Author's note: HI, my faithful readers! So as promised, here is the next chapter. Thanks for voting and commenting, really love seeing that you guys are invested in this. Hopefully my usual schedule resumes now and I wont have to disappear again till the end of the first part of the story.

Anyway, read and enjoy ; )

Chapter 13

Kongpob was just too much. I was almost starting to regret bringing him along. Ever since we came back from the vacation, we couldn't seem to stop fighting over this issue. Kongpob took everything I said and did personally. He is convinced I won't tell anyone about us, and I have gotten tired of convincing him that I will, so I just thought I would let my actions speak louder; hence this party, hence leaving him to become bestie with Anya, hence not asking questions when he has to go home with her.

What haven't I done to keep the peace? I brought him here to introduce to Nong Pete, this was his party and he lived with his lover. I was trying to rectify the chance we lost but I wanted to surprise Kongpob. I never knew P'Dean would be here though. Even so, I don't think that would have stopped me from coming with Kongpob. If only I had known what a disaster it would be.

All we felt towards P'Dean was remorse and after meeting her again I could finally show it to her and gain her forgiveness. In the end I thought it would be best to keep very small contacts with her.

I called her over to appease Kong's paranoid mind that she hated him and hasn't forgiven him. It has been three years, isn't it too long to hold that kind of grudge, but trust Kongpob to look for something to fight about.

When I finally got Pete to come to us laughing with his buffy boyfriend in tow—I still couldn't get over the man's size when compared to Pete's scrawny form— His white hair had sparkles in them and he had taken time to put on an outrageous make up and was dressed flamboyantly in bright pink and purple.

"P'Arthit!" he greeted me with a croaked cry that said a lot about how much talking and possibly screaming he has been doing.

"Pete," I said with a gentle smile.

"So glad you came!" he wanted to hug me but I avoided him. It was a reflex I attained because the damn man was a hugger and I have gotten used to avoiding it as soon as it came.

"This is P'Book," he grinned at the big man, "he is my only man!"

I smiled and secretly glanced at Kongpob but I couldn't tell what he was thinking through that formal smile. I knew his real smile intimately and that thing on his face was what he showed strangers.

"This is Pete, the person I wanted to introduce you to before, Kongpob," I said.

I did not tell Pete that I would be bringing Kongpob, my lover, along, but he read meaning into my words and gave Kongpob an obvious once over.

"Pete," I started, "this is the person I am dating." It wasn't as hard as I thought it was to say to Pete. I didn't understand it, saying it felt great and relieving. But I waited apprehensively for his answer, whilst beside me; Kongpob wouldn't stop looking at me.

I could tell he was surprised that I had voiced that out loud. I hope now he knows that I am not ashamed of him and that we will eventually tell everyone.

After a moment of shocked silence, Pete squealed and I had to hold up my hand to his lips.
"I knew it, I knew it, "he kept chanting. "so P'Arthit you are gay?"

"Not too loud, Pete, I am only telling you this but I would rather the whole world not know just yet," I said. The party didn't have as much guest as before and those around were people only Pete knew.

"Oh," he clamped one hand over his mouth with his brows wrinkled, "why?"

His voice came out muffled but I heard him, "if we are not careful then it might spread out of hand." The truth was I didn't want it to get to Kong's parents before we told them.

"So promise that you won't tell anyone."

His eyes flickered to Kong, who was silent beside me, and then he nodded. "I don't get it but I won't say anything I promise. I feel so honored that you are sharing this with me."

He looked to Kongpob and so did I, "it's nice to finally meet you, Kongpob. I have fantasized about you for so long,"

We both stared at him. "I mean, I am a curious young man, it's only normal for me to think about what kind of woman my favorite team leader is dating."

"First of all, I am your only team leader and secondly, that's not something people normally do. But anyway, you've met him now so no need to imagine anymore."

"Oh yes, you are certainly nothing like I imagined, but definitely more good looking," he winked at Kongpob who finally broke his vow of silence and spoke.

"Thanks, I'm sorry I haven't said anything for so long but I had no idea P'Arthit was going to do this. I'm really shocked."

His voice sounded strange, but I decided to ignore it. Kongpob should be happy now; after all I just showed him that I meant everything I told him.

"I hope we can actually have that double date next time. What do you think?"

"If P'Arthit allows it." I looked pointedly at him and he met my eyes without flinching. Something was brewing in there and I wasn't sure I liked it.

After that we went home. Before we left we had a brief encounter with P'Dean at the place we parked my car.

"Arthit, let's get together sometime, "she told me. I had already decided to give her space even as I remained friends with her but she seemed to want to close that gap and there was nothing I could do but agree.

"Sure, whenever you are free, P'Dean"

Beside me on the ride home, Kongpob kept quiet but I could feel anger coming off him in waves. I was befuddled by this because I thought he would be happy. I couldn't figure out what I did wrong this time.

He didn't ask me to drop him off though so I stopped at my place, parked the car and we sat in silence, the air conditioner blowing and the lights on. I didn't know how to break the silence and I didn't want to assume that he wanted to spend the night at my place.

"Kong."

"P'Arthit,"

We spoke at the same time and then shared a look, his pissed, mine confused.

