ten

Kao

"Let me down! You! Hey! Pete! You Jerk! Let me down!!! Ahhhhh!!!! Let me down!"

I screamed on top of my lungs as I'm seeing the world entirely on a different perspective with how I was positioned over Pete's shoulder as he dragged me back to my room.

I was pushing and slapping him on his back wriggling with all my might but the guy's arm over my thighs were enough to keep me still.

"Stop moving!"

He said as he slapped my butt and I could only widened my eyes.

"How dare you touch me you jerk!"

I slapped his butt back as a retaliation but he didn't even flinch while mine still stung from when he slapped it.

"Hey!"

I was stunned when he put me down on his arm carrying me bridal style and laid me down on my bed when we finally arrived in my room.

"You should eat more. You weigh like a paper."

I picked up a pillow at threw it at him as a reply but the asshat was quick to catch it and put it aside.

"And you throw like a baby. No wonder people just bully and order you around."

Ahhh!!!!

Could there be any more person who's more annoying that this guy!?!

"Yes. And that people is you! And you alone! What were you thinking carrying me that way!?!"

I could still see the surprise and amused faces of the helpers as well as Kaleb when they saw me being dragged by Pete over his shoulders.

"And what were you thinking falling off places twice on the same day!?! Not to mention with a sprain!!!Don't you really have no regard for your well being!?!"

The jerk was now yelling back with the same intensity as I did.

"I just fell on to the floor what's the big fuss!?! And what's it with you!?!"

I almost walked up to him from the bed when I remembered my crutches were still downstairs.

"You almost fell off a cliff the other day and almost fell off the stairs today and I found you on the floor minutes ago, what do you suppose I react huh!?! You're in my place. In my house, you are my responsibility. As a responsible adult, I can't let anything happen to you."

I blinked at him and with what he said.

So all these because he thought I was his responsibility!?!

What made him think that way anyway!?!

"You could have just leave me alone if I bother you so much!"

I told him.

"I was fine living with myself until you drag me here!"

He really didn't have to bring me here if he thinks so much about me as a responsibility.

Even for an ex boyfriend this is too much.

Regardless of whether or not he's rich or what not.

"Really?!? You're fine? So you really enjoyed being rifted off by your aunt and cousin is that it!?! You really enjoy working two jobs with menial pay with very little to nothing left for yourself? Is that what you meant by living just fine!?!"

How dare this guy insult me and my jobs!?!

Just because he's rich and earns millions in an hour did not mean he can belittle me this way.

"I'm sorry if that didn't scale up to the life you were able to achieve and live but I enjoyed fending for myself. As for my aunt and cousin, at least they stayed with me and didn't leave-."

I swallowed dryly when I realized I said what I said.

"I had to leave. Kao. I'm sorry if I didn't say goodbye but you have to believe me when I tell you that I did it for us."

I looked at Pete and scoffed.

Did I hear him right.

For us!?!

When?!?

When did we ever become us!?!

"Don't make me laugh, Pete. I was never a part of your plan. You made that clear five years ago when you just disappeared without a word. And, us? Are you serious? Are you too bored with your life, with your billionaire life that you're now back to pestering me and showing off, in my face, how your life got better without me in it!?! Is this what this is all about!?!"

I tried to not think about it although the thought crossed my mind multiple times.

It's just too cruel and sad and painful if it was the case.

I thought, it was more painful than him leaving without a word.

"You're right. You caught me."

I swallowed dryly when I heard what Pete had to say.

My throat suddenly dried up as my chest constricted.

I should not be hurt this way.

I should have known from the start.

"I'm pestering you now and showing off in your face how despite having all these, with all the money and power and fame, I still couldn't be happy with my life because you're not in it."

I blinked at Pete.

The tears about to fall suddenly ceased.

"So I'm sorry, if I still couldn't let go of us."

He continued and I suddenly didn't know what to say.

"Yes. You were never a part of my plan. Not a part. Because the day I met you, you became the plan. You're the reason why I wanted my life to be better. Unfortunately, I had to leave for me to be able to do that, and I'm sorry if I was not able to say goodbye and ask you to wait for me. And even more sorry to realize that you really didn't in the end."

Pete went on speaking and I didn't realize I was already crying.

