Arthit

" Phi M.S " a female voice disturbed his noon nap.

"Phi M.S " the voice called again, albeit a little hesitant now.

Arthit wondered if the girl knew that she was insulting him by calling M.S. Some people did that, some genuinely didn't know the full form of the nickname bestowed upon him by his former friend cum ex boyfriend.

To test her, he  intentionally took his time to answer. Raising his head, he stretched his left arm that he had used as pillow, and clenched and uncleached his fingers, rotated the wrist in circular motion . Then did a full routine of spine stretching and neck massage  before sparing her a glance.

He observed the girl, she was standing quietly, by the side of his desk, more and more uncomfortable by each passing second, her feet tapping inaudibly while she bit her lip. A boy, perhaps her friend was also standing silently at his side.

" What's the matter ? " Arthit asked.

" Sorry...Phi." The girl squeaked, almost at the verge of crying.

" What may I help you with Nong ? " Arthit mellowed his baritone, he quickly slapped his palm over his mouth, barely restraining a yawn.

" Sorry Phi. I will come again, later. "

" Its okay. I am awake anyways." Arthit waved dismissively. " Spill"

" I ....I need help ...tutoring actually " the girl stuttered.

" which semester ? "

" second  "

" That's 2000 baht per subject . No bargaining. "

The girl remained silent.

" how may subjects are you lagging in ? " Arthit asked.

The girl casted her eyes down, her toes dug the tiles in vain while she bit his lips. "

" How may subjects , nong? "

" please be her boyfriend phi. " The boy spoke up.

Arthit's eyes flew open " excuse me . "

" I can pay you advance Phi... I have 8000 baht right now "

Arthit remained dumbstruck, staring slack-jawed at the incredulity.

" Please Phi.... tell me your fee... I will arrange it in advance phi. Please be her pretend boyfriend.  "

Arthit gritted his teeth, but before he could say anything,  a voice rang in the room.

" Don't waste your time, nong. Go away."

Kongpob  Suthiluck, the recluse of their class walked in with the regal aura that usually surrounded him. And with the ease that made Arthit jealous he walked right beside him , flanking him like a bodyguard flanked a VIP — alert and ready to jump in if need be.

Arthit could feel the cold nomyen bottle that Kongpob usually brought for him, touching his thigh. Arthit sighed internally. Kongpob Suthiluck got Nomyen in discount today too ? Where the fuck is this store which sells pink milk in discount almost all the month ?

Whatever ! He was getting it for free . It was anyways better than paying , right ?

He wasn't shameless or greedy you see. He did try paying Kong in past but Kong always protested saying " he got it at free on two cold coffee. "

Further protest always led to Kongpob threatening to not bring him any of that pink milk in the future. Neither was he disclosing the shop's name, so Arthit could buy from there.

It actually led to very exhausting game last year. Determined to discover the shop, Arthit visited every shop in the campus and around it but none had discount offers or pink milk tasting like the one Kong brought. So, Arthit decided to finally accept the defeat and reap the benefits given to him. He sometimes explained concepts to Kong for free though ( in his mind, it was payment for nomyen. )

" I said go away, " Kong bellowed at the girl which distracted Arthit from his pinkmilk soliloquy. The poor girl, most certainly frightened, quickly ran out the door but the boy remained.

"you are giving me headache ... Arthit will not be your boyfriend" he heard Kong say.

" Why ? " the male voice sounded agitated,  " She is ready to pay him. He charges for his services right. We are offering money. "

" He doesn't want any " Kong declared.

" If it's less , I can offer him more. He does anything for money , right ? "

Arthit clenched his fist, if not for the CCTV camera installed in class1q , he would have punched him straight in the face.

"Just go away. " Arthit waved, wordlessly snatching the nomyen from Kongpob's hand, he took a long sip.

" Why ? " The boy , yet unnamed , argued. "What's your fee, name it. You just have to pretend for few days ...it's not a big deal."