"I thought you would be happy," I finally got it out. "Why does it feel like you are even more pissed than ever?"

"If you cared enough you would know why," he replied and that was just one step too far. Did he think he was the only one putting every effort in this relationship? What about all that I have done?

"Well I don't, so tell me."

"I know that you have this set date in your mind that we would tell my parents, and I am willing to wait for you, P'Arthit, but I can't stand the way you treat our relationship, after everything that we've been through. You don't even know when to be on my side, yet I have always been on your side. How can you even look down on me like this?"

"I have no idea what you are saying?" I have given up trying to follow Kong's logic, and I don't want to even try now because apparently giving Kong what he wanted wasn't the right thing to do. "Didn't I just tell someone about our relationship?"

"Yes, to throw me a bone. You don't realize it do you. How P'Dean sees us?"

I shook my head at him, "how does she see us?"

"That we are a sham, something that will soon be destroyed."

I thought over our conversation with P'Dean and though she did seem a little bitter, she didn't sound like she thought we were a sham. I couldn't agree with Kongpob.

"Are you going to be this way every time from now on?" I asked.

"Listen to me, P'Arthit."

I shook my head and got out of the car. "If nothing I do can ever make you happy or trust me then I don't care anymore."

"You don't care." The door slammed behind me and it echoed loudly in the semi quiet night.

"Will you care then if I go tell my dad everything?" I turned and met his eyes. He had come out of the car after me.

"You wouldn't." Kongpob knew I wouldn't forgive him if he did that without my permission.

"I have been thinking that since you don't even regard my feelings that I shouldn't regard yours either. I have kept quiet and let you drag this long enough. I am never going to be satisfied with just one of your friend s knowing about us. I want the world to know, I am not ashamed of you P'Arthit. I love you more than I can bear and I want to yell it out to the entire world."

He was talking so fast I started to wonder if he was drunk. He did smell like he had been sticking too close to the beer bottle but why was he acting so crazy.

"Kongpob," I reached out to grab his arm," get a hold of yourself."

"I am fine," he blinked slowly and I was sure that he wasn't one hundred percent himself.

"Yeah, you are acting crazy, let's get you inside."

He shoved my hand off him." I'm serious, P'Arthit. I won't take this from you anymore. I am going right now to tell my dad everything."

"You won't," I said. Kongpob wouldn't dare. I needed to get him sober and fast. "Let's just go inside."

I tried reaching for him again. "If you touch me I will kiss you," he said.

I froze there. We were not exactly alone here even though the place looked dark and empty; people who lived on the first floor could still see or hear us.

"Kongpob," I warned.

"I haven't kissed you for nearly two weeks, touch me again and I won't be able to stop myself"

I stayed where I was, and kept my distance as he wanted.

"You will see soon, P'Arthit, everything would be fine once I tell my dad. What you are afraid of won't happen."

I was certain now that Kongpob was serious, he really would go and tell his dad everything. I couldn't let that happen, not with the way he was. He wasn't thinking clearly and I needed to get him sobered up.

"Okay," I agreed. "You can tell him, but only tomorrow morning, when you are feeling better and thinking clearly," I said.

He eyed me for a moment and shook his head, "no, I can't trust you, you will try to convince me not to and like I always do, I will let you. Now that I feel this way, now that I can see things more clearly, I'm going to do the right thing, finally."

He couldn't see anything clearly, I thought. Otherwise why would he be talking like that?

"Kongpob wait!" I raised my voice a bit as he started to walk back to the gate. "Listen to me, okay? I won't try to stop you if tomorrow you wake up and still think this is a good idea. I promise you."

If Kongpob was really serious and nothing I say could make him understand, then I will let him do what he wants but only if I'm sure that he is doing it with a clear mind and for the right reason, only if he knows my own side and still wants to.

I watched him think over that for a moment, and then he nodded. "But I'm still not going back with you," he said, "I know you P'Arthit, you will try to do something, so I'm going to my parents place. I will only spend the night, I am a little drunk so I won't talk to them until tomorrow. But once I am feeling better, I won't change my mind, P'Arthit, and you won't be there to stop me."

I didn't want that. I wanted Kongpob to stay over so that I could talk him out of it tomorrow but I couldn't think of any way to convince him to stay.

He looked at me and I stared back, out of ideas, then he turned and walked out. I followed a few paces behind him and watch him hail a taxi and left to his parents' house.

What am I going to do now? I bit the inside of my lips and I was tempted to follow him but I didn't know how to explain my presence to his parents. What should I do then?

My mind pulled up Anya's face. She was the only person who could talk Kongpob out of going to his parents place. She was my only option actually.

I took out my phone and called her. "Hello, Anya?"

She answered on the third ring," P'Arthit?" she sounded like she had been sleeping.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but can you do something for me?"

"Yeah," she cleared her throat. "Whatever you need P'Arthit."

So I told her what happened and what she needed to do. I directed her to convince Kongpob to go back home and to make sure he does not do anything rash tonight that I would see him tomorrow morning.

