RIVALS (BKPP)

Chapter 5

PP'S POV

Is Billkin feeling guilty? I don't know... probably.  I still find it weird for him to act like that earlier and I have a feeling that he's into something. Is this his new tactics to beat me? Eitherway, I have to step up my game. I paused for a moment but the more I think about it, the  more it bothers me. 

"Should I just ask Billkin what's his deal with me?" I asked myself out of nowhere. I breathed deeply, feeling downhearted. I brush off the idea out of my mind.  I did not realized that I'm already standing right in the front of the cola vending machine for way too long and I completely ignored the can of Coke I've got for myself. 

I huff annoyingly at myself. All of a sudden, someone handed me can of Coke and to my shock, it's Billkin- with his bored face, leaning on the side of the vending machine. My mouth fell open and it felt like my heart skipped a beat. 

"What- how long have you been standing there?" I asked him in complete surprise. Oh, did he heard what I've said?  Billkin continues to stare at me, waiting when will I get the can of Coke on his hand. Flustered, I simply grab it from his hand and cleared my throat after, taking a few steps back from the vending machine. 

"We're quits now," he said to me. I give him a confused expression that makes Billkin shakes his head off at me. "I did not pass my term requirement and that makes us even. As much as I wanted to pass it earlier, I chose not to because I want a clean competition. So never accuse me of anything that I didn't do." 

 I'm slightly disconcerted by him that nothing came out from my mouth but a gasp of disbelief. I heard Billkin chuckles and I immediately look at him, raising my eyebrow to look stern. 

"Am I not getting an apology?" he asked me.

"Apology for what?" I rebutted.

"For accusing me yesterday." he told in a matter-of-fact way. "I was hurt and... offended that you see me that way." he added, touching his chest dramatically as if he really got hurt. 

I scoff, rolling my eyes in slight annoyance. "As if," I mutter. I wave off my hands to him, planning  to end this nonsense conversation him. 

"PP Kritt," I hear him call my name and that made me stop on my tracks. I turn slowly to his direction with confusion on my face. Billkin leans away from the vending machine and make his steps towards me. "Let's be friends." he tells me out of nowhere.

I can't help not to let out a chortle upon hearing what he just said. I gaze at Billkin with  pure incredulity from my eyes. "Have you lost your mind?" I ask him, checking if Billkin is thinking properly. I crossed my arms against my chest, "There's no way we can be friends-"

"Why not?" Billkin interrupts me. "Why do we waste both of us times trying to bring each other down? We can be friends and do a friendly competition. What do you think?" Billkin winks at me afterwards.

"Friendly competition." I repeated. "Is this your way on trying to beat me? Using friendly gestures? This whole Keep Your Enemies Closer gambit of yours?" I narrow my eyes at Billkin, looking suspicious. "Or do you want to call it in a Bill Gates way, sometimes the lambs have to lie down with the wolves?" Billkin let out a sigh, pursing his lips before he takes a little step closer towards me. I managed to take a step back but Billkin grabs both of my arms and pulls me closer towards him. "Wha- what are you doing? Hey, let me go! Are you serious right now? Someone might see us-" 

Billkin moves his face towards mine, closing a small distance between us. I wish I didn't blush so fast because in an instant my cheeks are burning like crazy and I could feel it and Billkin surely knows it- the way a small smile appears on his lips. 

"For the record, PP Kritt, I don't give up so easily. If I want things to happen, I'll surely do whatever it takes to make it happen. So, if I want to be friends with you, I'll do whatever it takes for you to be my friend, come hell or high water." he speaks softly with a playful grin. "Trust me, I don't bite." he adds before letting go of me and walking away.

Frozen on my spot and looking flustered, I can feel the loud beating of my heart in my chest and I can feel the tiny hairs on the back of my neck stand to attention. As I clear my throat, recovering from my previous state, I turn hastily to look for Billkin but he's already nowhere to be found. 

BILLKIN'S POV

I couldn't help not to smile as I walk away from PP. Honestly, I've never seen him on that kind of state; flustered and in a total state of malaise. PP has always been so stoic and cold, he likes to be in-charge of everything and working hard to look intimidating in public  and well, annoyingly self-centered. Watching him in getting uncomfortable is like a grand prize to my part because for the first time, I have something that works against him. 

But why do I love seeing him like that anyway? I love the fact that I can affect him so much that I want to continue furthermore, the way his face turns red as Elmo doll is such a pleasure for me to witness.