Arthit & Kongpop ✔️

Hiding From Society

Everything from beginning till "Present day" is past.

Three years ago, on a Friday night...

It had been raining the entire day,
a sort of drizzle that was only mildly annoying.

But it wasn't until my parents left for the theater that the rain really started coming down.

I watched it for a few minutes before deciding I needed a cup of tea, a few candles, and a movie.

While the kettle was heating up, I thought about inviting Prae.

But she hated going out in the rain.

Better not.

I poured myself some earl grey tea and moved to the couch, where I wrapped myself in a blanket and put on Ten Things I Hate About You.

I was about ten minutes into the movie, andI'd taken about five sips of my tea, when the shouting started.

Curious, I got up to look out the window.

Across the street, in front of the Suthilaks house, was a man and Kongpop Suthilak.

The ever so quiet Kongpop was shouting, and pulling on the man's- his father's - arm.

In the door opening, face streaked with mascara, stood a woman. She was shouting at Kongpop to stop, please just stop, while the man was shouting at Kongpop to let him go.

Kongpop seemed to refuse to do either.

With the same determination he used to teach himself how to ride a bike, Kongpop Suthilak held onto his father.

But his father was a big man, and Kongpop was weak from crying and screaming, so with just a push, he fell backwards, sliding over the wet pavement.

His father got in the car before Kongpop could get up again.

I watched everything in horror. I knew the Suthilak's fought a lot, but this time felt different. When I saw the car driving away, I knew it would be the last time I ever saw Kongpop's father.

His mother shouted at her son, but when he didn't respond, didn't even get up, she just closed the door.

My heart clenched as I watched Kongpop Suthilak shrink in on himself in the pouring rain, wet clothes sticking to his body and his shoulders shaking.

It wasn't any of my business. I should get back to my blanket, my tea, and my movie.

But I'd been watching Kongpop for years. I'd seen him laugh, and cry.

I'd seen him fall and get up, get up, get up.

"Get up," I whispered.

But Kongpop Suthilak didn't get up this time.

Before I could think it through, I put on my shoes, barely taking the time to tie my shoelaces, before ripping open the front door and running outside.

The pouring rain rushed around me, blinding me within seconds, streaks of it dripping down my glasses.

"What are you doing? Let's get inside!" I shouted, gesturing behind me at the open front door.

Slowly, Kongpop looked up, his dark hair plastered to his face.

At first, nothing happened on Miang Lane. Nothing but two boys looking at each other from a respectable distance apart.

Then, Kongpop moved to his feet.

It was too hard to see anything more than movement through the rain, so I took off my glasses. The edges of my world turned blurry and unfocused, but I could see with a startling clarity how Kongpop Suthilak, after a moment's hesitation, ran towards me.