Business Agenda (Curiousity)

CHAPTER SEVEN - THE CAT IN THE BAG I

Kyle moved his way gracefully through the water. In just under 1 minutes 30 seconds, he swam his way to the other end of the 100m pool's ledge.

Once he took off his goggle, he was greeted by smiling Joshua who was just relaxing, only his feet dangling inside the water.

They were back in their hometown, which took 2 hours of driving last night. On Saturday morning, they decided to go to the University they graduated from and visited the campus sport center while Macy stayed at Joshua's parent.

"You know, you shouldn't wear that flimsy speedo," Joshua said, "You'd just invite more stares."

"What? It aint flimsy!" protested Kyle while pushing his body out of the water, inviting glances from the other visitors behind him with his muscular back and the red speedo he wore accentuated the shape of his bubble butt.

Joshua laughed while squinting his eyes, as if it will help him to get a better look at those who obviously stared at Kyle,

"Yeah yeah, see those bunch of college girls," Joshua said, "No, don't look too obvious, dumbass." Joshua added as Kyle positioned himself beside him and tried to see where are the girls Joshua talked about.

"What about'em?" Kyle said trying to be less obvious as instructed.

"They have been ogling you, bud," Joshua said while he leaned back, "ever since you came out of the locker room."

"It seems you are the one who ogled them," Kyle teased.

"You know I do," Joshua said, "merely doing my part finding you a wifey material."

"ha! you aren't doing good job if you think one of those college girls will be my wif...," Kyle was unable to finish his sentence before Joshua cut him off.

"well an eye candy is eye candy. They are age of consent anyway. Hooking up once in awhile is healthy and they are young & prime." Joshua defended himself. "It is not like that Melisandre chick was doing you any favor." Joshua said, knowing that most likely Kyle would only just go as far as kissing her.

Kyle stood up while sighing, "matey, me & her are simply hanging out." Then offer his right hand to help his best friend to stand up as well since they were about to head back.

"It is obvious that she wants more than hanging out to me," Joshua said, "but you are too oblivious sometimes."

"Well, it's not like she told me she wants to advance any further, anyway." Kyle protested.

"She waits for you to make the move, you fool." Joshua said, shaking his head. The tanner of the two was always in disbelief at his friend obliviousness, "ask her for a date or something!"

"ah," Kyle sighed loss for words then tried to defend himself, "can you blame me though? You know I only dated Sonya throughout my life." Kyle added while walking away from where they were standing towards the locker room.

"I reckon, 4 years would be more than suffice to properly find & date another girl," Joshua said following Kyle, "others might already dated a few in between of those 4 years."

"You know I am one of a kind" said Kyle jokingly then added with rather serious tone, "I don't know, I just find it awkward."

"what do you mean?" Joshua said stopping, "just text the damn lady, asked her to go grab lunch together or better a dinner when you have meeting at Bravia. For all I know, she's been hinting it at you since like a month."

Before Kyle able to said any reply, he heard a girl voice coming to his left, "excuse me?"

Kyle was greeted with 3 college girls, freshman, he assumed. "yes?" Kyle heard himself replying the girls.

"May we help you, ladies?" Joshua added.

"Kyle Gutherzig?" The girl with freckled with the one-piece swimming attire.

"yes, that's him." Joshua said grinning while wrap his right arm around Kyle. "Do you want his number?"

Kyle just shot a glare and jabbed his friend's ribs with his elbow.

The three girls suddenly blushed & the other with the swimming cap still on stuttered, "Ah uhm, we just recognize you from the swimming club room. Your pictures and medals are in the club. We just wanted to take pictures with you."

"a number would be nice too," whispered the other blond girl which was still loudly enough for Kyle & Joshua to hear, Kyle as usual blushed.

"Sure, Gutherzig is always ready to take picture, especially from lovely ladies!" Joshua said encouragingly, "here, use my phone then I will post it on IG and tagged it to you, girls."

So, Joshua took a few pictures and did a few selfies along with them. Almost on all photos, Kyle's face was plastered with another awkward smile. Once done Kyle just left the bunch of them to the locker room while Joshua asked for their i********: accounts.

As he was done showering, Kyle found his best friend since high school sat on the locker room bench.

"Damn, I feel like I am the dad in the group," He said as he slides the pictures he had taken.

"well, the dad bod is certainly coming," Kyle jokingly said while starting to dress while glancing at his friend's phone.

"I need to work-out again," Joshua added, envious of photogenic Kyle's body on the picture.

