Self Rival • Completed

xxvi. the storm

It's not as serious as Knot said it was. Arthit was busy reading a comic book while sipping pink milk. He was already dressed in his work attire when Kongpob found him. 

Arthit's sat on the chair beside the hospital bed. The bed was occupied by Bright and Prem, both enjoying the comforts of the bed and the entertainment set while eating the fruits Kongpob guessed were supposed to be for Arthit. 

Kongpob blinked at the scene in front of him but he slowly walked inside anyway. 

"P'? What- I came here as soon as I could." Kongpob raised his backpack higher and huffed. He placed a hand to calm his beating heart. He ran as fast as possible to get to Arthit because Knot said it was serious. 

Knot said Arthit passed out from food poisoning, and he had to be brought to the hospital. 

"Kong? What are you doing here? I'm about to go home, just waiting to be discharged."

"P'Knot said-"

Arthit rolled his eyes. "Whatever he said, it's not the truth. It's just a simple food poisoning, nothing I couldn't handle. I'm more than okay now," Arthit gave Kongpob a small smile and tilted his head. "You look flushed. Did you run all the way here?"

"Yes P', I thought it was serious and I was very worried for you, P'," Kongpob reached a pack of fruits from his bag. "I even bought you this P'."

"I love this nerdy boyfriend of yours! Come give it here, Kong," Bright said with a wide smile on his face beckoning for the younger to give them the fruits. Prem's doing the same thing. 

Arthit glared at them. Kongpob politely wai'd at them and shyly nodded. "Here P'."

The older then gratefully accepted the fruits from Kongpob with a soft smile and almost threw it to his friends but Prem stopped him. 

"Hey! Don't! It'll be a waste of food."

Arthit grumbled and just gave it to them with a glare and a frown. When Arthit faced Kongpob, he's all smiles again. Kongpob mentally winced. Is Arthit going to be ready? 

"Let's talk outside?" Arthit pulled Kongpob outside. "Knot didn't bother you, did he? He didn't pull you away from your side job or something very important?"

"No, P', I was just on my way to my apartment when I received the call," Kongpob perked up when he realized something. "By the way P, I also bought some stocks at home. I was about to call you, I wanted to cook something for you. Want to go to my apartment, P'? Or do you need to take a rest-"

"No. No. I want to, Kong. I'll go with you."

Maybe not. But Arthit needed to accept this. 

/

Kongpob made sure to do everything with Arthit the same way they always did– cooking food together, watching movies, and being happy together– lest Arthit started to become suspicious if Kongpob offered to cook for him instead. 

Kongpob couldn't tell Arthit what he was about to do. He knew how Arthit was going to react. Either Arthit's going to be asking for any explanation why the sudden decision, and he's going to be begging for Kongpob to reconsider, or Arthit's going to force himself to understand and involve himself with Kongpob's situation, Arthit would offer to hell him. 

The thing is, Arthit wouldn't let Kong leave him but Kongpob needed to do exactly like that. He needed to pull Arthit from the fake fantasy Kongpob made. Arthit needed to start living in reality and the truth of life. 

Kong doesn't exist. 

And Kongpob's sure he wouldn't be able to follow this plan if he saw Arthit crying and begging him. So it's better this way that he didn't know anything. Arthit will be hurting now, but he would be away from the danger. If this continues, Arthit would be more hurt.