A Few Words

vi

"when arthit told me he wanted to marry kongpob, i just gave him a smile," knot starts when it's his turn to finally give his part.

"i knew he was serious then," he continues, "because our arthit will never joke about something that big."

"i asked him how he plans on doing it, and arthit just shrugged and told me he has no idea."

the crowd laughs as knot looks back at his best friend to give him a smile. arthit shakes his head fondly, leaning his head on his now-husband, kongpob, when his junior starts teasing him.

"i remember telling him that he'll find the right way," he then turns back to the guests, smiling warmly as the memory of arthit telling him what he had planned entered his mind, "and that if he ever needs my help, then i'll be glad to."

his friend never did ask for his help though.

arthit handled it all on his own, so he really can't share what really happened that night.

knot only remembers what arthit had told him; that he will invite kongpob to the rooftop of their shared apartment, have a simple dinner, just talk . . . then he'll propose.

that was about it.

knot was happy for his friend. he knows arthit is a private person – no matter what bright and the others say. he's watched arthit grow from this closed-off, stubborn, person to a more open, but still stubborn person; but one thing arthit kept was his private life with kongpob, and knot understands if arthit would like to keep the proposal to himself.

"i don't have the details of that proposal," knot says, smiling apologetically to those who were curious, "and i don't have much to share as well as the others have already shared too much already."

he pockets one of his hands as he takes a step forward. like arthit, knott's really a private person as well; he doesn't like sharing too much information about himself let alone other people's business. he respects his friend's life for him to just share things other people are not meant to know.

so, knott just says what he truly feels at the moment.

"i'm glad to be arthit's best man," he starts, "when arthit was confused about his feelings with kongpob he confided with me, when he had his first fight with kongpob he invited me for a drink and then we drank and drank until arthit was ready to tell his story. the first valentine they shared together and arthit doesn't know what to do – he came to me for help . . .

"what i'm trying to say is . . . i've been with arthit long enough to know what he's gone through with kongpob, and how arthit grew as a person."

knot ponders, "and i've been arthit's friend long enough to know that no matter what happens after this night, whatever hurdles and problems that would come their way . . . they'll make it through," he gives kongpob and arthit a warm smile before turning back to the crowd with a proud one, "they'll make it through because they have each other now, and if it gets too much for them," knot gestures to himself and the other speakers before him and says, "everyone is here to help them."

"i know we've all been raising our glasses for the past hour now," knot jests as he starts raising his own glass, "but this is a celebration of arthit and kongpob's union, and what better way to celebrate it than by drinking?"

the room echoes from the cheer, and knot shoots arthit another smile as he sees the couple raising their own glasses.

with a glass in hand he raises, "congratulations arthit and kongpob; to a happily married life!"