Reflections [Complete]

Epilogue?

Kong's POV

I rolled over on my side to look at the clock on the bedside table. I knew it was late but hadn't realized it was well past midnight already. The chill of the empty bed making it hard for me find comfort enough to drift off to sleep. I slipped out and padded towards the kitchen to fetch myself a glass of warm milk and try to get in some homework instead of filing away this night as a complete waste. Making my way towards the study I had the same thought I have had for a year now. This apartment is just too freaking big. There is no conceivable reason why two people need so many rooms. Especially, since Arthit is downright atrocious at cleaning up on a regular basis.

It was close to a year now since I had moved in with him, mainly cause he had simply refused to move into my apartment. He claimed that I would be ready to slaughter him in his sleep within a week if we lived together in such close quarters, and honestly I might have had to agree with that statement. So I packed up my life and here I am. One month away from getting my associates degree. To say I was nervous about hunting for a new job, and interact with completely new people would be putting it very mildly. But I would also be lying if I didn't mention how much it excited me. This was all a new beginning for me. For us. And I was finally ready. The past few years have been shaky at best. Every step forward resulted in two steps back. Every turn had some new challenge to face. And as much as Arthit and his family tried to shield me for the unpleasantness, it was omnipresent. Engulfing every aspect of our lives.

The day I had my first conversation with Ria, both of us knew that once the devil would be unleashed there would be no turning back. But it was a necessary evil. And that both of us would have to face our personal demons. While the world was watching.

It wasn't as simple as Ria packing her bags and moving out with her son. Her husband was rich, powerful, and famous. A high profile divorce and following rape allegations don't necessarily get swept under the rug no matter how much we would wish for it. Which means it had been weeks, and months, and almost years now of endless battles. Ranging from him fighting over his share over the company, his personal wealth, custody battles over their son, and finally criminal cases of rape and sexual assault that have been stacking up against him.

Once my story became public news, multiple victims have come forward, which in a way is both great and terrible. But thankfully someday soon now, this chapter will come to an end. He is more or less set for going to prison. He has been stripped of nearly all his official titles. He has lost his part of the company. And he has definitely lost his family. But no matter what happens it is practically impossible for us to ever pretend to be normal. We are way past that point now. And that is ok.

A few years too late, but I finally began therapy to cope with my panic attacks. Some days I hate it, others days it feels they are the only thing keeping me sane. Some days Arthit comes along. But often its Ria and I that attend together. My attacks happen a lot more rarely now. I feel more confident than I have felt in years. Since Kim and Arthit have probably burnt all my old clothes I don't dress in a gunny sack anymore. I even feel like my voice is getting progressively stronger. Someday I might eventually become the person I used to be. Atleast that's what my parents keep telling me.

Introducing Arthit to them had been a very interesting experience. I don't know what drove them more into shock, coming to terms with everything that had happened to me, the fact that I was dating a man, or that the man was uber wealthy. In either case, the fractured relation I had with my parents since the time I finished high school needed to be mended, and no better time to start than now. And through all of that, dealing with my family, court cases, the overwhelming media attention, my therapy, my panics, through every single one of those events the one person by my side constantly was Arthit. We fought and yelled and cried. And smiled and laughed and loved. And we managed to do all of that without once running away.