The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter 10

'You alright Ai? Prem asked Arthit as they joined him in the coffeeshop.

They just had a meeting and agreed to meet in this place.

'No.' Arthit answered.
'Why?' Toota asked.
Arthit sighed then responded, 'Gee has been sending flowers, toys and chocolates to Kong's dorm.'
'What?'They all yelled.
'But you said Kong already told him he has a fann' Prem added.
'He did and apparently Gee's not stopping anytime soon.' Arthit explained.

'What was the reaction of Kong? Toota inquired.
'He was stunned but he said he's not affected because we are together.'
'Well you should not lose.' Prem said.
'What do you mean, Prem?'
'When was the last time you did something together?' Prem asked.
'Almost two months now.' Arthit replied.

They gaped at him.

'Why?!' he asked at his friends'  shocked faces.
'You know love is like a plant...'Knot begun explaining...
'Easily blown away by storms then dead.' Bright butted in, making goodbye gestures.

'Bright!!! ' Their friends yelled at him.

'Sorry. Chill goodness. It's not like were waging a war against a colossal enemy or something. Oh wait. Just against Thailand's hottest popstar in the moment.' Bright thought loudly.

Arthit sneered at Bright while their friends threw pens at him.

Then there were shrieks.

'What's happening?'
'There are drones in campus, it's Live on Facebook' a girl responded.

The video showed 3 drones each with an attached sign to complete a message,

'Please go out with me.

We met first.

Lets set the world on fire.'

The drones are circling Kong.

'Isn't he the moon of the campus?' asked one.
'He really is extremely good looking' another stated.
'Why does he look annoyed?' a girl observed.
' If I were him, I'd be swept off my feet.' the other swooned.
'This is so romantic.' they all gushed.

Arthit and his friends looked at each other and the same question is nagging in their minds, 'How is Arthit supposed to top that?'

_-----_

Arthit had to go home that weekend so he asked Kong to meet him  on Shibaya Bus station. He previously asked him to go somewhere together. Kong agreed enthusiastically while trying to make Arthit admit that it's a date. Arthit, the coward that he is, just walked out from a laughing Kong.

However, on the way to the bus station, he helped an old lady who turned out to be his grade school teacher.

'Oon. You help me all the way home
she ordered.
' But Mam, I need to go...'
'Is this how you treat your elders now? Me who taught you to read?!' she scolded him in the middle of the road and Arthit felt like he's seven again.

Thinking the sooner he helps her, the faster he could leave, he messaged Kong that he will be late and apologized.

Kong is excited. It's been a long time since he and PArthit spent time together. He was buzzing when Arthit told him they are going out of Bangkok. In his excitement, he arrived early in the bus station.

His face lit up when a message from Arthit came.  But happiness turned into worry with his message. What could have delayed PArthit?

Arthit is visibly frustrated. He planned to take Kong out but instead he is stuck carrying baskets of bananas to his former teacher's home.

She lives alone apparently. She looked so tired and he can't leave her there without giving her something to eat. He made her fried bananas even if she tried to be say she can prepare the bananas herself.

After two hours and a half,

'Kong'

It was Arthit catching his breath. His usually styled hair is all over his head. His shirt is wrinkled and his cheeks are pink from running.

'Are you alright.?' he asked, relieved Arthit is here now.

Arthit expected Kong to yell at him. He made him wait for a long time and he is still here. How can he stay and wait? Unable to find his words, he shoved the banana leaf package at him. Those were fried bananas that held him up.

'Let's go.' he told Kong.

Then the rain poured. Arthit cursed.

'We can stay here.'Kong suggested
'At the bus station?' Arthit asked him, surprised.
'Doesn't matter to me. Come' they sat on the benches away from the people.

It was a full blown thunderstorm now and indeed the bus company announced, they won't be setting off until the storm lets up.

'Where did you get this?' Kong asked as he peeled the leaves revealing the snack. Arthit told him about his eventful morning.

'You made this?' Kong asked, awe is all over his handsome face.

Arthit, puzzled at Kong's excitement, nodded. 'How can he be excited when this is the reason why I was late?'

Kong grinned looking at the snack.

'These are mine now. Delicious ' he declared after he took photos and after taking a bite.

Arthit was baffled at his enthusiastic boyfriend. How can he look so happy with this snack?

'I'm sorry' Arthit apologized.
'Why?' Kong asked.
'I botched our date.'
So you're finally admitting that this is a date?' he teased.
'Kong.' Arthit's ears turned red.
'P, calm down. We're on a date now.' Kong simply stated as he still looked at the snack with reverence.
'We should be there...' Arthit said as he stared longingly at the stranded buses.
'We're here together.' Kong contradicted.
'But you deserve better than this!' Arthit argued.
' This isn't a competition' Kong stated finally looking up from the snacks.

Arthit blushed and Kong noticed it and said,

'Unless you're...competing with....'
'Why should I compete with that popstar?!' he denied
'Nobody mentioned anything about a popstar, P' the amused Kong said.

Arthit stopped and blushed.

'Cat go your tongue P? Kong teased his now blushing boyfriend
'Kong...' he narrowed his eyes at Kong who seems to be enjoying himself.

'Well if Gee asks, where does my fann take me on dates, I'll say bus station.' Kong declared adding fuel to the fire.

Arthit blushed like crazy. Kong laughed.

' So you are competing with him,P?' Kong is trying so hard to keep a straight face at the thought of PArthit trying to win over Gee.
'Look how that turned out.' a frustrated Arthit admitted.

Kong was overcame with a giddy feeling and just bit his lip before saying,

'I chose to be with you. I was over the moon when you liked me back. I'm not looking for an out of this world declaration, P. I want something just like this.'

Arthit's heart was racing at Kong's words. Damn, Kong can sweet talk anyone. Until Kong added,

'But I'm disappointed P'
'Why?' Arthit is nervous, he totally messed up this date so he's bound to disappoint Kong.

'I was kinda hoping that your banana was just a symbol for something else and we --' Kong begun explaining with a sly smile on his face and naughtiness on his sparkling eyes.

'FINISH THAT SENTENCE KONGPOB AND I WILL LEAVE YOU HERE, THUNDERSTORM BE DAMNED.' a redfaced Arthit threatened his boyfriend.

Kong was laughing so hard on the bench that Arthit can't help but join him as well. Looking at the raging thunderstorm, the gloomy bus station and his laughing boyfriend, he thought, "What a beautiful disaster, this day has been.'