Kong rushed up to the reception of the campus hospital..

"Excuse me, can u tell me the room no. of a patient called Rome.?"

"Yes, just a second " and the receptionist picked up a phone and dialed.. Kong was getting impatient..

"Dr.Arthit, there s a person here asking for Rome's room no...yes he looks like a student...ok I ll guide him. Thank you and she looks at Kong, " Take the first left along this corridor, go to the third room on ur right and knock twice and go on in." she said..

Kong was perplexed at her strange instructions but he couldn't bother asking her to explain further and he just rushed off in the direction she pointed..he came to the door and knocked...and entered..
He thought he would see Rome but instead he saw Arthit wearing the white coat sitting behind a doctor's desk looking at a file...infact the room was a consultation room than a patients room now tat he looked around him...

"Where s Rome P'?" He asked..

"He's better now and resting..Bright is looking after him..he ll let us know when he's awake so you can meet him then..before that I had something to discuss with you.." he said gesturing to the seat in front of the desk..

Kong was feeling apprehensive, Arthit had not smiled at him since he had come in..instead he looked so serious and strict...Kong slid into the chair slowly.

Arthit got up from his chair, came around the desk and leaned back against the edge facing Kong.."I am going to ask u a few questions Kong and I want an honest answer..I don't want you to hide anything or protect anyone..can you do tat?" He asked..

Kong gulped...and nodded his head not wanting to meet Arthit's penetrating gaze...

Arthit held the arms of the chair Kong was sitting in and turned it to face him with a jerk causing Kong to look up and meet his eyes..

"Did either Rome or Wad do drugs?"

"What? No way!!" Kong's shock was genuine..

"Are u sure? Could they have done it behind ur back?"

"I don't think so P'...as we were together most of the time and drug pushers have certain mannerisms with which we can identify them. They had none of those. They're clean..anyway if u test their blood can't you find out?"

"They came in with their blood full of coke"

"What!!!!but how?...it can't be.." Kong was incredulous...it can't be...his mind rushing back to 5 years ago ,it's not happening...no...tears threatened to fall from his eyes, his knees went weak, but he controlled himself...
Instead he asked.."Wad is also here? Wat happened P'Arthit..? Can u stop these questions and tell me.." Kong pleaded unable to bear the suspense any longer..

"Calm down Kong..We don't really know wat happened.." Arthit said his expression softening on seeing the distress in Kong's eyes.."Aim found them on the floor of Rome's dorm room, he was late for a dinner meeting with them and when he arrived the door was open, things cluttered and ur friends were on the floor mumbling incoherent nonsense and rolling around, barely conscious..he immediately ran out to get help and met bright who was just returning from his shift, who had them brought here..there cctv of the dorm entrance and corridor was out of service so we have no idea who did it..for now I have kept their test results confidential..no one except me and my friends know the truth.." said Arthit, he wanted to soften the truth by downplaying it a bit but he knew tat Kong had to know..."when they came in tests taken showed high levels of coccaine in the purest form mixed with alcohol..had Aim been even half an hour late we could have lost them."

Tears were streaming down Kong's face freely now..he had clutched the backpack containing his clothes to his midriff so tightly tat his knuckles were turning white..

"Kong it's ok..they're safe..Bright and Prem are with them..nothing will happen now.." said Arthit pulling Kong to himself and hugging him..he kept murmuring assurances while he let Kong cry in his embrace..

Kong let go of himself in his P's arms..pouring out all the sorrow he had kept bottled up as tears..

"Kong, can you do me a favor in future?"Arthit asked softly..Kong nodded, head in his chest...

"Please don't switch off ur phone again...I was crazy with worry that something had happened to you..I can't bear it if anything had happened Kong..I may sound selfish but thank God ur safe."

Kong nodded again not lifting his head from Arthit's chest...hugging him tighter...

Arthit's phone buzzed just then and he picked it up..

"Wad's awake let's go" he said releasing Kong..and they left..Kong following on Arthit's heels wiping his nose on his sleeve.

Arthit pushed open the door to a private room and Kong saw P' Prem helping Wad to a sitting position...

The minute Wad saw Kong the first thing he said was " Kong, thank God you're ok."

Kong was as stunned as Prem and Arthit.."Why do you say tat Wad? He was not in the room with you at the time of the incident. " asked Arthit

"Those men were after him P'.."

"How can you be so sure?"it was Prem now who looked skeptical.

"I was still conscious when one of the men made a call and said tat they had drugged Kongpob. I realised they had mistaken Rome for Kong as he was also the moon candidate. Before they attacked us the first question they asked was who the moon candidate was.."Wad explained...

As Wad spoke, Kong had frozen, guilt written all over his face..they had been after him...his friends got hurt because of him..his breath got stuck in his throat and his mind went blank..

Arthit too realised the impact of wat Wad had said his protective instincts started kicking in..Who would try to harm Kong, why??

Kong came forward after a minute, tears in his eyes as he said to Wad "I am sorry u got hurt cause of me..I am so sorry" and hugged him..

Wad hugged him back.."I ll even take a bullet any day for u Kong as I know you would for me..so shut up and stop blaming yourself..as friends we are in it together..get it?"

Kong nodded mouthing a silent thank you...

Arthit and Prem stood smiling at the two friends..happy to see a strong genuine bond of friendship...

Arthit's phone buzzed again.."Rome's awake!"he declared "shall we?"

All in the room nodded, as Prem helped Wad to stand and walk holding his hand, Kong supported his other arm.They followed Arthit to the next room..

Bright was fussing over Rome trying to get him to drink some water..Kong couldn't help but smile as Rome teased him dodging the straw pretending to be disoriented..It seemed to lighten the mood slightly..

On seeing Kong Rome's smile turned brighter "You're ok." He said..Tat was all it took for Kong to breakdown and hug him tightly apologizing and thanking him..

Rome was taken aback but he just let him be, throwing a questioning glance at Wad..Wad smiled and gestured tat he got the same treatment before..

"Hey Kong, I am ok..nothing wrong with me..infact I should thank u,or I wouldn't get to spend the night with this sexy Doc right here.." he said winking at Bright, who blushed bright red and coughed slightly..making everyone in the room laugh..

And so they sat talking and joking for an hour or so till the senior's shifts were over..then Prem and Bright assured Arthit that they would stay with Wad and Rome..and tat he and Kong should go rest..Kong wanted to stay, but he was shooed off by Rome asking him not to be a third wheel in his upcoming love story..

And so he and Arthit had no choice but to leave..as they walked to the parking lot to take Arthit's car,he joked "looks like our friends are gonna be falling for each other."

Kong smiled nodding content to let tat topic be and not delve further..

"Kong, I think it'd be better if u stay the night with me. The dorm room still needs to be cleaned and its not safe to be alone." Arthit said hesitantly..

Kong's eyes widened, and he opened and closed his mouth like a fish, trying to find some plausible excuse to stay anywhere but at Arthit's place, but nothing came to him..the reasons Arthit had given were genuine and undeniable..

Seeing him hesitate, Arthit said , " If ur tat uncomfortable then I can drop u back at ur place, if u wish. But you're not staying alone Kong, tat s final."

Kong couldn't take him to the gallery without him meeting P'wave and then the game will be up..no he had to stay with Arthit..

"Let's go to your apartment P'..no need to drive back and forth..you must be tired too..from what I gathered you were awake for 2 days straight right.."

Arthit smiled and nodded.."Thank you Kong"

Kong got in the passenger side and closed his eyes, leaning on the window pane..he pushed all thoughts away..he couldn't deal with it now..maybe later he ll think about why someone wanted him dead...later..