Let's Kiss 💋 (Book I)

Chapter 3

2007

Kongpob's POV

School life has been more or less the same. Nothing I can't handle. However, everything just feels different, yet I can't really tell what's changed. Arthit and I still have lunch, and see each other after school. His mom made him test for advanced track again last year, but he was two points away this time. Sigh. He didn't seem too bothered though.

Ah ha! I know what has changed. Arthit has a girlfriend now. Her name is Sara. Arthit only sees her at school during class and at lunch. It's all very strange. She started sitting with us everyday at lunch next to Arthit borrowing his notes since the first day of school. Soon, rumors started that they were dating. Arthit tried to clear things up, and asked if she was bothered by it all. She simply shrugged, and said let's date. I think Arthit was just caught by surprise because she said this at the lunch table with all of us there. Bright, Prem, and Oak immediately congratulated the new couple. So that was pretty much how they became a couple. Although Arthit didn't rejected the idea either. So there we have it folks.

*** Sara***

Home on the other hand is entirely different. My mom had been diagnosed with first stage breast cancer. Everything has been a hush hush. I only happened to find out about it by walking into my mom and dad's conversation about treatment options. They thought I was staying over at Arthit's like usual. They told me not to worry about it, and don't tell anyone so people won't freak out. Everything was going to be fine since it was in its early stage.

***Kongpob's mom Nomi***

So now I am hiding the biggest secret of our family from my best friend. Somehow, I think Aunt Belle knows. I've seen her stare at me with teary eyes. Is it more serious than they are telling me? Maybe I should investigate a little more on the situation.

Today is Saturday, and I'm currently sitting on the long sofa in the living room at Arthit's house. Krystal has fallen asleep on my lap. She usually does whenever we start our Star Wars marathon. She makes me comb her hair with my fingers and feed her snacks. This is the only way she would agree to not whine and argue about the movie. Since I don't have any siblings due to my mom's health, Krystal is as close as a sister I will ever have. I sometimes braid her hair too. She makes me watch all those tutorial videos, and then do it for her. She says I might as well make good use of my brain. Whatever, I don't really mind.

Arthit on the other hand has also fallen asleep on my shoulder to my left. His hair is lightly tickling my neck. His right hand is holding the bottom of my shirt. He has had this habit since we were little. He has always grabbed onto the hem of my shirt like it's his security blanket whenever I slept over. I don't know why he insists on this marathon when we have never made it past three movies without giving up. Oh, the second one has finally ended.

Arthit's POV

Damn it. I fell asleep again. Should I get up, or just stay like this. Too late, he saw me open my eyes.

"Hey, you missed like half of number two. Should I rewind, or skip to three?"

I straighten back up even though I know I will eventually end up in the same position again.

"Ahem, I guess we can just skip since we've seen number two so many times already."

"Well, we've seen all of them already. I don't even know why you want to do this. Do you think Krystal will get up soon? My leg fell asleep."

I shrug my shoulders, and start movie number three.

I look at my annoying little sister. I don't even know why she can't hangout with her own friends. Why does she have to dominate everything in this house, even my best friend. I picked Star Wars because I know she has no interest. And what does she do? She sticks around like glue. These days I rarely get to just hangout with Kongpob. I mean I see him everyday, but it's not the same. Since he is in advanced track, he has a lot more group projects so we hardly study and do homework together now. Our weekends are sometimes shot down too due to said projects. During lunch, we are surrounded by our group of friends.

And then there's Sara. Did I mention her before? She is my girlfriend, I guess. If I don't sound too sure, it's because I'm really not. Sara said there's no point in clarifying the rumors when people will continue to says whatever they want. And to be honest, once we just accepted to become a couple, the teasing and whispers kind of just stopped as people moved on to other gossips. Also, for once I was ahead of Kongpob. Even though he has had his first kiss, I'm the one with a girlfriend. Sara and I haven't kissed though. In matter of fact, we haven't even held hands.

So how did Kongpob get his first kiss you asked? Well, it happened one day at the mall when Kongpob, Krystal and I were shopping. Kongpob and I was waiting outside for Krystal in front of a store. Then suddenly, a girl walked up to Kongpob and just planted a kiss on him out of the blue. She giggled, and ran back to her group of friends giggling even more without saying anything to us. She only left Kongpob a little sticky note with her name and number on it. Kongpob was so stunned. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. Although, he makes the whole event sound a lot more romantic when he tells the story. I don't think I ever want to go to that mall again.

Anyway, I admit that I am missing my best friend. I really tried to get into advanced track this year. I even let Kongpob help me study this time. Of course, I still pretended to be nonchalant about it, but again, I missed the mark by two points. Sigh.