Chapter Text
Vegas
How strange. I am just being silent but I can feel that Pete is acting strange. Since the day that I decided to continue the family business and my studies, I became alienated from everything about Pete. I can no longer have a long and casual conversation with him. I didn’t expect things to be like this, I really thought I would no longer have a problem because I am living a peaceful life with him now, with Macau and Venice too.
But that is just all I thought, I’ve been thinking about Pete 24/7, what is bothering him. He is just centimeters away from me but it feels like he is kilometers distant away.
I want to know about it immediately so I asked Macau to look after him and observe what is going on with Pete.
Probably you are asking me why should I just ask him about it myself. I would love to, but I am too busy to do it. I wake up every morning and Pete is still asleep, and I know he is too tired because Venice is crying in the middle of the night.
When the night comes, actually I came home late most of the time, from a business meeting with Kinn. All I want is to lay myself down because I am also too tired.
I miss my Pete, but I am not blaming Venice or anyone and anything. Just his presence and his beautiful smile, I am longing for it. Venice is so lucky that Pete's time and attention were given to him. I sometimes wonder if Pete misses me too.
"Oh? P'?"
One night, I came home around two in the morning again and I caught Macau playing a video game in our living room. I have no energy to scold him, I also don't want to bother everyone who is sleeping now.
"What do you think you are doing? Don't you have classes tomorrow— I mean later?" I asked him, I am somehow irritated from the fact that when I was the same age as him, I never stayed up for this long.
"I am waiting for you," I raised an eyebrow, I am completely confused, "I am also waiting for the main family's service so to keep myself awake, I am just playing a little bit."
"What?" I almost shouted when I heard his answer, Macau didn't ever dare look at me, "Why are waiting for the main family's service around this hour?"
"Just thank me later, P'. Don't you have classes later as well? Go to bed," I clicked my tongue in frustration.
"Just don't let me catch you doing something bad behind my back, Macau," I warned him before helping myself walk towards our room.
I see Pete sleeping so soundly as always, it makes me feel at ease. Glad that Venice is sleeping silently beside him too, I kissed Pete and Venice's forehead before proceeding my mind to dreamland.
I heard my alarm and crawl my hands on the table beside our bed, about to turn it off when Pete greeted me with a "Good morning."
I hope I am not dreaming, I asked him a couple of questions, and his answers make him more suspicious, and I don't want to ask anymore. Him, telling me that he wants to take care of me is enough for me to believe and trust him, that everything is alright.
"How about my kiss?" I asked him while searching for the Pete that I love so much in his eyes. It feels like heaven, I love this feeling. After our kiss, I finally got out of the car.
While walking up the stairs, I can't stop smiling because Pete's lips still linger on mine. I am wishing that tomorrow will be like this again. Probably this is the feeling of being a teenager being blinded by so much love.
"What's up, Vegas?" it is Shu, my friend, given the fact that he admitted before that he likes me. I rejected him, of course, but he insisted we should still be friends, but I am not emotionally attached as friends to him at all. I still don't trust anyone.
"I feel great," I plainly answered.
"You seem like you are in love."
"Shut the hell up," I don't want to ruin this day, Pete made this day special so I will let Shu slide this time, I am completely positive about everything.
After a couple of hours, classes are finally over. I can't wait to be with Pete again. I sent him a message and tried to call him but he is not answering at all. I really hope he is in the library.
Shu is asking me to grab a coffee with him but when he is away to go to the restrooms, I ditched at him. I already told him that I have plans after class but he said that he will join so I need to get out of there before he comes back.
The same cold breeze embraces my skin when I entered the library. Fon, the librarian is smiling so wide at me and waving her hands nonstop. She is really something but she is nice to me.
I walk towards my favorite spot, where I see Pete sleeping with books around him. I smiled when I saw his face, it is so cute. I sat beside him and stared at him for a minute, I am capturing every single moment with him.
"AHH!" he screamed, I bit my lower lip to stop myself to laugh at his reaction.
"Shhh! It's me, the love of your life," his cheeks are red and puffy from sleeping, "How's your sleep? You can continue your nap on our way home," I recommend, because I can see that he is really tired.
If Pete planned this to take care of me, I think he also deserved this week's rest for himself. Pete had done so much to me, to Venice, and to everyone. Pete should be rewarded an eight-hour sleep.
The next morning, Pete's alarm can be heard all over the room. I am the one who turned it off because he is not really waking up. I decide to fix myself earlier today and do the breakfast for the two of us.
"My kiss?" he smiled at me, the smile that never disappoint to made my day. I am so in love with this man. He gave me a peck and I finally got out of the car.
I really can't erase the smile on my face again, not until someone just wrapped an arm on my shoulders. I felt irritated, I already know whose arm this was.
"Vegas!" this guy can't leave me alone for just a day, really?
