Author's note: Hi guys! Sorry this is coming late. There was a lot to edit out and some more to add. I will make it up by posting the next chapter faster. I still don't know how many chapters it would be but let's set our eyes on the twenty mark for now, it shouldn't be above 25 I don't think.

Anyway it's been wonderful writing and hearing your awesome feedbacks. Thanks you guys! So now on to the story

Chapter 9

The truth was I didn't mind going with Anya. Unlike Kongpob, I didn't see her plotting with his mother to couple him with her. She wasn't poor, she wasn't needy, she was self-reliant and confident and she didn't need to have Kongpob. I was pretty comfortable with her, but I don't think she is with me.

I can see her glance at me and look away while I took pictures of a mother duck and her ducklings. She seemed to have a lot on her mind and I had no idea what to say to her to get her to talk, or if she should talk to me.

"Are you alright, Anya?" I settled for asking.

"Um, I'm fine." She replied and tugged at the straw hat she was wearing, likely borrowed from Kong's mother.

"What about you P'Arthit, are you alright?"

The question sounded loaded and she looked at me like she expected me to say something meaningful. I simply nodded and continued walking.

I was pretty okay with silence but I didn't want her to feel bored." So what was it like in the army?"

She exhaled, "it wasn't always great, there was a lot of blood. I never went into the field," she raised her hand as if to stop me from being alarmed— I wasn't. "I was a strictly indoor medic, I took care of any wounded they could bring in. "

I nodded to show I was listening and raised my camera to take a spectacular view of the ocean I could see through the cracks between the trees. This place was like a beautiful jungle with some levels of modernization. I could see the power lines hanging a bit too low with the trees and the walk highlighted by a series with light poles on the side. It was nice.

"So you have never been on a vacation," I asked when she stayed quiet. I got the feeling like she was watching me. It wasn't comfortable. What was she looking at, or for?

"Uh, no. not really, not with family or anyone."

"Don't you have friends?"

"I do, fellow medics but they live quite far away."

I nodded, sharing the feeling of having good friends you can't see often. Ai'brght was busy with his bar and when Kongpob and I moved we put a bit more distance between us. The others were living their lives and occasionally we talked, but getting together was a very rare and precious thing for us.

"Well, you have us now. Kongpob and I," I offered. I could see Kongpob's eyebrow climbing at this even though he wasn't here and I smiled. He wouldn't like me welcoming Anya into the fold.

"Really?" she sounded so surprised I had to stop and take in her face. She was a little shorter than me, petite and she had this innocence about her that made me decide she wasn't my enemy.

"Really, "I let out a small smile," I'm okay with it if you are."
"I am, P'Arthit, but wouldn't Kongpob be mad?"

I shrugged, "he will understand. Forgive him for how he has been acting towards you," I had to add then wince internally at how I sounded like his partner. I was but no one needed to know that, not yet.

I avoided her face to hide my blunder.

"I understand. Kongpob was trying to protect what is important to him, right?"

I thought about that and nodded" in his own stupid way, I guess."

I knew what Kongpob was thinking; that his mother was still plotting to get him together with Anya, even though she said she wouldn't. He was being so irritatingly paranoid.

"I understand him; if I had something I loved I would protect it too."

That made me pause then I turned and looked at her, "what do you mean?" I asked.

"hm?" she seemed to become flustered, "I—I just mean that he is um really, um he really loves his family."

That made absolutely no sense to me. "I guess, "I said. If this was a comic, I would have question marks all over my face.

"Kongpob is, I just like how strong he is about everything but I am worried for him too." She was not making sense to me but there was sincerity in her voice and she had this lost in space look. Could it be that she likes Kongpob? Was I wrong in thinking she didn't? They only met a week ago, why would she already like him.

"Did you know Kongpob before you two met at his parents place?" I asked to be sure.

"no." her answer was finite, "of course not, my father and his father got in contact last week, a week after I came back from the army. Why do you ask?"

I shrugged, "it just sounded like you know Kongpob well."

"Ah, I study people. I guess that's why I know..."

"You know what?"

She shook her head. "I don't want to say. I don't think it is my place, but just so you know I won't tell anybody. No one would ever know, not from me. I will keep my mouth shut and take it to my grave. I just... since we are going to be friends I don't want to keep this from you. You are so nice P'Arthit."

Horror began to dawn on me as my mind argued that it couldn't be, she couldn't know. There was no way. But her words, the look of apology, I couldn't deny it for what it was. Did Anya know about us? About me and Kongpob?

"I really didn't mean to stumble on your secret—"

"Stop, "I said. "What are you telling me?"

