Chapter 8

Four years. That's how long passed before I saw P'Arthit again. Four years, two months and twenty-three days to be exact. Why am I so accurate? Well... I missed him. Severely. It was strange... I have never missed anyone but my soulmate this much before and P'Arthit was not my soulmate. I would have known instantly if he was.

"Kongpob, are you listening to me?" that whine snapped me from my thought and I focused on the Chinese cute face of my date companion. I sighed internally but smiled outwardly.

"Of course I am listening to you, Nue." This was the girl I have been doing my best to avoid ever since I came back from the states, yet somehow she found me at the same time I found P'Arthit again.

"Like I was trying to tell you, we have to go together to the party or people wouldn't believe that we are engaged. "

"I understand," I said without really listening to anything. My eyes were focused on the back of P'Arthit's head. He still hasn't noticed me, his back facing me and his attention split between his lunch and his book. He hasn't changed at all; he was still as serious as ever.

"Then why have you been avoiding me. You came back from the states two weeks ago and you have not bothered to call or meet me once. Am I still your fiancée? Kongpob are you listening to me!"

The raised voice certainly got my attention as well as the attention of several others. Just as P'Arthit was about to turn and see me I turned away, hiding my face. It was a reflex reaction, I wasn't really hiding... at least I didn't think I was.

"Calm down Nue, I already agreed to go to the party with you tonight," I was lying. There was no chance that I was even attending that party anyway.

"Fine, then at least spend the day with me." she said. "I deserve that much after you ignored me for so long" Wow, I thought, she was still raising her voice. How embarrassing. I spied P'Arthit and caught him staring with his mouth open. He must be really surprised to see me, I smiled inwardly.

"Sorry Nue, I've got plans. Remember I told you I was meeting someone today."

"No you're not." She said it succinctly.

"Uh yes I am."

"Who, huh. You think I don't know that you have no friends? Your mother made sure of that. So tell me, Kongpob, who you could possibly have to meet."

"I have friends," I said with a scoffed.

"Yeah, you are lying to me. That's all you are good at, lying and avoiding me. I wish you would make it easier on yourself by just going along with it. I'm seriously tired of having to chase after you all the time." She was saying a lot of things that generally annoyed me. We were both in the same boat, our choices and freedom tied to our family. We were practically puppets. This wasn't my first life dealing with controlling family but it didn't stop being exhausting and Nue just loooved to remind me of how helpless I am. How helpless we both were.

"I'm sorry that you don't have friends Nue, but I do. There is one of them over there." I pointed at P'Arthit and smiled with satisfaction at her surprised face.

"No way."

"Yes way."

"That's P'Arthit, he isn't your friend."

Ah, she knows P'Arthit? "He sure is. Do you want to see me talk to him." She scoffed at me and folded her arms.

"okay." I took it as an agreement and got to my feet. As I walked towards P'Arthit I remembered how our last meeting went. He had been angry, hurt too. He couldn't still hate me right, after all what he felt back then was just superficial love that easily fades and it's been four years. But maybe he doesn't even recognize me. A sardonic smile spread my lips. It would be disappointing, if P'Arthit didn't at least remember me.

"Hey, sorry for keeping you waiting." I waved at him and watched him fluster.

"Ko-kongpob." He glanced behind me then back at me again. "Hey. What—"I didn't give him the chance to say any more. I lowered myself so that I can put my arms around his shoulders.

"Good to see you man. How long has it been? I know we should be catching up right now but, she wants my attention today, I don't know what to do. I'm in a dilemma."

He looked like he didn't understand the language I was speaking. "But... hey since it's been so long isn't it better if we caught up first? with Nue, I can just see you tonight right?"

I looked over to her so I caught her annoyed look. She got up from her seat, tall, elegant and very beautiful. She would make some other guy really happy, too bad she didn't have a say about who she would be with.

"So he is really your friend?" she came to us and sounded like she was asking me but her eyes was on P'Arthit. P'Arthit glanced at me and I winked at him.

"yeah." My heart practically swooned. P'Arthit is always such a good guy. Even without knowing anything and despite our bad parting, he still covered for me. My smile at him turned soft.

