"What do your parents do?"

"Run their own businesses. What that business is depends on the day and the public interest of that day. They also own the only store in Lampang, plus properties in various places. I'm not set to inherit though - all the businesses are going to Jenny-Aroon because they both got the best head for business." Arthit explained.

Kongpob was surprised to find himself slightly disappointed that Arthit hadn't wanted him for himself, but had been pushed into this just as much as he had been.

"But I think we can get along well and build ourselves a good life together. I'm sorry if I'm not exactly what you wanted in a spouse." This felt so different from the image of what Kongpob had in his mind about Arthit.

"I'd never thought about getting married before," Kongpob said bluntly.

"So, you'll do for a husband."

Arthit gave Kongpob a crooked grin for that and Kongpob felt that it was...affectionate, almost. For a stranger this man did not feel like he should be scared to get accustomed to in future.

"Make yourself at home then!" Arthit gestured expansively to the house at large.

"Where are the cleaning supplies?" Kongpob asked. He would have to clean his room down thoroughly before it would even be considered habitable.

"Ah, over here." Arthit walked back down the hallway they were in and opened a cabinet that Kongpob had missed the first time they went down the hallway. It wasn't a very large collection of cleaning supplies, but Arthit had the basics so it would have to do.

"Do you mind?" Kongpob asked as he reached for the bleach.

"Go ahead," Arthit said with a shrug. "I was about to grill some meat, any requests?"

"Well done." Kongpob requested. He could never stand raw or nearly raw food and had no idea how people wanted meat that was still bleeding.

Arthit just nodded. "Sounds good to me. We'll have cucumber salad for a side unless you don't like cucumbers."

"They're fine," Kongpob assured him as he got out the buckets, trying not to look too visibly off put by the fact they were not new, pristine buckets. Kongpob reassured himself that they would soon be filled with bleach and water and thus be clean. For the first cleaning of his room, Kongpob did not use anything besides bleach and water just to avoid caustic chemical reactions.

The water was grey when he poured it out, so he did another washdown of the walls with the bleach and water and then the third one when the water ran clean. Then he made sure it was thoroughly dried to prevent any water damage and started on the floors. They were much worse than the walls and Kongpob had to wonder what this room had been used for before it had been converted into a bedroom or had it simply never been cleaned? Kongpob should start work on the rest of the house if it was all in this bad a state.

After his third wash, there was a knock on his bedroom door. Kongpob stared at the door in mild surprise. He had to wonder how long the knocking would last before Arthit just started walking in because he owned the place.

"Come in."

Arthit didn't actually come in, just peeked his head in. "Just letting you know that lunch is done. You want to eat with me or just want me to put it in the fridge for later?"

"I'll eat with you," Kongpob said.

A small break would not hurt at all. And then Arthit smiled and Kongpob felt that he might do a lot to see his husband smile like that again, which was dangerous. How could Arthit have that strong a hold on him already?

The living room led right into the kitchen and the table was counter space with some stools placed at it, which definitely didn't seem the best, but it wasn't like there was room in the house for much else. Kongpob was curious as to if his request would even be honoured and was surprised to find all the meat seemed to be well done. Perhaps Arthit liked it that way as well?

"Do you like well-done meat as well?" Kongpob asked, at a loss for what other kind of conversation to make.

"Hmm?" Arthit looked surprised by the question, a cucumber hanging out of his mouth. He held up a finger and swallowed.

"Oh, I'm not picky. Figured it was better to make the meat to your preference, that way you could have as much as you wanted."

That was so thoughtful that Kongpob did not know what to do.

"Thank you." It seemed inadequate, but it wasn't like Kongpob could offer anything else. Unless Arthit wanted ANOTHER favor from him in exchange?

Kongpob watched Arthit chase a cucumber around his plate with chopsticks and figured that probably was not it. He didn't look like a man who wanted something else. So why wasn't Arthit already married if he was this affable?

Arthit caught Kongpob looking and gave Kongpob another crooked grin. "It's my job to keep my partner as happy as I can."

Kongpob nodded, finishing off everything he needed to be full. When that was done, he took his plate and carefully washed it in the sink, trying not to think about how he'd eaten off used dishes when he noticed something new in the trash out of the corner of his eyes. After putting his dried plate away, he leaned a little closer to read the label - it was off a ten pack of plates. Had...Arthit gotten all new plates for him? Just because he heard that Kongpob might not like used items?

Arthit hadn't said anything and Kongpob didn't want to bring it up.

