thirty-eight

Kao

Five years ago

I smiled as I saw our intertwined hands.

We were walking back to my house now after we took a walk around the village right after the kiss we just shared.

"Do you want to go for a walk?"

Pete asked.

Breathless when we broke the kiss.

I was panting equally and my brain was clouded as my limbs felt like jellies but I still ended up nodding at Pete and before I knew it, we seemed to have surveyed the whole block with our hands knotted with each other.

Not speaking.

Just looking and smiling at each other like crazy.

Holding hands.

All because he reached for it when we were finally walking back even with other people around.

"So... this is me. Again..."

I said as I bit my lips.

We were back in front of my house.

Standing on the same spot where I finally confessed and poured my heart out to him and then we ended up kissing.

Because he pulled me into him.

I couldn't help but smile at the idea.

But I was also confused.

"Go along. Your parents must have been worried."

He said as he glanced at my house with the shadows of my parents moving inside the house.

Could it be that they saw what we did earlier?

And if they did, what now?

I could not wrap my thought around the fact as still feel Pete's warm hands in mine.

His right index finger slithering around mine and even if I wanted to, I could not seem to stop myself from feeling so happy with the thought.

"Right. So..."

I trailed off and looked him in the eye as his hand was still around mine.

The soft light from the nearby lamppost cascaded on his face giving it a more dreamy look.

But looking at him now, with his face blank but his eyes smiling at me, I thought it felt so surreal even for a dream.

"So what?"

He asked after some time of just staring at each other.

His quiet raspy voice sounded like an ode to my ear.

I looked up at him.

I have risked too much of me and my heart for tonight and somehow, it yielded me a kiss.

Guess there's no harm in pushing my luck way further that this.

At least, whatever happened, I could say that I did and tried my best and told Pete about my feelings.

"So what happens after this?"

I whispered and bit on my lower lip when I saw that he heard it.

"What are we?"

I held my breath when I was finally able to put it out there and I thought that was the longest thirty seconds of my life.

"We are us."

I blinked at Pete when I finally heard him speak.

Not sure what to make out of his answer until he spoke again and I thought I never could have heard anything better.

"And you."

He took a step closer to me as he leaned back her and whispered in my ear.

"You are mine."

Present time

"Mine."

I blinked at Pete as he hovered over me.

"Mine."

I whispered softly the words we loved to call ourselves in private.

"Huh?"

Pete hummed.

"Huh!?!"

I jolted when I noticed Pete's hand extending to me with a drink in his hand and that was when I realized, I was spacing out an imagining things what the fvck!?!

"I mean, yeah. Yeah. Yours. Of course, the green soda is yours. Mine is the blue one. Thanks."

I said as I grabbed the drink from his hand all the while chiding myself.

Stupid!

"You sure you don't want anything more?"

I shook my head at Pete as I stood by his car ready to open the passenger door and get in.

We were at my university parking and I was just finished with our group project which we ended up doing at the university instead of a classmate's house.

I was just done waving goodbye to my classmates when my new phone-courtesy of my job, rang and saw that I got an incoming message from Gum.

I felt relieved after I read what he just sent telling me he wouldn't be able to fetch me because Pete suddenly asked him to do something.

And advantage of my part, really.

Initially, I didn't really want him to bring me to school earlier in the morning and I was ready to tell Pete that.

But after what happened during our last conversation, my mind can't seem to function properly that I was not able to say no when he insisted on having one of his drivers send and pick me up from the university after.

Some time after, during lunch and being I spaced out most of the time while doing our group project that my group mates had to call my attention multiple times before I could actually notice them and give them my ideas because of how Pete's words kept ringing in my ear, and thinking about the talk he meant getting closer as the sun sets and I was not and I thought I would never be ready for, I came up with the idea of not having Gum fetch me from university so I could take the public transport instead.

Compared to just sitting comfortably at the back of an expensive car with a personal driver, the weekend traffic from the university to Pete's place would be hellish, but I thought, it was a better option than facing him at he moment.

Not after all that he just said before I left earlier.

Ugh!

I'd like to convince myself that he was just joking and he didn't really mean what he said but unfortunately, in the short span of time that we were together, I somehow knew how he thinks and that worried me even more.

And that was why, I needed to delay the talk as longer as possible and commuting back home would be the best option since I've long resigned the fact of running away the moment I signed up for the university.

Or it could also be because whether I admit it or not, something or rather someone was making me want to stay.

And I kind of like don't like the idea.

I didn't want to make the same mistakes again.

