Notice: This is the forewarned third-person perspective I told you guys about. please don't get confused because you will be seeing more of them in the future.

Chapter 8

"We should hang out today if you are free."

Nue paused on her way to the copying machine and tried not to let too much show on her face. "You know I am always free, what do you want to do?"

"Nothing." P'Arthit had his face directly in front of the computer typing up some report and his serious eyes didn't look towards her direction. He was so handsome like this. In the beginning, it was easy for Nue to make P'Arthit blush but recently, he hasn't even really smiled. Nue took it upon herself to change that somehow. She knew it has something to do with Kongpob, that rascal. He must have screwed up again.

"Then, do you want to come to my place?"

That got P'Arthit's attention. "I don't know that we can go to your place. Don't you live with your parents?"

"Oh, we can just tell them we are working overtime. They wouldn't mind at all. They trust me too."

"I don't know..." he scratched his face.

"If you come to my place you will be killing two birds with one stone."

"What does that mean?" his eyes narrowed but Nue wasn't sure what it meant. She said,

"You are using me to make Kongpob jealous, right. Getting along with me and spending all your free time with me."

"I don't know—"

"Don't even try to deny It." she walked back with a hop in her steps. "I know and it's okay."

"Listen, Nue—"

"I get it, I am supposed to pretend not to know, right?"She tucked her chin and leaned forward, "but it has been a month since we've been playing this game. Ever since that night Kongpob dropped me home, you've been very close with me. I don't know what happened and I don't mind being used so you don't have to hide it."

"Nue," he exhaled my name and shook his head. "You are seriously unbelievable. Come closer."

"hm?" she leaned over. Maybe he wanted to whisper it to her, but instead, he flicked her forehead. Despite her bangs, it hurt. "Whyyyy?"

"Because you are an idiot. I don't care about making anyone jealous. I just have a lot of free time and nothing to use it on. If you don't want me hanging out with you then just say so."

Still holding her head she said, "but things haven't been going well at all between you and Kongpob. Didn't you say you want to win his heart?"

The clacking of the computer keys stopped and P'Arthit stared into space. "Did I say something like that?"

"Argh, why are you doing this. It is your love story, yours and Kongpob."

"Yeah thanks, but I think that is a poorly written love story. At some point, all the readers would stop reading a boring story like that."

"Gosh," she reached for her hair wanting to pull it. "What happened that has made you like this. This P'Arthit who can't be teased isn't fun."

"I didn't know my life was for your entertainment. Sorry to disappoint."

They continued to banter back and forth without any seriousness. When they closed, Nue offered to drop P'Arthit. Sometimes he rejected her but today he took her offer and they rode to his house. Not the apartment, she noted for the nth time. He needed to change and shower before going to Nue's house but where would Nue be until then? Would he invite her inside? For the month they've gotten closer, P'Arthit has still not let her meet his family.

She stopped the car just in front of the gate and waited till P'Arthit got down from the car. Maybe he would ask her this time. But P'Arthit opened the door and closed it without a word. Nue unbelted herself and hurried to get out.

"I'm coming!"

"Coming where?"

"Can't I come in?"

She watched P'Arthit think about it a little. "Only if you behave."

"I am a good girl," she argued.

P'Arthit rolled his eyes and ignored her. She hurried after him without any delay. At first, she had thought P'Arthit was hiding something but she couldn't guess what it was and since he wasn't driving her away maybe this time she could get to know all about him.

When the door to P'Arthit's house opened, Nue wasn't surprised to come face to face with Rin. The young girl her age was looking at her as if she was something filthy. When she looked at P'Arthit there was a smile on her face. She was really close with him too which Nue couldn't help pointing out.

"Is she your sister?" she blurted out when no introduction was made. The two people just stared at her then at each other then P'Arthit opened his mouth but it was Rin that answered.

"I am definitely not his sister. My name is Rin. Who are you?"

"Rin, I already told you—"

P'Arthit got cut short by Rin's glare.

Nue could almost cut the tension. For some reason, Rin was shooting lightning glares at her. Could it be that she liked P'Arthit? Wow, he sure has way too many jealous admirers, doesn't he?

"P'Arthit and I are really close..." Nue gripped P'Arthit's arm and let it rub her breast. The arm in hand tensed but she didn't let it go.

"Not that close," he said as he tried and failed to pull away.

"Can we talk, Arthit?"

Nue released Arthit's hand and watched Rin walk away. "What is her problem?"

P'Arthit sighed. "That's why I didn't want you two to meet."

He left Nue in the parlor and went into Rin's room where she was waiting for him.

Nue had nothing to do but look at pictures. She was done with that and couldn't find anything else to keep her mind from noticing that Rin and P'Arthit have been in that room for nearly twenty minutes now.

