Chapter 11
Finally the next chapter, sorry that it took a while to update it. It was a busy week for me. It's going to get busier too :( I wish you to enjoy it and don't feel too disappoinetd about the boring chapter :D
The song is The Reason why by Yang Da Il (Bride of the water god OST) Click CC for subtitle
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It was almost noon, the sun was shining brightly on this cleary Saturday forenoon. Aim was driving the car, Kongpob sitting next to him on the passenger's seat. They were on the way to the Suthiluck's residence since Kongpob's mother called him a few hours ago to diner today with them. Kongpob's head was aching, pondering due to him drinking too much alcohols yesterday in the pub. Like always he rented the VIP private bar for himself, having P'Arthit as his private barkeeper to take care of his needs. According to his best friend, he reaped what he sow. Because he was so greedy to keep their Phee for himself, he ordered P'Arthit to mix him many cocktails so he wouldn't have to serve the other customer named Mew.
Kongpob reminded Aim to park near of a coffee shop where he could buy coffee to ease his hangover. There was a coffee shop in front of them, it wasn't starbucks, Kongpob's favourite coffee shop he buy coffee every day but anything was far better than nothing. Ever since he began working in the orphanage and the children ate his food whenever he ate too slow, he was still picky but less than before. His best friend parked at the parking lot, Kongpob suddenly staring at his friend. Aim was confused, asking him why he was looking at him with such greedy eyes.
„Go buy a coffe latte for me", there was the reason why he stared at him. He didn't even waver nor use a sweet voice to plead him to go buy the drink for him.
„Ai'Kong, I'll tell you a short story... Once upon a time, there was a smart servant who befriend a selfish and greedy prince like no one else. Someday the selfish went overboard with his orders so the servant took revenge on him and killed him. And the servant lived happily ever after", was the short story he wanted to tell him in broad daylight.
„Can you be more specific? What are you trying to say anyway?", he continued talking, didn't even think of letting Aim come to words. „I mean what is the lesson of the story?"
„The lesson is that the smart servant overthew the prince and don't have a friend anymore. Let me repeat, Ai'Kong!", He spoke through gritting teeth, „the smart SERVANT don't have the SELFISH PRINCE as friend anymore", both fell in silence.
„Okay, okay, just tell me that you won't buy it instead of preaching some nonsense to me", he complained before leaving the car, taking the direction to the coffee shop.
Aim clenched his hands, gritting his teeth, „I'm going to kill this selfish friend of mine some day", he didn't even care that Kong's evil and scary mother would destroy his whole family if he did something to her son.
Kongpob entered the coffee shop, some customers were sitting around the table, drinking their hot drinks. To his own surprise there wasn't any bartender in front of the bar. He pressed on the bell, calling the person to serve him. An elderly man came out of the kitchen where more pastries were baked, talking to someone that the latter should serve the customer instead of crouching down on the ground. It seemed someone was down there, doing something on the ground instead of serving him. What a crappy shop! The service is bad and slow too.
A ruspy voice answered to the elderly man, calling him owner. This voice! It sounded familar. Even though the man exaggerated to speak with deep voice, he could recognize the voice. The person slowly went up, finally revealing himself in front of him. P'Arthit! Just like Kongpob guessed right now. The shorter man looked exhausted, dark circles were around his eyes as if he didn't sleep the night. Right, surely he didn't get any sleep because they just met the night. Arthit had knocking off 2 am but now he was working in another shop which business hours was at 6 am. Surely he had to wake up early in the morning to be here. How many jobs do he have? Kongpob was curious about the many jobs Arthit had. However Arthit rolled his eyes, didn't want the taller man to find him here because he feared him to stalk and disturb him just like he was doing in the pub. There was his quiet life waving goodbye at him, from now on Kongpob would visit this shop everyday too to bother him.
P'Arthit felt embarrassed at being discovered by Kongpob but he didn't want him to notice that he was blushing either. It was already too late because the taller man's lips curved up into a bright smile when he realized Arthit turning red in embarrassment.
„Are you so money obsessed?", the younger man had to know the answer to this question. He had money and if Arthit was obsessed with money then everything was for his favourism. Maybe he could win him with money?
„You won't understand it even if I explain to you...", he heaved a heavy sight. „What can I get for you?"