But I guess, the universe had a different plan when about an hour after Gum told me he could not not fetch me, I got another text from him informing and apologizing saying that he could not make it-which somehow brightened my whole mood for the remaining hours into contributing to finishing our group project and I walked out of the library to Pete waiting at the university parking leaning on his expensive ass car.

"What are you doing here!?!"

I couldn't help but asked when I reached to where he was.

"Fetching you."

He said as he stood up straight and faced me.

"I thought Gum was with you? He said he asked you to do something for him."

Gum didn't just lie to me, did he!?!

"I did. And that was to tell you he couldn't make it so I could make it instead."

I made a face at Pete who looked too regal with his plain white tees over a dark brown denim and his Gucci spandrils this show off jerk!

He even brought his luxury car instead of the normal one.

"Why?"

I aske, as a filler since I really didn't know what to think and say anymore.

"You know why, I can't have you running away from me again. Get in!"

Pete signaled for the car and I could only heaved a sigh.

Just what is he saying!?!

"Sir-Pete..."

I trailed off when Pete narrowed his eyes at me when I used the honorific at him.

"Save it for later. I'll listen. I promise. For now, just listen to me first."

I was about to protest when I saw how the jerk was pouting at me.

"I was standing here waiting for you for about an hour under the heat, can I at least have a drink? Do you know some place near where we can grab some refreshments?"

I rolled my eyes for the nth time.

Who the hell told him to do what he did!?!

Now, I'm supposed to help him out!?!

"Kao...I'm serious. I'm really really thirsty."

He looked up at me and even massaged his dried throat.

"Nobody told you to wait there."

I said as I was thinking about a place in the campus where I could bring him.

Somewhere secluded that is.

"I know, but I was afraid you wouldn't see me when I get here and I would not see you when you get home and so I had to make sure to make my presence known to you."

I facepalmed.

Billionaires and their logic!

"What are you, a haunting ghost!?

I said.

"Please?"

Pete reached out for the hem of my shirt and playfully tugged at it.

"Fine! There's a canteen two buildings away, from here you can get something to drink there."

I said after finally ended up deciding the place I wanted to tell Pete where.

"Great! Let's go?"

I rolled my eyes and made him see before we ended up at the university's main canteen.

I thought, being this close to Pete as we walked inside the canteen was unnerving enough.

I didn't know having people look at him with me as he strutted casually and confidently watching his every more was far much worse.

Nothing can beat walking next to your insecurities.

Much more when he regards you closely.

"What would you suggest I get?"

He asked me as we stood there choosing a stall to buy from.

It was the weekend so the place was not that crowded.

Although I saw how there were enough people to actually swoon and whisper at each other about how hot the guy beside me is.

Geez!

What's the use of whispering girls when I could very well hear you from where you were just two tables away from us.

"I suggest you eat, since your are thirsty."

I didn't meant to sound too cold but I was not able to stop myself when I snapped at Pete after I heard some girls on a table not far from where we were standing talk about how they would have no problem having Pete in exchange for food.

Why are they laughing it's not even funny!?!

I mentally rolled my eyes and tried to stop listening to the whispers around about Pete when he was finally able to find what he wanted.

But I could only endure a little when I heard another group daring the prettiest girl in their table to go and ask for Pete number.

The girl was actually standing up and making a move towards where Pete was ordering a drink and I thought I could not bear seeing him entertain everyone and so I excused myself and walked out despite him calling me.

I ended up waiting at him in the car calling him mine.

Shvt!

"Let's go?"

Pete asked when I was finally able to tuck myself securely on the passenger seat beside him and I could just nod when my heart started beating so fast yet again.

And it was the case the more we got closer and closer to the house.

"Hmm."

I heard my reply instead.

I was afraid to speak as I was sure my voice would shake and I could not afford that.

Not when there's no more left of me to be proud about.

Not after I just gave in to Pete yet again despite me promising myself otherwise.

"Alright. Let's go!"

Pete said and drove off.

We were quite in the car for sometime before Pete spoke.

"Rein finally gave birth."

I nodded at him.

I was messaging Kaleb just then.

He was too happy he had told me about it more than three times already and I was happy for him.

"Yeah. Kaleb told me. We've actually set a date tomorrow after lunch. They'd show me their baby."

I was thinking about Kaleb and Rein so fondly and the fact that they now have a baby and smiled heartily.

They really did make it.

And I'm glad they did.

At least.

I smiled.

This is crazy, I should stop thinking about it really!

And I was about to do just that when Pete suddenly said something which rendered me high and speechless all throughout our ride.

"Our time will come soon, don't worry."