BCJ 4 • welcome to hell

***

Kao took several deep breaths before opening the door of Pete's unit. The hollers coming from the boys who were currently watching a soccer game greeted him. He internally muttered a curse.

He's used to chaos since he had worked in bars before but this time was a different type of chaos. Beers were spilled on the floor and chips were scattered everywhere, even on the sofa. Every now and then, the boys would scream their lungs out before smashing their fists on the nearby sofa.

He just decided to ignore them and tried to remain unnoticed as he made his way towards the kitchen. He succeeded in doing so but he unfortunately failed to avoid the pillow that was thrown his way, thus hitting him square on the head.

"Hey! Faster you slowpoke! We've been waiting since forever!" John, the one whom he presumed to be the one who threw the pillow, screamed at him.

With clenched jaws, he harshly placed the bag containing additional beer cans and snacks on the table. The guys immediately feasted on the beer, spilling some on the floor as they violently shook the cans before opening them.

He could only shake his head in frustration as he glanced at Pete who had a smug look on his face. Kao was pretty sure Pete had it all planned.

With heavy footsteps, he went to the kitchen only to be horrified by the scene he saw. On the sink was a pile of take-out containers and some of them were even on the floor. A box of pizza was left open on the counter while some beer cans were scattered everywhere.

He tried to compose himself and started picking them up one by one. Not even a speck of dust was there when he went out to buy more beer and coming back to a messy kitchen just irritated him so much. But he had no choice as he was paid to take care of the jerk.

"Hey! Stone-face!" John screamed from the living room and by the looks of it, he was referring to Kao.

Kao pretended not to hear a thing and just continued cleaning. But as he was picking up the cans from the floor, he felt a presence from his back.

He rolled his eyes as he came face to face with Pete who had an unlit cigarette stick between his lips.

"I can't find my lighter. You go buy one," he said lowly, the cigarette stick moving along with his lips as he spoke.

Kao stood straight and crossed his arms. He had enough of Pete's childish acts that if he ever tried to make him leave, he'd do so.

"No," he bluntly said with a raised brow.

Pete was definitely caught off guard with his answer. He glanced at his wristwatch before grabbing his bag from the counter and moved past Pete, deliberately hitting his shoulder.

"I'm leaving. My shift is done. You better clean your mess up if you don't wanna sleep smelling like shit."

Pete took a step towards him but he just rolled his eyes at him and headed towards the door, not even minding the side comments of the guys who tried to mockingly stop him from going home.

***

"So how was the babysitting job?" Third excitedly asked over the phone.

"I'd rather call it babyshitting," he grumbled as he grabbed the laundry and started folding them.

"Why? What happened? Is the kid you're looking after that much of a brat? You're used to looking after kids so I don't think you will have any problems."

"He's much worse than a brat, Third. He's a jerk and when I say jerk, I mean it in the most hateful way."

"Wait, who's this kid that you detest him so much?"

"Ezekiel Pete," Kao mumbled. He was still hesitant to tell Third the details but knowing him, he would definitely pester him until the tea is spilled.

"Who?? At least say it clearly."

"Ezekiel Pete," he repeated, this time much clearer.

"Then what's the problem with hi— Holy shit! You're babysitting THE Ezekiel Pete??" Third screamed over the phone.

Kao immediately turned the loudspeaker off as his mother was just in the kitchen. He still hasn't told her about his other job. All she knows was that he goes to the library on weekends to study.

"Yeah," he replied nonchalantly as opposed to Third's excited voice on the other line.

"So, how was it? Is he as hot as what all the girls in school say?" Third giggled.

"Oh! He is. He definitely is."

"Geez! I should have come with you! How is he at home?"

"Yep! He's so hot that satan would definitely leave his throne and give it to him. I gotta go. Mom's looking for me."

Third tried stopping him from ending the call but still did before leaning back on the sofa.

"Three months. It's just for three months, Kao."

***

"Where were you yesterday? You were supposed to be at my place during weekends!"