The owner, a busybody and always curious about Arthit's private life, was smiling the whole time, listening to their conversation instead of continuing his work in the kitchen. „Are you his friend?", the question was meant for Kongpob.
„No!", Arthit immediately replied.
„Yes!", Kongpob answered with his Phee in a chor but since his voice was louder, it exceeded Arthit's voice. The owner could only heard the taller man clearly.
„Then it's a yes... You're my staff's friend so the coffee is on me", the elder man gave him the drink for free before returning back in the kitchen, baking his pastry for later's customers.
Arthit heaved another sigh, „What can I get for you?"
„Coffee latte", Kongpob answered with an exaggerating sweet voice but interferred when Arthit took the mug for coffee to go, telling him that he would drink his coffee here.
Arthit didn't like the fact that Kongpob was bossing him around again just like he always did in the pub but since the customer was the boss, he couldn't chase him away. Beside the taller man would never listen to him and leave even if he calmy begged him not to bother him here. While Kongpob searched for the best table on the shorter man's opposite side where he could observe him without being disturbed by irritating customers, Arthit made him his hot drink then brought it on his table. Even though he was discontent about Kongpob showing up here, he gave him a gratis cheesecake, placing the plate with the cake shyly on the table, shoving it gently to the latter's front. It was his way of expressing gratitude towards the person who took care of him the other day. The older man rolled his eyes, just left for his work when Kongpob gave a comment about his Phee liking him but hiding it. P'Arthit distanced himself from him, a cute little smile played on his lips but he hide it again from the younger man to save himself from another of his idiotic comment about him liking him.
Kongpob took a small sip from his coffee, didn't want to finish his hot drink too quickly or he wouldn't have any reason to stay here anymore so he needed to enjoy it slowly. Whenever he took a sip from his drink, he would steal a glance from Arthit. The latter felt disturbed about Kong observing him but he remained tough, serving his customers who just entered the shop. The taller man's view was blocked by a tall man standing in front of him. He looked up to him, finally noticing his best friend standing in front of him, his arms crossed over his chest.
„Why are you sitting here?", Aim didn't seem content about his friend letting him wait in the car while he was having his fun with his drink.
He blew air on his drink to cool it down, drinking a little bit from it, „I'm enjoying my coffee latte", there wasn't any feeling of remorse in his deep voice, he didn't even care that he let his friend wait like half a century for him. Right now only his Phee mattered to him. He wanted to look at P'Arthit to his heart content, satisfy his lust to see him without even knowing why he felt refreshed and relieved whenever his eyes met with the latter's. Ever since he found out that he wanted Arthit for himself, he couldn't get enough of him. Sometime he would find himself seeking for the older man's attention, always bothering him to steal his attention away from the children. He knew that he wasn't fair towards the children for disturbing them when playing with the older man but he wanted a piece of his attention too. He wanted his Phee to look at him, smile at him and feel impressed about him. It was important for him that P'Arthit appreciated him because he would feel delighted whenever the shorter man showed him his cute smile with his beautiful dimple. Again he was thinking of him as beautiful and cute. He was aware of the fact that it wasn't his style to act like a stalker but he couldn't hold back his urge to be closer to P'Arthit. It wasn't normal for him to ignore hot women and only look at a man but he looked at it from the positive side, accepting the fact that he was turning strange because of his Phee. One could say that Kongpob needed his daily dose of medicine to keep living healthy.
Arthit was dead tired but he kept a strong face in front of his customers, serving them with respect. As his customers went away with their order, he turned around to yawn. He needed sleep right now since he woke up to work here after sleeping for only 4 hours. Of course, he knew that it wasn't healthy for him but he needed to work and earn money to pay the rent and help the family and the children in the orphanage. Because he didn't want his family to worry about him, he hide his financial problems from them. Life wasn't easy for him. One could say that ever since his husband P'Nai died, he was on his own now.
Another young man entered the shop, greeting the owner and Arthit before running in the locker room to wear his apron. It was the second part timer, P'Arthit's replacement for the late shift. The man came back whereupon the owner urged the shorter man to leave and get some sleep at home since he looked like he would collapse from fatigue anytime. Arthit took off his red apron, bidding farewell with his colleagues then leaving for outside. Kongpob sipped his coffee in haste, burning his tongue and throat due to the hot drink but he ignored his own pain, chasing after P'Arthit. Only now did Aim realize the reason why Kongpob didn't take coffee to got but coffee on table. P'Arthit is working here too?
