The Nerd Had Fallen

CHAPTER 2

"That's all for today, do you have any questions?" asked the teacher in the class where Portia belongs.

Everyone shook their head as a sign that they don't have any questions about their discussion. It is just the first day of school but the teachers already started their regular class wherein the teachers start discussing their lessons.

In Reinbert Academy, self-introduction only happens on freshmens' first day of school that's why this scenario is not shocking anymore for Portia.

"Okay. Kindly read your books in advance. Goodbye class." The teacher immediately fixed all her things and left the room.

Portia fixed her notebook too and put it in her bag. Unlike other students who prefer to capture the visual aids of the lessons that the teacher had prepared using the camera of their phones, Portia prefers writing down notes. For her, it is easier to familiarize the terms in that way.

After Portia fixed her things, she quickly took her bag with her on her way to the school's canteen to have her lunch. She is used to eating alone and studying alone. She also prefers to be alone so that no one bothers her whenever she thinks about various things.

The more acquaintances, the more toxicity. That's what she believes.

There were only a few students in the canteen when she got there. It was too early for lunch, maybe most of the students were still in their class. She immediately chose a seat in the corner of the canteen. She is ashamed to sit in the middle of the canteen where she could be the center of 'attraction', she is just avoiding a lot of students because if she displays herself she will just definitely receive mocks from her schoolmates.

She put her bag on the chair that she had chosen then went to the counter to order the food.

"Good afternoon, Nay!" she politely greeted Nanay Teresita, the woman who entertains the customers, her greetings made the woman's mood-lit up.

"Good afternoon too, what can I get for you, Portia?"

Nanay Teresita already knows her, for Nanay Teresita, Portia is the most polite student of Reinbert Academy, she greets the crews before ordering her food, she says thank you after getting her order and the most amazing thing about her is her disciplined attitude. She is thoughtful, she never leaves her messes on her table, she cleans her table before leaving which is the right action that every student in Reinbert Academy should do since the school canteen has a self-service policy. Sadly, only a few students were disciplined enough to do the simple acts.

"A piece of fried chicken and a cup of rice for my hungry tummy will do, Nay," Portia said while smiling.

"Okay." Nanay Teresita computed the total bill on the calculator, "How about drinks?"

"Oh. I brought water, thank you." Portia refused politely.

"Okay, one order of fried chicken and a cup of rice, that's thirty-five pesos, Portia."

Portia took two twenty peso bill from her wallet and gave it to the woman then waited for the change and her order.

After getting her order, she returned to her table and began to eat. It was a quiet lunch for her at first, but the whole canteen was slowly filled with students as time goes by and that's when the place started to become noisy.

The surroundings became even louder when the man she had been waiting to see, arrived. From the corner where she was sitting, she could see the canteen's door open and the approach of the confidently handsome King Luther Daniel who walks like the wind is following him.

Portia's lips parted as she stared at the man she had been dreaming of. His top-knotted hair fits him perfectly, he looks more charismatic than before. Even with the long distance between them, Portia could see King Luther's adam's apple moves up and down every time he swallows or speaks. He is surrounded by a lot of friends, probably his bandmates and basketball teammates, aside from the boys, King Luther is also surrounded by girls, beautiful girls to be specific.

Portia frowned immediately when she saw the hands of a beautiful woman clinging to King Luther's arms, she could not help but get jealous, that girl is probably his current girlfriend.

With his very good visuals, it is not shocking anymore that he also has fair shares of women, and there's Portia who gets jealous and gets broken whenever her ultimate crush gets another girlfriend.

It may be immature and selfish but Portia is worried whenever King Luther gets a new girlfriend thinking that it might be the girl that he will take seriously.

"Luther..." Everyone including Portia turned their head to the girl who loudly called King Luther. Portia's eyes widened when she realized that it was Deshna, the bashful Deshna.

How did she manage to call King Luther so loud? Portia asked in her mind, full of surprise. She is always shy, right? How come?

"Deshna!" King Luther smiled widely and went near to Deshna, which surprised Portia, this is the first time she saw that kind of act. What's more surprising is, King Luther's hands wrapped around Deshna's waist as he guides her to sit.

W-what was that? Portia couldn't believe what she just saw.

Everyone settled as nothing happened, Portia watch King Luther went to the counter, she is confused why the nerd and bashful Deshna is with him and looks like they have something.

Portia did not feel full with her food because she kept on watching the scene in the canteen like she was waiting for her questions to get answered, she could not believe that King Luther was very comfortable eating with Deshna, the two are even talking with smiles in their lips. The Deshna who almost has the same posture as she has is happily conversing with the famous heartthrob King Luther.

Did the world stop the spin?

She was accustomed to the daughter of actors and models that joins King Luther at the table, all of King Luther's girls were famous and rich, beautiful and sexy. That's why now, she can't believe that King Luther dined with Deshna who was also a center and target of the pranks of Reinbert Academy's students.

Portia finished eating but had no intention of leaving her seat, she only left when she saw King Luther and Deshna leave the canteen. She immediately followed the two secretly to confirm the truth between the two.

She found herself following the two towards the ABM Strand building, Deshna's strand. She was still not satisfied, she followed them until the two stopped walking when they reached Deshna's classroom. Portia hid on the wall and watched carefully what the two would do, she is more like stalking them.

