In Every Lifetime

Chapter Twenty Four

Earth ran hurriedly towards Kongpob's room, startled by the cry that had emitted from it. She hadn't heard such pain from him since the day after his ghost wedding and it was worrying why he was suddenly reacting like this again. Arthit had seemed better the last few weeks, almost behaving as though he was back to normal.

Allowing herself entrance into the room, she found Arthit bawling, clutching something tight to his chest. She rushed to his side to console him, even though she had no idea what was going on. All she could hear were his soft mumbles.

"He's gone. He's gone. He's gone." Arthit repeatedly muttered under his breath, rocking his body back and forth as though he was in a trance. Tears streamed down his face endlessly.

Earth didn't know what else she could do other than to pull him into her arms and made a shushing white noise to try to comfort Arthit who was beyond himself. Quietly counting the days in her head, she let out a small gasp as she realised what date it was yesterday.

"Arthit, is it Kongpob?" She stroked Arthit's back gently as she felt the younger one nod into her shoulder, his cries never once stopping.

She sighed, looking up at the ceiling to try to stop herself from crying. She couldn't cry, not yet. So there she sat, hugging Arthit till he finally calmed down and tucked him into bed after he had finally cried himself to sleep in exhaustion. She carefully brushed his hair aside from his tear stained face. The poor boy had been through so much and she really couldn't imagine what had happened for him to react like this.

Pulling the covers up snugly around him, she snuck out of the room quietly to notify his friends who were already waiting downstairs that Arthit would not be able to make it to school today. She also pleaded for them to come by after school, fully expecting that Arthit would need more than just her company today.

Sure enough, by the time she had made it back up with a hot bowl of congee, Arthit was weeping silently into his pillow.

"Arthit dear, come eat something." She coaxed, squeezing his hand.

Arthit shook his head, burying his face further into his pillow. Earth sighed, as she patted his shoulder and left the congee by his bedside. She wasn't sure if she should say anything to the boy who was clearly in grief. Eventually she settled for quietly dabbing his cheeks with a tissue as she rubbed circles upon his back, trying to soothe him.

Before long, the rush of steps up the stairs announced the arrival of the gang and Earth sighed in relief. If anyone could make Arthit feel better, it would be them. The four guys bumbled into the room, all ready to holler at their friend but stopped midway upon seeing Earth's expression.

She quietly shook her head as she walked over to them whispering 'Kongpob' before she left the boys and hoped that they would be able to comfort Arthit. They looked at each other with confused looks before gingerly walking over to the bed, two on each side.

"Arthit," Tootah whispered, leaning his cheek on Arthit's shoulder. "What's wrong?"

Arthit slowly opened his eyes, looking around slowly and staring at his friends who were now surrounding him. His crying slowed to small hiccups as he drew himself up to a sitting position, throwing his arms around Tootah who was the closest to him.

Knott was the first to open his mouth, unable to take the silence any longer.

"Arthit, talk to us. We want to help."

A couple of small hiccups and sniffs later, Arthit whispered. "You can't. He's gone. He's really gone now."

"What do you mean?" Tootah asked softly, dabbling his cheeks with the tissue Prem handed over to him.