Today Kong's dad was coming over to meet Arthit and Kong was so nervous about their meeting.
He doesn't know how Arthit will react with his father's presence and he was definitely scared that his dad will read something between Arthit and him.

He was a very perceptive type of person

Kerkerai arrived right on time, greeting Kong with his typical

"Hey...kiddo."

"Please don't call me that, Dad."

Kerkerai gave a smirk before pulling him into a side hug.

"So where is HE ??"

he asked

"He's watching TV, come on"

Kong smiled at his dad and led him into the living room.

Arthit was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to his chest, eyes fixed on the cartoon images flashing across the screen.

"Arthit...."

Kong called softly. But Arthit doesn't respond. Kong and his dad stepped closer to Arthit, and kong layed his hand on Arthit's shoulder

"Arthit...."

Arthit reluctantly moved his gaze from the television to Kong's face, then quickly to Kerkerai......
Arthit scooted away from them, with confused face

"Arthit....this is my Dad"

Kong said in a low voice

Arthit continued to look back and forth between them until Kerkerai reached out to put his arm around Kong's shoulder.

Anger flared on Arthit's face, and he reached out for Kong's hand, pulling him from Kerkerai's embrace.

Kong stumbled awkwardly, landing on Arthit's lap.

"What is going on, Kong?"

Kerkerai asked, and kong can see from his raised brows that his dad was really surprised

Arthit has wrapped his arms around kong, helding kong tightly against himself.

"I don't know, Dad, but would you mind backing up ?? I don't want to upset Arthit any more than he already is"

"I just want you safe, kiddo"

His dad replied

"I'm fine, Dad. Arthit is just trying to protect me"

"He's jealous,"

A voice interjected

Kerkerai and Kong, both turned to Maria.

Kong was so used to having her around that he forgot she was there.

"Jealous ?? Of what?"

Kong questioned

Maria set down the magazine she was reading, her expression exasperated

"He is jealous of your dad"

"Why on earth would Arthit be jealous of My dad ??"

Kong asked

"Arthit had your undivided attention since he has been with you. I don't think he wants to share it with anyone "

Maria states.

"He shares my attention with Roger everyday"

"And how often do you hug Roger ??"

Kong could feel the surprise on his face when he realised he has never hugged Roger in front of Arthit.

Was it really possible that Arthit was jealous of Kong's affection towards his dad ??

Kong wasn't really sure what to thought about this.

Kong kept his questions to himself for now and turned his attention back to Arthit.

He was still sitting in Arthit's lap, and he was still shooting daggers at Kerkerai

Kong pressed his palm to Arthit's cheek, forcing his eyes to meet Kong's

"It's okay, Arthit Everything is alright."

Anger faded from his face at Kong's touch, replaced by a look kong can only describe as adoration. A dimpled smile graced Arthit's face and his eyes sparkle. And Kong's heart started to beat wildly in his chest as he returned Arthit's smile.

Arthit brought his one hand to Kong's face, his thumb brushing lightly across Kong's bottom lip.
Kong's stomach was doing back flips and his breathing became shallow. Kong wanted so badly to lean forward and pressed his lips to Arthit's.

Kerkerai cleared his throat and that stopped Kong from doing it.

"Kong we need to talk, I'm going to wait in the kitchen, come soon"

Kerkerai told kong, pointedly staring at his eyes.

"I'll join you"

Maria said

Embarrassment coloured Kong's face as he watched his father's and Maria's retreating backs.

Arthit seemed oblivious to what just happened. He simply began playing with Kong's fingers.

"What are you doing to me, Arthit ??"

Kong mumbled to himself.

He felt as though Arthit has some secret power over him. He doesn't fully understand this, but something is pulling him towards Arthit, Constantly.

Kong threw his arms around Arthit's neck in a fierce hug, causing Arthit to toppled backwards.

Giggles erupted from both of them as Arthit's back hit the floor.

With Kong's body splayed across Arthit's, Kong dosen't feel like his caregiver at the moment.