Arthit dashed to the bus station to catch the bus in which some people were climbing in. He arrived there but the driver just drove away. Now that he missed his bus for home, he had to wait for another fifteen minutes for the next bus. Tired about his own misfortunes, he just sat on the bench of the station, leaning his head against the glass wall. The sun was blocked in front of him, there was a taller man standing in front of him, disturbing him again.
„I'm tired, Nong..."
„I won't bother you, P'Arthit. I'm just here to offer you to take you home", Kong suggested to help him.
Arthit was tempted to take his offer but he still didn't trust him wholeheartedly. Something was fishy about his Nong. Why did he invest so much time on him? He even visited him in his shabby flat to take care of him when he was ill. Did he really do it just for him or did he had another motive behind it? Why am I even concerning myself whether his feelings to help me are genuine or not? It didn't matter if he did it just for fun too. He was too tired to discuss with him so he just nodded. Kongpob was flabbergasted, didn't expect him to accept his offer without asking where the beef was. Maybe it helped that he went to him the day as he was ill. That he took care of him the other day, brought him closer to his Phee. He was enjoying his little trimph deep inside, turning away to cheer quietly for himself.
Arthit greeted Aim before followig them to the parking lot and sitting on the back row in the car. To Arthit's and Aim's surprise, Kongpob didn't take his previous seat but sat next to his Phee on the back row. His best friend shook his head, wanting to kill Kong right now because he offered Arthit to take him home without consulting him first about it. Aim's life wasn't easy either. To have such a selfish and spoiled person as his best friend shortened his already short life span. He climbed in his car, driving away after receiving Arthit's address that was on the opposite direction to Kongpob's home, their previous destination.
On their way to Arthit's home, the shorter man lost the fight against his fatigue, was dozing off dangerously, almost hitting his head on the seat. Kongpob unfastened his seatbelt, sliding closer to his Phee, Arthit's head suddenly fell safely on his shoulder instead of hitting it on the hard seat. The taller man couldn't hold back his smile, his heartbeat was accelerating. To have P'Arthit so close to him wasn't good for his heart nor for his health, his heart was beating too fast, it felt like he would have a heart attack anytime.
They already arrived in front of the older man's flat but Kongpob hushed at his best friend to stay silent when the latter wanted to wake their Phee up. Kong begged him not to disturb him in his peaceful sleep, his eyes were on the latter's face the whole time. He looked at his round eyes, his thin lips, his small nose, his pale skin and listening to his faint snoring. Arthit's lips were alluring, he wanted to touch them. It would be perfect if he could kiss him but he hold back his lust in front of his friend. It wasn't appropriate to jump at and harass a defensless man who was sleeping peacefuly. There was a calm atmosphere laying in the air. The silence was broken by Kongpob's cellphone ringing in his pocket. Arthit felt disturbed by the annoying sound, moaning and moving in his sleep. The taller man rejected the call to prevent it to wake up his Phee, knowing that the call was from his mother.
Aim knew this persistent ringtone very well. It was the song Kongpob chose to ring whenever his fierce mother called him. Aim's eyes widened in shock and fear, bead of sweat formed on Aim's forehead due to him fearing the consequences waiting for them thanks to his friend not picking up her calls. How dare he didn't take her call! Surely he would be blamed later for her son's behaviour. He could already see her evil eyes staring at him as if they would kill him anytime. However Kongpob didn't care about his mother nor about his friend. He wrote her a message, telling her: „Sorry but I will skip the lunch. Sometime urgent came up with Aim", he lied to his mother, putting his friend in another trouble again. According to himself, Aim knew how to handle his mother so he would survive another attack from her on him. Never would he put Arthit in trouble by mentioning him in front of his mother. She would do a background check on him the moment he called his name in her presence. He feared she would do something to him if she knew about him so it was better to keep his existence from her. Beside he didn't have feeling for him for him for his mother to come between them.
Kongpob put his phone on mute to not be disturbed again. No, he didn't want his mother to call and wake Arthit up from his peaceful sleep he deserved after working without having any break between. He didn't want Arthit to collapse somewhere so he wanted him to take his time and sleep a little bit before waking him up to go home or else the latter would be stupid enough to visit the orphanage even though he had today off. Here he was worrying about a young man, not even caring or fearing his mother whom he never rejected before. Arthit snuggled in to Kongpob, grabbing at his arm, leaning closer to him and hugging him as if he was a soft pillow he didn't want to let go of. Kongpob's caressed Arthit's bangs from his eyes aside, his lips curved up into a sweet, little smile. Aim couldn't hold back the urge to take a photo of such cute moment, he took out his phone out, secretly taking a picture of them.
