"I Love you Nerd PART 2" (COMPLETED)

Chapter 12: Wait?

Gen's POV

Nagising ako sa isang notification sa email ko, galing kay Paige Antonio. Isa siyang invitation sa birthday party niya. Tinignan ko ang date pero may business trip ako sa Thailand doon sa date ng birthday niya. 

"Hi Paige, thanks for the invite! I'm afraid I can't make it, I have a business trip that week. I'm going to send something nalang. I hope to hang out with you soon!"- reply ko sa email niya. Maya-maya pa, sumagot din siya. 

"Aw, sayang ate. Yes! Let's schedule a date! Sayang, may ipapakilala sana ako eh."

"Is that a boyfriend?"

"Maybe.", sagot niya at pinadalhan ko nalang siya ng heart emoticon. I kept myself busy for the past few weeks. It's been more than a month since Nathan broke up with me. Thankfully, nakaka-ahon na ang business nila dahil sa isang malaking contract with Care Industries, ang pinakalamaking Construction Company sa Pilipinas. Nahihiya ako kay Nathan, siguro kung naghintay lang ako ng kaunti at naniwala sakanya na kaya niyang ayusin eh hindi 'to mangyayari sa amin. Sinusubukan ko namang mag reach out pero hindi niya ako sinasagot, siguro nga huli na talaga ang lahat. 

Unti-unti na ring nagbubukas ang ilang nagsarang branches nila. I'm so happy and proud of him. 

"Are you okay?", tanong sa akin ni Ram saka iniabot sa akin ang baso ng kape. Binisita ko siya sa office niya sa PLA. "Buti naman naisipan mong bisitahin ako.", sabi niya sa akin. 

"Siyempre, ikaw pa."

"Alam ko namang gusto mo lang alisin utak mo kay Nathan. It's almost 2 months already."

"Baka kailangan kong paabutin ng 3 months para mawala 'yung sakit. Akala ko may iba na siya kaya siya ganoon sa akin, pero siguro nga masyado kaming hindi nagtiwala sakanya. Normal lang na ganoon ang magiging reaksyon niya. Tinapakan namin pride niya eh."

"It was out of good intention and to be honest, he's just lucky na naka close sila ng deal with the Carenas. I've heard of Mr. Arnold Carenas and he is one meticulous guy. Nagbago bigla ang imahe nila Nathan nung na-close nila 'yung deal, napaka influential nila. Kung kayo ang hari ng tourism industry, si Mr. Carenas ang hari ni industrial industry." 

"Ganoon talaga kalaki no?"

"Yes, he hit the jackpot." Tumango na lamang ako. 

"What do you think should I do Ram? Will I wait for him?"

"Why? Do you think may hihintayin ka pa?"

"Hindi naman kasi kami naghiwalay dahil sa third party whatsoever. And maybe, if ako naman ang nanligaw, bumalik sa dati."

"Hey, Zoey Genesis Mercado, really? Do you like him so much?" Tumango ako. "Why?"

"I don't know. He accepted me." Inilapag ni Ram ang baso sa mesa. 

"Then what about me?" tinignan ko siya at tumawa. "Why? What's so funny?"

"I accepted you ever since, I loved you ever since but why was it never me?" Napaisip din ako. Bakit nga ba never ko siya na consider as someone na majo-jowa? 

"I actually don't know."

"Zoey, marami pang lalaki diyan. Huwag mong isara ang puso mo para kay Nathan lang. You'll just gonna end up hurting yourself. Don't wait till you see him with someone before you move on. You're the woman, you should be the one being chased. Don't do the chasing."

"That's a very sexist perspective.", sabi ko at pinitik niya ako ng mahina sa noo. 

"Whatever Zoey. Believe me." Lumabas ako ng office niya at naglakad lakad sa school habang hihintay siyang tapusin ang kontratang pinipirhaman niya. Marami nang nagbago sa school, pati mga uniform ng mga students pero parehas pa rin ang amoy ng school corridors. Umupo ako sa may school park. 

Maya-maya pa, tumabi sa akin si Ram. 

"You know that I never stopped loving you." Ngumiti ako at sumandal sa balikat niya habang umiiyak. I know that Ram still likes me but I cannot reciprocate that love. I appreciate him so much because he never expected something from me. He just stayed there. 

"How are you different from me? Bakit hindi ka pa sumusuko kahit ilang taon na? Why are you still waiting for me? "

"I'm not waiting for you. I'm just simply staying here. Let's just say, I still haven't met anyone who can replace you in my heart. If I met someone, maybe that's it. That's the difference between us, I gave up waiting for you years ago but you want to wait for him. Ni hindi nga siya nagpapahintay." 

"Maybe if I give him time." Hindi sumagot si Ram. 

"It's up to you Zoey." 

Pinunasan ko ang luha ko at umalis na kami ng school. Idinala niya ako sa restaurant kung saan kami parating kumakain noong High School. Still, this place reminds me of him. 

"Hey, you're Zoey Genesis Mercado. Men are literally waiting in line for you."

"But they think we're a thing.", sabi ko at tumawa. "Hindi naman ganoon si Dad. I don't understand why suddenly everything,even the one I love should be according to the standards set by people. Who cares if I marry an employee right? Do I have to marry someone rich too?" 

"Naiintindihan ko na kung bakit sa mga teleserye eh pinipilit nilang magkaroon ng interest ang mga anak nila sa family business sa murang edad palang. Your parents never bothered you when you were young and they let you do what you want. Kaya hirap kang intindihin ang feelings ng parents mo."

"Hey, I obeyed them and went to Korea, remember?", tumango si Ram. 

"Yes--- but you're still a brat." Binato ko siya ng na-crumple na tissue. "Am I wrong?"  Well, hindi naman siya mali doon. "But for some strange reason, you're not being yourself when it comes to him. Bigla kang naging, hmm, how will I say this, pabebe? Someone na hindi kayang protektahan sarili niya? Something like that?"

"Ugh, stop analyzing me, okay? That's my lambing to him. I know that I can be intimidating at times so I have to balance it." 

"Anyway, let's stop talking about him. My point is, I really think he changed. Hindi na siya 'yung Nathan na nakilala natin noon."

"Mahal ako nun, kung ma pride ako, ma pride din siya. He'll come back. You'll see." Hindi ko alam pero maski ako hindi na naniniwala sa mga sinasabi ko. He'll come back right?