Wrath of the Nerd

Arietta Vielle's Point Of View IT WAS impossible to stop a smile from forming when my eyes landed on him. He was sitting on the sofa with a serious attitude while his eyes were busy observing the things around him. When he sees me, his eyes light up with joy. "Are you ready?" he asked with a nervous tone. Pinangliitan ko naman siya ng mata at tumawa. "What's with the laugh, Arietta?" "Kuya Reed, relax, okay? Hindi ikaw ang haharap sa mga tao and don't worry because I was born ready," I assured him. His eyes landed on the director when they called me. "Arietta," he called before I could take steps to follow the director. "Good luck!" Nginitian ko naman siya at niyakap bago ako sumunod sa loob ng studio. Narinig ko ang mga sigawan ng ilang mga audience nang makita ako. I wave my hand and show my pretty smile. Tinuro naman sa akin ng isang staff kung saan ako uupo at nandoon na rin 'yong mag-i-interview sa akin. Nakipagbeso naman ako sa kaniya at 'saka umupo. Nakita ko rin si Kuya Reed na tumabi sa mga audience sa harapan ko. "Quiet on the set. We will start the interview in three... two... one... action!" said the director. "Good day, netizens! I am your host, Ace, and welcome to the Aces show, live from channel one. Today, we have a special guest! She was the only one nominated for five Oscar awards in her movie entitled Wrath of the Nerd. Let us all welcome the Queen of all media, Miss Arietta Vielle." Nagpalakpakan naman ang mga manonood kasabay ng pag-focus ng camera sa akin. "You are must be proud?" the interviewer asked. "Yes, Ace, I am grateful for all the fans who had supported me." Nginitian ko naman silang lahat and I continue talking. "I worked so hard to get this far, and I don't want to let anyone down." "So, when will be the released of the movie?" "Next week, we will release the movie. I know that everyone's ready to watch it." She asked different questions, and I answered her. Nag-turn naman siya ng papel at tumingin sa akin. "Nakarinig kami ng balita sa ibang tao, and they said that this movie is related to your past." Napatigil ako at mabilis na hinanap si Kuya Reed. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isasagot ko, hindi naman ito kasama sa script na binigay nila sa akin kanina. "Miss Arietta?" Mabilis akong napatingin kay Ace nang tawagin niya ako. "Ahh... yes it is." Nakita ko kung paano nagulat ang mga nanonood nang sabihin ko 'yon. "Everyone's ready to hear your voice, Miss Arietta. Would you like to share it with us?" she said. Napansin kong napatayo si Kuya Reed at lumapit sa may director. He said things that I didn't hear, pero tingin ko gusto niyang ipatigil ang live show na ito. "Before," I started. Everyone's looking at me like I was saying big news. "I was a different person. I was an outcast in my school, and everybody hated me. I was bullied. I'd experienced going home with a scratch and bruise on my body. They hated me because I'm ugly, and I always hear from them that I don't belong to their school." Nangingilid ang luha ko pero pinipigilan ko na huwag itong tumulo. Lalo na nang makita ko kung paano sila nakatitig sa mukha ko. "How do you handle those bullies?" she asked. "I met a man, and I fell in love with him. He made me feel that I belonged to their world. That even if I'm ugly, poor, or an outcast, there is someone that will accept me for who I am." I smiled as I remembered those scenes. "But he also made me feel that whatever you do, no matter how you tried. Nothing will change their decisions because he is one of them. He used me to gain things." "Kumusta ka naman ngayon?" "I'm okay. We should focus on the present so that we will become better in the future." "That's the spirit!" Everyone's clapping after hearing my story. Nakita ko ring umupo na si Kuya Reed at wala na siyang magawa lalo na at na-i-kuwento ko na sa buong mundo ang nakaraan ko. "But everyone's confused on what they heard from you." Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Ace. Anong ibig niyang sabihin? "Live in Aces Show, the man in the past, the man who broke our Queen, and the mysterious man who writes the movie Wrath of the Nerd. Let us all welcome, Steven Young." Nanlaki ang mata ko nang itutok sa kaniya ang camera at spotlight. He was walking towards me while her eyes were directly looking at me. What is he doing here? Napatayo ako nang makalapit siya sa puwesto ko. Bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko at tila ba siya lang ang nakikita ko sa aking harapan. Para bang bumalik lahat ng sakit na nararamdaman ko noong kasama ko siya. "It's been a while, Arietta," he said.