four

Kao

"Took over the business at age twenty five and now, three years after, Tè, as he is fondly called by the Asian motor industry, was finally able to establish himself and even landed a spot in Forbes' thirty under thirty billionaires."

I kept rereading and rereading the part over and over again last night until I fell asleep and now that I was freshly showered waiting for my door to be unlocked from the outside, I still couldn't believe what I had read from the magazine the jerk told me about.

To top it all, he was even on the cover with his smug face and the bold letters that spelled out the word billionaire in all caps.

How did this happen!?!

The Pete I know was struggling to finish high school in a nearby public school, not because he's dumb as I believed he was not back in the days, but because his only parent couldn't afford the miscellaneous fees.

I heaved a sigh and stared at the magazine in my hand.

It only talked about Pete's success in business and a very slight mention of his businessman father whom I had no idea about as he never talked about him before.

It never mentioned about how he got there.

And Thailand!?!

All I know about Pete's father was that he was American and never knew he existed-as what Pete had told me back then.

I ran my hand over the letters on the glossy paper.

It reads, Pete Apollo Gregorio.

I had always known him to be just Pete Gregorio, as what his school Id says back in the days when I was always the one who brings it to him just so he could get inside their school campus as he always forgot it-with me.

I shook my head.

I ought to forget about stuff like these specially about him, really.

Apparently, there's so much I didn't know about the guy.

Oh well, it was just months in the past anyway.

We're practically strangers.

Specially now.

And if this magazine is legit.

Then Pete and I were definitely heaven and earth.

He, being the heaven only because the jerk was filthy rich and not because of any other connotation because the fact is the guy is a huge jerk!

And I didn't care how rich he was, if given a chance, I would still grab the opportunity to throw things at him and smash him in the face.

"You can ask me questions if you like."

I jolted when I saw him hovered over me sitting one the couch.

How did he even got here!?!

"On second thought, let's do it over breakfast, shall we? I had something prepared for you to belatedly celebrate your birthday."

He had that smile on again and all the more I hated him for it.

"Actually, no. Now, could you tell one of your underlings to bring me my stuff. I'm going."

He held me by my arms to stop me and I had to pull away immediately as if burned.

"Nu-uh! Not so fast Mr. Serrano. You should have breakfast first. And belated birthday celebration, remember?"

He said after he recovered from his surprise with how I forcefully took my arm away.

"How many times do I have to tell you!?! It's not my birthday. You might have mistaken me for some body else."

If I knew, billionaires always have lines and lines of people vying for their attentions.

And Pete as he was, he always had lines of his own even back when he couldn't afford a new boxer shorts.

"You mean the way you've mistaken me for a black market-kidnapper kind of guy?"

He said which made me narrowed my eyes at him and walked off.

Whatever!

I had to think what I had to think that time.

And besides, who knew if it really was his main operation and that the auto mobile parts and stuff was just a font!?!

"Wa-wa-wait. It should be your birthday, alright? Or else, how should I give you your surprise if it isn't?"

He ran after me and blocked my way towards the door.

I closed my eyes as I prayed for patience before him.

"I don't need any surprises. I just want to go home."

Are billionaires supposed to pout!?!

Because he just pouted at me!

And it was not cute!

No way!

"Are you sure?"

He raised his eyebrows at me and that was when I was able to stare at him accidentally.

He had a plain white tees on over an adidas track pants and a one band adidas slippers similar to mine, only his was not as worn out as mine.

Very contrasting to the guy in full business suit on the cover of the billionaire magazine.

I mentally shook my head.

I should really stop thinking about him.

"Positive."

I said as I scurried out the room before he could stop me only to stumble upon someone who was standing by the door.

"Sorry. I'm really sorry-I-Kaleb!?!"

I offered my apology only to gape at the guy standing in front of me.

"Surprise!"

He opened his arms wide opened and even shook it for emphasis.

"Kaleb!?!"

I yelled loudly.

"Is that really you!?"

He nodded animatedly and flashed his wide smile at me.

"In the flesh!"

He said as he jokingly run his hands over his body.

