BCJ 24 • late

***

Kao slowly wiped his forehead with the back of his hand but it was not enough to remove all the sweat that was profusely trickling down his face. Nevertheless, he smiled as he looked at the current setup of the orphanage.

It had been years since he stepped foot on that place and it just made him emotional being back. He felt happy knowing that most of the children still remembered him but at the same time, he couldn't help but feel sad for them knowing that they still had not found a place they could call home after all those years.

He smiled as he spotted Peter from a distance. Over his shoulder was a sack containing the materials they still have to put up for the orphanage's anniversary the next day.

"Don't tire yourself out too much, Peter. We still have a lot of time to do all the work."

"Nah, Teacher Kao. As much as possible, I want to be of great help. This place means a lot to me and I want every child in here to feel that this is home."

He felt a tug in his chest as he looked at Peter smiling. He didn't even think that Pete would go as far as adopt him. He knew it was a tough process considering the requirements that Pete should pass and the rules that he should adhere to.

"By the way, Pete. I've been wanting to ask you. How did Pete, I mean your dad end up adopting you?"

Peter didn't answer immediately. It was as though he was thinking.

"It actually started as a bet. I really wanted to get out of here and live a normal life so I challenged Dad to a basketball game," he paused then chuckled. "I knew it was impossible for me to beat him but surprisingly, he didn't put too much effort into the game. I knew he was letting me win, so I didn't push through with the bet because I didn't wanna win just because he let me. However, years later, he came back and did everything so he could adopt me."

"You mean to say, he's been coming here?"

"Yes. Days after he just disappeared out of nowhere he just came back and asked me if I was still up for the game. Actually, he's been donating to the charity even after he adopted me."

Kao couldn't even ask further as his attention was caught by the man coming into their direction.

"Hey there, bud. How's everything going?" Pete asked as he put a hand on Peter's shoulder.

"Everything's fine, Dad. I'm sure the kids are gonna love the event."

Kao then excused himself as he didn't wanna see Pete. Right after their confrontation that night, he had not seen him for days.

He was on his way to the kitchen when he felt a hand on his arm. He immediately whisked it away for talking to Pete was not in his plans that day, "Stop it. I don't wanna talk to you, okay?!"

"Kao? Is there a problem?"

Kavine's voice startled him. "I-I'm sorry. I thought it was someone else."

"You thought it was Pete."

It was a statement.

Kao sighed. His gaze immediately spotted Pete who was still standing from where he had left him.

"Yes. Geez, he's driving me insane," he exclaimed as he grabbed Kavine by the arm and pulled him closer. "You better not leave me alone with him or I'm definitely gonna lose my mind."

Kavine chuckled as he removed his arm from Kao's grip and wrapped it around his waist instead. "Your wish is my command, your Highness. I'm gonna act as your lover for as long as you want me to."

***

Pete was seething with anger as he watched Kavine place a kiss on Kao's forehead. His fists clenched even tighter as he stopped himself from attacking Kavine.

He felt a presence from behind but he didn't even bother looking at who it was as his eyes were still fixed on the two who were laughing as they went on their way to the kitchen.

"Do you plan on burning them alive?" Celeste sneered from behind.

Pete clicked his tongue as he turned to face Celeste, "Shut up."

"Geez, you're so hot-tempered. The kids are looking for you. They said they wanted to play with the person who gifted them the playground."

That lightened up Pete's mood. The playground was one of the things he did for the orphanage as the previous one definitely needed a revamp.

He immediately went to where the kids were and played with them. He couldn't explain what he was feeling as he played hide and seek and even slid down the slides together with kids. Growing up as an only child definitely didn't give him the opportunity to spend what a childhood was really supposed to be.

He was in the midst of playing when he heard a loud cheer. He just thought the kids were overwhelmed with excitement so he didn't mind what they were actually cheering for. Not until he heard a familiar name.

"Brother Kao! Please play with us."

Pete stopped mid-slide as he looked at Kao who was apparently dragged by the kids. Kao's eyes then met his and he could feel something stuck in his throat as the kids dragged the both of them towards the ball pit.

"Be careful kids," he reminded as the kids started throwing balls at each other. He just sat there with Kao.

He caught sight of Peter giving him an evil grin before huddling the kids around him. It was as though he had a vicious plan in mind.

The place was filled with the children's laughter and screams. It was chaotic. It was loud, but nothing could be louder than the silence that separated them despite their close distance.

Biting his lower lip, he inched his fingers closer to Kao's. But the moment his fingertips touched his, the kids went rushing over them and threw handful of balls towards them.

"Hey! Hey!" he chuckled as the kids didn't cease what they were doing. Pete could hear Kao chuckling beside him.

He caught sight of Peter who was egging the kids to rain balls on them before cocking his head to the side.

That lighted up an idea inside him.

He immediately pushed Kao down and covered him with his own body, entirely under the pretense of protecting him from the kid's attack.

"What the hell are you doing?! Get off me!"

"I must protect you from the attackers," Pete grinned before pushing himself even closer to Kao.

"What the hell, Pete? I can protect myself! And besides, they're just kids!"

But Pete didn't mind Kao's complaints and just proceeded to hug him down, protecting Kao like they were being rained on by bullets.

The kids continued throwing balls at them and he was sure that his own son was behind all that.

Kao must have been tired and eventually surrendered by staying still under Peter's weight.

Moments later, it became quiet. They both couldn't see what was happening as they were already buried under the balls the kids had thrown at them.

"I think they're gone. You can get off me now, Mr. Ramirez," Kao said as he tried pushing Pete off him but the latter didn't budge and just stayed still.

"Pete, get off me," Kao warned.

But instead of doing what he was told to do, he grabbed Kao by the waist and hugged him closer.

"One minute, Kao. Please give me a minute," Pete whispered as he buried his face in Kao's neck.

Kao didn't say anything but he didn't push Pete away either. They just both stayed still under all the plastic balls piling over them.

"Am I really too late, Kao? Can't I make things, right?" Pete said in a low voice. His breath heavy as he waited for Kao's response.

Kao didn't say a thing. Instead he just used all of his remaining strength and pushed Pete away.

His efforts succeeded as Pete didn't even try to resist.

"You're years too late, Mr. Ramirez," Kao replied in a firm voice before leaving Pete alone in the ball pit.

***