UNCHANGEABLE - TIAOM

21

"so, how's pie?"

kim eyes peter who's sitting on her sofa before she puts the can of beer down in front of him. "she's... okay. you've seen each other just the other day, right? when you attended the school activity where katie performed?"

peter reaches out for his beer and nods. "yeah. i mean i just want to know how she's doing. is she still feeling guilty? she's been really careful when she talks to me."

"she still feels sad sometimes whenever she thinks of you and katie. but she's doing okay. seeing you start to move on helps her too. and she says you look more handsome after growing some stubble."

peter laughs. "i'm glad she's doing well. i hope you're making her happy as you have promised."

"i'm trying my best." kim sits down and opens her beer. "how about you? how are you doing?"

peter took a deep breath in. "better. getting better." he eyes the beer in his hand. "it's been four months. it would be a lie to say i'm a hundred per cent okay now, but i'm getting there. crying days are finally over. and pie's proven to me how great of a friend she can be despite what happened to us. somehow it makes me feel we're better off as friends."

"mmm-mmm. anything or anyone keeping you occupied lately?"

"i have been going out with my mates lately to have some fun." peter pauses and thinks. "and then there's this fellow doctor, two years younger than i am, a divorcee, who's been my confidant after this whole ordeal blew up."

kim nods. "are you guys going out now?"

"well..." peter shrugs. "misery loves company, you know. we haven't talked about our relationship yet but i bet she would agree that we're filling in a void in each other's lives."

"and it helps during nighttimes, right?" kim smirks.

peter lets out a loud laugh. "i ain't answering that." he waves his finger in the air. "but a man has his needs. a woman has her needs too."

"okay." kim raises her hands.

"by the way, how's you and pie after the winter school break started?"

"it's hard to see each other lately," says kim. "pie doesn't want katie to have suspicions."

"suspicions about?"

"about me and her mom seeing each other."

"what?" peter chuckles. "she knows, man!"

"s-she knows?"

"yeah. what makes you think she doesn't know? she told me she knows whenever her mom goes out to see you cos pie always comes home looking happy."

"so... she knows..." kim looks away. "then what was the hiding all for?"

"i don't know." peter shrugs. "if i were you, i'd talk to her. it's been what, four months now? i think she's starting to accept things. she even stopped trying to get me and her mom back together a few weeks back. that's a good sign."

kim doesn't know what to say. peter's right. if katrien knows about them then what's the point of still hiding and making everything complicated for her and pie?

"i know you truly care for my daughter, kim. and i know my daughter loves you back. that's the reason she felt betrayed because she trusts you that much," says peter, his voice serious. "but can you please try to reach out to her and fix this issue between the two of you? i know you and pie were waiting for things to cool down, but i seriously think now is the right time. you can't hide from katrien forever, you know."