MIA

It was Christmas Day and everyone was gathered around the Sebastian's huge Christmas tree. Her father and mother occupied the couches along with the her aunts and uncles. The kids were sprawled on the floor while Mia, Robby and Marco remained standing along with their two older cousins, Mario and Kenneth.

This year, Melissa was playing host and will be calling each one to giveaway their Christmas presents. She started talking about family traditions and how they gather every year for this occasion. She talked about love and forgiveness and Mia noticed she was looking at Marco most of the time.

Melissa finally picked up a gift and called out. " Abbey, "

Their ten year old cousin stood up and accepted the gift happily. She then started distributing her gifts around and picked up another gift box. " Tamara, "

Thirteen year old Tamara received the gift and again started distributing her set of gift boxes. Once finished, she picked up a gift that was not her own to get the gift giving going. " Mia, "

Mia grinned and walked to where Tamara was and took the gift from her. She bent down and started distributing her gifts to her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She bent down and picked up a rather large square box and her kid cousins followed her with their eyes wondering whom the big gift was for.

" Merry Christmas, Marco, " Mia stood in front of his brother who looked surprised to learn that the gift was for him.

She got him the latest X-box as a peace offering. 

" For me? " He gawked as he eyed it incredulously. 

" Is that the latest X-box?! " Mario asked in awe eyeing Marco's present as he quickly unwrapped it.

" Why can't I have you as a sibling instead of Mario here, " Kenneth wailed at Mia.

She chuckled and met Marco's eyes when he flashed him a grin. "Thanks, Mi."

Mia grinned back relieved that her peace offering somehow worked its magic. She then went back to handing her presents to Melissa and Robby.

Melissa smiled happily at the small box Mia gave her and shook it gently to guess what was inside. Mia got her the latest Hermes clutch bag that she'd been eyeing for months. 

" Thank you, " Robby smiled as she gave him her present.

He eyed the box which was neatly wrapped in a pastel blue Christmas wrapper and raised an eyebrow. Mia guessed he already knew what was inside.

She got him the latest Macbook Air because he mentioned a month back that he was planning to get a new one.

" You didn't get me that computer, or did you?" He asked her in amazement.

Mia winked at him before walking back to the Christmas tree. She picked an un-named box and looked at Melissa for help.

" Okay, whose gift is this? " Melissa asked holding on a blue and white paper bag. " Anybody who forgot to label their gifts?"

" I did, " Robby called out from the back of the room and gave everyone a sheepish look. He walked over to Melissa and took the bag from her.

Without glancing at the box, Robby walked over to where Mia's father was seated and laughed in delight when Robby handed him the gift.

" Thank you, Robby, " Francisco Sebastian grinned at him.

Mia's heart melted at the sight. Robby told her what happened in the study last night. She wasn't that surprised when she learned her father seemed to have given the green light for the two of them. Even before they started dating, her father was pretty fond of Marco's best bud.

Robby stood in front of the tree and began distributing gifts  to everyone including Marco, who was initially reluctant to accept Robby's present.

Robby finished by taking an unfamiliar box. The gift distribution was quickly handed over to one of Mia's aunts who has a dramatic flair for everything, including her gift giving.

Robby was smiling as he strode towards her and gently pulled Mia to one side of the empty rooms, oblivious to the ruckus that was happening by the Christmas tree.

" Thank you for your gifts to my family, " she told him sincerely reaching out to fix a lock of his hair that had went astray. " I appreciate it."

Robby gave her a lopsided grin as he reached for something in his jeans pocket. " You didn't really think I forgot to get you something, did you? "

She didn't.

Mia didn't get to say anything when Robby pulled out a small black box. It was unwrapped and Robby slowly flipped it open.

Mia gasped as she looked at what was sitting on the velvet cushions.

Inside lay a thin golden necklace which has a solitaire pink diamond pendant. She reached out gingerly to touch it.

" It's beautiful, " Mia whispered as she stared at the sparkling pink gem.

" Merry Christmas, Mia " Robby said softly and took it out of the case. He leaned over to put it around her neck.

She was still admiring it when Melissa sauntered over to where they were both standing. She handed both of them her Christmas presents and winked.

" Merry Christmas, lovebirds, " she said cheerfully.

By the time they rejoined the group, the gift giving was over and everyone was busy opening their presents.

" For a while there, " Melissa joked as she admired Mia's necklace appreciatively. " I thought Robby was going to propose."

Robby gave an embarrassed laugh.

