S. F. - 10: SIDE CHAPTER - KAO

A/N: This one is in Kao's POV because I guess we're all too curious about how his life's gonna get entangled with Pete's, right? 😆😆

Sorry if this chapter took so long. I'm seriously drowned with paperwork and I'm not even done checking my students' outputs and assessment papers. 😩😩

By the way, special shoutout to Newwiechan for messing with my mind about PeteNew and TayKao possibilities. 😆😆

Hope you like this one guys. xoxo 💙💕

-ladycrookshanks

***

Kao.

"Kao, are we seriously fighting over this?"

I abruptly ended the call, not even letting Tay finish whatever reason he had for not showing up in his unit the whole day. 

I admit. It was partly my fault Tay was acting that way. I hate to think that in the relationship, it seemed like I was the only one holding on to the line whilst he was already slowly letting go. Or did he even hold unto it in the first place?

He didn't really love me, but I was hoping he would. I was thinking he should after everything we'd been through. After everything I did for him. I was the one who saved him from his sorrows when the woman he loved the most died. I was the one who saved him when he could barely make it out alive.  I was the one who gave him comfort, both emotionally and physically. I was the one who gave him a reason to go on living. 

So, although the possibility of him loving me back was quite vague, I gave it a shot. I demanded something from him, something I knew he wouldn't be able to refuse because he owed me so much. 

I furiously wiped the tears on my cheeks as I looked for a taxi  for I still had to go to work. Aside from my work at the bar as a bartender, I worked as a staff at a mall. 

I never had anyone else with me. I was orphaned at a young age so I had to make ends meet to support my daily needs.

My aunt took me in after my parents died, but then she started upbraiding me for all the things she had done for me so I decided to flee and raise myself. I didn't even get to finish studies. Tss. Just how can life be so cruel.

I grunted as I glanced at my wristwatch. I needed to be at the mall in ten minutes but there were no vacant taxis.

I stomped my foot furiously, something I usually do when I panic but eventually muttered a silent prayer of thanks when a vacant taxi was coming my way. I immediately flagged it down but before I could grab the door handle, someone else's hand already did.

I glared at the person whose hand was on the handle but eventually cocked an eyebrow when I saw who it was. It was definitely the same guy who interrupted my conversation with New days before.

"Uhm. Can you let go of my hand?" he asked as my hand was on top of his in my attempt to open the car door. 

"I saw it first," I gritted my teeth as I stared at him.

"But I got to it first."

"Back off. It's my taxi."

"Does it have your name on it?"

I tightened my grip on his hand to show him that I was dead serious. 

"You can't scare me with that. You're gripping me like how a small kid would."

"HEY YOU TWO! ARE YOU JUST GONNA STARE AT EACH OTHER LIKE THAT? COME INSIDE! I'LL DROP YOU OFF AT A NEARBY MOTEL!"

We both looked at the taxi driver who was obviously furious at the delay we'd cause.

"EXCUSE ME? WHO WOULD FUCK HIM?!" 

We both said in unison.

***

I glared at the man beside me through the rearview mirror. I had no choice but to be in the same space as he was for I was already running late and since he was also on his way to the mall, the driver insisted we take the same cab.

"It's not healthy for the relationship if you will let a fight last longer than a day. You should really talk it out as a couple."

We both raised an eyebrow at the driver who was continually glancing at us through the rearview.

"Excuse me?" I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yaaah, I know a relationship could get tough but you should definitely talk about your problems before they go out of hand."

"Excuse me but we're not in a relationship. And besides I'm not gay."

I scoffed at the guy beside me whilst he just put on a straight face.

"Tsk. Tsk. That's what my brother also said but look at him now, definitely head over heels for his husband," the driver chuckled and pulled over in front of the mall. "Here you are. 170 Baht." 

I quickly grabbed my wallet from my pocket and pulled out half of the fare.

"Here. You get the half from him," I muttered and quickly got off the cab.

***

I massaged my shoulders after arranging the products in the shelves in the grocery section of the mall. I was leaning over to fix the pack of noodles when something hit my back.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I lost control of the trolley."

I whirled around to tell the customer it was fine but the smile on my face eventually vanished the moment I came face to face with the guy earlier.

I rolled my eyes instead of apologizing and was ready to leave when he called me out. 

