More Than Words Book III: More Than Love

Chapter 11

   "P'Arthit?" Arthit turns around,  putting his hands down on hearing Kongphob's voice who lurks at the end of the hall. "Who was it?" 

"n'Em."

Kongphob walks till the little centre table, picks the black polybag up. "Slept well?"

"I did. Thanks." Arthit smiles genuinely.

Both of them stare at each other waiting for the other to speak.

"Why don't you sit down?", Arthit says lamely.

Kongphob shifts on the spot before settling on the sofa next to him. Arthit finds that he isn't really freaking out now that he is here.

"Now what?" Kongphob asks, putting his legs up on the table. "Did you have lunch?"

"Not even breakfast."

"Right." Kongphob snorts. "Do you want a chicken sandwich?" Arthit scrunches his nose. "With tea? Would you even like tea?" Kongphob puts his hand on top of the backrest, his hand touching Arthit's back.

"Disgusting," Arthit says jokingly and they both grin.

"So mature." Kongphob ribs, good-naturedly. "Why do I even call you P'? I should just call you I'Oon."

"Don't forget your manners, young man." Arthit aims a kick at his leg.

"You just proved my point."

"Whatever." Arthit rolls his eyes.

They both sit together on the sofa in a comfortable silence till Arthit has to go ahead and run his mouth.

"n'Em said yesterday was your father's .." Arthit falters midway, realising his mistake. Is he allowed to talk about this? Even back then Kongphob didn't talk about his father's demise. At least, never shared much with him.

"His death anniversary?" Kongphob says to clarify. "Yes." That's all he says.

"Do you.. want to talk about it?"

He sees Kongphob frown who is tracing patterns on his loose t-shirt. "No."

"But-"

Kongphob pulls his arm back and stands up. "It is not that I don't want to share with you."

"I didn't say that." Arthit points out.

"I know." Kongphob finally looks at him. "It has been twelve years now. There's nothing much left to speak on it."

Oh.

Arthit gets it. Just because he hasn't been around, doesn't mean Kongphob hasn't had people to share his tough times and memories with. So what if it isn't Arthit? His mood deflates. Kongphob has and had people. It just might not be him.

"Okay."

Kongphob looks away. "Do you want that sandwich?"

"Of course."

"Give me ten minutes. I'll get it all done."

"Sure."

***

It is 1:53 in the night. Arthit knows this because he happened to glance at the clock on the far right in the hallway. He is back in Kongphob's flat. Why? No reason. As soon as he left his office, his cab brought him straight to the door of his own small rented place but then Arthit had found himself walking towards the taller building where the taller man lived. His Ex.