Kong's brain froze in shock.

' What the hell.... ??'

'Can this woman really be Arthit's mother ??'

Arthit was leaning forward now, his face inches away from the laptop, his hand stroking the screen, 'Mom' falling from his lips over and over.

That one word has certainly gotten Everyone's attention. Maria was on the edge of her seat, searching through a stack of papers she has pulled from her briefcase.

Roger was no longer leaning against the wall, he was looking at the picture of the woman Arthit has called mom.

"Here it is. I printed out the names of the people in the photos Officer Charlie emailed me. Her name is,
'Rose Rojanapat'...."

Maria's voice was full of excitement as she waves the paper she found.

"What will happen now ??"

Kong asked

"We will call Charlie and find out what he knows about this woman"

Roger replied

Maria pulled her cell phone out from her briefcase.

"I'll put Charlie on speaker."

They watched her press a single button before they heard the ringing sound.

'OH, WOW, does she have Charlie's number on speed dial?'

Kong was surprised

"Officer Charles here."

"Hello, Charles, it's Maria"

"Hey there. Wasn't expecting to hear from you again so soon."

' Is something going on between Charlie and Maria.... when did they meet...she just talked to him on the phone yesterday, did I miss something ??'

Kong thought with a surprised look on his face

"Charles you're on speaker,"

Maria said hurriedly

A beat of silence passed before they heard his voice again.

"Right, what's up ??"

His voice resumed its businesslike tenor, this time

"We've had a breakthrough with Arthit. He spoke.... and has identified 'Rose Rojanapat' as his mother"

Maria stated

"Do you have more information on her ??"

They heard the shuffling of papers coming through the phone.

"I don't have the full file in front of me. But I can get it to you later this afternoon."

"As soon as possible, Charlie"

Maria added

Charlie replied with a grunt of acknowledgment before the line went dead.

"I think Arthit has accomplished enough for today, we don't want to push him too hard"

Maria said

Roger and Kong both nodded in agreement.

Maria started to put her things back into her briefcase.

Roger walked silently from the room, heading for his study.

Through all this Arthit has remained motionless and relatively quiet. After his initial word and repetitive mumbling of Mom, he hasn't said anything.

Seeing as they were finished there, and his presence wasn't really needed, kong headed toward the kitchen to start preparing lunch.

He just started to boil the noodles when suddenly Arthit's screams reached his ears.

"No!...... Mom!!!!!"

Arthit's voice was frantic and desperate.

Kong tripped and fell in his haste to reach Arthit, gashing his forehead on the edge of the counter. Staggering and nauseous, he made his way to the living room.

Arthit was on his knees in front of Maria, attempting to snatch the laptop from her hands, screaming repeatedly for his mother.

Kong made his way to Arthit as quick as he can, throwing himself down next to him and wrapped him in his arms. Arthit struggled against kong, and his arms reached around kong, still grasping for Maria's laptop.

"Mom! Mom!"

The pleading in his voice made Kong's heart twist in pain.

Roger walked in, worry evident on his face.

"What's going on ??"

"Arthit became upset when I closed my laptop"

Maria answered

"Maria! He thinks you are taking his mom away from him"

Maria looked at Roger with wide eyes, like that concept never occurred to her.

"Email that picture to me, now"

Kong doesn't remember ever hearing this much authority in Roger's voice.

Kong was vaguely aware of Roger leaving the room, mumbling something that sounds like incompetent, though he can't be certain.

All of his energy was focused on Arthit right now, he needed to calm him down.

Kong's fingers followed the familiar path of Arthit's jaw until his palm was able to press against Arthit's cheek.

"Arthit, try to calm down."

Kong's words has no effect, he wasn't even sure Arthit heard him. Kong dosen't know how much longer he can hold him back, Arthit was a lot stronger than he looked, plus kong was feeling the after effects of his run-in with the counter, also.

Without thinking, Kong pressed his lips directly to Arthit's.

It's not the kiss he has been dreaming of, but Arthit's lips were warm and soft, and more than anything Kong wanted to keep kissing him...harder...deeper.

