twenty-eight

Kao

"Okay. I'm so done! Whoever doesn't talk to me would get indigestion!"

I closed my eyes and inhaled annoyingly before I eyed the guy beside me faking his concentration on the road.

"Why would you say that!?!"

I snapped at him.

"Ugh! Finally."

The guy said before he slightly turned towards me and even did a fake fist in the air.

I rolled my eyes.

A reflex, I realized, I do because of this guy lately.

"Okay, I'm taking it back, you're not gonna get indigestion."

I rolled my eyes yet again before I looked straight ahead.

I was not sure how did he end up this stupid.

I mean, does money make you stupid!?!

Does it turn a responsible grown ass man into a child five years after because damn if it was not happening to Pete.

I mean, back then, he was always the composed one, literally the one word man who always thinks before he speaks, what now!?!

"Why are you acting like a child!??"

I asked him with genuine curiosity when he wouldn't stopped humming about 'someone's scared of indigestion I see' beside me while still driving.

"Because I said that you'll get indigestion!?!"

I gaped at him.

Really?

And you tell me this guy owns an empire!?!

I groaned inwardly before I turned my back at him and looked outside the window.

I should not have gone with him on this trip.

Or at least didn't let him persuade me into tagging along at the restaurant.

"Tsk. Kao, come on, don't be like that. Face me. Hey!"

I heard him called out in a voice I wanted to kick him in the gut for.

"Kao!"

He called out again and I saw by the rearview mirror how he lingered at me while still on the road and I just had to turn around at him.

"Will you look at the road while you drive!?! For someone who owns a company for automotive stuff you're reckless!"

He rounded his eyes and smacked his lips together as he made a show of concentrating on the road.

Ugh!

I am so done!!!

"May I know why you're mad at me again?"

I heard him asked after some time and I couldn't help but turned towards him with my narrowed eyes.

"Why would you say that!?!"

I asked again.

Hoping that he would be able to explain to me the stunt he just pulled earlier.

"I'm just kidding, okay? And it's not like my words could really cause you indigestion it doesn't have anything to do with your stomach."

I groaned inwardly and ran a hand through my hair in exasperation.

This guy is fvcking clueless!

"I meant what you said earlier. Inside. At the restaurant."

How could he be so calm about lying to a friend like that!?!

"Ohh, you mean the reason why you didn't speak to me for the duration of our lunch making me look like crazy talking to myself. Is that it?"

He sounded accusing but I didn't care.

He could not guilt trip me with it.

He lied to Ngoi about us being together as he told me he wanted to score free food and I didn't and don't believe any of it.

He was just tripping and I knew that more so with what he said to me after that which really was the reason why I didn't talk to him.

Because after what he said, my heart and mind could no longer sit still and I hated it.

"You're crazy!"

I told him.

Because he was.

Here I am trying to keep things professional between us but he was obviously not making it any easier for me.

"You're really mad about it? Seriously?"

He asked when we stopped for the red light and he angled himself towards me.

"Ugh! You're such a child!!!!"

I said as I swatted his hand away reaching for me to face him.

"You don't joke about stuff like that Pete, you just don't!"

I didn't mean to but I ended up raising my voice at him.

Well, my heart was violently beating on my chest because of what he said up until then so he really couldn't blame me.

"I'm not-."

I heaved a sigh and shook my head at him.

"If you still want me to work for you, then, I don't want to hear you talking about those crazy stuff okay? Let's make it clear. You have to promise. Do you hear me!?!"

I said as I finally faced him.

"Kao."

I shook my head.

I should never let him talk me into it.

I should be wiser.

"Just promise me."

I looked at him in the eye.

"At least fulfill that promise."

I saw how Pete intended to argue still but right after my last statement, I saw how his face softened before he looked at me and got ready to move the car again.

"Okay. Okay. For now."

He said and I was speechless for a while again.

"Pete!"

He raised an index finder in front of his lips and shushed me.

"For now, let's go and get going to our next stop. Okay?"

