Fed to the brim, with delicious meals, Kongpob and Anurak sprawled on sofa after Kongpob's mom left.
Arthit leaned back in his chair, right infront of the two adorable omegas complaining about their stomach being ready to burst.

" Can we call both your moms atleast once a week? On rotation?  pretty please" Anurak asked, eyes twinkling " It will save us cooking. "

Arthit chuckled. " You can visit them everyday and eat there if you want "

Anurak perked up " Really?"

Kong smiled at the excited teen " Really. But only if you are ready to commute for four hours. Two up and two down"

Anurak made a face "You sure know how to kill the mood"

Kong made the exact face back at him. 

"Am I the only adult in this room?" Arthit grumbled. 

No one paid any attention to Arthit's sarcasm- instead Anurak spread his arms, looking at Arthit with puppy eyes "Phi..I am sleepy"

"Sleep then" Arthit replied. Sulking.

"But, I want bed..and I Can't move"

"Who told you to eat so much then"Arthit teased. "Are you a dragon or camel?"

"Please..." Anurak gave his best cutesy pleading tone. Sighing Arthit picked the teen up in his arms " Just how much did you eat? You weigh like a boulder" Arthit teased while taking him To Kongpob's room and gently depositing him on Kongpob's bed. 

Anurak instantly burrowed his face in a pillow "Good night phi..."

.......................

Arthit came back to the sofa where Kong was sprawled. He looked at the frowning male "What is bothering you?" he asked, his brows furrowing in curiosity as he turned to Kongpob.

"Nothing"

"Its okay if you dont want to tell me right now,,,Tell me when you feel like it.  "

"Its just same whenever I meet my mom phi"

"what was that conversation with your mom about?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Kongpob sighed, running a hand through his hair nervously. "She's worried that I'm not settling down with anyone," he explained, avoiding Arthit's gaze. "She keeps suggesting that I should start dating alphas and think about getting married soon."

Arthit nodded thoughtfully, his expression softening with understanding. "I see," he said gently. "What do you think about it?"

"I don't know phi" Kong pursed his lip " I have always wanted a family of my own...I want to have kids of my own . But it feels like a dream - a joyful fantasy that gives me pleasure but at the same time, I know its not for me. Even those stories have omegas that are perfect- They can cook, talk soft, know how to be pleasing which certainly are not my strong traits on any given day."

"Life is not one shoe fits all, Kongpob... that is the beauty of life- every one has a place in it. You are only seeing what do you not have? You forgot about what you have. Cooking, fashion, mannerisms can be taught in short time with rigourous efforts but the qualities you already have are either from birth or take a long time to learn. You are the calmest in most panicking situations. You are selfless...you always put people's need first. It's natural that you will take care of the person you will choose to spend your life with. Any alpha who does not understand difference between superficial skills and innate ones do not deserve you or any omega in the world."

"I am dreading the dates but You make it look very easy Phi"

"Because it is, Kongpob. Just be yourself and see if you can see yourself spending life with particular alpha. If you clink that is well and good. If you don't then it is not a personal failure or grave lackuna in you or that alpha. Now, I don't like most vegetables doesn't mean they are lacking right."

Kong nodded,

"Just be yourself. The alpha who won't see the gem that you are is biggest looser in my eyes."

Kong smiled. "I needed that . Thank you."

"Life coach Arthit Rojanapat at your service Sir"Arthit tipped his imaginary hat.

Kongpob laughed at the silly gesture and Arthit's expression turned serious.

"Honestly, what I am actually worried about is you giving more than recieving and draining yourself, Kong. For the people you love- you are sea of care and affection. You don't know how to take care of yourself. "

"You worry too much phi" KOng soothed " I am not teen anymore"

"I know Kongpob..That is why I am worried. I can't always keep you in my sight..You are your own person now."

These moments..words like these were the reasons that anchored KOngpob's heart to Arthit. Making it impossible to move on.

Kong averted his eyes.  "Don't worry phi..I will take care of myself"

Arthit nodded.