Her eyes widened as she parted her lips as she saw King Luther kiss Deshna on the forehead! He kissed him! It was as if she had been nailed at where she is standing and could not believe the scene she just saw. Does this mean they have a relationship?

Portia felt her chest suddenly tightened as if it was pierced by small needles. She had difficulty breathing. She was hurt and worried, what if King Luther loved Deshna? What will happen to her heart? What will happen to her?

Even though she already accepted the fact that King Luther will never like her, she is still hurt by the thought that someone else could make him fall in love.

She has no right to be hurt nor to be jealous, but here she is, she is crying because of her broken heart.

She likes him a lot, enough to make her broken whenever he gets a new girl. She just cried silently, she's crying the pain out.

How painful could it be to feel that it is impossible for the man she likes the most to like her back and the fact that the man already has a special someone to like and love?

She fixed herself after crying. She needs to collect herself before she goes back to her classroom, she can't be late for her class, that's too disrespectful for the teachers she respects most. Even if she is hurt, she does not have time to entertain the pain, she cannot be affected by her emotions, she has to study hard, and being distracted by her emotions is never good for her.

She will just think about her feelings once she already gets the scholarship she wants to help her parents. That is the best thing to do instead of crying and mourning for her broken heart.

Yes, she likes King Luther a lot but she needs to set her priorities right, her top priority is her studies, to become a good doctor.

Why would she make a man her top priority, King Luther does not even know that she exists in Reinbert Academy. It's just a waste of time. She silently convinced herself as she sat in her seat as soon as she entered her classroom.

She listened to the teachers, gladly, she temporarily forgot the state of her heart as she listens to the teacher's discussion. They had a pre-test on her last subject for that day and as expected she topped it.

She has a sharp memory, she can even still recall the lessons she had learned during her elementary days. She is also best in reasoning, almost all teachers were amazed whenever she argues with her teachers to clarify things. Most of her teacher even tries to convince her to pursue law since she is best in memorization and debate but her dream is already fixed and that is to become a great doctor.

Surprisingly, she has the heart to become a doctor when in fact, none in her family is a doctor or someone who has a job connected with that profession.

"That's all for today, class. I hope you had a nice first day of school. See you all at our next meeting. Goodbye, class!"

The whole class stand up and said in chorus, "Goodbye and thank you, Mr. Romueldez."

The teacher smiled and wave his hand before living. Portia immediately fixed all her things and put them all inside her bag before she went out.

She felt like she is about to pee that's why she went to the nearest girl's comfort room. Good thing it is just in between the ABM strand building and STEM strand building, it is not that far.

She immediately does her thing inside the cubicle. She took her time because she knows that her parents are not yet there outside the school.

After doing her thing, she went to the lavatory to wash her hands at the same time check on herself. She is not fond of mirrors since she doesn't care about her face.

She saw her messy hair and her pimples. Her eyebrows were not in a good shape, her lips are so dry too so as her skin.

She sighed. "You're an ugly creature, Portia," she said to herself hopelessly.

She removed her eyeglasses while looking at herself in the mirror, her mind kept on recalling the scene she saw earlier. Then all of the scenes she had witnessed before about King Luther being with a girl.

It is a blessing to have a sharp memory, it is a great help especially in studying, but it is a curse at the same time, she has a sharp memory that she can remember anything she sees, hears, touches smells, and tastes.

She frowned at the thought and pouted. "It is not surprising that he can't like you nor notice you, Portia. Aside from you aren't rich, you also don't have any attractive parts in your body."

"Why do you like him anyway?" She starts questioning herself again. She kept on asking this question for more than two years but she can't get the exact answer.

"Is it because he is handsome? Is it because he is talented? Is it because you think he is nice? Liking him is a bad move, Portia---"

"Who?!"

Her eyes widened in shock and faced the stranger who interrupted her moment inside the mirror. She wanted to speak, she kept on trying but she was in total awe when she realized it was Deshna Rachel Mejares.

"Why are you acting like you just saw a ghost, Pors?" Deshna asked with her normally soft voice, she looks nice and she is timid.

"D-Deshna..." she stuttered, she did not expect her to be here. Portia is simply recalling her words, checking if she did ever mention a name.

"I saw you talking to yourself in the mirror," Deshna said while washing her hands."Are you alright?" She smiles brightly.

That is when she realized... Deshna may look weird like her, she dresses like her, her hair is as messy as hers but she cannot deny, Deshna smells good, she knew that her perfume is costly. She also has clear skin, her lips are pouty red and her teeth are white and well-arranged.

Now she knew why Deshna was with King Luther Daniel. Deshna is beautiful especially when you look at her intently. Her face's real beauty was just covered with large lenses of her eyeglasses and her bangs. She will look more beautiful once she will dress like the other students in Reinbert.

"Hey?"

"Oh!" She was pulled back to reality, "I-I'm sorry... I was just... I was just being imaginative," she smiled awkwardly.

"Babe?"

They both turned to see the person who owns the manly voice.

"Oh... I better go, Pors. Luther is waiting for me."

Deshna hurriedly went to King Luther who was waiting at the CR's door, Portia saw how King Luther's arms wrapped around Deshna's waist.

Portia was left there while looking at the emptiness replaying the scene in her mind and trying hard to register in her brain the endearment that King Luther used to call Deshna.

Babe...