Your Ex-Boyfriend (I)

09:38 A.M.

Margo Monteverde's Residence.

June 5th, the year 2018. Tuesday.

After that uncomfortable introduction, Margo invited the two of them. They head straight to the dining table for their breakfast. Xian handed his lasagna and fried chicken to Nanny.

While settling down on their seats, Carmela saw the delicious breakfast. It made her drool on her mouth.

Bacon, sunny side up eggs, ham, hotdog and Japanese sausages, fried rice, and fine wheat bread. It's served hot. Nanny placed the lasagna on the side of the bread and the bucket of fried chicken in the center. The dinner table had 8 seats and made of wood, painted in plain white.

When Carmela was scrutinizing every palpable food, she made a glance towards Xian.

For her, Xian's charisma was still there. By the way they clad him, the way he moves, it's different from the guy that she loved so deeply before. Margo and Xian happily talked to each other while Carmela was spying on them. She saw the glint in Xian's eyes while looking at Margo.

'The look that he only gave to me before.' Carmela painstakingly accused in her mind. The afflicted emotions that were rising inside Carmela came back. She reminisced about the painful memory she attained when the two of them separate in their own ways. 

When they broke up, Xyrelle was the one who was there for her. But Xyrelle took advantage of her like an idiot, not knowing what he had done to Carmela.

'Why does every guy she loves leave her with a deep wound in her heart?' Carmela said bitterly. While Carmela was holding her fork so because of rage, she realized Margo was calling her.

"Carmela? Carmela?" She looked at Margo, and asked, "What is it, Margo?"

"I called you two times already. Penny for your thoughts?" Margo asked her. Carmela looked at both of them sitting across from her and said, "I'm sorry. I remember something."

She saw that Xian and Margo quenched their food.

"Eat up," Margo muttered while chowing down some lasagna. Carmela nodded and scooped up some bacon, ham, and a little serving of rice on her plate. While she was nibbling down her bacon, Margo called her again.

"Carmela, do you want to hear our love story?" Margo asked her while blushing. She's dumbfounded by that question and looked at the lovebirds. Carmela squirmed in her seat as she got uncomfortable.

"Baby," Xian mumbled to Margo. Carmela got startled by that endearment. She got puzzled by Xian's actions today. He said to Carmela before that he doesn't want that kind of endearment, so they call each other by their names. 

"It's fine, go ahead," Carmela assured her and glimpsed at Xian. She saw he was looking straight at her. 

"I fell in love with him at first sight," Margo started her story while blushing. Xian can't contain his lips to curve into a smile while Margo said that. Carmela nodded at that and smiled a little.

If Margo only knew he was a cheater, she would never say that.

"He is so handsome. And he is a talented and gifted painter that my heart fluttered every time I hear his name," Margo continued.

Her cheeks were now beet red. Xian grinned from ear to ear. He can't focus on what he was eating because of Margo's anecdote. Carmela's smile vanished while slowly chewing down her food. Xian's tactic in capturing a girl's heart was through his gifted talent.

He baited one woman after another. How come he's not that cruel?

"We celebrated our anniversary last month. He surprised me with a self-portrait that he painted with his own hands! He is a gifted painter, Carmela!" Margo yapped.

Carmela felt the pain rising in her veins, and anytime now, her tears would pour down any minute. She felt Xian was looking at her and that she wanted to get out of her seat as soon as possible.

"Hmm, Margo, before you continue your story, can I use the restroom first?" Carmela excused herself.

"Sure, go ahead. Turn left when you reach the kitchen counter," Margo permitted.

"Thank you," Carmela said courteously as she stood up rapidly. She felt Xian was following her with his eyes, but she didn't want to look at him. She quickly went inside the comfort room and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Carmela saw her gloomy eyes and the tears brimming in them. The tears poured down hastily, and she slammed the wall beside the mirror.

"Of all places, Xian. Why here? Why do I have to meet you again after the undeniable pain you brought me?" Carmela said to herself, looking into her own eyes.

She exhaled and wiped the tears quickly. Carmela washed her own hands out of rage. She went out in haste. 

When she opened the door, she saw Xian leaning on the sink beside the kitchen stove. He jumped into his place and observed Carmela's eyes.

"Are you crying?" Xian asked her abruptly. She shook her head, and said, "No, I'm okay."

Carmela gently closed the comfort room door. She walked rapidly towards the dining table when Xian called her. 

"Mela, wait!" Xian called and ran towards Carmela, stopping her tracks. Carmela's startled by that, and furiously said, "Don't call me that!"

"Sorry... I didn't expect to see you here," Xian consoled while looking at Carmela's eyes.

"Neither did me," Carmela said, infuriated about what Xian said. Xian huffed the air, and asked, "How are you?"

Carmela looked at Xian first, and said, "I'm perfectly fine after you---"

She felt the tears appear she had interrupted on what she's about to say.

"After you left me," Carmela whined, determined in her stance. Xian avoided his eye contact towards Carmela while saying, "Look... I'm sorry."

Carmela sighed exasperatedly and can't believe what she had heard.

"Do you think I will accept that easily?! What the hell, Xian?! You left me! Do you expect me to be just okay with that?! Huh?!" Carmela shouted at Xian's face. Margo heard Carmela's loud cry coming from the kitchen counter. She suddenly stood up and peeked.

"What is happening here? Xian, Carmela?" Margo queried, puzzled about the situation.

"Um…," Carmela thought of what she had to say when her cell phone vibrated. She saw her aunt was calling. She answered it immediately and turned in the other direction.

"It's nothing babe," Carmela heard what Xian said to her girlfriend.

"Hello... What is it? What, she's been crying for hours?... Okay, I'll go home immediately... Yeah... Bye," Carmela hanged up the line hastily and faced Margo.

"Margo, I need to go home. Hannah is crying, is it okay?" Carmela asked.

"It's okay. I know Hannah will look after you," Margo said, worried. Xian looked at Carmela, confused about who Hannah was.

"I will be back at noon," Carmela reassured.

"Sure. Drive safely," Margo said.

"Yeah, thank you," Carmela said, then hastily picked up her bag from the sofa. She hurriedly fumbled for her keys as she went out of Margo's house.