"I am so sleepy" Kong made a big pretense of yawning.

"Aww...Kongy is sleepy"arthit crooned, picking the omega up.

"What are you doing phi?" Kong cpmplained" I am heavy!"

Arthit smirked, lifting Kongpob effortlessly. "Heavy? Please, Kong, you're like a feather compared to the responsibilities I deal with every day."

Kongpob laughed, swatting playfully at Arthit's arm. "Oh, sure, Phi. Keep telling yourself that."

Arthit pretended to stagger under Kongpob's weight. "Alright, alright, you win. You're as light as a cloud, happy?"

Kongpob grinned. "Much better. Now, can I please go to sleep without being carried around like a baby?"

" Oh...sure baby " Arthit retorted promptly" whatever my baby wishes"

Kong laughed.

As Arthit set him down gently, Kongpob couldn't help but feel a warm sense of contentment. No matter how much they bantered or teased each other, there was an undeniable bond between them that made him feel safe and cherished. And in moments like these, he knew that Arthit would always be there to lift him up, both literally and figuratively.

............

" Phi...."  A panicked Anurak shook the living daylight out of sleeping Arthit.

" Phi...wake up...Kongpob is leaving us "

" What ? " Arthit jerked to his feet " Why? "

" I don't know..." Anurak sobbed " It must be my fault...I must have done something that angered him and he is leaving..."

" Calm down..okay...you have done nothing wrong...let me see..." Arthit patted Anurak's back.

Anurak nodded, wiping his eyes with back of his hand...more of his tears were already making way.

Arthit made his way to kitchen. Anurak dutifully followed him downstairs. In the kitchen Anurak again started crying when they saw Kongpob slumped on a stool with his head resting on the kitchen counter. The bulbs in the kitchen kept flickering. Arthit's brows furrowed in confusion. Everything was alright last night.

" Everything okay? " Arthit asked.

" There are 100 profiles phi...how do I even choose ? " Kong groaned showing his mobile to Arthit while Anurak tightly hugged Kong "Don't leave me  alone phi....I promise I will never bad mouth your cooking.. I will even eat it.."

"Who said I am leaving you?" Kongpob ruffled the teen omega's hairs and narrowed his eyes at Arthit. "Is it any way to prank, phi? See you made him cry first thing in the morning"

"Me?" Arthit asked indignant " Your brat has dragged me out of my sleep saying you were leaving the house. I was amazed as to why you would leave your own house.."

"He is searching for an alpha for him..It is clear he will go to his alpha's house after marraige. One of the alpha even has a kid. "Anurak sobbed "He said we will be family forever...I must have done something wrong..that is why he is searching another family"

"Anu...he is searching a partner..not a kid. Don't be dramatic no one is leaving you.."

"Dramatic!"Kong glared "Poor Anu is traumatised...how can you speak like that to him phi.."

"Kong..he is not five years old. He is sixteen. You are an unmarried omega..its obvious you will marry someday if you want"

"I thought Phi Kong either wants to be a monk or you two are just hiding from me that you are lovers." Anurak said teary eyed "Now..I know that I was wrong and phi Kong will leave me.."

"I will not"Kong soothed "You are my son and nothing will change that. I will not marry an alpha who cannot accept you"

"Promise...you will not leave me.."Anurak asked . Kong smiled, Hugging back "Promise."

"Okay then.."Anurak grinned, wiping his tears . "Let's look at the profiles, I will help you select.."

Arthit shook his head "You are such a drama queen! No wonder my family loves you.."

"Phi...Don't take out your crankiness on my son.."Kong chided ..go sleep."

"Why? Am I not allowed to help you sort through the profiles? Afterall this will affect our family"

"Fine.."Kong sighed " And Anurak..short of this house burning down..don't wake up phi Arthit for anything"

Anurak nodded.

"I am not that bad.."

"You are worst asshole on caffiene when you do not have enough sleep. I am dreading work today." Kong replied.

"I second that" Anurak raised his hand.

