To Hold Tight or to Let Go

Chapter Fourteen

Arthit was lounging on his couch when he heard the incessant knocking on his front door. He smiled and crossed his arms.

"Why do you knock?! You have the key!" he called out. The moment he said that, he heard the key in the door and it opened. His friends bombarded his condo, looking around hectically as if they expected to come into a murder scene.

"Jeez, what's wrong with you guys?" Arthit asked.

"My Oon!" Bright hurried over, dropping on the couch and hugging Arthit tightly. "When you sent us that message in the group chat I got so scared."

"Stop exaggerating," Tootah smacked Bright on the back of the head. "All he said was 'can you guys come over tonight I want to talk to you all' you're being do dramatic."

"Still," Bright moped. "I was worried."

"Thank you for the worry Bright," Arthit chuckled. "Now can we have dinner? I need to take my meds soon."

"I got the friend chicken," Knott said. Setting the bucket on the coffee table. They all sat on the floor around the table as Knott unpacked the paper plates from the bag he got along with the chicken.

"Only thing we're missing now is beer," Tootah said.

"Tootah," Prem groaned. "Shut up sometimes."

"It's alright Prem," Arthit mumbled. "And I told you guys, if you wanted to drink that you could now. I'm alright."

"That's just mean and selfish Arthit," Bright said. "We're not going to drink in front of you knowing that you can't drink."

"Exactly. Right Tootah?" Knott looked at Tootah.

"I was only saying," Tootah said. "Besides, he's been well enough that he can take a few sips here and there."

"Are you forgetting I nearly killed you not too long ago?" Arthit asked.

Tootah sighed and looked down at his plate. "Yes but that was my fault. If I hadn't triggered you then it would be a different story."

"Either way, there's no way I can chance taking a drink now because I might relapse. And I've come to far from that. I mean, I guess lately I haven't felt the need or want to drink to bury my sorrows."

"Well then that's good right?" Prem asked, his mouth full of chicken.

"Yes, it's good," Arthit smiled.

"What did you want to talk with us about?" Knott questioned.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking and talking with P'Ohm about things that happened to me in the past. Mainly with Kongpob."

Everyone stopped chewing and looked up at Arthit.

"It was actually quite healing to unload off certain things when it comes to him. Like the fact that even though I fucked up, I felt as if he didn't even give me a chance. I wanted to ask how you guys feel about it all. And if maybe you guys can forgive me for being that kind of guy."

"Arthit," Prem was the first to speak. "We never thought you were that kind of guy. We knew it was a mistake that happened because you were very vulnerable, confused, and hurt. You're not some abusive person."

"And you're not a cheater either," Knott added. "You made a bad choice because of pressure. That choice really messed things up but you have to learn and live in your mistakes."

"And I think you're right about Kongpob," Bright said. "I like that nong a lot. You know that Arthit. When you're with him I see how happy you are and I want happiness and love for all of my friends. And I was pissed at you for screwing up what you had with him and breaking his heart. But I've forgiven you because I think you've learned your lesson on that. But as for N'Kongpob, I really dislike that he never gave you another chance. I mean not even one call or text. You deserve better than that and sometimes I just want to call him or find him and smack some sense into him so he can do what's right and forgive you."