Arthit curled his toes, his hand nervously playing with Kongpob's sleeves, his heels kept tapping on the floor.

" Its good news Thit! " Kong smiled at him, whole teeth at display.

" What !" Arthit asked wide eyed. " Good news?"

"Yep" Kong handed the letter to him " They had asked you to attend the meeting today at 10 : 00 AM to address your complaint against bullying and also they apologize about lack of interference from administration.."

" But I never complained —"

" We did on your behalf. " Kong informed, proud.

" But why ? "

" Because it was right thing to do. "

" Good. " Arthit stood up " Now let's go and take that complaint back. "

" No." Kong stood in a flash " Why would you want that?"

" Because that's what I want  "

" You need justice. Don't you want to see them pay ? "

" All the bullies were beaten black and blue. They got their punishments. Now it's time to put it behind our backs and look forward" Arthit replied , averting Kongpob's eyes.

" No. Arthit. You can't do that. " Kong held him, both his palms curled around Arthit's shoulder "I won't let you. "

" You won't let me ? " Arthit scoffed

Kong nodded. " I won't.  It's not right thing."

Arthit clenched his jaw, his hands fisted at sides " Just because I am letting you  fuck me doesn't mean  you get to take decisions for me Suthiluck. " he shouted.
" My life. My decisions. Mine. "

" No I don't. But I have all right to beg you to not take stupid step just because you are afraid and can't see you are not all alone this time around. " Kong squeezed Arthit's shoulder with his hand " Thit, you are not a coward. You can't give up before fighting. "

"Fighting ? Whose fight is this Kongpob ? This isn't mine. This is fight between your egos.
Teenathat and likes think just because they have all the money in the world they get to fuck my life over, You and the others just want to one up them because you can take them and it hurts your ego to see them dominating your area.
I don't want to be part of this pissing contest because if I do then the most affected person will be me. "

" Thit — "

" Show me one single scholarship student or even students from not oh so rich family stupidly parading infront of administrative building ? You know what they are doing ?  They are studying in that time Kongpob. Doing what I should do right now, must do right now.
We toast our asses in libraries and study halls to surpass the top rankers so their CV will stand out a little. That's our life. We, common folk are nowhere.
It's their ego vs yours Kongpob .
They had done atrocities in your territory and you don't want to let it go unpunished.
Where am I in this ?
I just want to be an engineer . Periodt. If I get that by groveling at Thaksirat's feet. I am gonna do that. Taking back this complaint is nothing , not even a slap on my wrist."

"Arthit , I won't deny that they had hurt my pride. My great grandfather had built this university for equality of status. The rich, the poor and everyone would get same kind of education, live in same kind of environment, breathe same air.

Indeed Thaksirat's blatant hit to the core belief of this university and stabbed our pride but not  my ego Arthit.
They had no right ruining a person's career and life. I can't just sit and let them do that. You think I am not endangered in this? That we are some kind of fairy tale Kings to have everything and lose nothing ?
They who have so much, can lose so much too, Arthit. You know that fat kid Po's grand father ?Khun Rattanakosin.. He is aiming for position of defence minister. And this complaint can be a fatal blow to his ambitions. He can loose even the election let alone the post over this scandal.
What do you think he will do ?
What do you think he is doing right now ? "

Seeing horror written on Arthit's face, Kong smiled. " He will ruin my career even before it starts. He is already sniffing around, searching to dig any old scandals I may have caused or any kind of dirt he can get on my family and he has almost reached my medical records.
What do you think will happen then ? "

Arthit froze.

" People will never want a person as business head who has difficulty understanding. Emotionless and less emotionally adapt are same thing for them.."