"Okay fine, whatever. Just be sure not to be late." Nue turned on her hills and walked back to our table to grab her things and leave. I sighed as I watched her back finally leave the café then I sat on the empty chair facing P'Arthit.

"Thanks, P'Arthit," I said.

"Don't mention it, is what I would like to say but what the hell."

"Yeah, you remember Nue, my fiancée?"I saw him try to remember her and couldn't blame him. Nue did grow up into herself after that failed wedding.

"You mean the girl you almost married years ago?"

"Yeah, the same one."

"I thought you got out of marrying her."

"For a while. It was always going to be her in the end."

P'Arthit opened his mouth like he wanted to say something but thought better of it. "Then what was that about?"

"Sorry, I was using you again to save me from a difficult situation."

P'Arthit looked at me for a moment then started to gather his things. "Right. "

"Hey, where are you going."

"To class. I go to school here and since you no longer need me I have to get back to my life." He was already heading out the door so I scrambled to catch up.

"I didn't mean it like that," I said trying to explain myself. "When I imagined us meeting again I didn't think it was going to be like this."

He paid the cashier and gave me a glance before stepping out of the restaurant.

"Are you angry because I used the word use? It's not like that and you know it."

"Yeah, I know. You were just trying to get a rise out of me but it didn't work. I am not the Arthit you used to know and as much as I like this reunion, by the way I don't, I have my life to get back to."

"Wow, P'Arthit, you sound like you are talking to a stranger."

"Are you different from a stranger." he gave me what looked like a genuinely puzzling look.

"At least you are happy to see me, I know I am." I smiled, "I have thought about this so many times over the years, P'Arthit. I might be a stranger to you but you are not to me."

This stopped his fast pace for one moment, causing me to bump right into him. I circled him and met his eyes straight on. I could see that part of P'Arthit I knew, the one who looked serious and smart, even mean sometimes, but was actually really soft, sweet and cute. He blushed and flustered easily and was not good at expressing his feelings.

"I don't know what you want Kongpob," he said finally, hiding behind his serious mean face. "But you and I are two people who used to know each other and now are complete strangers. I don't want to get involved with you and I don't want you to get involved with me."

"Too late, P'Arthit. I already found you, and you aren't shaking me off that easily."

He looked like he wanted to strangle me with his bare hands but then he smirked, from that I guess he was telling me he was up for the challenge. I hadn't meant it as a challenge though, but I grinned. He looked disgruntled at my grinning face then he hastily crossed the busy road too fast, I couldn't follow. He knew that and smirked at me from the other side with cars zooming past the busy road. I laughed and watched him walk away. P'Arthit is so adorable, look at that triumphant look at something so small.

The next few days I tried to throw Nue and my mother off. Let's just say it wasn't too hard as my mother was still in the states and with a little begging from me over the phone, she allowed me to enroll into the engineering department. I was a little surprised that this was the department P'Arthit chose, seeing as he was talking about becoming a journalist or something. It wasn't like him to change his mind, I thought as I approached the hall where the freshmen where gathered.

Thanks to connection and my family's money that I wasn't ashamed of throwing around, I got in to the department without actually sitting for the exam. Seeing as I didn't even plan on staying for more than a year, I didn't feel any guilt on my conscience.

The hall was packed filled with freshmen. I knew that the department was pretty popular but I wasn't prepared for how many they would be. Well some of them would likely drop out as the time goes by.

No sooner had I walked in I was groped by someone. Seeing as the space wasn't very wide I was ready to forgive them but when I turned the person, a girl, paled.

"I'm so sorry, I thought you were someone else."

"Yeah, I hope so because I was just about to call my lawyer. " I was teasing but her face went paler.

"Sorry, I am really, really sorry!" she was talking loudly now and bowing her head. This wasn't what I was expecting.

"No, it is fine I was kidding..."

:"what the hell is happening over there, " a guy with broad shoulders and a face that said he was out to get everyone came over and shouldered me out of the way. "Are you alright?" he was all over the girl.

"I'm sorry," she kept apologizing looking near tears.

"Hey what's your problem, what did you say to her."

