Author's note: I'm happy to see you all love the story so far, I hope you will continue to read and enjoy it. In the course of the next chapter, there would be some back-story that didn't happen in the show. Be patient with me, I promise it would all make sense.

Chapter Six

My phone was ringing and just as soon as I separated with P'Arthit too. It was not a number I was familiar with.

"Hello, "I said into the speaker as soon as I answered.

"Kongpob?" the owner of the voice was also unfamiliar but it was feminine.

"Yes, who is this?"

"Ah! I'm such an idiot, I was so caught up in other things I forgot that we hadn't exchanged numbers yet. "
I remained silent, beginning to realize who was talking. "so I got your mum to give it to me which was rather rude, I'm sorry that I just called you without saying anything and you are probably very confused, you probably don't even know who is speaking and I won't shut up so you can speak." Awkward laugh here.

Then she continued, "Sorry, my social skills are a bit rusty and I haven't talked to many guys. I mean I have but I don't think bedside manners count as talking, you know—"

I had to cut her off." Anya, this is Anya right?"

"Uh, yes, sorry—"

"It's okay. It was my fault for not taking your number, I forgot." That was intentional.

"It's okay, no one said it had to be you. So anyway, I was just wondering how we are going to get together again."

I sighed with a silent groan, closing my eyes.

That night our parents weren't very subtle, when they introduced us, that they wanted us to date. Which was okay, I was used to that and I knew how to get away from those types of scenarios, but they pushed us into agreeing to go out on one date. In fact my father insisted that I take a day of work, which I kindly refused, to spend it with her so we could see if we were a match.

They had to beg us and I could see how eager she was to try so I couldn't refuse them too much. I agreed while hoping to find a way out of it later. I thought I did when I remembered that after sending her away I can plead that I didn't get her number and I couldn't reach her in case anyone asked and then there was P'Arthit. I wanted the matter settled without having to involve him.

"About that," I began with some pain at having to disappoint her.

"...your mother already went and booked a place..." I realized she had been talking while I was silent.

"What!?" my eyes flew open and I stared at a group of students buying congee at a breakfast store. "I'm sorry, my mother did what?"

"Wait, "she paused, "you didn't know?"

I had been avoiding her calls all day yesterday. I guess I should have picked. No, I should have seen this coming.

"I was shocked too but she said it was a new place and she wanted us to try it too." she stopped talking, "I'm sorry, I am such a cow."

"No, no, don't insult yourself, it's not your fault. I will call my mother to explain things."

"Yeah..." she trailed off. " I just feel that it would be such a waste though, I mean we are still going to go out, aren't we? I promised my dad that I would give this a try and I meant it. What about you Kongpob?"

Put like that I felt even more like an ungrateful son than I already did; I just couldn't do one good thing for my old man. I keep feeding him lies and avoiding home, acting like a prodigal son to my mother and with this one thing I was going to have to disappoint them again. I had felt how important this was to my dad that night; he really wants to bond the family with that of his old friend.

But even as badly as I felt I still couldn't do it. What would P'Arthit think? At the very least I should tell him, but I pictured that conversation and all I could see was us fighting. No, it was better to just end this now.

"I know, Anya and I'm sorry but I can't go on that date with you."

"Is it because of me?" she asked almost immediately. "Because I know I can be weird and I talk really fast, my looks are so-so and I told you that I'm a bl fan. Oh no, that must have scared you!"

"No, no, Anya, that's not it. It has nothing to do with you," I hastily said in between.

"Then... is it my dad? I knew it, he was too forward, I knew my dad was going to ruin it with all that false buster."

"No, it is not your dad either, it's just me. I can't date you because I am in love with someone else."

After I ended the call, I tried not to worry about what I said coming back to haunt me. I mean I didn't say that the person was P'Arthit and really, what else could I have said. Anya was ready to put the blame on herself or someone other than me and I couldn't let that happen. That had settled things fast and now that problem was solved.

Or so I thought.

The next day I was thrilling over the prospect of someone P'Arthit knew knowing about us I did all my work on time and left the office fast. I rode straight to P'Arthit's place and found that he was not yet home so I left a text for him that I was going home to get dressed and that I will be back in an hour.

I got to my place which was only a few blocks from P'Arthit's apartment and when I got to my door I took note of someone by my door. It was my mother. My eyes went wide.

"Mom?" I walked over and there she was, dressed elegantly in a red-black gown and beside her was Anya. She too was dressed in a gown but not as elegantly. She was a shock to see on my doorstep. I stared at her like she was a ghost, an apritition that I couldn't explain.

"Hi," she smiled and waved at me before avoiding my gaze.

"Kongpob, finally, why are you only getting home now? Don't tell me you are like your father, working yourself to death." the reprimand was all that got me to gain control of my expression.

"Mom, what are you doing here?"

What I wanted to ask was 'how did you know about this place'. When P'Arthit and I moved I didn't tell my parents because I thought it would be safer like that, they wouldn't walk into us doing anything if they didn't know where we lived. And also I wanted to have this little sanctuary to myself; I didn't want to be afraid of anyone or anything when I was here with P'Arthit. How did my mother find it?

