twenty-nine

Kao

"I-excuse me, what am I gonna do?!?"

Pete stopped to regard me as he was about to get inside the car.

He looked at me as if weighing whether or not my question was serious.

It was.

"Okay. So, I thought it would be better if you continue your education and this time, take up the course that you really want.

Well, that was really thoughtful of Pete to think that way for me.

But the way he went with it?

That's another story.

"These are for you. I've secured you a slot for any of the engineering courses you would like to enroll in next semester."

I was still trying to analyze what was happening and took everything in when Pete circled towards me and handed me the Manila envelope the Dean gave him earlier.

As if on cue, I perused the content of the envelope and gave myself yet another surprise.

"No, I'm sorry-how did you get this?!? This is my transcript this is a private record!"

I said as I waved the papers on his face.

"Well, then, I guess, Kaleb is just too good at his job."

I gaped at Pete's unapologetic answer.

"Really!?!"

I almost yelled at him when he showed no signs of tempered or guilt with what he did to my persona data.

Good think the parking was deserted at the moment.

Saved us from all the responsibilities of having an audience.

"You're angry at me again. I just want to help you out with your university application. I was given the requirements and gave it to Keng to furnish next. I had no idea how he did it and about how transcripts are supposed to be personal. Guess I need to have a word with Keng later when we get back."

Pete gave his half assed explanation before he walked towards the other side of the car and got behind the wheel while I just stood there thinking about how I ended up with this crazy guy in the first place.

"You're over thinking again. Let's just talk about it when we get home later, okay!?!"

Pete said as he reached out to open the side of my door for me but I just stood there looking at him.

I didn't even know why I'm still looking at him.

"Kao?"

Pete coaxed me to get inside the car but instead of doing so, I walked away towards the exit and he had to follow me an convoyed.

"Kao! Come on! Seriously!?!"

The guy was driving slow trying to keep up with me and my quickened strides.

"Kao! Come on! Let's talk about this shall we!?!"

I stopped and scoffed when I heard what Pete had to say.

He had to reverse the car a little so he would be eye to eye with me when I turned towards him.

"Talk!?! After going behind my back with and gathering sensitive informations about me and deciding for me you suddenly wanted to talk now!?!"

It may really be that Kaleb was the one who gathered all those informations about me but as it was with Pete and his being domineering, I was sure Kaleb was also not given a choice but to do what was expected of him.

And so, the blame I would be putting on the table was all for this crazy guy now out of his car and standing in front of me.

We looked as if we were playing catch when he would go where I would as I tried to escape him.

Good thing the students and some university staff I saw walking around us can't be bothered with what was happening.

"Come on, Kao! Would you just listen!?!"

I had to push Pete's hand off my arm when he held it to stop me.

"Bold of you to ask for something you can even hardly give yourself."

I know I've been saying that I was so done with his being too pushy and domineering since the first day I arrived at his place and we saw each other again and yet I chose to stay and even accepted the job of being his secretary and accepted all his being a bully tendencies.

But with the enrollment thing without my knowledge, it seemed as if it would be the last straw for me.

"Okay, fine! My bad. But-. Look, Kao, you are my secretary-."

I groaned loudly and almost clapped my hands when I heard him say it.

"Precisely! I'm just your secretary. I'm on your payroll yes! But that doesn't mean you can just decide on my life for me."

I mean, yes, he made it clear form the very beginning how he wanted to help me, but he should know that some of his ways were to the foolish extent.

"I'm just trying to help you. I'm doing what's best for you. Besides, as my secretary, you need to be well educated. I'm just really doing this for your credentials."

I looked at Pete.

He's got a good excuse yet again.

And it slowly was making sense to me now.

But still, a little heads up would be nice.

"You never told me."

I said quietly but he was able to hear it.

"I meant for it to be a surprise."

I furrowed my brows at him.

Why would he need to surprise me about something?

Of this kind?!?

"I mean, it slipped my mind."

I didn't mean too and I was not sure what I was doing, but I ended up groaning and rolling my eyes at what Pete said.

"Come on, Kao! What's up with that reaction? I'm just trying to help, really."

He said when I shook my head right after.

I was so done with him.

Or I wish I could be.

"By bypassing my decision!?! And what? Giving me yet another charity?"

This time, it was Peter who groaned an obvious protest.

"Why do you always put it like that? I already told you a hundred times, my helping you is in no way out of pity or charity of whatever. And if you'd only be honest with yourself, you would know the real reason why. But that's a discussion for another time. For now, I just want you to trust me on this okay? And with all other stuff that concerns your well being."

I heaved a sigh and bit on my lower lip as I look at Pete.

Up until then, I was not really sure whether to be happy about his so called regard for my well being.

