Mia woke up early the next day. After all, that's how she is. She wakes up early because she wants to finish her work right away.
But for that day she had a special reason. She wanted to prepare a delicious breakfast for Erik's parents.
She finished setting the table when Erik came out of the kitchen. He came to her with a smiling face and hugged her tightly.
"Why did you wake up so early?"
That question was meaningful and caused his whole face to heat up.
"Because I'm going to clean the other house today," she replied truthfully.
Erik kissed her on the forehead before letting her go. "Thank you for your effort, Mia. My mother and father will definitely like this breakfast you prepared," he said, glancing at the long table where the food she worked so hard to cook was served.
"Those are small things," she said, patting her boyfriend's shoulder.
Just a few moments after that conversation between her and Erik his parents came out of the kitchen together.
"I’m so soon of gaining more weight, Mia," Fidel said happily, then smiled kindly.
Mia, who at that moment was busy making coffee for the four of them, only responded with a smile.
"Good morning, Uncle Fidel," was her polite greeting.
Fidel just nodded at her while Aurora, like last night, still had a formal aura on her face.
Mia ate breakfast quietly because of that. After eating, Erik helped her clean the table and wash the dishes. His parents Aurora and Fidel stayed in the yard at that moment.
"Do you want me to help you clean your house?" Erik asked her when they were in the room, and she was getting ready to leave.
Mia shook her head one after the other. Then she opened her mouth and spoke.
"Just stay here with your parents. Maybe they also want to talk to you about something," she said, picking up the comb and then beginning to fix her ponytail.
"How did you know that they want to talk to me?"
Erik's tone of speech was curious because of what she said. Then he stepped closer to her and hugged her tightly from behind.
"I just thought that they might want to talk to you privately. Maybe that's why Aunt Aurora has been quiet since they arrived yesterday. And besides, it's not too far off to have something like that because they came home suddenly, right?" that was Mia's long clear explanation to her boyfriend.
Erik just laughed before he kissed her on the head. "You're really smart," he complimented her.
Mia's eyes rolled at what she heard. "You always say that,” she said, releasing herself from her boyfriend's tight embrace.
"Do you want me to give you a ride?" Erik asked grabbing her by the waist and then pulling her closer.
Mia gasped violently because of what her boyfriend did. And when she was able to adjust to what happened, she answered Erik's question.
"I'll just walk," she replied.
Mia heard him click his tongue. That's why she wasn't surprised by what he said next.
"I'll give you a ride. Then later I'll come back to help you clean after I talk to Mama and Papa," he insisted.
Mia shrugged her shoulders. "Okay, if that's what you want," she eventually agreed.
They left the house together after that. They even reached Erik’s parents sitting in the garden set under the lush bougainvillea.
“Are you going to walk?" Fidel smiling.
"I'll just take Mia to their house. She said she was going to clean up," answered Erik.
“Come back soon then. We have a lot to talk about," it was Aurora who glanced at her for a moment and then returned her gaze to Erik.
Even though it wasn't the first time she had heard her voice. Mia could tell that it gave her an overwhelming sense of dread. Add to that was the cold glance she gave her.
Mia just held her breath because of that. Then her feet spontaneously followed when Erik led her to the parking lot of his car.
She knew that even with her back turned, Aurora's eyes were still following her. She didn't need to look back to confirm that. Because she could feel it.
The fear was so strong that she gradually felt it come to life in her chest at that moment. She felt that she was the reason why the couple went home to talk to Erik.
"It looks like you were right in your suspicions, Mia. They want to talk to me about something and that is the reason why they arrived suddenly," Erik said when they were on their way.
Mia did not move when her boyfriend said that. Instead, she just focused her gaze outside the car window. And because her vision was there, she didn't see when Erik grabbed one of her hands. She just felt the warmth of it which in turn caused a passionate touch of happiness in her heart. And that happiness is enough to erase the fear and worry she feels.
"I just want you to know that nothing will change," said Erik in a firm tone.
He glanced at her for a moment and then turned his gaze back to the road.
"I believe in you. And I also, I trust in you, Erik," she said carefully squeezing his hand.
There was no more conversation between them after that. And that's okay with Mia. Because even if Erik doesn't speak or even if they don't talk, their hearts can understand each other. And for her, that is the most important thing of all.
