“LENA 2.0”

Lena's eyebrows shot up in surprise as she caught sight of the two people happily dining in an ordinary fast-food restaurant. The warm glow of the restaurant's lights bathed them in a soft, inviting hue, contrasting with Lena's sudden tension.

"Sam?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the bustling noise of the eatery. Her fingers instinctively tightened around the paper bag she held, its contents a mix of her recent purchases and unresolved emotions.

How could they be happy together, she wondered, her gaze flickering between Sam and Marius. It had been a year since Sam had walked away from Marius—or so Lena had thought. Yet, here they were, sharing smiles and laughter as if nothing had ever torn them apart.

The scene played out before her like a poignant tableau, each detail etching itself into Lena's memory. The clinking of cutlery, the soft hum of conversation, and the fleeting expressions on Sam and Marius' faces all merged into a bittersweet symphony of what-ifs and might-have-been.

Her heart whispered a question she dared not voice aloud: Did this reunion mean they were happily back together, leaving behind the shattered fragments of their past?

Her heart was consumed by intense anger at first, but upon further reflection, she realized that what she felt was a resurgence of the anger she harbored for Sam. Yes, that was more accurate. Seeing them together again reignited the fury she had buried deep within her.

The last thought was more fitting because, truth be told, she had never been angry with Marius. Even after everything that had happened between them, he never returned her calls. It hurt her deeply that despite her numerous attempts to visit him at his office and talk to him, she was always turned away by the guards.

She had reached a point where she felt sorry for herself, which led her to stop chasing after Marius. She was okay, or at least she tried to convince herself that she was. The reality was, no matter how many times people claimed Marius was hers, the fact that she had destroyed Sam and Marius was a trophy to her.

However, what she witnessed now was incomprehensible. How could they be so happy? Laughing as if they were untouched by any hardship or pain?

Lena couldn't stomach the sight. She couldn't allow Sam to be happy while she remained mired in sorrow. The unfairness of it all gnawed at her, a bitter taste on her tongue that refused to dissipate.

The scene before her seemed almost surreal, like a cruel joke played by fate. Sam's laughter echoed in her ears, a melody that once brought joy but now felt like a mocking taunt. Marius, with his easy smile and carefree demeanor, appeared blissfully unaware of the storm brewing within Lena.

She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought the surge of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. It wasn't jealousy, not entirely. It was a primal need for justice, a desire to level the playing field that had tilted so unfairly against her.

Sam's beauty hadn't faded; if anything, it had intensified. Motherhood had bestowed upon her a radiance that seemed to glow from within, a testament to the transformative power of love and life. It was a sight that should have filled Lena with joy, but instead, it fueled the flames of her determination.

She couldn't let them continue this charade of happiness while her own heart lay shattered and forgotten. No, she needed to find a way to disrupt their idyllic existence, to remind them of the pain they had inflicted upon her.

With a steely resolve, Lena made a silent vow to herself. She would not rest until she had shattered their happiness until they tasted the bitter pill of regret and remorse. It was a dangerous path she treads, fueled by hurt and anger, but she couldn't turn back now.

As Lena fixated on Sam's beauty, a dangerous storm brewed within her, tinged with primal envy that threatened to spill over into something far more sinister.

Had her past once-in-a-lifetime sex with Marius borne fruit, Lena would have wielded the power to chase her own happiness now, to dismantle their false bliss with a calculated precision that sent shivers down one's spine. But fate had twisted the knife in her heart—just a week after that fateful night, her hopes were cruelly dashed, leaving behind a trail of smoldering resentment.

It had been a year since she descended upon Manila, carving her path in a new job at a BPO company. Rising through the ranks like a stealthy predator, driven by her razor-sharp intellect, she reveled in the power she held over others. Yet, beneath her polished facade lay a simmering danger, a recklessness that whispered of untold secrets and hidden motives.

What truly ignited her spirit was the swarm of admirers who danced around her, oblivious to the dangerous currents that lurked beneath her captivating exterior. It was the thrill of playing with fire, of knowing she held the power to ignite chaos and wreak havoc upon those who dared to cross her path.

Fate had been unusually generous to Lena; she always seemed to have a new beau at her beck and call. What she was implying was that her sex life was not lacking in attention or satisfaction. When she first stepped into the city, she might have been seen as somewhat conservative, a facade that had long since crumbled to reveal a woman well-versed in the arts of intimacy. That's why, when the incident with Marius occurred, Lena was far from being a novice in matters of the heart and body.

