6 Years After • Completed

viii. Day 7

Since it's Arthit's rest day, he wakes up with a smile on his face, it's a good day today, after what feels like years, he can finally have some alone time to himself without preparing for the night unless of course, someone would accept his invitation to spend a day with him.

Someone preferably like Kongpob.

Speaking of someone, Arthit sits upright when he receives a call from Kongpob, a few days ago, much to Arthit's delight, they exchanged their numbers, and ever since then, they have been texting and calling back and forth if they aren't talking personally.

"Good morning P'."

"Good morning to you too."

Arthit can't keep the bright smile off his face. He feels like he's gone back to the past when he used to wake up with a call from Kongpob, though it used to involve some I love you's with occasional pick-up lines, Arthit's content with what they currently have, hearing Kongpob's voice first thing in the morning is enough for him.

"Did I wake you up?"

"No. I'm already awake. Are you busy today?"

"Well, let me look at my itinerary," There's some rustling of papers from the other side. "Aside from staying here in my hotel room, eating the same foods I've been eating for the past week, I guess none. Why?"

"Do you want to try some of the activities by the shore?"

"Like parasailing?" Though Arthit can't see Kongpob, he knows the younger has a teasing smile on his face.

"Hey, I have to tell you, I'm not that scared anymore."

"We'll see about that later."

As soon as Arthit ends the call, Irish is already standing in front of him. looking at him in disappointment. Irish shakes her head. "What's next? You are going to sneak out at night because you just fucked?"

"You're exaggerating, I just invited him for some friendly activities."

"You never learn."

"What? What am I doing? I just asked him if he wants to have fun. We're still friends, sure he's my ex-boyfriend but all this, this is just something friends do all the time. You're the dirty-minded here who's putting malice in this but this is just a friendly get together."

Irish scoffs. "Friendly my ass. Do you tell that to yourself all the time to wash your hands off of your sins? 6th commandment, don't commit adultery."

Arthit sighs to exhale all the frustrations he's feeling. Why is his cousin telling this to him? Why is she painting him like some sort of a... a... paramour? A mistress?

This isn't cheating.

Is what he always tell himself to bury the guilt feeling he has when he's with Kongpob.

Right?

Of course. This isn't cheating. It's not like he fantasized kissing, dating or doing that thing with Kongpob- or if ever he did fantasize, he doesn't do anything about it, he's not the one to make Kongpob remember all their fun times together, or, to inveigle him to rekindle their old flame.

He won't force himself to fit in Kongpob's life again. After all, he didn't leave, did he?

So, all this is just a bond with an old friend. He misses his friend, his junior. It's not like he instigated talking with Kongpob again because he wants to say, extirpate, his relationship with his fiancée. No. That's not who Arthit is. He's no cheater and he'll never be one.

Arthit shakes his head and stands up to pick a fresh set of clothes from his closet. Whether Irish likes it or not, he's going to meet with Kongpob today.