Let's Do Lunch

Chapter 5

Kongpob checked in on Solo before settling in his own bed. He opened his phone, browsing through IG. He tried to fool himself on not hoping to see anything about P'Arthit. The uneasy feeling couldn't seem to go away from his chest.

Ai-Oon

He tossed his phone to the side, leaning his head back. He frowned at the image that came in to mind when he closed his eyes. P'Arthit always made him fell happy when he laughed but this time seeing him do so with P'Fighter was enough to taint that. He rubbed his eyes as if to erase the image.

Kongpob sighed and knew he failed at keeping the famous Arthit in the friend category. He could already feel the pull towards the other man become stronger. He already wanted to monopolize the man's time, to keep others away, to keep that smile and laugh to himself. The most elusive man in the office was slowly turning into someone that meant as much to him as Solo.

For a while now, Solo was his only focus. The only thing that kept him going in a daily. Khaofang walking out on them was a move he had not expected. He knew they were having issues ever since Solo was born. He thought she would adapt just like him but that didn't seem to be the case. She went from a strong companion to a woman he couldn't recognize. He had never seen anyone else reject their own child the way she did.

Kongpob was afraid. Afraid of letting someone else get close to him. A ding from his phone reverted him back to reality. Assuming it was a work notification, he check it only to see that his P'Arthit had made a new post. It was his cute self with the man he was contemplating sending to the other side of Thailand. They looked to be having a great time. Such a great time. The gloom over him became a storm.

It just clicked. He was afraid. Not of being with someone, with P'Arthit. No. He was afraid of losing the person he cared for so much. He couldn't see himself doing what he had previously done for Khaofang. He couldn't just stand to the side and watch them go to another. Not this time. He quickly got up, dialing May.

"Hello? Is something wrong? Is it Solo?" May's out of breath voice answered at the first ring.

"Solo is fine. I need your help. Can you come over for a bit? I don't want to leave Solo alone for so long. I have something to do." Kongpob rushed to find shoes.

"OK, I'll be there. Give me ten." Kongpob felt relief at May's reassuring, firm voice.

"Thank you."

He stood outside by the gate waiting for May to arrive. Kongpob rolled his eyes when he saw his best friend get off from the driver's side. Both of them looked like they had jumped out of bed at his call. He knew he would have to make it up to them for tonight.

"So what's burning? Who got hurt?"
M asked while brushing his hair back from his eyes.

"Nothing's burning. No one got hurt." Kongpob rushed to the driver side of his own car. "I have to do something. It can't wait."

May gave him a small smile with a knowing look. "Take your time."

"Take his time?" M looked at his wife in shock. "This bastard cockblocked me again and you're telling him to take his time. You don't even know where he's going. Where are you going anyways? Hey, wait a minute, May. Hey. Why are you pushing me? You're defending that cockblocker, what the- Ouch! Ok, ok, I'll stop calling him that."

May rolled her eyes at her husband's antics. It's a wonder why she even married the man. She gave him another shove before looking back the disappearing tail lights. She knew her planned worked after all.

Kongpob took a deep breath before exiting his car. He slowly walked to the entrance of the now familiar apartments. Now that he was here he had no idea what was next. Each scenario that went through his mind ended with a door being shut in his face and being blocked in every form of communication. Oh gawd, he could even be accused of serial harassment and stalking.

His heart was squeezing while thumping so hard. He hesitated before ringing the doorbell. He waited what seemed forever before knocking and pressing the button repeatedly. Kongpob shook his hand making himself stop the ringing.

He heard a muffled voice, making his breath catch and his body temperature rise. He fanned himself before standing ramrod straight.

"Who- Kongpob? Is something wrong? Is it Solo? Is he okay?" Arthit looked freshly showered with his damp hair and flushed cheeks.

"Please tell me that you aren't dating P'Fighter. That you're not even considering being with him." Kongpob mentally smacked himself at the first words that came out of his mouth.

"What- Huh?" Arthit shook his head as if that could help him make sense of the situation.

"I love you. I'm terrified about it. But seeing you today with P'Fighter and hearing May say that he was taking an interest in you was more terrifying." Kongpob could hear the panic start in his voice.

"I-" Arthit blinked in surprise when Kongpob cut him off by grabbing him by the shoulders.

"I can't let someone else I love walk into the arms of another and stay silent. I love you. I'm could never tell you because I was afraid to do so and even more afraid that you would strangle me with my tie instead of just stapling it down to your desk." Kongpob eyes softened at the bewildered look on the other man's face. He gave him a sad smile before bowing his head down, hiding his eyes with his slight bang.

"I know you don't feel the same. I just need to get this out of my chest. I couldn't even wait until tomorrow since I wasn't sure if you would even be here or if you were gone-"

His rambling was cut off by a soft spoken two words.

"I do..."

He nearly gave himself whiplash when he heard that. "Huh?"

Arthit smiled, looking shyly to the side. Those cute ears were bright red. "I do like you. So help me I do."

Kongpob's mind seemed to have crashed and scrambled to reboot. His fingers loosened their grip on Arthit's shoulders but still held on. He couldn't seem to process what just happened.

His feelings were mutual?

He cradled those flushed cheeks. Turning the face of his love towards. "Do you really?"

Arthit's eyebrow twitched at the question. He was beginning to think he wasn't credible. When he confessed his feeling towards Kongpob to Ai'Fighter, that idiot kept asking him if he was sure. "Yes and if you ask me again I'm going to say no just for the heck of it."

Kongpob snorted before pressing his forehead against the others. "Are you sure? 'Cause once you're mine I'm not letting you go."

Arthit rolled his eyes and pressed his lips against the ones he had been obsessing over lately. "Shut up already."

The still shocked male let out a shaky laugh before kissing him back before pulling him into a tight hug. "I love you. You're stuck with me now."

Arthit pinched his back before pulling away. "Where is Solo? Why are you here at this hour? Did you leave him at home alone?!"

Kongpob shook his head before drawing back into a tight embrace. "May and M are with him. I came over here 'cause I couldn't wait."

"So... are they going to be with him the whole night?" Arthit asked after a moment of enjoying the warm embrace.

Kongpob pulled away before smirking while raising an eyebrow. "Why? Had something in mind?"

Arthit smiled sweetly before tilting his head towards his bedroom. "I don't know. Maybe, we could... you know."

Kongpob squatted, wrapping his arms around his Arthit's thighs practically putting him over his shoulder. "Say no more."

Light laughter trailed behind them. They had some quality time to do what both had been imagining in the resent weeks.

So I've been gone for a while but for good reason. I quit my job. I moved cities. I have a new job and hopefully more time to write now.

Thank you to those who still continued to read my stories.

Until the next time.