Another Nerdy Love Story(COMPLETED)

Chapter 50

Luke's POV

Nadatnan ko si Elle na umiinom ng beer. Kanina pa siya bad mood at nabastos niya si Yna. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararamdaman niya pero hindi 'yun tama. 

"Kailan ka pa natutong uminom?" tumingin siya sa akin at inirapan ako. "What was that?"

"What was what?"

"Your attitude a while ago? Bakit mo sinungitan si Yna?"

"Alam mo namang masungit ako noon pa diba?"

"Si Yna Ramirez yon."

"Kahit presidente pa ng Pilipinas ang iharap mo sa akin kung gusto kong mag sungit magsusungit ako.", sabi niya akin. Hindi ko siya maintindihan, may nagawa ba ako?! May nangyari ba?!

"Pinakilala ko siya sayo kasi gusto kong makilala mo siya at magkaroon ka ng connections sa media. Alam mo naman na may mga famous newscasters siyang kamag anak diba?", sabi ko. 

"I don't need connections."

"Elle, magg-graduate ka na at sa totoong buhay, kailangan mo ng connections." Hindi siya sumagot at tumuloy lang sa pag-inom. Huminga ako ng malalim at umupo sa tabi niya. 

"Anong problema?" Nakita kong namumula 'yung mata niya. Nilapag niya ang phone niya sa harap ko at tinignan ang mga news headlines, karamihan tungkol sa amin ni Yna.

"You're like that because of these? How many times do I have to tell you that there's nothing going on between me and her? She's just a friend."

"But that's not how she thinks of you.", sabi niya. 

"Elle, she only thinks of me as a colleague and a friend as well. Kung ano man yung nakikita mo sa internet,  that's not the truth. The truth is I am now in front of you and I am waiting for you. I know you hate these and I understand how you're feeling but please believe me and trust me.", sabi ko. 

Tumingin siya sa akin na may lungkot sa mata niya, namumuo na yung luha sa mata niya. 

"I'm sorry, I just feel like I do not belong in your world Luke."

"That's nonsense.", sabi ko. 

"You can say that because you're not in my place. Have you ever experienced being degraded because I am with you? Do you know that even in my own family, they will laugh at me on how ridiculous this sounds? And you don't have any idea how many people will and can trample me just because they want to have the slot of becoming your girlfriend."

"I understand your frustration."

"No, you don't. Don't think that you do because you don't. Kasi kung naiintindihan mo, hindi mo ako pipiliting makipag-kape kay Yna at hindi mo ako papagalitan kasi naging rude ako sakanya. Do you have any idea on what I feel? Yes, Luke, I like you, I like you very much it hurts. But liking does not necessarily mean that I will be happy if I'm going to take that slot."

"Is this about Yna?"

"No, it's about me. It's about how poorly confident I am that I could fit in your world. You're the privileged one, if you really want to know what it feels like, you have to look beyond what you know." Tumayo siya. "And Luke, Yna likes you."

"No-"

"Luke, listen. Yna likes you.", sabi niya sa akin sabay nang pagpatak ng luha niya. Bumalik siya sa kwarto niya at ako naman, nasa restaurant pa rin nakaupo. Nag-order na rin ako ng beer at umupo.  

"Hindi ka makatulog?", nagulat ako nang umupo sa harap ko si Tito Rico. 

"Hello po." Nag order din siya ng beer. "Hindi po eh, kayo po?"

"Gusto kitang makausap, tungkol kay Elle.", sabi niya. Wow, straight to the point. "Hindi ko man totoong anak si Elle, mahal ko yang batang yan. Alam kong alam mo kung anong nangyari sa amin at kung gaano niya ako kinamumuhian noon. Matagal bago kami umabot sa ganito pero hindi ko pa rin ako nakaka-abot sa puntong irerecognize niya ako bilang tatay niya.", sabi niya at uminom. 

"Opo."

"My point is Luke, Elle processes all of the things happening in her life at her own pace. It could be fast, it could be slow. Ours was slow but it was worth it for me. I saw you guys fighting awhile ago, kung ano man 'yon, alam kong hindi sinabi ni Elle lahat ng rason kung bakit siya nagkakaganyan. Yes, I already assumed na the fight started with her because that's how I know her too well."

"Ano pong gagawin ko Tito?"

"Do you have the slightest idea why she's upset?"

"She said she doesn't fit in." Tumahimik si Tito. 

"Do you fully realize who you are?"

"That doesn't matter tito, I like Elle because of her and my family love her, siya lang naman po ang takot."

"That's it, that's your problem. You failed to look beyond what she says the problem is. It's not the problem of fitting in, I know that she does not have to do that because whatever you let her face, I know she'll succeed. But you telling her that what she feels is not a problem means you're telling her that her feelings are invalid. Iho, ang realidad hindi lang tungkol sa kung mahal niyo ang isa't isa, it's much more complex than that. I know that she wants to be with you but she's afraid to be placed in the same spotlight as you have. You know Elle, and you know that scares her." 

"Salamat po Tito."

"I'll talk to her, but you have to look at the situation based on her viewpoint." Tumango ako. 

Inilabas ko ang cellphone at tinignan ang mga news articles. Kilig at encouragement mula sa mga netizens ang nasa comment section ng mga articles.

May isang photo sa comment section na pumukaw sa atensyon ko. Picture namin ni Elle na nakangiti at nakatitig sa isa't isa habang nakaupo, isa sa mga bisita sa birthday party ata ang kumuha. Ang caption, "Guys, sorry to disappoint you pero hindi si Yna ang lucky girl.", at sinamahan pa ng laugh emoticon.

Maraming nag-react sa comment na 'yon na may pangungutya.

"Totoo ba?!"
"Baka kamag-anak niya lang yan?"
"Luh, schoolmate ko yan ah. Fangirl lang siya."
"Huwag niyo nang idamay yung inosente sa issue, aminin nalang kasi nila Luke na sila na ni Yna! Haha!"
"Luh, pangit."

At madami pang comments tungkol sa picture na 'yon ang sumunod. Eto ba ang nabasa ni Elle? Dali-dali akong tumayo sa upuan ko at pumunta sa labas ng room niya. Kumatok ako pero walang sagot. Bukas pa ang ilaw niya.

"Alam kong gising ka pa, hindi ka nakakatulog na bukas ang ilaw." Hindi pa rin siya sumagot pero naririnig kong may ingay na nanggagaling sa loob. "Elle, let's talk."

Bumukas ang pinto at isang mugtong matang Elle ang bumungad sa akin. Ngumiti ako at niyakap siya.

"I love you.",sabi ko.