In Every Lifetime

Chapter Four

Arthit paced around the large foyer of the mansion mumbling under his breath. To say that he was feeling antsy was an understatement. Kongpob had thrown Arthit's brain for a loop by saying that he would not be going home together with him. Kongpob had never done this, not a single time since he had started going to school. Not even the time where they were in different schools. So why now?

"Why. Why?"

"Is he seeing someone?"

"Who?"

"No, it can't be. Aim is always around him. That's the biggest damn lightbulb I've ever seen walking around."

"Or is it someone from the gang."

"Who?"

" Maprang? May? PRAE?"

By this point, Arthit had gone past mumbling and had gone full blown yelling to himself while fisting his hands into his hair. The gardener had paused at the same rose bush some distance away, watching the young Rojnapat and his mysterious antics. She was sure that if Arthit had pulled any harder, his hair would come out in tufts. Like the weeds she was holding. She may not know why he was acting like that, but it could only be related to one person. Everyone knew that only one person could ever cause Arthit to react like that.

Arthit's heart wrenched thinking about Kongpob possibly liking someone, to be precise, someone who wasn't him. It wasn't like he was assuming but Kongpob had now gone past flirtatious lines to outright expressing with actions now. It had just been yesterday that Kongpob had insisted on intertwining their hands together under the table at the dinner table. No matter how Arthit had tried to pull his hand back from the younger one, he couldn't seem to untangle their hands. This left Arthit with no choice but to handle his utensils with his left hand, earning many strange yet knowing looks from the elders at the table.

It had also left him unsure of how to feel for the next half of the night. One part of him couldn't help but wonder since when had the young boy he once knew gotten this strong - the lean figure of Kongpob barely featured any muscles (much to his dismay as he had been desperately trying to help Kongpob gain weight as he was too skinny). The other part of him, the one that seemed to be led by the nose by Kongpob these days, had simply wanted to give in to whatever the cheeky brat had in mind. He was sure that he would have enjoyed it anyway.

The biggest part of him however, wanted to ask Kongpob what their relationship was now. Arthit was sure, almost certain, that he was not the only one feeling this way but simply couldn't garner enough courage to open his mouth to speak the words. He was not a man of words - that had always been Kongpob. Arthit had much rather conveyed his feelings through his actions like he always did. But Kongpob had always been excessively clingy to him as well, and that resulted in his dilemma on whether Kongpob was just being how he always was - or if everything meant more now.

Just as he was still running through the names of every single girl who have had any form of interaction with Kongpob in his head, said person struts through the main gate, looking positively pleased with himself. Arthit however, had yet to notice his presence, and was still marching back and forth on the foyer.

Kongpob stopped. And stared. Enchanted by the sight in front of him. While other people saw a young adult potentially on the verge of a breakdown, all Kongpob saw was pink cheeks, pouty lips and the need to run forward to hug the adorable man 200 metres away from him just intensified exponentially.

Just as he was calculating his odds of pouncing on the older guy unnoticed, the dark brown eyes of Arthit found his and suddenly, said man was marching towards him - full speed ahead.

"Kongpob!"

Now if Kongpob had any sense of danger for his life, his fight or flight response would have sent him bolting out of there. However, being the idiot that he was, he merely stood there with his arms wide open, ready to welcome Arthit into his arms.