BLUE KISS CHAPTER 2

 

2

Put Your Foot in Your Mouth

"What the hell is wrong with those guys at that table?" June brought up the topic while they were in the car.

It was difficult to find a cab this late at night, so Pete had to drive everyone home after the pub was closed. He drank only a few glasses to feel a bit tipsy and didn't touch a single drop of alcohol after 1 a.m., knowing he had to drive.

The boys would never get wasted if Sandee was with them. Or else she would scold them the next morning, making them reflect on their behaviors. And with the report still not done, they definitely must not get wasted.

"They like Sandee," answered Pete.

"They just came to talk," she quickly defended herself.

"Did they ask for your phone number?" asked Kao.

"Unless they dared to do when Pete gave them a death glare like that. Plus, Sandee didn't look all that friendly. I wouldn't ask her too if I were them. I don't wanna die." June laughed.

"The fricking gang leader thought Sandee is my girl," Pete said, looking at Sandee next to him. "They waited in the restroom to ask me, thinking I was trying to get in their way. So I told them to shut the fuck up. Those losers got no fucking jams."

"You were about to get beaten up, but now you're all talk," Kao said in annoyance.

"Shut the fuck up." Pete glared at Kao through a rear-view mirror.

"That means there's nothing wrong with your pheromones. l thought you only attracted girls," Thada said, reaching out and rubbing Sandee's head. She pushed his hand away, getting annoyed. 

"Shut up, Thada. Just sleep. You're drunk"

"But the one who likes Sandee wasn't the guy with an intimidating face, right?' June continued.

"Nah, that's the gang leader. The one who likes her is the timid guy." Pete remembered that there were three of them. The guy who had taken action was probably the gang leader. He was good-looking but also intimidating. Pete thought he was the type that liked to start a fight. "Dunno why he likes Sandee. Is he into fierce girls or something?"

"Change the topic, please. So annoying." Sandee sighed. They usually talked about girls and stuff, but why the hell were they focusing on her tonight? "And you, June! Tell me you didn't give my number to anyone!"

"Nooooo, I didn't," answered June. 

But... who'd believe him when his voice was squeaky?!

"Are you sure?"

"Chill out, I'll take care of them if they bother you."

"You're always like this!"

Sandee sighed again. June definitely gave her phone number and LINE ID away. He seemed afraid that he'd get scolded, so he quickly changed the topic to the girls who were after Pete tonight.

"Pete, how many numbers have you got tonight?"

"A few. Not sure if I'll contact them, though. They're not really my type."

They continued chatting merrily. Pete dropped June off first, then Thada. He dropped Sandee off at a boutique called 'Ordinariez' located on the ground floor of the building. Her parents had bought this building to open the boutique. It was also where Sandee and her four elder sisters lived.

"Pete, make sure you drop Kao off at his home," Sandee repeated. "Be considerate to all of your friends. You know Kao will be the one who does most parts of the report, so just driving him home shouldn't be a problem."

"I got it! Did I say I wouldn't drive him home?"

"Great! Kao, text me when you're there."

Sandee returned the jacket back to Pete and stepped out of the car. Kao then moved to the front seat beside the driver. Pete started the car a few moments later, sighing like he was forced to do this. Kao didn't say a word. He just sat there silently until the awkward atmosphere in the car threatened to suffocate him.

He'd rather go home by himself if Pete hated it so much.

But... after enduring the awkwardness for a while, Pete turned to Kao and started a conversation.

"Do you keep in touch with your old friends?"

Kao went rigid. He looked at Pete, not understanding why he asked about this all of a sudden. Weren't they both trying not to dig up the past because they didn't want to make things worse between them?

Given the current situation... they were already like enemies.

"Didn't you hear what I asked?"

"You mean Ren and the guys?" Kao asked just to be sure even though he knew Pete was talking about Ren. "Well, sometimes. We're still friends. Why did you ask? Still holding a grudge about Mint?"

"l broke up with her for ages."

"Why? You were so possessive of her back then."

"What kind of dumb shit would I have been if I'd continued the relationship? She was two-timing me with Ren. And she would've done it again if I'd gone back to her."

Kao kind of understood Pete's feeling. If he were Pete, he wouldn't go back to her either. That was... if he didn't really love her.

