章節 16: The Nerdy Girl
"I'm Axcel Arthur Kim, the son of Arthur Kim and Emily Kim but I simply live as Jaden Samaniego now."
Daniel's POV
I didn't believe in world peace but I suddenly believed in the possibility of it when it's been three days since Jaden went back to school. He and Emerald's treatment of each other suddenly changed and we don't hear them argue with anything anymore when they participated in class.
Did they go on a retreat or religious class that I didn't know? I'm his friend but I feel like an outcast since that dinner with Uncle Arthur. Did uncle say something again? I didn't know he had a prejudice against people like Jaden. I guess I misread him as a kind person.
"Dude, I'm not stupid," I suddenly blurted out and he stopped eating but continued after a couple of minutes. He expected me to burst out after a couple of days of trying to ignore me.
I was waiting for him to tell me something about what happened when I left to answer a call from dad and came back seeing them in that way. Jaden looked so pissed off but I can't read anything on uncle's face and Jaden was not talking to me. He was shutting me off and he's becoming extra careful around me as if I did something wrong when I only did was defend him the entire time.
"I didn't say anything that you're stupid—" I tightly held the spoon in my hand, trying to control my annoyance and boiling anger.
"—but you're showing it to me. For fuck sake, tell me what happened. What did uncle say to you? You can tell me and I'll handle it—"
"What could you possibly do? What could you do to a multi-billionaire like him, Daniel? You're just a high school student, you don't stand a chance against him," Jaden said as if he knew my uncle.
"Just tell me what happened. Did he threaten you?" He scoffed like what I said was a simple joke that he grew tired of.
"Let's talk this afternoon after class." He said—no ordered me like he was someone I didn't know right now.
I furrowed my eyebrows, confused about his actions but didn't argue. He was talking with much authority and I couldn't find myself questioning him more. He completely shut me off and didn't wait for me to respond when he stood up after barely touching his food and went straight to class. I just stared at his retreating figure, wondering who really is Jaden. It was as if I feared him more now and this whole time he's just playing around as the mysterious scholar student.
For the entire afternoon, I was only looking at the board, half-listening to the teacher about our research. The teacher gave us some time to discuss with our research partners and I was still and didn't even face my partner who was only sitting beside me.
"Uhm, D-Daniel," she called my name that I barely hear because of her shy small voice. I looked at her and saw her already facing me with the laptop on her desk, ready to start the research. I only stared at her face making her look anywhere but me.
She's wearing eyeglasses and always ties her hair in a ponytail. She has one of those nerdy looks and I barely take notice of her even though we're seatmates and partners in this research. We haven't even talked about what we're going to do research for because if it is only me, I can do it all alone but I have to bear her.
It's not that I don't like her, she's just too shy for me, and plus she's a nerd. We're all nerds since we're all intellectually capable of anything in here and besides, this is the Class A, but at least we're not emphasizing it or shouting to the world that we're nerds unlike her.
"Please s-stop staring." I sighed and smiled at her. She looked away and played with her fingers, waiting for me to say something.
"I'm waiting," I said and gave her my usual trained smile and she looked at me, confused about what I'm saying. I sighed and faced her making her move slightly away from me.
Well, that's new. Mostly all of the girls in here cling to me and flirtatiously smile back to me but she didn't and even backed away.
"Wh-What?"
"I'm waiting for you," I said slightly leaning towards her to look at her eyes and waiting for her to say something. She widened her eyes and nervously bit her lower lip then looked away from me.
Did I scare her? Was there a bad rumor about me that she heard of?
I'm just waiting for her ideas or suggestions about our research. She's in the top 5 of the student ranking and I believe her name's Olivia. She shifted uncomfortably on her seat and just stared at her laptop. She didn't even look at me, not even once.
"You can't j-just casually say it like t-that—"
"Casually say what?" I asked and leaned back on my seat making her relax and sighed.
Did I really scare her? Maybe because I haven't really paid enough attention to her since we're seatmates and I just barely talked to her that's why she thought I'm mean towards her.
"I'm waiting for your ideas for our research." She blinked multiple times and just stared at me and suddenly laughed awkwardly while slightly slapping the table, turning others' attention.