His mind spinned with questions as they layed there looking at each other, both of them breathing a bit heavier than normal.

Would it really be so wrong, if Kong kiss Arthit ??

Will Arthit understand ??

Will it confuse him ??

Will it confuse Kong ??

So many questions.......
questions that seem to have no answers.

Sighing loudly, Kong brushed his hand along Arthit's jaw and dropped a simple kiss to his forehead. Arthit rewarded him with a brilliant smile, leaving Kong's heart and body craving for more.

*****************

"Are you sure you don't want another sandwich, Dad?"

"I'm fine, Kong. I need to go back soon, I have an important meeting in the evening"

Kong swallowed his disappointment at his father's words. He was hoping he would spend more time with his dad. Kerkerai has drowned himself irrevocably, in his work after Kong's mother, Tanya has died in a car accident.

Kong took a quick moment to hug his dad while Arthit was distracted, having his lunch.

"Thanks for dropping by dad, Have you asked Uncle Charlie about Arthit ??"

Kong asked

"Yeah, I almost forgot. Charlie found several cases with the name Arthit. Few of them are around the city and between 14 to 18 years ago"

"Do you think he will be able to find something about Arthit ??"

"I'm not sure. With no other details besides his name, it's quite difficult"

"Are there any pictures associated with those cases?"

Maria asked suddenly

Kerkerai shifted his focus to Maria.

" I will ask about that to him for sure, but do you think Arthit would be able to identify anything from the pictures "

"He might be able to. I'm going to try hypnotherapy on him. Visual images are very powerful. There is a chance that photos combined with hypnosis could get him to speak."

Kong tried to push down his excitement. If all of this works, Arthit could be talking very soon. Kong turned his attention to Arthit, watching him munch happily on his lunch.

Kong couldn't wait to hear Arthit's voice.

Maria walked back to pickup her bag and pulled out a small box

"Here's my card. Just email those pictures by tomorrow, and if you can think of anything else, give me a call anytime."

"I will ask Charlie to Stop by here at some time, I think he will be able to help you more, if you talk to him about these things, directly "

Maria smiled at Kerkerai

"Yeah that would be great "

With that Kerkerai turned to Kong and waved his bye to him, and Arthit too.

Kong made his way over to the table, taking a seat across from Arthit, trying desperately not to think about the results of the upcoming hypnosis session.

******************

Kong was up with the sun, excited for today, for Arthit's hypnosis. All night long he tossed and turned, his brain rehashing the evening's events and wondering about all of today's possibilities.

Kong tried not to let his nerves show during breakfast. He doesn't want to alert Arthit with his uneasiness, Kong wanted him as calm as possible.

Maria arrived at nine, her briefcase and a laptop in tow. She has asked Roger to be prepared in case Arthit has a panic attack and needs to be sedated.

Sitting in Roger's living room wasn't what kong was expecting for Arthit's hypnosis. He has been expecting Arthit and Maria to be shut away in Arthit's bedroom, a prospect kong was none too happy about. So, the fact that Arthit, Roger, Maria, and kong were all sitting in the living room together was a source of relief for Kong.

Arthit and kong were seated side by side on the couch. Maria has asked Kong to be part of Arthit's hypnosis session, She said that kong could be crucial in keeping Arthit calm.

"Kong, I want you to take Arthit's hand. It's important that he remain comfortable and calm. When you feel he's ready, direct his attention to the laptop and we will start."

Kong threw a look at Roger, from where he leaned against the wall, Roger gave him a small nod which Kong returned to Maria.

Kong's hands were shaking when he laced his fingers through Arthit's

Maria turned on the laptop, drawing Arthit's and Kong's attention to the screen.

The image before them was one of a single drop breaking the surface of an unknown body of water, rippling waves starting small and spreading out larger and larger until they fade into nothing.

"Arthit...... I want you to concentrate on the screen. Watch the ripples in the water as each ring grows."

Maria's voice was smooth and quiet. Kong appreciates how she was speaking to Arthit like an adult, despite the fact that he doesn't understand her.

