Bored of the Rings

Those of you who predicted that last fall's ''Bachelor'' star Aaron Buerge and his intended, Helene Eksterowicz, would be broken up by New Year's can now collect on your office pools. Buerge was shown popping the question to Eksterowicz on the Nov. 20 season finale of the ABC series, but now, he tells People, the engagement was over by the end of the year.

Why did they split up? Buerge was mum on details, which he and Eksterowicz will reveal in an ABC special that will air Feb. 20, one night after the finale of the network's gender-switched version of the series, ''The Bachelorette.'' ''There has not been any dagger throwing,'' Buerge told People, adding that neither party was unfaithful, and that he still keeps in touch with his ex via e-mail. ABC was similarly cryptic; asked by the Associated Press whether Helene kept the engagement ring (which Aaron paid for out of his own pocket, rather than letting the network pick up the tab), an ABC publicist answered, ''That will be revealed.''

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