My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

37: Mira

"Oh, no!" sabay-sabay na sabi ng tatlo kong kaibigan. "Bad decision, Mira! Erase, erase!"

"Bakit naman?" I wiped the tears off my face. "Hindi ko naman talaga ipapaubaya si Vren – ipapahiram lang. At ang bawat hinihiram, ibinabalik. It's not as if maisasama pa niya si Vren sa libingan niya, if ever."

"Bathala!" Tumingala si Alexia na para bang gusto niyang makipag-one-on-one talk sa Diyos Amang Makapangyarihan. "Pakituktukan nga po itong kaibigan namin! Hindi marunong makinig!"

"Mira, hindi maganda ang Lend My Boyfriend idea mo na 'yan, ha?" nakataas ang kilay na sabi ni Hannah. "Sige, let's assume na after three months, sumalangit na nga si Isabella. Do you think that things will still be the same between you and Sir Vren? I highly doubt it. Marami ang pwedeng mangyari sa loob ng tatlong buwan. What if ma-in love ulit si Sir Vren sa babaeng 'yon?"

"I agree with Hannah," Mavi said, looking at me squarely. "At ito pa ang isang possibility. What if, by some miracle, gumaling si Isabella? Saan ka pupulutin, Mira?"

"Uhm... sa dulo siguro ng Andromeda Galaxy?" mangiyak-ngiyak muli na sagot ko.

"Exactly!" Alexia slammed his hand on my office table, causing the rest of us to jump in our seats out of surprise. "Kaya nga sinasabi ko sa'yo, Mirathea –"

Kung ano man ang gusto niyang sabihin sa akin ay hindi na naituloy ni Baklita, dahil biglang bumukas ang pinto ng aking opisina.

"Hey," said the newcomer, no other than Vren. His eyes were on me as he asked, "Can we talk?"

Bago pa man ako makasagot ay nilapitan na ni Alexia ang boyfriend ko at dinuro-duro. "You!" he exclaimed dramatically, obviously forgetting that he's talking to his employer. "What are you doing here? Bawal kang lumapit kay Mira!"

Vren sighed in exasperation. "Alexia, please get out of the way. I need to talk to Mira."

"Nope! Access denied!" Alexia answered in a shrill voice. "Back off, Mr. Montevilla!"

"You are the one who might want to back off." Vren scowled. "Need I remind you that I own this place, Mr. Pinpin?"

"So what? That doesn't scare me!" matapang pa ring sagot ng kaibigan ko sa kanya. "FYI, we already know what you did to Mira. Malaki ang atraso mo sa friend namin! Doon ka na lang sa ex-girlfriend mong haliparot!"

"Friend, tama na," saway ko kay Alexia. "Baka mawalan ka pa ng trabaho nang 'di oras. Ako na ang bahala sa isang 'yan." Tinapunan ko ng masamang tingin si Vren.

"Sigurado ka ba, Mirathea? Okay lang na masisante ako, marami naman akong sugar daddy!"

Kung hindi lang talaga ako down na down ngayon dala ng tampuhan namin ni Vren ay siguradong tumawa na ako dahil sa sinabi ni Baklita, just like Hannah and Mavi who had to stifle their giggles.

"Oo, sigurado ako." I gave Alexia a tight-lipped smile, hoping to convey how grateful I was for his display of loyalty to me. "Pwede bang iwan niyo muna kaming dalawa ni Vren?" I then asked my three friends, sparing each of them a glance.

"Of course." Mavi gave me a sympathetic smile before vacating her seat. Hannah, meanwhile, patted my shoulder before following suit. Si Alexia naman, walang takot na inirapan muna ang boyfriend ko bago tuluyang lumabas ng aking opisina.

Once my friends had left, I turned to Vren with a frown. "Anong kailangan mo?"

Vren occupied the seat that Mavi had vacated. He tried to hold my hand that rested on the table, but one glare from me was enough to make him withdraw.

"Mira, this is silly. I swear, there's no reason for you to get jealous over Bella. I'm just helping a friend – that's all she is to me. I just want to look after her until her parents come back from abroad."