"Hey, is that how you treat your customers here?"

I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms across my chest. 

"Depends on the attitude of the customer."

"Okay. I'll just report this to the customer service. Or better yet, I'll talk to the management. "

I swallowed the lump in my throat and unfolded my arms. I couldn't afford to lose this job or I'd be back to square one. My rent was overdue and I basically had to work double as I was also saving money for my studies.

"What do you want?" I asked in surrender.

He then handed me a small piece of paper. "Help me find these."

I scowled as I read the list of items that he had to buy.

"Tsss. You can't even do simple things like grocery shopping," I mocked him as I grabbed five cans of pineapple juice and placed them in his cart.

"I ran out of stock at my unit and my helper has an emergency. I had no choice."

"Rich kid."

"Well, it's not my fault for being born rich."

"Yeah. Good for you," I murmured as I continued grabbing the items on the list whilst he pushed the cart.

"By the way, I'm Pete. And you are?" he introduced himself out of nowhere. I just ignored him and grabbed a bottle of shampoo from the top shelf.

"Okay, if you don't wanna introduce yourself, it's okay, Kao."

I quickly looked at him as he said my name, quite confused and astounded as to how he knew it. I sighed and looked at my nameplate. That was probably where he got my name.

"Do you need anything else?" I asked him as I placed the last item in the cart.

"Where are the condoms placed?" he blurted out in a loud voice.

My eyes widened at his question as several pairs of eyes looked at our direction.

***

I arranged my things in my bag as I readied myself for my shift at the bar. My boss told me to be there an hour earlier as someone rented the entire place for a party.

I was waiting for a taxi when all of a sudden, a car stopped in front of me.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Pete stuck his head out of the window.

"Work," I answered sparingly.

"Oh, where? I can drop you off. You know, in exchange for your help earlier."

"No thanks."

"Oh, come on. Don't tell me you're gonna argue with someone for a cab again."

I shot him a dangerous glare and inwardly groaned when I felt wet drops on top of my head.

"Urgh. Why does it have to rain all of a sudden?" I muttered to myself.

"Kao, come on. Get inside."

I grunted as I went around his car and opened the passenger seat.

"This is just in return for my help earlier," I announced the moment I closed the car door.

Pete just chuckled and drove off. "So, where are you off to?"

"The Groove."

"Oh really? That's where I'm going, too. Actually my friend is throwing a party there for his birthday. By the way, so that means you have two jobs?"

"Three actually. I tutor at some days, too."

He glanced at me and I could see the shock in his face.

"I-I'm sorry. Just couldn't believe how you managed to juggle all those things at once."

"Not everyone is lucky to be born rich like you."

He cleared his throat as he made a turn.

"By the way, how come you rode a taxi when you have a car?" I asked as a roamed my eyes inside his car. I scowled as I spotted the box of condom on the dashboard.

"Oh, my sister borrowed it earlier as hers was at the repair shop."

"Do you always display your condoms everywhere?" I cocked an eyebrow as I glanced at his direction.

"It's best to be prepared, right?" he snickered and parked his car by the bar.

"So you mean, you also do it here?" I asked in disbelief as I scanned the interior of his car for possible traces of his indecency.

"Why? Haven't done it in a car before?" he turned towards me and stared at me with such intensity that I couldn't help but feel something I couldn't put into words.

I cleared my throat and gave him an equally intense gaze.

"Nah. And I don't want to. It's way too cramped. Thanks for the ride. See you inside."

***

I scowled as I watched the group of students made their way towards the dance floor. One of them had his birthday thus the party and I couldn't help but get bitter over the fact that some could just literally throw their money over nonsensical things whilst some had to break their backs just to bring food to their table.

I spotted Pete amongst the crowd, a girl latched unto him like some kind of leech. I didn't know but I suddenly had this urge to remove her hands off his arm and break her fingers one by one.

I continued giving the ones at the counter their shots and warded my attention off them.

It was around midnight when I saw New entering the bar. I hated him, well sort of. I hated the fact that Tay seemed to give him extra attention than a professor should have for a student. And the mere fact that he slept over at his house just irked me even more.

I observed them in the corner of my eyes whilst they went back to the corner and started drinking. New seemed to be conscious of his alcohol intake but his friends somehow got him to drink more.

