"I Love You Nerd Part 1"

Chapter 15: From a distance

Ram's POV

Ongoing ang investigation sa nangyari at napangalanan lahat ng nasa scene noong ginawa nila 'yon kay Zoey. Kahit ayaw ni Zoey, kailangang malaman ng parents or guardian niya. Una kong tinawagan si Kuya Carlo. Ipinaliwanag ko sakanya kung ano ang nangyari. 

"How's Zoey?", tanong niya. "Is she okay?"

"She's better kuya but she's not yet talking.", huminga ng malalim si kuya. 

"B-byahe ako ngayong gabi, tell her I'll be there in the morning. Samahan mo muna siya sa bahay Ram please."

"Sige po kuya, ako na po ang bahala.", binaba ko ang phone at  tumingin kay Zoey.

"Ram, anong sabi ni kuya?", tanong niya.

"B-byahe siya mamayang gabi, nandito siya bukas.", sabi ko. Ngumiti siya. "Kamusta ka? Natatakot ako sayo hindi ka nagmamaktol o hindi mo binabantaan na gagantihan si Natasha. Its not like you.", ngumiti lang siya sa akin at huminga ng malalim. 

"Is this really the kind of life I have to live? I just want to live peacefully pero kahit saan ako pumunta laging may kontrabida.", sabi niya na nanginginig ang boses. "Ram, since I was a child, kids already bully me. I thought going abroad would fix that but it didn't. People looked down on me. And now? Do I deserve this?", sabi niya at umiiyak na. 

"Sige lang iiyak mo lang.", lumapit ako sakanya at inilapag ko ang ulo niya sa balikat ko, katulad ng dati naming ginagawa. One thing that I know about her is that she really likes to look strong but she's actually not. She likes to make people think that you can't mess with her but she's actually gullible. 

Ayaw niya nang niyayakap kapag umiiyak. "People envy me because I'm rich, famous and pretty that's why besides you I never had a real friend. They all thought that I'm like  gold they can't touch." 

"You're the most down to earth person I know Zoey.", sabi ko. 

"You know what, I can't face Nathan right now because I know that our relationship is not as deep as it seems to be.  Maybe I said yes to him just because of my ego. I think I made the wrong decision."

If the girl you like asked you this question, the normal answer would be to encourage her to break up, but I know that if I do that, I'm just doing it because it would benefit me. 

"Shh, just rest for now Zoey. You endured a lot today. I already handled the investigation and pinatawag na parents nung mga gumawa sa'yo nito, including si Natasha. Alam kong ayaw mong mag cause ng scene but this is not just about you. As a future owner of that school, I will not let that kind of actions be tolerated.", sabi ko at ngumiti nalang siya.

"Okay CEO.", sabi niya ng pabiro. "Ikaw na bahala, thank you."

"Ayan, bumalik na 'yung kilala kong Zoey.", binatukan niya ako at tumawa kami. Nag-ring ang cellphone ni Zoey, tumatawag 'yung mama niya. Mukhang binalita na ni kuya kay Tita. Ni-loud speaker ni Zoey ang phone.

"Sinong gumawa nito sayo? Ipapa expel ko silang lahat!", galit na sabi ni Tita. Napakamot nalang ng ulo si Zoey at hinampas ako. 

"Ma, okay na nireport na nila sa school. They're already taking care of the needed documents. Ipapatawag na din 'yung parents nila, let's trust the due process."

"No, anak, do you think I don't know what's happening there?", natinginan kaming dalawa dahil boses ni Tito 'yung nagsalita. "Zoey, quit that act."

"Dad-", sabi ni Zoey. "I'm okay."

"I'm going to interfere until hindi mo tinitigilan 'yang kalokohan mo. Do you think that would happen to you if they know who you are? We are not there to protect you but at least we could use our connections to do that for us.", sabi ni Tito. Ngayon ko lang narinig si Tito na ganoon kagalit. 

"Okay Dad. I'm sorry.", ilang segundong hindi sumagot si Tito. 

"Your brother is there tomorrow, I already talked to him and instructed him." 

"Ng tungkol saan?", tanong ni Zoey. 

"Your brother will explain it to you. Bye anak, we love you.", binaba ni Tito ang phone. 

"Sorry, I think it's my fault why this happened."

"You mean well Ram." Inalis niya 'yung mga fake na accessories sa mukha niya. Ang tagal ko nang hindi siya nakikita sa natural face niya. As expected, still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.  

Nag-order ako ng pagkain at nanood lang kami ng movie buong maghapon, doon na ako natulog sa kanila hanggat sa dumating si Kuya Carlo kinabukasan. 

"Thank you sa pagsama sa kanya ha.", pagpapasalamat niya habang naga-almusal kami. 

"No problem kuya.", sagot ko. Tahimik na kumakain si Zoey sa tabi ni Kuya nang inilapag ni Kuya Carlo 'yung kutsara ng padabog. 

"Hindi ka ba magsasalita?", seryoso niyang tanong. Sa tingin ko kailangan kong umalis muna, tatayo na sana ako. "Dito ka lang Ram, para ka na rin naming kapatid at kuya nitong si Zoey. You should witness this." 

"Opo.", sagot ko. 

"Quit this act." 

"Oo na kuya, sinabi na sa akin 'yan ni Dad. Hahanap lang ako ng tyempo."

"No, ako na ang pupunta sa school niyo."

"Kuya, please let me do this."

"Do you think you can do anything you want? Not anymore, you got hurt just because of your stupid decisions. And now, you're telling me, you're okay with all of these things and hahanap ka ng tyempo? No, Zoey."

"I thought you trust me.", sabi ni Zoey. Nakapa uncomfortable na nandito ako.

" I trusted you but now I realized I made a mistake. We are not always here to protect you but our name could!"

"I also need you to protect me.", sabi ni Zoey na umiiyak na. "It's so sad living in an empty house kuya. It's sad to come home and no one asks how my day went. I know the three of you need to work and I am trying to understand that but It's hard kuya."

Lumapit si kuya kay Zoey at niyakap. "I'll take you with me." Ha?

"Take me where?"

"Sa Baguio, there are a lot of good schools there. I will have to manage the hotel, plan namin ni Rhia na doon ikasal. She's from Baguio so she's also there now to manage a fashion show. Doon ka muna.", nabigla si Zoey at ako. 

"Kuya-"

"Think about it first.", hindi siya nakapagsalita at itinuloy ang pagkain. Aalis nanaman si Zoey?

"Thank you Ram for always being there as her friend. We totally appreciate it."

As a friend. Oo, nandito ako para suporatahan siya.... bilang kaibigan.