The Boss' Nerd

Lonely Child

Maine was still sleeping when they reached the orphanage, and he don't have the heart to wake her up.  He decided to knock on the door and let Maine sleep at the car.  He just wished na may gising pa.  He was about to give up knocking when the door opened.
"Oh, iho! What are you doing here, gabi na!" Mother Superior asked him.
"Mother, si Maine po kasi...!" Richard said.
"Anong nangyari kay Maine, iho? Napahamak ba siya sa karera?" Mother Superior asked.
"Alam nyo po yun?" Richard asked, surprised.
"Walang inilihim sa amin ang batang yan, iho! Nasaan na ang batang yun?" Mother Superior asked.
"Ummm, nasa kotse po, teka lang po bubuhatin ko lang po, pagod na pagod po kaya nakatulog!" Richard said.
"O siya sige, hihintayin kita dito!" Mother Superior said.

Wala pang limang minuto, bumalik si Richard na karga ang tulog na tulog na si Maine.  Medyo maputla din ang dalaga.

"Iho, bakit may dugo sa tagiliran ni Maine?" Mother Superior asked and was alarmed with the blood.

Richard remembered that Maine took of her vest and was only wearing a white shirt.  She took off her gear before going baka daw kasi nagulat ang mga tao sa orphanage.  Apparently, he was not able to see that the blood seeped from her side kasi nakahiga ang dalaga and natakpan ng braso ang side na iyon! He felt alarmed and asked where he can put Maine down so they could check the wound.
"Doon sa assigned room niya, doon mo siya dalhin iho! Magpapadala ako madre na mag-aasikaso sa kanya.  Pagdating nila, hayaan mo sila, bumalik ka dito sa komedor.  Naiintindihan mo ba ako, iho?" Mother Superior warned.
"Opo, Mother!" Richard said as he was guided to the room and as instructed he laid down Mane in her bed gently.  The nuns tend her immediately and before he could turn his back, he heard their sharp gasp! He look at Maine and was appalled by the blood coming from her side.  Mukhang napwersa talaga ang dalaga.  He stteped out as respect to what he had promise to the Mother Superior, with a prayer to keep Maine safe.  He walked back towards the dining room and was greeted with a cup of coffee and Mother Superior having her.  He sat down the table upon Mother Superior's signal.  He then went to get the cup of coffee offered to him.  It calmed him down a bit.

"Okay ka na, iho?" Mother Superior asked him.
"Medyo po... Salamat po pala sa pagtanggap sa amin dito.  Pasensiya na rin po sa abala...!" Richard said with sincerity.
"Iho, hindi namin pwede talikuran ang sinumang humihingi ng tulong, lalo na kung si Maine pa ito..!" Mother Superior said before she sipped coffee again from her cup.  Richard kept his silence but he smiled at the nun.
"Maine has been the reason why this orphanage is still here.  We have 25 children here including Baste! Naghahanap na kami ng malilipatan ng bata when Maine came over.  It was Baste whom she first met.  She was crying that time!" Mother Superior started.
"Umiiyak po siya?" Richard said.  He was puzzled kasi kompleto ang pamilya niya and maayos naman ang buhay niya! Hmmm, malamang boyfriend...
"She was only 18 years old that time.  She was parked beside the road when Baste found her.  He asked why is she crying.  She just shrugged her shoulders and asked him nasaan ang magulang niya.  Nagulat siya ng sabihin ni Baste na nakatira siya sa ampunan.  She brought Baste back here and dun na niya nalaman na ipapasara na itong ampunan! And when she learned about it, she didn't hesitate to help us and fund our orphanage and up until now, she is still helping us!" Mother Superior said.
Walang nasabi si Richard ng marinig niya ang mga kuwento ni Mother Superior.  He was awed and he was also ashamed of how he treated her before. She endures every insults she got from people around her without a word.  Kalaban niya almost lahat sa opisina pero ito nakikipaglaban para nagligtas ng buhay! Ironic, di ba? She could had everyone in the palm of her arms with her being too beautiful and brave for herself, and yet she remained the quiet nerd in the office! She worked quietly and successfully, yun pala may pinaglalaanan siya! Buhay ng mga batang nawalan ng magulang ng maaga! Imagine how big her heart is! He really felt ashamed of himself na isa siya sa mga taong nanghusga sa kanya!

"She is a lonely child! Naniniwala kasi siya na hindi siya mahal ng mga magulang niya! She always felt alone! Good thing, she has Paolo and his brother, Nico, plus the children here!" Mother Superior said as she stared at the door of Maine's room.  He can see sympathy from the eyes of Mother Superior. 

"She still have both her parents, her siblings especially Nico, and friends perhaps where she could talk to?" Richard said.

"I wonder how will you feel if you are competing with all your sibling's achievement day by day?  How would you feel that despite being a protégée, graduating your college with a five-year cycle before you turned twenty, you will still feel that's its not enough? That your achievements are still lacking?" Mother Superior asked him.
"I know everyone thinks she is strong and indispensable, but believe me, she also have her weaknesses! And one of that is being bullied.  She has been protecting people from bullying.  She did not want to see people being bullied!" Mother Superior said.

Richard didn't say anything.  He just promise to himself that starting this very minute, he will be her guardian against bullies like him.  He will do this to atone from his sin and also to protect her from harm. 

Mother Superior then asked him..

"Ano ba ang kailangan mo kay Maine, iho?" She asked.