"What's stopping you? Macy certainly will love it if you are more fit, I suppose," Kyle said while putting on his ironman T-shirt.

"What?!" Joshua said, "this body is caused by Macy's cooking and you, my friend, are also the culprit." Joshua added eyeing his friend accusingly.

Kyle just threw his hands up in defeat of another argument, "what did I do now?"

"Feeding Macy ideas of new cooking recipes." Joshua said while taking his toiletries away from his locker.

"but I don't hear you complaining, when you ate'em," Kyle said laughing.

***

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"Ohh, this is unusually plenty," Kyle said once he returned to his house after swimming with Joshua. Different cookies variant on the baking tray, "need any help? Who order this much? The Stephenson?" he added while taking one piece for himself.

"No, it is for your friends and yes, please put them in the container," his mom requested.

Kyle sat down on the kitchen table and tilted his head to his mom. "what? Macy & Joshua definitely don't deserve this many." Kyle said jokingly, "what did they do for you to make special treatment?"

"your mom made this for Troye," His dad said joining the conversation while helping his wife coating the dough with thin white egg layer. "She's baking since yesterday as she heard you finally confirmed to visit us."

Hearing his name causing an involuntary blush in Kyle's face. He still had no idea why his body reacted this way. He found it very strange, it was not like this before.

"It's like I was attracted to him suddenly." Kyle always thought & every time he heard his name even being mentioned; it was like he had done something to him that was beyond embarrassing in which he can't recall.

"Why?" Kyle asked as he placed the cookies in the container.

"we both promised him," His dad said, "plus I said you'd bake as well."

"What?" Kyle said in disbelieve, "Why would you said that, dad?"

"why not?" his mom interjected, "you are a great baker."

"Now he'd think that I am a lame guy or something," Kyle replied dejectedly.

"He won't even think..., "His dad said, "he is actually surprised you can bake. It is something to be proud of you know." He said looking at his wife, "it takes great talent." Then kissed her cheek while embracing her affectionately.

"Oh my god, "Kyle said in defeat.

Saturday passed after dinner together between Kyle, Macy & Joshua along with a few old friends then Sunday came.

Kyle was alone in the kitchen while his mom & dad tended the bakery store they had. decided to bake a jar of cookies for Troye. He decided that at least he needed to make a genuine gesture for Troye's kindness despite at first, he protested his mom & dad suggestion.

He decided to make Dried Blueberry Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies. He thought it might suit Troye since Kyle assumed that Troye might appreciate the way the dark chocolate melts in his mouth and when he bite down he will get that slight twang from the dried blueberry.

While waiting the huge microwave to finish the baking process of his remaining cookies he was watching some youtube videos then he received a DM notification.

It was not like he had never received a DM, which is the contrary but rather he never received a DM from a man in such manners and he rarely replied & decided not to anyway since he found the message rather too friendly as if he knows Kyle.

"Hi Kyle " -@antzterior -4.20pm

"Antoine here" -@antzterior -4.20pm

"How are you! Dun forgt to Follow back pls! " -@antzterior -4.20pm

So, as he was waiting for the cookies he to be baked properly. He browsed this strange man's i********:.

Darn, 1.6m followers. Was he a celeb or something?

Hmm there's mutual followers;

Macy & Leliana are following him.

Before proceed browsing, *ding* he heard another DM.

"Wow! Since when you know Antoine!?" -@marcyismacy -4.30pm

"I am so jealous right know! " - -@marcyismacy -4.30pm

"I don't know him." -@kygutherz 4.30pm

"he messaged me' -@kygutherz 4.30pm

"He asked me to follow back but I don't know him." -@kygutherz 4:31pm

"OMG just follow him back. " -@marcyismacy -4.31pm

"he is the famous interior designer I talked about!" - -@marcyismacy -4.31pm

"I forgot, mace" -@kygutherz 4:32pm

"just"-@marcyismacy -4.32pm

"Fol him "-@marcyismacy -4.32pm

"Back"-@marcyismacy -4.32pm

"Then introduce me to him "-@marcyismacy -4.33pm

"why this dude follows me anyway? It's not like posts regularly." -@kygutherz 4:33pm

"yeah lol, you lame at social media" -@marcyismacy -4.33pm

Thank goodness you are not bad looking" -@marcyismacy -4.33pm

Oh one reason prolyl? " -@marcyismacy -4.33pm

Afaik He is like best friend with Leliana "-@marcyismacy -4.33pm

"ya, I see Leliana also mutual" -@kygutherz 4:34pm

"no reason to follow me though nor ask me to follow back" -@kygutherz 4:34pm

"jsus, just enjoy the jump of followers you will have. " -@marcyismacy -4.34pm

"Lyk wht hes gonna do anw? " -@marcyismacy -4.34pm

"fine" -@kygutherz 4:34pm

With that Kyle proceeded to reply Antoine;

"yeah thanks man. Already followed u back." . -@kygutherz 4:37pm

"apprec it so much " -@antzterior -4.37pm

"whoa he replied fast." Kyle said to himself.

