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 —"
"Isabella? Yes, he already did," I cut him off. "So, pati pala ikaw, alam ang tungkol sa panggugulo ng ex ni Vren sa kanya."
Vince's expression resembled that of a child caught in the middle of doing a mischief. "Yeah. I'm sorry I had to keep quiet about that. I just don't think I'm the right person to tell you about it."
Umiling-iling ako. "Akala ko pa naman, Vince, kaibigan kita."
"Mira, please don't get mad at him," sabi naman ni Vren. "It was my fault. Ako ang nag-utos sa kanya na 'wag sabihin sa'yo ang tungkol kay Isabella."
"Great. It's nice to know na pinagkaisahan niyo pa akong magkapatid. Salamat, ha?"
"Mira, it's not like that." Vince tried to reach for my hand, but I already stepped away from him before he could do so.
****
Vren's ex-girlfriend was awake when we entered her room.
After seeing Isabella, I realized right away that she's no other than the girl model who posed with Vren, for that old campaign photo Alexia found archived on a certain clothing company's website.
Great, I thought. Any more surprises in store for me?
"Hey, Andrei. I didn't expect you to visit me again so soon," nakangiting bati niya kay Vren nang mapansin niya na ang kanyang mga bisita. "And wow, is this your girlfriend?"
"Yup." Vren gave her a lopsided smile in return. "Bella, this is Mira."
"Hi, Mira. It's nice to finally meet you." After addressing me, Isabella tried to force herself into a sitting position. When Vren noticed her difficulty, he instantly assisted her.
Oh, how sweet, went the sarcastic voice inside my head. Good thing I was still able to stop myself from saying it out loud.
Nakakainis! Bakit ba ganito ang nararamdaman ko?
I've never really thought of myself as a jealous person, pero hindi ako komportableng makita si Vren na ganito ka-sweet sa ibang babae. Sanay ako na tanging ako lang ang nakakatanggap ng special treatment mula sa boyfriend ko.
"It's nice to meet you too, Isabella." Props to me for still managing a small smile while greeting Vren's ex-girlfriend back.
"I know this isn't exactly an ideal situation," she began again, "but I hope Andrei already explained everything to you. Wala akong balak na guluhin ang relasyon niyo. I just wanted to —"
Hindi na naituloy ni Isabella ang sasabihin niya dahil bigla siyang napasapo sa kanyang noo. Nahilo yata ang lola mo dahil sa pa-welcome speech niya sa akin.
"Bella, are you okay? Should I call Vince?" To the rescue naman kaagad sa ex niya si Vren Andrei. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na palihim siyang bigyan ng isang pamatay na tingin.
But to my greater annoyance, ni hindi man lang napansin ng boyfriend ko ang killer stare na ibinigay ko sa kanya. Masyado kasi siyang abala sa pag-aasikaso sa kanyang ex.
"I'm fine, Andrei. Relax." Isabella jokingly rolled her eyes. "Now, get out of the way so I can talk to Mira."
Vren obediently stepped aside, allowing his ex-girlfriend to focus on me again.
"As I was saying, I have no intentions of ruining your relationship," she said, her voice sweet and innocent. "I just reached out to Andrei so I could apologize to him."
"Okay," I answered with faked nonchalance.
"Last night, when your boyfriend was watching over me, he told me just how great a woman you are," pagpapatuloy ni Isabella. "And I'm really happy to learn that his heart is in good hands. Andrei is so lucky to have found you."
"I really am." Inabot ni Vren ang kamay ko at marahan itong pinisil habang binibigyan ako ng isang ngiti. Bilang ganti ay pasimple ko siyang inirapan.
Akala ba ng mokong na 'to ay abswelto na siya sa akin?
"Uhm... Model ka pala?" Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa lahat ng pwedeng sabihin kay Isabella ay 'yan pa ang lumabas sa bibig ko. Siguro ay dahil sa matinding kagustuhan kong ibahin na lang ang topic ng usapan namin.
"I used to be. How did you know about that?" she asked, mildly surprised.
"A friend of mine saw a photo of you and Vren online, and showed it to me. You were modeling for a clothing brand," sagot ko sa kanya. "I recognized you right away because of that."
Mahinhing tumawa si Isabella. "Oh, that photo was taken ages ago. Pinilit ko lang si Andrei na mag-model kasama ko."
"Yeah, and I still haven't forgiven you for that," nakangising biro sa kanya ni Vren.
Soon, the two of them were in deep conversation, reminiscing about that photoshoot and some other shared experiences of theirs. Ako naman, parang timang lang na nakatingin sa kanila.
Talk about being out of place.
Pinagmasdan ko si Isabella – bawat kilos at bawat buka ng bibig niya habang nakikipagkwentuhan kay Vren. Doing so made me realize that she's a personification of the word finesse.
Napakahinhin niya. Napaka-delicate. She's my opposite, given how talkative and unrefined I could be at times.
Hindi sinasadyang naalala ko ang sinabi ni Vren nang unang beses niyang ma-meet ang aking pamilya – that time na sinakyan niya ang pang-aalaska sa akin nina Mama at Papa.
"Ganyan naman po talaga si Mira since we first met. Such a fine lady."
Alam ko namang biro lang 'yon ng aking boyfriend – something that he said to poke fun at me. But now, after meeting his ex-girlfriend, hindi ko naiwasang isipin na ang "fine lady" na tinutukoy ni Vren ay walang iba kundi si Isabella.
Maaari kayang noon pa man ay lagi nang naiisip ni Vren ang ex-girlfriend niya? Posible kayang sa mga oras na magkasama kaming dalawa, ibang babae pala ang laman ng isip niya?
Kung nakamamatay lang ang insecurity, siguradong kanina pa ako bumulagta rito.
****
"Thanks for dropping by, Mira. I really hope to see you again," malambing na sabi sa akin ni Isabella matapos naming magpaalam ni Vren sa kanya.
See me again, or see your Andrei again? bulong naman ng aking naghihimutok na konsensiya.
Mahigit isang oras na kaming late ni Mr. Montevilla sa trabaho. But then again, wala namang pakialam ang boyfriend ko dahil siya ang may-ari ng Medialink.
"Of course, you'll see Mira again. Bibisita ulit kami kapag may libre kaming oras." Inakbayan ako ni Vren. "Right, babe?"
"Oo naman," napipilitan kong sagot sabay bigay ng isang tipid na ngiti kay Isabella.
"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to tell Vince about it," paalala sa kanya ni Vren. "Binilinan ko na ang kapatid ko na alagaan ka nang mabuti."
"Thanks, Andrei." She beamed at him. "I really appreciate your help. I certainly don't deserve it, but..."
"Hey, that doesn't matter anymore. What's important is your recovery." Vren's tone was uncharacteristically gentle. "Look, Mira and I really need to go. Take as much rest as you can, okay?"
"Okay. Bye, Andrei. Bye, Mira. Ingat kayo papunta sa trabaho." Vren's ex-girlfriend waved daintily at us before lowering herself on the hospital bed again.
And that marks the end of my first meeting with Isabella Lira dela Merced.