He smiled as the light friend green and we were back to the road again.

I was not sure if we were on the same page.

I was not even sure where we were going.

All I was sure about was that, I needed to take this things one step at a time so as for me not to go back to he very beginning.

"Okay."

I said.

"Okay!"

Pete said a little too over excitedly before we drove in silence to wherever he wanted to go which as usual in this trip, he didn't tell me.

But at least, I was feeling a little relaxed now compared to when we were eating in silence earlier after he said what he said whether jokingly or not--I thought I was not able to chew my food properly.

Damn!

I should really get a hold of myself better.

"What are we doing here? You're investing or something?"

I couldn't help but to ask when Pete led me towards the the main building of one of the city's top schools.

"Nope."

He said as he exchanged pleasantries with the people at the front desk.

"Do I really have to go?"

I asked when he regarded me and led me towards annotate walking exercise after he was done with reception and he just looked at me strangely.

"Okay, okay."

I said when I started to feel funny with the way he was looking at me yet again.

"Good day, sir, how may I help you?"

A middle aged but pleasant looking lady asked us.

We were in front of what seemed to be an office with a label but the door that says Dean.

"Pete Gregorio."

I heard him said as I go over my theories as to why we were there.

Although the theory I have only evolved around Pete buying the university or him investing in it.

It's a good university and we're currently at the engineering college.

"Oh, this way please."

The pleasant woman opened the door to the office and ushered us in.

"Thanks."

Pete said while I smiled at her right before I close the door.

"Dean."

Pete wakes straight towards the guy sitting behind the table that says dean.

"Pete. Good to see you."

The Dean who looked just right the same age as the receptionist out front who seemed to be in her late forties stood up and took Pete's hand for a handshake.

"Thank you for meeting me on such a short notice.

The dean shook him head and smiled before he went back to his seat and motioned for us to do the same.

"Oh, don't mention it."

The dean said before he regarded me and I almost leaned back on my chair.

"So, this is he?"

I furrowed my brows at both him and Pete.

"Yes."

The dean smiled at me.

I smiled back.

What now!?!

"Phu Bodin. College of engineering dean."

He said as he reached his last hand out for a handshake which I confusedly took.

"Hello, sir, Kao Alonzo."

Damn!

Why was nervous!?!

This is what I signed up for.

I was supposed to be Pete's secretary for Pete's sakes!

But then again, a heads up from him would be nice tho.

"Yes. I know. And I also saw that you've got a good scholastics record."

I gave out an awkward smile.

I don't have any idea what he was talking about.

"Thanks."

I replied gingerly.

"So, I've personally checked the academic transcript you've sent me and based on the advice from the student affairs and the registrar, he'd qualify for second year irregular standing next semester. If, he'd pass the entrance exam."

The sean went to regarding Pete who instantly looked like a Christmas tree being lit up.

"Wow! That's, really a good news, sir. Thank you."

He said before he glanced at me.

"So, when would the exam be?"

Okay, I'm like lost.

Totally.

Is Pete studying again!?!

"We can arrange one for him anytime."

Wait.

Who's him!?!

"Wow! That's, lovely. Thank you, but I don't think Kao could do it today. So how about I just get back at you when he finally decides on a schedule?"

Kao?

What!?!

"No problem."

The Dean nodded as he sorted out some documents on his table.

"Great. So Uhm, I guess we'll get going now. We don't want to hold you for long."

I heard Pete said all the while I was still trying to make sense of everything that I just heard.

"That's really not a problem, Pete. By the way, here's the application form and the list of requirements for the entrance exam. You just give me a call if you already decided on a schedule alright."

The Dean handed a long Manila envelope to Pete which the latter gladly accepted before he stood firm his chair and initiated another handshake with the Dean and said his goodbye.

"So, what was that about!?!"

I asked no one in particular as we made our way back towards the parking with Pete holding the Manila envelope.

"Are you going back to school?"

I asked Pete as I opened the car door getting ready to get in when he shook his head and smiled at me before telling me something crazy.

"No. But you are."