What If: KongpobArthit

Eternal Patience

"You're here again? Don't you get tired of always coming here?" A pale kid asked.

"I'm waiting for someone...P'?"

"But you are here everyday!" He exclaimed stating his frustration of seeing the same kid for almost five days in a row.

The said kid, a little tan compared to him, could be seen under the Sakura tree at the corner of his street. The pale kid named Arthit was only four houses away from the mentioned tree and unknown kid was always there whenever he walked home from school.

"I can still wait P' don't worry." He replied going back to the book he was reading.

"I'm Arthit by the way." He then offered his hand because he realized he would never make the kid go away but he only earned a confuse face. "Well, if you will be around why not introduced ourselves? We can also be friends!"

"Kongpob." The timid kid took Arthit's hand and shook it. The contact made him smile that easily captured Arthit's interest.

"Oh, so you could smile like that."

"What do you mean, P'?"

"Whenever I pass here, I always see your sad face. This is the first time I actually saw you smile." He explained as he took the vacant seat beside Kongpob. He stretched his legs forward as they were kind of sore from the soccer practice he had with his friends back at his own school. "By the way how did you know that I'm older?"

Kongpob remained silent and only pointed the color of the ID lace Arthit was wearing.

"Oh...You go to my school?"

The other kid nodded still smiling at their conversation.

"Then why I don't see you around?"

"I'm two years younger P'. We are at the other side of the school."

"You actually know me then,"

"Not entirely P'." Kongpob simply started. "I only see you play with your friends but I never find out your name."

"Join us then! We are missing a player and if you are this free you could join us instead!" The enthusiasm Arthit had was contagious it made the other one giggled.

"Hey! What's funny?" Dumbfounded he was due to the reaction he got from Kongpob.

"You're cute, P'."

"Wha--" He lightly hit his shoulder like what he always did when his friends tease him too far. "I'm not! You are!"

"No, P'." He smiled again showing his cute set of teeth. "You're very lively when talking about soccer. Do you love soccer?" It was his turn now to ask.

"SO MUCH! I could play all day long!"

Arthit then started to tell his stories animatedly about their game and also about his friends. He was having fun while Kongpob showed interest in his every act.

Hours passed since then and they were still sitting under the tree. The sky dimmed as it was late afternoon already. The street lights got lit up brightening the pathways and the roads. Both was hesitating to go but it was really getting late.

"Are you still going to wait?" Arthit worriedly asked as he stood up. "No?"

"A little bit more, P'." Kongpob remained on his position, a book still on his lap. There was sadness in his eyes but Arthit brushed them off. He was not a nosy one especially when they just met.

"You sure? It's getting chilly already."

"Don't worry, P'. But you should go now, your parents must be looking for you already."