Just them in me

Hin -1

Pete had seen Kao grow up. The first time Pete saw Kao was in front of his family's mansion buying ice cream. It's a normal scene except for the sparks that went off in Kao's eyes when he saw the ice cream being handed to him. Ever since Pete wondered if Kao was real, or was he just there in his head? One day he followed Kao home and made it his habit every following day. The ice cream vendor never missed coming to their street and hand Kao a free ice cream from that day forward. When Kao asked why? he just said that ever since he met Kao his business has been blooming, but the real reason anyway was that it's Pete's doing. He wanted to make sure he sees Kao everyday at the same time at the same place. Doesn't matter where he would be, what he was doing, exactly before Sun Set just a few minutes before the clock hit 6:00 PM Pete watched Kao approach the vendor playfully or sadly or occupied, but the minute he saw the vendor waiting there for him, he lits up like the Sun would after the heavy rainy season making Pete smile naturally. 

"Why don't you just go talk to him..?." The vendor had asked Pete once, who was hiding behind the gate smiling, as soon as Kao walked out of their earshot. 

Pete looked thoughtful for a minute... "I don't know what to say to him uncle, I just like to see him from afar..." The vendor scratched his head not understanding Pete's answer and gave up asking. 

Kao on the other hand, has grown up listening about Pete, it was expected, as Kao's father works for Pete's. He heard his father talk about Pete more than himself. 

"It's Pete's first day at his new school... I need to go pick him up, you walk to your swimming class today..."

"It's Pete's birthday, I will be late tonight..." 

"Pete is so smart, he topped in his school..." Kao's father beamed one day. Kao looked at him expectantly, hoping his father would ask if he had topped too, because he did, but the question never came. Kao was a kind person, though one would think he would resent Pete, he didn't, instead he was intrigued, he wanted to meet this Pete guy one day and find out what was so charming about him that his father loves him more than his own son. 

Pete is a smart guy but an introvert, except to this particular manager who has worked for his father since his childhood, he doesn't feel comfortable talking about his feelings with anyone, not even with his parents.

"So Pete, Are you excited to start college...?" The manager asked smiling from the shotgun. Pete's father called Pete to the office to sign a few papers and asked  Pete's favorite manager to take Pete back home and Pete insisted on driving. 

"I am not sure Uncle, you know how I get around new people, I am frankly, pretty nervous... " No one could say though by looking at him that he was nervous. With his perfectly built body and serious face all anyone could think was that he has got an attitude. 

The uncle chuckled before replying... "You are so handsome Pete, I am afraid all the girls are gonna be flocking around you... I am excited though, because Kao is also starting tomorrow, I didn't know he was this smart until I found out that he got a scholarship in the same college as you... I am proud of you both..."

Pete just smiled. He knows that the uncle has a son named Kao, he heard the name a few times, but that's it. Pete didn't even bother to ask Kao's faculty, I mean why would he, he doesn't even know how the guy looks like and just because he gets along with his father doesn't mean he would get along with the Son too. So, he just focused on driving to get home before his Hin(=rock), yes that is what he named the ice cream guy who has been in his thoughts for nearly a decade, giving him strength just like his own personal rock.

Just as they almost reached Pete's house, his uncle started again... "By the way Pete, Kao will pick you up tomorrow morning, Your father and I, are leaving on a business trip early in the morning and I don't want you to be going alone on the first day of your college..."