My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

39: Mira

Hindi por que binati ko na si Vren, ibig sabihin ay thumbs-up na rin ako sa presence ng ex-girlfriend niya sa aming buhay.

May tiwala ako kay Vren. Pero kay Isabella? Isang tumataginting na, "Wala!"

Pero dahil nangako ako sa aking jowa na susubukan kong maging civilized sa maysakit niyang ex, wala akong choice kundi ngumiti na lang at pigilan ang sarili ko na tuktukan ng stethoscope si Isabella sa tuwing maglalapit sila ni Vren.

Nandito ulit kami ng boyfriend ko sa AMMC para muling kumustahin si Isabella, na ayon kay Vince ay bumaba nang todo ang blood pressure kagabi. Ayoko namang hayaan si Vren na mag-isang dumalaw sa ospital — mahirap na at baka kung saan humantong ang pag-reminisce nila ni Isabella sa nakaraan nila.

I was watching, deadpan, as Vren comforted his ex-girlfriend, who was expressing her worry for her business, of all things.

"Bella, relax. I'm sure your staff can handle the café operations on their own," Vren told her in a reassuring tone. "You need to focus on getting better."

"But, Andrei..." Isabella's face was full of sadness. "I cannot just set Café Isabella aside. It's too special. It's our first baby, remember?"

First baby?!

Pinigilan ko ang sarili ko na ihampas ang oxygen tank kay Ms. Leukemia.

Sakto namang nagkatinginan kami ni Vren. My sour expression must have been enough to clue him in on how I felt about what his ex-girlfriend said. He gave me a tiny, almost imperceptible nod as if to say, "Remember what we talked about? Isabella and I are history."

For the sake of peace between me and my boyfriend, huminga ako nang malalim at pinilit na pakalmahin ang sarili ko.

"Bella, now is not the time to be stubborn," muling paalala sa kanya ni Vren. "You'll only make things worse if you keep on overexerting yourself."

Tumikhim ako. "Tama si Vren, Bella. Dapat ay nagpapahinga ka na lang at nagpapalakas. Hindi tama na pilitin mo pa ang sarili mo na magtrabaho."

'Yon ay kung ayaw mo pang mamatay, ha? sa loob-loob ko, pero mabuti na lang at nagawa ko pang pigilan ang sarili ko.

"Thanks for the concern, Mira. I appreciate it." Isabella gave me a tight-lipped smile. "But I don't want to stop overseeing the café. Just because I'm sick, it doesn't mean I'm letting myself go useless."

"Hey. No one is saying you are useless. Stop thinking that way," sabi sa kanya ni Vren.

"But that is how I'd feel if I would just stay at home, doing nothing. I'm worthless," maluha-luhang sagot ni Isabella.

"You're not. Stop degrading yourself." Marahang hinagod ni Vren ang buhok ng kanyang ex.

Muli akong nakaramdam ng pagnanasang buhatin ang oxygen tank. This time, sabay ko nang hahatawin sina Isabella at Vren.

"Ehem!" Pasimple kong pinandilatan si Vren. He, in turn, raised his brows innocently, clearly implying that as far as he's concerned, he's not doing anything wrong.

I sighed, letting the matter rest. Pero hindi ko pa rin nilubayan ng tingin si Vren hanggang sa ilayo niya ang kamay niya mula sa buhok ni Isabella, na noon naman ay namumungay na ang mga mata dahil sa antok. Hindi rin nagtagal ay tuluyan na itong nakatulog.

****

"Ate, nabalitaan ko ang tungkol sa ex-girlfriend ni Kuya Vren, ah." Nasa opisina ko ngayon si Myron para muling mambulabog. "Mabuti at pumayag kang dalaw-dalawin 'yon ng boyfriend mo? At talagang sumasama ka pa, ha?"