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Today should be a joyful day for the children and the staff of the orphanage. A rich couple came to look for the children with the wish to adopt one of them as their own child. The child they took a liking to turned out to be the little girl called Maya. Arthit liked every children of the orphanage but he had a special bound to Maya since he was the one who found her outside of the orphanage as he had knocking off and was on the way to his home. He took care of her ever since as if she was his little sister, most likely his own daughter. Finally he could breath easily now because she found parents who would love her and provide her the medicine for her diabetes she couldn't get in the orphanage.
Of course Arthit would miss Maya deeply but he shouldn't be selfish and hold her back for his own sake. He didn't like rich people because of their ignorance but this couple was the best thing that could happen to his Maya. They seemed friendly like most middle aged couple and weren't ignorant like a certain person he met a few weeks ago. But he must admit that the certain person changed. He wasn't the arrogant, ignorant and selfish bastard like before but showed some emotions and even helped the children whenever he could. Finally he could see Kongpob in better light, even complimented him for being brave and daring the other days... Too daring to his own liking. Kongpob didn't care whether he crossed the limit. He would use every opportunities to fulfill his wishes.
Arthit fell deep in thought. He blushed when he remembered the day he was ill and Kongpob took care of him. The taller man's intense gaze on him most of time was too much to handle, it made him so restless that he literally had to chase him out of his flat few hours later as the latter offered him to snuggle close to him to provide him more warmth. He knew Kongpob was just teasing him. He knew Kongpob's joke shouldn't be taken serious but he couldn't help himself to blush in embarrassment whenever he saw the younger man deep in the eyes. Maybe because he wasn't accustomated to be treated too nice by a man again, he was an easy target for the man who changed his bed company every night. After the death of P'Nai he didn't get close to a man again so maybe he felt flattered by such innocent tease.
He must admit that it didn't feel bad to have someone he could talk to, fight with and smile with. It would be perfect if he could lean on that person but it wasn't in his character to lean on somebody else. It was his nature to fight alone but he forgot that if one couldn't take it alone anymore, one could and should ask for support. He needed to learn that there was a special someone he could lean on whenever he needed. That special someone was Kongpob Suthiluck but he didn't knew it yet. Beside he was sure that Kongpob wasn't a person who would give him his shoulder to cry on.
All the sudden Arthit changed his blushed face into a serious expression. As he remembered Kongpob laughing at him for him liking pink milk, he got mad at him for calling him girly because he liked such drinks. It was his body and he could like anything he wanted, right? What's his problem anyway? Without even knowing it, he was sulking, revealing his cute pouty lips. His pale face got more colour, he turned more red when he reminisced about the taller man asking him to help him to undress and bath. He giggled as he remembered about Kongpob falling down as he leant on a fragile chair last time.
Arthit was so deep in his own thought that he forget that he was in a meeting. Actually he wasn't alone but was in the director's office, surrounded by the director and the middle aged couple who was there for the adoption. The director was surprised to see so much emotions playing in Arthit's face. It was rare to see him show so much feelings in once. Ever since his husband died, he looked empty as if he couldn't feel anything anymore. He was glad that his cute pupils was smiling and laughing more. Really, he would like to thank the person who made him smile like that but everything would be perfect if Arthit didn't play with so much emotions in front of the couple. The rich couple were looking at him as if he was an insane person who shouldn't be here but in the psychiatry instead.
The director had to cough a few times to send Arthit some signals for him to notice that he wasn't alone and should act properly for Maya's sake. The younger man was still smiling till the exaggerating loud coughing of the director reached his ear whereupon he looked around, only to realize the confusion written in their customers' faces. He was flustered at his own situation, bowing down his head while apologizing to them. They discussed further about the papers laying on the director's table. The papers were the permission from the administration to adopt the child. After dealing with so much papers about the adoption, they finally got the long anticipated permission to give Maya to them. Now they could set a date when the couple could take her in their household. The rich pair couldn't wait to take her in their home where she would be raised in a proper atmosphere. The date they set for them to take Maya was too sudden for the young Rojnapat. Arthit was glad that they found decent parents for her but he was sad since he would miss his daughter he raised till now. He smiled, faking a comfortable smile.
