RIVALS (BKPP)

Chapter 2

PP's POV

"I'm home!" I announced as I enter the household. After taking off my shoes, I immediately walk towards the living room and found my parents and my father's colleagues having a conversation. 

"Oh, my son! Come here for a second, my very talented and intelligent son!" my father exclaimed in delight, gesturing me to come over. I glance at my mother who nodded her head at me so I have no choice but to come over at them. "Look at him, he's already at the last year in college and he is running for president!" 

"Woah, really?" one of them exclaimed. 

"Yes, I told you that my son can do everything!" my father grins at them, throwing his arm on my shoulders. He flaunts me to his friends like I am a shiny object. "You can be the top 1 of your class, right son?" he turns to me. 

For a second, I remain silent. My father's question echoes inside of my mind and I have to take a deep breath before answering his question. "Yeah, I can." My father seems unimpressed by my question as he shakes his head at me then turns back at his friends. 

I bow my head at the elders for one last time before I excused myself, going straight to my room. 

I feel suffocated, it feels like my lungs are surrounded by metal bands. I found myself on the floor of my room, gasping for some air. My fist clenches and I look around the dark room. I build up all my strength to stand up from my knees and walk unsteadily towards the bathroom. 

I step into  the shower and turn on the tap and let the drizzle pour onto me. My bod is flinsching from time to time because of the coldness that envelopes my nerves. My eyes fell closed over and over as my mind gets numb and everything becomes a foggy illusion. My lips parted, breathing deeply and feeling the extreme exhaustion, both physically and mentally. 

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BILLKIN'S POV

My father stares at my exam paper for a minute, examining every answers that I've written on that piece of paper that will tell if I will get a nagging or worst a slap coming from him. My eyes remains on the floor, holding my breath. I've been on this situation over and over again yet I still feel scared, the unparalleled feeling- enough to make my knees gets weak. 

"You got one mistake," my father started. "How can you missed that, son?" he asked me sternly. I tried to open my mouth to answer him but no words came. "Answer me!" he raised his voice at me causing me to flinch on my position. 

"I... I didn't do my best when I took... the exam." I stuttered. My palms started to get sweaty  and the adrenaline coursing through my system was shutting down my ability to think logically. 

"Who got the perfect score?" he asked me again. My eyes automatically met my father's and I do not need to say it loud because we all know who's that person. The crack of skin contacting skin echoed off the walls. A stinging pain spread across the bruised part of my cheek. 

A grunt escaped from my lips as I try not cry from the extreme pain. 

"You lose again from that kid next door!" he screams at me. "How can you lose from him? What is it from him that you cannot beat? Is he better than you? Is he smarter than you? Is he well-rounded than you?"

"No-"

"Then why do you always lose against him!?" It was the kind of scream that bypasses the ears to speak right to the heart. "Why do you let PP Kritt beat you... always, my son?" my father steps closer towards me and cups my face by his large hands, feeling the warmth of his palms intact to my cheeks. "What did I tell you right from the very start?"

My breathing hitches as I collect the energy I have left from me. "To be.. to be twice as good than them."

"To be twice as good than them!" my father repeated, flailing his arms above, walking away from me. "Are you twice as good than PP Kritt, my son?" he questions me, looking straight to my eyes. "Are you?!"

"Yes!" I answered.

"Then show me!" he yelled back. "Make sure you will beat him next time." my father said before stepping away and going back to his office, leaving me alone in the living room.

I wanted to cry but there are no tears coming from my eyes. I feel like I'm going to explode because of so many emotions that are inside of my chest. It is consuming me entirely. After standing alone, I decided to step out of the house. 

As I exited from the front gate, I was surprised and stunned to see PP in front of their house as well. PP was taken aback by my unexpected presence and we stare at each other dumbfoundedly. I check on him and it seems that he just got from the shower because of his wet hair. And one thing I noticed are his glossy eyes.

"Are you crying?" I managed to asked him out of curiousity. 

PP sniffs and rolled his eyes at me. "I'm not crying!" he hissed at me. Looking annoyed, I take a breath. I look away from him and run my tongue on my lips. I lean my back on the wall and watch PP sitting on thr ground. "What are you doing here?" he asked me back.

"Getting some fresh air and to relax but since you're here, I will never get the relaxation that I needed." I said, smirking at him after. 

"Jerk." PP remarks. 

No one talks after that. The silence is somewhat comforting yet it gnaws me inside. Silence hung in the air like the suspended moment before a falling glass shatters on the ground. Funny part is that I enjoy this kind of silence between us. 

"PP Kritt," I called him softly. PP lifts his head and looks at me. "I will beat you at the presedential race, get it?" I do not make it sound like threatening, it sound like I'm casually telling him some sort of tale. 

PP just laugh halfheartedly, shaking his head. "Do you really think I will stand down?" he replies at me. Then it was silence again until PP stands up from the ground and get inside their house.