But he pulled back, just in few seconds. This was about what Arthit needed, not what Kong wanted.
Kong did that only to take Arthit's attention away from Maria's laptop

Arthit was frozen before Kong, looking as if he was seeing kong for the first time. His eyes were wide, tears began to pool in their hazel depths.

"Ko...Kon..."

His brow furrowed in concentration He took a deep breath and tried again louder,

"Ko...Kong...."

His name on Arthit's lips was the sweetest sound Kong has ever heard,

so soft....

so deep....

and clear....

but, his pleading tone twisted Kong's heart painfully.

"Mom ??"

His question send tears spilling down Kong's cheeks. Arthit dropped his head to Kong's chest, pushing his face against him.

"Mom...."

Kong cradled Arthit against him

"We'll find her, Arthit. I promise."

Arthit clungs to Kong, sobs shaking through his body. Kong wished he knew what to do for him, any way kong could ease his pain.

A soft tap to his shoulder alerted him to Roger's presence. He was holding a sheet of paper out for him, the image of Arthit's mother printed on the paper. Kong mouthed

"Thank you"

to Roger, noticing the sad and sympathetic look in his eyes.

"I want to take a look at that gash on your head, when you get a moment Kong"

Roger told Kong

Kong nodded, knowing that his wound needed to be tend, but he doesn't want to leave Arthit right now.

"Arthit, look...Mom"

Kong raised his head slowly, Arthit's eyes darted around the room.

He grabbed the paper firmly as soon as his eyes took in the image of his mother, and hugged it tightly to his chest, but he never let kong go.

"Kong..."

Relief filled his voice as Arthit spoke Kong's name, almost like he was thanking him.

Kong pressed Arthit to his chest tightly, trying to convey as much comfort as he can.

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

It felt like hours since Arthit and Kong were holding each other, Arthit was so restless.

Roger has just finished cleaning the gash on Kong's head when the doorbell rang, and Maria opened the door. Officer Charlie was there.

After a few moments of whispered conversation, Charlie enters the kitchen, Maria followed him closely.

"What happened to you, kong ??"

Charlie came to stand behind Roger, staring Kong with worry.

"The kitchen counter and I had a little disagreement, and I lost."

To Charlie's credit he tried to hide his smile, but his twitching mustaches gave him away.

"Did you find anything, uncle ??"

Kong asked, eagerly

Charlie held up a large file folder, and Kong can barely contain his curiosity long enough for Roger to
finish up dressing his wound

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

"I don't understand, Uncle. How can this be a closed case ??"

"The woman who kidnapped Arthit and his father.... confessed"

Charlie flipped through the file.

"It says here, she shot and killed Arthit's father, and when the detectives asked her about Arthit, she said he was dead."

Pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes, Kong sighed in frustration.

"Well, the file has to be wrong. Look at the picture, Uncle...this is Arthit "

Kong pushed a photo from the file towards Charlie. It showed a boy of eight or nine years old, Chocolate brown hair, hazel eyes and a dimpled smile same as Arthit.

Charlie picked up the photo looking back and forth between it and Arthit

"This does appear to be Arthit, but that fact won't get this case re-opened. The suspect has been on trial and sentenced, and, if anything, re-opening this now would lessen her sentence, from two murders to one."

Kong groaned in frustration, laying his head down on his folded arms.

"What do we do now?"

Kong asked

"We found his mother. I have the last known whereabouts, but the information is seven years old. After the trial, Mrs. Rojanapat sold their home in Bangkok and moved to some little town called 'Viang Pha Mork'. She opened a small Inn 'Stay and Dine' there."

Charlie closed the file folder and reached for his cup of coffee.

"Do you have a phone number where we can reach Mrs. Rojanapat?"

Maria asked looking at Charlie.

"Yeah, I think there is one listed"

he replied

"No!!!!!!"

Roger's voice was firm and angry

"Mrs. Rojanapat deserves better than to get this kind of news on the phone."

All of them looked up at Roger. Even Arthit glanced from his lunch. Roger was always so quiet that his outburst was surprising for everyone.

