My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

27: Mira

"Come in," I instructed to whoever was on the other side of the door. Bahagya itong bumukas, at dumungaw ang sekretarya ni Vren.

"Hi, Lally!" bati ko sa bagong dating. "What's the matter?"

"Sorry po sa abala, ma'am," sabi niya na halatang nahihiya. "Itatanong ko lang po sana kung alam niyo kung nasaan si Sir Vren. Bigla kasi siyang umalis at hanggang ngayon, hindi pa bumabalik. Hindi ko rin po siya ma-contact."

"Really? Hindi ko rin alam kung nasaan siya. All this time, akala ko ay nasa opisina niya lang siya," I replied, frowning. "Anyway, I won't worry too much about him. Malaki na 'yon, kaya niya na ang sarili niya."

Lally managed a small smile. "Kaso, may naghahanap po sa kanya ngayon. Kaibigan po yata niya?"

"Sino? Si Francis Lee?"

Vren's secretary shook her head. "A woman named Isabella dela Merced, ma'am."

"Huh. Well, I don't know any friend of Vren's with that name." I bit my lower lip, trying to remember if I did meet someone named Isabella when my boyfriend and I attended the Hollier homecoming event. But nope, no one came to mind. "Sabihin mo na lang sa kanya na bumalik na lang siya dahil wala ngayon si Vren. Sa susunod nga, Lally, ikadena mo na 'yang boss mo para hindi basta-basta makaalis. Pinaghahanap ka pa," pahabol na biro ko sa secretary ni Vren.

"Naku ma'am, e 'di nasisante naman po ako?" Tumawa si Lally. "Paano, babalik na po ako sa taas. Sasabihin ko sa bisita ni Sir Vren na bumalik na lang siya next time. Thanks for the help, Ma'am Mira."

"No worries," nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya. "See you around, Lally."

****

"Umalis ka pala kanina sa opisina?" tanong ko kay Vren habang muli niyang inii-start ang engine ng kotse niya. Papauwi na kami galing sa trabaho, at kakatapos lang naming ihatid si Myron sa kanyang dorm na malapit sa campus ng Pierceson.

Kung dati, ako lang ang inihahatid-sundo ni Mr. Montevilla, ngayon ay damay na rin sa kanyang pa-free ride ang kapatid ko. It's the little gestures like this that make me appreciate my boyfriend even more.

"How did you know about that?" Vren looked at me, a hint of surprise in his expression.

"Pumunta sa office ko kanina si Lally, hinahanap ka," paliwanag ko. "You missed a visitor. What's her name again?" Saglit akong nag-isip. "Ah, I got it. Isabella dela Merced."

"Have you met her?" For some reason, Vren sounded disconcerted. "Did you speak to her personally?"

"Nope," I answered, confused at his reaction. "Nabanggit lang ni Lally sa akin ang pangalan niya. Who's this Isabella, anyway?"

Sasagot pa sana si Vren nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya na nakapatong sa dashboard ng kotse.

"Can you please check who's calling?" he asked, and I couldn't help but notice that he looked relieved at the interruption.

Sumunod naman ako at kinuha ang cellphone niya. "Si Vince. Sasagutin ko ba?"

Vren nodded, his eyes still on the road. "Ask him what he wants. Tell him I can't talk right now because I'm driving."

"Hello, Vince? Yep, it's me. Sorry, nagmamaneho kasi si Vren kaya ako muna ang sumagot sa tawag mo." Saglit kong pinakinggan ang sinasabi ni Vince sa kabilang linya. "Alright, I'll tell him. Bye."

"Well?" Vren gave me a quick, expectant glance.

"Sabi ng kuya mo, kung pwede raw ba na dumaan ka bukas sa AMMC. Saglit lang naman daw," sagot ko habang inilalapag muli sa dashboard ang cellphone niya.

"Is that all? I'll just text him later, then."

"So, who's Isabella?" I asked him again.

"She's... an old friend," sagot naman ng boyfriend ko. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sige lang, hangga't libre pa ang magtanong," biro ko naman.

Vren cleared his throat. "Do you think it's true that if someone loves you, that person will accept you no matter what?"

I stared at him, surprised at the sudden turn of our conversation. "What's up with you? Bakit ang seryoso naman bigla ng tanong mo?"

"Just answer it, please."

I sighed. Paminsan-minsan talaga, nako-caught off-guard pa rin ako sa mood swings nitong si Freak. "Of course, I think it's true. Bakit sa tingin mo, natitiis ko ang kasupladuhan at ka-weirdo-han mo? Kasi nga, mahal kita."

A smile slowly crept across his face. "Really?"

"Really." Ngumiti rin ako. "Package deal kasi ang pagmamahal. You cannot love a person without accepting their flaws and shortcomings."

"Wow. I didn't know that you can be so deep at times," mapang-asar na komento ng mokong. "Si Mirathea Custodio ba talaga itong kasama ko?"

Hinampas ko ang braso niya. Ayos lang naman dahil red light at nakatigil ang kotse. "Ikaw 'tong bigla-bigla na lang ginagawang seryoso ang topic, tapos aasarin mo ako dahil nagseryoso ako?"

"Alright, I'm still with Mirathea Custodio. Pikon pa rin at mahilig manghampas." Tumawa si Vren.

Siya namang hikab ko dahil bigla akong nakaramdam ng antok.

"Hey, why don't you take a nap?" he suggested. "I'll just wake you up when we arrive at your place."

"That's a good idea." Muli akong humikab. "Wala ka na bang gustong itanong para sa slam book mo? Kung wala na ay iidlip na ako."

Another chuckle from Vren. "Nah, I'm good."

He leaned closer to me and planted a kiss on my forehead, just as I closed my eyes and leaned against the headrest of the car seat.

"And by the way, I love you too," he added in a whisper, tucking a lock of loose hair behind my ear. "Flaws and shortcomings and all."