Arthit bidded farewell with them, leaving for outside to let the elders talk about the last steps before they could take Maya in her new home in a few days. Kongpob came towards him, carrying Maya in his arms. Since her adoptiv parents asked to see her at least before leaving, the taller man brought her as he found her on the way to the locker room. She asked to be let down as soon as she spotted the shorter man in front of her, running with arms spread aside to be hugged and carried by him. Arthit ran to her, spreading his arms aside to catch her and carry her up, wirling around with her, playing the airplane game. Maya laughed happily in his care although she was suffering from a slight fever, unfortunately she still didn't get it that she would have to leave him soon. Her father would have to let her go in a few days. He hugged her, rubbing on the back of her head, noticing her to suffer from a slight fever. She was even paler than usuall. There was surely something wrong with her but she didn't lose her will to live.
Kongpob couldn't hold back his smile at such sweet but sad picture. His lips curved up into a little sweet smile. He crossed his arms over his chest, enjoying the calm atmosphere around them. There was something in Arthit's face that let Kongpob's smile disappear, his heart was racing all the sudden, he was concerned about him again. As he noticed the tears filling the shorter man's eyes, he felt the urge to go to him, take him in his arms and calm him down. Arthit was sniffling most of the time to hold back his tears but he failed to stay strong, tears rolling down his eyes, wetting his chubby cheeks and his neck. Maya who didn't realize how sad Arthit was about her leaving, was giggling the whole time. So innocent was she in this situation!
Kongpob approached him, remaining in front of him. He reached out his arm to him, suddenly wipping off the tears from his eyes. The older man reacted surprised at him taking care of him but more tears streamed down the more the latter wipped them off. Badump... Badump... It was the sound of Arthit's heart. Even if it was just for a moment, his heart skipped a bit for just a few second before it calmed down when Kongpob broke the silence by talking to him.
„Don't cry...", Kongpob faintly mumbled to him, he was unaware of his own reaction.
The taller man showing him a little smile took his worries about Maya away, the tears ceased to roll down. Both fell in silence, there was a calm, peaceful atmosphere around them, making them look more like a lovely couple that cared for each other. Even the staff didn't see them as enemies anymore but lovers who loved to quarrel but still cared deeply for each other. The silence got broken as the door of the director's office got open, the pair and the old man left the office. The couple suddenly froze on the spot when they saw the unexpected picture in front of them. The director was confused about their odd relationship but not surprised to see them getting closer the more days they were spending with each other.
With Maya between them, Kongpob and Arthit looked like her parents instead of the couple who was her soon-to-be-adoptiv-parents. However the rich pair was surprised too, not because of the romantic atmosphere Kongpob and Arthit conjured in the air but because of the young man before them. Kongpob Suthiluck! The rich Suthiluck's only heir. They stared at each other, asking about their relationship. Somehow they were curious to find more about Arthit because the younger man's eyes were shining whenever he was gazing at the latter.
The elder couple stared at each other again, worries and confusion written all over their faces. Should we be worried about their relationship? Should we tell Mrs. Suthiluck about them? Those were the questions they were mumbling when they exchanged glances. Instead of being concerned over their own cases, they were busybodies, trying to be detectives to find out more about Kongpob's and Arthit's relationship.
Kongpob looked past Arthit, finally recognizing the couple in front of them, his eyes widened in shock. He mumbled „Ah and Na Ittiporn?"
The pair Ittiporn looked at each other, the woman coming closer to her husband as if hiding behind the latter. They seemed nervous as if they were criminals who committed a crime and were scared of being discovered. However Ah Ittiporn tried to act relaxed, as if Kongpob's presence didn't let him feel intimated. He went to him, hugging him like an uncle would do with his nephew. His wife couldn't find any braveness to act like nothing happened between them before. She just couldn't ignore the heavy tension between them. Arthit, confused and surprised about them being acquaintances, was curious about their relationship, observing their act to notice every every oddness between them.
Aunty Ittiporn urged her husband to leave for the sudden meeting if they didn't want to be late. They bowed their heads down to the director, bidding farewell with him and leaving without having a proper talk with Maya nor with Kongpob. As soon as they disappeared from their sight, the taller man changed his expression, his whole behaviour changing all the sudden.