"And why the hell are you trying to defend Ren?"

"When did l? I just asked why you broke up with Mint."

"Good then! You'd better not defend him."

"You still hold a grudge against Ren. Why? You already broke up with Mint."

"I'm not holding a grudge. It just pisses me off when thinking of his face. Why do you care?! Tryin' to stand up for him? Do you need to be such a hero all the time?"

"You'd stand still if your friend was being beaten up to death?" Kao struck back. He thought Pete was offending him for helping Ren that day. "And friend or not, I'd help anyway."

"Just like you did for me tonight? What a noble mind." Pete wasn't only being sarcastic, but he also made a face that begged for a punch. "You don't have to butt in the next time. I can handle two dudes just fine."

"Fine! I'll just let them beat up your ass the next time."

"You never know when to shut up."

"And you never stop putting your foot in your mouth."

Pete glowered at the foul-mouthed guy next to him. The irritation was so overwhelming that he slammed his fist on the steering wheel to vent his anger. Kao sighed deeply, seeing how Pete wasn't willing to drive him home at all.

"Pull over, I'll take a bike taxi."

"Great! It's a pain to drive in a narrow alley."

Pete pulled over in front of the alley where Kao's house was. Kao didn't hesitate for a second to get out of the car and called for a bike taxi. He didn't even book back, not giving a damn to Pete whatsoever.

Damn... so fucking arrogant!

"Id never drive you home if it wasn't for Sandee. Get home by yourself, shitty mouth. Serve you right!" he muttered. The more he thought of Kao's face when they bickered, the more upset he was.

Did Kao just say that he helped Pete from that menacing face because of his sense of humanity? Not because they were friends, and not because Kao actually cared about him?

'Well, it's not like I want to be your friend.'

Pete felt agitated the more he thought about it. Deep down, he felt guilty for making Kao get home by a bike taxi. But he told himself that Kao started it. Pete would never apologize first. Never!

SCREEEEEECH!

Pete hit the brake abruptly as three bikes cut off and stopped in front of his car. He acted without thinking as he was being lost in thought.

"Son of a bitch!"

He cussed irritably and immediately got out of his car.

"Are you fucking stupid?!"

Pete shouted, scowling at the bikes' owners, ready to fight. They took off their helmets and glared back at him. Seeing they were the ones he'd fought at the pub, with two more people added, Pete looked around. The road was deserted, he doubted this was merely an accident. These guys definitely came for him. Besides... Ren was one of them.

What a small world.

Both his enemies were in the same group!

"Mork, should we just beat him up?!"

One of the minions asked, glaring at Pete like he couldn't wait to beat him up any longer. Pete recognized Mork as the gang leader. Though Pete was at a disadvantage right now, he still smirked without fear, thinking that these guys not just got no jams, but also couldn't even afford to handle him alone.

"What's up?!" Mork greeted.

"Sup... chickens," Pete answered unshakenly.

"You fucking jerk. Let's give him a lesson." Mork's minions were always ready to 'attack'. They were about to dash into Pete, but Mork stopped them.

"Why? His mouth's begging for a good punch."

"No need to rush, I'll talk to him," Mork said, looking at Pete like he was going to give him one more chance. "l don't mind about that girl since she probably doesn't like my friend, I'm here because of that foul mouth of yours. But if you apologize to me properly, I'll let it go."

"Apologize?"

Pete could hardly hold his laugh. He tilted his head, staring at Mork, then averted his eyes towards Ren. Although he had let go of some things in the past, he wouldn't hold back in this situation. More importantly, he wasn't the one at fault. Why should he lower his pride and apologize to them?

"I'd rather apologize to a dog than to a bunch of losers like you."

Pete's words and the way he was looking at them were unmistakably the beginning of a war!

"It's twenty baht."

Kao got off the bike taxi and reached for a wallet he kept in his jeans pocket. But, patting both right and left pockets, there was no trace of his wallet. His face turned pale. He remembered it'd been in his pocket and it'd been there when he'd gotten out of the pub. But where was it now?

I must've dropped it in Pete's car.

"Er... I dropped my wallet in my friend's car," Kao told the rider after a thought.

"What the..." The rider made an angry face like he thought Kao was trying to cheat.

