Just Pretend

Chapter 9

 Three weeks later Kongpob entered Arthit's room to a welcome sight. Arthit was standing, supported by crutches talking to the orthopedic doctor that had been tending to Arthit's bodily injuries after his head injury was cleared. Where the giant plaster cast encasing his leg had once been was now a black boot. The sling that previously held his collar bone in place was also gone, and the cast on his wrist was replaced with an elastic brace. Kongpob set his backpack and a cup of pink milk on the bedside table and walked toward Arthit.

"What's this?"

Arthit turned on the crutches, grinning when he saw Kongpob and hobbling over to him. "I'm mobile again! The doctor says all the physical therapy they gave me helped me stay strong enough to be able to get around on my own now that I have arms to use crutches!"

"That's great, P'Arthit!" Kongpob grinned, moving to pull Arthit into a hug but stopping short. They really only ever hugged if Arthit's parents were around to watch, but they had gone to the cafe to grab some snacks. Which meant Kongpob really didn't need to hug him, no matter how desperately he wanted to. Instead he settled for clapping a hand on Artht's uninjured shoulder, grinning broadly at him. "Did they say anything about getting out of here?"

"Tomorrow morning if everything goes well. They're doing another x-ray of my leg today, but they don't see why there'd be any problem."

Arthit was the happiest Kongpob had seen him in weeks and the happiness was infectious as the doctor finished his examination, laughing and joking together before he left the two men alone. Arthit slowly hobbled over to his bed and sat, grabbing his cup of pink milk off the side table. Ever since he woke up Arthit demanded pink milk every chance he got, to the point the doctors actually became concerned for his blood sugar and limited him to one per day, which Kongpob brought every evening after work, and at lunchtime on the weekends, from Arthit's favorite cafe next to his apartment building.

"So, how did your presentation go?" Arthit asked. Kongpob plopped into the chair opposite Arthit, sighing heavily.

"As good as I could expect, I guess. P'Danai was impressed, at least."

"You explained the benefits of using polypropylene over polyvinyl for the design like I told you, right?"

"Yes, I did. P'Danai and Khun Piroj agreed. I have a meeting with Siam Polymer Group tomorrow evening to discuss the order over dinner. If you'd like to come, I'm sure Khun Kerkkrai wouldn't object."

Arthit chuckled. "Don't you think asking me to attend Sunday dinner with your family is a little over the top?"

"Then don't think of it as dinner with my family. It's a business deal, strictly work. My mom's cooking is just a bonus." Kongpob winked at Arthit, who ducked his head to hide the pink tint to his cheeks.

"Alright, fine. If the doctor lets me out, I'll go."

"Go where?" Mrs. Rojnapat asked as she entered the room, a coffee cup in one hand and a cup of iced coffee in the other. Kongpob accepted the iced coffee gratefully, sipping on it as he amusedly watched Arthit flounder to explain without mentioning the words "parents" or "dinner", a deep blush rising in his cheeks.

"My father is the CEO of a company Ocean Electric works with often. I was just inviting Arthit to a meeting over dinner to discuss a business deal for a project he has been helping me with over the last few days."

"Arthit, you never told us Kongpob's father was a CEO." Mrs. Rojnapat said, clearly impressed. Arthit rolled his eyes, but Kongpob just smiled politely as he spoke.

"It's not something I like to bring up often. People often think I am where I am in life because of my father's favors. I don't want to give anyone any reason to think I don't work hard to succeed in what I do."