The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter 17

Kong is amused. PArthit isn't answering his messages. Was he really pissed off about the neon hand prints? Well, it was him who kissed me when the lights were turned off, right? Can he blame me if I got carried away? Kong pondered.

But come Monday, Kong is worried. Kong is waiting for P'Arthit in the Faculty of Engineering cafeteria so they can have their lunch together. Kong only has one hour and a half  for his lunch break and he has been waiting here for over an hour already. 'Where could he be?'

Kong tried calling P'Arthit but he is not answering his phone. With just 15 minutes left before his lunch break is over, Kong left. He does not want to be late again as the Faculty of Economics building is at the other  side of the campus.

Kong's stomach was rumbling  in hunger as he was walking. He is worried about P'Arthit but he doesn't want  to ask his fann's friends where the senior is. The last thing Kong needed is to be  labeled as a clingy boyfriend. Arthit is embarassed enough after the neon handprints incident in the Blacklight Party. ' P, where are you?' Kong silently asked.

He was passing by the university cafeteria when he suddenly stopped. Kongpob thought he saw someone. He took a few steps back and Arthit was there, eating and smiling. He is not alone, he's with a girl.

Kong blinked a few times. Arthit is shy in general but he is smiling to this girl and interacts with her, with ease. 'Who is she?'

He was still lost in his thoughts when someone called him.

'Kong!'

He looked around, it was Kai.

'Better hurry. You'll be late for class.' Kai coaxed him.

' We're classmates right?' Kong asked incredulously.
' Unlike you, I can skip lessons and still  top the class.' Kai calmly replied.

' Is this guy for real?' Kong thought.

Kong turned again and the last thing he saw was the girl touching Arthit's wrist and he just laughed at her.

Kai, on the other hand, was suprised to see Kong standing in the university cafeteria looking like a lost puppy, so he called his attention

' Did you eat?' Kai asked.
' Um, yes.' Kong lied.

Kai is not a genius for nothing. He brushed off the lie as they went inside the classroom.

Kong is still thinking about what he saw when a sandwich and juice appeared in front of his eyes.

' Eat.' Kai demanded.
' But the class will start any minute now.' Kong looked at the door warily.
' Prof. will not say anything if I eat with you.' Kai simply stated.
' Oh.'

Indeed, the Professor almost called out Kong but when Kai reached out and got a piece of the sandwich  Kong was eating, the professor just turned away as if he didn't see anything. Kai gave him the look silently bragging, ' I told you so.' Kong smiled even if his thoughts are muddled with a certain senior.

Kai insisted to walk with Kong after class. The guy looked out of it today. Kong was about to miss 2 steps on the stairs and nearly faceplanted if it wasn't for Kai who pulled him around his waist that sent Kong leaning on Kai's chest.

' If you want to break your neck, jumping from the rooftop is the most logical option. Not missing two steps of the stairs.' Kai deadpanned.

Kong just blinked as if he just got out of his trance and muttered his thanks to Kai.

So here they are walking in the university field when Kong suddenly stopped. Kai looked around for what might be the reason why Kong stopped. He saw a guy in enginering uniform, a senior, with a girl. The girl is tall, a body to die for, milk white complexion and chinky eyes. The two were talking animatedly and the guy was pointing at buildings.

'Kong, they must be dating. Where are you going anyway?'

Dating? Is Parthit dating that girl?!

'Im... suddenly hungry. ' Kong mumbled.
' Me too. You ate my snack.' Kai replied and began walking to the nearest cafeteria, the engineering cafeteria.

Kong blinked at Kai. 'That guy has no filter.' But he just snorted and he started  walking when he saw the girl cling to Arthit's arm.

Kong just stared blankly, his brain is fuzzy now.

' Kong!' Kai called out, Kong left for the cafeteria.

When they reached the cafeteria, the seniors were there. They saw Kong enter with a tall guy. Prem, Knot and Bright just turned on each other. When Toota arrived,

" That's NongKai! Why is he here?' he exclaimed.
'Eating with Kong.'
'Come again?'

They saw Kong share a table with Kai. The two were not even talking. Kong is too confused to deal with people's  whispers, wondering why he was eating with someone else.

' Who is he?' Prem inquired.
' From the Faculty of Economics.'
' How does he know Kong?' Knot asked.
' I think because of Kong's elective.' Toota responded.
' Oh nice. Why didn't we think of that before?' Prem pondered.
' Where is Arthit anyway?'
'Who knows?' Bright jist shrugged.

That night, Kong received a message from Arthit apologizing for not answering his calls. Arthit also asked why he called and inquired if Kong needed something.

Kong lied that he just wanted to check on him. In return, he asked whom Arthit ate his lunch with. The senior answered that he ate lunch with his friends.

Kong looked across Arthit's balcony and wondered, 'Why is P'Arthit lying to me?'