"I'll get back to you later, okay?" said Erik as he pushed open the large door of the house.
"You are not obliged to do so. I can walk," she replied.
The young man shook his head one after the other. "I don't want to get tired. It might not be good for our baby," he said, stroking her flat belly afterward.
Mia couldn't stop laughing weakly because of the comfort she felt because of Erik's actions.
"And how did you know that I'm pregnant?" she asked him.
Erik shrugged his shoulders. "Trust me, Mia. You're pregnant," he said in a tone of speech as if he was sure of what he said.
Erik said goodbye to her a few moments later. He even kissed her on the lips before turning away. While she just followed him with her gaze.
*****
"WHAT are you saying we need to talk about?"
When he got home, he reached his parents in the same place where he left.
"Sit down, son," said his father Fidel.
Erik didn't feel good when his mother's eyes met his. But he didn't pay attention to that.
"I seem to have a hunch about this," he said.
"Your girlfriend is really smart. He thought we wanted to talk to you privately, so she left. I can say that even though she lost her way, the sharpness of her mind and feelings did not fade."
Aurora's tone was dry and cold, which Erik had to admit he didn't like.
"What do you mean by what you said, Mom?" he asked, eyebrows knitting.
Aurora angrily confronted him because of that. Maybe he didn't like the tone he used. Or maybe it was his question that made her angry.
"Do I still need to slap it to your face that I don't want that woman for you?"
His mother's tone was low but with an emphasis and a hint of intense anger.
Erik let out a silly laugh before he opened his mouth to answer what she said.
"And who told you that you have to like the woman I love and chose to marry?" he asked sarcastically.
"I want you to leave her!" his mother's voice was high.
"No! That won't happen, ever. I'm going to marry her and there's nothing you can do to stop me!” he said standing up.
"You two, keep your voices down, or else our neighbors might hear you!” Fidel scolded them.
But his mother didn't seem to hear anything and answered again in a high voice. “In that case, we will sell this house whether you like it or not! You know your father and I should have done this a long time ago. So that everything does not lead to this. Then you have no reason to come back here!”
Erik stared at Aurora's face in shock and disbelief because of what she said. He knew that house was important to them. And now they are planning to sell it just to give him no reason to stay in the Philippines. Maybe that's how deep and intense their dislike is for him marrying Mia.
“I know the person who told you everything about this!”
Now Erik understood and had an answer to Mia's bad feelings when they saw Dolores in front of Mrs. Ramos’ store the other day.
"That's not important anymore. What you need to think about is the shame you will bring to your family if you go ahead with your intention of marrying that disgraced woman! Come on, son! Did you know that your grandfather could disinherit you if he found out about the background of the woman you chose to marry?" his mother again.
"So, the truth finally came out. Money is the reason for everything!” she said with a silly laugh afterward. “Sell this house if that's what you want. But no matter what you do, I will not leave Mia. We will live well even if my grandfather takes away my inheritance," he said, choosing to lower the tone of his voice at that point.
But despite everything, no matter how weak his speech was, his tone still couldn't hide the intense resentment he felt at that moment.
“So you do love her that much? That you are willing to disobey and hurt your own mother?”
Erik heard Aurora's voice break slightly at that point.
He immediately felt a sharp pain in his heart because of that. He can't stand his parents, especially his mother in this kind of situation. But what they are asking from him is not simple. They are asking him to leave the woman he loves the most. His heart and life. His whole world.
That's when he stepped forward and tightly hugged Aurora, who burst into tears.
"I love Mia, mom. I hope you understand me. With her gone in my life, I will not be able to continue this anymore," he begged as he caressed the back of the woman who gave birth to him.
“But she's not the girl for you, Erik. Listen to me, son. I am begging you, leave her, he is not suitable for you," Aurora stared at him with tearful eyes.
Erik let out a heavy breath. Then without any words, he hugged Aurora again. "I'm sorry, mom. I can't do what you are asking," he said kissing his mother on the forehead before letting her go and then turning away.
“Listen to me, son. Please," Aurora continued pleas that he heard as he walked out of the gate where his car was parked.
He will return to Mia as he promised her earlier. Because of what he found out and everything they talked about; it seemed like he had enough reason to choose to stay by her side. It's because he doesn't want her out of his life.