"I Love You Nerd Part 1"

Chapter 17: Break

Nathan's POV

"Bro, pasensya na, kasalanan ko 'to.", sabi ni Rick. Hindi ako nagsalita. Iniwan muna ako nila Rick at Reg.

Alam ko namang mangyayari din ito isang araw, pero hindi ganito ang nasa isip ko. Bago ang Christmas Party, tinext ako ni Natasha na magkita kami sa room 1-F para mag-usap, pagkatapon noon, lalayuan niya na ako.

Na-suspend ng 1 month si Natasha. Papunta na ako sa 1-F nang humingi ako ng tulong sa isa kong kaibigan na hanapin si Zoey at sabihin nasa 1-F ako, gusto ko ding makita niya na hindi ko na talaga gusto si Natasha. 

"Hello Nathan.", bati ni Nat. 

"Nat? Anong kailangan mo?", tanong ko.

"Ikaw."

"Tumigil ka na, hindi ko pa nakakalimutan 'yung ginawa mo kay Zoey! ", sabi ko. "Akala ko ba nandito ka para tapusin 'to?"

"Woah, relax babe.", sabi ni Nat. Babe ang tawagan namin noon.

"Cut it. Sabi mo may sasabihin kang importante? Ano 'yon?"

"Actually, nagbago na isip ko, ayoko palang lumayo baka kasi hanap hanapin mo ako eh.", sabi ni Nat at tumawa. Crazy.

"Bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon?! Mahal ko na si Zoey, huwag ka nang mangialam!" Aalis na sana ako nang sumigaw si Nat.

"Sige Nathan, don't you dare go out from that door or else gagawin ko uli yung ginawa ko kay Zoey!" Nabigla ako.

"Ganyan ka na ba kadesperada?!"

"Oo! Ganito ako kadesperada! Narealize ko na mahal kita!"

"You only love yourself Natasha. Huwag mo na kaming idamay ha?", aalis na sana ako nang umiyak si Nat. "Stop it, that's not going to work."

"I'm so alone. Wala na akong ibang pwedeng asahan, ikaw na lang Nathan. Kung ayaw mo na sa akin, pwede bang kahit friends nalang?", tanong niya pero hindi ako sumagot. Humarap siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi at niyakap. 

Nakatayo lang ako doon at hindi makagalaw. Kahit na ano pa man ang nangyari, si Natasha 'to eh. Kahit na anong gawin ko hindi ko siya basta basta maalis sa buhay ko. Hindi ko alam na nasa likod ko na pala si Zoey, mali ang nakita niya.

Umalis na daw agad si Zoey, sinubukan ko siyang tawagan at puntahan sa bahay nila pero wala siya doon. Anong gagawin ko?

Zoey's POV

"I'll come with you.", sabi ko kay Kuya. Naka-schedule naman na talaga ang Christmas Vacation ko sa Baguio, pero imbes na next week pa ako aalis. Sasama na ako kay kuya ngayong araw. Nagmadali akong nag-impake at bumyahe na kami. 

"What changed your mind?", tanong niya. Kinwento ko 'yung nangyari kay Nathan pero hindi siya nagsasalita. Puro malalim na hininga at iling ang sagot niya sa mga kwento ko. 

"Are you not mad that your little sister was betrayed?, tanong ko. Ngumit siya. "Masaya ka pa kuya?"

"Nope, I'm frustrated. I told you, he's still a boy.", hindi ako nakapagsalita. "I hope you really learned your lesson Zoey. It's not going to help if I further speak a sermon because I know by now you already remembered everything I told you." tumango ako. "Matulog ka muna, mahaba-haba pa, byahe natin.

It still hurts, but more than the pain, I felt disappointed in myself and I was also sorry for my brother. Tinignan ko ang phone ko at ang daming missed calls at message mula kila Dani at lalo na mula kay Nathan. Tinawagan ko si Dan para hindi siya mag-alala.

"Saan ka nga pala?", tanong ni Dani.

"Nandito ako sa Baguio, dito muna ako."

"Be si Nathan nangungulit sa amin, sasabihin ba namin kung nasaan ka?"

"'Wag na, sabihin mo nalang sakanya na hayaan muna ako. Ayoko siyang makausap. Kakausapin ko siya someday but not now, I need time to think."

"We understand. Sige, call us when you get there! Enjoy vacation be. We're here for you.", ibinaba ko na ang telepono at natulog. 

Ginising ako ni Kuya, tumigil kami sa may Lion's Head. Nagtaka ako, gusto bang magpa-picture ni kuya dito? "Bakit kuya?", tanong ko. 

"Baba ka." 

"Kuya, 'wag mo akong iwan dito."

"Baliw, may sasabihin ako." Bumaba ako at tinitigan ang Lion's Head. "Majestic right?"

"Yeah, it's okay."

"This was built around the 70s, it started without color then officials thought that color would make this huge boulder of rock more majestic. Then years passed, colors of the lion's head were changed many times already. They call it renovation, but as they change the color, it just became worse and worse." 

"But I think its still okay. It still serves it purpose, to be the landmark and the sign that you're already close to Baguio City. It became a tourist destination and helped the residents here earn some money."

"Yeah, but it changed drastically. Makikita mo sa itsure ng Lion's Head kung paano siya pinapahalagahan. For the creators of the Lion Head, this is a masterpiece, this is a work of art embedded in the history. But you can see in its colors that it's not well maintained. The structure is chipping over time."

"Why are we talking about this exactly kuya?", tanong ko. Huminga siya ng malalim at tumingin sa akin.

"You're like this Lion's Head. As time pass by you changed the way you look and treat other people outside, but you're still the same inside. You use these changes to trick people that you've changed but you are still that vulnerable child. You base your outside based on what's going to be convenient for other people, but how about you? How about your own convenience?", sabi niya habang nakatingin sa Lion's Head. 

"What if it's already inherent?"

"Then realizing if its inherent or not will be the first step. If you already figured it out you can already decide if you want to change. You can change your outside appearance but what really matters is what's inside. If you don't realize and deal with that as early as now, you will slowly chip away and be like this Lion's Head. Live with more confidence and peace, you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Embrace it and be thankful.", sabi ni kuya. Hindi ako nagsalita. Inakbayan niya ako at niyakap. "Sister, you're one of the most important people in my life. I don't want people hurting you but if you need that kind of pushing to realize things and to make you stronger, nandito lang ako para i-guide ka na maka get over. It's hard out there Zoey."

Bumalik na kami  sa sasakyan at itinuloy ang byahe. Inisip ko ang mga sinabi ni kuya. Yes, I am a person who trusts, loves and gets hurt easily. I should stop this and be myself.