" Then do it yourself " Kong spat.

" I cannot. " The boy glared " or I would have done it . "

" And that concerns us , how? " Kong asked. He had suddenly seemed to have taken the responsibility of chasing them away, Arthit didn't mind anyways. Sipping the cold drink, he sat at his bench and took out his sketch book , taking the opportunity to doodle these live models infront of him.

" I am paying " the boy iterated.

" I too am suddenly in need of a pretend boyfriend and I am willing to pay 50000 . Does it Trump your offer, Nong? Or should I raise the stake higher? " Arthit heard Kong argue and he was suddenly interested in conversation.

Why the fuck Kongpob Suthiluck was this invested in his business ? Does that mean.....Kongpob Suthiluck likes him? Like Is a big word... perhaps , he is attracted to Arthit ? Arthit was aware he wasn't bad to look at . He was okay. Handsome even !

" Phi...."The boy turned to Arthit
"  please help my friend phi. The asshole she is with, treats her like a venting object. I need you to show her how a real boyfriend would treat her. Please..." The boy fell to his knees, his hands folded, eyes full of desperation.

" Why don't you do it yourself ? " Kong butted in again.

" I cannot pretend date her Phi..." The boy hung his head " I love her, I want her to see how  a man who lovers her for real will treat her like a queen, cherish her like a treasure. "

" And I am not that man, Nong" Arthit replied softly. " I don't love her, my actions would have that genuinely reciprocated love. It would still be a shame. And somehow if she developed a soft corner for me, It would be a disaster again. Because even if you may be ready to sacrifice your love, I am gay, there's no way I could fall for her. She would be devastated again. "

The boy remained silent, his shoulders slouched in defeat.

" Why are you still here ? " Kong asked " Didn't you understand ? You are old enough to have drawn this conclusion by yourself "

" Is he your boyfriend? " The boy asked Arthit .

Arthit glared at Kongpob " Shut up " .
It made Kong instantly shut up buy he kept glaring at the boy.

" Confess to her. If you are really in love, don't wait for right time, make the time right. " Arthit smiled at the boy.

Nodding gratefully, the boy walked away.

Arthit stretched his legs on to the next seat and kept doodling. He could feel Kongpob standing beside him. Most probably trying to peak in his sketchbook so Arthit snapped it shut. He wasn't ready to show anyone his pathetic doodling. 

" Why don't you show your art ? " Kongpob asked.

" Because , I don't want to. "

" But, why ? I bring you pink milk every day. I look after your stuff when you nap in afternoon. I even helped you chase that girl away. You also do not scowl at me now ..."

" So ? "

" I did everything your friend Knot does for you. You even smiled at me like you do for Ai Knot. Doesn't that mean I am your friend ? Why don't you show me your sketchbook when you showed it to Ai Knot"

" When did I show him? "

" Last week "

" He snatched it , Kongpob! "

" But I don't want to snatch it." Kong frowned, " Friend should share their secrets willingly. Forcing you will be wrong. "

" We are just classmates Kongpob! "

" But, we behave as friends. "

" And friends share secrets right ? What secret of yours have you shared with me Kongpob ? "

"None." Kong answered..

" Do you see my point. Sketchbook is my secret I don't wanna share with others. "

" I didn't tell you because you never asked any secrets. "

" Didn't that tell you that I am not interested in your secrets. " Arthit deadpanned.

" But I am interested in your secrets. "

" If you wanna talk nonsense ...go away...you are giving me headache " Arthit grumbled, ready to go back to his nap

" He is mean sometimes but my brain doesn't seem to mind. " Kong murmured which puzzled Arthit more.

" Here,  take this " Kong offered a medicine " it will help with the headache "

Arthit wanted to lash out but expressions on Kong's face were so genuine that he kept silent .