She blinked then her mouth fell open and her eyes went wide. "Oh I'm so sorry, I shouldn't—I just, please P'Arthit—"she tried to hold my hand but I pulled it away quietly.

"What do you think you know?" I asked.

"I know about you and Kongpob." She said eyes lowered.

I stayed perfectly still. "What about me and Kongpob?"

Her eyes flew to mine like she didn't expect that. "Well, I saw the two of you, I saw you two hugging. Back at the restaurant."

"So?"

"What?"

I coldly sighed, "I don't know what you are implying but please don't share things like that with other people."

"But P'Arthit?"

"I understand that you like BL?" I said, holding her gaze.

"Yes but—"

"This is my life, don't mess with it for your own pleasure." I was so severe I nearly convinced myself but my heart was racing, my palms were sweating as I pictured what would happen if she talked to Kong's mom or dad.

"I—"she was speechless and I guess my reaction was not what she had expected. My reaction was not what I expected. It's not like threatening her or pretending I didn't know what she was talking about would change what she saw and she must be pretty certain.

I turned away from her. "We should go back, they must be back by now," I said.

She didn't reply but when I walked past her to start climbing the stairs back up, she followed. I was grateful and all I could think was that Anya was a danger. She has only been in our lives for a week and already she knows? We needed to keep her at a distance.

We arrived shortly before nightfall and I excused myself to go upstairs to Kong's room and wait for him. I told myself that I won't show my worry to him, that I won't let him see that I was afraid about Anya telling everyone, that this vacation might turn to be our hell soon once the truth came out. I knew Kong didn't see it the way I did, for him he saw acceptance, unconditional love, and maybe he would get it, maybe I would be the one shunned and told that I was ruining his life.

Kong's mom loved him to death; he was her only son and the baby of the family. She wouldn't be happy to see that after welcoming me into her home I went behind her back and got her son to be in love with me. That is how she would see it, after all Kongpob was not gay.

"P'Arthit?"

He was finally back and I waited till he closed the door to turn and meet his eyes. I was angry at myself for slipping up so well and truly in front of Anya. I couldn't think of anything that I could have said to make her see things differently but I felt that it was my fault. If I had not gone after Kongpob that night convinced he was being unfaithful, if I had trusted him then she wouldn't have seen us and jumped to her own conclusions.

"What's wrong P'Arthit?"

"She knows, "I said, "Anya knows about us."

His eyes go wide and then he shook his head and walked over to me. "How?"

"She saw us, hugging."

He squinted. "But it's not very—"

"Not with the way we hugged, Kongpob," I interrupted whatever he was going to say, sigh and ran my fingers through my hair.

"I all but told her she was wrong and to mind her own business. I was not very convincing and now I think I have done the wrong thing. Maybe I should have accepted it and told her not to tell anyone," I turned around to meet his eyes. "Do you think she would have listened?"

Kong shook his head, "I don't know her that well. "He paused and his eyes went over me searchingly. "Should I go talk to her?"

"What would you say? Besides you going to her would be the same thing as confirming what she is saying."

We heard a knock on the door and stopped talking.

"Um, Kongpob, P'Arthit?" it was Anya.

I frowned at Kong and he was just as befuddled.

"Um, do you want something Anya," he said. We were not opening the door just yet.

"I just want to talk," she replied.

What could she possibly have to say?

Kong lifted a brow in askance and glance at the door to me. I nodded and crossed my arms. Let's hear what she wanted to say. So he walked to the door and opened it slightly before stepping away to allow her in.

She looked distressed and when her eyes landed on me they avoided mine and settled on the window behind me.

"I'm sorry, P'Arthit, I think I came to you all wrong," she began.

"Why did you tell him," Kong asked. He was standing behind her, back to the door and we made a pretty interesting picture which felt like two big guys crowding on a little girl.

The imagery let me sigh and drop my hands from my defensive posture.

"We talked just what four days ago, you didn't say anything to me."

I didn't understand Kong's line of questioning but I wanted the answer.

"I... I wasn't sure at first." She looked towards him, "I needed to know that I was right so I... followed you."

"You what?" my jaw nearly hit the ground.

She sighed, "I mean I stalked you. I do that, when I want to get to know a new BL couple, and I took pictures."

Kong's sharp breath echoed my own but I kept my cool because I knew she couldn't have seen anything to confirm her thought.

"So? Did you find anything?"

"Not at first, I didn't get any pictorial evidence. I just talked to your neighbors and they told me that you," she looked at Kong, "spend almost every weekend over at P'Arthit's."