"What do you want from me? And get off your filthy hands off me will you?" I turned around to look for Pete, I wonder if he sees that. I hope he didn't.
If I were Pete, I don't want anyone even breathing near my beloved. So, I don't want to do things that make me feel jealous of Pete. I am loyal to him, I love him more than he knows.
"I just wondered why you got off from the passenger seat of your car, is someone with you?"
I don't want to waste my fully charged self in answering questions that don't benefit me.
What a wonderful day, our professor is absent. I went straight to the library and meet Pete. I take him on a school date, he seems to enjoy it. We went from college to college and told him everything I know. I feel so great and light when he is really with me. I want to skip class just to spend this whole day with him but I am sure he will get mad if I did that.
"How come you guys know each other?" what a great timing, it is Shu. I suddenly felt uncomfortable that he and Pete know each other, I hold Pete's right hand.
"Shu is the one who helped me find the library yesterday," he explained, I am not amused at all. I wonder if they talked about anything too, thinking that makes my mood drop.
"Ahh, okay," I plainly respond, I hate their enthusiasm while conversing, I held Pete's hand tightly.
"And how come you know each other too?" Shu asked. I was about to pull Pete and leave Shu but, Pete just let go of mine. I was too shocked that I can't put my emotions into words.
"I am his... ahh, friend!" Pete avoided my gaze.
"What?" I totally lost it, there were a lot of questions suddenly running to my mind. As they continue talking, I remembered Pete once telling me what to do if I feel mad, sad, or any emotions that overwhelmed me.
Pete says that I am bad at controlling my temper so all I need is, 'do the ten-second rule, Vegas. If you are angry with your bodyguards, if you remember your father and you felt sad, if you are drowning from all the love you are receiving from mw, instead of letting out all the words you wanted to say, inhale and exhale for ten seconds and everything will be okay!'
But I don't think that the ten-second rule will apply to this situation, instead of saying anything, I leave them. I am so sorry Pete, it is not enough for me to calm myself down, I need hours or days for this.
"Who is Pete, Vegas? He seems familiar to me," we are now walking up the stairs, he is running after me, and continues to get on my nerves.
"Stop bugging me, Shu," I gritted my teeth, and I got a glimpse of Fon who is walking her way up behind us.
"I am just asking, he is cute," that's it, I won't let this slide off.
"Stay away from Pete," I walk faster this time. Leaving Shu behind. He is really pissing me off.
When I got to the classroom, I sat far away from him. I am now praying to the heaven above that I hope Pete is okay, I hope is not mad at me for walking away without saying a word.
The class ended early than I expected, I was about to go when my classmates asked me to grab a meal with them, I agreed and told them that I will leave after an hour. I still need to fetch Pete in the library who is probably still sleeping, will make his world at peace for now.
I am eating with my classmates now, little did I know that Shu is with us too, also sitting beside me. I still can't move on from the negative feeling I have because of him.
I didn't talk to him and just ignore everyone who is planning to have a conversation with me, and just compose a message on how I will tell Pete that I understand why he did tell Shu that he was just a friend. Probably, he is plotting something so I analyzed everything now, I will tag along with him, I trust Pete so much. My mind seems not to function what words I should type. I wonder if Pete thinks of me too.
And speaking of my mind that is not cooperating with me, I just realized that I am now drinking an alcoholic drink. The more that I looked at it, the more I feel so nauseous. I shook my head and didn't expect to get dizzy and start to feel numb. I concluded that our drinks have drugs, what the hell?
"Shu..." I called him, and my eyes wanted to shut but I am still fighting for my life, I managed to talk to this jerk.
"Vegas? What's wrong?" shit, the guy is completely sober. Is this his plan or what? If I didn't makeup with Pete tonight I will kill every single person inside this room.
"Why is my drink have drugs?" I asked angrily, and I accidentally leaned on him. F*ck, I can't feel my legs and limbs.
"What? Didn't our classmate ask if you want some? And you agreed to it," I can't believe myself that I didn't hear them asking me, I am too occupied with what and how should I clear things with Pete.
"My phone..." I hand Shu my phone, glad that Pete's contact is on the screen already, "Call..." and after that, I don't know what happened next.
Everything is blackout but I suddenly felt a familiar arms around me, I am one hundred percent sure that this is Pete. I am somehow at ease that he is here. I hope they didn't do something to me, for sure Pete will be mad and will probably do a rampage, he is arguing with my classmates.
"Hello, nice to meet you, I am Vegas' bodyguard and I think I should suspect you all as the suspicious person that will harm my boss so..." I heard Pete says that, I really can't move my body or even open my eyes to at least see what is happening.
Next, I heard a loud tud and a Shu groaning in pain, did Pete punch him? D*mn, I hope to see how he did that. I am so proud of my lover right now but I can still feel that my head is spinning around, I will rest for now. I already know that I am safe.
