Growing Together

Chapter 25

He felt a little tricked after Pete had left him alone to fetch their friends. Pete had purposely worried him into agreeing, that now he had this uncomfortable flutter in his stomach that made him feel like he was nauseous. He had even shifted a bit on the bed trying to find a way to hide himself...though he had stopped when he felt the baby kick him again. What was he even trying to do? They were all friends, sooner or later they would find out about the baby.

"Kao, we're coming in," Pete's voice had come ringing along with the soft knock on his door.

He couldn't help but try to slow his breathing before he was even turning towards the door just as Pete's head peek in. It made him relax all the more to see Pete being silly and mouth at him once again that they were coming in as he made an 'okay' sigh with his fingers. "Hm~" He had hummed deciding to return the sign to him.

"Move aside, I'm a guest!" June said kicking Pete a little before he was slipping past him and into the bedroom. Which had Pete hissing at him and Kao stifling a laugh.

Once June had seen Kao, he couldn't help but smile wide as he said, "Kao! Where have you been?" He said making himself at home and going to sit beside him. His hands had automatically reached for his belly without warning, just as they had all those months ago.

The whole display had Pete glaring at him, though it hadn't really registered to anyone until June had taken the liberty to join Kao on the bed and start kissing his belly. "HEY!" Pete had practically growled at him.

"It's okay, Pete, I don't mind it," Kao had said with a small smile before he was looking at down at the unbothered June—who was simply having a whole conversation with the baby, "Mork, Rain, and Kitty would often do this too," He said with a small grin before he was turning towards him to see Sandee put her arms on Pete's shoulder.

"It's June, you can't stop him even if you tried," She said before she was moving towards Kao with a smile on her face. "It's been a long time since you've all been together like this," She said with a smile. She really wanted to scold him and ask why he hadn't told her anything. She understood why he had hidden from Pete, but her? Regardless, she didn't want to put pressure on him.

"I'm really sorry, I know I should have tried to reach out sooner," He said with a sheepish smile. He knew his problem had been with Pete, but they were all friends. If Sandee had known about this earlier, she'd probably fight with Pete. He hadn't wanted to give Pete more of a reason to hate him or the baby. Before his thoughts could run away in guilt he was quick to ask, "Pete said there was something wrong with you. Are you okay?"

"What?" She said turning to look at him just to see Pete turn away from her, but seeing Thada pat his stomach had her saying, "Oh! That," She said before she was turning towards Kao with a small chuckle, "You can hardly tell when I'm dressed like this, but I'm going to have a baby as well." She said placing a hand over the swell of her belly.

"You are?" He said going wide-eyed in surprise at the news before he was turning towards Thada who had come to wrap his arm around Sandee's waist. It didn't take him too long to connect the dots and much less for his smile to return to his face as he said, "Congratulations, San & Thada. I had no idea...Pete never said anything," He said sounding like he wanted to ask more about it.

"I bet," Sandee said sitting down when Pete had pulled Kao's desk chair over for her. "He's been so worried over you both, that I'm sure it slipped his mind to mention it." She said honestly. They were both her friends and she had known about their feelings for one another, though she hadn't meddled in their relationship at all. However, knowing how stressed Pete felt by Kao's reluctance she had thought of helping a little but just seeing the look on his face when she had said those words had her smiling a little more thinking that it would be fine on their own.

The guilty look on Pete's face had Sandee saying, "I'm not mad, I prefer telling Kao on my own. Besides, it gives us something new to talk about."

Since it seemed everyone was getting comfortable on the bed with Kao, he didn't think they planned on leaving anytime soon. So, Pete had simply said, "Kao, I'll go get us something to eat."

"I'll go with you, San hasn't eaten either." Thada said before he was turning towards Sandee, "Text me if there is anything specific you want."

"Don't forget about me!" June had called out almost in despair. He wanted to eat, too.

"Okay," She said with a small hum before she was turning towards her friends. Kao had this look on him that almost looked a bit longing towards Pete—though the idiot, seemed to only smile a little wider at him. She supposed things were still rocky between them.

"Yeah, Yeah, I got you," Pete had said rolling his eyes as he nudged Thada to get going.

When they had left Sandee couldn't help but ask, "How are you, Kao?"