"You mean—you thought about it in a wrong—" I was suddenly stopped by her hands covering my mouth and when she realized what she was doing, she immediately removed her hands like being burnt by fire and turned her gaze away from me.
"I'm s-sorry. I know I'm an awkward person b-but I don't romanticize something like that about y-you—" she stopped and her cheeks are turning crimson red and she lowered her already lowered head and placed her hands on her knees.
I wasn't intentionally flirting with her like I do to other girls but did I just got dumped by her? Maybe I scared her because she thought I always flirt with girls—occasionally—so she misinterpreted what I've said and directly dumped me?
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry." She slowly lifted her head then looked at me and I gave her an understanding smile and gestured for her to give me her ideas for the research. She gave me the list and I just picked one and we both agreed on it.
"Let's just compile other previous research about it for now and tomorrow we'll discuss it again. " She nodded and smiled at me. Well, she looks cute when she smiles but her hairstyle and big eyeglasses still cover her true beauty.
Finally, the class was over and it was already dismissal time. Jaden and I waited for the classroom to be empty and made sure it was just us two. When no one was around, I faced him with a slightly irritated face and waited for him to say something. He sighed and I know he knows that I want the truth about what happened.
"What do you know about that uncle of yours?" He asked in a cold tone but I could detect a hint of bitterness in the way he said, uncle. I knotted my forehead about how this conversation is going but still answered.
"That he's rich and doesn't have a wife and son?"
"Why doesn't he have a son?" I didn't ask about his son because I might offend him or annoy him if I ask too many questions about it and it's his personal life. All I know is that his son is long gone and it makes him feel down whenever he remembers him but how does this have any connection to him?
Is he implying he's related to Chairman Kim? But that's absurd and preposterous. It's not possible since Jaden is not carrying Chairman Kim's name and I've seen Jaden's face even once in the news as someone related to Chairman Kim. I saw how Chairman Kim's face when he talked about his son and he never showed any possible hint of him caring for Jaden. On the contrary, he was prejudiced and hateful against Jaden, mocking him all the way.
"Because he said that his son was gone—" I stopped and looked at him. I crossed my arms at him with a knotted forehead and he was still stoned-face. "Why are you the one asking me questions and not the other way around?"
"I'm just making sure you're being sincere with me as a friend or not."
"Stop diverting the topic and tell me." I waited for him to say something but he just lowered his head, thinking. I sighed and stood up making him look at me with still those cold eyes. I put my hands inside my pockets and just shrugged my shoulders.
If Jaden kept beating around the bush, then I'll ask uncle.
"If you're not going to tell me, I'll just ask uncle—"
"He's not what you think he is," he directly said making me stop picking up my bag from my seat.
So he knew him? But how?
"I've seen the way he treated you and I can't disagree with that but you also gave him reasons to because of the way you talked back to him--"
"How can I still have an inch of respect to the man I used to call father when for 14 years he did nothing to be one? Not even a husband for his wife." I stood there wide-eyed, trying to decipher what he just said.
"How--You're his--son?!" I asked still not believing everything but stopped when I realized whose same cold eyes I am looking at right now. Whose same dark orbs with no hint of emotion. My mind was blown by this sudden revelation that I sat down again and looked at the tiled floor, replaying what happened from the time I met Uncle Arthur.
How could this be possible and true? But why would Uncle Arthur do this to Jaden? Why is Jaden here, pretending to be a scholar student when he has a dad that could buy the entire school if he wishes to?
"I'm just 14 when I ran away from him," he said and leaned towards his table, placing both elbows on it, and holding his head like he was showing me how hard it was for him to be in that situation. "He's not the man you though he is and he's doing all of these just to get me back. That dinner is just an example but you and your dad is the first step. He's making his move and he won't stop until he has me on his hands, being caged like a prisoner. He was never a father to me and he hid me from the world, ashamed of being known as a father of a child who he never considers as his because he thought my mother cheated."
"You changed your name?" He looked up at me and nodded. What exactly happened between them? Did his wife really die or he's lying just like how he lied about his son being dead when in fact he's alive and he's my friend. How did Jaden survive in that pit hell?