As she stood there, watching Sam and Marius bask in their apparent happiness, a dangerous glint flickered in Lena's eyes. Her anger was a seething inferno, fueled by years of pent-up frustration and resentment. She refused to let them revel in their joy while she simmered in the shadows of her own discontent.

"I won't allow you two to be happy," Lena muttered, her voice low and laced with a chilling edge. Her words hung in the air like a threat, a promise of impending destruction. Her decision was made at that moment—to tear apart the fragile facade of their happiness and leave nothing but ruins in her wake.

As Lena descended the escalator, her eyes locked onto Sam's figure with a razor-sharp focus. The moment was fleeting, yet it felt like time stood still as their gazes met, albeit briefly. There was a flicker of uncertainty in Lena's mind—did Sam notice her? Was there a hint of recognition in Sam's expression? Despite the uncertainty, Lena remained resolute, her stare cutting through the space between them like a silent threat.

Sam, engrossed in conversation with Marius, seemed momentarily oblivious to Lena's presence. Her expression was serene, her laughter tinkling like distant bells in the bustling ambiance of the restaurant. Lena couldn't help but feel a surge of defiance at the sight. How dare they be so carefree, so blissfully ignorant of the storm brewing within her?

With deliberate precision, Lena adjusted her posture, ensuring that Sam caught the full intensity of her gaze. It was a look that spoke volumes—a mix of resentment, anger, and a hint of danger simmering just beneath the surface. The message was clear: Lena was not one to be trifled with, and she wouldn't hesitate to unleash the fury of her wrath if provoked.

As the escalator carried her further away from Sam's line of sight, Lena's mind raced with thoughts of retribution. The encounter had reignited the fire of determination within her, fueling her resolve to disrupt their happiness at any cost. Sam and Marius may have appeared unperturbed at that moment, but little did they know that they had just crossed paths with a force to be reckoned with.

*****

"I think I just spotted Lena," I exclaimed, my eyes alight with excitement as I turned towards Marius, a grin spreading across my face like sunshine breaking through clouds on a clear day.

Marius leaned in closer, his eyes eager and curious. "Where did you see her?"

"She was on the escalator, going down," I replied animatedly, my hand gesturing toward the direction where Lena had disappeared.

Marius nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's entirely possible, Sam. Lena has been settled in Manila for quite some time now. She followed me here after you left."

As Marius spoke, his touch was tender as he wiped a smear of ketchup from the edge of my lips, his gesture infused with a sense of care and affection. The bustling restaurant around us seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the warmth of our shared moment and the happy anticipation of possibly reconnecting with Lena.

"Is that what you mean? Did you two meet when I was gone?" I inquired, a subtle tremor of uncertainty threading through my words. Despite the sudden surge of apprehension, there was an undeniable sense of elation coursing through me, coloring every moment with a vibrant hue of happiness. It felt as though nothing Marius could disclose would dampen the overflowing joy in my heart.

Marius shifted slightly, his eyes momentarily evading mine before meeting my gaze with a hint of hesitation. "Yes, we actually did meet," he confessed, his voice carrying a weight of unspoken complexities.

A wave of conflicting emotions washed over me. Suspicion began to gnaw at the edges of my consciousness, mingling with the inexplicable happiness that seemed to envelop me. It was a strange dichotomy—a blend of curiosity, doubt, and a strange sense of contentment that defied rational explanation.

Despite the subtle unease that lingered in the air, I found myself smiling. It was a smile tinged with curiosity and a hint of playful mischief as if I had stumbled upon a secret that added a new layer of intrigue to our dynamic. In that moment, my understanding seemed to expand, allowing me to see beyond the surface and into the depths of unspoken truths.

I couldn't quite comprehend the complexity of my own emotions. Was it a defense mechanism, an attempt to shield myself from the vulnerability of my feelings for Marius? Or perhaps it was a newfound sense of acceptance, a willingness to navigate the intricacies of our connection without fear or reservation.

"Do I need to know something about you and Lena, Marius?" I asked, my voice carrying a mix of curiosity and a hint of trepidation. It was a question that seemed to hang in the air, pregnant with unspoken implications. Despite the unintentional edge in my tone, I marveled at how composed and understanding I felt, as if I were prepared to receive any revelation with an open heart. There was a sense of readiness, a willingness to listen without judgment, that surprised even me.

