Arthit's Pov---------

City Club Football, tryouts were always a big event in my life. Knott, Bright, Krist and Me, all played together when we were kids. Now we have Rojnapat Constructions to sponsor a team. Knott was the head coach, but he always managed to rope Bright and Me into helping out one way or another. Noor and Jenny always designed the uniforms while My Dad and Mom provided snacks for games and practices.

As soon as Robby was big enough, he joined the league and became as big a fanatic as any of us. Krist would have been so proud of him if he was still here. I was proud of my son too and I didn’t think it could get any better. But...

I was wrong.

I watched as Kong walked over to Knott with Sophie riding on his back.

“Excuse me, big guy.”

Knott turned around with his favorite broad cheeky grin.

“Yes Mr. Suthiluck ??”

“I am new to this whole Sports crazy parents thing, but that kid rammed into my son. Now since his lovley parents cheered like some banshees, is it alright if I tackle them to keep things even ??”

Kong asked casually.

“Hell yeah... go on Kong”

Bright replied instead of Knott.

Kong nodded happily.

“Hold your niece for a second...”

Kong dropped Sophie in Bright's arms and turned around.

Ohhh Noooo....

I ran behind him to stop him, but Bright grabbed my shoulder.

“Dude ?! He’s gonna tackle that Jane the Pain !! If you make a move to stop it, I will kick your ass.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t think Kong could handle himself. I know he is headstrong, I just had this irrational need to protect him. That Jane was our classmate along with her stupid husband and they were really douchebags.

“You said a bad word uncle bright...”

Sophie said with her hand spread out.

“You owe her a coin as a penalty for saying a bad word”

I told Bright. He looked at me like I was an alien.

“Blame Suthiluck. He gives them a coin every time he lets one slip. Now they expect it from everybody”

I shrugged.

“Well, Sophie... here’s a twenty bhat for the day,”

Bright replied, pulling the bill out of his pocket.

She kissed his cheek.

“Thank you Uncle Bright”

We both watched as Kong walked casually across the field. Jane was standing with her stupid of a husband, on the sidelines cheering every time that devil of a child of their's rammed into one of the smaller boys. She was even malicious enough to laugh if one of the poor kids cried. I felt myself grinning with anticipation.... Suddenly Kong sprinted towards them, slamming into both of them with such a force all three of them hit the ground.

Than Kong got up.

“Cheer about that, Crazy people !!”

I am sure he would have gotten more cheers if everyone hadn’t been in shock. Well everyone except for Bright.

“Yay !! That’s what I was talking about, buddy !!”

A few of the others chimed in then, including me. When Kong realized everyone was staring at him, a beautiful blush spread across his little chubby cheeks and he slipped away from the crowd.

I found him leaning against his SUV in the parking lot, hitting his head on the side of it's door.

“Thinking about trying out for the Rojnapat team, Suthiluck ??”

Kong groaned and looked up at me.

“You prick. Why didn’t you stop me ??”

“Sorry, but Bright wanted to see the show”

I laughed.

“Ughhh... It’s just I am very protective of my son, and I couldn’t very well hit them directly who were being mean to him, so I chose the next best thing. Now on top of being labeled a kidnapper, I will be known as a freak. My poor kid will never be able to have friends over because who would let their children stay at a psycho’s house ??”

He covered his face again.

I wanted to say something to comfort him. I had plenty of options. For instance, he was a great father, who any child would be lucky to have. My children can’t seem to get enough of him, and I would trust him with them any day. When I left from the field, Sammy had been bragging to the other boys that Kong was his father. I could have said any of this.

“Hey, The freaky King Kong, Wow... The King Kong has a nice ring to it”

“Rojnapat...!!”

He growled, but I am pretty sure he was fighting a smile.

“Ohhh...ho... You are not gonna tackle me right now, are you ??”

I continued, grinning like a fool.

“No, not at all”

He replied.

“That stupid jane was more my size. I would hurt myself running into you Rojnapat...”

Damn.... I really wouldn’t have minded.

“I better get back out there and cheer for our boys”

Kong replied, clearly trying to change the subject.

“That’s the spirit, Suthiluck”

I swatted him on the ass and made a run for it. I knew I wasn’t going to get away with that one. I could hear him coming after me, so I slowed down so he could catch up. When he did, he punched me in the arm.

“Hey !! I am sorry. Don't be a prick Suthiluck. It’s all a part of the game”

Kong glared at me, but I shot him a charming smile in response. Getting this man riled up was one of my new favorite hobbies these days.

“Don’t you have work to do ??”

He asked.

Sadly, I did. I was supposed to be helping Knott, check out the players.

“I do, indeed...”

I replied with a sigh.

“I have to go make sure our boys end up on the same team otherwise Robby may very well move out”

“He can come, stay with me anytime...”