"No problem, man! My pleasure!" -@kygutherz 4:37pm

Kyle decided to let Macy know and messaged her.

"Done ma'am!" -@kygutherz 4:37pm

"woot! once you both know each other better. RMMBR TO INTRODUCE US! " -@marcyismacy -4.34pm

"SMH!" -@kygutherz 4:37pm

"BRB continue later, helping mom bake. -@kygutherz 4:37pm

As he was already put his phone away another message came.

"Can I meet you at Troye's office?"

***

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"I am home!" Kyle said to no one once he returned to his home & put his box of cookies on the counter. Then, he plopped down on his coach while turning on his TV. Game of Throne was soon to begin on HBO.

He spent all Sunday baking; his skill was getting a bit rusty but he was overall satisfied with it and got his mom & dad approval.

As he was watching Game of Throne, he checked his phone again; only to see his i********: App shown much more notification than he ever thought; from mere 500 followers jumped to 7,000 & unusual number of DMs than he usually received, Antoine's DM was drowned in the sea of the others. Only to see last DM he received;

"be careful of this Antoine guy you just befriended." -@tryle 8:11pm

"Ok this is rather odd." He said to himself.

"may I know who is this?" -@kygutherz 8:25pm

"just fyi" -@tryle 8:27pm

"then any reason?" -@kygutherz 8:27pm

"just be careful." -@tryle 8:27pm

"are you friend of him?" -@kygutherz 8:28pm

"or girlfriend?" Kyle wanted to type that. Kyle already felt odd that such high-profile individual knows his ID & bothering to message me. "on what purpose?"

Kyle is very intrigued.

"hello?" -@kygutherz 8:35pm

"You shouldn't keep replying any strangers who message you!" - @tryle 8:35pm

"I simply inform you to be careful around him." -@tryle 8:35pm

Kyle actually found the message from this blank profile had genuine concern after reading the reply but he needed an explanation.

"I am bored anyway, why not? Should I say thank you for whatever reason you might have?" -@kygutherz 8:36pm

"if you are bored, you should do something productive, Kyle Gutherzig!" -@tryle 8:37pm

"sheesh?!" Kyle thought to himself as he read, "wait he knew my fullname!"

"I assume you know me?" -@kygutherz 8:37pm

"nope, " -@tryle 8:38pm

"your name is all over i********:," -@tryle 8:38pm

"then

Tell me your ideas of 'something productive'." -@kygutherz 8:39pm, Kyle challenged him.

"do your reports or something." -@kygutherz 8:42pm

"WHAT!?" Kyle said loudly to himself, now fully intrigued with the stranger. He keep sending a few "hello," wishing further correspondence but no reply.

"Fine then!" then Kyle typed, "thanks for the info, Antoine doesn't seem that bad." Albeit he actually haven't replied Antoine. Now, he found the episode is not that interesting. He found himself thinking about Troye and today's occurrences which was disturbed by his mom's call.

"how's the ride?" His mom asked.

"the road is clear and no traffic, ma'am!" Kyle said pretending as if he was a policeman.

He heard his mom giggle, then said "now don't forget the cookies tomorrow."

"what do you mean, ma?" Kyle asked.

"I made those 8 variants of cookies are for Troye's mother, would you kindly give it to Troy tomorrow? I forgot to say, in case you just gave it all to Troye and remind you not for your mates." His mom explained.

"what? Since when Troye's mom contacting you?" Kyle asked confused.

"No, you silly goose," His mom said, "your dad said that Troye's mom might like it. I mean if your friend's mom liked it..."

"What? But you guys didn't say anything at all about his mom. Why?" Kyle was just confused.

"Just give it tomorrow no buts," His mom said, "and send your mom & dad regards to your new handsome friend. Nite hunny, I want to continue the novel you just bought for me," Sabine said trying to stop Kyle's complain, "we love you, goose."

Kyle sighed, "yea, love you both."

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