The Boss' Nerd

A Nut Cracker

She was surprised to see Paolo here.  Noong nag-check sila ng perimeter, walang indikasyon na may nakasunod sa kanila.

"Bes, wag ka magtaka! Hindi ako nakasunod sa inyo, nauna ako dito! The minute na ipinasa mo kay Nico ang susi mo, dito na ako dinala ni Nico.  Alam namin na naghahanap ka bang solitude after what happened.  Isa pa, alam namin na hindi ka ba balik ng hospital dahil ayaw mo dun!" Paolo said.
"E bakit hindi sinabi ni Madre sa akin?" Maine said.
"Bes, tulog ka nang dumatung ka dito at ginamit ka nila kaya hindi na ako sumalubong sa inyo.  Isa pa napagod din ako kaya nakatulog din, doon ako sa kuwarto ng mga bata nakapuwesto, sa kama ni Baste!" Paolo explained.
"Ah, okay! And thanks for making sure I am safe... By the way, what do you mean by that remark earlier?" Maine asked Paolo, puzzled.
"Maine, si Richard ay isang malaking puzzle.  Kahit kami medyo nagulat sa pagbabago niya to worst.  And since you have become a little closer, malaki na ang ipinagbago niya.  In fact, medyo bumabalik na siya sa totoong Richard!" Paolo said.
"What do you mean?" Maine asked.
"Wala ako sa tamang posisyon para magsabi niyan, but let's see if Maine Mendoza can be a tough nut cracker to at least see some cracks on his shell.  I am hoping and praying that may he find the person he had been looking to take care of him and be with him for the rest of their lives.  Who will go down with him and rise up with him! The person who can love him despite his flaws!" Paolo said.
"Bes, alam mo hindi ako yun.  Isa din akong broken piece, baka instead na makatulong ako e maging pabigat ako sa kanya!" Maine said and he again stare at the sleeping form of Richard.

"Maybe, maybe not... But please kahit kaibiganin mo lang! Ang hirap kaya na magkaaway kayong dalawa, nasa gitna ako, bes! Hirap akong pumagitna sa inyo kapag magkaaway kayo!" Paolo complained, that Maine answered with a smirk.
"Bes, please kahit para sa akin na lang kasi napapagod na ako sa bangayan ninyo e! Naistress bang masyado ang beauty ko!" Paolo pleads...
"You know me, I can befriend even my worst enemy at the academy... I can be civil, but if pinaringgan niya ako, maghahalo na talaga ang balat sa tinalupan!" Maine said.
"Okay... But please be civil to him, wag masyadong stiff kasi halatado sa ugali mo, when you don't like the person e!" Paolo said.
"Let off some of your guard.  Be nice...!" Paolo said.
"I am nice, he isn't!" Maine protested.
"You are but not to him! Kung tratuhin mo siya minsan para siyang isang estatuwa.  Kakausapin lang pag may kailangan!" Paolo said.
"Siya nga kakausapin ako pag mang-aasar lang, so sino ang hindi nice?" Maine retorted.
"Yun nga ang ipinagtataka ko e, dati kahit anong away sa iyo ng ibang tao, tatahimik ka lang or walk out ang peg, pero pag siya sumasagot ka bes! Para bang apektadong apektado ka sa pang-iinis niya!" Paolo said.
"E talaga namang nakakainis yang tukmol na yan e! Minsan nga kulang na lang barilin ko yan!" Maine said, irritable na.
"Bes, you have been tagged as slut, a bitch and a moron ng mga tsismosong palaka pero hindi ka nag-react! You just smirked and walked away! Pero pag si Richard na sagot agad as if gusto mo itama ang wrong notion niya!" Paolo said.
Nagulat si Maine upon hearing his friend's comment.
"Talaga ba? Sobrang defensive ba siya to the point na gusto niya ipaliwanag ang sitwasyon niya kahit inis na inis siya? Why? Why did she want him to be believe na hindi siya katulad ng mga sinasabi nito noon? Bakit big deal sa kanya ang image niya kay Richard???" Maine think and stared back at Richard. 

"OMG, don't tell me you have a crush on him, Nicomaine?" She said to herself.  As the realization hits her, she was appalled by it... She should not fall for him, tukmol ito! Walang gagawing mabuti sa iyo ang tukmol na ito!
She remembered his face during his off guard moment especially nung mga panahon na para itong lost, nakita niya na napaka vulnerable nito.  She also saw sadness in his eyes and she remembered him saying na naiwan na din ito sa ere!
She is contemplating that maybe because she saw his vulnerable moments kaya fascinated siya sa binata.  Imagine, naiwan na pala ito sa ere! Bakit kaya? As she weigh all reasons swarming on her head, she just accepted the fact na kailangan niya rin itong pakisamahan para magawan ng paraan ang "engagement" nila.

Paolo saw she got her resolved by looking at her face.  Ganyan ka-transparent si Maine.  You know if galit, malungkot or may problema siya! You can read it on her eyes easily.  He just hope na magkasundo ang dalawa, coz if he will be asked, he found the two cute together.  Its as if there is a spark between them na even siya kinikilig e! He even saw their team mates feel giddy kapag nag-aaway ang dalawa e! Maybe the way they stare at each other during their banter, na parang they want to hug each other pero pigil, during those makapigil hiningang eksena kung saan parang ayaw iwanan ng tingin ng isa ang isa... Yung palihim na tingin ni Richard pag hindi nakatingin si Maine sa kanya na parang gusto niyang yakapin ang dalaga! Yung tingin ni Maine na parang fascinated siya kay Richard pag "nagpapabebe" si Richard.  Katulad ngayon, the way Maine stare at Richard, napakagentle as if she is checking if he is really okay. Yung tipong nagbabantay ng palihim sa bawat galaw ng binata! Paolo however broke her trance.

"Bes, you need to rest kasi baka mapuwersa lalo ang sugat mo!" Paolo said and guide her to her room.  Sumunod na lang si Maine sa kaibigan, she really need time to think about all the things happening to her right now!