Love Business

"But, he's just a second year!" Seth shrieks.

"Sorry to say, but bro... Have you seen his profile?" asks Cherry.

With that inquiry, Seth sighs.

No one.

Literally no one in this room dares to question Aye Yi's capability.

Although he's just a second year student, his grade, his participant and his ability is far beyond questionable. He's a black sheep of the BBA, but it doesn't mean he will continue holding a bad reputation and being useless. His capabilities ensure his position given by the dean is valid.

"His grade is much better than you, even better than any of us in this room. Aside from Zee, Ta and Lau..."

"And Kim. Don't tarnish my bro's reputation..." Seth reminds Cherry. Kim is among the best students in final year. Although he's not a valedictorian candidate, he is indeed at his own level.

"Can't believe Lauring is among the best students!" Kitty teases her friend. The petite senior glares at her, lowering her thick black frame glasses.

"I might be short, but my mind is brighter than Seth's future," Lauring's reply makes the whole room shake with laughter.

"Did you check the list? Who's gonna be under his wing?" Bear asks.

"There's some changes, that's for sure. So, here is the final list from the dean's office..." Cherry hands the list to Bear. The man gathers with Ta and Zee, studying the list of the new group.

"Oh God..." Ta exclaims in silence.

Zee feels like his heart beats like crazy. It's somehow different from the previous list. Before, Pan is under Ta's watch. But now, the girl, along with her best friend, the cutesy, has been added into the new group under Aye Yi.

She's gonna be his mentee.

"Are you okay, Zee?" Ta asks silently. Zee stares at him, but somehow ignores his question. He grabs his bag and suddenly leaves the room.

"I swear to God, Zee is getting weirder everyday..." says Kitty.

"He's being too hard on himself!" Seth answers.

Ta looks at Bear. The two exchange glares before taking a leave as well.

"You guys are leaving?"

"We'll be back!" Bear replies to Cherry before following Ta from behind.

***

"Zee! Zee! Wait!"

Ta was chasing him from behind. However, Zee ignores him totally. He grabs the file tight and strude towards the faculty's administration office.

He was about to reach the door when Ta finally manages to stop him. The man grabs Zee's hand and pulls him away from the office entrance.

"What are you doing?"

"This. This is unfair!"

"Which area is unfair for you? The fact that you're stick with your valedictorian group, or the fact that your former best friend is now a mentor of your crush?"

Zee's eyes get wider. He stares at Ta. The man softly pats his shoulder and giving him a subtle look.

"Just as I thought. You're afraid if Aye Yi snatches your girl..."

"Pan is not my girl!"

"Come on, pal! Everyone can see how you're so into her! Whenever she's around, you're getting weird. Whoever close to her is a subject of your sharp mode killer side eyes. Even me! It's like she's belong to you. You're so in love with her," Ta finally releases all the things that he wanted to ask Zee.

"I am not..."

"Living in denial again, huh? You know, your strange act, all of us can see it. It's so super crystal clear, that we, can see it even from the Mars!" Ta definitely feels like he works so hard to make Zee realizes how his feeling is obvious to all of his friends.

Zee's head hanging low. He tries to calm himself for a while. He feels anxious and frustrated now.

"Aye Yi, he is not an honest man. I know, he has his motive for this. I don't think a person who discarded his seniors suddenly volunteering like this," says Zee.

"Maybe he doesn't even want it. Maybe the lecturer asked for his help. He's the first ranking out of second year students. It is acceptable if he suddenly becoming the mentor," Ta is trying to coax Zee.

"I saw him signing Pan's sign book..."

"So, it's all coming back to the girl..."

"You don't know Aye Yi like I did, Ta..."

"Yes, I don't know him. But I know you. And I know it's all because of Pan. What if Pan is not in his group? Would you dash your way to the dean's office, just like this?" asks Ta.

With that, Zee falls in a deep silence.

"Zee, I don't how much you're into Pan. But, one thing for sure, until she's truly belongs to you, you have no rights to let anyone close to her for her own good. Aye Yi maybe can help her. He might be a better mentor than I am. So please, act according to your sane judgement instead of your feelings," Ta softly talks to Zee.

"And, if you're afraid of losing her... I think you have to confess to her. Win her heart instead of caging her unnecessarily," the man continues.

The word caging drags Zee to his historical life with Pan. How he caged her until she had it no more and left. He slowly reminds himself of his wrongdoings, and the cause of it as well.

He's not gonna take a U-turn and becoming the old him.

"I'm sorry for my hasty decision. It's just... Aye Yi and I, as you know, we had history. And... For Pan... I-"

Zee looks at Ta. The man slowly blinks his eyes and wait patiently for his next statement.

"There is something that I need to tell you. But right now, I think it's not the best time," Zee sighs between his words.

Looking at Zee and how reluctantly he is, Ta nods in tiny. He taps Zee's shoulder a few times to let him know that he understands about Zee's position.

"Let's talk about it later. Now, we need to go back because Bear might roasts us for leaving him behind," Ta chuckles. Zee nods and they are ready to leave the spot when...

"Hey there..."

A man, standing in front of them, wearing his snicker smile while looking at Zee. Zee watches the man, before signalling Ta to leave them alone.

"Let's talk, Aye Yi.."