You Belong to Me

Chapter 23

Oof, another update, would you believe that? xD

Arthit paced back and forth like a tiger locked in a small cage. This has to be a bad dream, he thought hopelessly.

But it wasn't a dream, if anything, it was a very real nightmare. They were still in the cafeteria when Namtan got to them.

"Boss is in trouble." She needed not to say more. Everyone knew something was up and was on their feet in a heartbeat. What followed could be best described as chaos. They rushed down the hall while Arthit's heart was beating up his throat and ears. His imagination was running wild, what could have happened?!

None of the scenarios in his head were even close to the truth.

"Kongpob was shot."

Arthit froze. Shivers ran down his whole body and paralyzed him.

Others had similar reaction,s no one was able to speak for a while.

"What? What the fuck happened?" Knot was the first one who spoke after all, forcing out a few, shaken words.

Namtan shook her head. "We don't have time for this right now, I want you to guard the infirmary. It won't take long before the whole base knows about this news and hell breaks out. Black Dragon will definitely do something, and not only them. I need you to protect Boss with your lives, is that clear?" She sounded like a proper leader, others could do nothing but nod in agreement.

Even Arthit nodded and he meant it. He was ready to protect Kongpob with all he's got. If anything, he owed it to Kongpob. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten much to offer, his fighting skills were nonexistent and he didn't even have a proper weapon.

"Arthit!" Namtan yelled at the young man who was still pacing around the hall nervously while lost in his thoughts.

"Hm?" Arthit hummed in surprise upon hearing his name.

"Don't space out, I need you to concentrate. Come with me," she ordered him and entered the hospital wing. Arthit followed her with a doubting look. Namtan shut the door and locked it as soon as he was inside.

"Listen to me," she looked around cautiously before speaking, "my number one order is to protect you at all times, but now it's not possible. Stay here, ask May if you can help somehow once the surgery is done."

"What? No! I'm more needed outside than here!" Arthit could not believe his ears. While everyone was risking their lives, he was to be safely locked somewhere away.

"No, you're not. You will only burden us," Namtan's words were harsh but they were true. Deep down, Arthit knew it well. He gritted his teeth in disapproval and his hands formed into fists. Namtan noticed his gestures and stroke one last time. "Kongpob needs you the most now. I can't let anything happen to you, please."

Arthit's eyes widened.

"H-How bad is his condition?" he asked in a shaky voice. Yes, he heard Kong was shot, but that could mean a number of things. Shot in the leg and shot in the chest were two different cases.

"I don't know, there was a lot of blood... May was in distress, which rarely happens," Namtan said with an apologetic look, she wished to provide more information.

Blood from Arthit's face slowly drained away and his head spun. Images of the dead, bloodied Kongpob flooded his mind and Arthit's knees almost gave up right then and there. Namtan caught him at the last second and supported him.

"Arthit, you have to stay strong, now's not the time. I have to leave asap, you sit here and wait," she helped him to the nearest hospital bed and sat him down.

Arthit wished to scream, he wanted, needed to do anything at that moment but stay still and wait. His mind was already in a dark place, this would only make it worse. Namtan left shortly after, first signs of fighting could be heard from the other side of the door. It all started sooner than she expected.

Therefore, Arthit was truly left alone, sitting helplessly in a big room while the world around him crumbled. Screams and shouts were echoing from all directions and Arthit was scared to even listen. What if he heard a familiar voice? Knott or Prem? Bright? Or... Kongpob?

There was no telling how much time has passed. It seemed like an eternity but it could have just as well been a few minutes. Arthit didn't know, didn't care. His head was full of Kong.

Feelings of worry started to eat him up, taking over his rational mind.

Guilt.

Regret.

Anger.

Arthit felt it all and couldn't get it under control. Not anymore. He should have apologized to Kongpob when he had the chance. What was he doing these past weeks? Ignoring him completely while he had every damn minute, every damn chance to fix it between them. Now it could have been too late.

No.

It cannot be too late. There was too much Arthit wasn't sure of, those stinging sensations when he saw Kong, that calm feeling he had while being in his presence, the undying butterflies in his stomach Arthit so desperately tried to get rid of.

No.

He cannot lose Kong now. He just can't. Yes, part of Arthit hates him to the core, the whole incident with Arthit's father hasn't been solved, but the other part of Arthit wishes to forget everything and just be by his side. And this part was taking over Arthit at the moment, making him almost go mad.

Fortunately, May appeared out of nowhere right in front of him when Arthit was about to lose it.

They made eye contact and Arthit immediately shot to his feet. He noticed how dirtied was May's white uniform, all the red color made Arthit's stomach twist.

"How...?" He couldn't finish the sentence, he was too scared to say more.

May didn't say anything but nodded. Tears of joy filled her eyes.

"Yes," she managed to choke out, "he'll live. I'm not sure about his arm thought, it may not work properly again."

Arthit felt instantly 50 pounds lighter. He let out a breath he's been holding since Namtan told them the news and felt like he could finally think clearly again.

"Ah, thank goodness..." he sighed with the biggest relief of his life.

"You may go see him, but he won't wake up from anesthesia for a while," she smiled at Arthit and nodded towards the door she came out of not long ago. "I have to prepare for new patients soon, the fighting outside seems to be at its climax."

"Aren't you scared? That the Black Dragon, or whoever are they, take over?" Arthit asked with worry. Even if the biggest problem has been taken care of, there were still matters to attend to.

"I'd be scared if I was them," May waved her hand and brushed off his statement lightly, "Clowns never lose. And I called reinforcements, just in case. M would never stand still knowing his wife is in danger." With that, she disappeared in what Arthit assumed was the bathroom.

He shook his head in disbelief, seemed like he truly wasn't needed at the field. Namtan was right.

The person currently lying lifelessly on the bed in front of him needed him the most.