It must be destiny! [Complete]

Chapter 1

Kong bounced on the heels of his feet peering out the window of his tiny room impatiently. The five year old boy could barely contain his excitement since he overheard that morning that he was getting a new roommate later today. He had rushed to the washroom and taken an extra-long shower, scrubbing away all the mud and scum caked on his body and put on his best t-shirt waiting for that someone to finally arrive.

Tiny the room may be but it was stuffed with 10 infant sized bunk beds with Kong being the sole occupant and he was tired of sleeping alone in that room every night with no friends to play around with. Unfortunately for the little boy all the other kids at the orphanage were several years older and almost never included young Kong in their play time. And since the rooms were mandated to be split based on ages Kong was nearly always left alone.

At times he wondered to himself why that was the case. How come every time he finally had a roommate to play with only a few days later some grownups in nice clothes and fancy cars would come and take him away. Leaving Kong by himself in this suffocatingly stuffed room again. And maybe it was not all bad since he almost never managed to make friends with any of them anyway. Apparently all they did was cry while Kong desperately tried to get them to look at his box of toys.

This time would be different though. This time Kong had a new strategy. If his new roommate wanted to cry, he was going to let him. After all how long could that last right? And once they were all cried out, Kong was sure they would come looking for Kong's toys.

Except the young boy that showed up later that day was nothing like Kong had imagined. He was a little taller, a lot paler, probably even a little older than Kong. But that was not what confused him. It was just how quiet the boy was.

He wasn't crying or wailing or calling out for him mom like most of the other kids had done. He just silently stood with his head bowed down next to Mrs. Rain, their caretaker, as she ran down the rules of the orphanage. He hadn't even spoken a word yet when he was taken around for a brief tour. His voice left completely unheard by the time he was finally shown to his bed across from Kong's as they placed his tiny suitcase under the bed and he sat on it stiffly.

Mrs. Rain ruffled the young boy's hair affectionately, told him to get some rest and looked over at Kong who was still happily bouncing on his feet by the window and shook her head a little in exasperation. Apparently no amount of chiding Kong about not being so overly excited when he gets a new roommate was going to work. The young child having a hard time comprehending why someone entering the orphanage was not something to be happy about. Even the stern look she sent Kong's way only resulted in his smile stretching more broadly.

The minute the door shut behind Mrs. Rain, Kong ran towards the young boy who had yet to have a word cross his lips, standing in front of him, stretching out his arm for a handshake.

"Hi, I am Kong. I am five years old. What is your name?"

"Ar...Arthit."

A hoarse voice having not being used for an extended period of time whispered softly. Slowly reaching out to tentatively place his hand in the small one in front of him. Kong vigorously shaking their tiny palms together before releasing it and plopping down next to Arthit on the bed. He shoved his hand down his pocket and brought out two lollipops, offering one to Arthit.

"Want one? It's my favorite flavor."

Arthit looked into the face of the grinning boy as almost involuntarily his lips cracked into a brief smile. Accepting the cheap candy and staring at it for a long time as Kong kept happily sucking away at the purple ball of sugar.

Kong's heart was racing as he contemplated the quiet boy next to him. This was the first time his roommate wasn't crying or wailing uncontrollably, and had actually spoken to Kong. His overwhelming excitement barely contained at the idea that he might finally manage to make a friend this time around.

But after several minutes when Kong had almost demolished his lollipop where Arthit had yet to even unwrap his, a tiny frown began shrouding Kong's forehead.

"Are you sad?"

Kong watched as Arthit's lower lip began quivering slightly, his large beady eyes swimming in unshed tears as he choked out.

"I miss my mom and dad."

Kong had definitely heard that before, so he responded exactly the way he always did. Nodding gravely like a wise sage. Humming a soft 'hmmm...' like he knew what the boy was talking about. Surprisingly Arthit turned around and asked Kong the one thing that wasn't as common.

"How are you so happy? Don't you miss your mom and dad?"

"No. I never had any. Mrs. Rain said I am special cause I was born without a mom and dad."

"That's not possible. Everyone has to have parents."

"Nah uh. Not everyone. See, I don't have any."

But instead of starting an argument with an orphan child when he had found himself in a similar situation, Arthit simply shrugged. Blinking away his unshed tears as he unwrapped the lollipop and began slowly licking it. The two of them just sitting there. Silently. Contemplating their own life stories until Mrs. Rain came by to call them for dinner. To which Kong immediately shot up and ran towards the door before he halted his feet and looked back. Waiting for Arthit to slowly catch up as they began walking together to the dining room.

That night Kong slept surprisingly well. And although he hadn't managed to coax Arthit to play any of his games yet, atleast the boy didn't get annoyed with Kong like the rest of them had. Arthit had even spoken to him a little after dinner before the lights were turned off. Things were already looking great for their relationship. And just as Kong was drifting off with his patented broad grin when he was woken up with muted sniffles.

Kong sat up on his bed in the dark room to identify the source of sound when he realized his new roommate had also done what nearly every single one the boys before him. And weirdly it made Kong feel this odd emotion of guilt, a feeling that he didn't even completely understand. That he had spent all day hoping and praying that his new friend wouldn't be annoying like all the others and sobbing all the time, that now Arthit had to cry in the dead of the night without anyone even seeing his tears. And the one thing Kong hated was making anyone feel bad. Especially himself.

So he softly climbed out of his bed and softly padded onto Arthit's bed, lightly patting on his shoulder and pushing his well-worn soft toy into Arthit's arms.

"Here, take this. He is my best friend. He always protects me when I have very scary dreams. You can hold onto him tonight."

Arthit wiped away his tears with his palms before quietly grabbing the bear and hugging it close to his chest, sniffling loudly. And just as Kong was about to turn away, he felt a hand close around his wrist. Arthit's shaky voice softly reverberating around the peaceful night.

"Can you stay?"

Kong only nodded as he crawled behind Arthit on his bed and settled down on the shared pillow. The two of them finally drifting into the night. At some point their hands finding each other and by the time the soft light of dawn finally peered through the window, their fingers were interlinked.

And that's how anyone present in that orphanage saw the two boys from that day onwards. Always next to each other. Their hands intertwined. Their friendship blossoming right under their eyes.

Until one day exactly six weeks since Arthit had come to the orphanage another one of those fancy cars showed up outside. A well-dressed couple walking through the door, the woman spotting Arthit walking around with Kong when she rushed forward and grabbed Arthit in her arms. Crushing the young boy to her chest as she engulfed his in a bear hug. Kong being all ready to jump onto his defense until he saw Arthit's reaction. A joyous laughter ringing around them that Kong had never once heard come out of Arthit before.

Kong shrunk back as he took in the scene around him. His new best friend overjoyed at being reunited with his aunt and uncle. And before he understood what was going on Arthit's bags were being packed and he was being whisked away into the car, Arthit staring out of the window, happily waving his farewell at Kong as the car pulled away.

Kong clutched at his soft toy a little extra hard that night. For the first time in a long time he couldn't find anything to smile about.

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