"I'm not trying to cheat or anything." Kao quickly defended himself. "Can you take me to my friend? I'll pay you double."

"Very well. Hurry up and hop on."

"Thanks a lot."

Kao jumped on the bike real quick. Actually, he could have just called his mom to open the door and asked her to pay for him, but he would be a terrible son for coming back from the party at 3 a.m. and waking his mom up. Moreover, he didn't want to leave his wallet in Pete's car. 

Pete hates him. What if he was so enraged and threw his wallet away?

"l don't think your friend's still there."

"l know. Just keep going straight."

Kao knew Pete wouldn't wait for him to return or would drive into the alley to see whether he had arrived home safely. It'd be different if Kao was a girl. But he was a guy and the one Pete hated at that. So, Kao thought Pete was driving himself home right now. Since Kao and the rest of the group used to go to Pete's place to do homework before, he knew how to get there. Plus, Pete wouldn't be driving far, it shouldn't take too long to catch up with him.

Kao gave the rider directions while looking for Pete's car. Then, he saw something strange further up the road. There were a car, bikes, and people gathering on the sidewalk. And that was definitely Pete's car.

"Stop! Stop! Stop! Stop!"

Kao shook the rider's shoulders hard that he immediately stopped his bike. Kao hopped off and hurried to the scene to find Pete was being beaten up by a group of people just like Ren that day. Kao thought karma finally caught up to Pete. But deep inside, Kao felt sorry for him because Pete was still his friend. Even if Pete wasn't... Kao still couldn't ignore him.

"Stop! Or I'll call the police!"

Kao shouted before he knew it. The rider standing beside him turned pale, afraid to get caught in the crossfire.

"You again?!"

Mork turned and yelled at him. At that moment Kao felt like time was going to stop. He was horrified to the point that he froze, afraid that they would change their target to him instead, yet he tried to stand straight... He was doing the right thing. Fate wouldn't play a joke on him. He'd even gotten out alive when Pete had brought his friends to beat Ren up that day.

"Hey! Leave him. He's my friend."

Someone shouted as Mork made his way towards Kao, Mork halted and look at Ren. Kao was stunned when he saw Ren. He never thought that the world would be this small.

And... Ren was now in the group of Pete's new enemies.

"Let my friend go," Kao said, gazing at Pete concerned. Right now, both arms caught by Mork's two minions, face full of bruises, Pete still glared at his beaters furiously.

Still, act all daring when you're about to die?

"Both of you are still breathing because of Ren," Mork told Pete, still fuming with rage, then he turned to Kao. "Next time, tell your friend to shut the fuck up if he doesn't want to get his ass whooped."

Mork walked to his bike after that. Pete was so resentful that he rushed to attack Mork, but Kao quickly grabbed his arm, or else they would get into a fight again.

"I've no idea you and he would be friends." Ren looked at Pete and Kao back and forth. Ren and Kao still kept in touch after they'd graduated from school, but Kao had never mentioned anything about Pete.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you later," Kao said, not really serious. He didn't mean to hide it from Ren, actually. He just didn't know how to explain it, especially when he wasn't sure if Pete was his 'friend' or 'enemy'. "Tell your friend I'm sorry. Hope there'll be no more fight again... I'm tired of it.'

"Fine! You've gotta tell your friend too."

Ren walked to Mork and got on his bike, then they all left immediately. Kao turned to look at Pete who was quite a mess, but he could still stand, with his mind intact...Kao guessed

"Can you drive home yourself?"

"Of course," Pete said, wiping the blood off the corner of his mouth. "What brings you here?"

"I dropped my wallet in your car."

Kao just remembered. He walked to Pete's car and opened the door, sweeping his eyes over the inside of the car. He soon found it on the floor at the back seat. He grabbed the wallet and showed it to Pete as proof that he really came for his wallet.

Pete nodded but said nothing.

"You sure you can drive?"

"Yeah."

"Good... Bye, then."

Kao got on a bike taxi whose rider waited on it, ready to go. Although he was still worried about Pete, he thought it wouldn't be a problem as Pete insisted he was okay. Kao believed Mork and his minions wouldn't be such 'bitches' to return and assault Pete. Meanwhile, Pete got into his car and drove away.

Even though Pete showed no expression, he was thinking about something. 

