twenty-one

Kao

I looked at Pete looking anywhere but me after he said what he said and I couldn't help but blink at him.

What he said about wanting to be friends with me was one thing.

But acting all conflicted and confused and even pained was another and I was not sure how to go about it exactly.

Was that even hard to be friend someone?!?

He was acting as if saying so was a matter of life and death.

"You. You wanted to be friends with me?"

Pete looked at me in a snap before he waved a hand at me.

"Just forget I said that."

I shook my head.

"No!"

I had to pause when I realized I said it a little loudly that some people looked at our table but I didn't care.

"I mean, why? You said that you want to be friends with me I want to be friends with you too what's the problem?"

He just looked at me after what I said.

"What?"

I coaxed him when he won't stop staring before he shook his head.

"You literally thought I was your phone snatcher the first time we met."

I made a face at him.

Yes I did.

But even one would think so if they were in my place and they saw the scene I run on in.

And Pete had long established the fact that he was not.

"But you aren't. You actually brought me my phone back and even got into a mess with the people who did it."

He nodded in agreement and I thought that was it.

"Well, yeah, but that speaks volume of how you see me. You know, that I could pass up as a thief."

I gaped at him.

Is he serious?

I rolled my eyes before I ran a hand on my face.

This guy right here is so difficult I swear!

"Look, Pete, I know I haven't properly apologized for what happened that time, so I'm saying it now."

He shook his head at me yet again.

"No. You don't have to apologize."

I shook my head as well.

"No! I have to. I'm sorry, okay? I mean, if you were in my place that time, I'm sure you would also do the same. Not that it could erase the fact that I have insulted you and that I punched you but really, I'm sorry. That wasn't-look, if I really thought that you're a criminal or something, I wouldn't have bothered talking to you or even inviting you to carpool or even eat out with you right now."

I didn't know anymore how I would appease him or why I was even trying.

All I knew was that I hated how Pete speaks of himself and of our situation that way and I hated it even more how every time I tried to sneak into his eyes, it spoke the same.

"Yeah, I get that. And I accept your apology, it's not really big of a deal anyway. I mean, I'm used to people thinking about me that way."

What!?!

Really!?!

I shook my head.

"No! No! What are you saying?"

Pete looked at me after he heaved a sigh.

"Look, Kao, I'm sorry but I just realized this whole thing is just stupid and crazy."

My face crumpled.

"What?"

I was so confused at what he was saying I no longer know what to feel.

"I really don't understand you right now, okay? What's wrong? You said you wanted to be friends with me. I wanted that too. You and Kaleb and I. Let's be friends. I'd like that. I don't have a lot of friends."

The fact that we had to negotiate this much just to be friends, I wonder what it would take for us to be best friends.

But why was I even bothering!?!

"A private school educated person like you should have nothing to do with people from the slums like us."

I blinked at what I heard Pete said next.

"Seriously?"

He looked at me intently as if cementing his stand and I was not able to stop myself from scoffing.

"Then why did you even bother trying if you're just gonna be this way in the end."

He should have just left me alone after the incident!

Now I'm crushing on him and I didn't want him to feel so inferior about this whole thing and it sucks!

"I was not thinking, I'm sorry."

I groaned.

"You're."

I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh.

"I don't even know what to call you."

I was about to say more when the wait staff arrived at our table with our orders.

The food looked so delicious as it was like the last time we were there and I thought I was hungry but I lost my appetite.

"Food. Here's your food. Sorry it took longer. We had a little traffic in the kitchen. Anything more you might need?"

The wait staff asked both of us and I just shook my head as I answered while looking at Pete dead ass on the eyes.

"Nothing. Thanks."

The wait staff hummed before he let us be.

"You should eat. So I can send you home."

Pete said after a while and I would not stop staring at him.

"What, you really think a private school educated person like me would eat food like these?"

I can also be really sarcastic if situations call for it.

"Kao-,"

I rolled my eyes.

"What? Are you going to list down all of my 'rich' characteristics which you obviously despise some more?!?"

I said to him and even did an air quotation for emphasis.

