While You Were Sleeping (Completed)

Revelation

"You're coming for Loy Krathong, right?" Arthit blearily looks at his clock as Maprang babbles away in his ear. He knew answering the phone this early was a bad idea.

Whatever he says makes Maprang giggle, before she hangs up and Arthit snuggles back into his sheets and falls into a deep slumber.

Later, when he's tossing noodles in his wok, he remembers what he's agreed to and a cold wave of shame rushes through him. He knows he's taking advantage of the kindness of these strangers. Well, not strangers exactly, because he can't doubt that he knows Maprang as a cheeky younger cousin, Tew as a friend whom he can speak to frankly, and Kongpob.. well, Kongpob is a bit more complicated.

Khun M has been in a coma for over a month now and Arthit is beginning to think that he might never wake up. He's tried to confess again, but was interrupted by M's parents who had whisked him away for dinner at a restaurant that was definitely out of his price range. Kongpob sat beside him, whispering about which menu was the best while Tew and Maprang giggled and stared at them from across the table.

He would almost think that Maprang knows the truth, if Tew hadn't promised to keep his secret. Then again, she's an astute girl and may have guessed on her own. Arthit's waiting for her to slip up and tell him - then at least two fifths of the family will know and he can start to bow out gracefully from their ranks.

But for now, he continues to flip his noodles, saving some aside to drop in for Bright since his neighbour's generously kept his music down and his comments to himself all week - which is a first. But perhaps he's realised that Arthit is suffering - when he saw him last night the other man had been almost kind to him. Perhaps Bright's figured out that Arthit's fighting with himself constantly. Arthit knows he's in the wrong, but it's hard to give up a place in such a loving family - especialy when his own upbringing had been cold and distant.

He shivers as he remembers and then shoves the thoughts deep inside. There's far too much he doesn't want to recall, even as an independent adult he's still trying to paper over the cracks his childhood left behind.

He pulls himself out of his thoughts and begins to make his first few orders. It's as he's cracking eggs into the wok that a voice interrupts his thoughts, "Khun Arthit, I was told I would find you here." And there is M's mother, resplendent in a long evening gown that glitters and shimmers in the street lights.

She seats herself at one of the cracked plastic tables, making her chair look like a throne as she waits patiently for Arthit to take a break. He hands over the wok to his friend Oak and brings a plate of noodles with him, unsure if she will want to try them.

But she surprises him, scooping up chopsticks and taking a bite. "Delicious, Khun Arthit. Kongpob told me they were good, but I'm amazed that they remind me of the ones from my childhood. I used to love sneaking out with my older brother to a favourite place on Sukhumvit. My mother would always scold us when we came home smelling of smoke from the wood chips, but we still went. It's a fond memory for me. Thank you for bringing it back."

Arthit smiles, hoping that she won't hate him too much when he finally tells her the truth.

But she surprises him again.

"I know you're not engaged to my son."

Arthit chokes and she reaches out with an elegant hand to rub it over his back.

He stares at her, unable to speak, but she continues for him.

"I've known for a while. M and I are closer than the others think. They all think that M abandoned our relationship when I objected to some choices he made at work. But they're wrong. We were able to work through our differences and I used to meet him separately every week so we could rebuild our relationship." Arthit nods dumbly as she continues, "M is a complex man. But he wasn't in a relationship with you, Khun Arthit. He was seeing a young woman that I've met several times. Someone I respect and like very much, but who left for America on business the day M was hurt. I've spoken to her and she'll be home as soon as she possibly can and then.. well.."

Arthit reaches for his water bottle and takes a big gulp. "But why.." he manages to say.

"Why did I let you play out your ruse?" He nods. "Because I like you Arthit. I like how gentle you are, how you sat by M's bedside even if he was nothing to you so he wasn't alone, how you made my daughter light up, how you've befriended Tew who has a hard time making friends and mostly.. how you've brought the light back to Kongpob's eyes."

Arthit looks at her, eyes conveying how serious he is, "But I'm going to hurt him terribly."

She gives him a look, one that he remembers his own mother giving him so long ago, "It's true. He'll hurt and it may take some time for him to forgive you. But I've never actually seen him in love before. And that's certainly what he feels for you. He loves you and he doesn't really know what to do about it. He's been through hell over the last year.. but I'll let him share the details with you when he's ready, and he hasn't smiled the way he does when you're around for even longer than that. It's time to let him know the truth so that he can accept his feelings and you two can start something of your own.."

"He won't forgive me." Arthit says firmly, dropping his eyes to the table as he continues to speak, "My father never forgave me for what happened to my mother, so Kongpob won't forgive me, he's not my flesh and blood, he has no reason to. I can't believe he can really love me when he knows - or thinks he knows - I'm with his brother. And he will think the worst of me when he finds out the truth. He's a good man, but he has his limits I'm sure."

"As I said," M's mother continues, placing a hand over the top of Arthit's own, "It will take time, but there's a saying, 'love conquers all' - you do love my son, don't you?"

Arthit nods miserably.

"Well, then. It's time to tell him. Maprang invited you to Loy Krathong. That seems like a perfect place to do it. Now, I'll leave you to your wok and I must go as I'm late for an important engagement." She leans over and places a hand on Arthit's shoulder, "Love always finds its way. I trust you to make this right. I trust Kongpob to be able to accept and get over it. I trust that love will see you through. Enough of us know the truth and still like you Khun Arthit.. that should tell you something."

Then she rises and comes around the table to offer her hand. Arthit takes it in his own rough fingers and squeezes it lightly, "Thank you Khun P."

"I'll see you this weekend."

"Whoop whoop! Who was that Arthit?" Oak asks as he returns to his cart. "She was a classy lady!"

"Yes, she is classy, so you shut up!" Arthit threatens, holding his spatula up to Oak's face.

Well, he thinks, maybe that makes three fifths of them.. so the odds are either with or against him...