"I'm Axcel Arthur Kim, the son of Arthur Kim and Emily Kim but I simply live as Jaden Samaniego now." I sat back in my seat and deeply sighed. "I was never treated like a billionaire's son, Daniel. I never enjoyed the luxury of living one because every day, he never failed to remind me that I am his greatest mistake and he makes me feel I should have not been born. Would you consider that as a father?" I could see the resentment, the hate, and the bitterness in him when he recalled what happened to him.
I still could not believe everything and I just stared at Jaden. He is a Kim. Jaden belongs to the most powerful and influential family of Kims. If the elites are ranked according to money and power, Jaden would definitely be on top. His family is mostly known for their largest manufacturing company, the biggest producer of automobiles, and their growing telecommunications company. The Kims are widely known and I never understood how could Uncle Arthur hide Jaden all these years? I wonder what would Lucas say if he would know about this? The guy he's belittling and underestimating is none other than a billionaire's son.
"So...you're a multi-billionaire's son?" I asked, trying to absorb all of these.
"And you're the top 3, huh?" He mockingly asked—or more like stated saying how could I not understand it immediately if I'm in the 3rd spot making me the 3rd smart ass in this school. I playfully punched his elbow and he shakes his head laughing at me.
"What am I going to do now? I'm entangled in this father and son rivalry."
"He's using you to get me. Don't let him know that you already know that I'm his son. I trust you, Daniel." I nodded giving him reassurance for trusting me. "Just let him do whatever he wants you to do and tell me. I'll handle him. I've dealt with him my whole life and I know as long as I'm in this school, he can't do anything to me."
"How about I'll tell my dad to stop all his transactions to Uncle--"
"He still won't stop, Daniel. Once he's your dad's business partner, he can just easily take away everything from your dad if you stand in between his plans. I've seen him do it before and he's not merciful even if it's you. Even on his son, he's not forgiving if I make mistakes."
"He's that terrible? Why? Why would he do that to you? What kind of life did you have as his son?" He didn't say anything but I understand it now.
So this is the real Jaden Samaniego—no this person right now is Axcel Arthur Kim hiding under the image of a scholar senior high school student.
Olivia's POV
This is awkward. We've been here, sitting for just 10 minutes, but it feels like we're here for more than an hour already. The only conversation that we had was just 10 minutes ago and it was only greetings and slightly about the research then he was quiet again. I thought he likes to talk and be friendly but I guess he can't do that to a nerd like me.
I even made a bad impression on the first time he talked to me.
We're in a library doing our research and Daniel's sitting in front of me with a table between us. I would occasionally take a glance at him while trying to type something on my laptop and I kind of felt like he was bothered by something. He was only staring so deeply at his laptop screen, not even touching it, and just looks like he was just thinking but I bet it's not about our research.
"Daniel?" I tried to call for his attention but he's not even listening or caring about where he's at right now. I think he totally forgot about my existence and was so absorbed in just thinking. I'm used to it, people could just easily forget about me.
"Daniel?" I waved my hands in front of him and he blinked then looked at me. "You're pacing out," I said after he regained his thoughts and smiled at me. There is it again. Those smiles that I know that's so well practiced that you can't even think that it's not genuine.
"I'm sorry. I'm just thinking of something at the moment." I sighed and set my laptop aside which made him look at me with confusion.
"We can just do this next time," I started closing my laptop and smiled at him. "Besides, I have something else to do too." I'm great at lying. I don't have anything else to do than this.
"I'm sorry Via, I'm just preoccupied." My heart suddenly skipped a beat when he called me by my nickname. I could feel my cheeks getting warm—wait am I blushing?! Gosh! I'm just in front of Daniel and I shouldn't embarrass myself again!
"It's fine. You should rest a bit, you look tired."
"Thank you," he sighed and started packing up his things. "I'm sorry again, Via. When I feel more rested, I'll email you about our research," he lazily smiled at me and I nodded and waved goodbye at him.
And my moment with my ultimate crush was over. Yes, Daniel Astero is my long-time crush since high school started. I wasn't really in Class A since freshmen year but I studied hard and devoted myself to studying to be finally part of Class A and to be also close with Daniel. Unfortunately, whenever he's around, I always end up being so shy and stutter when talking to him and saying awkward things just like the first time we talked about our research.
"I'm s-sorry. I know I'm an awkward person b-but I don't romanticize something like that about y-you—"
How can I say something like that?! My intention was to only stop myself from embarrassment but I ended up sounding like I'm dumping him!
