BCJ 31 • betrayal

***

Pete internally chuckled as he watched Kao from the mirror. Kao was muttering to himself, words that he could only understand as he scanned the beds on display.

They were currently at the mall as Kao was sulking all day. He insisted on buying Pete a new bed and wouldn't even drop the idea. He only stopped yapping the moment Pete grabbed his keys and urged him to get into the car.

He just let him be and followed him around the mall section.

"How about this? This looks pretty decent," Kao asked as he pointed at the twin bed.

"I move a lot when I sleep, Kao. I won't fit in that."

"What are you even talking about? We even fit in the couch once!" Kao negated but eventually clasped a hand on his own mouth at the realization of his words.

"I was up all night that time, Kao because you were too close I could barely breathe," he smiled as he grabbed Kao's hand and dragged him elsewhere.

"Wait! I'm not yet done!"

"Scratch the idea already, Kao. I'm sleeping with you."

Surprisingly, Kao didn't argue anymore and just let Pete drag him to the food court.

"I'm hungry. Go order something."

Kao's brow arched immediately at Pete's order.

"Excuse me? I'm not a freaking waiter, Pete."

"Uhm, how about we count all the offenses you have committed against me. Let's start w-"

"Fine! What do you want?" Kao slammed a hand on the table.

"You," he said with a straight face.

"I-I am not a fucking food, Pete."

"But I do wanna eat you," he replied as he tried to hide the smile that was starting to creep on his face the moment Kao's cheeks started getting red.

"Ugh! I hate you, Pete!"

"I missed you, Kao," Pete's eyes softened as he said those words. "Here, use my card."

Kao didn't say a thing and just marched off towards the food counters.

Pete's gaze didn't leave Kao for the fear of him leaving him again. He vowed to himself that he would not let Kao out of his sight ever again and he would do anything just to keep him.

"Is this seat taken?" a female voice appeared out of nowhere.

Pete didn't even mind looking at her but he could see her in his peripheral view.

"Mind if I take a seat? All the other seats are taken and this is the only one left," she explained, obviously flirting with Pete.

He planned on ignoring her as he was busy following Kao with his gaze but the moment she sat on Kao's place he slammed a fist on the table.

"My husband's occupying that space," he said in a low voice, his eyes still on Kao.

She chuckled flirtingly, "I don't see anyone with you though. Come on, you don't have to shoo me away. How about we go to my house after this?"

Pete heaved a deep breath before turning to face the woman, "Excuse me, miss but that seat is taken. Which part of statement do you not understand?"

" I just can't bear to see a handsome young man all alone. And mister, I don't see anyone with you," she replied coquettishly as she bit her lower lip.

"Can you see me now?" Kao's voice appeared from Pete's back.

Pete immediately turned around to see Kao with a grim look on his hand. He was obviously gripping the food tray too hard that Pete could see his veins popping out.

"Oh, you're with your brother?"

Kao didn't say anything and just placed the food tray on the table with a thud. He then turned to look at Pete with a look on his face as if he was telling the latter to make the woman leave.

"Miss, you better get up and leave or my husband here is gonna tear you to pieces. He's kinda aggressive when he's jealous."

The woman was obviously taken aback as she grabbed her tray and grimaced at Kao before going away.

Kao, who was equally taken aback by Pete's words, dropped on the chair. "What the hell was that, Pete?"

"Okay, she approached me first. I already said I'm with someone but she wouldn't leave."

"No...not that. What...what...husband?" Kao hesitantly asked. His voice faltering as he tried to evade Pete's gaze.

"Well, don't you wanna be one?" Pete teased and Kao's face became even redder.

"Tss. In your dreams, asshole."

"Dreams do come true, love."

Pete was sure Kao tried to hide his smile with a frown bu failed.

"Is there anything else you want to buy?" he asked as he helped in organizing the food on the table.

"Hmmmm," Kao paused. "Nah, I just really want to buy you a new bed."

"Are you sure? Think about it. We still have a lot of time," he insisted.

"Yes, I'm sure."

***

Kao wanted to go home, but Pete insisted that they stroll the mall first.

"Why don't you look out for something to buy? It's on me."

Kao immediately raised a brow at him. "You're my sugar daddy, now?"

Pete chuckled as he held the back of Kao's head and pulled him closer, "I would buy this entire mall if you want me to, love."

Kao quickly stepped back, "Are you crazy?"

"Come on. Just choose one. I just to buy you something today."

"Okay, then. Don't even complain if I pick out the most expensive one," Kao challenged.

He just followed as Kao entered a shoe store and grabbed a pair of white shoes.

"I want this pair."

"Good morning, sir. Would you like to try them on?"