Marius's reaction was subtle yet palpable. I observed the slight rise and fall of his chest, the way his fingers tensed momentarily around the glass of soft drink he held. It was as if my question had stirred something within him, prompting a moment of introspection before he responded.

He took a sip of his drink, a deliberate pause that added an air of anticipation to the conversation. I could sense the weight of unspoken words hanging between us, the uncharted territory of our shared history with Lena waiting to be explored.

"Go ahead," I encouraged him gently, my eyes meeting his with a reassuring gaze. "I promise, whatever you tell me won't change our agreement," I added, offering him a genuine assurance that my words were not just a hollow promise but a commitment to understanding and acceptance.

Marius exhaled audibly, a soft sigh escaping his lips before he gathered his thoughts to speak. "Something did happen between Lena and me," he confessed, his voice tinged with a mix of remorse and vulnerability.

The word "astonished" would be an understatement to describe the whirlwind of emotions that swept through me as Marius laid bare his confession, each word ringing crystal clear in my ears. I found myself blinking repeatedly as if trying to dispel the notion that this was all just a surreal dream. Yet, despite my attempts to rationalize, the weight of Marius's words settled upon me like a heavy truth, impossible to ignore.

With each sentence he uttered, I felt a knot tighten in my stomach, a mixture of disbelief and a gnawing ache of betrayal clawing at my insides. It was as if a part of me refused to accept the reality of what he was saying, hoping against hope that it was all a misunderstanding or a cruel joke.

But Marius's demeanor, the earnestness in his eyes, left no room for doubt. The confession hung in the air, laden with unspoken implications and the rawness of truth. I couldn't deny the clarity with which I had heard every word, nor could I ignore the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Finally, I let out a slow, shaky breath, mirroring Marius's own sigh. The weight of his confession pressed down on me, and for a moment, I felt as if the world had tilted on its axis.

"D-Did you mean to say... you and Lena...?" I struggled to form the words, my voice barely above a whisper. It was a question I dreaded asking, a truth I wasn't sure I wanted to confront.

Marius's expression softened, tinged with a hint of sadness as he nodded slowly. "Forgive me, Sam," he pleaded, his gaze unwavering as he met my eyes with a mixture of regret and remorse.

I couldn't help but clutch at my chest, a mix of disbelief and a deep ache settling within me as Marius's confession hung in the air between us. As I met his gaze, I searched his eyes for any sign of the truth behind his apology. There was a raw honesty in his expression, a silent plea for forgiveness that tugged at my heartstrings.

In that moment, I longed to ask him how it all unfolded, and how they ended up crossing that line. My mind raced with questions, struggling to comprehend the reality of what he had just revealed. It was difficult to accept that it had happened, that there might be more to the story than what Marius was letting on.

But before I could voice my thoughts, a surge of defensiveness washed over me. I hesitated, my mind swirling with doubts and fears. What if Marius sensed the true depth of my feelings for him? What if he saw through my facade and realized the turmoil I was experiencing?

Yet, there was another layer to my hesitation, a deeper reason that held me back. The undeniable truth is that we didn't have a label, a defined relationship that would give me the right to demand answers. It was a painful realization, knowing that I had no claim over him, no right to question his actions.

"W-We weren't even a part of each other's lives when that happened, right?" I forced a smile, though it felt strained on my lips. "I don't think you owe me any explanations," I added, trying to mask the turmoil raging within me.

Marius's gaze held a mix of questions as he looked at me. "Are you sure?" he asked, his tone tinged with disbelief.

I nodded. "Yes. Maybe we can discuss it further when we have more time. But for now," I glanced at my wristwatch, "it seems like we should head home. You've finished eating, haven't you?" I shifted the conversation.

"Yeah," Marius replied briefly.

I rose from my seat first. When he came over to assist me and took my hand, I accepted without hesitation.

"Thank you, Sam," he murmured softly.

"What for?" I asked, puzzled by his gratitude.

"For not judging me, despite my confession," he explained, his smile tender and affectionate, like a college boy in love.

His words touched my heart deeply, stirring a mix of emotions within me. There was a hint of jealousy, but beneath it all, there was a burgeoning warmth that I couldn't deny. His vulnerability and honesty only deepened my feelings for him.

As he spoke, it felt as though a weight had been lifted off my chest, leaving behind a sense of peace and understanding. And in that moment, I realized just how much I cared for him.

I smiled back at him, my eyes reflecting the affection and appreciation I felt. It was a silent acknowledgment of the bond that was growing between us, a gentle promise of acceptance and love.