Mystery Boy

Ch. 5

Arthit

Arthit entered the big foyer of his house. One couldn't exactly call that humongous building a house but here we are calling it...a house. Whatever it's size, it was his home,  he entered and as usual he was greeted by a deafening silence. Arthit never really enjoyed returning home, his dad was too strict and over bearing. 

Growing up he would have drivers to take him to and from school. He couldn't hang out and was forbidden to join clubs. He couldn't do sleepovers and his sleepover guest was only limited to Bright, Knott, Prem and Toota. Everything he wanted would come to him and he was restricted to the grounds of the compound...mind you it was a large compound housing all the amenities and entertainment he would need. But going to a game room didn't exactly hold the same thrill as going to a gaming lounge or internet cafe with friends. Arthit applied to all the universities furthest away from home and worked hard to get into them; after all they would grant him his freedom. When he got accepted it was only by agreeing to have the four knucklehead friends with him that his dad agreed to let him go. This university was chosen by his dad, Arthit didn't mind it was the furthest, close-to-home of the list. 

...

"Baby you're back" He was pulled from his thoughts by the voice of his mom...or rather his step-mom Lawan. Lawan is a thai female name meaning beautiful and she was both inside and out. Lawan was the reason Arthit didn't go insane being cooped up in that house and compound. She showed up in his life when he was seven, two years after the death of his mom, just when he need someone to help him get through the lost of a parent. It was like he lost both parents at the time since his dad wouldn't be in the same room as him. He knew it was because he looked so much like his mother but it didn't hurt any less.

Lawan was a blessing, she assumed the role of mother and would be the bridge between Arthit and his dad. Arthit and his dad was never close, but Lawan managed to make them at least act like father and son.

"Mom" Arthit smiles and hugged her tight

"How was your travels home my son? I'm so glad you're here" Lawan smiled and pinched his cheeked

"Mommy it hurts" Arthit whined

"Ok ok let mommy kiss it and make it better" she kissed both his cheeks and ruffled his hair when he pouted

"Ok love run along and freshen up dinner will be ready in about an hour"

Arthit did as he was told an approximately a hour later he was down stairs in the dining all being served dinner. He look at the head of the long dining table at the empty chair sitting there, he couldn't even bother to eat with us, it was normal for it to be empty. Arthit was used to it, but he still let himself be hopeful sometimes.

His mom and him chatted through dinner. there was never a quiet time when these two are together.

"Thanks alot for taking care of what happened at school mommy, I just didn't know what happened" Arthit thought back at the specific event.

"It's Ok love don't worry too much about it" his mom smiled at him. "I will always be here to protect and help you baby"

"I'm so lucky to have you, you're the best mom ever!!!!" Arthit flashed her his very rare but genuine smile.

"Hehem" their moment was interrupted by the butler.

"What is it Dok?" Lawan asked

"The Master has request that the young master join him in his study" old Dok informed them.

"Thank you P'Dok you can tell him I will be there shortly" Arthit instructed the butler

He turned around to share a look with his mom, neither feeling relaxed or uncomfortable with the request.

Arthit swallowed the lump in his throat and took his first step towards his dad's study. He was not scared of the man but was scared of what he might say. He was sure his dad is going to tell him to withdraw from school and if he does that he won't have his much needed freedom and most importantly he won't see him again.

Yes he tried to ignore it, he tried to distract himself by talking with his mom but ever since the gymnasium incident, he hasn't been able to get Kongpob student ID 0062 face out of his head. He couldn't understand why he reacted how he did when the boy looked at him, he can't explain why he did that to Knott just cause he touched him, he wondered why he was interested to know more about him when no one ever succeeded in piquing his curiosity.

Arthit cleared his mind as he stood in-front the dark mahogany door, it's size more intimidating than he remembered.

knock knock

(Ryuk/N: The italics are Arthit's interpretation of what is being said)

"Come in" the voice too calm for comfort

"You wanted to see me father?" A rhetorical question 

"Are they back?" straight to the point

"Still no" Short straight answers

"and Knott?" Not asking out of concern

"Better minutes after" he knows this already.

"You know what's at stake?" Ahh the subtle reminder

"I do" I seriously do

"Then you're dismissed" That's it?!

"Good night father" 

"Wait Arthit" Arthit paused a little hopeful

His father looked at him with a piercing stare like he was looking into his soul, "is there anything you wanted to ask or tell me?"

Arthit mind flashed to Kong, he needed answers about that but he would never ask his dad, "No, nothing I can't think of"

"I know you had initially planned on staying the weekend but stay the entire week, your mom misses you and we need to make sure there isn't a repeat of what happened"

Arthit mentally protested but nodded in response. He left the study with a mixture of feelings; his father has a point but somehow Arthit knew that the mishaps were related to Student ID 0062, whatever, he wanted to spend time with his mom but he wanted to know more about that guy too.

Oh the dilemma