Kongpob clenching his hands, „P'Arthit...", he called wih a soft but deep voice.
„Huh?", Arthit reacted to his call. He was so deep in thought that he forget to act with a proper manner. Somehow after Kongpob came to take care of him as he was ill, all oddness between them was lifted away. He even changed his opinion about him, didn't see the latter as spoiled or a brat anymore. Since then Kongpob was a just teaser he couldn't handle. A normal man in his early twenty, sometimes possessive but a little bit caring and too much over the top too. This was how he would describe Kongpob now if he was giving the task to give some information about the younger man.
„Are they Maya's adoptive parents?", somewhere deep in his heart he wished to be wrong about his assumption. He didn't want them to be the pair adopting her but Arthit confirming his nightmare, forced him to clench his hands tighter till his fingersnails pressed in his palms and injured him.
Should he tell them about the Ittiporn's secret? His mother and aunty Ittiporn were best friend since their high school. It would bring many troubles and a stir between his mother and aunty Ittiporn if he revealed about the Ittiporn's crime but he was ready to risk their relationship to save Maya. He would even break their family's bound if he had to because he needed to hold Maya back from them. He wavered, wasn't yet determined to destroy their long friendship.
„You shouldn't let them take her...", he mumbled softly after looking at Maya, perhaps he didn't want them to heard him so he spoke faintly at first. Perhaps he wasn't sure which side he should take. He gazed at Arthit. The shorter man's round puppy eyes filled with caring, love and sincerity, were staring at him too, waiting for his explaination.
He looked at the little girl, her innocent eyes staring at him, smiling at him as if he was her idol. „Don't let them adopt her", his voice was so firm like never before. Now he was sure which side he should take. Which side he wouldn't regret choosing later.
Arthit was shocked at first but he didn't lose his composure, unlike the director. The older man immediately jumped to conclusion, suspecting the Ittiporn of committing a serious crime without waiting for the taller man's reasons first. He mumbled that they were too clean for rich people, surely they hide some skeletons in their closet like most rich household did.
Arthit still waited for the younger man to explain himself and tell him the reason why he should believe him and break off the adoption. „Why?", his Phee asked, so calm like never before.
„Because they...", he shut up when he remembered the scandalous topic about the Ittiporn being a secret none of the rich household should reveal to the world. He wavered to break the tabu, closing his eyes, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes again. „I can't tell you the details but you need to trust..."
„Kongpob...", his Phee interrupted by calling his name with a soft but sad voice. He took a deep breath to calm down first. „I know I'm picky about adoption and have prejudice towards rich people but the Ittiporn are the kind of parents Maya needs... They can provide her proper medicine and help her getting better", there was his reason why he would never call off the adoption.
„I know that they have more possibillites to treat her properly but...", the taller man tried to bring him to senses by mentioning the advantages Maya would get if she remained by Arthit but the director interfered this time, didn't let him end his talk again.
„I know you're worried but Khun Arthit is right", the director sided with Arthit as he finally remembered the reason why Maya should be taken by the Ittiporn. Everything was for her sake. „If we devide the donation money we receive every mouth to buy food and clothes for the children, we don't have enough money to help her with her treatment. She can't grow into a fine child later."
„But..."
Arthit intrerrupted this time, „If you don't want us to give them Maya then tell us the situation so we can follow you", Arthit showed him a calm attitude and expression.
Unfortunately he would never reveal the secret or else he would be doomed by his mother, something he didn't want to happen while working here or she would blame the orphanage for changing her son. It would cause a scandal his family a big problem if they found out that his mother was involved in coverin up the crime. The longer Arthit had to wait for him to speak, the more impatient he got. He had his prejudice towards rich people but he wasn't so hateful that he would break off the adoption because of a stupid reason he didn't even knew about. When Arthit just shook his head and wanted to leave, Kongpob grabbed at his wrist, making him to stay for a minute.
The shorter man showed him a sad expression, „Please, don't screw it up for us, Kongpob", it was the first time Arthit called his name with so much passion, feelings and sincerity in his voice.
His plead made the taller man's heart jump in surprise. He was indecisive, his mind in a messed up state due to him thinking too much. He didn't want to hurt Arthit by calling off the adoption but he didn't want the latter to regret his decision later either if he found out about the secret he wanted to reveal him but couldn't due to the Ittiporn's relationship with his fierce mother. Beside he didn't want Maya to suffer under such people who were his relatives.