He offered.

“Like my son, do you ??”

I asked.

“Of course...”

He smiled.

“He’s strangely, the likable version of you...”

I cringed and put my hand over my heart.

“That hurt, Suthiluck. You are without a doubt the worst best friend in the history of best friendships...”

“Yeah, yeah. Get back to work, Rojnapat”

Kong smacked my ass, surprising me and causing me to jump.

“All a part of the game...”

He sang before jogging over to the bleachers.

Did I mention I love football tryouts ??

“About time you got back here...”

Knott said as I sauntered over.

“Sorry...”

I smiled, taking the clipboard from him. I started watching the kids as they participated in the passing and receiving drills. We had five teams participating for the title cup, so I believe everyone would get to play. It wasn’t a matter of making into the team. It was which team.... and Rojnapat Construction has always been the best team.

An hour later, all the head coaches went off to make their picks. Bright went with Knott to make sure he kept his cool. He could be overly passionate about his choices. I headed over to the bleachers and plopped down beside Jenny who was watching Sophie entertain little Matt on a blanket in front of her.

“Thanks for keeping an eye on her.
By the way, she made twenty bhat out of penalty from your husband, earlier"

“He’s such a foul mouth”

She laughed.

“I was watching the boys. Robby’s a natural sport as always. No one can touch that boy’s speed, same as Krist. And his friend Sammy, he didn't really like tackling the other kids at first, but once he saw his Papa doing it, he was taking them down right and left”

“Of course Robby’s a natural. Like Dad like son”

I said, with Krist's face in my mind.

“Or I guess in Sammy’s case like Papa like son too. Where is Kong anyways ??”

I looked around, but couldn't see him.

“He got a phone call, so he slipped away right before they called the coaches back. He looked a little worried. I hope everything’s alright”

Jenny said sincerely.

“I will go check on him”

I offered, setting off to find him.

He was standing near the parking stand with his back to me.

“No....”

There was a pause.

“I don’t care, Man !! You have already caused me enough trouble...”

He had that no-nonsense edge on his tone.

“I swear if you show up here, I will have you arrested this time”

He growled and hung up.

“Everything alright ??”

I asked, startling him a little, as he whipped around.

“Yeah...”

He smiled.

“Are tryouts over ?? I didn’t miss anything, did I?”

I wanted to know who he had been talking to, but thought it would be rude to ask.

“They just ended with drills, but you haven’t missed anything. The coaches are about to make their picks. I never participate in that part. I get too hot-headed if someone tries to steal my boy. City club coaches can be conniving bastards, let me tell you...”

He chuckled at the information.

“Shall we go inside ??”

I offered him my arm, just to tease him

Kong looked at me like I was insane.

“You are going to escort me ?? We are going to football tryouts not to the prom”

“Come on here, bestie”

I said, grabbing his arm and pulled him along. He poked his tongue out to me, childishly.

Kong is such a kid sometimes.

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It didn’t take long for the picks to be made. I joined Knott and Bright to make the announcements. Knott called out the names in alphabetical order. Robby had a happy smile on his face when his name was spoken and Kong and Jenny cheered for him. He ran over and gave me a high five. There were quite a few names before Knott got to the S’s.

Robby was crossing his fingers.

“Suthiluck !!”

Sammy grinned and ran over to join us.

“Welcome to the team buddy”

I told him, ruffling his hair.

“Thanks Arthit, I am so excited”

He smiled.

Once all of our players were called, we headed over to the side to discuss schedules and such with the boys and their parents. Then we were able to call it a day.

I looked over to where Robby was standing with Kong and Sammy. Kong was on his cell phone again, but this time he looked much happier.

“Okay, hang on. Here he is...”

He handed his phone to Sammy.

“It’s Grandpa...”

Sam happily took the phone.

"Gramps !! I am on the team with my best friend Robby. His dad and uncles are the coaches.”

There was a pause.

“Yes Gramps... He owns a company that builds buildings and stuff”

Kong frowned.

“He says he doesn’t like him, but I think he does. You know how Papa is...”

I smirked and Kong snatched the phone away from him.

“Dad, Sammy will talk to you later”

He rolled his eyes.

“You are not funny old man…gotta go, Love you too. Bye”

He put the phone in his pocket.

“Let’s go Sammy. We have got things to do.”

Kong wrapped his arm around Sammy’s neck and pulled him to himself, than he waved towards us while walking out.

“Bye guys..”

“Bye !!”

Bright, Knott, and Robby chorused.

I grinned and jogged to follow him.

“You like me, Suthiluck !!”

He shook his head and kept walking, this time with rushed steps.

Suddenly a pink blur crashed into my legs. I looked down to find Sophie smiling up at me.

