Your man

Chapter Two

The ringing of their doorbell made Arthit jump.  They weren't expecting any guests.  No one was supposed to know where they lived.  Singto was in the shower.  Arthit walked up to the door hesitantly and looked through the peephole trying not to make a sound.  It was a handsome young man Arthit had never seen before.  He opened the door.

"Can I help you?" Arthit asked politely.

"Oh, Sawadee khrap," the man said seemingly surprised.  "I'm sorry, I think I'm at the wrong house.  I'm looking for apartment number 36.  Do you know where that is?" he asked.

"This is apartment 36," Arthit said.

The man scrunched his face, confused.  "But.."

"Who are you looking for Khun?" Arthit asked again.

"I'm looking for someone named Singto.  I mean Peraya," the man corrected himself quickly.

"Yes, this is his house.  Please come in," Arthit said as he opened the door wide.

"I'm sorry.  I didn't know Singto was living with someone," the man said.

"I'm Arthit.. his.." Arthit began.

"Todd!  What are you doing here?" Singto appeared in their living room toweling his hair.

"Simba!  You never agreed to see me off work, so I came in search of you.  I didn't know you had company," Todd replied.

Simba?  Why the hell was this man calling Singto Simba?  Arthit thought annoyed.  Who was this person?

"Oh, this is my cousin N' Arthit.  Arthit this is my co-worker and my oldest friend."  Singto introduced them without missing a beat.

Cousin?  What the..  Arthit raised an eyebrow at Singto only to be ignored by him.

"Oldest friend?  More like friends since we were in diapers," Todd said laughing.

"Ai Todd lets not go there," Singto said in a teasing tone.

"Simba, why are you embarrassed?  I know you don't want to admit it, but you took a transfer to this corner of the country because of me.  See N' Arthit, I have been telling him we should take it to the next level but he never listens," Todd said to Arthit.

"How did you find my house anyway?" Singto asked cutting in.

"Simba, did you just ask me, a fellow cop how I found your house?"

Singto sighed, "Of course.."

"P' Todd?  Why do you keep calling P' Sing Simba?" Arthit asked sweetly.

"That's what I have been calling him since we were kids.  I have no reason to change it now.  He loves lions," Todd replied fondly.

Arthit did not like the way Todd looked at Singto.  Or the way Singto looked at Todd.

"Do you want to grab a drink Simba?  N' Arthit can join us too," Todd suggested.

"Arthit is a teacher.  He can't afford to be hungover tomorrow.  Let me get my keys.  You are ok by yourself for a while, aren't you Arthit?" Singto asked.

"It's not like I have a choice, do I P' Sing?" Arthit questioned. 

Singto had to have caught on Arthit's mood, but he didn't change his mind.

Todd was also a police officer.  Was he the reason Singto had chosen to move to the countryside.  Why had Singto introduced him as a cousin?  Arthit already knew Singto's answer.

'It's for your safety Arthit.'

If Todd was a trusted old friend, Singto could have just told him who Arthit was.  Todd's intentions were quite clear.  Didn't Singto notice that?

Arthit trusted Singto.  He should trust Singto...

When Singto returned, it was late at night, smelling of cheap alcohol.

Arthit was hurt something didn't feel right.

*************************

*One month ago.*

(Singto's POV)

"I didn't think you would come, Detective," said Knott upon seeing Singto.

"Why did you want to see me, Knott?  Let's get straight to the point," Singto said glumly.

"You came here because you don't trust him, Detective.  Don't pretend you don't want to be here," Knott said looking straight at Singto.  "Am I wrong?"

Singto hated the fact that Knott was right.  He did trust Arthit to a certain extent.  But there were loopholes in Arthit's story.

"Thought so.  Arthit might probably end my life too.  But, I have to do this for Bright.  Detective, it was Arthit who killed Bright.  You are nursing a criminal.  Arthit is a snake, and he should be behind bars too."

"How do you know it was Arthit who killed Bright?" Singto asked. 

He already had his suspicions about Arthit's involvement. He had chosen to ignore them.

"Arthit told me himself when he came to visit me."

"Arthit was here?"

Knott smirked at Singto.  "I see you didn't know that either."

"Why should I believe someone who tried to kill me over my boyfriend?"

"Arthit is crazy.  He didn't have to kill Bright.  He did it because Bright hurt you.  Think harder Detective.  What I had against you wasn't personal it was purely business.  Arthit is acting on personal grudges."

"Why would Arthit tell you he killed Bright when there is a possibility you might say it to me?" Singto asked Knott.

"Maybe he is sure you would trust him and not me."

Whom should he believe?  Why couldn't his life be more simple and happy?

"Detective, I don't have to tell you what kind of a person Arthit is.  Deep down you know I'm right," Knott said.

*************************

"Ai Simba, what happened to you?  You have been staring at that wall for twenty minutes now," Todd said, flicking his fingers in front of Singto.

"Why do you keep calling me Simba?  We aren't kids anymore Todd."

"I will call you whatever the fuck I want Simba," Todd replied.  "So what's the problem?"

Singto shook his head, "It's nothing."

"Relationship problems?  I keep telling you to ditch your boyfriend and date me," Todd shrugged.  "You just don't have the luck."

Singto looked at Todd.  "How much do you love me, Todd?"

"Hey!  I was kidding," Todd said raising his arms in surrender.

"Do you love me enough to risk your life for me?"

"Ai Simba, you are scaring me."

" Todd, I need your help. Please.."

****************************************

A/N - I have used almost all of Singto's names. Also, I used the name Peraya instead of Prachaya.