Arthit did not avoid problems.

He approached them.

Directly.

Kongpob knew this.

Which made the knock-
inevitable.

Three times.
Measured.

Kongpob did not respond immediately.
He finished the line he was writing.

Aligned the parchment.
Set the quill down.
"Enter."

The door opened.

Arthit stepped in.

Closed it behind him.

No hesitation.
No preamble.
"We need to talk."

Kongpob looked up.
"That is an inefficient statement."

"I don't care."
Of course he didn't.
Arthit stepped forward.
Stopped just short of the desk.
"You've been acting like an ass."

Direct.

Kongpob inclined his head slightly.
"That is subjective."

"No, it's not."

A pause.

"It is consistent."

"That's worse."

Silence.

Arthit exhaled sharply.
"Look," he said, more controlled now, "I don't know what your problem is, but you don't get to take it out on me."

"I am not-"

"Yes, you are," Arthit cut in. "You're picking fights over nothing, you're correcting things that don't need correcting, and you're-"

He stopped "searching..."

"For what?" Kongpob asked.

"For something that isn't there."

That-
was imprecise.

"What is not there."

Arthit let out a short breath.
"Whatever this is supposed to be."

A pause.

Then-
"Say it properly." Arthit said.

There it was again.

The demand.

Clear.

Unavoidable.

Kongpob held his gaze.

This was the point of resolution.

"I have already stated-"

"No," Arthit snapped. "You haven't."

A step closer.
"You've said things. You haven't said anything."

Silence.
Kongpob considered the distinction.
It was-
illogical.

"Your interpretation is inconsistent."

"My interpretation is fine," Arthit shot back. "Your communication is the problem."

"It is precise." Kongppob defended.

"It's useless."

The word landed.
Hard.
Kongpob's expression did not change.
But something-
shifted.

"No ? Then clarify," Arthit said. "Right now."

A beat.

Kongpob opened his mouth.

Because-
Because I-
The answer formed.
Clear.
Unstructured.
He paused.
Adjusted.
"That is not required."

Silence.
Arthit stared at him.
Long.

"...you're unbelievable."

"I've been told."

"Yeah," Arthit said quietly, "you keep proving it."

He stepped back.

Distance.
Restored.
"Forget it."

Kongpob watched him.

This-
was the failure point.

The system had reached-
termination.

Arthit turned.
Reached for the door.

"You already know."
The words left Kongpob's mouth before they could be evaluated.

Arthit stopped.

Hand still on the handle.
"...know what?"

Kongpob held his gaze.
Steady.

This was-
incorrect.

"You have sufficient data."

Silence.

Then-
slowly-
Arthit turned back.

"...no," he said.
A pause.
"I don't."

That-
was unexpected.
Kongpob frowned slightly.

"That is inaccurate."

"No," Arthit said, sharper now, "what's inaccurate is you thinking everyone thinks like you."

A step forward.
"You don't get to drop half-sentences and expect me to fill in the rest."

Silence.

"Say it," Arthit said.

A beat.

Kongpob did not.

Could not.

Because the statement-
did not fit within structure.

"I have already-"

"Stop."

Arthit's voice cut through.
Sharp.
Final.
"Just stop."

Silence.

Arthit shook his head.
"...this is pointless."

That-
was accurate.

He turned again.

Opened the door.
And this time-
he did not stop.

The room settled into silence.
Kongpob remained where he was.
Still.

The interaction had reached-
maximum failure.

Variables:
• clarity: attempted
• structure: maintained
• outcome: negative

Conclusion:
Method invalid.

He exhaled slowly.
Then-
for the first time-
did not reach for a correction.

Because there wasn't one.

The statement Arthit required-
could not be delivered.

Not within-
acceptable parameters.

Kongpob closed his eyes briefly.

Then opened them.

And returned to his desk.

Work remained.

It always did.

Only one variable had changed.

And this time-
it was not external.

It was-
him.