“I am hungry Daddy...”

I bent down and scooped her up.

“I guess I have to feed you then. I think it’s Robby’s turn to choose the menu today !!”

She nodded, so we both looked at Robby.

“Tacos ??”

He asked hopefully.

“Okay... Mexican it is...”

I agreed.

Bright had a wistful look on his face.

“Awww... man. I want tacos too”

He looked for his wife among the crowd.

“Jenny !! Come on. We are eating Mexican. Sophie’s buying !!”

I looked at him with a done face but he smiled shamelessly.

On the way to the restaurant, I called Kong to see if he and Sammy wanted to join us, but no one answered. I tried not to worry.

Those two could be up to anything, or he could be ignoring me out of spite, because of what Sammy said to his Gramps. My phone vibrated as I pulled into the parking lot. I had a text.

Leave me alone sometimes Rojnapat... I am busy with planning to kidnap few kids tonight.

I laughed and put my phone away. I would find out what he was up to, in real, later.

Bright already had an order of cheese dip on the table to go with the chips and salsa. He grabbed Sophie and set her on his lap, trying to convince her that the chips were better dipped in both. She was adamant in her belief that only cheese was better.

“Someone has a birthday coming up I believe...”

I said looking at Robby.

“What do you want to do this year Robby ??”

“I want to go camping with you !!”

He had obviously thought about this before, the way he was ready with his wish in a second.

“Do you think Kong will let Sammy join us ??”

Robby asked.

“I will be sure, to ask him”

I promised. Sammy was a little mischievous, but he was really a good kid. I knew, it would be fun to take the two of them camping out by the lake, near the mountains. Of course Bright and Knott would probably end up coming too. They couldn’t resist our buddies bonding time.

Robby looked thoughtful for a moment.

“Maybe Kong should keep Sophie though, so she won’t be by herself.”

I laughed.

“We weren’t going to leave Sophie by herself, Robby. Your grandparents will probably want to keep her with them”

“I am not only worried about Sophie, Dad”

Robby sighed.

“I was thinking about Kong. If we take Sammy with us, who’s gonna stay with him ??”

My son was smarter than me... now, When did that happen ??

“Why don’t you ask him to join us too, please make the suggestion to Kong ?? I am sure he would be happy to know that you were thinking about him.”

I couldn’t help but be proud of him. I raised a good kid.

“Maybe you should do it then...”

Robby suggested.

“That way he will be more happy and maybe like you more.”

Scratch that. I raised a smartass.

Jenny got a kick out of it.

“Oh honey, it will take a lot more than that to impress that Suthiluck, I am afraid.”

“Hey !!”

Bright interjected.

“Kong may not like Arthit, but he likes not liking him, so in a way he does like him because he doesn’t like him”

“Did that make sense in your head ??”

Jenny asked, offering her son a teething biscuit.

“Nope...”

He replied.

“I just thought it would be fun to say it...”

Jenny just smacked his head, Bright groaned and kids laughed.

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After dinner I stopped and got kids some ice cream cones on the way home. I thought about calling Kong again, but I couldn’t think of a plausible reason. I could have asked about the camping trip, but we had decided that Robby would do that.

God... AM I trying to find excuses for calling him.... What's happening to me ??

I need to think about this.

I went upstairs to the toy room where Sophie was coloring and Robby was building things with Lego’s. I got down on the floor between them and played with Robby. I could build real houses even in my sleep, but his toy fortress made mine look like a hut. He claimed I needed to practice. I had to hold him down and tickle him for that one.

I was about to put to them to bed when my phone rang. Knott’s name was on the caller ID.

“Hello, Knott, what's up ??”

“It’s coming !!”

What the hell ??

“What’s coming ??”

I asked.

“The baby !! We are on our way to the hospital !!”

I heard Noor yelling in the background.

“Okay, I will see you there in a few”

I hung up and ran my fingers through my hair. I couldn’t take the kids to the hospital this late, and there was no way I couldn’t go. Bright and Knott were there with Krist, for the births of both Robby and Sophie, and Bright and I were there for Matt’s. We were together in all the thick and thin's of our lives.

An idea popped up in my mind, I smiled and called the person who was already at the forefront of my brain all the time these days.

“Didn’t I tell you to leave me alone sometimes, Rojnapat ??”

“Yes, You did...”

I chuckled.

“But I need your help. Noor is having the baby, so I need to go to the hospital. Is there anyway you can find it in your heart to watch over Robby and Sophie for me ??”

I was already packing them an overnight bag as we spoke.

“ME... !! Was Tanya busy or something ??”

“Very funny...”

I replied.

“I don’t know how long I will be out, so is it okay if they have to stay the night ??”

