Marriage Contract

[1]

Inside a spacious living room, kongpob sat nested within a sofa as he
read through some files containing
programming data. He was currently a
College Junior, who also took some small
programming projects to earn a little
extra cash in his spare time, because even though there were scholarships available, he wanted to put aside a small sum of money which would later be sent to his Grandpa.

This time around, the project he
was working on was a foreign trade
website. It was a new site, though it was
previously designed by someone else,
and sadly it still had various aspects of
its functionality left incomplete. These
unfinished portions were what Kongpob
was now applying fixes to.
With both legs crossed he sat, computer
in his lap, fingers pounding away at the
keyboard. Due to his slightly long bangs,
which often obstructed his vision, a long
paper binder was taken from the printed data files he had to clamp those wayward strands up.

When writing code, kongpob became
completely entranced. He was so
absorbed while doing this task that he
did not even notice when someone had
opened the door and entered the room.
Arthit returned to witness such
a sight. The soft light struck the side of
kongpob's face, causing his entire body
radiate a gentle air, very much unlike the cold and obstinate figure he was during their past confrontations. That hair cliphe wore also did its part to add a hint of childishness to his mien.

So because of this kongpob, Arthit
did not need to lighten his movements
as the other man was still unaware of
his return. In fact his head, just as it had
before, was still very much focused on his own affairs.

The sound of light strokes tapping on the
keyboard echoed throughout the living
room as kongpob's hands kept beating
away. Thus, it was not until Arthit
began walking towards him, did he finally show a response.

Kongpob's fingers paused abruptly. He
then lifted his head to see the man, who
had by then already walked towards him, currently beside him. This other person wore a white shirt along with a slightly loosened tie, lacking all of the rigour he had during their first meeting. Now only that handsome and judging by its lack of excess emotion-quite serious face simply looking down at him.

Kongpob's eyebrows creased, the subtle act creating a barely visible wrinkle.
Having that man nowhere to be seen
for two consecutive weeks, had allowed
him to relax to the extent where he had
forgotten his current predicament. The
absence also allowing him to thoroughly
neglect that his current residence was not his own, but was instead the apartment of the one now before his eyes named, Arthit Rojnapath.
And that he, kongpob, was this man's
"Contracted Wife".

Honestly speaking, if he could, he truly
would rather not use those words.
Although kongpob's movement were
quite subtle, without the cover of his
bangs, Arthit's eyes set themselves
squarely on his face, making it very easy
for that other man to catch sight of his
frown.

That man's cold, hardened features
crinkled as well. From this situation was
it was clear that kongpob just did not
expect him to return on this day, at all?
He was clearly told before the business
trip the date of Arthit's return. After
all, the time apart was given to let him to
properly organize his feelings, along with granting both parties the opportunity to adapt to this new relationship.

Or could it simply be that kongpob--
from the start-had already completely
forgotten about Arthit's very
existence.

Ha ha!

Adapt to that demon.

Two people, one standing, one sitting,
neither saying a word to the other. Even
the sound of the keyboard disappeared
after a while. The atmosphere appeared
to have become somewhat awkward.
Face-to-face meetings like these were
always silent. The condescending attitude worn by the other person made kongpob a little uneasy. After a long pause, kongpob, though rather hesitantly, began to speak, "You... came back."

Saying that sentence in that moment, he then looked to the other person whose
eyes flashed with ridicule. The look
conveyed, just as a bullet screen would,
the message "If I'm not back, what do you think you're seeing-a ghost?"

[T/n: a Bullet screen shows comments
posted in real time on videos. Or just
picture his look and the picture as a
meme.]
Kongpob began to sweat.
A few seconds later, Arthit coldly
responded, "Yeah."

..How time goes by so quickly.
Kongpob groaned internally, passing
the time with a sigh. When Arthit
saw that kongpob was finished asking
questions he was left a bit speechless.
Then with displeasure evident in his voice he asked, "It doesn't look like you wanted me to come back, doesn't it?"

That was true......

"No," kongpob whispered before he saw
the clock hanging on the wall showed it
was past nine o'clock in the evening. It
also dawned on him that man's return
from the airport must have taken at
least an hour, so with the thought of him
probably not haven eaten as yet he asked,

"Have you eaten?"
Looking at the boy, who thanks to that clip lifting his bangs had his forehead exposed to reveal a pair of considerate eyebrows, Arthit's own brows in turn relaxed slightly as his thin lips spat out the single word, "No."

Kongpob looked then saw, beside Arthit's feet, a small suitcase sat. Guessing that he most likely just came straight from the plane and after hesitating for a few seconds, he asked, "If you don't mind, there's still some stuff in the fridge, so...should I go get you something to eat?"

Arthit did not say a word as he
looked at kongpob as if he were thinking
it over. Kongpob, who saw this, now
wanted to just call to have some food
delivered for him. But before kongpob
could speak, Arthit looked at him
1 word, "No."then simply nodded and said, "Ill go shower" before dragging his suitcase with him into the bedroom.

Then at the sight of Arthit's
retreating figure, kongpob suddenly
recalled what had happened just two
weeks prior.

TBC.