The next few days of sharing a house was awkward at best, but Arthit never seemed to mind. He always had a smile to spare for Kongpob and never pushed Kongpob into doing anything he was uncomfortable with. Arthit was even happy to split the chores, instead of leaving them all to him. It was more than Kongpob would've ever hoped for from an arranged marriage.

Arthit put in an effort to learn about Kongpob so Kongpob reluctantly returned the favor and slowly came to find he didn't mind the domestic life he and Arthit were building. It worked for them.

But Kongpob found himself disappointed when Arthit said he was going to take a fishing trip with Fiat the week of Kongpob's heat. And he didn't dare think of why. There's no way he wanted to spend his heat with Arthit. He hated his heats with a passion and would've happily skipped it altogether, except even the best suppressants still left five to seven days a year when an Omega would be in at least pseudo heat. Kongpob normally spent them exercising and ignoring every urge his body had, he had no wish to be ruled by instinct.

He still didn't want to be ruled by instinct, but he did want Arthit there. Arthit made him feel safe in a way no one else had before and if Kongpob did have to, unfortunately, go through a heat, he would prefer Arthit to be there instead of gone.

But he couldn't say that and risk ruining what they had. Perhaps Arthit wasn't into guys, perhaps he wasn't into Omegas. Or maybe it was just Kongpob in general that wasn't titillating to him. At least Arthit hadn't brought up seeing other people for sexual urges, because Kongpob didn't know what he would do in that particular scenario, but he did know that it wouldn't be particularly pleasant.

Apparently, he was possessive.

Kongpob never knew because he never had things that were his. He'd rented apartments all his life and been content to leave no mark on them. His work desk was similarly clean and impersonal as he quickly vaulted through different departments, inevitably shuffled off because he was brilliant but lacked whatever was necessary to be a team player.

If his work partner was Arthit, Kongpob would be sure he'd have no problem. But instead, Arthit worked at various enterprises of his parents and knew everyone in Lampang. Shopping trips took five times as long whenever Kongpob brought Arthit along - not because Arthit was hopeless at shopping, quite the opposite despite his unfortunate propensity towards instant ramen, but because he knew everyone and insisted on saying hello to them and asking how their kids, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, nieces, nephews, and other various friends and family were.

Kongpob should find it annoying that his efficiency was being so callously infringed upon, but instead, he felt warm watching Arthit interact with everyone.

But he didn't have feelings. It would be stupid to have feelings for someone he was contractually obligated to spend time with.

He just enjoyed Arthit 's presence. They are friends. Arguably only Kongpob's first or second friend he'd ever had.

So, he wasn't going to ruin that by asking Arthit to stay.

Instead, he told Arthit to have fun and bring back some fish if he managed to catch anything good. Kongpob wasn't much of a fish person, but Arthit was, so he made a conscious effort to cook more fish and seafood for Arthit. It wasn't horrible, but it reminded him too much of the housekeeper who raised him in England and thought Fish and Chips were a perfectly appropriate meal to have every day for ten years. And he loved her, but after ten years of the same bland, breaded fish anyone could get tired of it.

And now he was married to a man who loved fish, but at least Arthit preferred fresh fish. The fresher the better. And he was always bringing home different kinds of fish, trying to find one that they both liked. Kongpob had become strangely fond of octopus, though he struggled to eat it raw due to the texture.

And now Kongpob was all alone in the house.

He'd never been alone in the house before. Or at least not for long. It was much more lonely here, without Arthit filling the house with his humming or singing. Just existing in the same space as him.

He was restless all day, he got his cleaning done early and tried to read a book but he couldn't focus.

After nearly an hour of 'reading' in which he didn't remember a single line nor did he manage to turn the page. He sighed, putting the book down, and pulled up his phone. He hesitated on calling Arthit but gave in and called.

Arthit picked up immediately, "Are you okay?"

Arthit sounded so worried and it cheered Kongpob up just a bit. "Yes, Arth – P'Arthit, I'm fine. I was just missing you."

"I miss you too, Kongpob. I had to cook dinner all by myself in a hotel room." Arthit 's complaints were good-natured and it cheered Kongpob up considerably.

"You better not be having ramen now that I'm not there to make sure you behave," Kongpob warned him.

Arthit laughed. "Aigoo, Don't worry. I'll send you a photo of what I'm eating, will that make you feel better?"

"It would, thank you."

Arthit laughed again and Kong's phone gave a quiet ping, showing that he was getting a message. He opened it up and smiled at the plate. It looked like some sort of breaded fish - something Kongpob wouldn't touch in a million years but Arthit loved. And there were some greens beside it, so it wasn't just breaded fish.

