Babysitting the Campus Jerk

BCJ 15 • safe space

***

"What are you doing?" Third asked with an arched brow as he watched Kao load several packs of strawberries and chips on the cart. His brow even arched higher when he saw him check the items on the list he was carrying. 

"I'm preparing for our trip," Kao responded briefly before pushing the cart towards the beverage section. He carefully selected the ones he knew Pete would like.

"Our trip? You didn't tell me we're going on a trip."

"I didn't mean you, airhead. I mean Pete."

Third paused before following Kao to the cashier.

"Ex-cuuuse me?!" he said with utter emphasis. "And why are you going on a trip with that bastard instead of me, your friends for years? your classmates for years. I know almost all of your secrets. And now you're going on a trip with a jerk?" he hissed, his foot continuously tapping the floor as he waited for Kao's answer.

Kao chuckled and just dismissed Third's question.

"Aren't you gonna answer me? And don't tell me this is still part of your babysitting duties because we both know your three-month contract ended last week. I repeat, it ended last week. That only means , you no longer have any responsibilities," Third exasperated, his arms flailing in the air.

"I just wanna celebrate our upcoming graduation."

"You're supposed to celebrate it with me. We're graduating together and we're block mates, degree mates, subject mates, everything mates."

"Come on, Third. I didn't complain when you chose to go with that man of yours instead of helping me with the final exams," he fired back as he slid the items on the counter. 

That obviously caught Third off guard as he avoided Kao's eyes and started counting the lights on the ceiling. "Well, I, I, made him help me on my finals.. so you know."

"Yeah, so you were making instructional materials in a cabin somewhere in the woods? Okay."

"Hey!"

"I know. I know. You needed all those twigs and leaves for your materials," Kao taunted before paying and getting the bag of items.

"Fine! I didn't know we were going to a cabin to God knows where.  Tss. I shouldn't have told you that. But you know what, maybe you should try having that party of yours in a cabin in the woods. So that no one's gonna hear you scream when you see the gates of heavens," Third grinned as he whispered the last line.

***

 "What's this for?" Pete hid a smile as he roamed his eyes around his living room.

"Uhhm. Tada?" Kao said nervously as he gestured his arms to show what he did to Pete's unit. It was a good thing Pete had to stay overtime at the university to finish some paperwork for his graduation. "I hope you wouldn't mind me still using the key to your unit despite me not being your sitter anymore."

"Oh, come on. You can stay here whenever you want. By the way, this looks great," Pete commented before heading towards the mini bed made of comforters and blankets in the center of the room. 

Kao didn't really do anything extraordinary. He just decorated the room with some fairy lights to set the mood, made a mini bed in the center, set up the television for a movie, and prepared some food they could snack on.

"Hmmm. These strawberries taste good."

Kao headed to sit beside Pete on the bed, "I just wanna celebrate our upcoming graduation and you know, the end of my contract."

Pete chuckled. "Seriously, I can tell my dad to extend your contract but I know that you'd be busy looking for jobs that are aligned to your degree instead of taking care of a jerk, so can you promise me that you'll keep in touch?"

Kao paused. "Of-of course. I'll definitely stay in touch."

"To be honest, I was so determined to have you leaving your job crying but I'm glad I didn't push through with the plan."

"Oh, really? Because I could still remember how you made me hate you even more when I started working for you."

"Oh, come on, that was months ago. I'm a changed man!"

Kao jokingly raised a brow.

"Fine. I'm a changed jerk."

"But as you said, you're still a jerk," he chuckled before chugging that beverage he bought earlier. 

"You know what, maybe we should watch that movie you obviously prepared so we could change the topic from me to that whatever movie you chose."

"Fine, fine."

***

They were already halfway the movie they were watching when he felt Pete lean closer to him. He was glad to see that Pete was enjoying the one he randomly chose on Netflix.

He was about to ask if he wanted to eat something else when everything went pitch black. 

"Come on! We were nearing the good part!" Pete exclaimed as the television went off along with the lights.

"We can still finish that movie when the electricity comes back," Kao reassured before reaching for his phone but reached out for something else instead — it was Pete's hand. 

For a second, he wanted to remove his hand and apologize, but before he could retrieve his hand and search for his phone, something held it back.

"I know you can't see the sincerity in my eyes but I hope you can hear it in my voice. Thank you, Kao, for everything, especially for understanding me. Ever since my mom left and had her own family, no one has ever made me safe again. I felt so alone, Kao. I felt left out. No one seemed to care for me so all I did was act up, hoping that my mother will give me the attention I wanted. But as you can see, she didn't. Do you know why I love strawberries so much? It was the last thing she bought me. She didn't even know I hate that fruit so much. Apples. Apples were the ones I liked but she bought me strawberries instead because she thought they were my favorite. She didn't even know what her own son likes or dislikes," he paused. "It was nice to have someone who cares for me, even if it's just because of a contract. I just hope we could still be friends even if your contract has ended, Kao. It's nice having you around."

"It's nice having you around, too, Pete. Knowing that I could deal with you, I'm sure I could handle any type of student in the future," Kao snickered before squeezing Pete's hand.

He couldn't see it but he could sense Pete smiling in the darkness, "You know what why don't we starga-" 

But before he could finish his suggestion of stargazing instead as the stars would definitely be brighter with the darkness around, he felt something soft press against his lips. 

It lasted for a millisecond. It was so sudden that he convinced himself that it was all his imagination, until Pete spoke, confirming what just happened.

"I-I'm sorry. I mi-might have drunk too much," Pete stuttered before slightly moving away from Kao.

Kao didn't say a thing, as he was sure that the beverages he bought didn't contain any alcohol in them.

***

Hiiiiiiii!! I apologize for being soooo inactive. I am currently focusing on my master's degree so forgive me for not updating regularly. Anyway, I am just so happy to know that some of you are actually waiting for updates. I just hope this one did not disappoint you. Have a great day, everyone. Keep safe! 

xoxo