"And when have you ever worked for me, you brat?" Arthit asked.

"I have not. But phi Kong has and I trust his judgement."Anurak replied in a breath and Kong chuckled.

Arthit narrowed his eyes "No need to gang up on me..Let's judge Kongpob's future alphas."

"Mathias...he owns a startup" Kong informed showing picture of an alpha with sleek back hairs combed back and impressive jawline. "Nah..." Athit said "Next"

"Why?" Anurak complained " He looks handsome"

"He has tons of Hairgel in his hair...in every photo of his social media. He overly obsessed with his hair gel," Arthit declared, his expression dead serious despite the ridiculousness of his statement. "So he is an absloute No. Trust me, you don't want to spend your days competing for mirror time in the bathroom."

Kongpob stifled a chuckle "Okay..let's see who is next"

"No..." Anurak groaned . who wear sunglasses indoors?"

  "Somebody who is either hiding something shady or just trying way too hard to look cool."Arthit added with a dramatic flair.

"Got it, here is the next one" Kongpob swiped.  

Him? You are considering him? He  can't even grow a decent beard," Arthit said, waving his hand dismissively. "It's a sign of weakness, Kong. he needs hormone treatment. Trust me, you want a manly alpha with a rugged jawline."

Kongpob couldn't help but laugh at Arthit's theatrics, shaking his head in amusement. "Okay...this is not going anywhere. Tell me what qualities should I look in an alpha?"

Arthit paused, thinking. "Never in any case choose an alpha who does not have hair on his chest. Mae says It's a surefire sign that they can't be trusted, Kong. A real alpha wears his chest hair like a badge of honor."

Anurak burst into laughter at Arthit's ridiculous assertion, doubling over with mirth. " PhiArthit, you're ridiculous," he managed to choke out between giggles.

Kong threw his hands up in the air at the ridiculous advice "What do you want now? That I demand their shirtless pics? Or tear out every alpha's shirt on first date?"

"Not that Kongpob"Arthit shook his head like a teacher at dumb kid "You can look at their social media pictures like I am looking at this instant."

"You mean stalking? Its lowkey criminal activity..."

"I mean investigation..Kongpob. It's question of your life..we can't just judge them on basis of their best pics they sent. But we can always know more about them through it.."

"Fine..sage Arthit..please enlighten me how can I do that?"

 "Avoid alphas who insist on wearing overly tight jeans. It's not just about fashion, Kong. It's about flexibility. You want an alpha who's comfortable in his own skin, not suffocating in denim."

Kongpob chuckled, nodding along with Arthit's reasoning. "That makes sense," he agreed, trying to imagine the scenario Arthit described.

"And here's a classic red flag," Arthit continued, his expression turning serious. "If an alpha's favorite topic of conversation is himself, run for the hills, Kong. You don't want to spend your days listening to monologues about gym routines and protein shakes."

Kongpob nodded solemnly, making a mental note to steer clear of narcissistic alphas. "Definitely," he agreed, grateful for Arthit's sage advice.

Arthit grinned, warming to his role as the alpha guru. "And lastly, beware of alphas who can't handle spicy food," he warned, wagging a finger for emphasis. "A real alpha isn't afraid to sweat a little over a plate of extra-hot curry. It's a test of strength and endurance."

" I cannot handle spice too..do I look weak to you?"

"You are an exception.." Arthit shrugged nonchalantly "Stick by the general rule."

"I have heard alphas who eat very spicy foods are hot heads"

"Give him a karate chop if he yaps too much or you can always zap him."

"You are teaching him violence " Anurak frowned.

"Its self defence"Arthit countered. Seeing both omegas narrowing eyes at him, Arthit raised his hands in surrender "Okay..I have some standard, practical advices too.."

"Better not br ridiculous like previous ones."Anurak warned.

"Shut up , brat..what do you know about dating?" Arthit chided before turning to Kong.

"Phii..."Anurak whined to Kong. "Phi Arthit you are being too harsh on Anu" Kong reprimanded. 

