I Love You Nerd 1 (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13: Bolder

Carlo's POV

Iniwan ko ang kapatid ko na kumakain. She really is a grown up now for trying to understand our family's situation. I heard all about her and Nathan during lunch, but she denied it. I don't like that guy. I don't like any guy courting her now. Marami pa siyang kailangang pagtuunan ng pansin. 

I don't know why she's lying to me but I have to trust her. I just don't trust that guy. I'm just not in the position to confront him right now because if I do, Zoey's cover will be ruined. I hope that Nathan guy is decent. My sister is smart, funny and has a bad temper, which I find cute but she often makes bad decisions when it comes to relationships. She grew up rarely seeing us because of our family business and I know this greatly affected her. She tends to find comfort in relationships with other people and tends to expect the same level of love, comfort and attention from them. That's why when someone betrays her, it hits her hundreds times. 

I thought she changed but seeing her with Nathan means she's still the same as before. This happened before with Vince. Siya ang unang boyfriend niya, akala ko seryoso si Vince sa kanya parati niyang hinahatid sa bahay ang sweet pa nga nila eh. Pero isang araw, umuwi si Zoey ng umiiyak at halos hindi na makausap. Kinwento niya sa akin na may nakita siyang kahalikan ni Vince sa mall, tapos nung kinausap niya, umamin siya na niloloko lang niya si Zoey. 

Imagine when someone cheated on you, you'll feel worthless and you'll overthink everything and suddenly everyone seemed to be capable of breaking your trust. Hindi ko 'to sineryoso noon kasi bata pa siya, puppy love lang 'yon, 'pag nag-mature na siya, wala nalang sakanya 'to. 

I never thought that her actions meant a lot deeper than just puppy love. In a young age, she found comfort and love from people aside from her family. Yes, we call her constantly but we rarely said sorry when we're not with her during her birthdays. I grew up with the full attention of my Mom and Dad since they were not as busy. Almost 14 years ang age gap namin ni Zoey, nagkamalay na ako sa kung anong klaseng buhay ang meron kami, kapapanganak niya palang. 

She was born almost the time na nagbloom ang family business, that's why most of the time she's alone. Sinama siya ni Mom and Dad sa Korea para may kasama siya pero most of the time mag-isa lang siya kaya mas mabuti na umuwi nalang siya ng Pilipinas atleast may mga kamag-anak kami doon. 

Before she became a beautiful girl that she is now, she's that awkward child with crooked teeth and braces, curly hair and large glasses. She was bullied for her physical appearance but when you're in grade school, those don't matter. When she went to Korea, that's when she opted to get things fixed. Lumabas 'yung confidence niya, nag-try siyang mag model. 

She met Vince in Korea, since international school 'yon, hindi lang siya ang Filipino or from other countries. And from there, a lot of things changed about her. She gained more confidence, she became more bold, she bloomed. But after the betrayal and all the hardships she went through just because she's a Filipino negatively affected her. 

Malakas si Zoey pero nag-aalala ako na baka defense mechanism niya lang 'to. Hindi pa siya nago-open up ng thoughts niya but I know how anxious she is right now. That's why I have to wait for her, I have to trust her and silently guide her.

Zoey's POV

"Our next destination is the strawberry field, half an hour road trip from here. Please fall in line  in front of your buses.", utos ni Ms. Sanchez.

"Ma'am! Pwede bang hindi nalang ka-partner 'yung katabi?", tanong ni Nathan.

"Ok lang." sagot ni Ms. Sanchez.

"Uy! Dani dun ka kay Reg oh, umalis na si Carol katabi na ni Rick." sabi ni Nathan. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at umupo na siya sa tabi ko. Ang bango niya, naligo nanaman ng pabango. Nagk-kwento si Nathan ng tungkol sa mga nakita niyang Igorot habang papunta kami sa hotel. 

"Wow ang daming Igorot dito, totoo kaya na may buntot sila?" 

"Of course not. Saang f*******: post or fake article mo nabasa 'yan?", tanong ko. "Don't you know that some of the workers who served our lunch and who welcomed us awhile ago are Igorots? Be careful with your words." sabi ko sakanya na may seryosong tono.

"Napaka-hirap mong pasayahin alam mo 'yon." sabi niya. 

"I'm educating you. Hindi porke boyfriend kita it-tolerate ko na 'yang mga ganyang remarks."

"Inaano ba kita? I'm just curious." sabi niya at hindi na siya nagsalita. Did I insult him? 

"Sorry." sabi ko at tumingin sa kanya. Ngumiti siya at kinurot pisngi ko. 

"Okay lang." Nakarating na kami sa destination after 30 minutes at pinababa na kami. Ang lamig ng hangin, ang sarap!

"Tara mag strawberry picking!" aya ni Nathan. Para siyang bata. Cute.

"Sige.", sabi ko at nginitian siya. Kinurot niya yung ilong ko. "Why?" 

"Ang cute mo, alisin mo nga 'yung salamin mo.", sabi niya. Naririnig ko nanaman ang mga bulungan sa paligid. For sure by now, marami nang kung anu-anong kwentong kumakalat tungkol sa akin at marami na silang paninira sa akin. Pero, meh, nakakapagod na din silang pakinggan. 

"Ice cream muna tayo.", aya ko. Nag-presenta siyang bumili at ako naman mauuna na para pumila para sa strawberry picking. Five minutes na ang nakakalipas , hindi pa rin siya bumabalik. Hinanap ko siya at nakita ko si Nathan na nakatayo lang sa isang tabi parang may tinititigan. Umalis ako sa pila at lumapit ako sakanya.