"Oh my gosh Kaleb! Haha!"

I shook my head as we closed our distance with a happy hug.

"Wow! It really is you."

I exclaimed as I pushed him a little and took him back for another round of hug.

"Ahem!"

We both looked at the guy standing by the door with a stern face and that was when I realized how we almost were dressed the same only if not for the obvious fact that mine were rubbish compared to his.

But I had no time to process that fact when he glared at both Kaleb and I.

"How come he's allowed a hug and I'm not!?!"

He said as he pushed Kaleb by the shoulders a little forcefully that Kaleb had to make a step to keep his balance.

"Hey! Kao and I are friends, that's why!"

Kaleb answered before he regarded me.

"Let's catch up some more over breakfast, shall we!?! I helped prepare the food specially for you today."

Forgetting everything at the moment, as I was just really glad I was able to meet an old friend, I nodded and acquiesced.

"Seriously, am I air to you!?!"

Kaleb laughed when we heard what Pete yelled behind us as we made our way towards breakfast.

As it turned out, we were not going towards the lavish dining area I saw last night but even better.

The breakfast was set by the pool I saw last night and as if the grandeur was not enough, it had a view of the city scape, now very visible as the sun shone as if it didn't rain so hard last night.

"Go on, look around first while we wait for the young master. He suddenly had a call to answer."

Kaleb informed behind me as I was busy peeking at the view.

I almost asked him about Pete but I stopped myself.

I asked him a different question instead.

"So, we're still in the city after all, huh?"

I could still see some familiar buildings over where we were on top of the hill.

"Yes. Don't worry. We're just about half an hour away from the city max."

I nodded.

"Pete owns everything here. This was bare about half a year ago."

Kaleb offered the information and I just nodded and smiled at him politely.

I didn't want to know.

The less I know about Pete, the better.

I mean, it's enough that I know how he's overly successful now and how minute I am compared to him at present.

"Hey, you two! In here, enough catching up alone. I'm also part of the team in case you forgot!"

We heard Pete called out by the table.

"Let's go. You know how fussy he can become if he's not given what he wanted. Yes. Even now, he's still like that, I thought, he's even worse now."

I couldn't help but chuckled with what Kaleb said.

"You."

Pete pointed at Kaleb when we were finally at the table.

"In here."

He tapped the chair on his left.

"Kao."

He smiled at me and I just had to roll my eyes.

"In here."

He tapped the the chair on his right but I sat beside Kaleb instead, away from Kaleb.

"Hey!"

Pete complained but Kaleb and I didn't care.

"Shall we eat?"

I smiled and that was when Kaleb called out all of the people I saw last night came with foods in their hands.

The main dishes.

The tall and short guy from last night were lifting a tray of freshly roasted pig and I my mouth couldn't help but watered.

It had been so long since I had one, and it was not even at home because they never share the good stuff with me.

In a matter of minutes, the almost bare table from earlier was now filed with mouth watering food.

It was not a simple breakfast.

They prepared a feast.

"Happy belated birthday, Kao."

Kaleb beamed at me and I couldn't help but smile.

"Thank you, Kaleb."

We both looked towards the where Pete was sitting at the base of the chair as he pushed he dropped his utensils a little too loudly his plate that it bounced off the table.

I heard Kaleb groaned before I heard him called out one of the helpers as they all left after they've set up the table.

"Len, please bring in a new set of cutlery, young master might have purposely dropped his."

I saw how Pete's face darkened the same time girl number three approached him with a new set of spoon and fork after picking up the discarded ones and existed quietly.

"You."

Pete's regarded me with a stern face.

"Why did Kaleb get a thank you while I got a cake smash in the face when we just greeted you the same!?!"

He glared at me but didn't let me answer as he went straight to pointing Kaleb with the fork.

"And you. You're no longer amusing. Get Kao to sit beside me. That's an order!"

I gaped at what he said to Kaleb.

The guy was really something.

Kaleb was his best friend and yet he ordered him like that!?!

This guy needs a kiss in the face.

With my fist.

