BCJ 22 • confrontation

***

Pete didn't bother Kao for the rest of the night. He just stayed at a safe distance and watched as he happily mingled with the other teachers.

He wouldn't have minded Kao being all chatty and cheerful around his co-workers but Kavine didn't seem to get the idea of personal space.

"One, two, three, four..."

His thoughts were interrupted by Peter's voice.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm counting the creases on your forehead, Dad. Why the hell are you frowning?"

"Language, young man."

Peter then playfully covered his mouth and giggled.

"Are you planning on staring at him all night?"

"Can you just go back to your friends and bother them instead?"

Peter rolled his eyes and sat beside him.

"Kavine's not staying here. He's going back tonight because he's got a flight to catch."

"And how do you know all this stuff?"

"I overheard them."

"It's not good to eavesdrop on other people's conversation, Peter."

"I didn't mean to, okay? But here's the greater news. I don't think they're really together, though."

That caught his attention. He immediately shifted his body towards Peter and gestured him to say more.

But Peter remained silent, obviously teasing his father.

"Come on. Why would you think so?"

"Money down," Peter giggled.

"I'm doubling your allowance for this month. Just tell me what you know."

"You said it! I'm totally expecting more allowance-"

"I promise, okay. Just tell me."

"They don't seem sweet together when it's just the two of them."

"What do you mean?"

"I caught them talking once at school. They don't sound like they have an intimate relationship though."

Pete's hopeful face instantly dropped.

"Maybe they just have a misunderstanding that day, Peter. Just go back to your friends."

Peter frowned at his father and stood. He was about to walk away but faced his father again.

"But you don't fist bump your lover despite a misunderstanding, do you?"

***

Pete didn't even sleep a wink that night despite the comfortable bed that he was lying on.

The sun was already high up the sky but he remained staring at the ceiling, his mind going back to what Peter shared last night.

He heard a knock on the door but didn't bother answering.

He thought the person knocking would just go away but he heard another knock which then become incessant.

"Coming!" he shouted in frustration. He didn't even bother fixing his hair and just swung the door open.

"You came here to volunteer, Sir, not to sleep the whole day," Kao's stoic face greeted him.

He was about to respond but Mr Romulo, the school director suddenly showed up.

"Oh! Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry Mr Ramirez. Did Teacher Kao wake you up?"

"No. I was already awake when he knocked."

"I was just about to tell Mr Ramirez that the activities are about to start and the parent volunteers need to be there at the area, Mr Romulo."

"Good heavens, I'm so sorry, Mr Ramirez but you don't have to do any of those. Mr Sanchez, apologize to Mr Ramirez."

"Huh? Why would I?"

"He's our guest of honor, Kao! Our major sponsor! We have to take care of him."

"But he came here as a parent volunteer, Sir. He's supposed to look after the studen-"

"Oh, come on. There are already a lot of parent volunteers to do that. And besides the teachers are there as well. Do you need anything, Mr Ramirez? I'll have Teacher Kao get it for you."

"I am actually not feeling well, Mr Romulo. I deeply apologize if I wouldn't be able to do anything today."

Okay, he lied. Not that he wanted to evade the responsibilities he had to do as a parent-volunteer but he didn't wanna see Kao that day. Just the thought of being close to him yet out of reach brings agonizing pain in his chest.

"You don't have to worry about that Mr Ramirez. Just focus on getting well. And for that I'll have Teacher Kao tend to your needs."

"Mr Romulo! I still have a lot of things to do for today's activities. And besides the resort staff could take care of him instead."

"No, you don't have to, Mr. Romulo. I can manage."

"No, Mr. Ramirez, I insist. Get along, Teacher Kao. Get our VIP his breakfast."

***

"You don't really have to stay here with me," Pete said in a low voice as he mindlessly nudged his food with his fork.

"You heard Mr. Romulo. He's gonna yap at me all day if I let you here by yourself," Kao passively replied.

Silence then dominated the room. Only the utensils hitting the plate and his heavy breaths could be heard.

"So...how are you and Kavine?" he pried, his eyes fixed on his plate.

Kao didn't say anything and just started arranging the throw pillows on the couch.

"We're good. We're happy as it is."

Pete snickered, making Kao look his way.

"Do you find it funny?"

Pete slowly looked at Kao, his eyes filled with scorn.

"Well, congratulations on your happiness, Mr. Sanchez. I hope it doesn't last."

"Excuse me?"

"I just can't seem to comprehend how you were able to replace me with that bastard, Kao. You wasted our relationship just to be with that scoundrel??"

"Don't call him that, Pete. He didn't do anything to you."

Pete instinctively threw his utensils on the table. "So you're defending him now?"

