The Boss' Nerd

Coming Out

Richard rested for about an hour after drinking the tea.  Maayos na ang pakiramdam niya.  He heard the buzzing of people outside at pinakiramdaman ang sarili kung kaya na niyang tumayo.  He looked at his watch and was not surprised when it read past eleven.  So hindi talaga nagtagal sa tambayan, after one disgusting incident, he really took off immediately and he was spared for a night out! Damn, until now, remembering the incident, he is still cringing! Pakiramdam niya ang dumi niya! Kaya tumayo na siya at nagpasyang lumabas ng silid.

Nakasalubong niya ang mga abalang madre at ang batang inutusan ni Maine kanina...

"Kuya, naku bakit po kayo lumabas? Dapat nagpapahinga ka lang po!" Sabi ng batang lalaki na kung hindi siya nagkakamali, ay limang taong gulang na.  Maputi at tisoy, malinis ang damit at mapintog ang mga pisngi.
"Okay lang ako, bata! Ummm, nasaan sila?" Tanong ni Richard sa bata.
"Tom ang pangalan ko hindi bata!" Biglang napasimangot ang batang lalaki, na ikinatawa niya.
"Pasensiya na pareng Tom.  Nasaan sila?" Richard said, trying to suppressed his laughter.
"Si Ate Maine andun po nakaupo sa upuan sa harap ni parekoy, kasama si Sam-sam at yung iba pa naming kaibigan! Si Beshie at Kuya Racer, tumutulong sa pag-aasikaso ng meryenda ng bisita, kasi late night na.  Kailangan ng kape!" Tom said.
"Ahhh, e ikaw Pareng Tom, anong ginagawa mo dito?" Richard asked.
"Ah, inutusan ako ni Ate Ganda na tingnan daw kita kung okay ka lang... Papunta na nga ako sa iyo e!" Sagot ni Tom na nagpangiti Kay Richard.
"Okay na ako, Pareng Tom! Halika, puntahan natin sila, tutulong na din ako!" Richard said waiting for Tom to turn around.
"Sigurado po ba kayo na ayos na kayo?" Tom said, asking for reassurance.  He can't help but smile to the child's concern.
"Oo, Pareng Tom... Ayos na ayos na ako! O, halika na?" Richard assured him.  Lumakad na pabalik si Tom sa pinanggalingan at sumunod na rin siya.

Upon reaching the exit, he surveyed the area.  He saw that there were nuns, mga kapitbahay siguro na mga nakaupo sa mga pew.  He also saw that Paolo and Nico were serving coffee and biscuits.  And when his eyes landed on Maine, which is currently standing now and leaning on a wall, with her tired face, he felt peace.  Its as if he felt that the world was right again.

He took time to check on her.  Her white polo, clinging to her body.  Her messy hair, her crossed arms, and her puffy eyes, that small smile on her lips while watching.  She looked beautiful,   hindi mali, ang ganda niya! Regardless of her tired aura and puffy eyes, she still manage to look beautiful.  And come to think of it, into yung nerd na inaasar ko dati! Who would have thought na sa likod ng makapal na salamin sa mata ay isang magandang babae! He started to walk towards her without taking his eyes off her, when she turn toward my direction with a frown on her face.  She came near me.

"Bakit ka lumabas ng kuwarto, Sir? You should be resting...!" Maine said, voice still hold coldness.  He slightly cringed with her tone.
"Okay na ako, Nerd! Nakapahinga na ako! Salamat...!" Richard said.
"Sure ka, Sir? Makakapasok ka ba bukas, Boss?" Asked Maine.
"Yes, why?" Richard asked.
"We have meeting with Mr. T, for some revisions.  If you can't make it, then at least let me know, Boss para I could have reasons for the president not being there.  I haven't called Mr. Faulkerson, Sr., so that means I will be carrying the banner for the company.  As we all know, they are currently one of the top contributors for the company...!" Maine explained.
"No, I will be coming over.  That's in the afternoon, right?" Richard asked, still not taking his eyes off her.
"Yes, Boss!" Maine said, poker face although inside she felt uncomfortable because of Richard's stare. 

"RJ, good to see you walking again! Akala ko bukas ka na mare-revive e! So, kumusta pakiramdam? Zombie?" Paolo greeted Richard, breaking the stare of Richard off from Maine.  Maine sighed, relieved.  Hindi niya maintindihan bakit nakatitig sa kanya si Richard.  Nagpaalam siya na pupunta muna sa makeshift kusina to check supplies, para na rin makawala sa nakakawindang na tingin ni Richard.

Nagulat naman si Richard ng biglang magpaalam si Maine pero hindi na siya tumutol.  He just stare at her back until nawala ito sa paningin niya.  Napabuntong-hininga siya na nagpangiti kay Paolo.

"What's with the smile?" Richard asked when he face Paolo.
"Ha? Ako?? Wala!!! Wala naman!!" Nakangiti pa rin pero umiiling. Richard just ignore Paolo.

"Ano, okay ka na ba talaga?" Paolo asked Richard again.
"Oo, ayos na ako! Ummm... Ahhh!" Umpisa ni Richard pero hindi alam paano magtatanong.
"May itatanong ka ba?" Paolo asked, enjoying his teasing game...
"Ummm, ano,  kasi...!" Richard stuttering.
"Uyyu, bago ito... I am seeing someone peeking out from you... Well, its been a while...!" Paolo said, now blatantly teasing him.
"Paolo, wag ka nga! Itatanong ko lang if I didn't create a scene here kanina!" Richard said, medyo mataas na ang boses...
"A, yun lang ba? Hindi naman, magaling sa cover up si Beshie, kaya rest assured, you didn't, OK?" Paolo said.
"Yah, sabagay! Magaling nga siya sa "cover-up"... Pati ako naloko niya e!" Medyo sarcastic na banat niya...
"Bakit ikaw ba?" Paolo retorted and he was speechless.
"Anyways, yun lang ba itatanong mo?"  Paolo said...
"Oo, yun lang!" Richard said, high pitched.  And Paolo turn his back and was about to leave, when he was stopped by Richard's question...

"Is she still single? Can I have her number?" Richard asked.

And when he turned around, he saw Richard's face turned beet red.  And he smile, RJ is coming out!