I looked at Kaleb and was glad that he seemed to have thought the same when he dropped his fist loudly on the table and pushed his chair as he stood up and stared at Pete.

He was right to stand up at this bully.

I was ready to support Kaleb with whatever he was about to do or say only to be disappointed when he turned to me.

"Kao, could you please move over there, so we could start our breakfast? Please?"

My face dropped as I saw Kaleb smiled at me and vigorously nodded his head towards the chair opposite his.

I wouldn't have agreed only if I didn't see him mouth 'please' that I had no choice but to change seat.

I was giving Pete death glares the whole time but he didn't seem to care.

He even filled my plate with foods and even chopped the roast pig for me and gave me what I thought was the crunchiest and yummiest roasted pork skin I have ever tasted.

I didn't like the guy but food is a blessing and I didn't have a chance to eat last night so I gave in.

"So, Kao, how are you!?!"

Kaleb spoke and I felt embarrassed when I realized how I automatically ignored him and concentrated on eating instead.

"I'm good."

I said as I paused and sipped a drink from my fresh buko juice.

"That's nice to hear. So what's your plan now that you finally freed yourself from your evil relat- I mean, so what are you up to now?"

I didn't catch the first few things Kaleb said as I was so immersed with the buttered shrimp and I was embarrassed to ask him again and so I gave out a general answer instead.

"I'm, looking for a job. Actually. Yeah."

No sense lying about it.

Besides, it could also be a good excuse for me to be able to finally go home or wherever given I didn't really have a home to begin with.

"Oh, really? I remember back then you said you wanted to be an engineer, are you an engineer now!?!"

I swallowed dryly before I took a sip of my juice.

I saw how Pete stopped eating and stared at me instead as if waiting for my answer in my peripheral vision but I chose to direct my answer at Kaleb.

"I, really didn't finish college. But I had two years. For a certificate. In office and secretariat technology. It was far from what I wanted but it put food on the table so, it's still okay in the end. I guess."

I saw how Kaleb smiled empathetically at me.

"I'm sorry to hear that, Kao. I'm sorry about your parents too."

I nodded at him and went for a glass of water.

I felt my throat drying up.

"Thanks. But at least you were there. At the funeral."

It had been so long since I cried, even when I was so mad and frustrated with aunty Tal back then, I had trained myself not to cry, but right there and then when I saw how Kaoeb smiled at me and how Pete's face dropped in the corner of my eye with the mention of my parents, I thought I needed to blink my eyes as I took a sip of my water to shake off the tears that were starting to pool.

"Enough about me. How about you? How are you!?!"

I said when I was finally sure I was able to successfully hide my tears.

"Well, I'm married now."

Kaleb raised his left hand at me with his wedding band around his ring finger.

"To Rein."

An even wider smile curved on my lips and I even ended up clapping my hands.

"Really!?! Congratulations!"

He nodded so happily.

"We even have a baby boy on the way."

I smiled at how happy Kaleb looked.

I was also genuinely happy for him.

Who would have thought his life would turn out this way?

"I hate to admit it but, this guy here-."

I couldn't help but look towards Pete's direction and meet his eyes for a spot second when Kaleb regarded him.

"He made all these possible. A year after he disappeared to Thailand without a word, he called me and asked me if I wanted to go there and be with him. The moment I said yes, I was emailed an air ticket and it started from there. Two years ago, I came back to the Philippines to ask Rein to marry me and she said yes and we did after we went back to Thailand and I couldn't be any happier. All thanks to this guy. As difficult as he is."

I smiled at Kaleb all the while Pete beside me stayed quite.

I glanced at him only to glance away quickly when I saw how he was looking at me.

"You mentioned, you're looking for a job right!?! Don't worry, Pete here, has so many of it for you. You can choose any job you like."

I shook my head at Kaleb.

"No need for that really."

The last thing I would want was to owe Pete anything.

I was honest when I said I hate the guy.

And I thought, I hate him even more when I heard what he had to say which rendered both Kaleb and I agaped.

"Right. There's no need for that Kaleb, he's staying with me anyway."