" No " Arthit took a step back, his hands shook , Kong Intertwined his own with Arthit's.  " Rattanakosin is dangerous , P'Time (Teenathat) has told me some things about him. Let's take that complaint back Kongpob. Please. I beg you... " Arthit folded his hands infront of chest in prayer , a lone tear slipped through the locked dam of his heart and it just gave way to more.
" Don't...please. beg you. Don't go ...against him.." Arthit hiccuped. " I can't see anything happen to you. He kills people. He had killed many. He can't...not you. "

Kong made him sit on bed. Arthit was full blown ugly crying and not listening to reason. Kong's own pulse sky rocketed thinking he had triggered Arthit, and this may be onset of another panick attack.

While dating Teenathat, they once had a discussion about a news. A cop had committed suicide after a big chunk of black money was found from his house. Teenathat had told him that cop had started digging around Rattanakosin and he was too close to the truth, so Rattanakosin made the arrangement to discredit the fiercely honest character of the cop. While they failed to stage live acceptance of bribe, they did suceed in planting black money and making a raid happen at officers house.
When his kids were threatened, the officer had to commit suicide without ever trying to prove his innocence.

It wasn't a secret among the red lanes, that half the brothels and dance bars and such establishments in the city had Rattanakosin's protection.

Rattankosin was all shades of white and black and gray in between.

After sipping a bit of water, Arthit gathered courage to tell him all that he knew about Rattanakosin.

" He is not someone to be meddled with Kongpob. Please.. let's just get the complaint back. I want my normal life.
I want to be an engineer. Put my head down and get through. I don't want to be a hero. I am not strong. And I can't see you taking against Rattanakosin and be ruined , I lo—" Arthit clamped his mouth shut. What was he thinking to be using L word ?

" I care " he concluded. " Yeah, I care for you too much to let you go and ruin your life. Anyways , it was me they tried to bully and even physically violated, mentally tortured. It was me. It was my fight. It isn't your fight."

Kongpob's hands fisted in his lap, he put it behind his back to not let Arthit see him counting with his fingers to stamp his fury down.

"It is Thit. It's my fight because I am part of the society and I don't like the thought pollution in it. It's my fight because I think it's not your fault to be born as you are, you didn't choose a brothel to be born in. I didn't choose to be born emotionally defected. It's wrong to judge on the basis of thing you had no choice in. I know that, believe that and I am going to convince people of that.."

" And " Kong smiled "its my fight because I am your classmate, I have undergone SOTUS with you. I had the chance and honor to see your character, grit and determination and no classmate of ours,nor me would listen to the false accusation being laid on you. I care because, after knowing you, after knowing your background, I have researched and found out that not everyone child of prostitute is you, not everyone is as proficient in multiple subjects, not everyone is as skilled artist but they have potential and they want out. It will be blasphemy if I don't give them hand when  I can...
And it will be bigger deceit if I can't create even a semblance of acceptance for them in the area I have influence in, my family have influence in . They will someday come here and I don't want another Arthit under bullying, mentally tortured and physically violated. Not when I can do something to stop it. "

" You don't need to be a hero Kongpob.." Arthot shouted. " You can't make everything right. If they want out, they can do it themselves. "

" Can they Arthit ? " Kong asked " Your mother must have somehow made sure you come out without consequences. Do you think every child has got that privilege?"

That shut Arthit up effectively.

" I have reached out to the institutions working for them and they say it's not easy to get these children out of there. "

He never thought about it that way. Indeed, he didn't get a backlash from the brothel. He was so occupied in other things, he rarely had any chance or inclination to think back to his old life, especially after his mother's death.
All the links from brothel and red light area had broken forever, and he wanted to keep it that way.

"Why can't we just be normal people Kongpob ? Normal students, studying, enjoying each other's time and building our careers ? "

" Because, normal is overrated darling. " Kong winked. Then he got serious " Thit, we are normal. Only thing different about us is we have a chance at making a change. It up to us we take it or leave it. I will understand if you take a step back. Even take the complaint back. Yes, I wouldn't like it, but I have already written all the reasons you would want to be out of this fight. I will read it again and given time I will be totally fine with it.
What I would like to request you is — don't make me back out . It's good that I know the risks ahead of time. I will prepare accordingly. I can't turn my back when I can help. That's not me. "

" Is that what it is ? " Arthit asked " Am I a charity case to you ? An underdog you took under your wings because you couldn't turn your back when I needed help ? "

Am I replaceable? That's what he wanted to ask but he didn't have the courage to hear the answer even if he somehow gathers courage to voice the question.