"And that was enough for you," Kong said.

"This is, "she said, looking at the ground between us. I knew she meant our interrogating her. If she didn't believe it before this pretty much confirmed it.

"So what do you want?"

"Want?" she looked at me like I was confusing her and my patience was running thin.

"You did all this because you want something right?"

Kong didn't help her out if that glance she gave him was a cry for help. "No, I'm just... I don't want anything, except I don't know why no one else knows. Why you haven't told them."

I expected the look Kong gave me and he already knew my answer. "That is kind of personal, Anya, "he said, "but in the mean time we would both be grateful if you don't tell anyone for now."

"It's not that we plan not to tell them at all, we just need more time and then we will tell everyone. Until then if it comes from someone else besides us it would not go over well." I told her because at this point we needed her to cooperate with us. She can't go off on her own and let this get out of hand. Hopefully she cared enough. My initial denial didn't put her in our favor, I don't think.

"Oh, I would never. Look, I like you guys, I don't want to do anything that could hurt you." she sounded sincere but I still couldn't understand her. Why she was so passionate about this, why she took it upon herself to nose into our business. I still didn't appreciate her for it but if she kept quiet about this then that would be great.

"So you won't say anything?" I asked.

"No, I won't. But I think you guys should, mom would be very upset if she hears about it but it would be okay in the long run."

I nodded, "anyway, thanks." I already knew that we would get hurt no matter how long we took, in fact, I think the longer we kept quiet the more hurt we would cause and have to bear but at least we would both be in a safe place. Kongpob would be where his father needed him to be and his mom would have the assurance that her son's life will not be destroyed by this.

I sighed and looked out the window; I don't really know what I was doing. I just didn't want to hurt Kong's family, they meant a lot to me.

The door was pushed and I turned to see Kong move away just as it opened with some force. "What—" Kong's mom looked at us and settled briefly on Anya, "what are you all doing?"

"We were just talking," Anya laughed and walked over to hook their hands together, "mom, Kongpob and I made up, finally, he was just being cautious."

"Kongpob," she stressed the word, "I already told you I'm not setting you up with Anya. So please stop ganging up on her."

I hide a smile at Kongpob's spluttering attempt to deny it.

"Whatever. Arthit son, are you hungry, I'm making something special," she smiled at me.

"Yes, do you need any help, mom?" I asked walking forward.

"Yes dear, I wouldn't mind the company. "To Kongpob she said, "Your father has taken to the TV, see that he does other things will you, honey."

He nodded and even though it felt like the conversation was not over because we still did not know what Anya wanted, we all agreed without words to push it to another day.

"I will help out mom, "Anya followed us to the kitchen and whiles my presence there was mostly useless, she looked like she was not new to the kitchen, like it was a usual playing field for her and of course Kong's mom wouldn't stop gushing over her for that. They seemed to be in sync. Before she needed the pepper, Anya was there with it, if she forgot something, Anya already added it and I just stood by the sidelines appreciating the delicious aroma wafting my way and salivating over the food.

We had a nice meal together then we played a few games and when it was almost midnight, we all went to bed one by one. Anya first.

I was in my room trying to sleep. For some reason I still felt energetic and unable to sleep. I was thinking of giving up and taking a walk, my eyes now used to the fancy room with the white and pink flowered wall paper and the blue cream curtains, when I heard the door.

It was a light rap that wouldn't have disturbed me if I was sleeping. I sat up and left my blanket around my waist but I didn't immediately reply. I wanted to be sure it was a knock.

It came again and it didn't come from the door but from the window. The window was those types that were part balcony with a two door French like pattern. I climbed out of bed cautiously because what could be knocking on my window.

Okay I am not a fan of ghosts. I looked around for somewhere I could easily escape to if it was something scary. Since the room was in darkness I could see someone outside the window even through the curtains.

I took two steps back away from that very fast and swallowed hard. I didn't want to cry out in alarm but it was a near thing.

"P'Arthit?" my heart jumped. The ghost knew my name and it sounded strangely like Kongpob. I frowned and cautiously opened the window but I took two fast steps back just in case.

The curtains were flogged back by the wind and I see him under moon light grinning. I stared at him speechlessly.

"Kongpob," I said dumb struck. He was hanging from a freaking rope and grinning like he did that every day.

I hurried forward to get a good look at the distance he was coming from and I was terrified for him.

"Hey, "he whispered and I glared at him.

"Hey my ass, what the hell are you doing."

"Stealing you away. I'm your peter pan." It was so not funny I laughed anyway. He kept smiling, pleased with himself.

