Vrixian: The Missing Piece

Chapter 6: Irene

It was a quiet afternoon, and Christian was going through his usual routine of managing his online shop and preparing for his next live selling session. Tulad ng dati, nageenjoy siya sa ginagawa niya—mga simpleng bagay na unti-unting bumuo ng kanyang career. But there was something hanging over his head, a lingering feeling of unease that he couldn’t shake off.

His phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen and his heart sank. Irene. She was calling.

With a deep sigh, he answered. "Hello?"

"Christian, where are you?" Irene’s voice was sharp, almost accusatory.

"Nasa bahay. Why?" he replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.

"I'm coming over," she snapped before hanging up.

Christian stared at his phone, a heavy feeling settling in his chest. Hindi na bago sa kanya ang ganitong klaseng usapan nila ni Irene. He knew exactly what was coming.

A few hours later, Irene arrived, her face set in a determined expression. She didn’t bother with pleasantries as she barged into Christian’s small apartment. "We need to talk," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Christian nodded, gesturing for her to sit, but she remained standing. "What’s this about, Irene?"

Irene crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I need more money, Christian."

Christian felt his stomach tighten. "Irene, we’ve talked about this. I’m already giving you more than enough. I’ve got my own expenses, and you know I’m trying to save up for—"

"Save up for what?!" Irene cut him off, her voice rising. "For your so-called business? You think that’s more important than me?"

Christian took a deep breath, trying to keep his composure. "It’s not like that, Irene. I’m just trying to build something for the future. For us, if you want to think of it that way."

"For us?" Irene scoffed, her eyes narrowing. "You’re only thinking about yourself, Christian. You’re the one who wanted to start this business. You’re the one who’s obsessed with it. What about me? What about my needs?"

"I’m doing my best," Christian replied, his voice steady but strained. "I’m giving you everything I can. Pero kailangan ko rin magtira para sa sarili ko, Irene. I’m not made of money."

Irene’s eyes flashed with anger. "Oh, so now it’s about you, huh? You’re just going to let me suffer while you live comfortably?"

Christian shook his head, frustration bubbling up inside him. "That’s not what I’m saying. Irene, we’ve been over this. I’m trying to build something that will benefit us in the long run. But I can’t do that if I’m constantly giving away everything I have."

"You’re just being selfish," Irene shot back, her voice dripping with bitterness. "You don’t care about me at all. You never have."

Christian felt a pang of hurt at her words, but he forced himself to stay calm. "That’s not true, and you know it. I’ve done everything I can to support you, pero hindi ko na kayang ibigay ang wala na akong natitira para sa sarili ko."

Irene stepped closer, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and desperation. "You’re just making excuses, Christian. If you really loved me, you’d do whatever it takes to make me happy. But you don’t, do you? You never really cared about me. You’re just using me as an excuse to play the victim."

Christian flinched at her harsh words, feeling the weight of her accusations pressing down on him. He wanted to argue, to defend himself, but he knew that nothing he said would change Irene’s mind. She was determined to see him as the villain, no matter what he did.

"Maybe you’re right," Christian said quietly, his voice tinged with resignation. "Maybe I am being selfish. But I have to draw the line somewhere, Irene. I can’t keep living like this."

Irene stared at him, her expression hardening. "Fine. If that’s how you want it, then maybe we’re done here."

Christian swallowed, feeling a lump form in his throat. He had known this moment was coming, but it didn’t make it any easier. "If that’s what you want," he said softly, "then maybe it’s for the best."

Irene huffed, turning on her heel to leave. But before she walked out the door, she threw one last, cutting remarks over her shoulder. "Don’t come crying to me when you realize you’ve made the biggest mistake of your life, Christian."

And with that, she was gone, leaving Christian alone in the silence of his apartment. He stood there for a long moment, staring at the door, the weight of Irene’s words heavy on his mind.

Later that evening, Perlas dropped by, as she usually did after work. "Uy, Sid! Ano na naman ang latest sa buhay mo?" she called out as she entered his apartment, her tone as cheerful as ever.

Christian gave her a weak smile. "Eh, eto. The usual."

Perlas narrowed her eyes at him. "The usual? Mukha ka na namang problema diyan. Spill it."

He hesitated, but the moment he opened his mouth, Perlas’s eyes widened. "Wait, don’t tell me... si Irene na naman?"

Christian sighed and nodded. "Yeah, she came by earlier."

Perlas’s cheerful expression quickly turned into one of anger. "Tangina naman, Sid! What the hell did she want this time?"

"More money," Christian replied, slumping onto the couch.

"Putangina, Sid! Bakit hindi mo pa siya iniwan? Alam mo naman na gago siya eh!" Perlas threw her hands up in frustration, pacing the room.

Christian looked away, unable to meet her eyes. "It’s complicated, Perlas."

"Complicated my ass!" she shouted, glaring at him. "You’re just letting her walk all over you. Hindi ka naman tanga, Sid. But you’re acting like one right now."

Christian remained silent, his heart heavy with the truth in Perlas’s words. He knew she was right, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to end things with Irene.

Perlas stopped pacing and stared at him, her anger slowly morphing into disappointment. "Sid, why can’t you just let her go?"

Christian didn’t answer, his gaze fixed on the floor. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

Perlas sighed, shaking her head. Hindi na talaga niya alam ang kaniyang gagawin sa kaniyang kaibigan. Minsan nagtataka na talaga siya kung oaano niya naging kaibigan si Christian dahil sa katangahan nito. "You’re being dumb, Sid. Sobrang tanga ka na talaga."

Christian winced at her words, but he knew they were born out of concern. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was stuck in a situation he couldn’t control. Alam niya na naaasar na rin si Perlas sa kaniya ngunit ano nga ba ang magagawa niya?

Perlas, seeing his conflicted expression, softened her tone. "Sid, you deserve better. You know that, right?"

Christian nodded weakly, but deep down, he wasn’t sure he believed it. Perlas sat beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Please, Sid. Huwag mo nang hayaang sirain ni Irene ang buhay mo. Alam ko mahirap, but you have to let go."

Christian leaned back, closing his eyes, trying to find some semblance of peace amidst the storm of emotions swirling inside him. Yet even in the quiet of his apartment, Irene’s words echoed in his mind, leaving him with a lingering sense of doubt.