He ruffled his hair messy, mumbling I give up many times, walking towards the locker room he was supposed to be some minutes ago. Thinking too much into something isn't meant for me. Maybe I should just leave the thinking for the smart ass brain Aim and ask him how I should handle the situation. When he disappeared in a corner, leaving Arthit with Maya there, he hide behind the wall, leaning against the hard cement, raking his fingers through his hairs. What should I do?
****
Kongpob was back in the pub, sitting in the private room for the VIP, drinking the cocktail Arthit just mixed for him. After taking a sip from the alcoholic drink, he placed the glass on the table, leaning against the backrest of the sofa. Arthit lied that he had to visit the restroom and left the room but he met Mew on the way there. Both waited in the corner in front of the restroom.
„I asked your colleague about your whereabout and she told me that I can find you here", Mew explained how he knew about P'Arthit lurking around in the VIP's area. He scratched at his head, blushing whenever he had to look him in the eyes. „I didn't see you in the last few days..."
„A certain person booked me to serve him on private", there was the older man's reply.
Mew was curious about the VIP Arthit had to serve secretly so he asked about the person but the shorter man couldn't reply him since he had to stay confidentiality about their customers. They were chatting about random topics like the thing that happened the days they didn't met. Arthit wanted to complain about the childtish VIP's behaviour to control him as the person in talk appeared in front of them. Kongpob crossed his arms over his chest, apparantly he didn't like to see Arthit talking to Mew, the man he couldn't like no matter the circumstance. Mew too didn't look happy to meet his so called rival again. Kongpob approached them, asking Arthit whether he already visited the restroom or was wasting his time to chat with him while pointing his finger at Mew.
„I just want to have some fresh air. I feel suffocated in the room", it sounded more like him begging Kongpob to let him have some fresh air outside. Because he didn't want to anger the pub's owner by treating the rich customer roughly, he waited for Kongpob's permission to let him leave for a while.
Kongpob mustered Mew from head to toes, gritting his teeth at him before giving Arthit the permission to leave for outside. Without wasting his time, the shorter man just rolled his eyes, taking the direction for outside through the backdoor. When he arrived outside, he took a long breath from the clear air, leaning against the wall to support his weight. He closed his eyes but there was an unexpected surprise waiting in front of him when he opened them again. The bulky stranger he fought with last time was standing in front of him, blocking his view.
„What are you doing here?", his soft voice turned into a fierce one. His expression cold like never before. The first time he met that man was also the first time beat to a pulp so he didn't want to see him here while the latter was still baned from the pub.
„Today is payday... I'm here to return the favour you gave me last time."
Is he here for revenge? Arthit knew that he shouldn't meet the man here alone but he couldn't run away either, didn't want to look weak. He affronted the stranger while knowing that he was no match for the latter. The bulkier man came closer to him whereupon the shorter man stepped back, wanting to run back into the pub but was grabbed at his hair. He stepped on the man's foot to free himself, running away from him to enter the pub but something hard hit the back of his head. The stranger hit his fist on Arthit's head. Arthit felt dizzy, his view turning blurry first before turning black all the sudden. He lost his balance, falling down to the cold hard ground. The stranger just grabbed at his arm, heaving him on his shoulder, taking the direction to his car he parked at the parking lot on the other side of the street.
Meanwhile Kongpob had enough of waiting for Arthit so he went to fetch him up but there wasn't any sign from the older man. He went forward, gazing around only to realize someone suspicious crossing over the street. It was a bulky man, carrying someone on his shoulder. He recognized the unconscious man as P'Arthit.
Kongpob ran to them, screaming at the stranger to stop right now but the man just put Arthit in the trunk of his car and climbed in his vehicle then drove away. The moment the taller man arrived at the parking lot, another young man came from aside to his side. It was Mew who witnessed the stranger taking Arthit away too. He signalized Kongpob to call the police while he would chase after them so he entered his car, starting the engine. All the sudden a man sat beside Mew on the passenger's seat, fastening his belt. Kongpob entered Mew's car without his permission, telling the latter to drive fast or else they would miss them. While Mew drove after them, Kong took his cellphone out, dialing the police's number, telling them about his friend being abducted by an unknown man.