" Do I think you need help ? Yes. You need to be under observation of a general physician and you also need to see a psychologist.
For the answer of your first question, ask that to yourself Thit. Do you think you are a charity case or  I have ever treated you anyway other than one treats their friend and boyfriend ? "

" boyfriend ? "

" Yeah. I know I haven't proposed you yet. With all that going on in college and in our lives, I haven't yet got time to prepare anything but I have jotted it down in my to do list. It's in the top priority column. But that's not the point. "

Kong took out a pocket diary from his back pocket " If you think am treating you wrong or you don't like anything I do,  you need to tell me now... I will have to jot it down , with so much going on, I think I will forget otherwise. "

Arthit just stood gobsmacked through all this rant.

Boyfriend.
He couldn't wrap his head around the word. When did they become a couple ?

He lifted his lashes and looked at Kongpob .

" Why ? "

" Why , what ? " Kong asked.

" Why boyfriend? We already fuck"

Kong scratched back of his head " Its too early to marry Thit. We will have to give time to my family. Even us being a couple will be hard for them to swallow. We will have to give them time na .."

Marry ... Arthit stilled hearing the marriage word. He didn't mean it like that. Does Kong even know the meaning of marriage ? He hadn't heard the rest . He didn't need to — not to hear or believe the lies of better future — love,family,happiness were for normal people.

Kong saw Arthit stilling as soon as he said his family will need time.

" Thit " he cupped Arthit's face in both his palms " They know we have physical relations but it will be hard for them to understand we can have emotional one too. We need to give them some time na .."

Arthit sneered " why? Because I am only  good for fuck ? And not worthy enough to be seen with their heir . "

Kong smiled blankly "You got it all wrong Thit. It's because they don't think their heir can ever be normal enough to have a relationship. Can't understand emotions , remember ! How can a person who has difficulty understanding emotions will have a relationship ? "

Arthit instantly squeezed Kongpob's hand in show of miniscule  support he could offer . "

"I know and I want you too to know that they will be staunchly opposing this relationship and they will try every tactic to make us believe this won't last. And the reason won't be you but me. So always keep that in mind Thit . Here, I am the problem. "

" You always have solution to everything. How can you be a problem, Kong ? "

Kong bit his lip " Give me a second. My brain short circuit whenever you call me Kong. "
After few seconds Kong continued

"I understand emotions but charts and statistics, Thit. I am as rigid as a wood plank in regards of emotion. They wouldn't want me to further damage you which is a high possibility and a major reason why I haven't already asked you to be in a relationship. I need more research, more study before I could come up with a plan that will guarantee high success for us. "

Arthit didn't know what came over him but he kissed Kongpob.
Full blown, lip smacking  tongue inserting, teeth clashing kiss with tears running down his eyes, wetting Kongpob's cheeks and trailing down their skin, culminating in their mouths, flavoring their kiss with Arthit's tears and fears, his surprise , his joys and woes.

"No one ever did this. Your diary writing and priority jotting should be boring as fuck. Why do I find sexy as hell, Kongpob ?"

Kong knitted his brows " How would I know ? "

Arthit chuckled, raising on his toes , he quickly pecked Kongpob's forehead. " You will be death of me Suthiluck.  "

Kong frowned " Don't talk of death. I told you, I want to be your life. "

Sincere spark in Kongpob's eyes forced Arthit to  believe him — just a little.

......

Kongpob sat in the car . He kept flexing his fingers, curling them in to a fist and unfurling them.