"Kongpob suthilak..just because you have gotten a son doesn't mean you will betray your best friend. You should take my side."

"My dear best friend.."Kong deadpanned " Let me remind you..He is your son too... Now tell me  those tips."

"Alright, first things first," Arthit said, leaning in closer to Kongpob. "When you meet your date, make sure to greet them with a firm handshake... but not too firm. You don't want to crush their delicate alpha hand."

"Handshake?" Kong frowned " Is it a date or a business meeting?"

"I don't think he has any real advice" Anurak whispered in Kongpob's ears.

Kongpob narrowed his eyes at Arthit " You are just buying time so you could investigate them"

Guilty as charged, Arthit scratched back of his neck "You cannot be mad at me for wanting you safe"

"Yeah.."Anurak supported "You should not be mad. He is just caring for you.."

"You changed sides?"Kong asked, surprised .

"BUt we are all on same side."Anurak replied " we are family"

"Yeah" Kong nodded " I am not mad. But Phi Arthit you should keep trust in me that I can take care of yourself."

Arthit nodded but that does not mean he had  not sent all those profiles for background check.

.......................

Evening found Arthit restless. Kongpob had already chosen an alpha for his first date. Alpha Niran Dasani. He was third generation entrepreneur and a fitness enthusiast. The background check has come clean but Arthit had an unsettling feeling about the whole affair . When he conveyed same to Kongpob, the omega did not pay much heed. "Despite my opposition, you got the background check phi and it came clean. The alpha even has chest hairs, I checked his social media pictures. He donates for many omega organizations. He promotes inclusion of omega in to public sphere. I have not found a single problematic thing about him. Have you?"

Arthit clenched his teeth " No..But I have a bad feeling.."

"You are just paranoid about my saftey phi.." Kong replied. 

Arthit accepted his defeat with a sigh ." Promise me you will share your location with me all the time and you will call me even if a miniscule thing is off about that bastard."

"I promise" Kong replied, to make Arthit's worries settle down. The date was next day - a sunday brunch.

....................

The morning was off to a promising start as Kongpob nervously awaited his first date with Alpha Niran. Kongpob couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement mixed with apprehension as he anticipated the day ahead.

As they settled into a cozy café, conversation flowed easily between them. They talked about their interests, hobbies, and aspirations, and Kongpob found himself genuinely enjoying Niran's company. When the topic of hobbies arose, Kongpob mentioned his passion for kickboxing, expecting perhaps a polite nod of acknowledgement.

To his surprise, Niran's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "No way, I love kickboxing too!" he exclaimed, a smile spreading across his face. "We should have a friendly match , Kong. It'd be a great way to bond."

Kongpob's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion. He wasn't sure if he wanted to engage in a physical match on their first date, but Niran's enthusiasm was infectious, and he found himself reluctantly agreeing.

As they made their way to a nearby gym, Kongpob's nerves began to mount. He had always been confident in his kickboxing skills, but facing off against someone he barely knew added a layer of pressure he hadn't anticipated.

The match started off light-hearted enough, with Kongpob and Niran trading playful jabs and kicks as they tested each other's skill level. But as the match progressed, and Niran was unable to score an easy one on Kong despite his herculean efforts- Kongpob sensed a shift in Niran's demeanor. His punches grew more forceful, his movements more aggressive.

Before Kongpob could react, Niran launched a vicious assault, catching Kongpob off guard with a series of powerful blows. Instinct kicked in as Kongpob defended himself, his training taking over as he countered Niran's attacks.

In the heat of the moment, Kongpob's strikes landed with unexpected force, and he felt a pang of guilt as he watched Niran crumple to the ground, clutching his injured leg in pain.

Rushing to Niran's side, Kongpob helped him to his feet and apologized profusely for the accident. " I am sorry...I did not mean to..let's go to hospital. Writhing with pain, Niran's expression was a mixture of anger and disbelief .  Kongpob picked up the alpha, placing him in his car he rushed to nearby hospital.

