Brick by Brick (Bxb)

Chapter 24: Unease

"So, Ming Kai...which company did you join in the end?" Terry asked, as the duo made their way to the regular supper joint.

"Make a guess."

"From the thousands of TNCs stationed here in the country? How many tries will that take, you idiot." Terry chided, unwilling to play the guessing game. He was never good at it anyway.

"You first. Which sorry company decided to hire you as their intern?" Ming Kai joked.

"Are you trying to say that I'm unwanted? Heh. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm sure you have at least heard of Freiheit Conglomerate?"

Ming Kai, on the other hand, couldn't contain his surprise, and stopped directly outside the shop entrance.

"HUUUHH?"

"Idiot, don't just stand there blocking the way. Auntie! Two sets, the usual please!" Terry made his way into the shop first, signalling for Ming Kai to follow.

Seeing as how Ming Kai still wore the look of disbelief on his face, Terry broke into a grin. It wasn't easy to one up this person. 

"Hey, the least you could do is congratulate me. How about...paying for supper, perhaps?"

Hearing that cheeky comment made Ming Kai snap out from his state of stupor.

"Hmph. What's so special about that? If anyone should be paying for supper, it's gonna be you." Ming Kai flatly refused to praise him outright.

"On what basis?"

"On the basis that you haven't one up-ed me." Ming Kai argued.

"Huh? You're telling me you got into a better company? Which one is it?" Terry asked as their food was served.

"Same as you." Ming Kai replied in a matter of fact tone, splitting the wooden chopsticks from each other began wolfing down his beef brisket noodles.

"Huh? Freiheit?"

"Hahaha! Who'd have thought! Man, you're something else yourself. Congrats!" Terry beamed, showering Ming Kai with unreserved praise.

"How could anyone say such embarrassing things so easily?" Ming Kai subconsciously looked away as he blushed in embarrassment. 

Apparently, he felt guilty in his heart. He didn't offer a single word of praise to Terry, and yet that guy didn't seem to care much about it. It made him feel as though he was a petty person.

"Well, I...I guess I could treat you to supper. You deserve that much, at least." Ming Kai mumbled, hoping to somehow remedy his bad behaviour.

"Oh? Is someone guilty because he didn't praise me earlier?" Terry joked. "Let's do it this way. I'll pay for your food. My way of congratulating you. That way, we're even."

Terry found Ming Kai's discomfort when it came to mushy talk to be rather entertaining, and adorable, even though Ming Kai didn't have a cute face or gentle features like a girl.

His masculine jawline and straight-laced face made him look rather stern and domineering, but after knowing him personally, Terry realised that this guy was more clumsy and fun to be with than he previously thought.

Besides, being able to pin a beast like him down, and seeing all the embarrassing aspects of him that Ming Kai hardly showed to others roused certain feelings from the depths of his heart. Ones that he never once thought he had.

Swallowing hard, Terry leaned closer to Ming Kai and whispered.

"I think...I'm half-hard."

"And I have half the mind to flip this table." Ming Kai smiled coldly.