The Whole Nine Yards

Chapter 48

When Kong opened his curtains, dusk is starting to set in. He saw a familiar figure in the building across his room. Kong reminisced how he used to watch him like this. So much has changed - he used to watch him scrunch up his face as if he doesn't like something or even watching him stretch in the morning to get his towel.

But now, the figure across him is staring back, obviously aware that Kong is here, watching. When Kong stepped outside, their gazes just met. They are not strangers who got caught watching each other. They are two persons separated by more than physical distance, time and space.
The emotions that besiged them is like an invisible barrier.

Kong sighed, looked up to the sky as if asking the world how to get pass this.
But his phone has broken his musings as he received a message,

'Can I call you?'

Kong looked to the senior across him and he nodded.

Arthit looked like he did not know what to do when Kong went out in the balcony. To the senior's mind, he wished he can devy this distance so he can talk to him.

Swallowing the lump on his throat, Arthit sent Kong a message. When the sophomore nodded, Arthit felt a small flicker of hope.

The junior received his call..

'Kong...' Arthit's voice cracked. ' Darn, I feel like a nervous schoolboy talking to his crush for the first time'
'PArthit.' Kong answered
'You... You're back.' Arthit said.
' Really that's the best I can come up with?'

Kong nodded as they are still staring at each other.

'You...received my letter?' Arthit asked. ' Props for letting that out' Arthit thought.
'Yes.' Kong's responses are curt, devoid of the usual pleading and teasing tone he used to talk to him. Arthit missed that tone even if he used to pretend to be annoyed by it. ' I want to hear him talk to me like that again.'

'Are you ready to talk about it?' Arthit asked.

Kong was just silent.
'I understand. Th--' Arthit scrambled to find his words when Kong cut him off,
'PArthit,'
'Yes.?'
'Sleep well.'

That caught Arthit by suprise then he responded, almost in a whisper-like voice, 'I will Kong. Thank to you.'

Between the two of them no one seem to know who will end the call. After a few moments, Kong did and he went back into his dorm. Any flicker of hope Arthit felt earlier seem to have been extinguished, put out, blown off totally. If Arthit felt a dull ache in his chest, he resolved to endure it, he deserved it after all.

That Friday, P' Tum invited them for dinner, the pregnant P' Fon was there as well. Arthit and Kong met each other in the entrance. No one said anything, they just stared at each other. Kong went ahead, Arthit on his heels.

They greeted everyone especially the freshmen and everyone was cooing to the pregnant Fon. But Arthit noticed that P' Tum has been watching them closely eversince they came in.

Then, P' Tum cleared his throat, there is a glint in his eyes that made Arthit suddenly feel nervous.

' Ai-oon. What is this I heard that you and NKongpob here are together.?' Arthit choked on his drinks and Fon was surprised.

' Really?' she exclaimed.

Arthit did not know what to say, Kong was just about to say something when their senior cut him off.

'Hala, dont deny it. NFang you were there right in the Senior Thanksgiving Party, you, AiOon declared that you were dating NKong!' P' Tom confronted Arhit.
'Yes.' Fang affirmed.

They whole table erupted in giggles except the two freshmen whose eyes widened. According to the university forum, PVolt and PArthit are together and Kongpob is the one trying to come between them. They were blinking rapidly, trying to come into terms with the shocking revelation.

'Hey Arthit, in our wedding, was this why you cornered me?' P' Tum is on a roll now, trying to rile up Arthit.
'Tell me, tell me.' Fon prodded.

Arthit turned red and Kong is actually staring at him now after evading his gaze throughout the dinner.

'I was going out of the bathroom. He suddenly had all these questions. Then he asked me, ' What is this I'm feeling then?' I said, ' How the hell should I know?!!!'

Everyone erupted into laughter. Arthit is so embarassed especially that Kong is just looking at him, his face unreadable.

' But it seems you figured it out eh, didn't let NKongpob get away.' P' Tum said.
'Ayyyy.' everyone teased.

Arthit just smiled but still half dreading that Kong will inform their senior that they are no longer together.

'You two are adorable, shy and all. Tum, seems the tradition of cocodes being together will continue.' Fon said meaningfully.

After dinner, PTum just clapped Arthit on his back and said
'Im so proud of you. '

He bowed to thank him.

'Remember what I told you.' he called out as they walked to the parking lot.
Arthit nodded.

'PArthit..' Kong called.
'Kong?' surprised when the junior called him.
'What did PTum tell you?'

Arthit blinked. Kong looks like he is genuinely curious and Arthit is willing to do anything to get him to stay with him a little longer.

' He told me when he's PFon, he doesnt feel happy all the time. They fight a lot. But he said they had been through a lot together. They were happy and sad together, they get mad at each other. They sometimes fight to the point of crying. And he knows they still have a lot to go through. But he chose to be with her anyway, because she made him a better person.' Arthit said.

Kong did not say anything.
'You really went to ask PTum about what you felt?' Kong asked softly.
'I didn't know what to do. I was clueless.' Arthit admitted.
'But he said you figured it out.' Kong inquired.
'Actually I didnt' Arthit countered.
'Ha?'
'He said, 'Figure it out. If you cant figure it out, just do whatever you want to do.' I couldn't figure it out that time so I went ahead and did what I wanted to do- I wanted to be with you.'

Kong was stumped.  His eyes widened when PArthit added,

' I still do.'

Their gazes locked and Arthit moved to get closer to Kong. He was half afraid his junior will push him away but he did not. Summoning every ounce of his bravado, he reached out to hold Kong's wrist. Arthit's thumb caressed the soft skin there, his eyes focused on where they are connected. Then Arthit felt Kong's rapid pulse. He looked up into his junior's eyes. They are aware that there so many things they wanted to say, wanted to blame each other for and questions still remaining unanswered. But for the two of them, they want to enjoy the presence of each other and the reassuring thought that the other is here, right now.

Then, a loud horn blew off and two jerked away from each other, their moment was broken abruptly.

Laughter was then heard,  it was PTum and PFon in their car.

'AiOon, not in the street! Make your move somewhere else! Stop corrupting your innocent junior!' PTum yelled.

' Him? Innocent?! If only you knew. ' Arthit mumbled.

' What?'PTum called out.
' Nothing. Go home safe!'

Arthit was so busy saying goodbye that he missed the small smile that formed in Kong's lips, as the sophomore clearly heard what he mumbled.