The Nerd I Never Noticed

Chapter Twenty-Four

The Nerd at the Edge of Almost

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Mabilis na naglakad si Adela papunta sa direksyon ni Yohan, nakayuko, ayaw mapansin ng mga magulang na mugto ang mga mata niya. At the same time, kinakabahan din siya because of what she was about to do.

"Let's talk outside," mahina niyang sambit at naglakad agad palabas, not even giving Yohan time to reply.

Saglit na natigilan si Yohan sa narinig, both surprised and nervous. Pagkatayo niya mula sa sofa, nagkatinginan sila ni Harper, both clearly thinking the same thing: something was definitely up. Bukod pa ro'n, napansin din nilang mugto ang mga mata ni Adela.

Sumunod siya agad sa labas.

Pagkatabi na ni Yohan kay Adela, saglit silang nagkatinginan. Tumikhim si Yohan, trying to shake off the awkwardness, but it only made the moment feel even heavier.

Nabalot sila ng katahimikan, parehong hindi alam kung paano ito sisimulan. Adela kept overthinking: hindi alam kung paano magsisimula o kung dapat pa ba niyang ituloy ang gustong pag-usapan.

Si Yohan naman, gustong-gusto na ring magsalita, pero mas pinili niyang maghintay. Gusto niyang marinig muna kung anong sasabihin ni Adela.

"Uhm..." Adela muttered, still unsure how to begin. Hindi niya pa rin alam kung paano sisimulan, pero gusto na niyang magsalita. The silence was just too suffocating.

"It's okay, Del," Yohan said gently, causing Adela to look at him.

"Relax, take your time," he added with a reassuring smile.

Adela softly smiled and looked down. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kaunting konsensya dahil sa concern na ipinakita ni Yohan—thinking he was still worried about her, while she felt like she was about to push him away by ending their fake relationship.

"If it's that hard for you to let it out, I don't mind waiting..." Yohan said, prompting their eyes to meet once again. "...until you have the strength to."

For some reason, Yohan's words made Adela's chest tighten. Mabilis siyang lumihis ng tingin, but Yohan still caught the way her expression subtly shifted into a frown.

Huminga nang malalim si Adela. Despite the care Yohan showed, desidido pa rin siyang itigil na ang fake relationship nila. Buo na ang desisyon niya, at gusto niya itong panindigan. For Adela, now wasn't the time to turn soft. His solicitude wasn't enough reason for her to hesitate or back down.

This is for the best, she told herself.

"Let's... end our fake relationship, Yohan," Adela said in a quiet voice.

Bumilis lalo ang tibok ng puso ni Yohan sa narinig. He wasn't sure what she meant, which gave him mixed feelings. But out of all the possible interpretations that ran through his mind, he clung to the idea that maybe she wanted to end it because she was ready to start something real with him.

Tumingin si Adela kay Yohan, trying to read his expression. Tumingin din si Yohan sa kanya, as if waiting for a follow-up, for clarity.

Yumuko si Adela. "Pakiramdam ko, hindi na natin kailangan. Hindi na rin ako ginugulo ni Kevin, at tahimik na rin sa social media 'yung love team namin."

"'Yung… sa'tin na 'yung medyo maingay," she added, letting out a forced laugh.

Hindi alam ni Yohan kung bakit, pero nasaktan siya sa huling sinabi ni Adela. He took it as if Adela didn't like the idea of being paired with him, even just for show. Bigla siyang nanlamig, thinking that he was wrong to assume this conversation was leading toward something real between them.