"I'm just saying, you're better off without us."

I snickered at what he said.

"Who are you to decide for me we just met? We hardly even knew each other."

Pete shrugged as he handed me the food I was trying to reach.

I didn't thank him.

"That's the point. You don't know me."

I was trying to concentrate on the food now, randomly poking them.

"Basically why being friends would be a good idea."

I said under my breath.

Before I paused and looked at him.

"You know what, you shouldn't really leave Kaleb and bring him along with you always, because between you two, he seemed to be the one to have a proper brain function. At least he says and actually shows that he wants to be friends with me. Unlike you who could just say it then take it back at the same time."

Pete looked around after I finished speaking.

Breathless.

"Are you we arguing?"

He asked after I had my fill of air.

"I don't know. But if it's the last time we would see each other like how you put it earlier then I want to at least speak my mind out."

I said as I started scooping and eating random dishes on the table.

"You know, I still can't wrap around the fact that you thought I'm rich despite me telling you I'm not-which is your reason for stopping yourself to be friends with me. You know, I just feel like it's stupid. And crazy. Yeah, more like you."

Pete offered me some more dishes which I unconsciously accepted and tasted.

"Trust me, you don't want to be friends with me if you finally get to know me."

My spoon froze mid air before I put it down and faced Pete.

"Yeah? Well, that's for me to decide."

I said and then we didn't talk after that.

We started eating and finished and we didn't talk anymore.

I wanted to but what do I say?

It's not like I should beg for him to change his mind and be friends with me right?

And what if he doesn't want to be friends!?!

I still have a lot of friends I don't care.

And I just knew him what? Three? Four weeks!?!

I'll definitely forget about this soon.

In no time, it would be as if I never knew him.

Okay, I'm a tad bit being dramatic about someone refusing to be friends with me after telling me he wanted to so yeah, maybe I'll just stop.

"Is manong coming to get you?"

That was the first sentence that came out of Pete since we left the eatery.

"No. I'm taking a cab."

I answered quietly.

I'm mad at him.

"Alone?"

I rolled my eyes.

"Yes! Alone. Why, do you see anyone beside me here!?!"

Pete pursed his lips before he nodded.

"Yeah. Okay. Let me get a cab for you."

He said as he stepped out to flag for taxi.

"No, you don't have to. You can go if you want. I'll be fine here."

I said but Pete just looked at me and after a while raised his hand when he finally found a vacant ride for me.

"So this is it?"

I said when a taxi stopped by us.

"Yeah?"

I rolled my eyes at Pete before getting inside the cab.

He's impossible!

I hate him!

So much!

I told the driver to drive off without looking back.

I am so done with the guy!

After I get home, I would no longer be thinking or speaking about him.

He's stupid!

And crazy and I hate him!

Ugh!

I groaned loudly in annoyance that the taxi driver had to check on me.

I smiled at him apologetically before I told him I was fine.

I was not.

I was still so annoyed at Pete.

Some time later, as I was getting off the taxi and getting inside our house, my phone rang.

I thought it was either of my parents calling to check on me but I remembered they told me they'll have dinner with friends tonight to celebrate someone's birthday and so I had to lazily check on my phone as I made my way towards my room.

My phone almost fell when I realized who was calling.

What does he need now!?!

"What? Are you making sure now it's really me before you delete my number?"

I snapped at Pete when I heard took a deep breath on the other line before responding.

"No. I'm-is it really okay for you to be friends with me?"

I rolled my eyes.

That's what I kept telling him the whole duration of our dinner.

"Why?"

I snapped at him.

What is he trying to make sure he turned me down just right!?!

"Can you just answer my question, please?"

Pete even hang the last word.

I sighed.

"What's your question again?"

I hated it when he goes all soft with his voice.

"I want to be friends with you. Can we?"

He said after some time and I could not help myself despite me saying how I'm so annoyed with him.

"O-kay. Me too."

I heard him tutted on the other line.

"So let's be friends?"

I heard him asked and I found myself smiling.

I didn't know why but it genuinely made me happy.

"Let's be friends."