"I Love you Nerd PART 2" (COMPLETED)

Chapter 8: Problems

Zoey's POV

"Babe, let's talk.",text sa akin ni Nathan. Hindi ko siya pinansin at patuloy kong nilipat ang channel ng TV. Maya-maya pa, tumawag siya. Dahil hindi ko siya matiis, sinagot ko na.

"Babe, I'm here outside." Tumayo ako bigla at sumilip sa bintana. Nandoon nga siya, nakasandal sa sasakyan niya. Alas syete na ng gabi. Paano ko ba matitiis yung mukhang yon?!

Nagmadali akong bumaba at binuksan ang gate. Tumakbo ako papunta sakanya at niyakap siya.

"Sorry.",sabi ko pero hindi siya sumagot. "Bakit hindi mo ako niyayakap?" Pinalibot niya ang braso niya sa akin at niyakap ng mahigpitm

"I'm sorry too.",sabi niya. Pinapasok ko siya sa bahay.

"Why are you here this late?" ,tanong ko.

"Ayokong nag-aaway tayo, ayokong lumipas pa tong araw na 'to na hindi tayo nagbabati."

"Aw, you're so sweet. Babe, you'll get past through this. I'm here for you.",sabi ko. Lumapit ulit ako sakanya at niyakap siya. Ramdam ko ang panghihina ng diwa niya, pati yung pagod sa mata niya. Kung papayag lang siyang bilhin namin ang company, matatapos din ang problema niya. Networks palang ni Dad and Mom could make the issue vanish. Pero mukhang hindi niya gusto 'yong suggestion ko.

"Shit.", mahina niyang sabi pagkatapos niyang tumingin sa phone niya. Pumikit siya at tumingala sa ceiling.

"Why? What happened?" Pinakita niya ang phone niya sa akin at may news article tungkol sa company nila, na palugi na raw ito dahil nauubusan na sila ng clients. Gumigilid ang luha ni Nathan. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gagawin ko para matulungan sila.

Umupo lang ako sa tabi niya at hinawakan lang ang kamay niya habang sinusubukan niyang kumalma.

"Am I really a loser?",tanong niya.

"Of course not, Nathan this is not your fault. I know that your mom and everyone in your family knows that. Everyone knows that its because of that damn business partner who is now rotting in jail.", sabi ko.

"What am I going to do Zoey? Should I just sell them to you and then marry you?",sabi niya sa akin. It sounded sweet but he looked like he's mocking me.

"Nathan, it's okay. Companies sometimes close. It happens. We don't have to buy them if you don't want to,  we can just start again or hey, once I turned 28 I will be managing most of our properties. You can work with me. I need your expertise.",sabi ko sa pinaka enthusiastic way possible pero hindi siya ngumiti.

"So, should I just marry you and let all my problems fade away?"

"Are you proposing?"

"No. I'm just considering it.",sabi niya. Kikiligin ba dapat ako?! He said it in a somewhat sarcastic tone.

"Are you okay?" Huminga siya ng malalim at nagpaalam na para umuwi. Kung gaano siya ka sweet nung pagdating niya, ganoon siya ka cold nung pag-alis. Naiintindihan ko siya, alam kong mahirap to para sakanya. Nandito lang ako hanggang sa maging okay siya.

"Zoey, why didn't you tell us what happened to Nathan?", tawag ni Dad kinabukasan.

"What?"

"Malulugi na sila?" Hindi ako nagsalita. Nakarating na sakanila ang balita.

"Oh, that? Why do I need to tell you that?"

"We have to help him, tell him we could buy the company. Once people saw that there was a change in management and it's already under Mercado Group, it's going to solve the problem I know it will help them a lot."

"Dad, I'm your daughter, of course I already suggested him that."

"And?"

"He wants to fight for it." Tumawa si Dad sarcastically.

"Fight?! Is he insane?! I'm going to talk to him."

"Dad, kung ayaw niya, huwag na nating pilitin. The family already decided to close it down but Nathan decided to do everything he can."

"Except this?"

"Dad, kung ikaw din naman ang nasa sitwasyon ni Nathan, dugo't pawis niyo ang nagpalago sa Mercado Corp., hahayaan mo bang bilhin to ng kung sino?"

"Darling, first of all hindi tayo "kung sino" lang, second if I were him I will give it to other people for the sake of the employees and most importantly, he is the man you want to marry."

"And that's related how?"

"Zoey you know I'm very supportive of who you want to marry but I'm also a father who looks after his child. I want you to marry someone stable and who knows how to take care of you."

"Dad, malulugi lang sila Nathan, hindi siya magiging pabayang tao. He can always work for company. He can work with us, right?"

"Zoey, Nathan is a man."

"Dad, I don't understand why you're putting too much pressure on him. He's just starting his career. He'll be the same caring, responsible and smart Nathan. He doesn't need to be a rich CEO to be with me Dad."

"Zoey, you're still young. I'm just saying, you don't need to settle with him."

"Bye Dad.", binaba ko nag telepono. Naiinis ako kasi pera pa rin ang lahat ng to. Siguro nga ganito, kapag nasa mayaman at makapangyarihang pamilya ka, kailangan yon din ang mapapangasawa mo para magtuloy ang yaman at kapangyarihan niyo socially.

Sinusubukan kong tawagan si Nathan dahil sa hindi ako sigurado kung maayos ba kaming naghiwalay kanina, pero hindi siya sumasagot. Is there something wrong? May nagawa ba nanaman ako?

He's been so sensitive these days. Siguro nga his pride has been hurt because of this, but isn't it rational for him to just give it up and start anew. I mean, he's got great potential and all. Minsan lang kasi he's focused on his own mindest and goals na hindi na siya nakikinig sa iba. Hayy, it seems like I just have to support him. Maybe that's what he needs, kung ano man ang magiging result ng pagsubok niyang isalba yung kumpanya nila, kung ano man ang maging resulta. nandiyan ako para sakanya. I know that everyone is criticizing him for foolishly trying to save the company but I'm going to be the person who will stay by his side.

Nathan, I will support you all the way.