S. F. - 08

***

New.

"Here."

I scowled as Pete blocked my way and handed me a small card.

"Earth wants you to have this. He can't give it to you personally because he has a basketball game right now so he told me to give you this."

I just neglected him and went on my way but as I took another step forward, he abruptly grabbed my arm.

I immediately whisked his hand away and glared at him hoping he'd understand that I didn't wanna talk to him.

"Look Pete. I don't give a fuck what that card is. Give it back to him. I don't need it."

I expected him to walk away as I was being rude but instead he let out a soft chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

"I just find it cute that you know my name when we weren't even introduced in the first place. Have you gone around asking for my name?"

He snickered and cocked his head to one side and how I wish I could wipe that smug look off his face.

I clenched my fist, ready to give him a punch any time but then he tapped my shoulder and placed the card on the front pocket of my uniform.

"See you around."

He tapped my shoulder once more and left.

"See you around, asshole," I mimicked his words and raised my middle finger at his back.

"New, can we talk?"

I jolted as I heard a familiar voice from my back.

I cleared my throat as I came face to face with Kao. I kept a straight face though I was quite confused why he was there. I looked at his back but Mr Tay was not with him.

"Yeah. Sure."

"What's with you and Tay?" he asked immediately without any apprehension and I could sense the firmness in his voice.

"Uh, I'm his student and he's my professor. That's it. Why?"

"Then why do you have a photo on his phone??"

I cocked my eyebrow as I stared at him, quite confused of what he was talking about.

"Photo?"

He immediately fished his phone out of his pocket and showed a picture of me sleeping.

"I got this from his phone. Huh, so you dare deny your relationship with him? He even slept at your house and you dare say there's nothing between you two??"

"Wai-wait!" I quickly ducked as he aimed a fist at my face.

"Kao, it's not what you think, okay? He was sick that time and it so happened that he offered to send me home. I just can't let him drive on the road whilst barely managing to grip the wheel!"

"Then explain the fucking photo on his phone!"

"I-I don't know. I seriously don't know. I know I just accidentally knew about your relationship but I swear to heavens there's nothing going on between us. You can go ask him!"

I bit my lips as I watched him breathe heavily, his chest moving up and down and his fists still clenched.

I was about to say something more when all of a sudden he charged towards me and grabbed my collar.

"You better be telling the truth or I swear I'll come after you."

"What's happening here?"

I quickly turned to look at Pete who had a confused look on his face.

"Who the hell are you?!" Pete grabbed Kao away from me, earning a dangerous glare from the latter.

"Don't touch me!" Kao raged as he whisked Pete's hands away and grabbed his phone that fell on the ground.

"Stay away from Tay," he warned me before turning on his heels to leave.

"Tay? The new professor? Is that his brother?" Pete asked as he moved towards me.

I quickly slapped his hand away as he attempted to fix the collar of my uniform.

"Stay away from me. And why are you back here?"

"Oh," he exclaimed as if he just remembered the reason he came back. He then handed me his phone.

"You're giving me your phone?" I asked sarcastically and cocked an eyebrow at him.

He just chuckled at my question.

"Give me your number."

"And why should I?"

"Actually it's Earth who is asking for your number."

"Tsss. Type it," I crossed my arms across my chest and smirked.

"Okay."

"08-8765-4321."

"Okay than– Wait, what?" he quickly looked at me after I gave him my number.

"Hey, I'm being serious, here."

I just shrugged my shoulders and then started walking away from him.

"Hey, you just can't leave after giving me a hoax number."

I rolled my eyes as he walked beside me and matched my pace.

"Look, tell your friend Earth or whoever planet that is asking for my number that I don't give my number to random people I don't even know."

"See, that's why you should give your number so you can get to know each other."

I heaved a deep sigh and stopped on my tracks.

"Look, Peter."

"It's Pete."

I scowled at him. Look, I intentionally said his name wrong so he wouldn't have any ridiculous idea as to why I knew his name.

"Pete or Peter, can you just leave me alone. I'm trying my best not to punch you on the face, okay? So can you do me a favor and get out of my face."

"Just give me yo–."

We both jolted as we heard a loud honk behind us.

Fuck, what a lucky day.

I internally groaned as Mr Tay came into view.

"New, I'll drop you off. I have something to give to your mom anyway."

"No thanks, Sir. I can manage on my own."

"Okay, if you won't come with him then can we finish our business here?"

I glared at Pete who handed his phone to me.

"Your number."

Mr Tay honked his car once again and I couldn't help but scowl as I looked at them alternately.

Fuck. Would I rather be stuck in a car with Mr Tay for less than an hour or be continuously bugged by this scum?

Okay, fine!