" I can tell you any of  my secret, if you show me your sketchbook. "

He didn't understand what game Kongpob was playing. But he knew that stubborn pighead will pester him till he gives in. He had almost knocked Kong's teeth off when Kong first offered him pink milk. But this weird fella had somehow made him addicted to those pinkmilks.

" Fine ...you have only one chance...tell me your deepest darkest secret that can ruin you.. I will decide if it is worth sharing my sketchbook with you ."

Kong closed his eyes, perhaps thinking which secret to unveil. It gave time to notice his facial features. Kong wasn't classically handsome but there was something regal in the way he carried himself. The natural charm, which forced people to give him a second look.

The triumphant smile on Kongpob's lips caused Arthit to loose the smile on his own face, he schooled his expressions to blank.

Arthit straightened himself ready to listen Kongpob's secret but instead Kong fished his mobile from his pant pocket and unlocking the screen he kept doing something on the phone.

Arthit's mobile pinged. Kongpob must have sent some cheesy message to irk him. Arthit was ready to lash out but seeing the message his mouth went slack. The message was from his bank, indicating his account had been credited with 30000 baht.

"If that girl would have pushed I would have really deposited this money in your account to book you in advance. "

" The fuck ? "

"Don't be her boyfriend. Be mine. "

"Pretend Boyfriend, Kongpob!"

" Then pretend to be mine. "

" I don't want to be anyone's boyfriend. Pretend or real. Now stop this nonsense.  Take your money back ..." Arthit said , resenting Kongpob's  money back to his account.

" Sorry, if I offended you... but I felt my chest squeezing when the girl asked you to be her boyfriend. You were even considering it for a moment. "

" I am called money slut for a reason Kongpob! If money is being offered, I will always consider it..."

" Those people who call you MS are stupid Arthit. You are MSP - most skilled person of our class. You can tutor students, draw lifelike paintings of people, write prize winning poetries. You win almost every debate. You are best three point shooter we have. I don't think anyone can manage all this while still maintaing rank in class. "

"Flattery isn't going to get you anywhere. "

" I am not flattering you. I didn't even know you till the result of first semester,  you scored first while doing all thus, I was ranked second. I have lost many night sleeps thinking how do you do that ?
I don't consider it bad if you are charging money for your paintings or sharing your notes or tutoring students. They should be feeling honored to be spending time with you, even if they have to pay money for it. I will gladly pay you, if you wanna charge . I will even offer you more.... please don't consider anyone but me. "

Arthit laughed humorlessy   " only you can express your desire, appreciate me and call me slut in the same sentence , without actually saying it Kongpob! "

" Sorry if I offended you Arthit." Kongpob said sincerely. "Sometimes , I say things that hurt others and I don't even understand. Please believe me, I meant no disrespect. I just want you to consider me as potential friend . And I also want to tell you , you may be MS (money slut) in every one's eyes. In mine you are MSP —most skilled person I have seen till now. "

" You didn't offend me.  I have been propositioned worse Kongpob. Don't worry about that. " Arthit said, his eyes sparkled mischievously as he smirked at Kong
" Most skilled person huh ? I like it "

" So we are friends now ? " Kongpob asked, hope shining in those brown orbz.

" No."

" Why ? "

" Because you haven't seen my sketchbook yet "

Kongpob grinned, snatching the sketchbook from Arthit's hand.
But he stopped before opening.

" I have your permission, right ? " Kong asked.

" All except the last page  "

" I drew my long time crush.."

Kong groaned audibly  " Why did you tell me this ? Now, I wanna see my competition. "

Arthit raised a brow " Kongpob Suthiluck  knows flirting too? "

" Not yet. But I can learn if you want me too. "

" No thank you. You are terribly flirty as it is. "

"Can I really not see it ? " Kong asked, almost pouting.

Arthit smirked " Maybe you can, if you tell me the restaurant's name . "

" Okay, " Kong nodded, all giddy like a kid at candy store. " It doesn't have a name but I can take you there. "

..........