The Merger

Five

Khaotung was bruised and sore. He had taken quite a beating. " I guess years of only going to the gym when I was forced to is biting me in the backside now isn't it," thought Khao. He couldn't even land any blows from his own fists. He stretched. He groaned softly as his painful body protested. Khao sat up slowly and made his way to the bathroom, careful not to wake First who was snoring softly. Khao smiled as his eyes followed the contours of First's body under the blanket. He couldn't believe First had run to his assistance like that, without considering what those goons would do to him. First was well built and had been gymming for years, still, taking on idiots that were twice your size plus outnumbered you to boot, is absolutely stupid. Khaotung's smile got even wider. " He has been saying since he was a teenager that he was going to marry the man who didn't mind acting stupid for him." "Confirmation," thought Khao. "This guy is my guy ."

Khaotung emerged from the bathroom fully dressed and slipped quietly out the door of the hospital room before First woke up. By the time First opened his eyes the sun was streaming through the window. He stretched lazily in bed without opening his eyes. His feet clanged against the metal bedframe. First hastily pulled his legs up remembering he was in the hospital bed with Khao.

As he opened his eyes he registered two things. One, Adi, his personal assistant, sitting on edge of the couch and two, Khaotung wasn't in bed or in the room for that matter. "Where's Khaotung?,"he asked immediately. "Good morning to you too. How are you this fine day?. I'm completely fine, thank you so much for asking," responded a very handsome sassy personal assistant. First groaned. "Why," he wondered, " was my life blessed with two beautiful yet obstinate individuals." "Adi," First started but was immediately stopped by Adi's hand flying into the air like the traffic police at a four-way stop. "Nevermind," said Adi testily. "I have no idea where Khaotung is. He left a message on my phone, asked me to pick you up here and to make sure you eat a good breakfast. He said he'd see you at home later and that you shouldn't worry. By the way, I had your car towed and I'm having it mechanically serviced since I don't know how it got to be where it was. Don't bother explaining as it's none of my business anyway. Now then, you have a meetibg at 11, oh, that's  about two hours from now sooooo... you just have enough time to go home and take a quick shower. Your vehicle will be ready at three and it will be delivered to the office. Don't bother to thank me, I don't want to drive you around either. As for now, I called a chauffeur and breakfast will be delivered shortly. Let's get a move on First time is money........" Adi still had plenty more to say but First wasn't really listening anymore. Adi was his longest and dearest friend,  he was loyal and trustworthy but he was rather long-winded. First usually only listened to the first sentence. He knew Adi would repeat the rest anyway. As Adi's voice droned on and on, First's thoughts turned again to Khaotung. Where had he disappeared to this time. Why would he leave without saying anything and why not wake him. Something was gnawing as First's gut and he was worried. In their time together Khaotung had never kept things from him, true they haven't been a couple that long and they've been adversaries for much longer, even so, Khaotung was not an undershanded kind of guy. He wasn't perfect but he was no crook. First suddenly wondered how well he knew Khaotung. First shook his head as if to shake these thoughts from his mind. "Well?" He heard Adi's voice coming back to him as if from a distance. "Get your head in the game Khun First," whispered Adi.

First marched confidently into his company. Staff bowed respectfully as he passed and hurriedly busied themselves with work. He strode quickly into  his office, sat down at his desk and prepared for his meeting.

The meeting progressed slowly. More than once the speaker had to repeat what was being said. First's mind just wasn't in that meeting, instead, it was filled with thoughts of Khaotung. It felt like an eternity before First could call it quits and head home. He worried that Khaotung wouldn't be there, he worried that Khao wouldn't tell him what happened, both this morning at the hospital and last night. First was scared that he would be home alone, he was afraid to trust Khaotung but he was more afraid to not trust Khao. What would he do if he didn't see Khaotung tonight? First worried...

He drove slowly through the intersection at the corner of his street. First wanted to be home and he was delaying being at home. He parked in the drive leading up to his door. First took his time locking his car and noted the new car smell through the window he was now closing. "Every  car needs a good service now and then,"First thought as he realised that he was procrastinating.

He turned his key slowly in the door but the front door swung open even before he had completed the action. First looked up, expecting Armageddon or a flying fist aimed at his nose or chin but that's not what happened.

Instead there was Khaotung, cup of coffee in one hand , fluffy slippers in the other. "I cooked," he said. " I hope you feel like pasta. I got ice cream, I got your favourite wine, I put the best CD on and ....." First smothered the rest of that sentence with his lips. Quite a few minutes later, when First finally lifted his head from Khaotung's , he lowered his jaw slightly and when his lips where in line with Khao's ear he whispered, " and I've got you."
Khao smiled seductively, closed the door behind First and effectively shut out the entire world. This was their time, only theirs and Khaotung would not permit any intrusions, especially since he didn't know if First would accept him still after he told him the whole story.