It's way too early for that. Mia thought. They haven't even gotten Marco on their side, now Iza wanted to wed them.

 " Don't give him ideas, Iza"  Mia's mother suddenly came out of nowhere. " It's a bit early for a marriage proposal, don't you think so Robby? "

Robby grunted in response and Mia almost laughed at how awkward he looked.

Helena Sebastian was about to walk over to her sister when she caught sight of Mia's necklace. Startled, she moved closer to her daughter and examined the pendant sitting against her neck.

Mia rolled her eyes at Robby. Her mother was a gemstone connoisseur and knew her gems by heart. She should have known her mother would not miss this piece of jewelry. Helena knew every piece of jewelry her daughters wore. She, afterall, bought most of it herself.

" A 3 carat pink diamond, " she murmured in surprise as she clutched her heart and lifted her eyes to Mia.

A what?

Mia knew diamonds were expensive but it wasn't like her mother had never seen a diamond in her life. She has a vast collection of jewelries with big diamond studs on it.  Even bigger than the solitaire Robby gave her, hidden somewhere in her dressing room.

" My boy, " Helena turned to Robby with an dumbfounded expression on her face. " Are you sure? "

Hey, wait a minute. What did her mother mean by that?

" What's going on, mom? " Mia asked in confusion, her brows all furrowed.

By this time, Mia's aunts and uncles had already gathered around them and Mia had no idea what was going on. 

" Pink diamonds are one of the rarest diamonds in the world, " Her Aunt Hermenia explained when she saw her confused expression.

Like her mother, Hermenia stared at the diamond against her neck. " A carat can cost a million, Mia. And this...this probably costs more."

Mia's eyes widened and she looked at Robby in amazement. He looked at her sheepishly.

There were murmurs coming from the small crowd that gathered around them. They all wanted to take a peak of Mia's pink diamond necklace.

Mia quickly shot her mother a distress look.

Seeing her daughter's discomfort, Helena Sebastian quickly clapped her hands together to get the family's attention. 

" Alright, alright, " she  said in a commanding voice. " Lunch is served in the garden today.  Let's all head there now before Martha will throw a fit."

She was referring to the Sebastian's nanny who has been acting as head housekeeper when the three of them graduated from high school.

Helena gave Mia a significant look before joining the rest of the family to the garden.

" It's my mother's, " Robby finally spoke when they were alone. 

He scratched something behind his neck.

" She gave me that necklace, " he continued as he searched Mia's eyes. " She told me to give it to someone special. "

Mia's eyes widened.

She knew Robby loves her but she has never imagined that his display of affection will include one of the rarest diamonds in the world! 

" Robby, you didn't have to " she gaped at him. " It's a family heirloom and it's worth a lot of money, I-I couldn't possibly accept this. "

But Robby shook his head stubbornly.

" No, I gave it to you. " he told her firmly as he stopped her hands from reaching the lock behind her neck. " So please keep it.  "

" I can't, " Mia shook her head at him. " It's too much. And what will your mother say if she finds out that you gave- "

" She said she has never seen me this happy being with someone. She said I should fight for you. She said that I should do whatever it takes to keep you. " 

Mia's jaws dropped. His mother said those words to him?

" She gave me her blessings, Mia, " Robby told her softly. " She wants you to have that too. So please, don't give it back. "

She stared at him and slowly nodded.

" Thank you, " she whispered as she touched the pendant once again. She didn't know if she was imagining things but it felt like the diamond moved against her fingers in response.

" I love you, Mia " Robby said as he tipped his chin with his thumb.

Mia felt her heart soar hearing his words. 

" I love you, too, " Mia murmured as she looked into Robby's beautiful blue eyes.

" How about spending the New Year with me? " He asked mischievously as he wrapped his arms around her, locking her in.

Mia looked at him thoughtfully. " How about you cancel your flight and spend the rest of the holidays here? "

" Only if you want my mother to really disown me, " Robby chuckled.

" Well, she did say to do whatever was needed to keep me, " Mia said teasingly.

Robby laughed.

He was scheduled to fly back to the big city in 3 days. He promised his mother he'd be back to celebrate the new year with them. 

" You know, "  Robby looked at her tenderly. " You are the best Christmas gift that I've ever received. " 

Mia smiled at him, loving the way his eyes sparkled with happiness. She was pretty sure her eyes were doing the same thing.

She was not going to argue with him on that. Mia thought as she rested her head against his chest.

Because he was the best Christmas gift that she had ever received, too.