thirty-three

Pete

"You told him what!?!"

I shut my eyes closed and massaged my temples when Kaleb hovered over me on the couch.

We were in his room and he was on video call with his wife when I barged in and announced what I just stupidly told Kao on the car on our way home which made him silent all through out the ride and me feeling fifty shades of stupid.

Me and my stupid running mouth really!

"Honey, don't block the camera I want to see Pete."

I heard Rein said and saw her waved at me on the computer when I pushed his husband away and smiled at her.

"Okay, Pete, can we talk later. I'd love to discuss another of your stupidity but I'm trying to spend some quality time with my wife so if you may-."

Kaleb regarded me with his hands on either side of his hips.

A gesture he always uses every time he feels like being done with me.

"You're about to see her in a day or two don't be so stingy!"

I glared at my best friend in retaliation.

"Don't jinx it! The plan has been pushed back many times already. And I miss my wife so let us be!"

Kaleb glared back and we were shooting daggers at each other when I heard Rein spoke but not after she laughed and called both her husband and I toddlers.

"No, honey, It's okay. I want to hear it. I want to hear everything about Kao. I've only ever talked to him twice since he got there and it wasn't even that long for us to catch up."

I heard Rein said and I couldn't help it.

I just had to smirk my victory at my best friend.

I didn't mean to ruin his quality time with his wife.

I don't even know they were in a call.

But I was just too frantic about what I said and Kao's silence all the way to the home office where he went straight to after getting off the car that I also excused myself and run to Kaleb.

"Do you want to see him? I can bring him to you, we can both come with Kaleb when he flies there."

I heard a groan from my best friend but I didn't mind him and instead, I stood up and run towards the table where the computer was on and smiled at an excited Rein.

"That would be great! I'd love for us four to get together just like the old times."

I nodded at Rein.

"No! No! No! No can do!"

Kaleb said as he pushed the chair away from the computer and faced me in a way that he's blocking my access to it.

"You, still have meetings to attend to for the next two weeks and Kao is just starting university."

Kaleb pointed out right before he turned and regarded his wife on the other end.

"And you, my love, needs to rest after the baby arrives. I'm sure that would not happen if Kao much more Pete are there."

Both Rein and I groaned our protest but grouchy Kaleb didn't even bother with us.

"You can go next time when everything's fine specially between you and Kao."

I groaned even louder when I heard what Kaleb said.

Right.

That was what I was there for ruining his time with his wife.

"Tell me about it. Now, I think, he's back to ignoring me again.

I heaved a sigh.

It's like I'm one step forward and two steps back when it comes to Kao.

"What happened?"

I heard Rein asked.

"I just told him he's special. Out of the blue. Just, pfft! It came right out of my mouth."

I raised my hand in defeat before I disappointedly leaned on the chair.

"I told you to watch your mouth when you're around Kao."

Kaleb barked at me.

And he was right.

He did.

He actually was the one who made sure I don't mess thing thing with Kao right before I decided to reappear in his life.

"I did. But it just came out what can I do!?!"

My best friend gave me the you are so stupid what do I do with you look and for a while there I thought I agree with him until his wife spoke.

"Aww... that's so sweet. Everyone wants to feel and know that they're special, I'm sure Kao would be fine with it."

Kaleb rolled his eyes when he saw how I beamed at what his wife said.

"You think so, Rein?"

I turned towards the pregnant lady and tried to ignore his grumpy husband's groans and protest beside me.

"No!"

The jerk finally spoke and got in between me and the computer carrying his wife.

"Don't listen to him, Pete. I'm sure Kao would appreciate it."

Rein said and I instantly imagined Kao being quite after I said what I said in the car and my heart sank.

I thought Kaleb was right.

As always.

"Yeah, well, except, Kao hates me."

I said as I hunched my shoulders on my seat.

"That he does."

Kaleb pointed out which made me feel bad even more but he's right tho.

"Honey!"

I heard Rein chided her husband but my best friend was not having it.

"What? I'm just saying."

He told his wife softly before he turned towards me and bombarded me with his I told you sos.

"Pete, we already talked about this and I'm so tired of repeating this over and over again. Give Kao some time. This is all new to him."

He did tell me that.

And reminded me time and again even before Kao arrived.

And I swear I really am trying my best to listen to him but sometimes I could not help but just fvck up!

"I'm trying okay? I'm trying. I mean I tried. It may not look like it but I really am. Trying. But it's just, when it comes to Kao, it's hard."

I groaned and tugged at my hair in exasperation.

"He hates me! And he thinks that I'm only helping him to appease my guilty conscience of how our lives turned out in polar opposite of each other's."

Which really was a stupid notion to take because never did I feel that way towards Kao.

Even back then when I thought I should and he was the one I should stay away from because of how his life was better than mine back in the days.

"Are you?"

I looked up to Rein in confusion.

"What do you mean?"