Arthit slowly opened but he was hit by a strong pain coming from the back of his head. He moaned in pain, rubbing at his head, feeling something wet staining his hand. Since it was too dark in the place he was, he couldn't recognize whether the wet stain was blood or not. He looked around in the darkness, feeling like floating in something. The sound of engine and tires driving on the road echoed in his air. Finally he realized that he was locked up in a trunk, he tapped with his hands, kicking with his feet on the hard metal while yelling for help. He was indeed in panic. The darkness, the insecurity, the uncertainity about the place the man was driving to, was scaring the hell out of him. His heartbeat accelerated in fear. The culprit took the way to the forest, driving on the road.
Mew and Kongpob finally caught up to them, Mew pressed on the gas to raise his speed, he drove to the stranger's left side whereupon they recognized the person as the man they fought against few weeks ago. Kongpob urged the driver to block their way so they wouldn't escape. Mew listened to him, halting horizontal on the road, blocking the way. The stranger speeded towards them. To see a car driving towards him triggered some memory in Kongpob, pictures of him driving at the road, losing control over his car appeared in his mind. He was plagued by strong headache while having strange images in his mind. He grabbed at his forehead, closing his eyes to lessen the pain. The last picture he remembered about was another car coming towards him, the other driver hunking at him. His headache faded away like the last picture in his mind. What was that? It felt like fragment of memories. More like fragant of forgotten memory he actually should had never forget.
The stranger didn't have the courage to run them over so he stopped the vehicle close to them, almost colliding against Kongpob and Mew. Arthit, still hitting against the trunk and yelling for help, felt that they came to a halt. Now he feared for his life. Maybe they arrived at the destination where he would be tortured. He already imagined all kind of tortures he would go through till he die a painful death. His life was not only short but full of misfortunes and many tragedies too. Now he would die young and his remains would never be found either. What would happen to the childen and my family? In such desperate time, he only thought about the children, P'Nai and his family. But he thought about a certain someone he didn't expect to miss in such sad situation. Kongpob's image appeared in his mind. The taller man sulking at him.
Arthit was pulled out of his thought as voices shout at each other. It wasn't only one person but voices of two men. There was a third voice, signalizing that they were 3 men altogether. All the sudden he could heard sounds of someone hitting hard against something. Someone approached the trunk he was captured in, his heart beating faster the shorter the distance between him and the man got. The trunk went open, there was a young man in front of him. Mew was revealed in front of him. Never did he feel relieved and happy to see Mew before. He just hugged the younger man, closing his eyes and enjoying being in the young man's safe arms. Mew smiled, blushed too. He hold tighter onto him then pulled him out of the trunk. As they broke the hug, the older man noticed another man standing before him. The bulky man laid motionless on the ground, Kongpob was beside him, talking to someone on the phone and explaining her the case of an abduction. He ordered the person to prevent the journalist from publishing the accident in the next morning's press. Nothing bad about the Suthilick should appear in the press or his mother would interfer with his life again.
Kongpob finally faced Arthit, the shorter man smiled at him. The smile was so bright that it could even enlighten the cold darkness away. It was a genuine smile, different to the relieved smile he gave Mew. He walked over to him, suddenly hugging him to express his gratitude. Arthit felt more safe in Kongpob's presence, he was enjoying the taller man's warm body that was raising his own body temperature. Kongpob was speechless, didn't expect his senior to hug him. He moved his arms to respond to the hug but Mew coughing, forced Arthit out of his daydream. Unfortunately he broke off the embrace before Kongpob could hug him back.
Arthit remembered about the kidnapper laying on the ground, he went to him then kicked him on the back as revenge. Mew and Kongpob giggled. The loud sirens of police followed by an ambulance approached them from the opposite direction, the police dashed to capture the man responsible for the abduction while the paramedic took care of the victim Arthit Rojnapat. They gave him a blanket to cover his shaking and cold body, Arthit went in the ambulance to get some treatment for the wound on his head.
Kongpob and Mew looked after him till he entered the ambulance to receive his treatment. Arthit threw them a last look, both smiling at him. His heart was thumping hard when looking at one of them. He clenched at his chest to calm down his heart.
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Like I said this chapter is boring but I hope some find it a little bit interesting. What is the Ittiporn's secret? Would Kongpob put his mother at risk to prevent P'Arthit from regretting his decision later? Find it out in the next chapter ;)
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