BCJ 26 • picture

***

A month. That was how long Kao didn't see Pete.

He was relieved that Pete finally gave him the peace he'd been wanting.

That was what he'd like to believe in. He had to believe it.

He bit his lip as he watched Celeste fetch Peter from school. She flashed a smile as she spotted him but he just nodded.

"You ready to go?"

He faced Kavine who was already bringing his things.

"You sure about this, Kao?"

"Sure about what, Kav?"

"About you pushing Pete away."

"Yes. I'm sure," he replied lowly as he headed towards the parking lot.

"They are not together, Kao. Trust me."

He didn't reply. He knew Kav was telling the truth.

"I know," he said as he glanced at Kavine before entering the car. Kavine immediately followed suit.

"Wait. What? You knew about it? Then why are you pushing Pete away??"

"You're supposed to be my boyfriend remember? Why are you pushing me to another guy?"

"Kao, I really like you. God knows how much I want this fake boyfriend setup to be real but I can't bear to see you longing for him. What's the point of having you physically near me but you're emotionally distant?"

Kao didn't say a word. He just kept his head low as he searched for words to say. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have to say sorry, Kao. You are not obliged to reciprocate my love."

"How can I make it up to you, Kav?"

Kavine held his hand and squeezed it gently. "Make yourself happy, Kao. Give yourself a chance. Give Pete a chance."

***

"What's happening?" Kao stood on tippy toes as he tried to look at what the teachers were all gossipping about. He heard that someone had donated a school building and the donor would be visiting their school to inspect the area that day.

"Geez. I wonder if he's still single. He's generous and hot at the same time."

Kao heard his co-teacher giggle which was immediately cut off by another teacher.

"Are you crazy? He has a son already. And haven't you seen his wife fetching their son every day?"

The teacher just scowled and lighly hit her colleague.

He tried once more to know what was happening but their school director called him.

"Where's Teacher Kao?"

His colleagues immediately made way for him. He hastily moved forward but quickly stepped back upon seeing the man standing beside their school director.

"Oh, there you are Teacher Kao. Mr. Ramirez specifically requested you to help him in the entire duration that he's here. With that, your subject loads will be disseminated to your colleagues to give you enough time to help Mr. Ramirez."

"I'm sorry, Sir. But my job here is to teach. Not to accompany someone to build a building!" he immediately protested. He knew he sounded impolite but he could no longer control the tone of his voice. He glared at Pete who was obviously pretending to scan the area.

Mr. Romolu looked at Pete apologetically before pulling Kao away. "That's the condition he asked for, Teacher Kao. Please cooperate or he'll pull out the project."

"But, Sir!"

"Ssshh. No more buts, Teacher Kao. Now, get along because he's starting the inspection today. I gotta leave him to you today since I have a conference to attend to."

Before Kao could protest again, the school director had already bid his goodbyes to Pete and left them. He could hear his colleagues whispering.

"So, where are we starting, Teacher Kao?" Pete asked with a smile.

"Oh, how much I hate that scheming face of yours, Mr. Ramirez," he smiled back sarcastically as he led Pete to the site where the building was to be built.

Their school director had initially discussed the plans of having another building in that area. Pete must have grabbed that opportunity to mess with his life again.

"This is just pure business, Mr. Sanchez," Pete replied in a formal tone but Kao was sure he saw a playful smile in Pete's eyes.

"Oh really, Mister? Out of the many schools in this area, you chose the one where I work. How generous of you."

Pete shrugged before handing him something. "Here."

Kao gawked at the tablet Pete handed him. "What am I supposed to do with this? Smack this on your head?

"Kavine knows how to use the software installed in that. You may ask him for help. I want you to design the type of building you want here. You still have the weekend. I want it by Monday."

"Excuse me? Isn't that supposed to be your job??"

But Pete just shrugged and started to head back.

"Are you serious, Pete?"

"You once said it is your dream to build your own school, Kao. Why don't you start it here?"

***

"He's getting into my nerves! How can he not show for a month and then come back like nothing happened?!"

Kavine just giggled before returning to watching the basketball game.

"Are you even listening?"

"Just admit that you missed him."

"Huh? Why on earth would I miss him? Are you insane?!"

"Did you just come here to rant about Pete? Because you could have just called me."

It was a Saturday. After a night of trying to figure out how to use the software, he decided to barge into Kavine's unit.

"How do you use this? He wanted me to design the building."

"Do you have anything in mind?"

He didn't answer for a while. He initially wanted that design for his own school but he knew he was too far from achieving that dream.

"Yeah. I have."

***

"Where the hell are you fucking taking me?"

"It's still morning, Kao. Slow down with the cursing."

"How can I when you're basically kidnapping me! I can't leave the school, Pete. I'm on duty!"

"I'm responsible for your salary the entire duration you're with me, Kao. So I can take you with me."

"Excuse me??"

"I already talked with Mr. Romulo about that, Kao. And he happily agreed," Pete smiled widely.

He immediately whisked Pete's hand away. "Which part of leave me alone could you not understand, Pete?"

"The part where you kissed me back in front of your supposed boyfriend, Kao."

Kao was definitely taken aback. He tried to say something but he could not think of anything.

"I...I... it was a good bye kiss! And besides you were the one who kissed me first," he stammered as he felt his heart racing with every word he said.

"Fine. Just get in. We need to finalize the design you have with my team. I also have a meeting with a client so I can't be late."

"Tss! Why does this seem like I'm back to babysitting you?"

"Well. Don't you just like it?"

"Jerk," he grumbled lowly as he entered the car.

***

It had been years since Kao stepped foot into Pete's company. So much had changed. And he could tell how much the company had grown.

Celeste immediately approached Pete and handed him some papers. For some reason, he couldn't feel any pain upon seeing them together.

He then remembered the conversation he had with Peter just two days after the event at the orphanage.

"When are you getting with my dad, Teacher Kao?"

"What are you talking about, Peter? You already have your mom."

"Who? Miss Celeste? Geez. She has a girlfriend."

"Girlfriend? You mean to say..."

"If my dad ever asks you to go out, Teacher Kao, please say yes. I really like you for him. And so that he would already stop talking to your picture on his bedside table. He looks crazy every time he talks to your picture," Peter scowled at the thought.

His thoughts were interrupted by Pete's voice. "Why don't you take a rest in my office first. I have to meet some clients. I'll be with you after this. If you need anything, just tell Edward."

He was about to protest but Pete had already signalled Edward to assist him and then left.

"This way, Mr. Ramirez," Edward led him to Pete's office.

"I'm sorry, but it's Mr. Sanchez not Ramirez. I'm in no way related to Ezekeil."

"Oh! I'm so sorry. I thought your the husband he always tells us about."

"I'm sorry. Husband?"

"He told us his husband is working overseas. I am so sorry I really thought it was you because he looked just like you," Edward apologized as he opened the door to the office and led him inside.

"Who?"

"That guy."

Kao could only gape at the large portrait of his face in the middle of Pete's office.

***