Why Daniel? It's not because he's the top 5 most richest and handsome guys in our school but it's because he's kind, smart, and a real gentleman. A complete package of a man you'd want but who am I kidding? No one would take an interest in someone like me. He also likes someone else...someone like Emerald Sandejas. She confident, beautiful, smart and comes from a more well-known elite family...Daniel's ideal type of girl.
Other girl students out there hate her because of the way she ignores other guys courting her but I wanted to be her friend because she's different. Maybe she's somewhat the same like me.
When you're a nerd and only a few people around you talk to you, you just observe more and by just observing people, you get to understand them little by little.
I sighed and stood up to return the books I'd been reading a while ago.
"Science area, Math area...where did I pick up this book again-ouch!" I almost lost balance because someone bumped into me and I was holding 4 thick books in my hands but thankfully someone caught me by the elbow.
"T-thank you and I'm so sorry!" I looked who it was that bumped and helped me but it was Jaden.
"J-Jaden."
I never really talked too much with Jaden even though he's just sitting at the back of Daniel. I feel intimidated by him and he often caught me watching my surroundings and observing things and I would immediately look away from him. Besides, he doesn't talk too much with other people. For the past two months, he's only talking to Daniel and always argues with Emerald. He never really gives attention to other people and only responds in monosyllables when it does not pique his interest. He's never shy about showing his boredom in class when the topic is not something he likes but he's always smarter than anyone else. It's like he was just playing around, pretending to blend in the crowd and acting like a student that he's trying to portray.
All I know is that I don't want to mess with Jaden.
Since Jaden came to this school, most of the girls here never stopped talking about him. They all like Jaden because of his good looks, and snobbish attitude which the girls find cool. The girls in here also consider him to be one of the top 5 most handsome and rich guys but no one really knows about his family name or where he came from. Others say he's a 'new money' and a lot of other rumors about him but all are positive because of his looks and because he also belongs to the Class A and the consistent top 1 until now. No one really dared to question Jaden about who he is because of his cold personality and his authoritative aura. They all just assumed that he came from a well-known family since he's friends with Daniel and Emerald also talks to him.
He looked at me and grabbed the two thick books I was holding when he noticed that I was having much difficulty lifting them.
"Are these for your research with Daniel?" He showed me the book about body language.
Crap!
It's really not part of our research but I just wanted to know more about body language to just know if someone likes to talk to you or not or if someone is interested to you or not...or if ever Daniel notices me or not. I closed my eyes and prayed for the ground to swallow me whole! Just play along Via, maybe you can outsmart the Top 1 student in your class...right?
"U-Uhm...y-yeah but I'm returning it now-" I tried to steal back the book and he let me have it.
"Relax Olivia, I'm just asking about your research with Daniel." He just shrugged his shoulders and walked past me, reading the books on the book shelves behind my back.
I could feel my cheeks getting warm again. Why do I feel like he's referring to other than my research with Daniel? It sounded like my research about Daniel. He's making me feel he knows that I have a little-no big admiration towards Daniel but if I wish him to pretend like he doesn't know anything, then he'll play dumb for my sake. I don't know much about him but he sure knows a lot about me.
I know I should probably walk away to prevent him from seeing through me but he's stirring up my emotions for his friend and he clearly knows about it. I forgot he observes more than I do and he's clearly been observing me more than I know. But why?
What do you want from me, Jaden?
"Yeah...that's-that's what I mean. D-did I mean other things than that?" I tried to face him and walked closer so that nobody could hear us talking and so that the librarian couldn't see us. He shrugged his shoulders again and he's looking for some books he could read.
"Nope, if you'd like it to have no other meaning--" He ran his fingers through the books and it bothers me that he's not being serious and I think he's finding this all fascinating because I can see it in his eyes. I have been observing people a lot and I pretty much know when I'm being played at.
I stopped his hands and he looked at me.
"What book are you looking for?" I said with a serious face so that I could help him look for it so we can talk properly.
"Something like...this." He then again grabbed the body language book and I'm really starting to get nervous and scared because it's a big confirmation that he knew I have a big crush on his friend who only happens to be my seatmate and partner in research. I can't imagine if Daniel knows about my feelings for him. I would be scared if he'll stay away from me or hate me.