Pete smiled at the lady and motioned for her to help Kao.

"Is that all that you want?" he then asked Kao whose eyes were flashing brightly at the shoes in his feet. He clearly liked them.

Kao nodded slowly, his eyes never leaving the shoes.

He then instructed the lady to give him another pair in his size.

"By the way, how much is this, miss?" Kao asked out of nowhere.

He was about to gesture the lady not to tell Kao the price but it was already too late.

"That would be 59,143 per pair, Sir."

"Excuse me?!"

Pete quickly handed the lady his card as he was sure that Kao would return the pair.

"I actually don't want this Pete. Why don't we look at the next store," Kao laughed nervously before attempting to remove the laces on the shoes he was already wearing.

"The shoes stays on, Kao."

"But they're expensive as hell, Pete. Who in their right minds would buy a shoes this expensive??"

"Me. Come on, let's get mine."

***

With a confused look on his face, Pete watched as Kao walked on tippy toes. They were on their way to the construction site as he wanted to check the progress of the building. He initially wanted to bring Kao home first but something urgent came up at the site.

"What's wrong? Are the shoes too small on you?"

But Kao didn't say a thing and just looked at him with doe eyes."They're too expensive. I don't wanna ruin them."

"Kao, they're supposed to get dirty."

"Tss. I told you I'd changed into my old shoes but you just won't let me!" Kao scowled at him.

Kao insisted into changing his shoes but he hid them in the car's trunk, leaving him with no choice but to use the new one.

"Why? I wanna wear couple shoes with you," Pete grinned. "Just walk properly, Kao. If they get ruined, I'll buy you a new one."

"Are you crazy?? And why are we even wearing branded shoes at a construction site?!"

While holding in his laughter, he approached Kao and swiftly carried him in his arms.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Kao exclaimed as he hit Pete's shoulders.

"So you don't have to worry about you ruining your shoes," Pete grinned.

"The workers are looking at us, Pete. Put me down," Kao whined as he tried to get away from Pete's grasp but Pete carefully put him on the already constructed part of the site.

"There. Now, stay put and wait for me. Don't go around and you might get hurt. I'll be quick. I repeat, Kao, stay here," he warned before leaving Kao behind and approaching the head of the workers.

***

Pete wiped the sweat on his forehead. It was already late afternoon but the sun was still up and scorching. He looked at his shoes, now covered with dust from the site.

A wide smile flashed across his face as he remembered how Kao whined about the shoes.

After their discussion with the foreman, he rushed back to where he left Kao. He intended to take Kao to dinner.

But the smile on his face disappeared upon discovering that Kao was no longer where he left him. His heart raced, fearing that Kao might have wandered and hurt himself.

He immediately dialed his number but no one answered. He redialed.

He was on the brink of calling all the workers to look for Kao but a message went through his phone.

Don't call. I'm already home.

He didn't know if he should be relieved or not, but the fact that Kao went home on his own, meant that something was wrong.

He then rushed back home, flooring his car. He didn't even know but something was telling him that Kao was at home, packing his clothes.

He couldn't afford to lose Kao, not again.

"Kao? Where are you?" he called out the moment he got back in the house.

He heaved a deep sigh of relief the moment he saw him sitting in the living room.

"What's wrong? Did I keep you waiting? I'm sorry, a minor accident happened at the site so the conversation took longer than I expected? Are you hungry? Do you want to eat outside or shall I order takeout?"

Kao didn't answer. He just stared blankly at Pete, tears brimming around the corners of his eyes.

"Kao, are you okay? What happened?" Pete asked worriedly as he sat beside Kao and held his hands.

"Do you really enjoy making fun of me?"

"Huh? Did I do something wrong? What did I do?"

Tears then started running down Kao's face as he pushed Pete's hands away.

"You should have told me my design was rejected! You didn't have to promise me that they're gonna use it. I was not hoping anyway, but the moment you said you'd make sure my building design would be used, I was the happiest, Pete. I felt a part of my dream came true but what the hell, Pete. Not even a single part of my design was used at the site. It was totally different! Is that why you were keeping me away from school? Is that the reason you don't even bring me to the site despite me being your so-called assistant so I wouldn't know? How much did you pay the director just to get my hands off my work?!"

"Wait, Kao. Let me explain--"

"I'm so done with your explanations, Pete. I'm so done with you! I'm going back home, Pete."

Pete panicked at Kao's declaration of leaving.

"No, no, wait, Kao. Let me explain," he said as he grabbed Kao's arm and pulled him for a hug.

Kao resisted but Pete was way stronger.

"Fine. I'll let you go back home, but come with me first. I wanna show you something. After that, I'll let you go if you really want to."

***