"Idiot, can you just stop hanging like some freaking monkey?" I tried to reach for him and pull him into the room but he held out a hand and stopped me.

"Come on, let's go up there."

"up where?" I hoped he was kidding and that he didn't think I would be climbing that rope anywhere.

"The roof. Be quick P'Arthit, mom and dad could hear us."

He was right. Kong's mom and dad were right across the door from me.

"Why did you have to come tonight, "I complained.

"ssh," he even shushed me and I let my expression tell him what I thought of that. "I want to show you something," he said and started climbing back up and what could I do but follow him.

I took one last glance around the empty room before cautiously grabbing the rope with both hands and then I pulled myself up onto it. It wasn't as hard as I feared and I was soon passing Kongpob's window and then the arctic window then I see him looking down at me on the roof, waiting.

He reached for me to 'helpfully pull me up' but all that did was tangle me up and when I was free I came down tumbling on him. Good thing the roof was actually strong but we might have the whole family on us soon from the loud bang of our fall.

He began laughing and the more I tried to shush him the more he found it funny. As I sat up he sat up with me and our face came really close till our lips could have touched but then he wasn't done moving and our lips touched but so did our foreheads and it wasn't a very pleasant bump.

'ow!" I fell back with a loud groan and then he shushed me. I wanted to kick him. He caught my leg and pulled me into a very awkward position.

My legs were somehow around his waist and I was seating on his thighs. My blush burned hot. He was smiling and looking at me with these soft eyes that were like melted caramel and sent my heart beating faster.

"Hey, sorry about... all that," he said. He didn't look sorry, he just looked like someone looking at something special and I was feeling so embarrassed. I couldn't get used to being looked at like that, like I meant everything to him, like in this moment I was all that mattered. It did things to my heart and made me more aware that I couldn't live without this man and I lowered my face to hide.

He cupped my face and tried to force my face up but I wasn't having any of it. "Hey, let go," I said.

He chuckled, "I want to look at you, I did everything I could not to look at you too much today."

I cocked up one eyebrow and raised my head, "yeah right, you've been giving me looks all day," I argued.

"Well I said I tried, now I want to look at you without restraint or fear."

"Well not in this position," I made to move but he caught my arms.

"Why not? No one can see us."

"But we made a lot of noise."

"You think anyone would think it's anything but animals?"

I thought about it and shrugged, "I guess not, but it's still awkward."

He smooths something from my cheeks, "I think it is perfect,"

I laughed, "Kongpob we are not going to have an entire conversation sitting like this."

"Why not," he asked and I rolled my eyes.

"First your legs are going to get tired," I said.

"Let's wait for that," he said. I already knew he was going to say that so I gave up. I face palmed at his predictability.

"What did you want to show me?"

His eyes went behind me," come on, turn around for a bit,"

"I thought you wanted me to stay like this, "I teased, thinking he was tired already.

"Yeah, but what I want you to see is behind you," I turned around with his help and I saw a very unique sight. At the horizon it looked like the sky was pink. It was still night and it was really a sight.

Kongpob wrapped his arms around my shoulders, I was now seated between his legs, and he pulled me in till my back was pressed to his chest.

"What is that?"

He gave me some brief explanation as to why this happens and I understood the gist of it.

"How do you know it would happen tonight?"

"I didn't, I meant to use it as a sign."

"A sign for what?"

"For whether we could trust Anya or not." He sighed. "I wanted to ask you again if we couldn't just come out."

I ignored that because I knew we wouldn't stop talking about that once we started. "So the pink sky means trust Anya?"

"No, it means don't. But I don't see what she could gain from doing anything. Even if my parents know, the only people affected are us and my parents. She doesn't hate us, if anything she is just a fan. "

"So what do you want to do?"

"Can't we tell them?"

I didn't bother answering," okay, then let's take it like this, if we see this sky again tomorrow then we will tell them."

I didn't want to make promises I couldn't keep but I was curious. I tilted my head up and met his eyes, "does the sky come so frequently?"

"No, it depends on the gas in the sky."

"Then it's very possible that it wouldn't come up again."

"yeah." I looked away and nodded softly. I knew I was hurting Kong and disappointing him but it was for both our sake.

I felt him sigh then he buried his face into my neck. I patted his head and my fingers dipped into his incredibly soft hair. I gave his scalp a soft massage and caressed his face till he raised it a bit and we shared that look where I apologized and he forgave and understand, then I kissed him.

He moaned and pushed forward to kiss me harder. I let him have as much as he needed and then we sat there and talked.

It was two hours later that we finally returned to our rooms.