Cooking Club Boyz

Pete/Kao: Accidental Family

Kao squeezed the wheel as his eyes moved around the interior of the car. The car that didn't belong to him, yet served as his home for the past three weeks since they kicked him out of the foster home. The cramped space did not differ from his room, and it was just as hard to keep clean and organized. His dirty clothes were at the front seat while the blanket and pillow and the clean clothes took up the backseat, and the trunk contained the rest of his belongings, which were mostly books, and a small box full of junk food that needed no cooking or just hot water. He occupied the only place not occupied by objects. And that wasn't for long. At the end of the week, he'd have to return it, and then he would really be homeless.

Unless he got hired.

Kao took a deep breath and looked in the mirror. He pointed a finger at himself and spoke with determination, "You'll get this job."

The face responsible for his lack of employment more than the lack of experience stared back, the look in his eyes in utter contrast to his words. Kao was scared. He never expected to be here. With so little hope left. If he didn't get this job he'd have to look towards the illegal side of the job market and he really, really, didn't want to do it. But it didn't look too good for him.

Within past two weeks, Kao had perhaps visited every family looking for a nanny. He was skeptical at first when his friend suggested trying it. Who wanted a guy as a nanny? Not that he couldn't do it. He was no stranger to baby care. Since he was three he had been caring for his younger brother and in the past fifteen years he had been through it all. But how could he look after a baby and study? If he didn't get a job, how would he study? And if he didn't study and got a proper job, how would he secure their future. And again, who would want a guy as a nanny?

Then things fell into its place like puzzle pieces. The faculty dean had overheard their conversation and offered Kao to complete his study via online courses and evening classes because he was a top student. He could hardly breathe when he realized it may even work out. The job was well-paid enough to continue his study while he didn't have to worry about having a roof over his head. For everything else, he would get money through the tutoring jobs he could squeeze in between everything else.

Kao should have stayed skeptical. He should have known it was too ideal, and he wasn't that lucky.

Turns out they were looking for a nanny, and a manny wouldn't substitute. No one wanted him. In those two weeks he had heard it all: it was a woman's job; they heard someone's husband cheated on them with a pool boy (?); he had no experience (untrue); he was too pretty (?); his lack of references disqualified him (entirely true); he was too handsome; the child didn't like him; he was too pretty; what sort of values could he possibly teach the kid... the reasons didn't matter because it always started the same way, with a no.

Kao wished with each rejection his skin would get thicker, instead he became wearier. That's why this was the last one. Last try was all he could take. And he was giving it a one last try because his friend had found the job. And there was the fact this was the first single-parent household he got an interview for. A single father. At least, hopefully, he wouldn't judge Kao's appearance. Not that there was anything Kao could do about the lack of references.

Avoiding glancing over the car, he made his way towards the iron gates. With no money or time to wash it, the color had taken a new shade, and that was without mentioning the results of a misfortunate parking choice. The same moment he had seen, he successfully un-saw it, and that would remain the case until he had to return the car. Kao was sure shame would burn him on the spot if they saw the car, so he had parked it outside of the gates, away from the view.

The double gate opened inwards at his approach. Kao didn't have an inkling of how rich the family was. Little warning from his friend would have been great. When you owned the last house on any street and your neighbor was a good five minutes' drive away, not to mention the best view in the world, then you were the type of rich Kao needed a pre-warning for. It was the same as walking into shops that had no prices on the tag. He couldn't imagine anyone having that much money and preferred if it remained a myth to him.