Love Business

"Tell me this is not a setup. Cause if this is your hidden agenda, I will not forgive you!"

"Pan, I swear on Shu's name! I don't know!"

"He was standing alive in front of me! With that senior outfit..." Pan stomps her feet on the ground to let out her frustration. "Gosh! Sofia, he is my senior!"

About a minute ago (not exactly a minute but let's just assume that), Pan was standing on the stage, trying to answer the question given by one of the seniors in charge of the orientation program for the BBA freshmen. As she was about to say something, the door opened, revealing a man who turned out to be Zee, whom she left four years ago.

"This is weird, judging by how much we know about Zee. He hates school, let alone a college! Now, he's your senior," Sofia takes her time before she suddenly shrieks. "And the good news is, he's about to graduate soon!"

That fact makes Pan even more upset.

"Why are you celebrating? Now, you sound sus, Sofia!"

"Pan, listen. One, I graduated years ago. Two, I'm not a BBA student, Pan... Remember? I'm a Food Science student, and my faculty is far from your faculty. Three, I don't have his number, at all! Even you blocked him too, right? So tell me, which part is sus now?" Sofia tries to convince Pan. And all those points mark the checkbox of the list!

"So, what now?" after Pan fails to response, Sofia asks her. "Tell me, do you wanna quit just because of him? If you ever think about that, you're a lame person!"

Pan gets even more upset with Sofia provokes her, here and there.

"Excuse me, who are you calling lame, huh?!"

"You. You are a lame person!" Sofia sterns her tone a bit.

Pan pauses for a moment. She takes a deep breath and tries to relax. This is not her, by the way! She always handles obstacles calmly. Today, she feels like a different person in front of this ocean of strangers.

"Guess I have to suck up myself then!" finally, after some measures of thoughts, Pan gives in.

"That's the spirit! Remember, he is your past. And Shu is your future. Put away the past for the sake of the future. You can do it!" Sofia's assurance makes Pan's heart rest at ease. She now can smile a bit.

"So, can I talk to Shu?"

"She's here now. Shu, come talk to ma..."

"Mama! I miss you..." Shu pouts as she watches Pan through the screen, feeling sad and longing for her.

"Aww. I miss you too, baby! Are you a good kid today?" asks Pan.

"As usual, I'm the best!" Pan can't help but laugh hard. To be honest, she has no idea where Shu gets this confident level that knocks the roof violently.

"Did you miss me?" Pan then asks the little girl.

"I do. But I know you need to go to school so you can bring more money to me!"

"What are you, a gold digger??" Pan chuckles. As she is talking to Shu, suddenly tears roll down her cheek.

"But, truly... I miss you, ma..."

"I miss you, too. Wait for me okay? I'll be home soon..."

Pan cuts the call immediately after Shu bids goodbye. She inhales deeply, wiping those tears that stain her cheek.

When she turns around, Kim is standing right in front of her, wearing a sweet smile on his face.

"Hi there!" Kim greets Pan.

"Hello, Senior Kim..." Pan greets back with a respectful gesture.

"You know you can't use the phone until the end of the program, right?" says Kim, tilting his head a bit.

"I'm sorry, Senior... But I need to call home. Besides, it's a break time," Pan replies. She upstands herself because she knows she's done nothing wrong.

"I can let you go, with one condition..."

Pan stares at Kim.

"I want your number," says Kim.

I know this is coming... Shia! Pan curses silently.

"Freshie, would you care to give me your number, or ready to be punish?" Kim asks Pan again. This time, he moves a little bit closer towards Pan, even thought she is trying to put a gap between them, her effort seems fruitless.

What should I do now? Should I kick his balls? Well, I can do that! But, that will kill him! Oh God, please save me!

"Freshie..."

"Why are you guys still talking outside? Come! The program will start!"

As Pan is about to reject Kim, someone approaches them with a strict voice. Pan uses this chance to speed up, walking into the Auditorium 3 with solace. She thanked God for sending someone to help her! She wanna thanked the man, but she was in a hurry and did not even care to lift her head and look at him.

Kim glares at the man as he walks away from the spot, only to be halted by the person.

"Tone it down. It's just the first day," says the person.

"I always advancing. Why would you care this time, Zee?" Kim bravely face his friend.

Zee sighs as his grip gets tighter around Kim's waist.

"I have my own reason. Even more, you should think about your reputation. We're graduating soon," replies Zee. He softly releases Kim's hand before enters the Auditorium 3 with his tense look.

Kim scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief.

***

"Where were you just now?" asks Yara.

"Something urgent at home. I need to make a phone call," Pan answers.

"Phone is prohibited until the end of the day. Did you forget about that??" Yara pinches Pan's forearm. She whines in pain and immediately smacks the girl's shoulder.

"I'm not! But, I have to. It's urgent!"

"Someone got sick? Or, someone is dying?" there is Han, coming out of nowhere, snooping around people's business.

"Ai sutt, Han! Could you please at least say hi!?" Pan smacks him with her bag.