Kao flinched as two fists landed on the table where he just placed the papers he had to work on.

He lazily looked at Pete who was shooting daggers at him and immediately went back to writing his project.

"Hey, I'm talking to you!" Pete smacked the table once more.

"I asked for a day off," he nonchalantly replied without even looking at him. It may seem unprofessional to be absent from work on the second day but he had to take care of his younger brother.

He heard Pete scoff before dragging a chair and sitting across him.

"I'm hungry. Buy me lunch."

He acted as if he heard nothing and continued what he was doing. But as he was about to finish his output, Pete got his lighter out and played with it.

"I wonder what would happen if I just lit this near your paper, huh?"

Kao immediately grabbed his papers and stashed them inside his bag.

"What do you want? My job doesn't entail serving you on weekdays so can you just scram and leave me alone?"

A smirk flashed on Pete's face as he leaned over the table and brought his face closer to Kao's.

"Babe, know that you signed up for hell the moment you signed that paper my father gave you. So if you don't want to piss the fuck out of me, run along and get me food because I'm starving."

Kao stopped breathing for a moment as he felt Pete's hot breath against his skin but immediately got back to his senses as soon as Pete went back to his seat.

"Fuck you," he groaned lowly and got up from his seat. "Wait for me, you jerk."

***

The plate made a loud sound as Kao slightly slammed it in front of Pete who was casually puffing a cigarette stick. He immediately covered his nose as he tried to stop himself from coughing.

"You already got your food. I'm leaving then," he said while covering his nose and mouth but Pete just puffed the stick one last time before dropping the cigarette butt on the floor.

"Aren't you gonna nag about me smoking?"

"Tss. As if my nagging would make a change. Besides, it's your lungs that's gonna suffer not mine."

"Sit back down," Pete ordered and inspected the food on the plate.

He didn't do as he was told which made Pete furrow his brows even more.

"I already got your food. I'm leaving."

He was about to turn on his heels but Pete grabbed several slices of meat and threw it directly on Kao's face.

"Oops! My hand slipped," Pete grinned as he crossed his legs on the table.

"What the hell is wrong with you??"

He then aggressively grabbed Pete's collar but Pete didn't even flinch. The wide smirk on his face didn't faze despite the glares Kao was giving him.

"Oh, you're getting brave, huh," Pete mocked before blowing Kao's face.

Kao was about to turn his back on Pete but the latter aggressively grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.

"Oops. Sorry. I forgot I've already eaten," Pete grinned before pushing the plate off the table with his finger.

Though Kao knew how much of a jerk Pete could be, his action still left him dumbfounded.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" he exclaimed as he gaped at the food now spilt all over the floor. He clenched his hands into fists as he fought the urge to land a punch on Pete's face.

"If you think it's such a waste, you can eat it from the floor then," Pete grinned and leaned back on his chair making Kao even furious.

Surprisingly, Kao leaned over and grabbed a handful of pasta from the floor and without batting an eyelash, threw it towards Pete.

He heard the gasps from the students who were starting to crowd around them but he didn't care. All he knew was how satisfying it was to glare at Pete whose head was covered in pasta.

Pete landed a fist on the table. The chair fell on the floor as he stood, making Kao flinch for a moment but he eventually straightened his face and threw back the same intense stares Pete was giving him.

"What do you think you're doing??" Pete hissed at him before advancing forward. Kao could feel his breath stopping as Pete grabbed him by the collar and pulled him closer.

"You deserve it, jerk," he spat out.

The creases on Pete's forehead deepened as he grabbed Kao's collar even tighter. Kao didn't want to admit it but he was starting to get nervous as he stared back at Pete. Knowing Pete, he wouldn't hesitate to give Kao a mind blowing punch.

He swallowed hard and thickly as he watched Pete's fist rise up in the air, perfectly aiming for his jaw.

"Ezekiel Pete and Jameson Kao! To my office! Now!"

***