Kongpob has only ever known the single's life. He'd never given it much thought, never felt as if he were missing out on much, and thus had never had the desire to try and make any connections. He was an expert at dancing around the subject, certainly in school, there hadn't been opportunities, and as an adult, he's aware his personality leaves a lot to be desired. He'd say it's an important time to focus on his studies. Upon graduation, that focus would shift towards establishing his career in the corporate world.

There simply hadn't been time. At least, that's what he'd always insisted to his father anytime he broached the subject with Kong.

Em knows a bit more, though still not the full picture. Kong isn't sure for whose benefit it is at times. Either way, he's stopped mothering Kong as much, has given him space, and isn't constantly recommending any female acquaintance of his as a potential partner for Kong.

For now, he's convinced Em that he's simply that picky when it comes to dating, and he isn't going to be satisfied settling with just the prettiest, smartest, or richest girl in the room. Em had knocked him for being such a romantic. Pondering out loud what true love would even look like for Kong.

The truth is, Kong thought about it himself. Not by those words, no. He knows how he's talked about. Cold and distant. Unloving and unlovable. He honestly doesn't know how he feels at all. As far as he knows, he's never felt any attraction to anyone. Ever. Though he knows it's difficult to be sure, attraction is difficult to define, he's learned.

All he can say is no one has ever made him feel...exceptional. In a way like none other, like he hadn't ever felt before towards any other person. Never had there been anyone who made him feel he'd do anything or act out in ways he'd never consider. No one had ever grabbed at him and shaken him and left him burning in their wake.

He'd tried to ask Em once, how you knew you were attracted to someone. He only knew too late that he had made a terrible mistake. Em immediately overwhelmed him with questions, many too embarrassing to dare to recall. He hadn't known what he'd been thinking as he stomped out of the room, red-faced, demanding Em forget he'd even asked.

It's not something Kong thinks about, as he doesn't see himself lacking. He's heard what others say, things like missing your other half. Becoming like a whole person for the first time. People often speak so dramatically. The most he feels is that it can't be forced.

He feels it, this immediate connection to Arthit, the mad manager of his office, at first glance. That moment in the office annual day functions while talking to the kids of their CEO & peon to be friends and now quarrel because of the financial & social differences, as they stood near the railings, he'd felt it, the electricity between them. As it tore through his body all he could think was, 'rage.' Rage at this impudent man, standing over the railings of the top floor where none but the CEO & top level are allowed, making them all feel like his victim, has the gall to seem inculpable. 'Rage' as Arthit dares to accost him, to question him, then delicately straighten his shirt collar all the same.

The next time it was in the rain, and they were going back to the office on a rainy after a heated argument with the client. And suddenly Arthit hit breaks. Stopping the car in the middle of nowhere. He got out and ran to a that was getting drenched in rain and crouched on a small corner of the Rama VIII bridge entrance.

Kong voluntarily brought an umbrella and some coffee to the man while Arthit shrugged off his jacket and draped it over the man while gently bringing him to a small shed on the side. Kong stood back watching Arthit wait for the guardian of the man (whose identity and number were written on the card on display on the man, Maybe every person with special needs should maintain this so that even if people are lost someone could get them back to the family/caretaker) with the young man who's playing in the rain despite the cold. Arthit is smiling what very well could be an honest smile, the first Kong has ever seen. He feels that burning again, having dwindled to a more pleasant warmth, like a toasty fire. It runs through his body much the same. He doesn't know what to call it.

Kong can't stop thinking about Arthit, and it's a problem. Everyone around him knows. And teased him enough thou he never acknowledged the teasings. Arthit has consumed his life, has made a nest in his head, and feeds his thoughts. Arthit is driving him insane, everything he does just brings them closer and closer. The team meetings, the startup venture supervision, name it and he and Arthit end up being on the same path.

What happens is, Kong is in his apartment alone that night. The lights dim, and there's a gentle melody through the speakers. He's poured himself a simple whiskey on the rocks and is preparing to relax for the rest of the night. Lounging on the sofa, sipping away as thoughts of Arthit begin to flitter through his head. Kong closes his eyes, tries not to think, and just lets them come and go.

He thinks about the scene that happened outside the office this evening, Arthit bowing to Kong, laughing as he did. Kong grabbed his collar, furious, and brought their faces close together. So close. In his rage, he'd been shaking all the while Arthit was at ease. Arthit was not as easily shaken as Kong. He had much more experience than Kong, and that experience allowed him to anticipate Kong so well. Could he ever really hope to catch Arthit off guard?

Arthit heard the teases of the colleagues and joked around that topic, being naturally shy which made him socially awkward, Kong reacted overwhelmingly and held the collar of his Manager.

Kong licks his lip at the memory, Arthit's face so close to his. Eyes boring in each other's lips inches away. A simple head tilts the other way and...

Those lips. He catches himself staring at them often, mentally tracing their shape, memorizing their color.

Has Arthit ever noticed?

He notices so much more about Arthit. More than anyone he's ever spent time with. The way he walks, that tilt of his head. How often he smirks just as he's turning away, almost out of sight. Too many to list, but Kong could try.

He's never thought about another person this much.

Never gone this far for another person. To agree to become a Personal assistant just for him, of course. But still...

He sees the question in everyone else's eyes. Why do all this, just for him? He has an attraction to Arthit. The thought makes him want to giggle at first, but the second it sinks in, Kong chokes on his whiskey and feels it burn down his throat.

An attraction. Once he's identified it, and named it, he can't get it out of his head. It doesn't have to be like that. There are different types of attractions, he argues. Yes, but he feels it all for Arthit.

At first, Kong thinks nothing has changed. He can continue solving this case, working alongside Arthit. This realization of his doesn't have to change their friendship because they were never friends to begin with.
No, nothing has to change. Not that Kong wants this attraction to Arthit. It's inconvenient, irrational, and highly immoral. It's shameful to think about.

He's excited by it.

Working with Arthit proves no problem. The man seems none the wiser and they get along much the same as before. It's everything that's going on inside Kong's head during this time that is getting to be a problem. Because now, Kong can't stop thinking about him and what it would look like, and feel like. And if he's gay, he should make the effort to learn some things, right? Not with Arthit, not to ever be with Arthit necessarily, but for the future, and he needs...there's stuff he can try...alone, he's read about, seen online.

Kong is too preoccupied with this now. He curses that it's come to this, that he couldn't find a better way to handle it before it got out of control. He knows that he has to do it, now sooner than later. Not that he's desperate, just that he needs it done and over with, out of the way, and then he can stop thinking about it and get back to how things were before his ill-conceived epiphany.

Kong has always been an astute learner and quite observant, so shamefully he knows exactly where to get started. He's already spent hours reading across forums, weighing the best advice, and filtering through the nonsense for suggestions. After watching a few videos that came highly recommended, he's feeling rather confident when he places his order.

It takes roughly a week for everything to arrive. His hands shake each time he picks up a new small, innocuous box placed in his mailbox. He opens them one by one because he can't help himself. He gives each item a quick assessment, and once everything is accounted for and sterilized, he boxes it and slips it into his closet.