"Shiaa! Jeez, you got a heavy punch! What are you, a wrestler?!" Han whines.

"Lesson learned; don't mess with a mother-"

Pan shuts herself when she realizes she is almost this close to exposing herself.

"Mother what?" asks Yara.

"Motherfucker!"

"Pan, your vocab is seriously dangerous! What kind of girl curses so much in 5 minutes span?" Yara cuffs her palm at her waist and glares at Pan. She grins as she puts her hand around Yara's shoulder.

"Sorry, mae..." Pan quickly apologizes for her misbehavior.

"You look small in front of Yara..." Han teases her.

"She's too noble. I can't even piss in my pants!" Pan whispers to Han.

"Princess Yara in action..." Han replies to Pan.

"Attention to all freshies...!" Auditorium 3 goes silent at once. A man takes over the podium, looking at them in a horrified facial.

"Now... This is a real deal..." Han whispers to his friends.

"Why?" Yara asks.

"That's Zee. The most notorious senior in the BBA program. Legend said he used to be a part of a group called The Lost Boy..."

Pan closes her eyes when Han recites the story about Zee. Deep down inside, she holds on to her dear life, trying to go deaf about the group that was a history for her.

"What kind of group is that?"

"It's a gang. They took over the street like a group of bandits. The public labels them that, but they help a lot of poor people and lost teenagers as well," says Han.

"He looks young to even been in a gang..." Yara glares at Zee.

"I'm not sure how old he was when he joined that gang, but I think right now, he's about 23 years old. He started college a bit later than his classmates, but he is a genius who can keep up with the lesson and leap a year earlier. He will graduate this year along with his seniors,"

That's interesting! Pan whispers to herself. Now she understands why Sofia never met Zee even though they are at the same college.

"Come to think about it, he is at the same age as his seniors. Maybe he has a good relationship with them that makes him work hard so he can graduate together.." says Yara. "So, he's not a genius then... He is just a hardworking person!" the girl continues.

Pan can't help but smiles a bit. That's the quality that Zee has; he is indeed a hardworking man, especially if he puts a goal for something. He might looked like a loser, but once he gets his goal, he will never let is wasted. He will keep it with his dear life. Just like how much he worked hard to make Pan fell in love with him. Which was cute, indeed!

Pan slaps her cheek unconsciously upon thinking about those sweet moment.

"Pan, what's wrong with you?" Yara pulls down her hand.

"Nothing... I'm... Sleepy..." Pan fixes her composure.

"You dare to sleep while Senior Zee is giving his speech?? You wanna die?" Han squeaks in tiny.

"Hey, you over there..."

The three of them immediately look at Zee. Horror sips into their bone when Zee glares at them. They quickly sit properly and pay attention to him.

"You. The one in the middle. Stand up,"

Pan's eyes rounded. She curses under her breath and slowly stands up from her chair.

"What are you guys talking about?" Zee inquires.

"Nothing important..."

"Nothing important what?"

"I say, nothing important!" Pan slowly losing her control.

"You forgot how to address me, freshie..."

Pan smucks. She curses silently, reminding herself that this man over here is now her senior, although they are the same age.

"Sorry, Senior Zee..."

"How do you know my name?" Zee tilts his head. His deep but clear voice makes her flinches.

"You... You got your name embroidered on your corporate suit..." Pan slowly replies to him.

"Good observation. That means you have been checking on me, am I right, freshie?" Zee smirks.

The crowd is now teasing them. Pan can't hide her rosy cheek. She frowns and glares at Zee. The man keeps looking at her with his playful smile.

"Pay attention next time, freshie. When your senior is giving you a briefing, you must pay attention so you won't miss any important information," says Zee.

"I'm sorry, senior..."

"Come again? I can't hear you..." Pan swats Zee with her frustrated face.

"Sorry, Senior Zee!"

He smiles.

"You should call my name in confidence, freshie. You already know my name, what's with the hesitation?"

They lock gaze. How Pan wishes that she was standing near Zee now! For sure, she will smack his head and scold him big time, just as they used to be when they were a couple...

"Sorry, Senior Zee..."

Zee stares at Pan. He smiles and nods in tiny. As Pan wants to sit back...

"0818..."

"Yes, senior?" she quickly stands up.

"You will get your punishment. You and your friends as well. Meet us after the program..."

"But senior..."

"Don't think that you can escape from your wrongdoing. Just because you have a pair of beautiful slated cat eyes, you can get away from me."

Pan inhales deep. She is so done with Zee's attitude now. By hook or crook, she will get punish. Just go all the way then! Her heart whispers to her.

"So, you have been checking on me too, Senior Zee?" asks Pan full of sassiness.

Her response burns the whole Auditorium 3. Everyone gasps with her braveness and boldness.

Here is Pan, standing in front of her ex-partner, smirking at him. Zee looks at her, smiling from ear to ear. He doesn't respond to her. He feels like he doesn't need to. Because that answer is something that Zee expecting from her.

He doesn't care much actually. He just want to make a way so he can meet Pan again. Old flame is burning inside, and Zee can't wait no more.