Unplanned Marriage

Chapter 23

Three days passed since Arthit and Kongpop have started living together. Both being busy with their work, only rare interaction have occurred between them, making Arthit's wish come true. He had managed to keep some distance from his husband, but it didn't put him at ease as much as he assumed it will.

Arthit's sleepwalking was solved by locking his bedroom's door during night and hiding the key. Kongpop took the couch, which has started to be less and less comfortable every night. His back and neck hurt every morning but he didn't dare to complain.

As the distance between them started to grow, Kong tried his best to get closer to Arthit again. Going straight home after work, waking him up and greeting him as much as had a chance to have become his hobby. Arthit has started to become the center of his attention, drawing him in by his looks and personality.

"Ai'Kong, are you free this evening? Don't you wanna come over? May's cooking today." M, his childhood friend and current secretary asked as he entered Kongpop's office.

"Is it your birthday or what?" Kong teased him while grinning. May, M's wife, was always busy with work and cooked up to three times a year.

"Jokes on you, I can't hear you over the delicious symphony of tastes. So you're coming?" M brushed him off with a smirk.

"I have to pass, but thanks for asking." He declined politely, remembering how Arthit reminded him he's cooking the dinner tonight.

"Aow, you've never turned me down before, what's wrong? You got someone waiting for you?" M wondered with a smile.

"Stop, you must have seen the news already." Kong rolled his eyes, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Of course I did, your photos are all over the internet. You looked kind of cute on the one where you're hugging. How come you've never told me about this side of yours?" M asked, bringing the topic up for the first time since he'd found out.

"What did you say?" Kongpop's smile disappeared.

"That I wonder why you'd never-"

"Not that, before." Kong cut him off mid-sentence.

"That you looked kind of cute on one of the pictures?" M repeated slowly.

"Which one?"

"The one where you two are hugging."

"M, there shouldn't be any picture like that." Kongpop's face was like a stone. He quickly typed on his computer, already having a very bad feeling about the situation.

"Well, I shall leave then." M left in matter of seconds, not wanting to be involved any further. Kongpop could be very scary from time to time and he didn't want to end up being his venting bag.

The photo Kong was so eager to find turned out to be the most researched and spread one. Numerous online articles used is as a headline picture to attract readers. It must have been taken when I asked Arthit for a dance. Kong concluded after studying the picture closely. It really looked more like they were hugging than dancing, Arthit leaning on his shoulder. That's cute. Crossed his mind as he saved the picture on his computer.

Although it shouldn't have turned out this way, Kongpop didn't mind. They were supposed to be close and this only made their relationship more believable. The issue wasn't really an issue.

What mildly worried Kong's mind was Arthit's reaction on the situation, though he had no real reason to complain... right?

*** *** ***

"I'm home." Kongpop said as he closed the door and entered the hallway.

"Welcome back." Arthit greeted him from the kitchen, already in process of cooking.

This is so nice. Kong thought as he put off his shoes and hung up his jacket. Coming home to someone waiting for him with food and feeling comfortable was something he was slowly but surely getting used to.

"It's going to be done in a minute." Arthit informed him, stirring something in one of the pans. 

"It smells delicious." Kong complimented, feeling impatient. May's cooking couldn't possibly beat this.

In matter of minutes, they were both seated with hot chicken stew and rice in front of them.

"How's your work, P'?" Kong asked as he blew on his food to cool it down a bit.

"We've got a lot to deal with. I don't want to give up completely on jewelry production, so we're undergoing many adjustments to meet the required standards." Arthit explained, feeling exhausted.

"If there's anything I can help you with, tell me please." Kong nodded, clearly seeing how tired his husband got only in mere three days.

"Focus on your job, don't act like you don't have to do anything." He scolded him, knowing that Kongpop's duty to manage company at least three times more complex and larger wasn't any bit easier.

"I will do just fine if you wait for me with dinner every day, P'." Kong smiled cheekily and leaned a bit closer to person sitting in front of him.

"Hey! Don't be so spoiled, it just happened I had a bit of time today." Arthit muttered and pushed his husband's smiling face away. His brain was already trying to figure out how to manage all tasks tomorrow to get off the work sooner.

*** *** ***

"I'm home." Kong greeted as he entered the living-room. Arthit wasn't in the kitchen like it happened past week, sitting on the armchair and glaring at him.

"Kongpop! Care to explain this?" he asked, holding his old phone with tiny display and buttons.

"I'm sorry P' but I can't see what you are trying to show me." Kongpop admitted, trying to focus his eyes on the scratched and partially blurred display.

"My employees were acting strange today, so I asked them what the matter was and they showed me this picture! It's us, when we danced together."

"So you've already found out." Kong sighed as his worried turned out to be reasonable.

"You knew?" He asked suspiciously.

"I found out about two days ago when my friend showed it to me." Kongpop admitted.

"So it wasn't your plan to make me act intimate and quickly snap a picture?" Arthit asked coldly.

"Of course not, P'! Why would I do that? Do you really think I would trick you?" Kong panicked, feeling hurt by being doubted.

"It seems like one of the options to me." He stroke again.

"I understand your trusting issues but not your anger. This is normal for a married couple." Kong tried to calm his husband down.

"But we're not a normal married couple! This really looks like we're... gay." Arthit spit out the last word, stabbing a small knife into Kongpop's heart.

"P'Arthit, I think you said you were ready for this kind of stuff to happen." Kong went quiet for a change. Arthit felt a strong turn in the mood, like he was suddenly the wrong one.

"I just thought... we're going to make it look real without the real aspects." Arthit tried to explain, making less and less sense.

"P'... if it bothers you that much to be seen with me, you should've told me earlier. I must have put you into lot of very uncomfortable situations." Kong said, feeling more hurt than he initially imagined.

"I'm going out for a while." He muttered as he rushed outside, not giving Arthit a chance to stop him.

I know, there's another bit of drama going on between them... I noticed some of you wanted them to kiss already, but I cannot make it happen just yet, I'm sorry.

I got a lot of school stuff going on now so I'm updating a bit late (as if I've ever had any proper updating schedule). I'll probably update on Saturday or Sunday, so be patient please. ❤️ thank you for all your support, it makes so motivated.