Doctors revealed that Niran had suffered a minor fracture. After the treatment was done and Niran and Kong were left alone in the room, Kong bowed to Niran " I am really sorry Alpha Niran, It was an honest accident-"

"Accident?" Niran yelled " Don't try to act innocent. I know your kind. In the name of omega empowerment you are hell bent on cheating and  trying to amke alphas weak."

"I did not cheat"

"YOu did or how can a biologically weak omega defeat an alpha? You are cheating anfd then lying to my face. I would have forgive you. But you not only do wrong you lie to my face too and I considered you a marriage prospect. What will a liar and fake person teach to my kida? Get out and never show me your face again.."

"You need lift to your home"

"You can still stand here after listening so much? You want to go to my home? Oh my god! you are not only a liar but a shameless jerk and a goldigger too..."

Feeling crestfallen and ashamed, Kongpob fixed his teary eyes at the alpha " Shut up...I am apologising doesn't mean you get license to spout non sense. I insited dropping you to your house based on my manners but someone like you wouldn't know the spelling of it... So here I m calling a cab for you and I will tell them to dump you in the trash can where you live. "

" How dare you call my home a trash can?"

"Home of a garbage is called a trash can, Alpha Niran. Or do you prefer the word Dust bin?"

Seeing Niran's crestfallen expressions, Kong chuckled " Never have an omega talked back to you? Add that to my list of shitty qualities . " Kongpob's phone pinged. "Here's your cab" He escorted  dumbfounded Niran out of  the hospital, and to the cab.

"Leave this gentle man to his preferred address" Kong instructed the driver while depositing Niran in passanger seat.

"I am still sorry for causing you Physical injury alpha Niran. This is most what I am able to do in these circumstances. May we never meet again."

"Feelings are mutual" Niran spat .

Kongpob nodded " I wish you a swift recovery. Don't worry about the bills..I have paid them."

Seeing the rage in Niran's face, Kongpob had sudden urge to laugh at the childish alpha. Shaking his head, he went back to his car and drove home. Through the drive back to home, Niran's word echoed in Kongpob's mind.

His eyes were filled with tears of regret and sorrow. He had hoped for a memorable first date, but instead, he had ended up causing harm to someone he had only just met. It was a sobering reminder of the consequences of his actions, and Kongpob couldn't help but feel a sense of deep remorse as he reflected on the events of the evening.

Kong returned home, his eyes heavy with unshed tears, his heart burdened with the weight of the unfortunate events of the evening. Arthit, sensing his distress, immediately approached him with concern etched on his face.

"Kong, what happened?" Arthit asked gently, placing a comforting hand on Kong's shoulder.

Kong took a deep breath, trying to steady his emotions before recounting the events of the disastrous date. "It was supposed to be a simple kickboxing match, just a friendly way to bond over a shared hobby," he began, his voice trembling slightly. "But then he... he turned aggressive, phi. He started attacking me with no regard for me."

Arthit's expression darkened as he listened, his jaw clenched in anger at the injustice of it all. "And you defended yourself, didn't you?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

Kong nodded, his eyes brimming with tears. "I had to, phi, or he would have broken my nose or wrist.. He left me no choice," he said, his voice choked with emotion. "But now he's in the hospital with a broken leg, and he... he said some awful things to me before I left."

Arthit pulled Kong into a tight embrace, offering him the solace of his presence in this moment of distress. "I'm so sorry, Kong," he whispered, his voice filled with sympathy. "No one should ever treat you like that, especially not someone you were considering for a life partner."

Kong buried his face in Arthit's shoulder, seeking comfort in the warmth of his embrace. "I don't know what to do, phi Arthit," he admitted, his voice muffled against Arthit's shirt. "I thought tonight would be different, but it's just... it's been a disaster."

Arthit held him close, offering silent support and understanding as Kong let out the tears he had been holding back. In that moment, amidst the turmoil of emotions, Kong found solace in the unwavering presence of his best friend and first love, knowing that no matter what happened, Arthit would always be there for him.

.............................