"Your dinner gets a pass from me," Kongpob said after giving it a careful examination. "Don't eat too much protein and carbs though."

"I promise, I promise. And you take care of yourself, Kong. Call me if you need anything, okay?"

When they got into calling each other dropping the unfamiliarity is still a mystery for them.

"I promise, P'Arthit" After all, wasn't he calling Arthit now? "Have you been out on the water yet?"

"No. Fiat is arriving tomorrow and I promised to wait for him before I rented a boat. He has opinions about which boats are best. I think he just wants to convince me to get a motorboat so that he doesn't have to paddle again."

For some reason, Kongpob was jealous that Fiat got to experience this with Arthit . It wasn't fair to the kid, he knew that, but it didn't help his feelings. Poor Fiat didn't have any parents left and looked up to Arthit as his father, but some bitter part of Kongpob was afraid he'd somehow steal his husband, after all he isn't much younger than Kongpob. Even though he is an Alpha and most certainly interested in Tew. He hated these feelings, why couldn't his mind just behave properly and not worry about if Arthit was being faithful?

What did it matter if Arthit was being faithful? Their marriage was a chaste one.

"Am I boring you already?" Arthit asked and realized Kongpob had just let the line hang empty for a while.

"No, I was just thinking," Kongpob assured him. "Do you mind if I do your laundry when you're gone?"

"Knock yourself out. I'm not gonna stop you from doing my laundry. I don't think I left that much to do, but you can always strip the sheets if you want."

Kongpob's mind helpfully conjured up the idea of fingering himself to completion while wrapped up in the sheets from Arthit 's bed. He could feel his body warm up at the idea and knew he had to end this conversation before he said something ill-advised. Or worse, admitted that he wanted Arthit here during his heat.

"Thank you. I'll leave you to sleep then."

Arthit 's laugh made the warmth in Kongpob's belly spread. "I'm not going to bed for a few more hours yet, but I'm sure I'll have sweet dreams now that you've called me. Sleep well yourself, Kong. And take care of yourself."

"You already said that." Kongpob pointed out.

"Can't I repeat it?"

He could, nothing was saying he couldn't but Kongpob didn't see the point in it. He was either going to listen or not.

"Take care of yourself too, P'Arthit. Goodbye."

"Goodbye! Until we speak again, Kongpob. Love you." And with that, the line went dead.

Kongpob stared at his phone. Arthit had said that he loved Kongpob. What did that mean? Did he mean that in a romantic way? In a friendly way? They were mates, maybe Arthit was just being polite?

What if it was some coded plea for help because Arthit had been kidnapped and was being held against his will?

No, Arthit wouldn't have left the clue for the last sentence, Arthit was much smarter than that, though he always pretended that he wasn't that smart. Kongpob never understood why. If Arthit needed help, he would've sent a message in the picture.

Kongpob carefully examined the picture and there was nothing suspicious about it.

[TXT to Arthit :] We need a code word in case you're kidnapped.

[TXT from Arthit :} ??? do u think I'll be kidnapped

Kongpob figured that was proof enough that it was Arthit

[TXT from Arthit :] if u wanna kidnap me, u just hv 2 say so

[TXT to Arthit :] I don't want to kidnap you. What would I do with you?

[TXT from Arthit :] what every1 would do wth me ;)

...What did that mean?

[TXT to Arthit :] We need a code in case you're kidnapped

[TXT from Arthit ] pan🎂

[TXt to Arthit :] How are you gonna make that seem like an innocuous statement?

[TXT from Arthit :] ask u 2 mke them 4 me

Kongpob gave a chuckle, he supposed that worked. It would be efficient.

[TXT to Arthit :] Accepted.

[TXT from Arthit :] 👍

Why did Kongpob like this man again? He texted as though he had never seen a phone before. But Kongpob felt much better after their conversation and knew Arthit is safe, wherever he was. But it was much easier to get back to his book and focus now. Arthit texted him once more, a photo of the sunset from his hotel room.

Kongpob smiled and sent back a picture of the sunset from their back porch and got several hearts back. It was just for the view, Kongpob knew it. Arthit loved their back area and could often be found out there. Maybe they could revisit Arthit 's idea of getting a cat though, the house was just so empty.

Not that Kongpob wanted a cat to witness his heat either, though. So, Arthit would probably take it with him when he went on vacation, unfortunately, and Kongpob would still be left with an empty house.

Kongpob did one last sweep of the house and went to bed.