"None of you understand what it's like to lose a child... It tears out your heart."

Roger's voice cracked, tears visible in his eyes. Kong's heart pained for him, and he started to raise from his chair, but Roger held up his hand, motioning kong to go back to his seat.

"It's been fourteen years since she last saw her son - her son she believes to be dead. We can't just call her up and drop this on her."

Kong can understand Roger's pain.... He hadn't been able to see his son even once...he died in his mother's womb, on the operation table.

Everyone was silent.

Charlie was the one that breaks the awkward silence hanging in the kitchen.

"I can see if Mrs. Rojanapat is willing to travel here. I wouldn't have to tell her why...just..."

Roger cut in between again

"I'll go...... I would like to go and tell her personally."

Everyone stared at him, dumbfounded

"Are you serious ??"

Charlie asked

"Very much...... Mrs. Rojanapat deserves to hear this in person."

Silence filled the kitchen once again.

Kong's head was whirling, trying to process all the information he has received today.

This morning, Arthit was the one who couldn't speak and had no family. Now he is speaking, and his mother is out there, with no idea that her son is still alive.

Kong rose from the table, taking Arthit's and his plates with him.

Charlie and Roger headed out to the living room, discussing Roger's plans for his trip.

Kong was taken aback when Maria joined Kong in the kitchen as he was putting away the leftover food.

"Do you mind if we talk, Kong ??"

Maria's voice was surprisingly soft, not her usual clinical tone.

" Why would I ??"

Kong replied, submerging the dirty dishes in the bubble-filled sink.

"You doing okay ??"

Surprised by the kindness in her voice, Kong forced himself not to stare, focusing instead on the dish in his hand.

"You're doing a great job, you know...with Arthit"

Peeking at her out of the corner of his eye, Kong felt a blush crawl onto his cheeks. While Maria has always been polite, even professional, with Kong, this was definitely out of the ordinary. She seems caring.... maternal even.

"Umm...thanks,"

Was all Kong could manage.

"If you have concerns, feel free to talk to me."

Again, Kong was unsure what to say, so he settled for nodding.

"Can I ask you something ??"

Kong asked and this time She nodded

Kong motioned her back to the table and slid into a chair beside Arthit. She took the chair on the opposite side, facing Kong.

"Do you want to talk about Arthit's speaking ??"

Maria asked first

'Wow. Talk about a loaded question'

Kong has a million questions and feelings about Arthit speaking. There is no way he could tell Maria everything he was feeling, nor does he wanted to.

"I'm happy that he is talking.....but, Can I ask you some questions, though ??"

"Of course"

Maria replied

"You can always ask me anything."

Kong tried to keep his voice even and not let the fear seep in.

"Why just one or two words? Does it mean the hypnosis didn't work ??"

"Kong, the brain is a complicated thing, there's no key to unlock all it's secrets. I believe the hypnosis worked, but it's a process. I took a quick look at the case file Charlie has brought, and it looks like Arthit was away from human contact for quite some time. I think he has probably blocked a lot of memories. That, combined with years of isolation, it will take a long way to Arthit regaining his full speech ability."

Kong let Maria's words sunk in. He knew the hypnosis wouldn't be a cure-all thing, but he was hoping for more answers instead of more questions.

"Do you think he will ever be...a normal guy ??"

Kong's words come out in a trembling whisper, and he prayed Maria didn't noticed that

"I don't know, Kong. We can hope and encourage. He has really come a long way already, but there is no way to undo years of neglect."

Kong and Maria both fell into silence, each seeming lost in their own thoughts.

"There's something else I would like to talk to you about."

Maria was nervous, a concept that's utterly bizarre to Kong. She was twisting her fingers together on the table, not meeting Kong's eyes.

"I-I mean, your uncle has asked me out on a date."

Maria blurted out

Kong was surprised as he stared unblinkingly at Maria.

"I would really like your okay before I give him an answer. He is your family"

Charlie was not only Kong's father's best friend but his father's cousin brother also. Kong was very close to him, he grew up between Kerkerai, Charlie and Roger, after loosing his Mother in his early childhood.