"I bet you are dying to know how I got here, " she smiled at me then her sweet expression fell, "well I'm not going to tell you, " she said.

I gaped at her "mom," I wanted to complain to her but she wasn't listening.

"What are you waiting for, open the door."

I stood there in between decisions. There was no way I could convince my mom to go away and if I tried she would only find me more suspicious. I didn't understand why she was here, she and Anya, but if I wanted to make a guess it would be about what I had said before. But why bring Anya along. This was so awkward.

"Well?" her eyebrows twitched with impatience. I sighed again and pulled out my keys. My only comfort was that at least they wouldn't find too much of P'Arthit's stuff in the apartment. I spent more time in P'Arthit's house than I did in my own, than he did. The only incriminating thing they could find was the spare toothbrush P'Arthit used whenever he was around. I will get rid of that as soon as I can.

I opened the door into my apartment and they pushed me to the side and walked in. I frowned and shook my head at Anya's apologetic look. My mother was likely pulling her into this. Her arm was on Anya's, guiding her.

"What did I tell you," I heard them whispering.

I went into the bathroom and retrieved the toothbrush, and just in case, looked around the bathroom for anymore things I might have missed. But the bathroom was a empty white tiled space, with glass shower doors, a cabinet with all my shower necessities and a few of my towels. P'Arthit used my towels when he was here.

I kept the tooth brush in my pocket leaving mine to seat lonely in the cup and returned back to see my mom going through my wardrobe.

"Mom!" I shouted, horrified. What was she up to now? My mind raced as I wondered if she would be able to identify the couples's shirt P'Arthit and I share. She shouldn't, we never wore it in front of her. It was a white sweater shirt with the picture of a minion on the front.

"Honey, are you done taking a shower?"

"A shower?" I asked and glanced around to find Anya looking through the things on my table with a small smile. She caught me watching and smiled. I couldn't return the smile, this was stressing me out.

"Mom, seriously. "I walked over and closed the first door of my wardrobe. I stood in front of her keeping her out of my things. "What are you doing?"

"What do you mean? are you not going on a date with Anya? You promised that you would at least try."

I glanced at Anya and found her holding my diary about to open it. I quickly walked over to her and took it gently from her with a tight smile. She looked apologetic then she went over to stand next to my mother.

"Mom," I opened the drawer and returned my journal to safety from their invasive hands. "Anya and I have already talked about it. I know we promised but we can't do it, since we..." I fell quiet as I thought about how admitting I was in love to my mother now wouldn't ring true, not when she thinks I tell her everything. She is going to think, if it came from Anya, that I was lying.

Once again I look at Anya. Why had she gone to my mother with what I told her?

"What?" my mother prodded.

"We understand each other mom and we agreed that it's better to forget it."

"You told her you are in love with someone else," she said. "Didn't you?"

Being caught in a lie by my mom was not pleasant; it left a hollow feeling in my chest and a pit like feeling in my stomach that felt like shame, and it wasn't even the real lie. "I did."

"So you were lying to her."
"No, I just wanted—"

She cut me off, "Kongpob, you promised your father and I that you would at least try."

"I know,"

"Then why did you do this?" she was angry. I understood that but I didn't know what to say to make things better. If I told her I had been telling the truth then I was keeping things from her and she would grill me until I break down and tell her everything and then whatever drama P'Arthit feared would happen would happen and then P'Arthit would leave me and I would have nothing but my own self-righteousness.

I opened my mouth and paused. When I think about it, telling my mom the truth, I saw that she would be shocked, hurt and maybe even really angry. But she loved me, she would accept me again and during that time would I have P'Arthit by my side telling me that I did the right thing? Or would he be really angry. I settled for angry.

I took a deep breath, "yes, I lied to her." It occurred to me that I was lying to cover the truth which was one more lie for my mother to get angry about.

"I didn't want to give her hope so I said that." I looked at Anya and saw that she was looking straight at me, the hurt I was expecting absent, which was very relieving.

"See?" my mother turned to proudly declare, "I know my son very well."

"I'm sorry, "I said to Anya," for lying to you."

"Actually, I kind of figured. I mean who would want to go out with me, especially a good looking guy like you. Mom," she touched my mom's hand," I should go now."

"No, Anya, don't say that. You are a lovely girl, my son would be lucky to have you. Please forgive him for lying to you like that."
I turned my face away. It was hard for me to listen to my mother talk like that and I couldn't take how trusting she was of me, and how supportive. Why couldn't I trust her? No, I did. It was P'Arthit, he didn't believe that my parents would accept me. Actually, I wasn't quite sure what he was thinking.

I returned to the present and found that my mother had convinced Anya not to go. She went on to hasten me to get dressed for the date. "mom, " I complained.

"Have a heart for Anya will you," she whispered and smiled back at Anya. She is a sweet sweet girl and you won't even give her a chance. At least one date, see if you don't like her, and then you can go on, do whatever you like. "

I thought about it and it seemed reasonable. "Okay, "I agreed.

I should have agreed the very first time; this wouldn't have become so troublesome had I just gone on that one date and then ended things with her after.

