Every Breath You Take

The Meeting (Arthit)

We pull up to the mansion and I breathe a sigh of relief. I hadn't realized how safe I had begun to feel here and not just because of the security. As I open the door I take in the sight of all of the people we care about working together, laughing together, teasing, and loving each other. I have to admit that I am grateful for the closeness that this case had brought to us. It has fortified our friendship.

I walk in and hand the yearbook to Bright. That's right Bright. I can't say it enough, he's practically a genius and so good at finding those details others happen to miss.

"What's this?" He says.

"A yearbook." I reply.

"I can see that dumb ass." See, very perceptive.

"It's from the year I was in the accident." I explain and he sits down excitedly pouring over the pages.

Soon he's joined by Prem and Knott. They talk animatedly about what I looked like when I was younger. I look around the room and spot Senior and Madame affectionately looking at everyone. That's when it occurs me that this must not have been the first time we met.

"Senior?"

"Yes son."

"You know me don't you?" I ask outright.

"We've known you your entire life." He admits.

"Why don't I know that?" I ask feeling winded.

"For your protection. Your family was practically in hiding to keep you away from any kind of attack. Once we rooted out the problem you were already in college so we watched you from afar." He explains.

"Actually we've 'run' into to quite a few times over the last few years. There were times when May had to see you physically and I could never say no to her." He says sweetly smiling at his wife.

"Does that mean you knew about Kongpob and me?" I ask suddenly clicking things together.

"Of course we did. We were very disappointed with his parents...and you." He says.

"Me? Why me?" I ask.

"You gave up without a fight. Some stupid noble idiot crap. You left poor Kong a mess and what about you? Don't think I don't know how unhappy you were until you two got back together." He scolds.

It's not as if I don't know what a huge mistake I made by letting Kongpob go back then. It's not like I don't know how hard my life was without him or how I refused to be with anyone other than him. I know better than anyone the mistake I made by giving up without a fight. I look back to where Kongpob is. He's smiling as he talks with M and May. They are all sitting around Madame, who has the baby in her lap. That might be a hard separation for them.

"Maybe we should all live here forever." I whisper out.

"I think Madame would be OK with that." Senior says watching the same scene.

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS!" Rings through the room.

They finally got to the last page. That took longer than I had expected. Bright's entire vocabulary is reduced to curse words. Speaking of cursing, I should be hearing Chinese soon.  I look around and notice that someone is missing. Thinking back when was the last time I saw P'Dan? I pull out my phone and make a call. It goes to voicemail. That's not right. I swiftly walk over to Kongpob and grab his phone. He gives me a curious look but doesn't stop me. Once I find K.O.'s contact I call and wait.

"Wei." Is grumbled into the phone.

"Oh thank goodness. I got nervous when I didn't see P'Dan." I ramble into the phone.