"Be good to him"

Was all he could say.

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

Arthit went to sleep quickly. As soon as kong heard his even breathing, he slipped Arthit's head from his lap and went out to the living room.

After some epic begging on his part, he got Charlie to leave Arthit's case file here for him to read.

Kong settled himself on the couch, blanket wrapped around him, file folder spread across his lap.

The first things he found inside were some snapshots paper-clipped to the cover. The first photo was of Mrs. Rojanapat, the same one Maria used during the hypnosis. The next was of Arthit as a little boy, his tousled chocolate brown hair hungs over his forehead, almost touching his sparkling hazel eyes, his face beaming with a dimpled smile. The last photo was of a man, very handsome, clearly Arthit's father. In fact, the two men are almost identical - except for the fact that Arthit's father has Zed black hair. Kong looked away from the smiling faces of what was once, no doubt, a happy family to the initial police report filed by Mrs. Rojanapat, reporting her son and husband missing. The two had been gone on a camping trip, and they were reported missing after being unreachable more than a day. The rest of the report was filled with clothing descriptions and the license plate number of the car they were in.

The next report filed was from a detective. Kong has a hard time reading this one due to the gruesome description of the discovery of Mr. Rojanapat's body. He was found by hikers in some bushes along a deserted stretch of road. The accompanying crime scene photo nearly made kong lose the contents of his stomach. Not only are the multiple stab wounds to his chest and groin overly disturbing, but his son's resemblance to him rips at Kong's heart, causing tears to spring to his eyes.

Once he has composed himself, he scanned the report further, looking for any information about Arthit. The only things he found in the detective's report was a reference made to nine-year-old male child and a silver Toyota Corolla still missing.

Kong's eyes fell to the next report, this one an arrest report for a woman 'Pring'. She had been stopped for a routine traffic stop. When the cop ran the plates, he found the car she was in was registered to Mr. Rojanapat's name. She was arrested and, upon further investigation, blood from Arthit's father was discovered in the vehicle as well as clothing from both Arthit and his father.

Her conviction was all too easy, seeing that she confessed to killing Mr. Rojanapat. Her only statement in regards to Arthit had been the words,

"He's dead."

A search had been conducted of her residence, turning up a locked room, clearly meant to keep someone prisoner - a child judging by the toys listed on the report. Kong's stomach churned with nausea thinking of Arthit being locked away in a room for God only knows what reason.

There was never an explanation for this madness, listed. The last entry was about a women's prison here in Bangkok.

Sighing, Kong closed the file, letting it drop to the floor with a thud.

So much is going on inside his head it feels like a heavy weight on his brain. So much has happened to Arthit, it surprised kong he even survived.

A small noise drawn his attention, and he turned to see Arthit emerging from his room. His hair pokes out in every possible direction; black and white checked pajama pants and a white t-shirt hang loosely on his body; his eyes were heavy from sleep, and the photo of his mother is still clutched in his hand. To Kong's eyes he has never looked more beautiful.

"Kong...??"

His quiet, breathy voice sent shivers down Kong's spine.

"What are you doing up ??"

Kong asked but Arthit doesn't answer, and came to sit on the couch by Kong's feet, looking lost and alone.

"Arthit... are you okay ??"

Kong reached for him, laying his hand on top of Arthit's.

Arthit's eyes were filled with tears when he looked at Kong.
Kong scooted to his side and wrapped his arms around Arthit's shoulders.

"Everything will be okay."

Kong put as much conviction in his voice as possible.

"Ah...alone"

Arthit Whispered

A sob escaped Kong's throat at the desolation in his voice. Kong recline back onto the couch, pulling Arthit with him.

"Never! You will never be alone again. I will make sure of that."

Arthit settled between Kong's legs, his head resting next to Kong's heart. Kong held him tightly to his body, their chests raising and falling in unison.

Kong doesn't know what the next several weeks will bring.....

A lot of changes, without a doubt. but at this moment there was just Arthit and him, drifting to sleep together.

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A/N Thank you so much for reading and voting. Tell me what you think about this chapter 💖💖