In Every Lifetime

Chapter Eighteen

Arthit woke with a start, his eyes taking in the surroundings of the room. Then his face fell with great disappointment. He was back in the real world. The world with no Kongpob in it. The tears started to leak from his eyes once again as he cried for his lost love. He wished he didn't have to return to it. If the dream world was where Kongpob was, he wanted to never wake.

Earth soon came hurrying in, attracted by the sounds of crying. She spared a second glance at the flour she had sprinkled the night before, before scurrying to Arthit's side. Pulling the young man into her arms, she soothed him, rubbing gentle circles upon his back. He leaned into the warm embrace, desperately wishing it belonged to that one person.

"He came, didn't he?" Earth asked softly, still comforting the trembling figure in her arms.

Arthit jerked in surprise, sobs coming to a slight halt as he sniffled and looked at Earth. How did she know? It wasn't a question that P'Earth had asked, more like a statement requiring confirmation.

"The flour," she stated, "there were marks. I checked all the other rooms, but there were only marks outside your room."

Arthit sputtered, struggling to find the right words as tears still trickled down his face. The flour, it was also an old wives tale. It was said that when the soul returned to the house, they would leave marks as they visited their family members. Then, last night was not merely a dream.

He really did come.

"Master and mistress are going to be so disappointed," she smiled, wiping his tears with her hands. "In the end, all he could think about was still you."

Arthit struggled between half a cry and a choked laughter. That did indeed sound like Kongpob. Everyone had resigned to their fate of being air whenever the two of them were together.

"He did come." Arthit confirmed, hiccuping a little from crying too much.

"Oh, Arthit," Earth exclaimed, pulling him in for another hug. "Did you properly say goodbye this time then?"

"Mm." Arthit hummed, still sniffling. "He was happy we got married."

"We all knew he would. He's been harping about it since he was a child. I never told you but he asked me. What it meant to marry someone. He wasn't even ten then. I think he's been planning your wedding ever since."

"So you're the reason why he wouldn't stop calling me his wife." Arthit shook his head, his tears finally stopping.

Earth held up her hands. "I didn't plant the idea of marriage. He got that on his own. I merely, explained it. As innocently as possible for a child that is."

Arthit shook his head. He remembered Kongpob at that age. Every sentence ended with a why back then. The him who was only 2 years older could barely keep up with all his questions. He resorted to giving some pretty nonsensical answers too just to get Kongpob off his back.

"Thank P'Earth," Arthit mumbled, rubbing his face. "I feel better now."

"That's good."Earth smiled, ruffling his hair. "Now get ready for breakfast. You should tell your parents Kongpob came by yesterday. They would feel more at peace too."

"My.. parents?" Arthit asked, slightly confused.

"The Master and madam, silly." Earth chuckled.

"Oh. Right." Arthit flustered. He had married Kongpob, they were indeed his parents now. It was going to be strange calling them his parents from now on. It would have been easier if Kongpob had been around. He would have eased him into it quickly. But without him, things were going to be awkward for a while.