And what's with if I could only be honest with myself!?!

"Peter, how can I even trust you again after all these!?!"

I thought that sounded so dramatic of me but I couldn't help it.

That's what I really felt like saying as to the moment.

"Kao-."

I raised my hand and motioned for him to stop as I realized how our little discussion by the patio was slowly getting attention from all the passers by.

"You know what Pete, I-."

I was not able to finish what I had to say when out of nowhere, the Dean appeared before us.

"Oh, just as I thought, it's you guys! I thought you left already?"

I gave out an awkward smile to acknowledge the Dean we were talking with earlier.

"Dean. Well, actually, we were leaving. We're just discussing something first. How do you know we're here anyway?"

It was Pete who answered.

"I thought I heard you as I made my way towards the conference room for my meeting and I decided to check-."

He trailed off as he looked at me and Pete back and forth.

"Didn't you say he's your secretary."

He asked Pete but was looking at me.

"Yes sir. Yes."

He nodded at Pete's answer but was still looking at me.

"Just as I thought. But Uhm, is it just me or I did really hear him call you by your first name just casually?"

I blinked at the Dean and looked at Pete.

Was I calling him by his first name just casually!?!

Yes!

And Damn!

Because it was out of a habit and I failed to realize that even if this time, the situation had changed.

How did I not see that!?!

"Well, Uhm, we know each other way back and we're friends so, that's really not an issue."

Pete answered on my behalf which made the Dean think.

He nodded after some time.

"You have a point there. But, when you mentioned about your secretary I was thinking, I don't know, maybe out of habit, he'd be less casual in regarding you as his boss."

The Dean said that last part as he looked at me and I didn't know why I felt like he really meant those words for me as if telling me how I should stop being mean and casual to the person who was helping me all these time even if he's being a jerk sometimes.

"Yeah, well, I guess, you can say that our relationship is quite different from the usual boss-secretary relationship? And frankly, I don't feel like discussing such boring topic."

The Dean nodded at Pete as he seemed to have realized how he was being borderline intrusive at the moment.

"Oh, yes, of course, you're right. Anyway, I'm heading to my meeting now. If you have concerns or you've already decide for a schedule you just call me, okay?"

The Dean told Pete before he excused himself and left us there as I tried not to be affected by what the Dean had said.

I am not a genius but I felt like I didn't need to be one to realize what he meant with what he said earlier about me not giving Pete-who was supposed to be my boss the proper respect that he was due.

Going back to what happened about a month ago when he took me in and told me how he had always wanted to help me out I told him I didn't need his help when I knew I did and do and even tried to run away and yet he still helped me and even offered me a job and we've reached this point in my life and instead of thanking him, I even called him out for it.

Yes, Pete's ways are sometimes in a way, weird and out of the ordinary but he had always been that way from the very beginning when I knew him.

And all those ways were always for the welfare and betterment of those who he cares about and I should be the first person to see that but I didn't.

Instead, I went ballistic on my own and decided to bvtch about it.

I groaned inwardly and shook my head before I walked towards the car and silently got inside ignoring Pete calling me from behind.

Why do I have to feel this conflicted anyway!?!

I groaned loudly yet again.

This time, Pete was already beside me on the driver's seat.

"You're over thinking again. You really didn't have to mind what that man said."

He told me before he revved the car and we traveled back to his place in silence.

I ca not not think about what the Dean said.

I was the one who pointed out how Pete and my status were very different now and yet, I didn't seem to think so if we based it on how I regarded and treated him all these while.

He didn't command me any of the respect I very well knew his subordinates and associates in the high class had been and is giving him but I knew that I should know better.

I looked at Pete driving and respecting my silence.

And yet again, I felt bad for the way I had been acting towards him after everything.

Yes I didn't like a lot of the ways he'd used to help me but I knew deep in my heart that beggars can't be choosers and that I was lucky that Pete decided to help me.

Yes there were other concerns that we had to address or I had to address when it comes to us and what happened in the past but Pete had been a huge help to me in the present whether I admit it or not so maybe, just maybe, I should start reconsidering every thing.

Ugh!

I can't believe it just took that one nosy remark from a nosy Dean for me to realize all that.

I looked at Pete yet again and he looked back at me, expecting.

We were on a stop as we're waiting for the light to turn green at the last junction en route to his place.

"Thank you."

I muttered under my breath.

The plan sounded fine when I was not executing it.

"Uhm-yeah? You're welcome?"

Pete sure looked confused but didn't press on about my sudden change of mood.

"I've already decided."

He raised his brows at me obviously wondering what I meant.

What did I even mean anyway!?!

I sighed before I looked away.

Guess this is me trying to me an adult about all these.

I just hope it works.