What If: KongpobArthit

Love At First Note

"Nice song." A young man, probably two years younger, greeted him when he went to the counter for a glass of water. He was sitting on one of the bar's high chairs.

"Thanks." Arthit smiled taking the compliment with ease.

While waiting for the bartender, Arthit quickly glanced at the said man and was glad that he did. He was quite an specimen. He was wearing a black collared long sleeves, folded below his elbows, neatly paired with a black pants. Everything was black and with the help of the bar's lightnings, he looked like a mysterious man. The rings on his candle-like fingers made him more masculine than less and the way he held the glass, probably whiskey, was already bewitching he couldn't look away. Handsome was not enough to describe him.

"Like what you see?" Arthit didn't know what to do. He was caught staring, more like checking out the young man. He tried not to but he was sure he was already blushing. He didn't knew what happened to him that he ended up staring for too long.

"I-,"

Seeing how Arthit became uncomfortable, the young man laughed a little to calm the awkward situation he made.

"Don't worry, I'm just kidding." He then flashed a smile which caught Arthit off guard.

"Very unfair for having it all." Arthit thought.

"I'm sorry--I didn't mean..."

"It's okay. Kongpob by the way." The man who introduced himself offered his free hand for a shake. Arthit hesitated at first but he didn't want to be rude.

"Arthit." He answered returning the gesture. They exchanged pleasantries he didn't know he was capable of. Especially to a man he had just met.

The bartender showed up a couple of minutes later and put the glass of water Arthit asked before saying, "P'Bright said you're up in five, P'."

"Okay. Is he still at the back?" He nodded to confirm before asking.

"Yep. He hated the paper works but he's still doing it anyway."

"That's Ai'Bright for you."

"Oh, you're about to go up there again?" Kongpob asked when the man behind the bar went back to serve the others.

"Yeah, last song for the night." Arthit usually didn't talk to strangers but there he was doing it out of his comfort zone. Couldn't help it for there was something about the man that told him it was okay to indulge himself just for one time.

"Already? The night's still young." A hint of disappointment was heard in Kongpob's voice and for an unknown reason, Arthit didn't want to hear it from him.

"What's gotten to me? I just met him."

"Will you stay? After your performance?" Kongpob asked when Arthit remained quiet.

The older man was not sure but before he could think he was already answering back. "Will you?" As if he wanted Kongpob to be there when he finished his last performance for the night. He got attached so fast he wanted to spend the remaining hours with Kongpob even though he didn't know anything about him.

"Do you want me to?" Kongpob responded in return.

However, Arthit went ahead and left Kongpob without an answer. It was rude of him but he was having an internal battle on why he couldn't just say yes when he really wanted him to stay. He was already drawn to him - literally.

Arthit was not an easy guy, he was the opposite. It would take more than one encounter before he could decide if he wanted to be associated with anyone, yet, Kongpob made it without even entering the door and Arthit let him in giving the key himself. "What was I thinking?"