In Every Lifetime

Chapter Seventeen

'No. It can't be. It can't be.' Arthit chanted to himself in his mind, squeezing his eyes shut. He was hearing things again. This was not the time to be hallucinating. He was in a strange room. He had to figure out how he got here and how to get out.

"Oon," the voice called again.

Arthit refused to turn. He'd been in this scenario one too many times. Every time he turned, Kongpob wasn't there. And he'd be left with a stabbing pain in his heart once more.

A pair of hands encircled his waist. Arthit froze. The feeling was all too familiar but there was no warmth. And yet.. It couldn't be. Could it? Another touch landed on the nape of his neck and Arthit shivered. Again, no warmth, the touch felt foreign and familiar all at the same time. He should be yanking the arms away from him and running away but yet he couldn't.

Because it reminded him of someone. The one person who was no longer able to do this.

"Oon, I missed you. So much."

There it was again. The voice, now whispering against his ear. Why was this happening? Was he really losing his mind?

"Oon, aren't you going to look at me? Don't you miss me?"

The pair of hands on his waist released their hold and he soon found himself face to face with the owner of the voice. Staring deep into the other's eyes, Arthit could not stop the tears once again.

"You're.. Here.. You came.." He choked out before throwing his arms around the other's neck. "I thought it was all just old wives' tales.."

"I'm home." Kongpob replied, squeezing Arthit tightly to his chest.

Arthit bawled as he clutched on tightly to the younger in front of him. Even if it was just for tonight, he was glad. Kongpob was home, Kongpob was once again by his side.

"So I heard you married a really handsome man?" Kongpob teased, stroking his back.

Arthit wailed harder, pounding Kongpob in the chest.

"I'm glad you did, Oon. If you hadn't, you wouldn't be here."

"What.. What do you mean?" Arthit asked between his sobs.

"When I, you know, died," Kongpob paused for a little while, assessing his lover's reaction. He rubbed small circles upon Arthit's back, making sure that he was calm before continuing. "I entered this other space. Kind of like our town but not."

Arthit looked up at him, baffled. Pulling Arthit by the hand, Kongpob nestled himself on the bed, leaning on the headboard whilst the other leaned on him. He enveloped Arthit once again in a reassuring back hug, fiddling with his fingers as usual.

"The houses here in this town are all offerings that have been burnt for the dead, so they kind of all look weird together. Some big, some small, you know, like bad architecture." He slowly explained, trying to make light of the situation. "Some houses had effigy servants, cars. But some souls had no houses even."

Arthit remained silent so Kongpob continued.

"My parents obviously prepared me well for the afterlife so I was totally adjusted and comfortable. But there really isn't much to do. Just walking around a lot and talking to those who would actually talk back to me. Then, the red decorations started appearing in the house. Everyone was suddenly lively in the town and many even came up to congratulate me." Kongpob chuckled as he remembered a particularly stoic uncle coming up to him and shaking his hand before walking away without a word.

"Then someone explained to me that I was getting married. Ghost marriages have been scarce so our marriage has literally been the talk of the town, the biggest event they've seen in ages so to speak. Which brings us here. In our wedding room Oon." Kongpob ended his explanation with a light kiss to Arthit's forehead.