She agreed to my insensitive request and didn't ask for explanations. I couldn't give her any because I didn't understand either, I thought Kongpob would be happier tonight after everything that happened on the vacation, but maybe he was right. Maybe I had given him this just to appease him. I didn't mean it that way though; I just wanted to show him that I am doing my best too, that I wanted to tell people about us.

Although I told Anya I would stay at home because Kongpob wouldn't be happy to see me there and might change his mind again, I still went to his apartment to wait for him to get back. I stood at the gate and looked towards the road for hours.

I was cold and I couldn't stop shivering, my teeth chattering and my fingers nearly numb, but I stayed there till it was almost midnight but there was still no sign of the two people I was waiting to see. I tried Anya's phone but it rang and she didn't pick up.

So I went home. There was really no point waiting, maybe Anya failed to stop him and they were both at Kong's family home. I prepared myself for the worst.

It wasn't easy and I couldn't sleep very well. I kept trying Anya and Kong's number. They were both turned off.

If Kongpob told his parents about us, what would they do? Would they never want to see me again? What about Kongpob, what if he doesn't get the acceptance he envisions getting, how will I console him. What would I say to Kong's mother when she confronts me?

I stayed up almost all through the night, my thoughts turning around till I was too worried to sit still.

The next morning I got ready for work like usual, my face in the mirror didn't look good. I kept expecting something to happen. Dressed in blue and kaki cream pants, I went out of my room and walked the few blocks to Kongpob's place.

When I knocked, all I got was silence from within. Kongpob had not come home last night and still wasn't here. I took out my phone and dialed his number but it didn't go through. I dialed Anya's next and it didn't go through either.

I hurried out of the building convinced that they really were still at Kong's parents place. Even though I was worried, scared even, of being driven out once I get there, I still went.

I parked my car outside the compound and stared at the building. It was a one storey duplex with brown and cream paintings. I have been here so many times but it never felt this huge and this impossible to reach before.

I didn't get to find the courage to enter as the gate opened before I neared it and a white Honda rolled out. It got to me and stopped. The tinted window glass was rolled down and I could see Kong's father inside.

"Arthit? Why are you here so early?" he asked.

I was speechless as I didn't know how to answer his question.

"What's wrong, are you feeling okay."

Given the fact that he isn't looking at me any different than he used to, I let a sigh of relief from my heart. That meant Kongpob hasn't told him yet.

"I'm waiting for Kongpob, " I said after raising my hands to wai to him.

"Kongpob?" his brows wrinkled and he looked at his driver, "did Kongpob come home last night?" the driver gave a negative responds.

"Kongpob did not come home last night," he said. My heart missed a beat; if he didn't come home then where did he go?

"a-are you sure?" I stammered.

"Arthit, you really don't look so good, can you try to take of yourself. I'm sure Kongpob is fine, go in and let my wife treat you to breakfast, okay?"
I nodded numbly but nothing he said entered my head.

Once he drove away, I took out my phone and this time Anya's phone went through and she picked on the fourth ring.

"Hello, P'Arthit."

"Anya!" I gripped the phone with both my hands, "thank God. Why didn't you call me, I have been waiting worriedly."

"So sorry P'Arthit, when I took Kongpob home it wasn't easy. I just realized my phone was dead and was charging it a few minutes ago."

"You took Kongpob home?" I asked to be sure.

"Yeah, that's what you told me to do right? I stopped him from going, but P'Arthit this morning I don't know where he ran off to."

I put aside the fact that Anya just lied to me and focused on that. "I think he might be going home to tell his dad."

I clicked my tongue and nodded, "okay, I'm already here so I will just wait for him."

Once our call ended, I looked at the phone. Anya had said that she brought Kong home but I was there for hours and didn't see them, but then again she could have taken him home after I had left and then he left early this morning before I got there. Even as I thought that, I still couldn't quite believe it.

I waited outside the house for a while but Kongpob didn't come, so after saying hi to his mother, I left for work very late.

When I returned home I was exhausted and think I might be coming down with a fever but the fact that I still haven't heard from Kongpob was all that worried me.

Before coming to my place I went to his and he still wasn't there. I was tempted to call his mom and ask her but I couldn't risk worrying her for no reason.

I walked down the hallway with my head lowered as I tried to think of another thing I could have done that wouldn't have led to this. When I looked up, I saw someone wearing a white shirt seating on the floor in front of my door his head lowered.

"Kongpob, "I said breathlessly as I stopped walking.

He rose to his feet while staring at me and me at him. He looked like he hadn't showered or changed his clothes.

"P'Arthit," he said with a low voice.

"What happened to you," I said, letting some annoyance slip into my voice as I started to near him. "Do you know how worried I have been? I looked everywhere for you, where did you go?"

He stayed silent. "Say something!"I snapped. I was on the verge of both hitting him and kissing him for the rest of his stupid life. Damn him for making me worry so much.

"P'Arthit, "the eyes that met mine were strange; they had no light of hope and the face looked beaten down, "I have to marry Anya."

I staggered a bit and blinked till his face was back to focus. "What did you say?"

"I have to marry Anya," this time his words were firm and clear, I hadn't imagined them. Kongpob just said that with his own mouth, to me.

"What!" my raised voice was justified. "What do you mean? Why?"