Rein shrugged.

"Are you just trying to appease your conscience?"

I heaved a sigh and shook my head before I answered her.

"Well, in a way, yes! I mean, I'm so sorry for him that I was not there when he was struggling. I wish I was there to help him. And I wish I didn't wait this long to reach out and help him. But things happened and I can't undo all that's happened but I'm here now and I just want him to know that. To know that I'm not doing this for anything or anyone except for him."

I was so caught up with my monologue that it took me some time to realize that Kaleb had already pushed me off the way and had kneeled down and was trying to console the crying pregnant woman on the computer.

"Honey? Why are you crying? Is everything okay? Does it hurt somewhere? Baby, tell me!"

I heard my best friend's frantic voice laced with concern for his pregnant wife.

"No, hon, I'm fine it's just that, Pete that was so sweet."

Rein regarded me before she bursted into tears again and my best friend gave me a death glare before he went back consoling his wife.

"Honey, come on, stop crying, it's bad for the baby. Love. Please, come on, calm down now. Just calm down, please. Stop crying."

Kaleb was trying to calm his wife down while I stood there not knowing what was happening.

"You fvcker! You did not only ruin our alone time you even made my wife cry. Get out!"

Kaleb was trying to kick me but he was glued on the computer that he could only send air kicks at my confused ass.

"It's okay, love, I'm fine. I'm good. I just, can't help but be overly emotional at times. Hormones. Haha."

I blinked before my best friend and I looked at each other.

"Thank god Kao can't get pregnant."

I muttered under my breath as I heard Kaleb and Rein reassuring each other that everything's fine as I made my way back towards the couch where I sat earlier.

"I'm fine, really. I'm okay, it was just the pregnancy hormones, love. Now where's Pete? Let him continue."

I heard Rein asked and her husband groaned before my best friend stepped away from the computer for his wife to see me but not before he gave me a warning look.

I shrugged at him.

I was just trying to get my feelings out there.

I didn't want to make his pregnant wife cry.

"Where were we?"

I asked no one in particular but my best friend who was standing beside the computer with his arms across his chest answered.

"We're at you being stupid scaring Kao off just when he was slowly easing up at you."

I nodded at Kaleb 's sarcasm because damn it was spot on.

"Right. So now, what do I do!?!"

"Don't ask me, I'm so done telling you what to do but you never listen anyway."

I looked at my best friend trying to give him the puppy eye but he could only flip a finger at me.

"You're disgusting!"

My best friend told me to which his wife called out.

"Hey, Kaleb ! Your child's listening! Stop being mean to Pete."

I smirked at my best friend who glared at me before he heaved a sigh.

"Fine. Okay, here's what I think you should do that I'm sure you wouldn't do but just so I could tell you I told you so later on."

I rolled my eyes at Kaleb but I would be lying if I said that I didn't feel relieved when my best friend walked to where I was and sat beside me.

"Let Kao be."

He turned towards me on the couch and patted my shoulders.

"Give him time. Let him lose and let experience how it feels to be out there again. He had been imprisoned for the last five years. Be it responsibilities or shvtty turn out of events, it kept him from living his life in such a young age. Now that he's finally given another chance, now, that you're finally giving him another chance, let him have it. But it doesn't mean you have to stop caring and looking after him. You should never do that. You just stay where you are, on the sidelines. To help him, but only when he really needs it, not when you feel like you need to. And then, when he's finally ready, that's when you get into his picture."

I looked at Kaleb and saw all the reasons why he was my best friend.

He was just too good with words and making you feel better.

I looked at Kaleb yet again as he looked back at me and we were smiling at each other when suddenly, we heard a loud sob.

We both turned towards the computer and saw Rem.

She was crying again.

I looked back at my best friend beside me who groaned.

"I didn't do anything."

I waved my hand at him before he stood up to console his wife again.

"I love you, honey, you're the best! I'm so happy I married you. Our baby is so lucky to have you. We both are."

I looked my best friend and his wife reassuring and saying I love yous at each other and I couldn't help but smile and feel a little jealous of what they have.

In a way, I was there and saw how they made it where they were in life at the moment.

Married and are about to have kids.

It was not easy.

Specially for my best friend who had to prove himself to Rein's family but they never gave up despite everything and now, they're living the life they've always wanted.

"Great! Slap me with reality some more you disgusting couple!"

I said jokingly as I stood up and made my way out Kaleb's room.

I thought my disturbing them was enough.

"Where are you going!?!"

It was Rem.

"I'm just gonna go to my room and ball my eyes out for not having what you two have."

Rein chuckled before she replied.

"You'll have yours soon. Don't worry."

She smiled that reassuring smile and I smiled my hopeful one.

I just hope it's not yet too late.

"What do you really want with Kao?"

My best friend asked before I could open the door and I just had to freeze for a while and think.

I looked at him after some time and smiled when I finally had my answer.

"I want him back."