Relaxing on the chair, she pulled out her phone and texted Kongpob.

'Who is Rin?'

The reply followed instantly.

'Why?'

She laughed. "That was fast."

'Were you waiting for my text?'

This response took longer to come.

'Because you won't stop texting me. '

'You could always block me... but you can't because you are using me to keep tabs on P'Arthit.' she wrote while grinning at her screen.

'If you know that much then answer the question.'

This has been going on for almost as long as P'Arthit started getting close with Nue. The text message happened because Nue wanted to know what was wrong with P'Arthit, but now she just did it whenever she was bored and needed to rile someone up. Kongpob was a lot easier to rile up but he wasn't as fun as P'Arthit.

'Seeing how you are responding to all my messages this person must mean a lot'

'is P'Arthit there with her?'

"Ah, I was ignored. "Pursing her lip, she started to text back but Rin reappeared.

"Let's talk," she said.

"Rin," P'Arthit said from the passage way. He looked resigned but still wanted to protest.

"What's going on?" this girl that Nue didn't know suddenly wanted to talk alone with her wearing such a dominating look.

"Just come, then you will know." she waited till Nue was on her feet then she walked back to the room.

Nue gave P'Arthit a curious glance and he just shook his head and sighed. He looked completely put out. Without a word he walked to another room and closed the door.

Nue waited outside Rin's room. This feels too strange. She wasn't going to be beaten right. She kept getting the 'this is my territory' vibe from Rin. If she hurt's Nue then her father would have to get involved and Rin surely wouldn't want that, right? Did Rin know who her father was?

"Stop wasting time and come in already" the door was opened and a hand drags her inside.

The room had purple walls, and was incredibly tiny. This was Nue's first focus. Rin had her arms folded and was studying her. She asked," Do you like Arthit."

Arthit? "Like how?"

"Don't play the fool."

She snickered. "We are just friends."

"But you are Kongpob's fiancée and you know that they both love each other."

"Yea. Though doesn't it look like a one sided love."

"From whose side?"

"P'Arthit?" did she even have to ask.

"Do you know who his soulmate is?"

"soulmate?" Nue wanted to clean her ears. Did that just come into the conversation? It was like they were having serious adult talk and Rin just suddenly babbled.

"I mean, you've known Kongpob the longest. Did he used to like anyone?"

Nue thought about it with her head tilted. "No, I don't think. Kongpob and I aren't really close you know. We are just betrothed to each other. "

"But you have feelings for him."

"What?!" Nue knew she shouldn't have blushed but the statement startled her too much.

"What? I was right?" Rin was blinking. Did she just say that without any firm belief?

"D-Don't get the wrong idea, I just like him a little and I don't plan to get involve between him and P'Arthit."

"Oh? That's too bad because that is exactly what I want."

"Huh? "Her mother always told her not to make such unintelligent sounds but that was the only reaction she could summon.

"I love Arthit. I am in love with him."

"Oh. "Now it made sense. "Does he..."

"Yes, he does. We almost got married but I called it off."

"What for!"

"Because I wanted him to be happy, even if it was with someone else."

"And you regret it?"

She made a sound in her throat. "With every fiber of my being. If I had known it was going to turn out like this I would never have called it off."

"Why?"

"It's not important," Rin said with far off look, likely thinking about the not-important thing. "I just need your help."

Nue wanted to clean her ears. "My help? I can't imagine how you think I can help you." Or why I would. She left that part out. If Rin regrets letting P'Arthit go, that was her business. She didn't want to analyze her or understand her reasons, but it was another thing if she was going to be dragged into it.

"You want Kongpob, don't you?"

"He doesn't want me and I don't love him enough to do anything about that."

"Oh, that's too bad. Then why are you with P'Arthit?"

"We work together, that's all."

"Yes but you don't have to follow him and haven't the two of you been spending way too much time together."

What is she getting at? "I don't get what you mean."

"You don't even realize your own action," Rin's smile was more than a little irritating. It was like she was trying to say that Nue was foolish or oblivious. Nue didn't want to prove her right by asking what she meant.

"It is my own action right. Of course, I know what I am doing."

"No, you don't. Arthit said you wanted to be his friend. You who is in love with Kongpob want to be tight with the guy who likes him and can get closer to him than you?"

My god, will she get to the point already. This psychoanalyzing was grating on Nue's last nerves. "Fine! Since you understand me so well even though I believe we just met, why don't you tell me what I am doing all that for."

"To be closer to the one you like. Even indirectly. You want to know what they are doing even through the lips of someone else. The fact is you and Arthit are actually rivals, right?"

Nue pulled in a deep breath and held it. "Like I said, I don't have any plans to go after Kongpob when he doesn't want me. I am not a crazy bitch."

