Guide To Date A Nerd

Chapter 6

Tears stung my eyes as I pushed through the library doors and ran to the nearest restroom, my mind racing with confusion and betrayal. I locked myself in a stall, my breathing ragged as I tried to process what I had just witnessed.

How could I have been so stupid? All those moments, all those sweet gestures-had they meant nothing to him? Was I just some passing interest while he pursued someone else?

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" I shouted in rage, my voice echoing through the empty restroom.

Why, why did he do that to me?!

I tried to collect myself, taking deep breaths to calm down. My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing with thoughts of betrayal and heartbreak. I needed to confront Jake, to hear his side of the story, even though I feared the worst.

I pulled out my phone, my hands trembling as I dialed his number. After a few rings, it went to voicemail. That jerk, he hung up on me!

Determined, I called again, trying my best not to cry. The phone rang and rang, and then he hung up on me again! Just as I was about to scream in frustration, a text notification popped up.

Jake: In class right now, what's up?

Seeing that text made me want to throw my phone against the wall. How could he be so casual after what I had seen? But somehow, I managed to calm myself before replying.

Me: Can we meet at Ralph's Central Park today evening at 5?

His reply came within seconds.

Jake: Okay, see you there then.

I stared at the screen, my emotions a chaotic swirl of anger, sadness, and confusion. I needed to hear his explanation, even if it hurt. I needed to know why he lied to me all this time.

I decided to skip the rest of my classes; there was no way I could focus with my mind consumed by thoughts of Jake and Kate.

Instead, I went to a nearby café, hoping a change of scenery might help me at least get some assignments done. I ordered a coffee and sat by the window, spreading out my books and notes, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't concentrate. Every time I looked at the page, my mind drifted back to the scene I had witnessed in the library, to Jake's betrayal.

After an hour of staring blankly at my assignments, I gave up and mindlessly scrolled through Instagram, hoping to distract myself. Pictures of happy couples, friends hanging out, and even memes that usually made me laugh all seemed to taunt me today. The ache in my chest wouldn't go away, no matter how much I tried to lose myself in the endless feed of photos and videos.

Time passed in a blur of scrolling and sips of lukewarm coffee. When I glanced at the clock, it was already 4:45. With a deep breath, I packed up my things and headed towards Ralph's Central Park. The walk felt longer than usual, every step heavy with the weight of what I was about to do.

The park was bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun, its usual peacefulness now seeming almost mocking. I found a quiet bench and sat down, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for Jake. Each passing minute felt like an eternity, my thoughts racing between anger, hurt, and a desperate need for answers.

Jake arrived right on time, walking towards me with a casual smile that made my stomach churn. How could he act so normal after everything?

"Hey, Lily," he greeted, sitting down next to me. "What's up?"

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my trembling voice. "I saw you with Kate in the library. You were all over each other."

His expression faltered, a flash of guilt crossing his face. "Lily, I can explain-"

"Explain what?" I interrupted, my voice shaking with emotion. "Explain how you could betray me like this? After everything we shared, Jake? How could you do this to me?"

He looked down, unable to meet my eyes. "It wasn't supposed to happen this way. Kate and I... we were together before you and I started hanging out. Since she's so popular and I'm just a geek nerd, we decided to keep it private. But a few days ago, she and that baseball captain Ken got together. I helped her with all her studies, did her assignments... I thought she loved me. I asked her about it, but she betrayed me. She said she chose Ken because he's popular and is a perfect match for her socially, but if I wanted, we could continue our thing in private. I was so hurt that I decided to make her feel what she lost."

"So you used me to make her jealous?" I said, my voice rising. "You made me believe I was special!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I could feel the rage boiling inside me. "Why? Why did you use me? You could have picked any girl! Why me?"

"I'm sorry," he said, finally looking at me. "I never meant to hurt you. I just... You were the only one who never had any boys' attention. You were the perfect target. You were so vulnerable that you accepted my proposal without thinking about it. And about other girls... who would accept a date with a geek nerd? Look at me... they would have laughed in my face. And my plan worked. Today, Kate and Ken had a big fight, and Kate accepted me as her dance partner for the spring ball!"

I stared at him in disbelief, feeling a mix of anger and heartbreak. "So that's it? You used me, manipulated me, just to get back at Kate? And now you're done with me because your plan worked?"

"All this time, I thought there was something special between us," I began, my voice trembling with emotion. "I thought you were different, that you actually liked me for who I am. But I was so wrong... so wrong!" My vision blurred with tears as I stared at him, my heart feeling like it was shattering into pieces.

Jake stood there, his face a mixture of guilt and regret, but I couldn't find any solace in his expression. "Lily, I-"

I cut him off, my voice gaining strength from my anger and pain. "Don't waste your breath on another lie. You've done enough damage."

With teary eyes, I stepped closer to him, the hurt and betrayal etched deeply in my bloodshot eyes. I started clapping slowly, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet park. "Well played, Jake. Well played."

He looked so ashamed, his head dropping to stare at his shoes. "Lily, I-"

"Just stop," I interrupted, my voice breaking. "You've already taken enough from me."

I turned and walked away, my steps heavy with the weight of my shattered trust. Each step felt like a struggle, as if the ground beneath me was trying to pull me down. I fought back the tears that threatened to spill over, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me completely break down. I had already embarrassed myself enough.

When I was far enough away, I allowed myself to cry, the sobs wracking my body. The betrayal stung deeper than any physical wound. I felt exposed, like my vulnerabilities had been laid bare for him to exploit. How could I have been so naïve?

How could I have let myself believe that someone genuinely liked me for who I am?