"But I understand. It's okay if you no longer feel the same way you felt for me back then. I won't force you. I don't have the right. But can you at least give me this one thing, Kao? Please? Let me help you. Let me help you get your life back. The life that was taken away from you and was made even harder when I left. Please?"

Is this how Pete sees me all these time?

Am I really that pitiful in his eyes that he would go to this length just so he could help me out!?!

And should I be happy that it was the case!?!

But what do expect any way!?!

"You. Did you feel bad that you eventually had a good life and I didn't? Is this what these were all about!?!"

I saw how Pete's eyes shifted from being sad to disappointed at a very quick rate.

Was it because he felt bad that I read on his plan!?!

"Is this how you see it?"

He asked me after a loud sigh.

"Yes."

I answered and I heard him scoffed.

"Then if that's the case, will you let me rectify my guilt?"

Should I really let him?

"So what? Like you want to be my provider now!?!"

I asked right after I dried my eyes and face.

Pete snickered with what I said.

"Is it what it takes for you to let me help you out?"

Is this guy asking to be my guardian?

Does he really want to help me this much!?!

But the the most important question is, should I let him!?!

"Really, Kao, what makes it so hard for you to accept my help?"

Pete asked after a while of the both of us staying quiet and I could not bring myself to answer him.

Because I didn't know too.

Guess I'm just really used to being alone all these years that I find it really hard to accept help from people.

But Pete is no ordinary people.

For one, he's stinking rich.

Two, he offered to help me out himself.

And three, I was in lo-!

No!

Stop right there Keno!

Hold yourself out.

You don't want to hurt yourself more that you already did.

"So what's the stake? What's in it!? If I accept your help?"

I saw Pete's face lit up as he walked towards where I was and kneeled on the floor to level with me.

"You'll finally accept my help!?!"

I rolled my eyes.

"I'm just asking, what will be in the offer."

He made a face at me.

"What do you mean?"

I sighed.

For a celebrated businessman, Pete seemed to be clueless.

"I mean, I can't pay you or anything."

He made a face at me.

"I'm not looking for you to pay me."

I raised my eyebrows at him.

"I can't just accept your help without me giving something in return."

I told him upfront and he just dismissed the idea.

"You really don't have to give me something in return. You just let me help you and it would be enough for me."

Pete said enthusiastically.

"I can't. If I accept your offer. I should give you something to at least compensate the help."

Pete rolled his eyes at me and I almost laughed with how I was crying earlier versus how I badly wanted to laugh at the guy for no apparent reason.

"It's called help for a reason, Kao."

I groaned and regarded him.

"Are we gonna argue about this again?"

Pete was quick to shake his head.

"No."

He said as he stood up and clapped his hands.

"Alright. Okay. Uhm, right! How about you be my secretary!?! You graduated with a certificate in office technology right!?!"

I furrowed my brows at him.

I was no longer surprised he knew that.

"So, it's settled then?"

He said when I didn't speak.

"I still have to think about it."

I heard him groaned before he regarded me.

"Oh, come on, Kao! Do you really have to!?!"

I looked at him sternly.

"Fine! Fine! You have until tomorrow to give me your answer. I mean, your answer should be yes. What I want tomorrow is your decision about the compensation you're going to give me, yes?"

He nodded at me still processing my reply.

"Great! So Uhm, do you need help cleaning yourself!?!"

He asked after a while as he motioned towards me still with flour all over and I had to give him the glare.

"No. Okay. I'll let you be then. I'll have someone bring you your crutches in a short while. For now, just go and do whatever you want. I'll have your dinner be brought here so you can rest. See you tomorrow, okay?"

He said before he closed the door and left me alone in my room to run through what just happened.

I heaved a deep sigh which caused the flour on me to fly off and I could only shake my head.

Maybe I'll just have to ask one of the helpers to change the sheets for me.

For now, I just want to think about Pete's offer.

He really wanted to help me.

He made that clear.

And even if it was not the reason I wanted but at least I could still see that he cares for me after all these years.

But what reason do I even want anyway!?!

I shook my head.

I should stop thinking about it.

I should focus more on what's on hand.

And it was Pete's offer.

And a good one at that.

Maybe he's right.

Maybe I really needed this.

Maybe I really needed to have a fresh start.