My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

35: Mira

Si Vren.

May ex-girlfriend.

Na tunog-mayaman ang pangalan. Isabella Lira dela Merced.

Oh, well. Mayaman naman pala talaga siya. Alumnus din siya ng Hollier, katulad ni Vren. And knowing my boyfriend's type — pati na ang tipo ng mga tao na nakakasalamuha niya noon pa man — for sure, this Isabella is one gorgeous woman.

Walang-wala ako. I'm just an average girl, and to be honest, minsan ay nagtataka pa rin ako kung ano ang nakita at nagustuhan sa akin ni Vren.

Matagal bago ako nakapagsalita matapos linawin sa akin ni Vren kung sino si Isabella. As a matter of fact, kung hindi pa siya nagsabi ng, "Mira, please say something. You're making me nervous," ay hindi pa ako kumibo.

"Siya pala 'yong Isabella dela Merced na nabanggit sa akin ni Lally," monotono kong linya. "'Yong dumalaw sa'yo sa Medialink pero saktong wala ka."

"Yup, that's her." Vren spared me a glance before focusing on the road again. "And I didn't actually leave Medialink that time. I was just hiding from her. Mind you, the rooftop's a great hiding place."

"So, your ex-girlfriend is bothering you. Kaya pala parang laging malalim ang iniisip mo nitong mga nakaraang araw. You've been acting kind of distant." As it turned out, hindi ko na kailangan pang i-ambush interview ang boyfriend ko, as per my mother's suggestion, para malaman ko kung ano ang bumabagabag sa kanya.

Vren looked a little surprised. "Sorry about that. I didn't think you would notice."

"Sana, sinabi mo na kaagad sa akin ang tungkol sa Isabella na 'yan. Hindi 'yong ganito na naglihim ka pa." I sighed. "And I'm sorry, Vren, but your girlfriend is unfortunately an observant person."

It was then that Vren finally stopped the car. Ni hindi ko namalayan na nasa AMMC na pala kami.

"Again, I'm really sorry," he apologized, his voice accompanied by the sound of the car engine dying. "I didn't want to keep a secret from you, Mira. I just didn't see what telling you about Isabella would accomplish. I was trying not to make a big deal out of it."

"But it is a big deal," sagot ko naman sa kanya. "At least, it is to me. Why is she suddenly reaching out to you again, anyway? Dahil lang ba gusto niyang malaman mo na may sakit siya?"

"Aside from wanting to tell me about her illness, she wanted to apologize for what she did to me."

"What she did to you? Bakit, ano ba ang ginawa niya sa'yo?" nakasimangot na tanong ko.

"She cheated on me. She's kind of the reason why I turned into a perpetually angry jerk, at least before you made a better man out of me."

"Huh. Really." Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "Well, I just can't wait to meet her," sarkastiko kong sabi. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

Bumuntonghininga si Vren. "Right. Let's go."

We both got out of the car and walked towards the hospital in silence. I had no idea what was going on inside my boyfriend's head, but my thoughts and feelings about this Isabella situation were clear as daylight to me.

Whether she's sick or not, it doesn't change the fact — the possibility — that Isabella's reappearance may stir up Vren's long-forgotten feelings for her.

And I'm not one to play the role of a martyr.

****

"Mira!" Bakas ang gulat sa mukha ni Vince nang makasalubong namin siya sa hallway patungo sa hospital room na kinaroroonan ng maysakit na ex-girlfriend ni Vren. "Wow. You're here." Sinulyapan niya ang kapatid niya bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. "I guess Vren already told you about —"