While Arthit's desire to take back the complaint didn't sit well with Kongpob, he knew it was wrong to force Arthit.
It was indeed Arthit's life and Arthit's call to make.
Besides, seeing the deep scars last encounters with the dark face of society had left on Arthit, a part of Kong even welcomed this decision of Arthit — the tiniest part.

" Thit " he called the man tapping his feet on floor of the car.. " There are too many variables there for me to ensure your saftey and its making me want to kidnap you so you won't have to face them . I am sweating too much and am not liking the feeling. "

" Its not your job to keep me safe Kongpob. "

" I have made it my job. Someone needs to care for your mental and physical wellbeing because you don't "

Arthit remained silent .

" No matter what anyone says. Always remember, it's your choice, your decision to take.  You get to do what you want. It's your call. "

" Are you really okay with that ? " Arthit asked
Kong nodded. " Yep. This isn't justice mission aborted, it's avenging postponed..
Teenathats are stupid and arrogant bunch, they will make mistake, we can get them anytime. Especially if you withdraw your complaint, they will feel like it's their fear making you take a step back rather than your need to focus on your career...

Rattanakosin is different, he will try to find ulterior motive in anything you do. He will try to discredit you, he will definitely  provoke you. Just keep in mind he is a frustrated cat because the bowl of cream he was after is suddenly hanging too high for him to jump catch and no matter what you choose his opponent will use it to malign his name. He will blame it on you, don't get provoked, don't be afraid."

" same Kongpob. " Arthit replied . " Your hero syndrome is visible from a mile long, keep it under control. And promise me you will do nothing to stand out. Infact you will stand back no matter what Rattanakosin's veiled threat is. "

" I can promise you to do nothing to stand out but if he threatens you, I will never stand back, not unless I am dead and six feet under the ground. " Kong vowed,his eyes blazing.

" Kongpob ! " Arthit chided.

" Arthit ! " Kong returned in same tone.

"You won't do a thing."

" will you stand back if he threatens me,Arthit ? " Kong asked.

Arthit averted his eyes, he looked out of the window on his side. " Let's pray the situation doesn't come to that. "

Kong nodded.

" In case you go ahead with the complaint, don't give any opposition party a confirmation to join their rally or give any interview. And don't give in to any veiled threat or bribe or anything. They need you and they will pay out of their behinds to keep you at their side. And no matter how lovely the promise They, don't believe them. They are snakes,don't let your wall down any moment. "

Arthit nodded, he reached for Kongpob's thigh and squeezed " Take deep breaths. Everything will be okay. "

" And if at any moment you think you need out, just tap my wrist three times. Nothing is worth disturbing your mental peace. The moment you feel anything triggering, we are getting out of there."

" Same Kongpob." Arthit met his gaze
" Don't think I haven't noticed your anxiety. The moment you think too many variables are in to play. You tap my wrist three times and we are out. No matter who the fuck tries to keep us there.  "

Kongpob nodded.

The car halted and the driver turned to them, " We are here, Khun " he announced..

Kong fidgeting in his seat. " We reached"

" Yeah. " Arthit hummed..seeing Kong not climbing out of the car, Arthit turned to the driver.

" Khun can you give us a few moment ? "

" Yeah.." The driver left them alone.

" Kong " Arthit covered Kongpob's shaking hands

" Too many variables " Kong mumbled, rocking harder " Can't make sure saftey. "

" You don't need to — "

" But I must. What kind of boyfriend am I if I can't keep you safe ? "

" Do you not believe me to keep myself safe ? " Arthit asked.

" You don't know how to ask for help. "

" Never had anyone to rely on."

" I am here."

" I will keep in mind."

Kong nodded, rocking harder in his seat.

Arthit Intertwined their hands and kissed Kongpob's knuckle " I promise , I will keep in mind. "

Kongpob's rocking subsided slowly.
Arthit tapped Kongpob's shoulder , Kong lifted his gaze " You got this partner. " Arthit smiled.

Komgpob smiled back.
"Partner, let's get this "

.....

A/N :they will be jumping in to hot tea in next update.

  Is it going too slow ?