Self Rival • Completed

l. the revelations

"Prem already knows," Arthit told Kongpob that night when the older asked him to talk for a while. They're on Kongpob's car. "He saw us holding hands under the table."

Kongpob only sighed. Then, he turned to look at Arthit. "What do you want to do now? Do you want to stop-"

"I want to tell my parents. Tonight. Drop me off at the house and we'll talk to them."

"But you said you didn't want to involve them again and I haven't gotten any proof yet to get back at Kaofang and her parents," Kongpob sighed like he's about to give up. "Maybe I won't. Maybe they're not as evil as I thought they are. Maybe they just love fucking up my life."

"It's fine but I still want to tell my parents. Someone already knew, it's only a matter of time before the news got to them and I didn't want them knowing from other people. I want them to directly know from me."

"Okay, I'm fine as long as this is what you want."

Arthit nodded and reached for Kongpob's hand. "I'm ready."

But it wasn't as easy as Arthit thought it would be especially when he's under the scrutiny of his parents. All his strength left in him and his knees trembled when his parents stared at him, wondering why Arthit's still not joining with them to eat. 

Arthit sighed and smiled a little. "Mae, Por, you kept asking me why I always go home late these past few days. The truth is..." Arthit closed his eyes. "I have a boyfriend."

"What?" Was his father's response. Arthit quickly opened his eyes and saw them looking at him both in worry and in understanding, like they knew what's eating him up and they're just waiting for him to confess. 

"Oon, where did you meet this guy? Are you sure he's not dangerous because if it's from that dating app your friends-"

Arthit stopped his Mae and pulled Kongpob who's waiting outside their kitchen and pulled the flustered guy beside him. "Mae, Por, this is Kongpob Suthilak, my boyfriend."

Arthit heard Kongpob loudly gulping before he politely wai'd at the couple. "Good evening, Khun. I know you didn't expect and didn't hope to see me again after the last time we talked... but I promise, I'll earn your trust as well again. And I apologize."

"Have you two eaten?" Kongpob blinked and fixed his posture to look at Arthit's Por.

"No, not yet, Por."

"Then what are you two waiting for? Go grab your seats. Eat well, we cooked a lot. We're not expecting any visitor but they're enough."

Arthit grabbed his usual seat and pulled Kongpob to sit beside him, still looking very timid. 

"I cooked your favorite foods," Mrs. Rojnapat smiled at Kongpob. "Assuming they're your favorites."

"They are, Khun."

Mr. Rojnapat looked like he's going to say something snarky so his wife gave him a sharp glare so he just settled on narrowing his eyes at Kongpob. 

"You two, eat well."

"That's it?" Arthit frowned at his parents. "Are you not mad at me that I've been lying to you two? Aren't you two at least shocked? Did someone already told you?"

Mrs. Rojnapat shook her head. "No, we just knew tonight as well. I'm shocked that it's Kongpob but I'm also relieved that's it's him. At least, we already know him... a part of him."

"How?" Arthit asked before the topic went down on the bitter road. 

"We noticed that you looked happy every night, despite you pretending otherwise," Mr. Rojnapat patted his son's hand. "And we're not mad, we understood why you had to do that. I'm sure you have reasons."