"hm." I can't believe I was already drawing so much attention. "Look, it is just a misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding." His eyes squinted. "What exactly did you say to my girlfriend."

"It's not his fault, Aim, it's my fault. I accidentally..." she looked around and then leaned over to whisper what she had done in his ear. His eyes widen comically and he glanced at me. He looked kind of familiar, I thought as I watched them.

"Sorry man, it was an honest mistake."

"I know, I was just teasing her I didn't know she would take me so seriously."

"Hey, aren't you Kongpob." He suddenly said my name while pointing at me.

"Yeah. I was just starting to think you look familiar."

"Hey, I was your seatmate back in high school, I'm Aim."

"Aim," my eyes went equally wide then we cheered. "Whoa, I couldn't recognize you, you are so buffed now." The Aim I remembered was just a timid lanky kid who smelled funny. This guy looked like he worked out at least four hours every day.

"You haven't aged a bit," Aim told me as we began to catch up.

"Well you look really matured, and definitely different, Aim."

"Well," he turned all flustered and scratched at his neck. I smiled. it was good to see he hasn't changed completely.

"Wait, didn't you go out of the country to school?"

I coughed pretending to clear my throat. I hadn't been banking on anyone recognizing me. The truth was that I was already through with the university studying economics in the states and I didn't need to be here. I was hoping no one would notice that. "Yeah, that flunked and now I want to change career, you know. Anyway, have you seen P'Arthit?"

"Seen him," he laughed. "Of course, he is..." he broke off when some guys wearing red engineering uniform walked up to the platform. Among them was P'Arthit, looking serious and bossy as hell. Everyone could instantly tell that they shouldn't mess with him.

I started grinning as the speech started. P'Arthit didn't look like anyone I knew. He was so good-looking, even from my perspective. I could also hear the girls sitting around me talking about how good-looking and cool he looked but then he started to talk.

"Good morning fresh years, I'm Arthit your senior in the faculty of engineering. I am in charge of monitoring you all throughout the year to make sure that you are all disciplined and that you strictly adhere to the rules and regulations. I expect full cooperation from all of you, is that understand."

Wow, I couldn't help thinking. I knew P'Arthit was cut out of different cloth when it came to leading people, he was the headboy in highschool and did a good job too but I didn't expect that he would grow this much, and I certainly didn't expect how taken I would be with his cool and commanding appearance. His hair was sleeked back so well that he looked preen and proper but still utterly devastating. It made me smile the most genuine smile I have ever smiled in four years. How can I mess him up? Causing him to fluster would be really entertaining but how do I do it right now?

"I don't consider any of you my juniors however until you have this. " I returned my attention to what he was saying and focused on the small gear in P'Arthit's hand.

"Without this you can't be considered a true member of the engineering faculty, so if you want this you have to show up here every day on time and listen to everything I tell you. Only after we deem fit can you get this gear. Is that understood?"

A loud chorus of agreement sounded in the hall. A room full of at least four hundred people were paying attention to P'Arthit, it was truly impressive. That's how much presence P'Arthit has. I have always known he was cut out for things like this but this was my first time acknowledging it.

Some of the other hazers said a few things to add to what P'Arthit had said, following in sync like they were brothers in all but blood. I wondered if they were P'Arthit's friends. Most likely.

"finally, would you like to Know your seniors," asked P'Arthit from the podium, his mask of seriousness not once fading even when he congratulated them for entering into the faculty.

"Yes," many chorused, myself along with them.

"Then in that case introduce yourself to your seniors and ask for their signatures. One thousand signatures by the end of the week, is that understood?"

What sounded like a suggestion until now was starting to sound like an order. I blinked a few times and the others were doing the same thing. Murmurs started to rise and one of the hazers raised his voice.

"Keep quiet!"

"If you have something to say you must indicate by raising your hand," P'Arthit said following the shout. "And state your name and id number before asking for permission to speak. If I think you have anything worthwhile to say I will allow. Nobody speaks out of turn, is that understood?"

I quickly had my hand raised, wiggling it in case I was missed in this crowd. I wondered what expression P'Arthit would make when he notices me.