Something about a friend like Kao... who'd saved him twice tonight.

"It's late. I'll crash here."

Mork parked his bike beside Sun's car and followed Ren inside. Ren lived in a housing estate. A pretty large two-story house with the inside well-decorated, indicating how wealthy the owner of this house was.

Ren lived here with Sun because their parents had gotten divorced when they were younger. Their mother had married a rich foreigner while their father had gone to work overseas when they were in middle school. But their parents regularly sent them money, and Sun, Ren's elder brother, had been taking care of him as if he was a father.

"You can, but you've gotta meet my brother," Ren warned Mork, or else he would complain later.

"He probably went to bed at this hour," Mork said, getting goosebumps.

"You and my brother are sure hard to get along." Ren chuckled.

Mork and Sun hadn't hit it off since the first day they'd met. The thing was... when Ren had graduated from high school, he'd had to attend a university just like other teenagers at his age. At first, he'd wanted to study at the same faculty and university as Kao, but his scores weren't good enough, so he'd had to attend another university instead.

And there he'd met Mork who was totally different from Kao.

Of course! Kao studied well and was well-behaved while Mork was a typical bad boy, a delinquent, always got into fights. lt was no wonder why an elder brother like Sun would drag Ren down and spoil his record. But Mork wasn't actually that bad.

"Still up!"

Sun's scary voice came before he appeared. Mork rolled his eyes in ultimate annoyance when he saw Sun walking down the stairs. Sun looked at them with an intimidating expression, his arms crossed.

To be honest... Sun was the kind of man who got other men's admiration. He was mature, dressed nicely, had outstanding academic and sports performances, and behaved accordingly. Plus, he was as handsome as a model in a modern-male magazine. But it was hard for Mork to admire Sun since Sun had a prejudice against him, and he was always complaining, even more than Mork's own father. 

"You came back late and your face is full of bruises. Got into a fight again?"

Sun interrogated. An hour ago, he'd heard Ren hurriedly rushed out of the house. What could've been a reason for leaving home this late besides going out for a fight? Every time Mork was about to fight someone, he always called to Ren. How could Sun not have a prejudice against Mork when he misbehaved like this?

Sun was okay with them hanging out at night and drinking, but fighting... It wasn't right!

"I didn't call him out. My friend did," Mork said as if he could guess what Sun was thinking from the way Sun looked at him, "I gave him a ride since it was late. I wouldn't have come if I'd known I'd meet you."

"Your friends called Ren because of you, didn't they?"

"I told you, I didn't tell anyone to call him."

"But you're the reason anyway."

"Don't come to help me next time, Ren. I'm sick of listening to your brother nagging."

Instead of arguing with Sun, Mork spoke to Ren. This kind of attitude infuriated Sun even more than Mork speaking to him directly. Sun gave his brother's friend a death glare, but Mork just raised his eyebrows without fear. Even though Sun earned respect from Ren's other friends, he would never get it from Mork. 

If Ren started to act out, Sun would blame Mork for leading his brother onto the wrong path!

"I'll go home. Even my dad isn't this much of a pain."

Mork said and walked out. Sun almost jumped down the stairs and grabbed Mork's neck to make himself worthy of being 'this much of a pain'. And he couldn't help cursing Mork in his mind... This brat is fucking getting on my nerves! 

"Ren, you see? How can you blame me for having a prejudice against him? Look at how he talked to me! Are they all such spoiled brats... the only son who gets pampered by rich parents?"

"Come on, Sun. I'm fine."

Ren tried to calm Sun down, or else he would get scolded in place of Mork until he couldn't get to sleep. But no matter how hard Ren got scolded and nagged at, he would never get mad at Sun. He knew Sun did it out of worry. 

Sun had been looking after him in place of their parents for years. No wonder why he acted as his dad more and more every day. 

"You're fine today, but there's no guarantee tomorrow. You'll have a bad record if you don't stop getting into fights."

"All right, all right, all right. I won't do it agaaaaain."

"You told me that last time!"

Sun continued complaining until Ren ran to his room, not wanting to listen anymore. Sun sighed deeply, knowing everything he said went in Ren's one ear and out the other. And when Ren got into a fight next time, he'd promise he'd never do it again.

It keeps repeating like this... For goodness' sake!