The Nerd I Never Noticed

Chapter Twenty-Two

The Nerd, the Lie, and Everything In Between

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Throughout lunch, hindi na nawala ang bigat na nararamdaman ni Adela. And right after they finished their meal, they took a picture together before eventually parting ways.

When both Yohan and Adela got home, that heavy feeling grew even heavier.

For Yohan, right after that lunch, he couldn't help but feel that he and Adela came from two completely different worlds. It felt like they didn't match. Now... Yohan was starting to question their compatibility, even though he seemed to get along well with Adela's parents.

But who am I kidding? We're just fake dating anyway, Yohan thought as he stared at the ceiling.

Yohan believed that Adela belonged to a classy and serene world, so different from his own loud and chaotic one, or so he thought.

Adela, on the other hand, was also staring at the ceiling, lying on her bed, feeling deeply disappointed in herself. She had always been proud whenever she achieved something in life; in fact, she had gotten used to it that it rarely surprised her anymore. However, as time went on, and especially now that she had taken the STEM strand, she was slowly realizing that she wasn't really enjoying this field at all, and it frustrated her to admit this truth.

Just why? Why don't I like it? Kaya ko naman, pero bakit hindi ako masaya? she wondered, frustration bubbling up inside her.

At ang mas nakaka-disappoint pa para sa kanya, bukod sa hindi niya talaga gustong maging doctor katulad ng mga magulang niya, hindi rin niya alam kung ano talaga ang gusto niya sa buhay. Nakakahiya na hindi niya pangarap ang career na inaasahan ng mga tao para sa kanya—especially herself.

Sure, she excels in most of her subjects, and one can say na bagay siya o kaya niyang mag-stand out sa kahit anong field na related sa academic at business track, at hindi lang sa pagdo-doctor, but Adela wants to lead a life born out of passion.

If only people would know me the way I know myself, if only people would see me the way I see myself, they'd be very disappointed too, she thought.

Pakiramdam ni Adela, she doesn't really deserve to be admired. Para sa kanya, ang sakit na maraming humahanga sa kanya, or perhaps, humahanga sa ideal "image" or "concept" na binuo nila tungkol sa kanya, kahit malayo naman talaga siya ro'n. Even Adela doesn't admire herself anymore.

Pero gano'n talaga, madaling humanga sa isang taong hindi mo pa lubusang kilala.

Ngayon niya lang na-realize that she always presents herself as someone "put-together" on the outside, when underneath all that facade, she's actually struggling with the pressure of expectations, especially her own.

Sakto namang nag-vibrate ang phone ni Adela sa side desk niya, distracting her from the flood of overwhelming thoughts.

Kinuha naman niya 'yon at nakita niyang may message si Yohan sa kanya. Agad niya 'yong binasa.

Yohan: hi
Yohan: thanks nga pala sa libreng lunch 🤣

Bahagyang napangiti si Adela sa nabasa, at nag-type siya para mag-reply.

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Yohan Liuwen
Active Now

4:17 PM

Adela
welcome 🤣😊
yun na lang kapalit ng picnic na gusto mo ha?
hindi na natuloy e, ngayon dapat yun 🤣