There were a few other hands raised but P'Arthit zeroed on me and I could see when he recognized me. His face went pale, his eyes widened briefly and then he took his eyes away. With the long wait, other people started dropping their hands, making me the most obvious person.

One of the others noticed that P'Arthit was acting very strange and started to signal him to react. P'Arthit caught the signal and returned his focus to the present. It was a little amusing seeing how my presence was affecting him, I hope he wouldn't be too mad later.

P'Arthit was mad. After I asked him how he expected us to get one thousand signatures in one week, he asked me if I have even tried and hastily added that his word was law and then proceeded to ignore me for the rest of the lecture.

I caught him just as he was making his escape and waved like we were good friends. I'd like to think that we would be, later when P'Arthit wasn't so bent on pretending that he didn't know me as he was doing.

"P'Arthit, are you by chance ignoring me?" I asked as he refused to recognize me. His friends stopped to give me a look. One of them asked,

"Someone you know?"

"Not really."

"Ouch, that hurts P'Arthit. How can you deny me like this, we went to high school together didn't we."

"Oh Kongpob, "said P'Bright. I was counting on him recognizing me. The guy threw P'Arthit a cautious look but he shouldn't have bothered, P'Arthit wasn't paying us any attention. His face that was stiff with anger was facing the other way.

"Hi P'Bright," I acknowledged him with a smile. "Do you mind if I talked with P'Arthit for a bit. "

"Well...that's up to the person in question." The person in question sighed and looked at the others.

"You guys can go, I'll be over shortly."

"Don't forget that the meeting starts in ten," one of his friends said with a somewhat intimate pat on P'Arthit's shoulder that caught my eye. I wondered how close they were.

I was still thinking about that as they left and P'Arthit and I were finally alone. He was vibrating, I thought with fascination. Is he that angry? "Kongpob," he started.

"Ah, before we start don't forget that we are in a public place. Please only use your words and not your fist, P'Arthit."

Said fist clenched and unclenched. "Why the hell are you following me, are you a stalker?"

"Not really...well in some ways I guess."

"Don't admit to it with that kind of self-satisfied look on your face."

I chuckled. "Don't be angry P'Arthit, just hear me out."

"You got into the hazer meeting just to talk to me."

"Hmm?" it seems P'Arthit thinks I just snuck in pretending to be a student. He doesn't know I am actually a student, well technically. Well let's not tell him for now, I think he might just punch me.

"Well, yeah. Can we talk?"

That's how we found a quiet place at the bleachers to talk. "You look good," I said awkwardly not knowing how else to break the silence. He threw me an annoyed look before rolling his eyes.

"What do you want, Kongpob?"

"To apologize. I remember our last meeting not going too well." I waited a moment in the silence to look at his face. He wasn't looking at me like I thought and he kept on a blank face.

P'Arthit exhaled after what felt like a moment too long. "There's nothing to apologize for. That happened four years ago and it's not as if I still... anyway it is all in the past."

Well... I knew there was no way that P'Arthit still felt the same way about me. Ordinary love didn't last long, not like the one between soulmates that was simply everlasting. Of course P'Arthit has moved on, I mean look at him, he is so attractive, anyone would want him and if they had him they would do everything to keep him. P'Arthit wasn't only his face though, he is also kind and funny and smart, and he would make anyone happy, I am sure of it.

"What are you thinking about and why are you looking at me that way." P'Arthit was flushing slightly and I had been staring at him this whole time. I sighed letting a smile spread my lips.

"You still blush so easily."

"What?" his eyes went wide. "The hell." he shoved me and folded his arms." I wasn't blushing damn you. Just say what you want to say."

"Well I am sorry that I didn't say what I wanted to tell you that day. I hurt you didn't I."

"Like I said, it's all in the past. Nothing to apologize for now." He was scowling.

"Okay then let me tell you a story."

"What?" that startled the scowl out of his face. "That's so random."

"Come on listen, please?"

He made a discontented sound and said, "Just make sure you finish it quickly."

"Well by the end of the story I am hoping that it would all make sense, why I had to reject you that day."

Author's Note: in case you still want more, I hope you do, I have started my very first original story. well sort of. go here for it: https://www.wattpad.com/1029214779-tainted-chapter-1