"I Love you Nerd PART 2" (COMPLETED)

Chapter 13: The girl

"I am so happy that all of you are here. Those who really knew me knows that I hate these kinds of large gatherings but how can I reject my grandfather's request. Usually, parties held by lolo are covered by the media but as you can see, I banned them.", sabi ni Maria Victoria sa speech niya na may kasamang mahinhing tawa. "I want this party to be a worry free party for all of you as well. Walang media na mang-iintriga na umiinom ng kalahating milyon wine si Tito Ramon, walang headline bukas na magsasabing nalasing ang Ms. Philippines natin. Again, please enjoy this party and thank you all for coming." Nagpalakpakan sila at natuloy na ang party. 

Umikot kami ni Maria Victoria sa mga tables. 

"Paige! Happy Birthday!", bati ng isang kaibigan niyang artista. Nagbeso-beso sila. Ah, Paige pala ang nickname niya. "Oh, who's this?"

"My boyfriend.", sabi ni Paige. Naubo ako at napatingin sakanya. 

"What? Boyfriend?" gulat na tanong ng kaibigan niya. 

"Why are you so surprised? Ikaw lang naman ang hindi naniniwala eh.", sabi ni Paige at tumawa. "His name is Nathan Reyes." 

"Nathan, nice to meet you. Take care of her for us huh? You're her first boyfriend." Huh? Sa ganda niyang yan first boyfriend? Hmm, maybe there's something wrong with her? Ngumiti lang ako at lumipat na kami sa kabailang table. Ganoon ulit ang takbo ng usapan, ako na naipakilala bilang boyfriend at sila na hindi makapaniwala. Mga bigtime na boss ang mga nandito sa industriya pero dalawa lang ang nakakilala sa akin at parehong dahil sa masamang nangyari sa kumpanya namin. Buti nalang, magaling maglihis ng usapan itong si Paige. Matapos ang isang oras, naikot niya na ang lahat ng mesa. 

"Come with me." Hinila niya ako papunta sa isang kwarto kung saan naka display ang dalawa pang gown. Naka-abang ang mga magaasikaso sakanya. 

"I should go out.",sabi ko. Lumabas ako ng kwarto at hinintay siya. Maya-maya pa, lumabas siya na naka-fitted na black cocktail dress at nakababa ang mahaba at kulot niyang buhok. Ang ganda niya. Napalunok ako nang nakita ko siyang nakangiti sa akin. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. Hindi na siya 'yung matabang bata na nasa yearbook nila. 

"Hey, are you okay?" 

"Yeah, nagugutom ka na ba?"

"Of course! Let's eat." Hinila niya ako papunta sa table niya. Kami lang ang nandoon. Nakahain na ang pagkain. "Yes!" Walang ka-arte arteng kinamay niya ang chicken drumstick na nasa plato niya. Sa unang tingin, iisipin mong mag-garden salad lang siya pero kinain niya lahat ng ma protina. Hindi niya ako kinausap hanggat sa maubos niya ang lahat. 

Naguguluhan ako sa personality niya. One moment she's sweet and sensitive and one moment she's this careless person. Maybe it's her voice, she has this sweet voice na parang hinehele ka kaya kahit anong siga ng mga salita niya eh para ka paring nilalambing. Nagulo ako sa pagiisip ko nang dumighay siya. 

"Opps, sorry.", sabi niya at nginitian ulit ako. And yes, that smile her innocent smile. "Alam mo, hindi mo pa ako kinakausap."

"I'm sorry, I honestly don't know how to start or how any of this would work."

"I understand, me too. Uhm, we can use this night to get along."

"Wait, how about your party?" Tumawa siya. 

"Seryoso ka ba sa tanong mo? Do you really think these people came here because of me? No. I have like 10 friends here, which by the way only cares about taking pictures and posting it on instagram. And the rest, they came here to build networks. By the end of our party, all of them have atleast 30 calling cards given to them.", sabi niya. 

"Oh, then should I join them?"

"No, I won't allow you. Marami ka pang opportunities to do that but for now stay with me." Tumango ako. "I know that you're not really 100% on board with this but as long as you try, I'm okay with it. Besides, hindi ako mahirap magustuhan Nathan." 

"You know me?", tumawa siya. 

"Of course, do you think sasama ako sa'yo ngayon kung hindi ako nakapag background check sayo? Well, sa totoo lang, nalaman ko lang 'yung scheme ni lolo a week ago."

"And you agreed with it?"

"Yeah, ikakasal lang naman tayo diba? Kung hindi natin magustuhan 'yung isa't isa, we can just be friends while married." 

"Don't you have anyone you like?", huminga siya ng malalim at tumingin sa akin at ngumiti. "Dont you want to be married to someone you love?" tumawa siya. 

"I don't believe that you need to love the person you're going to marry. Nasa pelikula lang 'yan. And come on, sa level natin, it's not necessary. Swerte ka nalang kung mahal mo tapos okay ang lahat ng circumstances at tatagal sa huli. My parents married for love but got divorced years later. My mom, left my Dad for another man. My Dad left me and everything for another woman. And here I am with my Lolo who wants me to get married." 

"Why?"

"I don't know, he said he kept on dreaming na mamamatay na siya at ayaw niya akong maiwan mag-isa. I don't have interest in taking over his company, what I want is to do what I want to do."

"And what is that?" 

"Secret. Sasabihin ko sayo kapag close na tayo. You? What's your story?"

"What do you know?"

"Well, you're basically here because Lolo saved your company and you're handsome.", sabi niya. 

"You're straightforward. You look sweet but you're bold."

"The duality of main right? So ano na?"

"First, I believe that we should marry because we love the person we're going to marry."

"They why are you here?"

"Because second, I am not firm with my beliefs." Hindi sumagot si Paige pero hinawakan niya ako sa braso. 

"Hmm, how about this? Just between the two of us, let's take it slow. Let's go through all the getting to know stuff because I think we will get along. If not lovers, we can be good friends.",sabi niya. 

"Deal." Nagkamayan kami at nagkwentuhan pa sa kanya-kanya naming buhay.