"Huy, anong proble-", natigilan ako nang nakita ko 'yung mukha niya. Para siyang nakakita ng multo pero imbes na takot, may halong lungkot sa mata niya.

"Natasha?", mahina niyang sabi. Natasha? As in ex-girlfriend Natasha? Sinundan ko kung saan siya nakatingin at may nakita akong babaeng naka jumper na may hawak na strawberry ice cream. Parehong tumutulo na sa mga kamay nila 'yung ice cream pero wala silang paki-alam. 

"Nathan?", sabi ng babae. Biglang lumapit 'yung babaeng naka jumper, binitawan ang hawak na ice cream at niyakap si Nathan sa harap ko. Uhm, excuse me. Parang hindi pa rin ako napapansin ni Nathan kahit na ilang ulit ko siyang tinatawag.

Nakatayo lang ako doon for 30 seconds hanggat sa napansin ako ni Natasha. "Hindi ka parin nagbabago Nathan, sinusundan ka pa rin ng mga fan girls mo." Excuse me, hindi ako fan girl, ako ang sinusundan sundan niyan!

Tinignan ako ni Nathan na parang humihingi ng tulong. Nakita kong namumula na 'yong mga mata niya. "Bitawan mo ako.", seryosong sabi Nathan. 

"Bakit? Ayaw mo ba 'to? Hindi mo ba ako na-miss?", sabi ni Natasha. Binitiwan ni Natasha si Nathan.

"Bakit ka pa bumalik? Kelan ka pa bumalik?", nawala ang ngiti sa mukha ni Natasha at tumingin siya sa sahig. 

"Para sa'yo." sabi ni Natasha. Para akong nanonood ng Drama at nararamdaman kong umaakyat 'yung dugo ko sa ulo ko.

"Para sa 'kin? Iniwan mo ako, niloko, aminin mo, ginamit mo lang ba talaga ako?!" tanong ni Nathan na ngayon ay umiiyak na. 

"Oo, ginamit kita pero hindi ibig sabihin noon hindi kita minahal! Kung hindi ko naipapakita sayo noon, ready na akong ipakita sayo ngayon!", sabi ni Natasha at sinubukang yakapin uli si Nathan. Natulala lang akong nanonood sa kanila. Konting hawak pa masisipa ko na 'yong Natasha. It's like I'm watching a telenovela, dito talaga sa harap ng mga tao?!

"Sorry, Natasha, it's too late. You had your chance. We don't live in the 50's anymore. You have many ways to contact me but you never did and you expect me to welcome you with open arms just because you came back?" sabi ni Nathan. Medyo nakahinga ako ng maluwag doon pero nararamdaman ko kung gaano kalaki ang impact ni Natasha kay Nathan.

"Bakit meron na bang iba?!" tanong ni Natasha sa kanyang mataray na boses. Wow, napaka entitled parang niloko ha. I'm here.

"Meron, si Zoey.", tinuro ako ni Nathan at hindi ready 'yung bangs ko sa revelation na 'yon. Tinginan niya ako from head to toe at tumawa.

"Huwag ka ngang magpatawa Nathan, don't use the poor girl or the first woman you see to make up stories. Baka teacher mo pa nga yan ha! Excuse me miss, I noticed kanina ka pa nandiyan at nakikinig sa amin, please. Can you get lost? Ang sakit mo sa mata!" sabi ni Natasha. "Ang sakit mo sa mata" wow, sakanya ba galing 'yang line na 'yan?  Aba. Hindi ako makapagsalita at mapakita ang pagkataray ko. 

And wait a minute! I already saw this girl, she was one of the extras sa mga shows and commercials ko dati pero hindi Natasha ang screen name niya. "Asha" ata 'yon. 

"Don't talk to her like that, she's my girlfriend!", sabi niya ng malakas at narinig ng iba kong kaklase. Oh no. Nagkukumpulan na sila sa malapit sa amin. 

"Really? Ganoon ka ba nasaktan nung iniwan kita ha Nathan? Nag-iba agad ang type mo? Naging maawain ka na? C'mon, spare her the heartbreak of falling for your schemes just to get over me.", hindi makapag salita si Nathan. "Ano? Tell me."

"She's better than you.", sabi ni Nathan. Tinginan ako ng masama ni Natasha. Lumapit sa akin si Nathan, hinawakan ang wrist ko at hinila paalis pero may naramdaman akong humila sa buhok ko. "Ano ba Natasha!"

"Zoey? That's your name?", nag smirk siya. "Don't get your hopes up, enjoy it while it lasts." I never pictured that this scene straight from a drama would ever happen to me. I can't be the helpless leading character. 

Inalis ko ang pagkakahawak ni Nathan sa wrist ko at lumapit kay Natasha.

 "Oh, I'm gonna enjoy it Natasha. Watch me.", sabi ko at nagsmirk ako. "I know I'm not that pretty, but he's right, I'm not like you.", ngumiti ako at hinawakan ko si Nathan sa kamay at iniwan si Natasha at ang mga taong nagkukumpulan.  

Habang paalis may bulungan, hindi ko alam kung ano 'yon pero alam kong parang nasa drama nanaman kami. Nang nakalayo na kami, inalis ko ang pagkakahawak sakanya. 

"Wow, you're so cool!" sabi niya. 

It's not cool. It's not great. I jumped into the very thing I was afraid of. Because of him?