Babysitting the Campus Jerk (On Semi-Hiatus)

BCJ 29 • peace or piss?

***

Kavine grimaced as he saw Kao fake crying on his doorstep on a Monday evening. He just got back from work and he wanted to take a complete rest but Kao came knocking like some serial killer preying on his next victim. 

"I wish I could just slam this door on you," he grumbled as he moved out of the way so Kao could get inside. 

"I give up. I don't know what to do, Kavine. Help meee."

"I already helped you years ago, Kao."

Kao frowned. To be fair, it was Kavine who helped him get his master's degree abroad, the one thing that he couldn't tell Pete. 

"I don't think I should take this, Kav. This is too much," Kao hesitated as Kavine told him about an institution  wanting to sponsor his studies abroad. 

"They've been doing this for years, Kao. You're not the only student they are sponsoring."

"But Pete..." his voice faltered. He didn't wanna leave Pete. He knew how much he was struggling with the company issues and his father's situation. 

"I think he would understand, Kao. This is for your future."

"I don't wanna leave him at this time, Kavine. He'll completely fall apart."

"They're giving you a month to decide, Kao. It was supposed to be two weeks but I found a way to convince them to give you more time. You don't have to worry about being in the US. You can come with us as we're also planning to move there."

Kao bit his lip as he tried to weigh things. It was a great opportunity but he just couldn't leave Pete behind and he was sure he wouldn't leave the company and his father just to be with him. 

"I'll think about it and please, don't tell Pete about this."

"Care to tell me what happened?" Kavine asked as he handed Kao a can of beer.

Kao didn't know where to start first so he just started by drinking all the beer in one go. 

"Take it easy. I still have a lot more," Kav chuckled as he handed Kao another one.

"Ugh! I just moved in with him. What a crazy turn of events!" he clapped.

Kavine just shrugged.

"Hey! What's that shrug supposed to mean?"

"Well, I think it's high time you patch things up. It's been years, Kao."

"Excuse me? Why are you taking his side? You're supposed to take mine! You knew how heartbroken I was when I thought he proposed to someone else."

"Which all turned out to be completely wrong."

Kao went silent and grabbed another can.

"Fine. I was wrong."

"But you know what, it was also good that it happened because I was sure as hell that you would not take that scholarship hadn't it happened."

"Yeah, but I also hurt Pete in that process, Kav. I wasn't there when he lost his father. I was supposed to keep him from completely falling apart..." his voice faltered as tears started streaming down his face. 

"I failed him. I feel guilty and it's eating me alive," he grumbled as he took another can. 

"So what are you planning to do now, Kao."