"Really, "her smile was pleasing; it was good to see my mother be happy. She was always upset with me these days because I rarely come to see her. She asked me once if I was living secret life that she didn't know about.

"I'm just going to make a quick call." I parted my arm from her and went into the bathroom. My body slid down the door with relief at finally getting away from those two. It was so hard to face my trusting mother and lie to her while giving hope to the innocent girl who was so unlucky to have met me.

I got out my phone after a few moments of peace and called P"Arthit. His phone kept ringing and I wondered what I should say to him. The truth would be the answer and I hope that when he heard it he would know that there wasn't much good in keeping our secret now.

He didn't pick up so I had to leave a message otherwise my impatient mother who was busy doing God knows what in my room would come in here to pull me out. I texted all that I could say to him and hoped what I said was clear enough, then I took off my clothes and got in the shower.

I didn't take my time in there because that would be rude and I knew that this wasn't Anya's fault, she was innocent in this and I just hurt her feelings.

I came out dressed in the clothes my mother selected for me and passed through the door to me, and saw the two women sitting and talking like they've known each other forever. One had a hand on the other and they were sitting really close. I didn't understand why my mother liked Anya so much and how their relationship got that close.

My mother wasn't hard to get to, and she was really sweet to everyone but she was also selective. I knew she would want nothing but the best for me. When I looked at Anya with that small body, round cheeks, small eyes, and her quiet timidity, I didn't think she was the kind of girl my mother likes. Or maybe I was putting my own impression on her. For all I know when my mother saw Anya, she saw someone else entirely.

"I'm ready, mom," I said after a moment and two eyes looked at me.

"Oh honey, your hair," my mother got up and started smoothing my hair back. I saw Anya straightening up the bed they had sat on before she turned around and stood with her innocent eyes on me and her hands clasped in front of her.

"Mom," I smiled down at her," how long are you going to be you here? Are you following us to the restaurant?"

"Oh? You don't want me there?"

I widen my eyes intentionally so she understood how ridiculous that was.

"Please mom, let Kongpob and I be alone, I think we would be most comfortable that way," Anya voiced my thoughts. I looked at her again and she smiled winningly at me then winked.

"Okay, if you say so." She grabbed my shirt suddenly, "but promise that you would give this a real chance."
"Mom," I took hold of the grip and ease it away as I said," we will see how it goes. I promised, didn't I?"

She didn't look even a little satisfied so I said a few more things to help her before I left with Anya. We walked down out the elevator and Anya tripped all of a sudden and I reflexively caught her before she could fall on her back. I helped her stand straight and ignored her staring eyes.

"Let's go, "I said and took her to my car.

The ride to the restaurant was not long and I found myself distracted by thoughts of P'Arthit, our double date, and the fact that P'Arthit was giving me something I never thought he could. This was so important and it was the best birthday gift I could ask for and I was missing it.

I hoped P'Arthit would understand.

"Kongpob?" I admit I wasn't present when we found my mother's reservation, or when we sat down. I realized she was calling my name and so I looked at her and she was looking a bit upset.

"What is it?" I hastily said, leaning forward.

"I'm sorry. I—I shouldn't have said anything, to your mother."

Well, she was right. "It's okay." But there was no use beating her up about it.

"Let's just... we don't have to do this dinner. You can sneak off and I will just seat her alone, I'm okay with that."
I wanted to, there was somewhere else I would rather be, but I said, "No, besides my mother is probably watching or has someone watching. Let's just get it over with."
I picked up the menu. My eyes hadn't bothered to take in the restaurant when we entered but then I realized that it was the new place. It had a nice American feel with colored brick walls, brown polished tables and nice colors complimenting everything, a bit of grey meshed with black. I liked the refined feeling but it wasn't my kind of place.

"This place is nice," I commented.

"Right? I love it. It's always nice to try new things and that is what I have been doing. You won't believe how long it has been since I had anything foreign. I just hope that this place is good..."

It was good that she was a talker at least I can listen and comment where necessary. We ordered our food and in that time I learned what her favorite food was and her best experience in the army, her good friends; Ash and P'Ina, and what she did that afternoon.

"I need to use the bathroom," she said and laughed. "I have been going on and on, when I get back it's your turn Kongpob.

"Okay," I nodded with a smile. She left then and I took up my glass and stared out the see through walls at the night sky and the busy street.

I heard a voice shout and turned to see that it was Anya. She was wiping at her clothes. " P"Arthit?!"

That name had me on my feet and staring at the back of a familiar looking man. He was standing in front of Anya and must have poured something on her. She was wiping the front of her dress.

Unconsciously I walked towards him. "P"Arthit," I said and he turned and looked at me. The anger in his eyes was surprising. He looked away, apologized to Anya and walked out.

"P'Arthit?" I ran after him and called his name.

"P'Arthit!" I finally caught him just as he reached his car and grabbed his arm. He stopped, thankfully, and remained standing.

"What's wrong? Why did you leave like that?"

He said nothing.

"P'Arthit?"

He forced his arm away from mine and rounded on me with glaring eyes. "You are asking me? What were you doing in there?" he pointed hard at the restaurant. I turned to look at it and frowned. I thought he knew. Why was he acting like I had surprised him?