men who don’t cherish their wives.

Austin looked at Mia. He remembered Mia telling him that she was marrying him because of gratitude. Mia wanted to repay her stepfather’s kindness.

Austin hopes that one day, Mia will marry him because she likes him. And he will make it happen.

“Bakit ganiyan ang tingin mo sa akin?” tanong ni Mia.

Umiling si Austin. “I want to kiss you. Can I?”

Nagbaba ng tingin si Mia. Hindi niya alam pero bigla siyang nakaramdam ng hiya. Pero hinawakan ni Austin ang baba niya at itinaas ang kaniyang mukha. Their eyes met and they stared at each other. Until, they didn’t notice that they were leaning towards each other and their lips met.

Mia closed her eyes the moment that Austin kissed her. She kissed him back and encircled her arms on his neck, deepening their kiss. Their position was intimate, making Mia feel wanting more.

They kissed until Austin’s hand caressed Mia’s thigh.

Ramdam naman ni Mia ang pagtigas ng pribadong parte ng katawan ni Austin kaya napatigil si Mia sa paghalik kay Austin.

“You’re hard?” Mia was embarrassed, not looking at Austin.

“What do you think, Camille? I’m not a saint,” Austin sighed. “I’m going to take a bath.”

“Again?”

“If I don’t take a bath, I’m afraid we’ll end up in bed, Camille.” Sabi ni Austin.

Namula si Mia saka umalis sa kandungan ni Austin.

Austin went inside the room to take a bath.

Naiwan naman sa living room si Mia hanggang sa makatanggap siya ng tawag mula sa kaniyang ina.

“Ma?” pagsagot niya sa tawag.

“Anak, kumusta ang pakiramdam mo? Sinabi sa akin ni Austin na naglasing ka raw.”

“Okay naman po ako, Ma. Austin took care of me.”

“Mabuti naman kung ganun,” sabi ni Camila. “Anak…” hindi niya alam kung dapat ba niyang sabihin ang gusto niyang sabihin.

“Ma, may gusto po ba kayong sabihin?” tanong ni Mia.

“Anak, alam kong nasa tamang edad ka na pero sana huwag muna nating isuko ang bandera, ha? Though I like Austin for you, but… or am I too late to say this?” Camila asked.

Mas lalong nag-init nag mukha ni Mia dahil sa sinabi ng ina. “Ma, huwag po kayong mag-alala. Gentleman naman po si Austin. He didn’t do anything to me last night.”

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Camila. “That’s good then. Hindi ako nagkamali ng nakita ko kay Austin.”

Ngumiti na lang si Mia.

“Uuwi ka ba ngayon, anak?”

“Oo naman, Ma. Hinihintay ko lang si Austin. Magpapahatid ako sa kaniya.”

“Huwag na. Tumira ka na diyan.”

Mia pouted. “Mama naman. Kapag nagtagal ako dito baka matukso pa ako.”

Camila shakes her head. “Hindi ko alam sa ‘yong, bata ka. Wala kami ng Papa mo dito sa bahay. Si Charles naman ay nasa kapitbahay.”

“Sige po, Ma.”

Sandali pa silang nag-usap ng kaniyang ina hanggang sa magpaalam ito.

Mia took a deep breath. Austin was indeed a gentleman even earlier. Siguro kapag ibang lalaki ‘yon nagpadala na sila ng nararamdaman nila. But Austin chose to stop rather than to continue because he respected her.

Mia was over the moon. Sana lang hindi ito magbago.