'Vegas, why did you do that?' it is Pete, crying while holding Venice, luggage in his other hand. What is happening?
'Didn't I tell you that the next time you hurt Pete, I will kill you?' it is Porsche, pointing a gun at me. Before I managed to open my mouth to talk, he pulled the trigger to shoot me.
I came to the realization that all of it was just a dream. Now all I see is Pete sitting next to me, he seems thinking about something deep that he didn't notice that I am now awake.
"Pete," I reached for him to come near me. Pete crying makes my heart ache so bad, that it becomes more painful because the responsible for those tears is me. I really hate myself right now. I promised Pete and everyone not to hurt him like this again.
Pete is my weakness. I told him what really happened earlier, we finally made up things clearly between us. The night passed so peacefully and calmly.
The next morning, I am so confused why my classmates didn't dare to even look me in the eye. I sat next to Shu, who is silent the whole day. Does Pete really scare them that much? I really wish to see how he managed to do it.
"Shu, I need to tell you something," I started, he also flinched when I asked about his eye patch.
"Why did you choose me to be your partner, Vegas? I won't bother you again anymore—"
"Pete is my lover," Shu froze in shock, "No wait, he is my husband."
"I really thought that he is your bodyguard, I am really sorry. I didn't mean to intrigue someone's love life. Why are you telling this to me now?"
"It is alright. I just realized that as my friend, you should know about those things about me, right?" I smirked at Shu and do the draft of our assignment.
Kinn just called that we will be having a meeting so I asked Shu to rehearse our part at my house. The man can't do anything about it, we will finish our assignment today if he still wants to pass. Now we are in the library, I am confused about why Pete is with the librarian, Fon.
"What?!" I told him that Shu will be with us, and his reaction is priceless but I have big respect for this library, "I mean why does he need to- ugh, fine!" I glanced at him because we are disturbing other students, "Bye, Fon! See you again tomorrow!" bidding his goodbye to the librarian who is smiling wide at us. Fon is really weird.
Pete is quiet while on our way home, I am too embarrassed to talk about the assignment with Shu as well. I know that I am not good at acting, setting aside the acting that my father ordered me before. That is completely different!
The given task is to re-enact a certain scene of the melodrama that we discussed earlier. It is a serious part, the critical one. It is about two brothers, the older one is almost dying, telling his last will to the little brother to take over the kingdom. Just imagining how I will put it in acting, I don't want Pete to see it.
I requested him to stay in our room, and while rehearsing, we are now in that part where the older brother is whispering so the little brother, which is my role, needs to lean my ear near his mouth.
Pete saw us in that position and I know, based on how he reacted, he misunderstood it.
"I think you should run after him, now," Shu advised, "I haven't apologized to him yet, he probably thinks that we are doing something wrong here, Vegas."
"Wow, afraid that he will smack your other eye?" I asked sarcastically, "Just come to school early tomorrow to rehearse," I told him after taking my leave in my office.
I checked our room and everywhere if Pete is still there, I also asked my bodyguards if they see him leave the house. They said that he run away using one of my cars. I think I already know where did he go.
I reached the main family's compound and saw my car that Pete used. I went straight to Kinn's office where he and Porsche automatically stood up when I entered the room.
"How dare you show your face here?" I raised both my arms up as a sign of retreat. I already picture this would happen when I dreamed about Porsche also aiming his gun at me.
"Where is Pete? I need to explain everything to him," I wander my eyes around the room and didn't find even his shadow around.
"Didn't I tell you that you will be a lump of dead meat if you hurt Pete again?" Porsche is really mad, I understand that. He really cares for his best friend.
"Porsche, I am telling you to calm yourself down," Kinn is the opposite, I observed how we really changed when it comes to our temper and anger issues. I wonder how Pete and Porsche tamed us like this.
"Should I beg on my knees for you to let me see him and talk to him? Let me at least explain everything to him first," I am not afraid of anything they can do to me, what I am more scared of is not seeing Pete before I left this world.
"How are you so sure that what you will be telling him is true?" Porsche asked, gritting his teeth. Kinn, hold his arms down, he is in a panic that the safety lever is off, "Tell us what happened, if it didn't match what Pete told us, you're dead."
I kneeled down in front of them, my arms still raised, "I am just rehearsing a re-enactment assignment for our drama subject," I bit my lower lip, I can't believe that I need to say this to them. I am disconcerted telling this to Pete but now I am telling them as well. "About two brothers," I added.
"But Pete said that you two are about to kiss?!" Porsche is about to hit me but Kinn holds him and moved far away from me.
"That was part of the act!"
"I don't believe this guy! Kinn, let me go!" Porsche is resisting Kinn's grip.
"What do you want from me? Show the acting?"
The couple stopped, they looked at each other before bringing back their gazes that is full of the suspicious plan at me. "Why not?" Kinn said.