I was mixing some cocktail drink for a lady when a very familiar figure entered the bar. I couldn't help but break into a smile when I saw Tay walking towards me thinking that he was there to make amends with me.

"Tay!" I called him out whilst smiling from ear to ear.

"Have you seen New?"

My smile eventually vanished the moment I heard his question.

"Seriously, Tay?" I asked in utter disbelief whilst fighting the urge to throw the glass at him.

"Oh, good evening, Mr Tay! Are you looking for New? I saw him walking towards the rest room."

I glared at the guy who was approaching the bar counter hoping he'd drop dead on the floor for poking his nose in other's business.

"Tay."

I called him out and I couldn't help but notice the desperation in my own voice.

"Let's talk when I come back to my unit, okay?"

I bit my lips to stop myself from crying and followed him towards the rest room but he already had New in his arms and just walked past me like I was some kind of air.

"Oh, what are you doing here?" I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Fuck you," I muttered and walked away from Pete before he could notice the tears on the side of my eyes.

***

I furiously kicked the stone I found whilst walking by the side walk after my shift and flinched when it hit something.

"Hey, I know you're not in the good mood but please don't break my car."

I raised my eyebrow as I spotted Pete leaning against the wall.

"Tsss. Oh, you're the one who's rich," I sarcastically replied and went past him.

"You like him, don't you?"

"Who the hell are you talking about?"

"Mr. Tay."

"Tsss. Are you crazy?" I quickened my pace but he was following me closely.

"Oh, come on. I saw how you looked at him back there."

"Will you stop following me??" I snarled at him but he just scoffed.

"What do you want??" I asked as I stopped walking and faced him.

"What do you want?"

"Do you like me?" I asked without apprehensions.

"I may or I may not."

"I have a boyfriend."

I furrowed my eyebrows at him and continued walking, quicker this time.

"Yeah, who happened to be carrying another guy in his arms."

"He's his student. He's supposed to take care of his welfare."

"Oh, really? What other lies do you make yourself believe so you can spare yourself the heartbreak?"

I immediately whirled around and gave him a punch on the face. As everything happened so suddenly, he wasn't able to evade my fist. He clutched his face but eventually snickered.

"Wanna grab a drink?" I asked out of the blue.

***

Pete snickered as I chugged down my second can of beer.

"Tsss. Drink slowly. We have lots of cans here."

I chuckled as I crumpled the can easily before grabbing another one.

"Why do men always take other feelings for granted??" I asked as I looked at the waves.

After buying countless cans of beers, Pete drove off to the nearby sea so we could according to him "breathe some fresh air."

"You're a man, too."

"Tsss. Fuck you."

We sat there in silence. Only the sound of the waves hitting the shore could be heard.

"I gave him my all. I saved him from despair. I did everything for him to love me back, but I guess shit happens when you're the only one who's holding on to the relationship. Tsss. Am I that hard to love?? I mean, I'm not rich and I didn't finish studies but don't I have the right to be loved? Why is life so hard?"

Pete didn't say anything and just listened to all my rants as I chugged down another can of beer.

I remember when I first noticed that you liked me backWe were sitting down in a restaurant waiting for the checkWe had made love earlier that day with no strings attachedBut I could tell that something had changed how you looked at me then.

I glanced at Pete who started singing out of nowhere.

"So you like Cigarettes after Sex?" I asked as I opened my nth can of beer.

"Sorry, but I don't smoke and I'm a virgin."

I cocked my eyebrow and stared at him with a straight face.

"I'm just kidding! Why do you have to be so serious?" He immediately said, his laughter hollering in the area.

"About which one? The first or the second part?" I asked, still with a straight face.

He then stopped laughing and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"Both," he replied sparingly as he leaned in closer and closed the gap between us.

***

I groaned as the sunlight hit my face. My back hurt like hell and I could barely move my hips.

I slowly opened my eyes as I recalled what happened last night and eventually muttered a curse when I realized where I was.

I immediately looked at the driver's seat and saw Pete soundly sleeping.

Everything inside was a mess. Our clothes were on the car floor and I almost lost my shit when I saw three used condoms on the dashboard.

"Oh, fuck, Kao what have you done??" I muttered to myself as I grabbed my clothes and get dressed before going out of the car.

***

Song: Cigarettes after Sex - K

picked this song randomly and then I realized K could stand for Kao