"Crazy bitch. Is that what I sound like?" Nue didn't have to give her assent. "I guess it's too early for you to understand the kind of pain I have had to go through. Do you know what my life has been like? I lost my parents when I was twelve, but at least I still had a brother. Except after succumbing to drugs and gambling addiction, I had to pay all his debts and use my body to do it and when I didn't listen to him, he would make sure to beat my obedience into me. "

Nue stared in growing horror, her eyes wide.

"I was saved by Arthit's kindness and his acceptance. There is no one I value more that Arthit and his mom. They are the two most important people to me. I shouldn't have fallen in love with Arthit. We should have been just friends but I don't have control over my feelings. But even if I didn't love Arthit like a man, I still would do this. Do you know what it feels like to see the one you value above everything, even yourself get crushed, belittled and used. Their feelings trampled on. "

"What happened?" Nue kept her voice soft so as not to break the mood.

"I don't know the details but Arthit—"Rin closed her eyes and shifted away. "I have never heard him cry like that. I don't ever want to hear him cry that way again."

"Two months ago I gave him back because I thought I wouldn't be able to make him happy, now I want to take him back because I don't think anyone can make him happy anymore. I want to save Arthit from himself because I know soon he would still go back to that pain."

"That pain being Kongpob." Nue sighed. After hearing this it wouldn't be nice to just shrug it off. "What exactly do you need me to do."

Rin smiled. " Arthit promised me he would give up on Kongpob in a year but a year is too long. I want him to give up now, so I want you to confess your love to Kongpob and I want you to try to win his heart."

Nue tried but couldn't keep the giggle in. "I'm sorry. What? Confess. Kongpob already knows. He is a master at ignoring your feelings. He wouldn't even blink. Besides what would that do?"

"Take away, Arthit's hope." Rin exhaled and turned away. "It is not a good plan, I admit but if Arthit can no longer hold on to the hope of Kongpob returning his feelings then maybe he would give up and stop suffering."

"I understand but it can't be me. If I do that P'Arthit and I can no longer be friends."

"You aren't really friends anyway, "Rin said.

"We are."

"Are not. Tell me, have you not done anything to bring you and Kongpob closer."

The kiss immediately blocked Nue's mind. She had kissed Kongpob because she wanted to see how it would feel and to say farewell to her first love, not because she thought it would get them closer.

"I see you did. That has already betrayed your friendship"

Nue made a distressed sound. "No, no it doesn't. I didn't do it to hurt P'Arthit."

"Tell him then. That you love Kongpob. Wouldn't that clear your conscience?"

"Huh? P'Artht would never talk to me again. What conscience."

"That is because you are rivals. Trying to be friends is like trying to mix oil with water. It is impossible. Unless you can stop loving Kongpob completely. Can you."

Nue opened her mouth to interrupt many times but all she made were sounds, not words. Everything Rin was saying entered her and pushed their truth deep inside. Yes, it was true. Some part of her wanted Kongpob close, even now she was using the rift between P'Arthit and Kongpob to get closer to him, but it wasn't sinister the way Rin was making it. She didn't have any hidden agenda.

Tears pooled her eyes and she crouched and curled into a ball. "You are twisting everything," she cried. "I didn't do any of that for that reason. I am not friends with P'Arthit as an excuse to push myself on Kongpob."

"Your heart and your body are moving towards two different goals and that is okay. But it's time to stop now. Stop deceiving yourself."

"Even if I do that, it won't make P'Arhit give up hope. "

"You are Kongpob's fiancée, you have more right to him than P'Arthit does, trust me. He would give up if he thought he had to come between you and Kongpob."

"It would hurt him. We've gotten so close."

"Have you? Arthit is merely running away. I bet he hasn't even noticed anything you've done together. His mind is completely shrouded by the pain of the continual rejection he continues to endure."

Nue dropped her hands in defeat. She was right. P'Arthit hasn't been himself for weeks. He was blearily going through life and maybe he needed a kick to return to reality. Nothing like a betrayal to do that. But why did it have to be like this? This isn't going too far? Even to save P'Arthit?

"I get it. I will do what you want."

"It isn't just what I want is it. It is what you want as well, right."

"I am doing this to help P'Arthit, nothing more." Nue glared at her with all she got.

'Fine," Rin clasped her hand. "Okay. I will go with whatever makes you feel better about it. now, is this a deal?" she held her hand in front of Nue.

Nue glared at it without heat. There were a lot of things wrong with what they were doing but she lost the argument and didn't know what else to do. Her hands slowly reached over till they clasped Rin's and then she was pulled back to full height. Rin's smile was nice.

"Let's work together, okay?"

Nue avoided her gaze and thought of what she would have to do.

The author has something to say: after much debate with myself, I am here with two new chapters. please read and enjoy. expect another update next week Thursday. wish me luck. don't forget to leave me a vote before you go.