I gave Pete one last look and headed towards Mr Tay's car, leaving Pete with a dismayed look on his face.

***

"You could have just given me whatever it is that you need to give mom."

I decided to break the silence since we'd been stuck in the traffic and the silence was starting to get into my nerves.

"She invited me for dinner and I couldn't say no."

"Wait, what?!" I exclaimed in utter disbelief but he didn't say another word.

"H-how about Kao?" I cleared my throat and shifted on my seat. "I saw him earlier...at the uni."

It was then enough to make him turn to me.

"Huh? What was he doing there?"

"He-he actually said he wanna talk to me."

"About what?"

"Tsss. Just some random stuff. Nothing serious. I bet he was looking for you at school."

"He didn't tell me he was coming over though."

Should I ask him about the photo? But wouldn't it be awkward? Fuck, why the hell am I getting conscious around him????

"I, he, I mean he actually showed me a photo he said he got from your phone. Fuck!"

I cursed as he stepped on the brakes unannounced.

"Are you trying to kill me?!" I blurted out as I massaged my chest.

"What photo??"

I winced when he abruptly grabbed my arm.

"Wa-wait-"

"I said what photo??"

"O-of me while sleeping. He said he got it from your phone and he asked me what's between us."

I immediately massaged my arm the moment he let it go and leaned back on my seat.

I was expecting him to explain the reason behind the photo but he didn't say a word and just went back to driving.

Why was he so damn furious?! Tsss

I was drowned in my own thoughts when I remembered something.

Tsss. I'm definitely getting my hands on your phone again and see what secrets you have in that locked folder of yours!

***

"It's so good to see you again. By the way, how's your father? It's been months since I last saw him," Dad asked as we were having our dinner. 

Sitting across me was Mr Tay who was smiling from ear to ear as he talked with my parents .

"He's currently abroad Sir for a business convention," Mr Tay politely replied and I couldn't help but scoff internally.

"Come on, just call me Dad. Sir's way too formal. And besides you're already just like my own son. By the way, my wife told me your teaching at the university New is studying. Like, why? Aren't you supposed to take over your company?"

"I won't be teaching for long...dad. I'm just fulfilling a promise I made to someone and my elder sister is currently helping my parents with the business. And I actually help at times, too. Sort of training."

"Oh, I like that you're a man of your word. If I only had a daughter, I would have matched her with you."

I grimaced as my dad's laughter filled the entire dining room.

I noticed Mr Tay glancing at me.

What?

I mouthed but he just smirked and looked at my father again. 

"So, how's my son doing in your class?"

I quickly looked at my father whose full attention was on Mr Tay. I gulped as Mr Tay cocked his eyebrow at me.

"D-dad, what's with the question?" I nervously asked as I was afraid Mr Tay would get back at me for being such a rude student and tell my father about the phone stealing incident. 

I nervously watched as Mr Tay opened his mouth to answer and it felt like the everything was in slow motion. 

I fiddled with my fingers whilst muttering a silent prayer that he wouldn't spill anything about the incident or I'd be spending another week talking to my room's walls and ceiling.

"He's doing great, Sir."

Huh? Was I really?

"I even requested him to be my student assistant as I took over the duties of their previous teacher and he's quite a great help."

"At last, you've done something good, New," Dad turned to me and gave me a faint smile.

"Sweetie, New has always been a good son. It's just he is bound to commit some mistakes but he's doing great," my mom smiled at me and grabbed my hand on top of the table. 

My mother was the exact opposite of my father. She had always been my confidant and my protector whenever my father became a little too stern.

"You better do good in your studies, New. You're the sole inheritor of my business and I wouldn't have second thoughts of giving it to your cousins if you ever do anything outrageous again."

"Ye-yes, Dad."

***

"Why haven't I seen you before?" I asked as I was sending him to his car.

"What do you mean?"

"You know. If you're this close to my parents, how come I've never seen you before."

"Why? Have you ever been to business conventions and business parties? I bet you wouldn't last an hour."

"Well...you have a point."

"But I've seen you before."

Quite confused with what he meant, I raised an eyebrow at him but he just smirked at me and got into his car.

"What do you mean?"

"See you tomorrow, New. Don't forget you still have a week left as my student assistant."

"Wait? Isn't this week my last week?"

"Suspension, remember."

I scowled at him and watched as he drove off the driveway.

"Tsss. You just can't leave after saying that," I mumbled to myself as I watched his car slowly disappear.

"Wait, isn't tomorrow a Saturday?"

***

A/N: Happy New Year everyone! May everything be better this 2021. I know 2020 has been nothing but rough and difficult due to the pandemic but let's all be faithful that someday everything's gonna get better.

I love y'all. 💙💕

-ladycrookshanks ✿