With long strides he approached Kao and pushed him down, trapping him between his body and the couch.

"P-pete," Kao's voice quivered but Pete was just too angry to sense the fear in Kao's eyes.

"Did you even remember me when you went away with him, Kao? Did you even think of me when you left?! Did you even know how I felt?!" Pete growled atop of him.

Kao eventually closed his eyes in fear. Tears started rolling down his cheeks as he trembled like a helpless prey underneath Kao.

"Yo-you're scaring me, Pete," Kao sobbed as Pete's grip tightened on his arms.

"What the hell are you doing, Pete?!"

Celeste's voice snapped Pete back into his senses.

"Get off Kao, you hound!"

"Ouch!" Pete groaned as she yanked his hair to pull him away from Kao.

Kao immediately got up and dashed out of the door. Pete caught a glimpse of the redness on his arms and he somehow felt guilty.

"Care to explain?"

"Tss. I just got carried away. I, I lost my senses, okay? All I could think of was to hurt him."

"Oh, really?"

"Ow! Stop hitting me!" he yelled as Celeste flicked his forehead twice. "And what the hell are you doing here? I'm on leave! And do you even know how to knock."

"I've been knocking for ages but you weren't answering. If it wasn't for your loud voice, I would have thought you weren't here," Celeste rolled her eyes. "You have to sign these documents. They're urgent."

Pete rolled his eyes. "I swear to the gods, I sometimes regret getting you as my secretary."

"By the way, the construction of that building that you put on hold. What are your plans?"

He froze. He totally forgot about that particular project.

"Just still put it on hold. I'm planning to scratch that one out."

"Are you sure?"

He paused. "Yeah, I'm sure."

***

Pete hadn't seen Kao since what happened. He just heard from Peter that Kavine picked him up.

He felt guilty but he just wasn't able to control his emotions that time.

He was on his way back to his room to retrieve his things as they were about to head home when he saw Kavine waiting for him by his room's door.

"Pete, let's talk."

Pete raised a brow at him, his eyes emotionless as he eyed Kavine from head to foot.

He didn't say anything and just grabbed his keys so he could open the door but Kavine nudged him on the shoulder, "Talk to me, you rascal."

That was it. He immediately landed a punch on Kavine's face.

Kavine was taken aback for a second but immediately hit Pete back.

Pete didn't waste another second and landed another punch on Kavine's side, earning a slight groan from him.

Kavine then pushed him on the wall, blocking his chest with an arm. "Let's fucking talk without hurting each other."

Pete grinned before hitting Kavine's gut with his knee.

Kavine immediately crouched back.

"Huh? Talk? Did you even talk to me before running away with Kao?"

"He was hurt, you moron!"

"Wow! He was hurt? With what? It was you who kept on coming over to him. You know how much I despise seeing you with him, but what did you do?"

Kavine got to him in one long stride and grabbed him by the collar, "You fucking didn't see Kao crying, Pete. It was me who saw all his tears. It was me who comforted him when he felt like you abandoned him because you were too drowned in your work that you forgot that he existed. You brought this unto yourself. You neglected him. You just didn't know how devastated he was when he saw you proposing to someone else. It was me who-"

"Wait, what the hell are you talking about? What proposal?"

"Why don't you ask yourself, motherfucker? Now if you ever hurt Kao again, I'm gonna break that neck of yours and make sure that you'll crawl your way to hell."

Kavine then turned his back and left Pete who was still trying to process what he just heard.

***

"How many times do I have to tell you that I hate seeing you with him, Kao?! Do I really have to tie you to myself just to stop you from seeing him?" Pete snapped before throwing the glass of whiskey on the floor.

"I'm so tired of this discussion, Pete."

"Then stop seeing him!"

"I can't, okay? He's one of the partners in our school's events and as the events coordinator, I have things to discuss with him."

"That's bullshit! You're just using your work to see him!"

"Oh, really? Then how would you explain Celeste?"

"What? Why are even bringing her up into this conversation?"

"Oh, wow? Playing clueless, aren't we? You didn't even tell me that she's been your secretary for months!"

"Don't change the subject, Kao."

"So now you're protecting her?"

"Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't say anything about it because I deemed it unnecessary. And besides, I just got her in. My secretary resigned out of nowhere and I needed someone I can trust."

Kao didn't say a word and just grabbed his bag. "I'm spending the night at Third's."

"Fine. Do you want me to drive you?"

"No, he's picking me up."

Pete massaged his temples as the door closed behind Kao.

2 messages received:

I already had the ring you asked to be customized.

Do you want me to bring it over your unit?

To Celeste:

Let's meet outside.

***