The Boss' Nerd

Him

He was caught off guard with that question! He just stare at Mother Superior for about a minute or two. Mother Superior is staring back at him, as if weighing his feelings.
Pakiramdam niya ibinato siya pabalik noong una niyang nakilala si Maine.

It was fine afternoon, during his rebel days na nakita niya ang dalaga. He was about to asked money from his dad and apparently his dad was not in the good mood that time! He scolded him for asking money from him. Maine knocked on the door and notify his father about his meeting with some important clients. His father called her and asked her about the minutes of the previous meetings with them. Maine stayed there for sometime to look for the files while his dad is giving him a sermon! He even compared him to Maine for being responsible at the age of 20! Nag-init ang ulo niya to the point na sinagot niya ang daddy niya!
"Dapat lang naman siyang naging responsible kasi sino naman ang sasamang gumimik sa NERD na yan? E di napahiya pa siya pati ang kasama niya! Might as well mag trabaho na lang siya di ba?" Richard said to his dad, even look at Maine with disgust!
He saw Maine glared at him for a few seconds before she turned her head down. Sinaway siya ng daddy niya!
"Shut it, Richard! Hindi siya kasali sa usapan at huwag mo siyang insultuhin!" Richard Sr shouted at him!
"Ikaw kaya ang nagsalita sa kanya, ikumpara ba ako sa kanya? E nerd siya!" He retorted back.

Maine then left right away after giving his dad the folder he needed. He didn't even flinched a bit when he heard the door closed with a bit of force. He was not given money by his dad that time and stormed off the office. He was about to go out of the building when he remembered that he left his phone on his dad's table. He came back for it but when he opened the door, he saw his dad hugging Maine, thus making him think that they have an affair. He know by heart that his dad can't do that and even Maine, but to spite his dad, he bullied both of them, but mostly it is Maine who received more of his bullying! He just can't accept it that he was being compared with a nerd, that time! He just can't!

"Pero Richard, sino ngayon sa inyo ang mas angat talaga?" Pang-asar ng isip niya...

He rethink again the question of Mother Superior before he answer.

"Mother, I was never a good person towards her, in fact, is a po akong bully sa kanya! I admit po na sobra ang pambubully ko sa kanya. I want to be honest po sa inyo! Insulto ko siya at pinaniwala ko ang sarili ko na isa siyang kerida ng daddy ko!" Sinabi niya ito na hiyang-hiyang tumingin Kay Mother Superior.
"At bakit mo nasabi yun, iho? Isang napakabigat na paratang iyon!" Medyo nagulat na sagot ng madre.
Ikinuwento ni Richard ang unang encounter nila ni Maine. Its was very detailed. Mother Superior then asked how long he had been bullying Maine? He admitted that inabot ito ng mahigit isang taon! He also said that she also retaliated by calling him names but he knows he deserved it.
"Richard, I want you to be honest with me, what happened to you?"
Richard was taken aback by that question.  He felt he is not ready yet to discuss something too personal to other people.  He just smiled.  Mother Superior felt his apprehension and eventually kept her silence.  Richard just stare at him and sip from his cup of coffee. 

The table remained quiet and no one speak after that.  Kalmado silang pareho na parang both understand that time is not right yet.  They were about to finish their coffee when the nuns came out of Maine's room.

Nakita ni Richard ang plangganitang ginamit sa paglinis ng sugat ni Maine at halos magkulay dugo na ito! Medyo namutla siya.

"Okay na siya, napuwersa lang ang mga sugat niya kaya nagdugo ng husto.  Naampat na namin ang pagdurugo pero sana makapahinga muna siya at least two days, para makatulong sa pagsasara ng sugat niya!" Sabi ng mga madreng nag-asikaso sa dalaga.
"Mabuti naman at malinis na ang sugat, sister! Hayaan ninyo muna siyang magpahinga, salamat! Ikaw, Richard, gusto mo bang dito ka na din matulog?" Mother Superior asked.
"May lulugaran pa po ba ako, Mother?" Richard asked.  He needed to be near her to make sure that no one followed them here! Baka mapahamak din ang mga tao dito.

"Meron naman, may bakante kaya lang electric fan lang ang gamit namin dito, iho! Wala kaming aircon dito!" Mother Superior said.
"Okay lang po, Mother!" Richard said.
"Sister Julia, pakisamahan siya sa katabing kuwarto ni Maine." Mother Superior said.
Nagulat si Richard pero hindi na nag react, mas malapit sa dalaga, mas mapoprotektahan niya ito.
He was guided to his room and was surprised when Mother Superior whispered to him.
"Please protect her.  Huwag mo hayaan na mapahamak siya sa kamay ng mga kalaban ninyo.  I don't know you, but I can feel that you are a good person! Alam kong may dahilan ka sa mga nagawa mo noon at darating ang tamang tao na tutulong sa iyo na pakawalan ang lahat ng nasa dibdib mo! Matulog ka na!"
Richard was touched and smiled at her, sincerity and thankfulness are written on his face.
"I am wishing for that one special person, Mother Superior! Believe me, I am waiting!" Richard said.
"You will eventually have that wish... Faith, Richard! Faith!" Mother Superior smiled back and turned her back at him to let him rest.  The nuns followed right away.

Richard entered his temporary room and the nuns was right.  The things here are minimal.  A bed, a fan and a little side table.  There is a small comfort room inside the room but no shower. Only a pail of water and a dipper.  There was a new toothbrush, a soap in sachet, a shampoo, a toothpaste in sachet, bath towel and a hand towel on the bed.  He was grateful for that.  He was even provided a short and a white sando.  Both were slighty used.  Maybe from donations but it smells divine.  Nalabhan ng maayos.  He then went into the bath to clean himself, kasi hindi na rin siya komportable sa damit niya.  Isa pa madami na ito talsik ng dugo. Na tapos siya makalipas ang damping minuto at lumabas na nakabihis na! Mahirap na baka may kumatok sa kuwarto niya at maeskandalo ang mga madre.
Humiga siya para makapahinga, napagod din siya pero hindi din siya makatulog.  Binalikan niya ang lahat ng nangyari today and up until now, na-aamaze pa din siya! In awe pa rin siya sa pag handle ni Maine ng team at sa sakripisyo ni Maine para mailigtas ang bata.  He was in deep thought when he heard na may nag bukas ng pinto ng kuwarto sa kabila.  Naging alerto lahat ang senses niya sa katawan kaya kinuha din niya ang baril niya.  He opened the door carefully and checked who opened the door.  He saw that Maine's room is opened and was surprised that Maine is not in the bed!  He heard the floorboard creaking as if someone is walking above it.  He followed suit and was surprised when he sees Maine drop herself in the garden.

"And what do you think you're doing, Maine?" Richard suddenly asked forgetting their position as of this moment.