"So...what did Mr Jo want to speak to you about?" Pol asked curiously as the trio sat at an empty table in the cafeteria.

Pete didn't know what to say. He was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he was assigned to be Vegas' tutor out of everybody else, which he honestly would not have minded, if the boy he was tutoring wasn't Vegas. Just not him.

Pete contemplated before deciding to keep this arrangement private for now. After all, he didn't want to make a fuss out of anything or worse, have this matter leaked out and risk getting expelled.

"O-oh. Nothing." Pete dismissed the pair's concern, "He just wanted to compliment me for being such a great role model. K.P High's pride, yay."

Pol and Arm weren't entirely convinced considering that Pete came out of the office looking like he had seen a ghost. But neither of the two probed further, so the matter was left at that.

Lesson started shortly after lunch but Pete was not paying attention the least bit to whatever the professor was saying. He was too preoccupied right now to think of solving math questions or comprehending a literature text. He had to think of what he was going to do, and if there's a way out of this arrangement at all.

But luck didn't seem to be on his side. He was not only in the same faculty as Vegas, the Faculty of Business, he was the only one to have ever aced any exams for 2 years straight. So, it's not like he had any other alternatives in mind he could offer to Mr Jo other than himself.

On the bright side, it wasn't like he was tutoring him for nothing. Mr Jo promised to fund his tuition fees for the rest of his college years, as long as Vegas improves by at least a grade across all his subjects for the semester. For someone like Pete who is in a ton of student debt (because not everyone was born with a silver spoon), the reward was indeed tempting.

He was scheduled to start tutoring Vegas today, right after class so once the bell rang, he left hastily with an excuse that he had to be home as soon as possible (because he knew Pol and Arm would insist on knowing why he was missing out on their regular hangouts).

Mr Jo had given him the address of the Theerapanyakul family, the place where he will be visiting for the next 3 months, thrice a week. It was a 30 minute bus ride from school, and standing outside the gates of an enormous mansion was just another reminder why he desperately had to take up the offer.

Money can't solve all your problems, but it sure can help you avoid them.

Pete took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell and out came a middle-aged man in a suit, with 2 other what seemed like bodyguards in neat suits following behind. Let's just say seeing bodyguards screamed "unsafe" in big capitals to Pete who had only ever seen them in mafia movies.

"Ah...you must be Pete?" Said boy nodded his head guardedly in response to the man's question. Pete could tell he was a man of authoritarian figure judging by the way he'd dressed. It wasn't until they started talking, that he learned the man's name was Mr Korn, Vegas' father.

Mr Korn led Pete to where Vegas' room was, the very end of a long hallway that was twice as big as his kitchen and if it weren't for Mr Korn, Pete swore he could have gotten lost.

"He's in there." Mr Korn said before he left Pete standing outside the bedroom door. Pete was having an internal crisis trying to decide if he can back out at this moment but with all the courage he had, he knocked on the door anyway despite the reluctance in his entire being.

Pete hadn't thought of what to say and he wasn't given much to do so because the door swung open seconds later, and standing by the door was the infamous Vegas in a button down shirt and a pair of khaki shorts. Now that he was seeing Vegas up close, the boy sure looked intimidating.

"Hi." Pete squeaked timidly as he shuffled his feet nervously.

"Hey." Vegas responded with a smile, and unlike Pete, he was calm and composed. Clearly a man with experience, Pete thought to himself.

Vegas invited Pete in, and honestly, Pete was pleasantly surprised to see the room rather clean and tidy. Vegas showed Pete where the table was, and Pete quickly got down to business.

"So today, we're gonna go through Math." Pete informs, as he takes out his textbook and stationery he'll need for the session.

"Aren't we going to have a short introduction? We barely know each other." Vegas said and Pete swears he could feel the latter leaning in closer.

Pete cleared his throat anxiously, before moving away so he could put some distance between them. "I thought we did."

"We only exchanged 'Hi's, not sure if that counts." Vegas laughs, seemingly amused by Pete. It was the first someone has ever backed away from his advances, and the first time someone has looked so eager to leave when all the women he has ever dealt with could only pray to stay with him.

"Oh." Pete didn't feel like an introduction was necessary, after all, he was his tutor - and he just had one job to do: Get Vegas' grades up and screw off with his college debt paid. But since Vegas insisted...

"I'm Pete, from the Faculty of Business and I will be your tutor for the semester."

Vegas nodded his head before introducing himself briefly (as if Pete doesn't already know who he is).

"Nice meeting you Pete." Vegas smiled, his eyes turning into crescent as he reached his hand out for a handshake.

"I'm really looking forward to working with you for the next 3 months."