Pitbabe S2, Chapter 24 pg 3

 Pitbabe S2, Chapter 24 pg 3

   “I’m asking you seriously now, and this isn’t about rubbing it in or anything,” I said.

   Babe gave a fake, awkward smile, then pursed his lips as if to say, “Thanks for sparing me this time, after dragging me through it countless times.”

   “If you actually manage to make him give up everything, do you think Charlie will come back to you?”

   Babe held my gaze for a moment before looking away. Silence took over the living room, broken only by the faint sound of water hitting the tiled floor. Kim must be showering, which meant we had about twenty minutes to keep talking about this secret—Kim’s routine of showering, brushing his teeth, getting dressed, applying face and body cream, blow-drying his hair, and finally coming out to tell me, “You can shower now.”

   “I hope he comes back,” Babe said, nodding slowly, as if confirming the answer to himself once more. “But I don’t think he will.”

   “Why not?”

   “Because he’s Charlie.”

   “That doesn’t make it any clearer.”

   “No surprise there,” Babe said softly. “I don’t get it either.”

   I’d never had a deep, personal conversation like this with Babe before. Honestly, I’d never had one with anyone. Like I said, I don’t have friends, and my life doesn’t have room for such fragile, abstract things. I don’t have the time, the opportunity, or anyone to talk to like this. That is, until I met Kim by chance, and then Babe, who I could sort of talk to—though we usually had to trade insults first. (I think that’s a good warm-up.)

   “I can’t explain why. It’s just a feeling. If it’s Charlie, he’d say this. He’d do that. He’d choose this. There are so many things I don’t understand about why Charlie does what he does, but it just makes sense because it’s him.”

   “You guys act like you’ve been together since birth.”

   “I feel that way too,” Babe let out a small laugh. It was the first time that day I saw tiny sparks of happiness flicker in his laughter. Babe lit up instantly just talking about Charlie, but at the same time, it was sad. I knew someone who could laugh and seem so happy like this must also carry sobs that could break anyone’s heart. “I feel like I’ve known him my whole life, even though, in reality, it’s only been a few years. And we chose to break up already.”

   “Maybe breaking up was for the best.”

   “Hope so.”

   “I think you’re hoping it’s not,” I said. The sound of water in the bathroom had stopped, meaning Kim was probably getting dressed and doing his skincare now. This depressing conversation was nearing its end. “You want him to regret breaking up and come crawling back, don’t you?”

   “Don’t act like you know everything.”

   “It’s true, isn’t it?”

   “Yeah, it’s true, but stop acting like you know it all.”

   Babe pouted. I wasn’t sure if he meant to or if he forgot himself and thought I was Charlie, to act all cute with me like that. I think I’m starting to understand how Charlie feels. If we’d had the chance to get close back when we were still in the same house, I might’ve fallen for him.

   “What’s with that dumb grin? Got a ghost pulling your face?”

   Hmm… or maybe not.

   “You talk like this with Charlie too?” I narrowed my eyes at the loudmouth I’d briefly thought was cute just seconds ago. Now I really wanted to go back in time and wash my brain out.

   “How could I talk like that to my boyfriend? Are you crazy?”

   “But I can’t imagine you speaking nicely.”

   “Then try being my husband first, and maybe you’ll get it,” Babe said with a deadpan face, but his words sent chills from my toes to the longest strand of my hair.

   “Huh?”

   “Kidding. Don’t believe everything I say, please. I’m gonna puke.”

   I’ll admit I was relieved to hear that. Even if I had a fleeting moment of finding him cute, the thought of me and Babe talking all lovey-dovey like a couple was honestly not a pretty picture.

   “If you’ve made up your mind, then so be it,” I said, glancing at the bedroom door again, unable to shake the worry that Kim might barge out at any moment.

   “But whatever you’re gonna do, do it fast. The boss doesn’t have much time to give.”

   “Did he tell you to rush me?”

   “Not in so many words, but probably,” I answered honestly. “And keep us updated, too. Don’t just disappear. I promised him we’d dig into this, so we need results.”

   “You talk like he’s never wrong,” Babe gave me an openly disgusted look. Even though he’s working with the boss now, his feelings toward his former adoptive father probably haven’t changed much, huh? “Get your head checked.”

   “This is serious,” I brushed off his snarky remark and warned him earnestly, lowering my voice a bit because I could sense Kim was about to come out of the room. “If you’re too slow, he’ll take matters into his own hands. By then, we won’t be able to do anything.”

   “Yeah, yeah, I get it.”

   “If you get it, then do something about it. Don’t just sit there doing nothing after I stop talking.”

   “Hey! You little—”

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