FALLIN' ALL IN YOU (Completed)

Chapter 34

Friday - Kobe

Kobe is much smaller than Tokyo. It feels more like a town rather than a city. They arrived in the afternoon, and Aki had dropped them off on top of another city center hotel.

Aki: Gentlemen, I will be around if you need anything. Mr. Suthilak, please make sure your tracker is on, and here is the phone you can use for this weekend. Your reservation for Mouriya is at 6 pm. Please let me know if you have a change of plans.

Aki hands Kongpob a black cellphone. The men bid farewell, and went their separate ways.

Kongpob and Arthit took an elevator down to the hotel lobby to reach the exit. They walked into the streets of Kobe.

"Tracker? Why are you being tracked?" Arthit asked with a hint of concern.

"Well, Thak is not with me, so he is tracking me wherever I go. I'm sure Aki will be following us around too, but we most likely won't be able to see him."

"Do you always have people following you?"

"Unfortunately, I do. I just have to live with the fact that my safety is not just my own business. I owe it to all my business partners, and all the families that work for me. But I try to keep a very low profile, so my daily life isn't disturbed too much."

"Kongpob, does that mean that someone can see you with me right now?"

"Sure, we are walking around in broad daylight. Anyone can see us." Kongpob continues to walk nonchalantly pulling Arthit along.

Arthit pulls back halting them from taking another step.

"No, Kongpob. You know what I mean. Don't you care that someone will see us together like this?"

Arthit points to their joined hands, and he removes his hand from Kongpob's hold.

"No. My love life has nothing to do with my safety nor the stock market. So, why should I care?"

Kongpob firmly grabs Arthit's hand again, but Arthit resisted.

"Kongpob, can we just not do this?"

Again, Arthit points to their joined hands, and looked at him with a frown.

Kongpob reluctantly let's go of Arthit's hand. Kongpob is disappointed. It hurts. Rejection hurts. But he quickly pushes it aside, and tried not to let it ruin their mood. He puts on a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes, and nods to Arthit's request.

Arthit can see that Kongpob is not happy with him, but he is not used to PDA. He doesn't like any unnecessary attention it draws. Being gay came with a lot of scrutiny and unsolicited comments already. So, he doesn't like advertising the fact. Also, Chet never asked for it either since he said he had an image to upkeep for showbiz.

Arthit can't understand why Kongpob is so careless about this. Doesn't he have an image to keep? He is the straight guy here. Why would he want to be seen holding hands with another man?

However, no matter how much he reasons with himself, he finds his palm itching to reach for Kongpob's hand. But he resisted the urge.
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