I've worked all these years and I won't let Jaden ruin if for me,
"Now I know why Emerald gets mad at you." He then raised his eyebrows, surprised by what I just said. I know he'll be surprised. I'm known as a quiet, shy, and naive girl everybody thought and hearing these kinds of things from me would really surprise him.
I don't know Jaden that much since I couldn't observe him well because he's more observant than I am. He's like a hawk watching everybody else, including me and he set his eyes at me for some reason.
A top 5 couldn't really outsmart the top 1.
"I just need the book to cover me while I'm sleeping. It's thick, long, and good to block the librarian's peripheral view." I looked at him, confused and when I'm about to say something, he walked away and sat in the corner. I followed him not believing what he just said and sat in front of him.
"I know you're playing dumb for my sake but I don't care whether you know it or not," I straightforwardly said and he was setting up the book he just grabbed from me but I continued to talk. "You shouldn't intervene with-"
"What do I know, Olivia?" He's provoking me! He was still busy placing the book in a standing position but I couldn't care less! This is a matter of me and Daniel-well mostly me because I'm just the one who's crushing on him-but nevertheless when you know someone's secret, you should respect their privacy!
"That you--you know!" I angrily whispered and placed the book he was positioning aside so that he could fully talk to me and face me.
"If you're too loud, the librarian might find my hiding spot--"
"--that I have a crush on Daniel!" I whispered in an angry yet embarrassed tone. He smiled, leaned on his seat, and looked at me with curiosity. I could not read his reaction but it looks like I was some interesting species in front of him, testing me out if I burst out and I did just like the way he wanted me to be.
I was manipulated. This is bad! How could I just declare my undying love for his friend?! It's his friend Via! You just let yourself get caught in his trap!
"I-I assume you won't tell this to anyone." I stood up and tried to hide my already embarrassed face and was about to go when he spoke again.
"It wasn't that hard right?" I looked back at him but he was back arranging the books in the standing position and blocking his view on something.
Why is he doing that? Then I looked back at the librarian and realized that Jaden was in a good position to hide from the librarian if he wanted to sleep which he is...
I felt embarrassed, defeated, and ashamed. So this is how Jaden plays his cards well. He made me a fool of myself and I was just free-falling into his trap.
"It wasn't so hard to admit how you feel," he said again. It wasn't that hard because he's not Daniel.
He did purposely make me admit to let my emotions overrule me and vent out my suppressed feelings for his friend.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone, especially Daniel," he reassured me after seeing my tensed face.
"H-how could I guarantee t-that? You're friends with him." I couldn't stop myself from asking him. After all, I didn't even know I was getting trapped in his web and he could ruin me any minute he wishes but he's protecting me for some unknown reason. Why? I know he wants something in return.
"Then let me tell you a secret too," I looked back at him and the book he positioned before was now in a proper place to help him not get caught by the librarian. When I didn't say anything, he continued.
"I like you for Daniel." His words echoed in my mind and I could feel my cheeks burning.
"Y-You--w-what?"
"As Daniel's friend, I like you for him." I just stared at him, dumbfounded. I tried to compose myself and not let him get into me again.
"But is that even qualified as your secret?"
"Shouldn't you be asking why?" I was stunned again at how he diverted the question but hid it from him and just lowered my head again. When I didn't answer, he spoke again in a sleepy voice. "Don't degrade yourself Olivia. There's more to you than your physical looks. If you could just have a little more confidence, maybe Daniel would notice you."
"You don't know what it's like to love from a far. You don't know what it's like to be me."
It's easy for you to say. I bet you've never been rejected before or been degraded for how you look and who you are. Everything comes easy for you, Jaden. If you would wish to, every girl in here could give you what you want and everyone in here will bow down in respect in front of you because of who you are.
"You're maybe right but I know what it's like to regret not telling someone how you feel until you lose that chance and you only blame yourself for being a coward. It's more painful than being rejected." I looked at him when he said that. It was full of regret and sadness and I can't help but wonder if he was speaking from his experiences but Jaden has already fallen asleep. His head lowered on the table and he used his arms as a pillow and sleep so soundly.
Did he--no. I shook my head and slightly smiled at the sleeping Jaden.
He did fall in love too and regrets not telling her how he feels.
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