Babysitting the Campus Jerk (On Semi-Hiatus)

BCJ 7 • worse

***

"May I remind you that you're the one who is supposed to take care of me and not the other way around," Pete grumbled as he handed a glass of water to Kao who just choked on his food.

"Tss. Would it hurt you to at least be concerned about me? Babyshitting you isn't that easy after all," Kao grimaced before going back to eating.

"Wait. What did you just say? Babysh- babyshitting?"

"Yes. Ba-by-SHIT-ting. I'm babyshitting you."

Pete didn't say a thing and just continued poking his food with the fork. 

The restaurant was flocked with people, but for some reason, there was a deafening silence between them.

"If you're not eating that, then give it to me," Kao joked as he'd rather have Pete running his mouth but Pete unexpectedly handed him all of his food.

"Hey, I'm just kidding. You need to eat," he said as he pushed the plate back to Pete.

"I'm not hungry."

Kao decided not to push the topic any further and just ate in silence while casually glancing at Pete once in a while.

"Hey, I don't wanna pry on your private life but I guess it would be easier for you to just let your mom be happy," Kao mindlessly said hoping that it would knock some sense into him.

But it did otherwise as Pete was shooting daggers at him right after saying that.

"And who gave you the right to have a say on my life? You're just a mere babysitter my father hired so don't cross the line. You know nothing about me," Pete said grimly before leaving Kao behind.

***

"Please, Kaoooo. You're our only hope. And besides it's just gonna be one night. It's no big deal."

Kao rolled his eyes at Juliann Third, his best friend since high school.

"You know that I'm into that sort of activity, Third."

"Oh, come on, Kao. You're the only hope of the Education Department. The others already refused."

"And I'm refusing as well. Why don't you join instead?"

"Are you kidding me? With my height? Do you think I'd win against the others?"

"It's all about the confidence anyway."

"Oh, geez. What's so hard about joining the pageant, Kao? All you got to do is stand up in front, recite some spiels and then voila! You're done."

"If you think it is that easy, why don't you do it then?"

"Kao, come on. Don't make this hard for me. The entire department wants you. It's not like I'm the one forcing you here."

"No. My answer is no. And don't even try convincing me because nothing and no one can change my mind. Now, if you'll excuse me, I still got some part time job to attend to."

He immediately left Third who had a frown on his face. Not that he didn't want to join but he just didn't have the time and energy to spare. Okay, he got a part time job at the bar and a babysitting job but those were not enough to cover their needs. 

He was on his way to the gate when Pete who was leaning on his car caught his attention. He was just casually puffing a cigarette stick while talking to a woman whom he recognized to be a sophomore. 

He shook his head and went on his way. He didn't want to interfere in Pete's business as he was a mere babysitter on weekends but the moment Pete started kissing the woman, he immediately backtracked. 

With heavy steps, he headed towards them and pulled Pete away from the woman. 

"What the fuck!" Pete hissed as he grabbed Kao by the collar and threw the cigarette stick on the ground.

"The school handbook states that the display of inappropriate behavior is prohibited. Do you wanna be sent to the Director's office, Pete?" he lashed out at him.

Pete motioned the woman to go away, which she immediately did, before facing Kao.  A grim look was plastered across his face as he stared back at Kao.

"Didn't I tell you not to put your nose into my business?"

"Yes. I know I'm just your mere babysitter who happens to take care of your shits on weekends but as a student of this University, I have the right to correct the behavior of students who are just like you."

Pete scoffed. "Oh, really. What about students like me? Huh?"

"Jerks. Students who are jerks like you," he muttered each word clearly, like he was carefully etching each word on wood. 

"Say that one more time and you'll be the one facing the Director in his office."

"You are a jerk. You're a jerk for thinking you've got it all. You're a jerk for hating your mom be -- Ouch!"

He couldn't even finish his statement as Pete had already slammed his back against the car. He swallowed hard and thickly as Pete glowered at him, his fists up against his collar.

"I'll say this once again. Stop putting your nose into my business and never even talk about my mom. You do not have the right to say a thing about my personal life. If you wanna keep earning money from your babysitting job, then shut the hell up and just do your fucking job," Pete muttered lowly.

Pete still hadn't let him go so he tried pushing him away. But the odds may not be in his favor as someone bumped into Pete, causing the two of them to hug instead.

"You two, to my office now!"

***

"See! I told you. You're born for this sort of activities," Third exclaimed as Kao went off the stage and grabbed his things.

"If it wasn't for the School Director's orders, you won't be seeing me holding that mic on that stage, Third," he grumbled and headed towards the exit of the hall where they just held their practice.

He didn't want to deliberately look at Pete who was in the same ordeal as he was, but a part of him was telling him to check on Pete who was currently rummaging through his bag.

"Well, it's your fault for displaying such lascivious act inside the campus. You do know very well that public display of affection is strictly prohibited but there you were, hugging Pete. I thought you hate him."

"Just to set things straight, I wasn't hugging him. And besides, wasn't it your 'super wonderful' idea to have us join this stupid pageant instead of doing community service?"

"Of course! It was a way to pacify the school director. It was a part of the bargain. Have you seen how his face lightened up when I told him you and Pete will represent your departments in the upcoming sports week. Or do you want to be suspended?"

Kao didn't say a thing and just went on his way as arguing with Third is just like arguing with a wall.

To hell with sports week. He just wanted to hit the sack and temporarily forget the ordeal he was in.

***