One Shot Story Collection

Missing Pets and New Neighbors II

"So P'Arthit, how is our cat doing?"

That earned him a glare from the older boy, it's been a week since he had returned the stray cat to the real owner - who also happened to be his neighbor - who also happens to be his senior in the company he's now working at. (why he didn't think of knocking next door, he had no idea).

"My cat, Kongpob. He's my cat." Arthit sighs, he was sure that Kongpob drops by his cubicle every chance he gets just to pester him.

("He's getting back at you for being mean to him during his first week." Bright says on that one time they were having lunch and Kongpob gave him a cup of pink milk, which made his ears grew a little pinker and the junior had worn a smirk the whole day.)

"Is that why he keeps coming to my apartment through the balcony?" Kongpob tilts his head, the stupid smirk that Arthit hates always plastered on his face.

"You must have bribed him with something to always get him to come back to you. What do I know.." Arthit sighed again, getting tired of snapping at this young newbie.

"Maybe he just really likes me.." Kong suggests, giving Arthit a meaningful look.

Giving up on this meaningless bickering, Arthit turned away from Kong, resuming whatever it was he was doing before this busybody interrupted him, some of them actually have to double check reports before going home. "Eh. Believe what you want.."

If it was even possible, Kong's smile reached up to his ears. "I do believe you want to walk home with me.."

"Excuse you?" Arthit turned slowly, disbelief in his face made Kong's grin get a little more wider.

"You said I should believe whatever I want, so..want to walk home with me?"

"No. You're a grown man, you can walk home by yourself. And besides, I'm walking home with my friends."

"Then I want to walk home with you and your friends." The younger boy insists, still smiling.

Arthit took a deep calming breath, and swivelled his chair to face Kongpob. "What do you get from this?"

Kong raised his brows. "What?"

"This. Don't play dumb, Kongpob. You know what I'm talking about."

"I have no idea, P. I'm just asking you to walk home with me." Kongpob sounded innocent but Arthit knew better - or so he would like to believe - and he won't fall for it.

"And what would you gain from that?"

"P, I'm just asking - "

"No, Kongpob! I get it. You're getting back at me for being mean to you on your first week. Is it that fullfilling? To see me annoyed with you every time I see you? Does that make your life less miserable?"

Something shifted in Kong's eyes, like he was suddenly drenched in cold water. He swallowed hard and took a step back from leaning against the corner of Arthit's cubicle.

"I was only...never mind...sorry.." Whispered Kongpob before he turned and walked back to his own cubicle.

Arthit bit his bottom lip hard enough to taste blood as he was breathing heavily, he didn't yell at him so he didn't really have to be guilty of making Kongpob feel embarrassed to their co workers, but he is and now he can't concentrate on this damned papers.

___________________________________________

"I think you hurt his feelings." Knot says as they walked side by side towards the bus stop, Bright walking in front of them.

"I am aware. But it's his fault so why do I have to feel bad about it?" Arthit grips the strap of his bag too tightly, readjusting it more comfortably against his shoulders.

Bright slapped the pole of the bus stop when he walked past it to take a seat, there was a scowl on his face when he faced his two other friends. "I don't know? Because maybe he was actually sincere?"

Knot raised a brow, unaware and surprised that his usually distracted friend was actually listening to their talk. He and Arthit sat at the two other vacant seats in the right side of Bright. "Why would he be sincere about asking me to walk home with him?" Arthit asked dumbly.

Knot scowled this time, and Bright seemed like he was actually offended in behalf of Kongpob. "Oh I don't know Arthit! Maybe he likes you? But who knows? Obviously, not you.." Bright said in dismay and it made Knot a little bit proud that this friend of him knows how to use his brain, not just his mouth.

"Now you're just talking nonsense.."

"You're hopeless." Bright shook his head as he took out his phone.

"What's up with him?" Arthit asked sullenly. Knot shrugged as he glanced over Bright. (Who was looking at a particular contact on his phone, thumb hovering over the 'call' option.)

At this, Arthit also took out his phone and read a message from their other friend, Toota.

"The others are waiting for us. Let's get moving."
___________________________________________

"How long has it been since you last dated, Ai'Arthit?"

Arthit sighed as he considered banging his head on the table surface just so his friends could drop the subject once he loses consciousness. "I don't know, Prem, I'm not counting."

"You should really start dating." Said Toota, then proceeded stuffing his mouth with half a donut glazed in caramel topped with crushed nuts. Prem looked baffled at the sight of half a donut disappearing into Toota's mouth.

"How long has it been? Two years?" Prem said after a brief recollection of Arthit's dating history. "That's a long time ago, Arthit."

Toota rolled his eyes. "Oh. Coming from someone who can't even ask a junior out for dinner."

"At least I have someone.." He hissed back to Toota from beside him. "What about you? Huh?"

Toota bit back an insult that Knot didn't quite hear as he was busy observing the unusually quiet Bright. Toota and Prem must have noticed that Bright was..well, not Bright.

"What's up with him?" Prem jerked his head towards Bright.

Arthit only shrugged, still too absorbed by the earlier incident with a junior.

"Hey Arthit, speaking of dating, would you like me set you up on a blind date? It's gonna be fun."

"No thanks. I'm not up for anyone at the moment."

"That's what you said two months ago." Toota pursed his lips in a thin line. "Is there someone who...?"

"There's no one." Arthit was quick to say, his mind was also quick on thinking of a certain....neighbor. Why is he thinking of that person anyway? Tsk.

"Is there?" Toota turned to Knot, his brows arched quizzically. Knot shrugged but didn't hide the wide eyed 'maybe? I don't know' in his eyes.

"Hmmn." Toota had that look in his eyes as he hummed that Knot knew all too well. "It's set then. I'll call you tomorrow and tell you the details." Arthit groaned as his forehead thuds on the table.

"Oh don't be dramatic Arthit it's not like you're getting married right away."

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