"Let your body relax. Feel the calmness wash over you, starting from your head and moving down through you."

Arthit was watching the screen intently, all his attention focused on that drop of water.

The constant drip..... drip.....drip..... The ever-widening circles were pulling Kong in, making his thoughts fizzy.

"Kong !!!!!"

Maria snapped her fingers in front of kong, getting his attention.

"Try not to watch the laptop. We don't want you to be hypnotized too"

Shaking his head to clear his mind, kong turned all his attention to Arthit.

He was still watching the screen, but his body was tense.

"Arthit needs to relax more. Any suggestions ??"

Maria asked from Kong

It was Kong's turn to step up and help with the process.

"Arthit..."

Kong ran his fingers along Arthit's jaw as he called his name.

He turns his enchanting hazel eyes to kong. Kong's fingers traced the contours of his face...across his cheekbone, down his nose till they landed on his lips. Arthit's warm breaths brush past his fingertips, sending shivers down Kong's spine.

Focus...he need to focus. It would be so easy to get lost in him, but Kong needs to help him.

Taking a deep breath and focusing all his energy on the task at hand, kong moved his hand from Arthit's tempting mouth to pat his thigh.

Arthit reacted immediately, scooting along the couch until he was able to rest his head in Kong's lap.

Maria tapped her manicured nail on the laptop screen, drawing Arthit's gaze back to the water droplet.

Arthit visibly relaxed when kong started to comb his fingers through Arthit's hair, and Maria picked up where she left off.....

her soothing tone filling the room.

In a matter of minutes Arthit's breathing evens out, like he was asleep, though Kong can see his eyes remains open.

"Arthit, I want you to reach back in your mind. Reach back to a time when you were speaking. Let the words fill your mind. I'm going to start showing you different pictures on the laptop. Say any word that comes to your mind."

Maria's voice was still calm and low.

Anticipation hung thick in the air.

Will he speak ??

What will he say ??

The water droplet disappears, replaced by the image of a Smiley softball sitting in the grass.

Arthit remained silent. Kong wasn't sure what he expected to happen, but he was hoping for some reaction.

"Ball....."

Maria said the word slowly..... enunciating carefully

There was no response from Arthit

Maria changed the image again, to one of a brilliant image of sunshine illuminating a tree.

Arthit made a low humming noise, but his lips stayed shut.

"Reach, Arthit. Find the word,"

Maria encouraged him

Silence.........

"Tree..."

She told him again

Maria clicked to the next picture,
A golden, floppy-eared puppy.

"Puh...."

Arthit's voice was barely above a whisper and it wasn't even a full word, but Kong can swear it was the most beautiful sound he has ever heard.

Kong wanted to hug him and cry and cheer, but Maria kept going. Kong felt a slight burn of anger at her, for ignoring Arthit's progress.

She clicked to the next image. This one, of a man in his mid-thirties with sandy blond hair and dark brown eyes.

Arthit has no reaction at all.

"This is one of the photos Officer Charlie E-mailed me."

Kong acknowledged Maria's comment with a nod, and turned his focus back to Arthit.

The next picture pops up, showing a cherry red lollipop.

"Kuh...."

Arthit's voice was stronger this time.

Kong held his breath, waiting for him to continue.

"Kuh...dee"

Kong has to collect every ounce of his self control to not to burst into tears, he was so proud of Arthit.

"Good..."

Kong tried to encourage Arthit

"Shhh, don't disrupt him."

Kong was a bit taken aback by Maria's harsh tone, but he stayed quite

"Keep reaching, Arthit, you're so close,"

Maria insisted

A new image fills the screen, a kind-faced woman with caring hazel eyes, wavy, light brown hair framing her heart-shaped face.

Arthit sat up abruptly, body turned fully toward the laptop.

He blinks several times, his full lips parted and he spoke..... clear as a bell

"Mom....!!!!"

🌞🌜🌞🌜🌞🌜🌞🌛🌞🌛🌞🌛🌞

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and voting, please tell me what you guys think about this chapter 💖💖