"Why not, what?" I asked in frustration, they are wasting my time. I badly want to see Pete, so I keep on reminding myself about the ten-second rule.
"Why don't you show us your acting? The exact scene where you think Pete misunderstood?" Porsche challenged me.
If looking at them with sharp gazes can already kill, they are both facing their death now.
"See you can't even do the acting. I told you, Kinn, he is not telling the truth—"
"Oh brother!" sh/t, what was the script again? I haven't memorized my lines yet, "I can't! I can't do what you are asking me." The two attentively watched me so I leaned downward, pretending that I am holding someone in my arms, "I am not the right one to replace you, the throne was given to you by our father—" I cut off, I can sense something is wrong.
When I lift my head up, I see Kinn tapping Porsche back, who is laughing out loud. I rolled my eyes because I am starting to get mad, they are clearly making fun of me.
"Oh gosh, that was funny. Pete, take your husband home and teach him how to do acting, okay?" Porsche can't even stand properly, Kinn is just grinning at me.
They are humiliating me! How dare them!
I stood up and was about to land a fist on Porsche when I saw Pete standing at the office's entrance, placing a hand on his mouth. Pete is really here. He does see me doing the lame act, right?
"How long you've been standing behind my back without saying anything? Did you just watched embarrassed myself?" Pete is now holding me too, pulling me away from the couple. I am still pissed off.
"I just visited Venice in Khun's room, I didn't know that you are already here. You were kneeling down and uttering some words so I just watched you are doing for a minute," Pete chuckled.
"Seriously? You're teaming up with these two?"
"I am not. I also received a call from Shu that you are just practicing some act. I am telling you, I just went down to see Venice and will bid my goodbye to Khun Kinn and Porsche before going home," his explanation makes me calm down, somehow. I dare to look at the two and throw them sharp gazes again.
"Come on, let's go home then," I pulled Pete by his wrist, I can't stand with the main clans' guts here. I don't want to see them laughing at me. I feel so degraded.
When Pete and I finally got inside the car, I did his ten-second rule before opening my mouth to ask him and told him everything. I was taken aback when I felt his arms around mine while I am still counting inside my head.
"You are doing great, Vegas," I leaned on him and hugged him back. What a nice feeling, his warmth never disappointed me when I am like this.
"I miss you so much, Pete," I managed to whisper at him between the hug. "Please believe in me that I am not having an affair with Shu. I never liked him," I sniffed Pete's smell to calm down. I can't believe I am embracing him now. I thought that I almost lost him a while ago.
"I miss you so much too, Vegas," his soothing voice sends butterflies in my stomach feeling like. Like a teenager who is in deep love. "Macau volunteered talk to the main family to let him and Venice stay for a week, for me to take care of you while they are here. Now it is all ruined and misunderstandings and problems arise instead."
I withdraw from the hug and cup both of his cheeks, so I can clearly see those adorable eyes that I am wishing to look at every single day that the Gods gave me. I admire every part of Pete’s face, telling myself that this is the guy, the reason I chose to live my life meaningfully.
“You are staring too much, you are making me shy,” those tears again, I wiped them off from his eyes and kissed him, tenderly. Pete is so cute, I can’t help myself.
“Shh, everything is okay now. Don’t apologize about it, those misunderstandings and problems make us and our relationship stronger. Every single moment that I am with you is special to me, Pete. I will treasure this all, how I cherish you yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” Pete finally smiled at me. The smile that saved me from my darkest days and brought me to seek and enlightened me what happiness really means. “I love you so much, Pete. Don’t you ever forget about it?”
“I love you so much too, Vegas. I will stay with you forever,” we both giggled and wrap our arms around each other for the second time.
“E-ehem! Too much cheese in here, I am cringing, why did I even see this,” Pete let go of the hug, Tankhun was standing beside the driver’s seat, behind me. Why is the main family always interrupting like a villain in my life and love story?
“Oh, there you are, Venice!” Pete waves his hand. I turn around to see our child too.
“Hi, beloved,” I waved at him too, I chuckled when I realized that his drool is all over his mouth.
“Please go home and spend the remaining days that I need to take care of this small guy, Macau is doing his homework so I decided to take Venice for a walk and I still saw the two of you here, being lovey-dovey, ugh! I have goosebumps!” I flashed a pleasing smile to Tankhun and Pete just bowing his head nonstop, still waving at Venice.
I fastened both of our seatbelts before starting the engine. I gave Tankhun and Venice a salute, Tankhun waved Venice’s little hand on us and we finally departed.
“You will not going to sleep tonight,” Pete said and intertwined his fingers with my free hand.
“Oh, someone is being naughty, huh?” I teased back.
“I will teach you how to act naturally, of course! Me, Pol, and Arm did a roleplay once with Tankhun before! What are you thinking that we’re going to do, huh?”
End.