Tempest (Payu/Venice X Rain, Love in the air / Kinnporsche crossover)

Chapter 4

While Rain and Ple were out trying to figure out a solution to that mess, everyone inside the office was chatting about what happened. The only one who didn't seem interested in it was Payu, he was just sitting on his chair with a hand on his forehead and his eyes focused on the projects submitted by his students. As the door opened again, everyone looked at Ple and Rain. The two students walked to Payu, then the girl started:

"P' Payu, Rain would like to tell you that-" after hearing those few words, Payu raised his hand and interrupted him

"I admit that I find all this almost touching, but you shouldn't talk on behalf of your friend, Ple. He did this mess and he will be able to clear it out without external help. So, Rain, is there anything you would like to tell me?" Payu said.

"I apologize for jumping to conclusions..." Rain whispered.

"Very good. I'm sorry for this misunderstanding but I'm glad that we've managed to solve it. Is there anything you want to add, Ple?" the senior asked as he noticed that the girl was still standing there.

"Well... yes. We both wanted to ask if it was possible to switch tutors... I thought that it could be a little awkward after this..." Ple replied.

"This is absolutely out of question. Listen everyone, this is a good lesson for you all. You need to understand that you can't always choose to work with nice and kind people. Sometimes the clients will be gentle, sometimes they will be irritating, but you will always have to put all your efforts into your work. Clear?"

Ple nodded and walked back to her seat, Rain, on the other hand, didn't agree with Payu and remained standing in front of him with a menacing expression on his face.

"She's clearly told you that she isn't comfortable working with you. You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? It must be nice for someone like you to humiliate a poor student!" Rain shouted.

Sky looked at the scene and facepalmed. He couldn't believe that his friend was so dumb to apologize and start another fight with the same person in a minute.

Payu stood up and looked down on Rain, he was about to say something but he stopped immediately and coughed a few times.

"Rain, I get that you're annoyed but I suggest you to go back to your seat and continue your work. I will pretend that you didn't say anything..." Payu responded. He tried to keep the serious tone he maintained during the whole conversation, but his voice tended to sound more and more feeble and each cough just made it worse.

The boss stood up and walked to Rain, then he added: "Nong, it isn't just that. You see... we don't have much time and if you switch tutors you may run out of time for your project. Payu isn't even at his best but he's doing everything he can to help you with your projects. Don't you think that it is a little ungrateful to talk to him like that?"

Rain looked back at Payu after listening to the boss, he noticed that he looked quite pale, but he thought that it was just due to the different light considering that he met him at night. Rain laid his hand on Payu's forehead, his eyes widened.

"P'... you're feverish..."

"I'm fine... I would feel better if you weren't here yelling at me all the time" Payu answered.

"Is it because..."

"Yeah, it is probably because my clothes got too wet after I changed your tire. Can we avoid this useless conversation and go back to work?"

Rain bit his lip and nodded with his eyes shut, then he walked back to Sky and continued their project.

After a few more hours it was time to leave the office. Everyone avoided the topic until that moment but Rain couldn't help but think about what he said to Payu, the way he yelled at him and how he actually wanted to thank him at first for his help the previous night. The guy turned to the tutor who was packing his stuff and said:

"P... I would like to thank you for your help. I... I would also like to thank P'Payu for what he did for me yesterday, do you think it is possible to get his phone number?"

"I'm sorry Rain, but I have to ask Payu first. Wait here ok?" his tutor said before going to another part of the office to explain the student's request to the architect. Soon after that, Payu arrived too.

"If you want to talk to me you can do it now. Everyone is gone now. Talk" Payu said.

"Sorry again P. Thank you for your help yesterday and for refusing to report what I did today..." Rain replied.

Payu sighed and nodded. He told him that it wasn't necessary to think about it anymore and that he just wanted to go home and rest. On their way out of the building though, Rain didn't stop thinking about the way Payu reacted. Did he really forgive him so easily? Was he just trying to get rid of that annoying freshman because he was too tired to continue that argument? Sky told his friend to stop overthinking but Rain's brain was running at full speed.

"If you keep thinking about him, I will go around and say that you have a crush on him. Stop overthinking and focus on your project instead. Do you think you can do it?" Sky added as he rubbed Rain's head.