In Every Lifetime

Chapter Thirty Seven

"Ai'Kong!" Aim hollered from the gates, drawing his best friend's attention back to him from whatever blank space he was looking at. "I thought you were here to pick me up and yet I find you staring off into space instead of looking for me," he grumbled as he got closer, slinging an arm over Kongpob's shoulder when he finally reached him.

"Sorry Aim," Kongpob grinned sheepishly, "it's a bit of a long story. I'll get to it later. How was the flight?"

"My butt's kinda numb and I'm starving. Plane food really sucks. You owe me a meal." Aim rattled off, looking around at the eateries around the airport. He would kill for a proper meal right now.

"Alright man, let's get you filled." Kongpob chuckled. "I'm so glad you're here. I have so much to tell you."

"Whatever it is, food first okay?" Aim reminding, clicking his tongue. "What are you going to feed me?"

"I've got a meal prepped at home. You'll like it." Glancing away again into empty space, Kongpob smiled. "I got a new teacher who's really strict. None of those tasteless things you always grumble about."

Aim raised an eyebrow at his friend. He had tried for years to get Kongpob to eat more than just plainly seasoned food but failed. They were Thai for crying out loud. It was practically blasphemous that Kongpob ate a basic pork omelette and egg almost all the time. Even if he didn't, the other things he made barely contained anything more than a pinch of salt.

"Who is this mysterious teacher that managed to get you to change your mind even though i couldn't for years?" Aim pouted, a little upset yet happy that his best friend has finally decided to add a little flavour in his life.

"About that.." Kongpob started, scratching his neck. "I"ll tell you more when we reach home. It's a little.. Hard to explain here."

~***~

"Make yourself at home, the washroom's on the left." Kongpob told Aim as they walked through the door of his apartment. Aim nodded and left Kongpob in the kitchen where the latter began picking up plates and putting the finishing touches to the food he had prepared earlier.

"Oon, I know how to throw some shrimps into the soup!" Kongpob groaned.

"No you clearly don't. You didn't even devein them." Arthit scrunched his nose in disgust. "No no! Don't throw them in!" He grabbed Kongpob sternly by the arm and started brandishing a little fork around in front of his lover.

"See this?" He said, placing the utensil in his husband's hands. "Now find the 3rd joint between the shells and stick it in."

Kongpob eyed the other suspiciously but followed his instructions nevertheless. Afterall with the way Arthit was waving the fork around, he was more than likely to come out of this with one eye blind.

"Alright now lift gently, you should see.." Arthit whispered gently, guiding Kongpob's hands. "Ah hah. See? This is all the crap you're eating if you don't devein the shrimps." He said, smirking triumphantly.

Now it was Kongpob's turn to scrunch his nose as he pulled at the stringy mass that was coming out of the crustacean in his hands. "Oh that's gross."

"I'm so glad all you eat is pork omelette when you're cooking on your own." Arthit teased, hopping up onto the counter to watch his husband hard at work. "The bland food you've been eating clearly has been saving your gut."

"Hey! I resent that! They're not tasteless. They're just.. Healthy." Kongpob groused.

"No, they're tasteless for sure." Aim said, suddenly appearing at the entrance of the small kitchen area. "Who are you talking to?"