“You know it is completely okay. I am surprised you didn’t just show up already, See you in a few, Rojnapat”

Kong hung up as I finished packing.

“What’s going on Dad ??”

Robby asked, coming in, wearing his pajamas. Sophie was standing beside him clutching her plush dog.

“Aunt Noor is having the baby, so I have to go to the hospital. You and Sophie get to go to Kong’s”

I replied, picking up Sophie and leading them to the door. They both smiled at the news.

It was Sammy who opened the door when we got there. He and Robby squealed and hugged each other, after that they ran straight upstairs to his room, so I stepped inside with Sophie. I smiled when Kong came around the corner wearing a pair of lounge pants and a loose tee shirt.

“Hi Honey...”

He rolled his eyes and took Sophie from me.

“I should give you a spare key, since you come here too often...”

“You know, you like it...”

I teased, handing him the bag I packed for the kids.

He nodded with a smile.

“Thank you so much for doing this. I promise to make it up to you, Suthiluck...”

“Don’t worry about it”

Kong said, waving me off.

“It’s not like it’s an inconvenience or anything. You better get out of here. I promise to keep them alive and happy, but if you get them back discolored or tattooed I don’t want any complaints or involvement of cops ”

“Don't worry about that you have made a cop friend already, you will be fine”

I leaned in and kissed Sophie’s forehead, and before I could convince myself not to, I kissed Kong on the cheek too. Then I turned and ran to my car before he could get back to me for that.

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When I got to the hospital, I met my parents with Bright and Jenny in the waiting room. Knott was in the delivery room with Noor.

“How’s everything going ??”

“Perfectly...” My mom smiled.

“Knott was so panicked. He was running around like a crazy man”

“Where’s my grandchildren tonight ??”

My Dad asked knowingly.

“At Kong’s”

I replied, not able to keep the smile off my face.

“I like him...”

Jenny said. Everyone looked at her in shock.

“What ??”

She asked, offended.

“I do like some selected people, you know. If I ever needed a partner in crime, Kong would be the first person I would call.”

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We were only in the waiting room for about an hour when Knott burst in.

“It’s a boy !!”

We all knew it would be, but it was still exciting to hear. We were allowed back to see Noor then. she was looking so happy holding that little bundle of joy.

“Everyone meet, Leo Knott Thaklam”

Noor said quietly.

We took turns holding him.

“I am so happy for both of you guys”

I told Knott. I had never seen him prouder.

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I looked at my watch on the way to my car. It was almost midnight. I didn’t know if Kong would be up or not, so I sent him a text message.

It's a boy. 

A few minutes later my phone rang.

“Hello ??”

“Hey Arthit. How’s Noor ??”

I smiled

“She’s great. She and the baby both are healthy. How are the kids ?? They are not causing you any trouble, are they ??”

“Nope. I would have let you talk to them, but they have all passed out”

Seeing as how he was whispering I guessed he was in the room with kids.

“What time do you want me to come, get them in the morning ??”

There was a long pause.

“Kong ??”

“Why don’t you stop by your house, get some clothes, and come over ?? You can leave the kids here while you go to work, but I would rather not sleep out here with them by myself...”

I think my heart fluttered... as cheesy as that sounds. He wanted me to come stay the night.

“Out..!! where ??”

I asked.

“They convinced me to sleep in the tree house. Sammy and I finished it today. This is a pretty quiet neighborhood, but with nuts like Tanya on the loose I would feel safer with another adult here”

I chuckled.

“I will be right over”

I drove like a madman to get to my house. I showered and got ready for bed. Then I grabbed everything I would need for work the next day before going to Kong’s. He left a key hidden out front, for me to get in, so I slipped inside and locked the door behind me. I put my bag on the table and went outside to the backyard.

There was enough light to see, thanks to the moon and neighborhood security lights. I climbed the ladder to the tree house carefully. Though It seemed sturdy enough. I was truly impressed. When I peeked inside, I found all four of them asleep. Kong was against one wall, with Sophie snuggled into his side. Sammy was in the middle lying on his back with Robby lying on his stomach beside him. I smiled and squeezed into the space between Robby and the other wall.

“Rojnapat ??” .

Kong whispered.

“Go to sleep, Suthiluck. I will protect you from your crazy neighbors”

I teased quietly.

“Goodnight then Jhon Cena ”

Kong yawned.

I chuckled lightly.

“Sweet dreams. Kongpob”

I knew that sleeping in a tree house wasn’t going to be very comfortable. I was going to be sore the next day… but it was worth it.

🌞🌜🌞🌜🌞🌜🌞🌛🌞🌛🌞🌛🌞

A/N: Another update.... There will be a new entry in the next chapter.. wait for it.

Share your feedback about this chapter with me and I will be back with a new update soon. Till then stay safe and healthy 💖💖