Author's Note: thanks you guys for the encouragement. Here's another chapter. It will get longer as time goes on.

Chapter 2

When I entered the company I tried to listen for the rumors P'Arthit had said he heard and I didn't hear anything. Even when I stopped by the workers lodge and got myself a cup of tea.

"Oh Nong Kong, your father came to find you this afternoon, I think he wanted to have lunch with you."

"I think you mean the chief," I said pointedly to remind P'Ruth that this was the company and I didn't like it when people go on and on about how I was my father's son like I was supposed to feel guilty for that.

The only thing I was guilty of was the secret I have been keeping from him for the past seven years and which honestly has kept a distance between us. I didn't want to blame P'Arthit but because of his secret and his desire to keep my father in the dark I was afraid to be in the same room with him for too long. I rarely went home to see my mother; I didn't think I could keep this secret from her when I usually told her everything.

This life with P'Arthit was making me feel like an outsider in my own family. I wanted to end it, and every day that went by that I had to lie was causing me heart ache and making me feel like a disappointment to myself and my family. Especially when I could see that my dad liked and trusted P'Arthit. If he found out now, it would be a lot harder to take.

"Oh right, "P'Ruth said and laughed sheepishly. She was a nice, plumb woman who walked closely with me in the electrical department.

"Is he still in the office?"

"I think so."

"Okay, I will go see him for a bit." I turned around and went back into the lift to my father's office.

He was there and seemed a little busy. I allowed his secretary P'Art not to bother him as I walked in. He was on the phone and so I made myself very quiet and took a seat.

"Oh yes, yes. He loves it too."

I glanced around his office to occupy myself. My dad kept his office clean and homely. It was in similar design to his study at home which showed that my dad didn't like change. Once he had set his mind on something he stuck to it till the very end.

"Of course they can meet. Sounds like the perfect match. Alright, see you soon." He ended the call looking really happy I doubted it was a business call.

"You look happy dad," I said smiling, finding his happiness infectious.

"I am son, "his smile widened, "I was just talking to an old friend of mine from my days in the university. We were really tight. Kind of like you and Arthit, only we never got to stay in touch until now."

Every time P'Arthit's name came from my father's lips like this my heart skipped.

"Oh. Then you guys have a lot to catch up on," I said without changing my expression. I was at least good at covering up. Honestly better than P'Arthit.

He had the heart of a saint and really wouldn't do wrong except that he was hiding the truth from my dad. He tells me not to come around when he was with my father because it always tenses him up, but of course I wanted him tensed up and so I would use any excuse to be there and watch him sweat buckets. Of course my father never caught on and that is why we were now considered best friends and my mother treats him like a second son.

"Oh yes, we used to get into all sorts of trouble when we were students, most of them his idea."

"Of course dad, I can't picture you creating troubles all on your own," I teased.

"What? I was every bit a trouble maker as he was, but I admit I wanted to focus on my schooling and he would drag me into these things." He laughed.

"So when are you two meeting?"

"Tonight, I invited him home. You are coming home tonight right, your mother misses you."

I tensed and hesitantly shook my head, "not tonight dad—"

"now come on, are you avoiding home or something. Don't think that I haven't noticed your long absence away. "

That's because you keep trying to set me up with someone, I thought and smiled. "That's because of work dad; my boss would fire me if I slacked off."

"I will fire your boss. You need to start going out of the office place, how else are you going to meet someone?" he leaned forward, "son, tell me, have you really not been dating?"

Here we go. The lying begins. I sighed mentally, "of course I have."

"Then how come you haven't introduced anyone to us, did you set the bar too high. Don't be so picky Kong."

I shook my head laughing." I am not picky dad."

"Then what is the problem. You are turning twenty eight in two weeks. You need to start thinking about settling down. Your mom is always home alone, she needs to have a little child to take care of, you know what I mean?"

I lowered my eyes from him," sorry dad," I said softly.

"For what son?"

P'Arthit and I could never have children. Well we've never discussed it even though there were many options but we can barely come out with the truth, how can we even consider having kids. I would never be with anyone but P'Arthit so it is very likely I was going to disappoint my parents.

"For just being a terrible son," I said and shrugged.

"Nonsense, you are not a terrible son. I am so proud of you, your mother and I. we just want you to have someone by your side. So come over tonight, she would be happy to have you home. I don't even understand why you had to move out."

I sighed; of course I had to move out. It was already hard enough keeping this secret out here; I wouldn't be able to take having to hide my feelings at home too. In doors and around our friends was all we had to show our affection to each other, P'Arthit and I. I wasn't about to give that up by living with my parents, and now I couldn't argue with my parents anymore.

I hid a sigh and nodded, "I guess I can, for one night." I had to add that time limit to make sure my father wouldn't ask me to stay over the whole weekend. I had plans for that weekend, plans that involved me and P'Arthit in the house just as he likes. I tried to contain my smile as I thought of this.

"Great, I will call your mother to tell her."

At least my mother would be pleased, that made me feel better even though I knew I would have to lie to her again.

"Okay dad, I have to get back to work now," I rose to my feet.

"Okay son. By the way,"

I stopped on my way and met my dad's eyes; his hands paused over the keys of his computer. "Invite Arthit will you?"

"What?!" I could have downplayed my surprise and agitation a little bit. I cleared my throat and tried again. "What?"

My father's gaze turned skeptical, "what's wrong, you don't want to?"

"What?" my vocabulary seemed to have failed. I smiled, "dad, he is my best friend right? Of course I don't mind having him at home. Mom likes him too."
"Yes," he waited for me to continue.

"It's just I don't think P'Arthit would want to come. He has been saying that he wanted to keep our relationship professional," I shrugged internally. It had to happen; I can't say that I enjoyed the relationship he had with my dad. Yes I wanted them to get along when my dad learns about our relationship but as it turned out their friendship was part of the reason P'Arthit was keeping our relationship a secret.

"I don't understand." My father had dropped his hands from his computer and was frowning. I didn't want to hurt their relationship too much but I knew we couldn't be in my home together, not with the chance that we would be caught. The last thing I want was for my parents to catch us. I wanted them to know and come to terms with it without having to hurt them like that.

"Dad, it's nothing. You know how P'Arthit thinks a lot. He is probably worried about what people would say about you if they thought that you were showing more favor to him because of me."
"Huh," my dad nodded, "I see but you have to reassure him that he doesn't have to worry about that, we both know I don't do him anymore favors than is necessary."
"Yes, "I agreed if only to bring the conversation to an end. "I will try to do that dad. I better go back to work now."

He nodded absently, I think what I said hit him a lot harder than I wanted. As I stepped out of his office I couldn't help feeling regret. Just one more thing to apologize for, I tried to shrug it off.